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There’s a beat of silence, then—

“I thought Fierion and Nyxos were the gods of light and dark?”

Janus pours himself a glass of the same liquor. “Fierion and Nyxos came later, after the Otherworld was formed. These were the proto gods—the ones creation was born from,” he says, turning his gaze to the wall. “This captures the moment Brennus defeated his foe and banished him to the far corner of the universe. This is the moment the Otherworld came to be.”

I tap my finger against my glass. “What about the Mother and the Father?”

“They, too, came later. They were the children of these first gods.”

“This is all vastly fascinating,” Des cuts in, “but perhaps we can get to the point of the visit?” He lounges in his seat, glass in hand, his legs splayed out.

Janus drags his attention from the mural. “Do my stories bore you, Night King?”

“Yes,” Des says flatly.

The corner of Janus’s mouth lifts. “Fine. Onto the bloody battle.”

“I saw you dealt with your enemies the old-fashioned way,” the King of Night says, bringing the dark green liquor to his lips.

The Day King raises an eyebrow. “I hear yours are still living.” He leans forward. “Tell me, Flynn, how did you manage that?”

Des’s eyes move to me, a hint of a devilish smile on his face. “Ididn’t.”

Janus follows his gaze. “Your human stopped an army?” Only now does the Day King truly study me. “Pray tell, how didthathappen?”

I narrow my eyes. Fairies as a whole think humans are beneath them. Even though I’m a siren and now a fae one at that, in many fairy’s eyes, I will always be a coarse mortal.

“Cherub, perhaps you can give Janus a demonstration?”

I hesitate. I don’t know what the penalty for glamouring a king is, but back on earth, that shit was a no-no.

Janus takes a sip of his drink, watching me over the rim. “Seems your mate is not up to the task,” he goads.

You know what,fine.

I set my drink aside and uncross my legs, rolling my shoulders back and letting the siren wake.

She stretches out like a cat basking in the sun. I feel my scales ripple to life along my forearms, and my wings itch to manifest.

As soon as my skin brightens, Janus sits a little straighter, his gaze drawn to me.

I rise to my feet, power rippling through my veins.

“The great Day King,” I say, my voice harmonizing. “So very cocky. Stand for me.”

Janus’s brows furrow as he rises to his feet. “What are you doing?”

I step up to him, taking his drink from his hands and tossing it aside. The glass shatters against the mural, spraying emerald liquid everywhere. “Giving you my demonstration,” I say. “That is what you wanted from me, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he says softly, quizzically. His gaze is pinned to mine.

I can sense his rising magic. It thickens the air, smelling like sandalwood and blazing like the sun.

There’s one thing that fairies exert particular control and restraint over. One thing that will truly prove my power.

“Show me your wings, Janus.”

For a moment, nothing happens. The Day King continues to stare at me with spellbound eyes. Then he frowns and staggers a half step.