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“Good.” Davi grabbed his glass and tossed half of it down in a single swallow. He winced and smiled. “I know he sent a message to the king and Rayne. Everything is arranged for late tomorrow afternoon, just before the changing of guard shifts at Parliament Plaza.”
Eno grunted. He wasn’t overly surprised to hear that they were heading to that part of town. Right into the heart of Safa’s domain. It was either a trap or she knew all along the best way to get to the godstone. The one question that remained was: What was keeping her from bonding with the god already? Had the God of Wisdom rejected her?
If that was the case, her last hope for saving her goddess was to kill Caelan.
“Feroz has given the meeting place, and Vitor is getting people in place to watch it to make sure an ambush isn’t lined up ahead of time. I’ll be part of the team that’s following you to the meeting place. Nina and I are familiar with Parliament Plaza. We know all the good hiding places and vantage points. We’ll have your backs.”
Lifting his glass to his lips, Eno took a small sip while staring at his brother. The whiskey wasn’t bad and had a nice burn that warmed his chest. “You’re following? You’re not trying to join our team so you can sneak a peek at the godstone?”
He’d fully expected Davi to try to weasel his way into the team to accompany the king. Who didn’t want to see an actual godstone?
Eno had to admit, though, that he had to be one of the few people in the world who wished he’d never see another one within his lifetime. He’d seen more than enough to know that there was nothing good that came from them.
Davi’s grin became lopsided and his eyes dropped to the table. “Let’s not go crazy and assume that I hadn’t considered it. A lot.”
Eno chuckled. Okay, that sounded a little more normal to him.
“Vitor might have threatened to break my legs if I even tried it, and that guy isn’t the type to make threats like that lightly. He’d follow through on that shit.”
“While I’m not thrilled with the idea, this one time I might have to agree with him.” Eno sighed and looked at his tumbler. He turned the glass with his thumb and index finger, watching the amber light catch and toss it around the room. “Even without the presence of the Empire, the gods aren’t something you need to fuck with. It’s better if they never notice you. You just gotta trust me on this one.”
Warm fingers closed on the wrist of his empty hand and squeezed. Eno glanced up to find Davi’s worried gaze locked on his face. “I do trust you. I’m curious, but I’m sure anyone would be. I’m also not stupid or suicidal. I don’t want anywhere near these gods if I can help it.”
“Good. Good.” Eno exhaled and nodded. It was like a massive weight he’d not even noticed had been lifted from his chest. He didn’t have to worry about Davi. His focus could remain on Caelan and the rest of his family.
Davi’s hand slid away a few inches but remained on the table. “Have you…have you ever seen one of the gods? More than a godstone, but an actual god.”
A shiver ran through Eno, and he didn’t try to hide it. As it passed, he slammed back the last of his whiskey and reached for the bottle again. He poured himself another shot but didn’t drink it. It was enough to just hold it.
Seeing the God of Time was something he wasn’t likely to forget within his lifetime. The image of him would follow him through his nightmares for as long as he was alive. Tall and impossibly thin in a black suit trimmed in purple. Dark eyes set against rust-colored skin and a wicked grin that seemed to twist like an open wound across his face.
“I did. Once,” Eno mumbled. He shook his head and tried to distance himself from the rush of ugly emotions that were trying to swamp him. “It wasn’t an experience I ever want to repeat. It’s…it’s kind of amazing to think that Caelan has already met and talked to so many of them. That he can hear them constantly in his head.”
And somehow through it all, Caelan continued to smile and laugh with them. He reassured them when their path felt so dark and hopeless. He’d even found a way to fucking fall in love and win the man who owned his heart. Not that it took much effort. Drayce was so completely lost over Cael. There would never be anyone else for him.
He glanced up at his brother and offered the tiniest smile. “I don’t want that for you. Stay away from the godstone.”
Davi nodded. “Not a problem. Nina and I will be following from a distance, making sure no one tries to come up behind you.”
“Thanks.”
Silence settled between them as they both sat there staring at their drinks. They’d not been able to have a lot of time, but they’d managed to swap a number of incredibly random stories. There simply wasn’t time to get into the deep, darker history of disappointments and regrets that pockmarked every person’s life. Eno wanted to know everything about his brother, but there was a good chance that he’d never get that opportunity.
The best he could do right now was to try to protect him.
“Can I ask you to do one favor for me?” Eno said softly.
“Sure. Of course.”
Eno’s gaze bounced up to meet Davi’s before darting away again, one half of his mouth lifting in a self-mocking smile. “You’re not going to like it, but I want you to hear me out.”
“Not the best start,” Davi teased. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest, an indulgent look on his face.
“After we get inside Parliament Plaza, I want you to immediately leave Ilon and go to Stormbreak,” Eno said clearly.
“No,” Davi replied automatically, but Eno held up a hand to keep him from saying more.
“Please, let me finish. I know that it’s important for you to track down all the stolen children. I don’t want you to stop that. I agree that it’s important. But no matter what happens next with Caelan and the godstone, war is coming. It’s going to rip through Brightspire and probably the rest of Ilon since it’s clear they’ve sided with New Rosanthe. I want you as far from the fighting as I can get you.”
