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I stared down at the delicate glass I held. What I didn’t get was the purpose of…this. My claim of being Sotoria hadn’t been confirmed yet. Still, did he think dressing me this way, putting me on display, and then murdering a god would aid in fostering my love for him?
Then again, Kolis didn’t know what love was.
I’d been warned about what he and his Court were like. In fact, I’d already experienced it when Ash and I were here, so I shouldn’t—
“Prayers for a bountiful harvest and a calm winter were made. I know, a complete and utter surprise.” A goddess with long, dark hair and deep brown skin read from a parchment, her inflection as she spoke making what she said far more interesting than any of those who’d come before her. As did what had to be her additions to the requests. “Whiskey that I believe only tastes slightly like horse piss was left as an offering, as was a white bull that I suspect may have been painted to appear as such.”
Wait. What?
“There was also a branch from an oak tree.” Her pointy chin lifted, and light glanced off the gold shimmer of a sharp cheek. “I am not sure what one is supposed to do with a branch, other than mourn the senseless violence against the tree.” She paused, glancing over at the Primal.
Kolis was, yet again, staring at me.
She cleared her throat. “Kraig, with a…” She frowned. “With a K, wished only to speak poetically and at great length about his devotion to His Majesty, leaving a—”
“Enough,” Kolis barked, startling both the goddess and me. “Excuse me.” He rose, looking at me. “I will return shortly.”
The goddess turned from where she sat perched on one of the chairs, watching Kolis stalk from the chamber. Then she looked at me.
I shrugged.
Long, glossy hair slid over her shoulder as she cocked her head. Drawing her plump, red lip between her teeth, she glanced at the open door, and a hint of mischief flickered across her pretty face. Her form-fitting gown slid down the length of her long legs as she stood. Lowering the parchment to her side, she approached the cage. Well, approached was too tame a word to describe how she moved.
The goddess prowled, clearly aware of how well the gown complemented her curves.
She came to a stop a foot from the bars. Under the softer glow of the light where I was, I saw that her gown was about as good at concealing her body as mine and all the gowns I’d seen the other goddesses wear.
And I could safely say that her breasts were quite perky.
She grinned as she saw where my attention had gone. “Do you like them?” she asked, her tone softly teasing. “I like yours. Perhaps not as much as dear Kraig with a K likes His Majesty, but I do find them quite enjoyable to look upon.”
I raised my brows, oddly entertained by the goddess. Her amber eyes were light, and she didn’t stare at me like the others.
Not that she didn’t look at me as if she wanted some alone time with no bars between us, because she did. But she didn’t leave my skin feeling like it was trying to detach itself from my body.
I quickly glanced at the doors, not seeing Elias or the other guards stationed out there. “What kingdom was this Sun Temple in?”
Surprise flickered across her face. “Oh, she speaks,” the goddess remarked, and my spine stiffened. “None have done so before.”
At the mention of Kolis’s other favorites, my amusement rapidly began to fade.
“But you are…different,” she added, lowering her voice. “There are rumors about you, you know. That you are the Shadowlands’ Consort.”
A prickly sensation rippled over my skin as I stared at her. This was the first indication beyond Phanos and Attes that others knew who I was, or what they may be thinking regarding my presence here. I wasn’t sure others were even aware of me, especially those who hadn’t seen me when I attempted to escape.
“The Sun Temple is located in the kingdom of Terra,” she answered in the silence.
My breath caught. Terra was a neighboring kingdom to Lasania, one that Ezra was in talks with. With the exception of the Undying Hills, much of Terra was farmland. How had I missed this? I leaned forward. “Do you have any news about Lasania? Have you heard anything about them?”
Delicate brows furrowed. “You speak of the kingdom that makes me think of tasty, layered noodles and cheese?”
“It’s not pronounced—” I stopped myself with a curt shake of my head. “Yes, I’m speaking of that one.”
“Not particularly.”
Disappointment swept through me.
“Though several of those who left offerings at the Sun Temple were from Lasania,” she said. “They mostly asked for good fortune with their work within Terra.”
