Page 103 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

“Is your family so familiar with your staff, then?” Galeson said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Oh.” Heat bloomed over my cheeks. “Well, my father does feel that treating staff well is extremely important.”

“Yes, legends of your father’s generosity and kindness reach even our kingdom.”

“Right.” I shrugged like it didn’t matter. And we stepped out of the stables and rode together, stretching out to the far fields with their long, silvery grasses. But my mind stuck on Valerian and as soon as Galeson and I had parted ways, I sought him out.

He crouched in front of a stall, grazing his fingers over a miniature muzzle. “That’s right,” he whispered. “Hello to you little one.”

The foal popped its head through slats in the gate, a splash of ivory color along its nostrils breaking up her auburn coat. I took another step forward, and the filly startled, jerking her head back and tumbling over her awkward legs. Valerian clicked his tongue.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.

“Ah.” He grinned up at me and jumped to his feet. “Don’t be. This one’s a bit skittish, but she’ll come around.”

I leaned against the stall. The foal stood tucked behind her mother’s legs. The mare twitched her tail but accepted a carrot Valerian offered her, and he scratched her nose.

“Look, Val, I wanted to apologize about earlier.”

He leaned onto the railing. “For what?”

“I mean… just… the whole thing with Galeson and—”

“Pip.” He cocked his head to the side, his hazel eyes sparkling. “You did literally nothing wrong.”

“I acted like you and I aren’t friends at all.”

He laughed. “Yes, I’m certain Lord Galeson wishes to know about what good friends we are.” He nudged his shoulder into mine. “You’re uncomfortable because we actually assumed our correct roles for once. You, a princess, and me, a stablehand.”

“You’re a master stableman.”

He sucked in air over his teeth. “Let’s not act like there’s a tremendous differentiation there.”

“Val—”

“It’s okay.” He tugged the corner of his lips up again though a sadness puddled in his eyes, and it ached through me. “This is the way things are.”

So many thoughts seemed to swell into my throat, clutter through my mind. But what could I really say? He was right, after all.

36

Apollo

Hyacinth frowned, his eyes skimming to the windows and back to his papers. I dropped my feet to the floor with a clunk. “Let’s ditch this for the afternoon.”

His brow furrowed, the dark walls of the office stretching behind him. “I can’t. I have a meeting.”

“Skip it.”

“Apollo.”

I stood and leaned over the desk, the ceramic birds on it glimmering alongside the spirits. “You pushed me to face my greatest fear. Now I’m doing the same.”

“Skipping meetings is my greatest fear?”

“Breaking the rules is. You need some time off.” I stretched my arms up and twisted my hands around. “We’ve sat for too long today. Let’s go out into the city. I promise I’ll make it memorable.”

Hyacinth hesitated, his thumb tapping against the wood of the desk. “All right. But I’m giving notice that I won’t attend the meeting.”