Page 48

KLEOS

S ilver lived in the A quarter, nestled right between Athena’s and Apollo's temples, and though she moved in the moment she finished high school, I still wasn't familiar with that part of town.

Contrary to what my mother liked to suggest, it was perfectly agreeable, mostly filled with modest homes.

My place and Gideon's apartment were more central, hence why we generally ended up there, but every time I walked through the charming streets with little shops around Silver's home, I wished I made the effort to hang out at hers more often.

Maybe I should look for a flat there. Mother would hate it, but she'd hate my moving out no matter where I lived.

We stopped by the apothecary closest to her place on our way.We didn't have to wait long for the owner to offer his assistance.

"Abbey, this is my friend, Kleos." The white-haired, wrinkled lady inclined her head politely, pretending she didn't recognize me, though the look of surprise and recognition in her widening eyes gave her away. "Kleos, Arabella, the best brewer I know."

That was high praise, given the fact that she knew my paternal grandmother.

"We're after antidotes to love spells, if you stock them?"

"Ah yes." The woman made a face. "After the events of last night, many people have requested antidotes. I've just finished a fresh batch; good timing. Would you also like a contraceptive potion? They mix well together; I can combine them for you."

I nodded. Not that I needed it after last night but it couldn't hurt. I took one every month and was almost due for another dose.

"Good call." As the shop owner moved to the back, Silver leaned in toward me and grumbled, "I am not popping out a giant like Gideon's spawn. Or any spawn, preferably."

I chuckled at the thought of Silver as a mother. I quite simply couldn't see it. Frankly, I couldn't see myself saddled with a child either. We were twenty-three.

Naturally, Mother had other ideas of what a proper young lady ought to do with her life.

"This should make you immune to most lust potions for twelve hours, at a minimum. The contraceptive works for thirty days, though it's recommended to take the next dose at twenty-five to twenty-eight days."

"Most?" I echoed, ignoring the general directions to focus on the important bit of information.

Impervious to most lust potions wasn't comprehensive enough in my book.

The woman sighed. "There are many different potions to the same effect, often triggering your hormones and inhibition.

My brew will stop any of these from affecting you.

But there are other spells that happen to cause an increase level of desire.

Strength potions, for instance, increasesendorphins.

Or spells causing euphoria or relaxation.

They all target very different parts of our minds and bodies.

The result can be an increase in lust. What I can guarantee you is protection against regular lust spells. "

"Like the one used last night?" Silver prompted.

Arabella lifted her head proudly. "I was called to analyzed the residue found in the ventilation system. The council knows they can count on my expertise. It was Lustine—and indeed, you will be completely immune to any of its effects."

I breathed out. It made perfect sense; she was just giving a professional warning, like any disclaimer at the back of medication. Her work would fix what it could, but didn't guarantee results outside of its parameters. "Thank you."

I made a mental note to change myapothecary.

I liked the old woman here a hell of a lot more than the old man in charge of mine.

He seemed to judge me for not actively wishing to pop out babies each time I requested a contraceptive brew.

I would have learned to make it myself, if the ingredient list alone hadn't been three pages long.

I knew my limits, and specialized potions were definitely beyond my skills.

"All right. Let's see how unders party!"

For all her reasonable arguments about the reasons why we ought to visit Pan's, I couldn't help but note that Silver just seemed excited. I guessed she was curious, but wouldn't have gone to unders without a solid excuse.

Instead of walking all the way back to the Hall of Truce, we took the path between Apollo and Athena's temples, right next to the gates leading out of the city. This column opened up between two of the unders gates, rather than in the center.

"We should have asked Gideon to tag along," I grumbled nervously.

Finding my way through unders without my cousin or Lucian was a challenge.The unders town circle was as large as the entire vale's city, and I'd only ever travelled to and from King's avenue. I wasn't even certain which gates we were either side of us.

Gathering my courage, I approached the closest person—a little man with blue, slightly shimmering scales instead of skin, whose yellow eyes seemed a little like an owl's. Or a fish?"Excuse me, sir." I pointed to the nearby bus stop. "Would this be a good stop to head into Life Avenue?"

"Oh, no, no!" he shook his head vehemently, and I noticed tentacle hair writhing under his beanie. "If you took this one, it'd take you hours. Walk two gates—it's but ten minutes on foot—and take that stop. Where are you off to? At this time, I'd say Pan's?"

Lucian hadn't been kidding when he said that was a popular club. "Yes?"

"Seventh stop, right in front of. Have fun!"

He waved as we darted out. Silver looked over her shoulder twice, frowning.

"What?" I had to ask after a while.

"Nothing." She pursed her lips. "He was nice. Too nice. Isn't that suspicious?"

I had to laugh. "Oh, Silver. You're going to give yourself an ulcer before you hit thirty.

" I hooked my arm around her elbows. "From what I've seen, almost everyone's friendly enough to strangers here.

And if I need to, mentioning I happen to know Lucian is enough for them to roll out the red carpet. "

"You've very comfortable here," she noted, her voice rather small.

I smiled. No matter her reasons and excuses, she'd come here, and she wasn't immediately rejecting what she saw.

I knew she noticed the same things I did on my first trip.

The laughter. The families walking around together, children playing.

It was my first time out in the circle this late—other than yesterday night, which didn't count--and it was a lot busier than usual, which made sense: unders preferred night life.

But the general vibe hadn't changed much.

The undercity was a world away from our vale.

"Next time, we'll have to try the food stalls. You'll love them."

If anything could convince Silver, it was the absolutely delicious street food.