Page 49 of In Death’s Hands (The Threads of Fate #1)

“What’s yours, then?” I ask Nathan.

“He’s—”

“You already know mine,” says Nathan, cutting Atys off.

Death’s assistant. Right. I nod and look around. Anywhere else to avoid his face and the memories it brings.

“Soooo…” I start. “Am I supposed to use those?” I’m pretty sure my nose wrinkles as I ask.

“Please don’t.”

“No need, pumpkin.”

They speak at the same time. A study in contrasts both in their answers and their expressions. But at least they agree on my not using their titles. I would have felt silly.

Atys grabs my hand and puts it back on his forearm.

“Friends don’t use titles. And you and I are friends, right?

” he asks brightly, but his eyes are guarded, and I get the sense that he feels unsteady with this question.

Like he’s afraid of my answer. It makes my heart warm to think that he truly wants to be friends with me.

That maybe even Origins can be as lonely as I often feel.

When I nod, his eyes sparkle, and he squeezes my hand once before turning to Nathan.

“However, your title is even more impressive than mine, Nathan . Are you certain you don’t want our lovely dove here using it? ”

Nathan’s face darkens, and I find myself inching closer to hear his answer through his gritted teeth.

“The titles are meaningless.” His eyes burn but are fixed on the Origins still eavesdropping on us without shame.

The busybodies all find something else to focus on, many of them even scattering around the garden.

“Meaningless?” I frown. “Don’t they show the way your society works?”

He drags his eyes back to me and sets me aflame.

I take a deep breath, trying to be discreet about it, about the fact that contrary to the people around us, his type of fire isn’t something that makes me want to run away.

No. It makes me want to burn with him. His eyes dip to my mouth and everything in me stops.

But once again I remember that the fire I feel for him is only one-sided.

He said kissing me was a mistake, so everything I feel is one too.

That thought is enough to quench the flames and leave nothing but smoke behind.

He seems to sense the change in me because he answers quietly, his eyes back on mine but guarded, the deep dark impenetrable. “We don’t remember what our society was. We borrowed titles from the humans and figured out a chain of command based on the power we each hold in our veins.”

I clear my throat, still feeling overwhelmed by his mere presence but trying hard to hide it.

“Whether things were like that before or not doesn’t really matter, does it?

It doesn’t change the fact that now there is a specific order and chain of command that you all follow.

Our world has seen many different kinds of leadership changes, but each one followed rules.

A society needs some, I guess.” I shrug, not certain I’m being clear.

Not even certain I know what my point is.

Nathan blinks at me, tilting his head sideways. “Does it mean you want to start addressing Atys as ‘His Lordship’?” he asks with a smirk that does things to me.

I choke a bit before finding my breath. “No. No, I don’t think I will.” I press my lips together to stop them from curling up.

Atys bumps his hip against mine. “I’d say I’m offended, but I already gave you a pass.”

I shrug. “I don’t think it matters anyway, since I’m not part of your world.

Just a passing ship trying not to sink.” It was meant as a joke, but both of them turn sombre.

And I guess there is no joke to be found in survival.

“What’s going on here exactly? Are they all coming with us?

” I jerk my chin to the nosy people dressed to the nines as I ask no one in particular, wanting to change subjects.

As I wait for an answer, my eyes can’t help but fall back on Nathan, who is frowning so deeply I question the idea that I ever saw any kind of warmth in him. And if I ever will again.

“We’re waiting to go to court,” answers Turan as she arrives in a flourish of pink tulle and ribbons.

I frown, trying to understand her dress.

There’s some sort of sleeveless bodice with a dark pink underside covered with pieces of black lace, and the skirt is made of tulle in a lighter pink.

But there’s just so much of it, you can barely see the tiny woman wearing it.

I don’t know what to say, so I keep quiet and look to Atys and Nathan flanking me as they observe their friend.

Nathan’s eyes are as wide as his open mouth as he takes her in, and Atys is absolutely no help as he starts cackling like a fiend.

Turan frowns at us and looks down at herself, smoothing some pieces of tulle with her hands.

It doesn’t do anything to reduce the volume of the thing.

I clamp my mouth shut, refusing to be the sort of person who comments on what another woman is wearing.

But the betrayed look she throws me tells me I’m failing pathetically.

“I don’t care what you all think! I like this dress.

” She crosses her arms and gives a sullen look that breaks my composure, and I sadly join Atys.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I catch my breath. “It does look fancy, if that makes you feel better.”

She looks down her nose at me, which is an impressive thing considering I’m a head taller than she is, and says, “It doesn’t.”

Fair enough. Although, her outfit would fit right in if she were about to step on a catwalk to present one of those strange haute couture lines I never understand anything about.

“You look lovely,” says Nathan, completely serious. “As do you,” he adds with a prolonged look at me. Surprise ripples down my spine and steals any thinking skills I may have possessed.

“Thank you,” I answer, awkwardly shifting on my feet and glancing down to break his stare. But I can still feel his eyes on me as I look up and focus on Turan. “You do look gorgeous, Turan. I didn’t mean to make fun of you. It’s just that your dress is… unique.”

“Oh, pish posh,” she says, waving her hand in the air. “Not everyone can have my fashion sense,” she adds with a wink. “Is she ready?” she asks the men flanking me.

“Ready for what?” I ask, my stomach tightening all of a sudden.

Turan gasps in outrage as she throws accusatory glances to Atys and Nathan. “What were you doing before I arrived? I told you to prep her.”

They both look somewhat sheepish, which doesn’t do anything to reassure me.

“We got sidetracked,” defends Nathan weakly, scratching the back of his neck.

“We did talk about titles!” adds Atys, puffing up his chest slightly.

“Ah, good! You scared me for a minute,” says Turan, looking very much like pink personified.

“Last time was a special circumstance, and, although unfortunate, I’m sure Cel understands.

” I frown, failing to see what their leader should understand.

Turning to me, Turan adds, “But we can’t have a repeat now.

It’s important you show proper manners and address everyone appropriately. ”

“Huh?”

For once, my lack of eloquence seems answer enough, and all I see is her red face and murderous eyes before dark envelops us all and the now familiar feeling associated with Fading takes over.

We reappear exactly where we did the last time we were here.

Except this time, it doesn’t look so grandiose.

Big staircase in front of us, no natural light, green velvet drapes everywhere.

I could almost see an old vampire movie being filmed here.

Around me, the group of Origins stays quiet, and I wonder why they came.

Their eye colours vary from deep blue to green to brown, making me think they come from different Crowns.

The silence is growing uncomfortable, and I look at my friends for guidance, but Turan is still throwing mental daggers at the men flanking me.

As one, the group moves to the door, and I stumble to keep up.

I eye the handle of the tiny door but only see gold this time, and I wonder if I imagined the red string around it the last time.

I know what to expect and brace myself as we enter, but the room still manages to send my nervous system into overdrive.

I think I convinced myself that my memories were exaggerating, but it’s exactly as I remember it.

Golden frames, room full of fancy-looking people.

Except this time, they’re all quiet and already fixed on me.

When my feet hit the marble floor, the cold reminds me I’m still barefoot. My eyes widen and I seriously consider running back out.

You know that dream everyone talks about, the one where you realise you’re naked while in class, or during an important work meeting?

Well, I’ve never had it. My dreams often bring on stranger horrors, like losing all my teeth or being chased by serial killers, or even fighting monsters while on grand quests.

But I’m guessing after today, that naked nightmare will haunt me for the rest of my life.

I never thought I’d see the day when Atys was more appropriately dressed than me.

After bowing, the group quickly scatters, letting me, Nathan, Atys and Turan face the ridiculous dais at the centre.

I steel myself, knowing their leader is really not keen on me but that we need her help to find out the truth.

I really shouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point, but here I am, barely breathing as I take in Celestina wearing a shimmery white negligee that barely reaches her plump thighs.

I audibly swallow as my eyes fail to avoid taking in the garment, which does nothing to hide her large breasts.

And here I was worrying about my lack of shoes…

“Back so soon?” Her voice sends chills down my spine.

Turan, to my surprise, steps forward with a warm smile. “Hello, Supreme.” She bows her head in deference that I don’t think is faked.