“Is that right?” David replied.
“You’renot wanted here.”
“Never stopped me before,” he muttered under his breath.
The man drew close enough to throw that knife if he wanted. David chided himself for going anywhere unarmed. He wasn’t the greatest with blades, but a knife was better than the redheaded shield that had erected itself in front of him.
“What are you, drunk, Hayim?” Autumn asked, incredulous. “You can’t threaten the heir of Manae.”
“Seems like he doesn’t agree with you,” David whispered.
“Go home, or face the consequences.” Hayim pulled the dagger from its sheath. One man attempted to drag him back, but most of the crowd bore witness with wide eyes and exhilarated emotions.
David took a good look at this stranger—short brown hair, scant clothing, gold light at every edge. Deva.
Were all devas this reckless?
“What are the consequences?” David asked out of curiosity.
“Seelie Court says Followers burn.”
This announcement was greeted with loud calls of agreement, inviting others to join the spectators, but David froze. So association with his ancestor meant a death sentence, even centuries later? Their prejudice certainly ran deep.
What did that mean for him? Would he be punished for his ancestor’s crimes? If the glinting blade in Hayim’s hand was any indication, David presumed the answer was yes.
His gaze darted across the swelling crowd, searching for any additional threats. This wasn’t a great start to his time here, and he suspected it wouldn’t improve any time soon.
“So what do you say?” the man asked. “Will you leave, or will you burn?”
“Not great options,” David said in his practiced bored tone. “Can I have a day to think it over?”
“Is this a joke to you,Djiante? I’ll show you how much I’m not joking.” He started forward, raising the knife.
Djiante? The word converted strangely in his head. He wasn’t quite sure what it meant.
“No, you won’t.” David laced his voice with enough spiky sugar that the man winced and dropped his knife. “You’ll leave me alone. Won’t you?”
“Yeah. Of course.” The man nodded, blinked, turned away in confusion. The crowd exploded into bewildered whispers.
“Come on.” Autumn gripped his wrist too tightly and strode away. At a safe distance, she slowed.
“Should I expect more of that?” he asked in a low voice.
She glanced back. “Maybe a little. It won’t take long before the message spreads that you can’t be touched.”
David smirked. “I’m sure that little show didn’t work in my favor.”
Her smile finally vanished. “No. But it doesn’t matter. The Mother…she’ll get what she wants. She always does.”
Their goddess sounded a bit selfish, if he was honest. “What does she want?”
Autumn shrugged. “To do things right this time.”
“How vague.”
Her laugh returned, and she looped his elbow once more. “So tell me, when exactly did you learn to speak Lux?”
CHAPTER 13
