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‘Yes.’

‘And I …’ I hesitated. ‘I haven’t found any reasons to favour one over the other, really. It seems neither of them is stark mad or malicious.’

‘They never were, at least.’ His eyes had that gleam of distant memories, looking back into a time far before even the wildest of my imaginings. ‘Inika was more impulsive and more short-tempered. That could be an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Zera was gentler, but she’s less likely to get involved in anything she can’t oversee. She was the last to choose sides in the War of the Gods.’

‘So what would you suggest?’

He raked a hand through his hair, considering that. ‘What suggestion would you prefer to get?’

I let out a laugh. ‘Zera.’

‘Why?’

‘Because …’ I glanced over my shoulder. No one within hearing distance. ‘Honestly, there’s no grand strategical logic behind it. The ancestors of Cathra’s humans lived in one of Zera’s cities before the plague hit. I prayed to her all my life. I’d feel like a hypocrite begging for favours from anyone else.’

He gave a single, agonisingly slow nod.

‘But if you think I should look for Inika instead,’ I hurried to add, my words tangling up on my tongue, ‘then of course—’

‘I’m not thinking anything.’

Oleander hissed sceptically.

‘That is …’ He grimaced at the snake. ‘Fine, I’m thinking a couple of things. None of them negative. If Zera is alive, if she’s still like she was a millennium ago, a personal connection is probably the best argument you can bring to her table. She is, after all, a goddess of—’

‘Love,’ I finished. ‘And … what’s the opposite? Hate?’

‘Love and grief,’ he muttered, looking away. ‘Although she insisted they were the same thing.’

His right hand had clenched into a fist. I couldn’t help glancing down at the small black bargain mark that glistened on the inside of his wrist – a sign of life as reassuring as an executioner’s axe about to drop.

‘I see,’ I managed.

‘So.’ He cleared his throat, pulling himself together with a shake of his head. ‘You could aim for the temple in Zera’s woods. It would be a sensible place to start looking, and it’s relatively close to Lyckfort, too. If anyone gives you trouble over that decision …’ A slight tremble at the corners of his lips. ‘Send them to me. I’ll give my helpful and fully unbiased expert opinion.’

I snorted. ‘How very fae.’

‘Use it to your best advantage,’ he said dryly, stepping back. ‘I need to go. I’m sorry I can’t be around for longer, but keep me informed if there’s anything else I can do. And … Em?’

‘Yes?’

‘You …’ He pressed his lips into a brief line. ‘You were serious? About Lyckfort?’

I blinked. ‘I’m notthatcruel.’

‘No,’ he admitted wryly. ‘I’m just ruined by centuries of life at the Crimson Court. Let me know when you’re leaving. I’ll try to be there.’

Chapter 4

IfoundCreonloungingin one of the armchairs in the corner of his bedroom, eyes fixed on a sheet of parchment in his hand, a small frown drawing lines between his brows. Some thorny question about the movements of constellations, probably – but before I could steal a glance at his notes and confirm that suspicion, he shoved the parchment into the nearest pile of books without granting it another look.

And?

‘Tared and Agenor,’ I said, throwing myself into the chair by his side with a dramatic groan, ‘are concerned about my unspoiled innocence and the terrible influence some savage brute like you may have on my pure and uncorrupted mind. Apparently they’ve gotten the idea I might be susceptible to – brace yourself –seduction.’

His scarred eyebrow slowly climbed to an eloquent position halfway up his forehead.The gods know where they picked up that impossible notion.

A bitter laugh escaped me. ‘I should have followed your strategy and glared haughtily at you whenever they’re around. No one seems to have considered you might be interested in anything except cruel tricks.’