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“Did you meet Aeon?” Sylvia asked.
“I did. He seems a decent man.”
“He’s the next in line, you know. If Aiden doesn’t produce an heir.”
“Really? I didn’t know, but it would make sense that he would be here, then.”
Tempest tried to think about what she knew of the current royal family. After the first few decades of living among the mortals and avoiding the noble circles, she’d lost track of the political drama and ties within the kingdom. She realized now that she really didn’t know much.
Sylvia took another sip. “I wouldn’t mind marrying him instead.”
Intrigued, Tempest returned her gaze to find her friend blushing.
“Really? Why’s that?”
“I’ve been in the palace since I was a girl and first met him when he was a youth as well. He has never treated a servant as below him. Sure, he asks us for stuff, but that’s our job. He’s always respectful, though.”
“Sounds like he would make a decent emperor.”
Sylvia waved her glass in front of her, sloshing some of the wine on her maroon dress. “I don’t mean that Emperor Aiden isn’t a good emperor. He does a fine job.”
Tempest took in the state of her friend and surreptitiously sniffed her own drink. The chances of getting drunk were minimal for herself, but she hadn’t expected Sylvia to become this tipsy so quickly. She’d only had one glass of wine, but her face was red, and she wavered a little in her chair. Had the mortals changed how they fermented alcohol recently? Or had Sylvia been imbibing before she caught up to Tempest?
“I never thought you considered otherwise,” Tempest replied with a warm smile, keeping her voice soft and comforting.
She returned her attention to the guests and noted that many of the contestants also looked unsteady. The crowd parted for a moment, and Tempest saw Aiden leaving his chair, his hand locked with the god of love’s representative, Faith.
She tapped into her connection with Aiden and was shocked when she detected lust. Her fist clenched, and the glass she was holding shattered, scattering wine and debris all over the table. Aiden wasn’t hers, and never could be, but someone was going to pay, be it Fate, whoever they were, or Amias, Faith’s godly sponsor. Something was amiss, and Tempest refused to sit idly by and watch it happen.
The crowd shifted again, and Tempest lost sight of Aiden and Faith.
“Sylvia, stay here for a moment. I need to run and grab something. I’ll be right back.”
Before Sylvia could reply, Tempest was already up and hastening towards where she had last seen Aiden. She grew angrier every time she tapped into her connection with him, and only did so momentarily to figure out which way to go. While she couldn’t completely tune it out, she did allow her anger to override her emotions and help block the sensations.
She made her way through a large metal gate and entered another courtyard, this one much smaller than the one she’d just left. A moan from the other side drew her attention, and she immediately saw red—literally, saw red. Her goddess ability surged forward and revealed an unnatural red aura surrounding Aiden and Faith.
Fists clenched, Tempest stormed over to the two and tore them apart.
“How dare you!”
“We’re a little busy, Tempest. Why don’t you wait your turn over...” Aiden stopped talking when Tempest’s fist came in contact with his face.
“You shush and waityourturn!”
Tempest turned on Faith. She wanted to smack the smirk right off the woman’s beautiful face like she had with Aiden, but since she had less history with Faith, she refrained.
“I know what you are doing, and you will not get away with it.”
Faith shrugged and pasted on a coy smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It appears it isn’t just you the emperor is interested in. I wonder if he would go for any woman willing to entertain him? Should we see?”
Aiden had recovered and tried to move past Tempest, but she gripped his arm and held him back.
“Whatever Amias told you or gave you, ask yourself if it’s worth it. Do you really want to be with someone who doesn’t actually love you? You can still win the emperor’s heart without cheating.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Come on, Faith, we both know better.”
