Page 31 of Gods of Prey (Parallel Prey #3)

“Sounds pretentious,” I mutter, though none of them can hear me in my invisible state.

Sebastian laughs, the sound warm and genuine. “Remember the first time you heard them, Rev? You stood there for three days straight, completely mesmerized.”

Revel’s expression softens with the memory. “I’d never experienced anything like it. In Umbraeth, everything is so...quiet.”

Peaceful , I want to correct him, then jump down his throat for mentioning my home at all. Not in that tone. It’s serene. Not everything needs to be a constant sensory assault.

I’m still too wound up from our conversation before.

“The beings there are incredible too,” Revel continues, and something in his tone makes me materialize slightly, just enough to see his face clearly.

“The light-weavers create art from pure energy. The song-speakers communicate entirely through melody. And the life-shapers...” He trails off, a distant smile playing at his lips.

“What about them?” Jovie asks, leaning forward with interest.

“They’re luminous. Literally made of living light. When they laugh, it sounds like wind chimes in a summer breeze. And when they dance—” Revel’s voice takes on a quality I’ve never heard before, soft and almost tender. “It’s like watching starlight come alive.”

My form solidifies completely without my permission, anger flaring through me like wildfire. The temperature in the room drops several degrees.

Revel notices, his head turning toward where I hover in the corner. Sebastian and Jovie still have their backs to me.

I force myself back to invisibility, but the damage is done. I can feel Revel’s eyes searching the space where I’d appeared, and I know he sensed my reaction.

“The life-shapers sound fascinating,” Jovie says, oblivious to the tension. “Will I meet them when we go?”

“Of course,” Sebastian replies.

Revel’s distracted eyes keep drifting to my corner.

“They’ll adore you. Especially Lyralei. She’s one of the Divine Council members. The Goddess of the Elements.” Sebastian goes on. “She spends most of her time with the life-shapers. When she’s there, she has this way of making everyone feel welcome.”

Everyone except me , I think bitterly. I remember Lyralei’s barely concealed disdain during our punishment hearing, the way she’d wrinkled her nose when our fates were decided.

“What about Umbraeth?” Jovie asks suddenly. “What else is Sienna’s realm like?”

The question hangs in the air, and I can practically feel everyone’s discomfort. Sebastian shifts slightly in his chair, while Revel suddenly becomes very interested in his hands.

“It’s . . . different,” Sebastian says diplomatically.

“Different how?”

“Umbraeth is where all souls retire when they’re done reincarnating,” Revel begins. When Jovie’s brows pinch together in the silent question, he adds, “It’s also where some of the worst beings are sent for punishment.”

Her mouth forms an O shape. “And is it Sienna who delivers these punishments?”

I materialize again, unable to help myself. “You mean they haven’t told you how terrible the Goddess of Death is? How horrible my home is?”

Jovie startles at my sudden appearance, but her expression quickly shifts to curiosity rather than fear. “I was wondering when you’d be back. I didn’t see you leave.”

“Oh, I’ve been here the whole time,” I say, drifting closer to the group. “Listening to them marvel about the wonders of Aurelys.”

Revel’s jaw tightens. “Sienna?—”

“What? Isn’t that what you were doing?” I turn to Jovie, who’s watching our exchange with growing interest. “Let me paint you a more balanced picture of the divine realms, shall I?”

“Sienna, don’t,” Sebastian warns in a low growl, but I ignore him.

“Aurelys,” I begin, my voice dripping with false sweetness, “is indeed full of light. Blinding, inescapable light that burns your eyes if you’re not used to it.

The music never stops. Ever. Which means you can never have a moment of true quiet or peace.

There’s not a single soul who enters Umbraeth for their retirement and doesn’t breathe out a sigh of relief at the peace it provides compared to Aurelys.

And all those ‘luminous beings’ Revel was rhapsodizing about?

They spend their days writhing on top of one another and look down on anyone who doesn’t radiate pure life energy. ”

“That’s not—” Revel starts.

“Isn’t it?” I whirl on him. “I accidentally walked in on Revel with one of the lovely servants of Aurelys when he summoned me for help. Lyra .”

Her name feels sour in my mouth, only because I’ve attached so much jealousy to it.

Revel’s silence is answer enough.

“Now, Umbraeth,” I continue, turning back to Jovie, “is quiet. Peaceful. The light is soft and silver, easy on the eyes. The beings there understand that death isn’t something to be feared—it’s a natural part of the cycle.

They’re contemplative, wise, and they don’t judge you based on how much light you emit. ”

“It sounds lovely,” Jovie says gently. “I’d like to see it sometime.”

Her genuine interest catches me off guard. Sebastian and Revel exchange glances, but Jovie seems completely sincere.

“You would?”

“Of course. If I’m going to be part of this world, I want to understand all of it. Not just the seemingly pretty parts.”

Something warm unfurls in my chest. Before I can respond, Revel clears his throat.

“The life-shapers aren’t prejudiced, Sienna. They’re just focused on their own domain.”

“Focused,” I repeat flatly. “Is that what you call it?”

Sebastian is watching us like we’re a particularly volatile chemistry experiment. “Maybe we should?—”

“No, let’s keep going,” I interrupt, floating closer to Revel. “Tell us about your role in Aurelys, Revel.”

Revel’s jaw tightens. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Really? Because a moment ago you had a lot to say.” I spit out, my voice mocking.

“You’re being ridiculous,” he says, but there’s color rising in his cheeks.

“Am I? Or are you just realizing how your fond reminiscing sounds to someone who has been stuck listening to it?”

The room falls silent except for the sound of Seattle rain against the windows. Jovie looks between us with growing understanding, while Sebastian appears to be wishing he could disappear.

“I think,” Jovie says carefully, “that maybe we should talk about something else.”

But I’m too angry to let it go. The image of Revel surrounded by luminous, beautiful beings while I languished in punishment burns in my mind.

“By all means,” I say to Revel, my voice deadly quiet. “Tell us more about your professional relationships with all the beings in Aurelys. Specifically the ones with a hole for you to stick your?—”

Revel stands abruptly. “That’s enough.”

“Is it? Because I’m just getting started.”

“Sienna,” Sebastian warns, but I’m beyond caring.

“What’s wrong, Revel? Don’t want to share stories about your time in paradise? About all the luminous beings who appreciated your...stewardship?”

The accusation hangs in the air like poison. Revel’s eyes flash with something dangerous.

“You want to know about Lyra?” he says, his voice low and controlled. “Fine. She’s brilliant. Dedicated. Kind. Everything you seem incapable of being right now.”

The words hit like physical blows into my chest. I feel my form flicker, my control wavering.

“Get out,” I whisper.

“What?”

“Get out of my sight before I do something we’ll both regret.”

Revel stares at me for a long moment, then turns to Sebastian and Jovie. “I think we should continue this conversation another time.”

As he heads for the door, he pauses, looking back at me with something that might be disappointment.

“For what it’s worth, Sienna, I never compared them to you. There’s no comparison.”

The door closes behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone with Sebastian and Jovie and the weight of what just happened.

“That went well,” Sebastian says into the silence.

I don’t respond. I’m too busy trying to figure out why Revel’s words hurt so much. Why I felt the incessant need to push him so far. And why the thought of him with someone else makes me want to tear Aurelys apart with my bare hands.