Vivien’s brows drew together, and her bottom lip jutted out in a pout, like it did whenever she mulled something over. “Whenever one of these crazy violent sprees happens here at Sinopolis, things get covered up like they never happened. How come it wasn’t the same at your hotel?”
Tension filled the space between Bianca and Fallon. So I answered. “We employ Fallon for his abilities.” I left it up to him to elaborate or not. A god’s powers were private, as they could also reveal their weaknesses.
“I have many talents,” Fallon said, trusting Vivien enough to explain. “But among them, the ability to heal is one of the strongest. When applied properly, I can cleanse a human’s memories. So when godly business becomes violent and disruptive, that’s where I come in.”
“Why doesn’t he do the same thing for you?” Vivien asked, turning to Bianca.
“She doesn’t need my help,” Fallon said in a flat voice, though his blue eyes glowed with renewed intensity.
Vivien looked like she wanted to push the issue, but I redirected the conversation.
“In summation, the sword is still out there somewhere,” I said, swirling the ice in my glass. “And someone is delighting in playing with us.”
Bianca shivered. “I don’t like this. Someone out there with the Blade of Bane again.”
“Seth was a bastard.” Fallon gripped the railing, intensity sparking in both eyes. “He had it coming. And why don’t you just conjure up one of your magic visions and see who is doing all this?” He wiggled his fingers at Bianca as if casting a magic spell.
Bianca frowned, resembling a pissed-off pixie. “Why don’t you see who is behind this with your magic eye, oh powerful one?”
“I thought you were the authority around here. That’s what everyone thinks, right?” Fallon demanded.
Bianca fluffed out some of the material of her dress. “I think the vision depends on the accuracy of the interpreter. And I can’t control what others say.”
An intense stare passed between the two of them in a silent standoff.
“What’s with them?” Vivien whispered.
“Several centuries of competition,” I answered.
Bianca’s gaze snapped to me. “I don’t compete with anyone. This fool thinks that he’s better than me at seeing into the future. Though our foresight works in entirely different manners.”
Fallon scoffed and ran a hand over his head and walked across the lounge to put as much distance between them.
“There is another reason we are here,” Galina said, her face intent as she’d watched them volley back and forth. “I’ve brought someone who might be able to provide some answers.”
Before I could ask who, the hair rose on the back of my neck as a familiar heat crawled along my skin.
Turning, I faced a woman with thick black hair falling over her shoulder in heavy, sumptuous waves. Impossibly long lashes framed her dark eyes, while full lips promised every pleasure imaginable. Golden fabric wrapped around her curvy figure, accentuating her generous cleavage.
My ex-wife.
“Qwynn,” I said, her name coming out cold and flat.
The goddess of ecstasy and sexual pleasure, she looked every inch the sinful creature she was.
But I knew she was a bottomless pit and a textbook narcissist.
Qwynn’s fingers rose as if to push back the hair that dipped over my forehead. Before I could stop her, a hand snapped out and grabbed her first.
Vivien stood next to me, her fangs elongated, gripping Qwynn’s wrist.
“What is she doing here?” Vivien hissed.
Galina explained, “She has been a player in this game to upset the order between gods and humanity. I brought her here so that we could learn who directed her into such treachery. Perhaps find out who possesses the god-killer.”
Qwynn stared at Vivien with indifference, as if she were nothing more than a bug. “I can go if you prefer,” she offered.
Realizing things were on the verge of spiraling out of control, I slid my hand onto Vivien’s hip. Qwynn’s eyes tracked the movement before I cut off her view by putting my back to her.
