Page 111 of As Above, So Below

I truly have not been the only one hunting.

Passing through the winding corridors from the gardens to dining hall doors, I push them open. A few faces turn in my direction, and on instinct I lower my gaze to the floor. They quickly lose interest and return to their conversations and meals.

Cora, Eve, Aenwyn, and Opal sit at the usual table, near the center of the room, engaged in conversation over their dinner—a pasta dish tonight, judging by what I can see.

I’m not sure I want to sit with them.

There’s too much on my mind for me to be good company. And I wouldn’t even bother eating if my stomach didn’t require it. No, I need to be alone. I need to process.

Wedging myself into the front of the line, I grab a bowl of pasta, sweep past to fetch a glass of water and silverware, and leave the dining hall—not caring about the stares or whispers.

Repercussions be damned.

Crossing the hall, I push open the doors and return to the quiet of the gardens. The sky is ablaze with the orange, red, pinks, and yellows of the sunset. A breathtaking sight I can’t be bothered to admire because my thoughts linger on Ryc and the mess I’ve created.

The gardens lie mostly empty, and I claim a seat at a small stone table in the northwestern corner. Heaving a sigh, I settle in and mindlessly eat. It’s a strange concoction of beef, vegetables, and lentils in a tomato sauce—spiced poorly. Having learned my lesson letting meals go cold, I force myself to eat while it’s still hot.

Eve seats herself next to me, an apple and knife in one hand, a half empty glass of water in the other. She folds a leg under her as she sits on the bench, and setting her glass down, begins to cut away at her apple.

“You wear a face,” she says casually, her eyes raking over me.

Judging my glamour, I assume.

I chuckle, pulling my hair over a shoulder. It’s jet black. That, in tandem with Eve’s recognition, tells me I wear the same appearance as the other day at The Lioness.

“As do you.” I crack a small smile.

Eve laughs, her smile brightening her eyes. “No, as in you’re making a face.”

Again, I’m reminded of Vaelyn.

“You have that look about you, Ves.”I can hear his voice.

Chuckling as I stab at the pasta with my fork, I nod. “My mind is heavily occupied by today and I couldn’t take the stares anymore.”

She nods slowly, throwing me a glance. “The temple is divided.” She pops a sliver of apple into her mouth. “There are those who thinkheended it because of you, and those who thinksheended it because of you.”

I scoff a laugh. Either way, I’m in the middle of their speculation. Amazing.

“It doesn’t matter.” I push my barely eaten bowl of pasta away. If I continue to eat, I’m going to make myself sick.

“You’re right,” she says through her chewing. She swallows. “But, even so, he hasn’t made any decrees for Artemise to turn you over.”

“He doesn’t have to.” The words tumble from me before I canstop myself and her eyes narrow.

I purse my lips into a tight line.

She stares at me, a firm stare of expectation, waiting for me to explain.

“Ryc is the Sovereign King.” And gods do the words sound as impossible aloud as they do in my head.

“You’re fucking joking.” The flatness of her voice matches her expression, but it quickly transforms into bewildered anger. “What in the fuck is the Sovereign King doing in The Lioness? Why would you accept a gift from him? What in the hells are you going to do now?”

The onslaught of questions continues as I stare at the bowl of pasta, unable to meet her gaze.

“He’s been following me since the night of my arrival,” I answer, heaving a sigh. “The night of Celesta’s ascension ceremony, the night of the induction, the morning in the Twilight Mire, then The Lioness, the North Docks, today…” I trail off. “He’s found me every time I’ve left the temple.”

“And you had no idea?”