Page 107 of As Above, So Below

I don’t know what Nektos has planned for me, but it’s clear she’s been trying to intervene for centuries. I’m not sure howIcan alter or change the realms, or how Ryc ties into it, but now I know this strange draw, these sudden desires and wants—none of it has been of my own design.

Which means Ryc is as much a pawn in this game of the gods as I am. One that has been given the misfortune of being compelled to seek out a demon, no less. Of the two of us, I’m not sure who’s been dealt the worse hand.

“The night of the fight,” I begin, laughing bitterly, “you knew then?”

She nods. “But it’s not like I could tell you, not without others overhearing when he clearly wanted to keep a low profile. It’s not the first time he’s shown up to fights like that. He just usually keeps to himself in that corner.”

“Gods, I wish you would have found a way to tell me, Camille,” I sigh, my brows furrowing.

“Listen, even if I could have, I wouldn’t have,” she says, shaking her head in a slow toss. “I don’t know what King Alaryc wants with you, and I’m not about to get involved in any mess involving him. Bad for business.”

King Alaryc.

I stare across the bar at the spot where Ryc and I had stood the night of the fight. Battling against the raging unease and self-loathing for not seeing it sooner. Gods, I’m nothing short of an imbecile.

“My friends call me Ryc.”His words ring in my mind.

“Good fucking gods, Ves,” Eve shouts as the door swings open, and she storms into the tavern.

She stops, her eyes narrowing as she stares at me—assessing me with confusion. Her eyes catch on the silver band on my little finger, and her brows raise. The expression on her face shifts, setting in a scowl as she stalks toward me, one of my robes draped over her arm.

“Artemise ispissed,” she says, throwing my robe at me.

I snag it out of the air before it hits me in the face.

I figured she would be.

“Did he send guards to the temple?” I ask, unfurling the tangled mess in my hands.

“No. Not yet at least,” she answers as she reaches for me.

Pulling my face around by my chin, she inspects me for injury.

“You lost that guard before coming here?” she asks.

“I did.”

“Good.”

Her eyes swing to Camille. “How much to keep this quiet?”

A dark brow arches on Camille’s face. “For you, a thousand gold. For Ves, nothing.” She gives Eve a playful wink. “These guys won’t say anything either,” she adds, gesturing to the fae sitting at the bar. “Will you, boys?”

The three males raise their pitchers and bow their heads.

She turns to me, smiling. “Regulars. They won’t remember today by the time they leave.”

“Come on, Artemise is waiting for you,” Eve says quietly, nudging me with an elbow.

Slinging the robes over my shoulders, I slip from the barstool onto my feet as I clasp and tie them into place. Raising the hood, I glance at Camille.

“Thank you for this, Camille,” I say and she nods once. “You’ve helped me more than you realize.”

“Just remember that when you’re crowned Sovereign Queen,” she teases.

Eve sends her a withering glare.

Grabbing me by the elbow, Eve leads me toward the door. “Not going to happen, Camille,” she shoots over her shoulder and Camille begins to laugh.