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Emmett better not fail us again, the god heard the man whisper.

But the man did not have to worry. The god could still feel Emmett’s gift blanket his skin like a sticky residue that wouldn’t go away.

Nearby, Emmett swept the entrance of the temple’s doors, his broom brushing over the same spot ever since Sebastian had neared. Although this time, the man wasn’t drunk, and Graeson would not be running off to places he shouldn’t be, not with the god in control. An intense focus shined across his features as he swept slower.

When the god removed the helmet, he inhaled. The unobstructed air was a small blessing. He turned the helmet in his hand, looking for the spot of dirt Sebastian had pointed out. On the front of the helmet, beneath the dragon’s eye, a splotch of dark red was smeared across the metal. Blood.

Sebastian’s blood, no doubt.

With his gloved hand, the god took his time cleaning it. His amusement rising as Sebastian shuffled on his feet.

Once the helmet was spotless, the god finally met Sebastian’s stare. The bruises on Sebastian’s face were even more evident without the helmet obstructing his view. The faint remnant of some emotion flickered in the back of his mind, but the god stomped it down without a second thought.

Sebastian cocked his head. “Are you one of the recent recruits, soldier?”

“Yes,sir.” The god swallowed the bile that ran up his throat every time the address left his lips.

Sebastian clicked his tongue. “Our training must lack discipline if they do not teach you to keep your gear clean.”

“My apologies, sir.”

“And you lot are supposedly the best of the best.” Sebastian’s lip curled into a grimace. “Consider my forgiveness a gift on this mostgraciousday.”

The god’s lips pressed into a fine line, but he nodded in feigned gratitude.

Sebastian shook his head before he continued down the line, with the general following behind him.

The god held back the eye roll until the helmet was in place. Then, he imagined his blade going through the prince’s body a dozen different ways. The question was neverifSebastian would die, but how?

Chapter55

GRAESON

Even from hisvantage point at the right of the podium, the god found it hard to keep an eye on everyone in the room. The group had spread out as much as possible to ensure they could keep their sights on everything.

Emmett, having discarded the broom once guests had started to arrive, now stood at the back of the room with a few other staff members.

The Tetrian women sat closer to the front, so the god didn’t have to search for them for long, especially with Euralys’ unamused grimace acting as a beacon. After their conversation two nights ago, the Tetrian warrior was still upset with him. But she had yet to confide in the others about the battle raging inside of Graeson’s body. The message was clear: no harm would come to him as long as the god stayed on the path.

The god laughed internally.

As if the little witch could hurt him.

It took the god a moment to spot Danisinia, Terin, Armen, and Moris. They sat among the other guests in the middle of the crowd, visible but hidden among the common men and women in attendance. The sickness Danisinia had been suffering the past few days seemed to have dwindled at least, for her complexion had returned to its typical golden hue.

In hushed whispers this morning, the god had overheard Terin trying to convince Danisinia to assist the arsonist, to be their eyes on the outside in case things went south. However, Danisinia had not budged. Her skills were needed inside, she had claimed.

The god, however, knew the truth. Dani wanted to be in the room so that she could kill the bullheaded king. The god also knew that if she weren’t careful, this desire would blind her. It would cloud her vision and prevent her from sticking to the goal.

Danisinia would have one chance. If she failed, the god would take matters into his own hands without hesitation. If the king were manipulating Kalisandre and making her less than who she truly was, the god would drive his blade through the bullheaded king before the man could utter a word.

To the side of the podium, the quartet began playing. Hearing the music start, those who were standing sat down, and the god straightened. It was time.

* * *

From the small window,Graeson watched the temple doors open. If he weren’t some incorporeal being right now, his heart would be thundering in his chest. Instead, the god’s heart barely reacted as the iron doors peeled open while the quartet played a slow, ethereal tune.

A man wearing an elaborate embroidery robe stepped into the room. Gold embroidery decorated the velvet fabric. Embroidered flames bedazzled with red and gold gemstones danced across the front panels of the robe. The priest’s hair that showed through the tall burgundy hat was as white as parchment. Leaning his weight on the staff in his left hand, the priest strolled down the center of the black aisle. Atop the golden staff was a dragon with its tail wrapped around the pole. It was as if the dragon was climbing the staff, its claws wrapping around it. The dragon’s head tilted to the sky, its mouth slightly agape as if breathing fire.