Page 11 of Gods of Prey (Parallel Prey #3)

“Sienna?” I repeat, pretending ignorance. “As in...” I open my arms, gesturing toward the event in her honor.

“My sister, yes,” Sebastian says tightly, his eyes never leaving my face.

“I saw her,” Jovie insists, turning to Sebastian.

“It was just like our wedding. And she’s appeared multiple times since.

Including this afternoon, while I was waiting for my coffee.

She was just standing there, watching me.

Then she smiled and mouthed my name before disappearing when someone walked by.

Just like she did a couple weeks ago, when I was taking a walk. ”

I keep my expression neutral, though inwardly I’m cursing Sienna’s impatience. We had a plan. She was supposed to ease into this, not materialize in a public coffee shop and scare the woman. Apparently she’s been playing by her own rules.

But why, why, why are they telling me this? Surely, mortals don’t share with strangers that they think they’ve seen the ghost of their dead sister. Is this a test? Do they suspect something of me?

“Grief makes us see things sometimes,” I offer carefully.

“I’m not grieving anymore,” Jovie says firmly. “I know what I saw. And for some weird reason, I feel like you know, too.” She hesitates, looking between Sebastian and me.

Okay, so she’s not afraid of the ghost of Sienna at all.

Sebastian’s hand tightens around his champagne flute. “Stardust, please. Not here.”

An uncomfortable silence falls between the three of us. I need to salvage this situation.

“The mind is a mysterious thing,” I say softly. “As are the connections between people who care deeply for each other. Some bonds transcend even death.”

Sebastian’s eyes snap to mine, sudden suspicion flaring. “That’s an interesting perspective from someone who supposedly specializes in medical research.”

“I have varied interests,” I reply, holding his gaze steadily. “Philosophy, mythology...The human condition in all its forms.”

Before he can respond, there’s a commotion near the entrance of the hall. The crowd parts as security guards rush toward the doors. Sebastian immediately pulls Jovie closer, protective.

“Stay here,” he tells her, already moving toward the disturbance.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” I assure him, earning another long, suspicious glance before he strides away.

Once he’s gone, Jovie turns to me fully. “You know something,” she says, not a question but a statement. An accusation. “About Sienna.”

I hesitate, measuring my response. “What makes you think that?”

“The way you reacted when I mentioned her. And there’s something about you...” She studies me intently. “You remind me of someone, but I can’t place who.”

The lights flicker throughout the hall, plunging us momentarily into darkness before returning. When they come back on, I startle.

Standing beside me, clearly invisible to everyone else in the room, is Sienna.

“Boo,” she says, her voice lifting in jest.

I ignore her, unwilling to break this small thread of Jovie’s trust to berate the infantile goddess standing beside me with a shit-eating grin.

This is why I despise working with her. She’s so...unserious. Which is highly inconvenient when we’re dealing with the collapse of the entire fabric of the cosmos.

Jovie’s face drains of color, sensing something is off. She opens her mouth to speak, but Sebastian strides back toward us. He looks as pissed as I feel.

Just like old times.

“False alarm,” he tells Jovie, though his posture remains tense. “Someone tried to crash the party without an invitation.”

But Jovie isn’t listening. She’s staring directly at the empty space where Sienna is standing, her face ashen.

I swear to all the divine gods, if Sienna has shown herself to this woman in a room full of people, I’m going to use every ounce of power I have to send her back to Umbraeth and let the Divine Council handle them both.

I may be able to salvage some sort of deal with them on my part.

“Jovie?” Sebastian touches her arm. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The irony of his words isn’t lost on me, and I fight to keep my expression neutral.

“Nothing,” Jovie whispers, finally looking up at Sebastian. Her fingers absently trace the lines of her necklace.

Sebastian’s face hardens as he turns to me. “What did you say to her while I was gone?”

“Nothing,” I reply honestly. “We were just talking when the lights flickered.”

“I need to go home,” Jovie says suddenly. “Please, Bash. I don’t feel well.”

Sebastian immediately wraps an arm around her, but his eyes remain fixed on me, suspicion and anger brewing in their depths. “Of course. Let’s go.”

As they turn to leave, Jovie looks back over her shoulder at me, her expression a mix of fear and curiosity. I give her a slight nod, confirming that this isn’t over.

“Sleep well, Jovie,” I call after them. “Dreams often bring clarity.”

Sebastian pauses, turning back slowly. “What did you just say?”

It’s a phrase he used to say in Aurelys—a blessing he would give to troubled sleepers.

“Just wishing her a good night’s rest,” I reply innocently. “She seems shaken.”

His eyes narrow, but Jovie tugs him away, eager to leave. I watch them go, Sienna’s invisible form still beside me.

“That went well,” I mutter sarcastically, rounding on her to berate, “That is not what we discussed.”

“She senses me,” Sienna replies, a hint of wonder in her voice. She’s unaffected by my rage.

“And now Sebastian is more suspicious than ever. Perfect timing, by the way.”

“I was bored, and you weren’t getting anywhere,” she snaps. “They already suspected I’m around.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “At least now the door is open. She’ll have questions. Lots of them.”

“Do you think she’ll tell Sebastian everything?” Sienna asks, watching the doors through which her brother and his love just exited.

“Without a doubt,” I reply. “The question is whether he’ll believe her or convince her she’s imagining things.”

She turns to me, determination hardening her features. Once again, I get the sense she’s hiding something. “He’ll believe her.”

I stare back, taking in the fierce set of her jaw, the fire in her eyes that makes even her spectral form seem solid and powerful. In that moment, I glimpse not just the Goddess of Death, but the sister fighting for her twin, the woman who’s endured centuries of punishment and pain.

As we leave the gala, I can’t help but notice how Sienna moves closer to me as we walk, our steps falling into perfect synchrony. For all our bickering and past enmity, we’re united now by purpose. And something about that feels inexplicably right.