Page 76 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Color slipped from her face. “Well, we’ve done quite a bit of horseback riding.”

I frowned. What was that expression about? “Valerian mentioned that. He says she’s a natural.”

“She is. She’s amazing. I don’t understand it.”

“And how else have you all spent your time?”

“Well… umm”—she cleared her throat—“you know, Temi loves the outdoors and…”

Emrin strode in, the thud of the door causing both of us to jump. “Hey Pip,” he said, “Cyn. Here’s the seating arrangements.”

I took the parchment but kept my gaze on Epiphany for a long moment, and she squirmed in her seat. I did not like that look. Her and Temi were definitely up to something. I ran my thumb down the names on the list. “You have Apollo sitting next to me?”

“He’s, by far, our most honored guest. I mean”—Emrin scowled—“he is a deity.”

“Right. I just don’t want the high lords feeling offended.”

“Well”—the sour expression on Emrin’s face deepened—“maybe you can convince Apollo to remove his veil and actually attend as a”—he smacked his mouth—“god, like he is.”

A surprising defensiveness swept up within me, my fingers curling, and I took a slow breath to cool it, stretching my palm out along the chair. “I’ll speak with him.”

Emrin bobbed his head. “On your other side, I put Temi, being that she’s a god’s sister. But, do you think that’s right?”

Pip bolted up straight. “No. I want Temi to sit by me.”

“That’s not at all proper, Epiphany,” Emrin said.

She huffed a breath and stomped her foot. “I don’t care what’s proper!” she yelled. “This is just a mock dinner, anyway. Is it so damn important?”

Emrin’s expression washed away, parting lips and high eyebrows replacing it.

“What’s wrong, Pip?” I said.

She fell back against her seat. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s clearly something.”

She met my gaze, and dark circles whispered under the hazel of her eyes. She looked exhausted. I should have kept a closer watch on her. Father wouldn’t have let her reach this point of looking so miserable. “It’s nothing, Cyn,” she said. “I’m just stressed about the presentation.”

“Like you said, it's only practice. It won’t start until autumn.”

“Yeah.” She dropped her head, her dark curls trailing over her dress. “I shouldn’t worry about it.”

I cleared my throat and spoke over my shoulder. “Move Temi next to Pip for this dinner.”

“Cyn—” Emrin started, but I shot him a look. His expression wavered, but then he bobbed his head. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ll speak to Apollo?”

“Yes.” I stood, smoothing my robe. “And, on that note, I should go. He’s meeting me in fifteen minutes.”

Emrin nodded, already reabsorbed into the list in his hands. But I turned towards Epiphany once more. Her shoulders sunk, her fingers tattering the edges of her dress. Something was definitely wrong. I needed to speak with her one-on-one as soon as I could.

That thought, the heaviness of it, draped over me as I approached Father’s office.

“Good morning, Prince,” Apollo said from his position leaning against the wall, a sandaled foot crossed over his ankle, his veil lightly applied, a shimmering radiance glimmering around him.