Part 28 (1/2)

Lantos sends his apologies for upsetting you.

”Don't!” I spun to face the silent predator landing lightly on my balcony. ”Don't make excuses for that piece of s.h.i.+t! He knew exactly what he was doing!”

It was impossible for me to see Mismatch for the first time and not be awed and just a little terrified. He folded his wings and tilted his head, his muscular frame poised.

”Tell your master you aren't welcome here,” I breathed at last.

I help you fight monsters, and you turn your back on me. You were such a sweet child.

”You ditched me and left me with Niko!”

I fought with you and left you with someone I knew wouldn't hurt you. I couldn't take you with me without my men.

”Your boss ...” My chin trembled. I clamped my jaw closed and wiped more tears away. ”I hate this place. I hate them!”

Deception is not your game.

”It's not. I'm so sick of people and their secret agendas!”

The duality of Mismatch the creature I wors.h.i.+pped as a child and the man I couldn't trust always confused me. He stretched out a wing and nudged me with it. I pushed it back but followed it with my gaze, once more entranced by the softness of its lining. I was about to tell him to stop messing with me when I realized his nature was to provoke me.

Lantos showed you the Oracle.

I hesitated then nodded. Tears of fury and fear were in my eyes again. Mismatch nudged me once more. This time, instead of pus.h.i.+ng his wing away, I buried my hands into the soft lining. He stepped closer.

”Why couldn't you tell me that up front?” I demanded, looking up at his glowing eyes.

It wasn't my place.

”It d.a.m.n well was your place! You're my creation, aren't you? Isn't there some sense of loyalty there?”

My master bid me to let him reveal it to you.

His wing wrapped around me and rolled me into the protection of his body the way it had last night. Surrounded by the heavenly softness and his scent, I didn't resist for once. I was too tired, too angry, and too cognizant of how much I loved and trusted Mismatch as a child. Those emotions were unusually strong, as if part of me was capable of separating what I felt for him during daylight from what I did at night.

At least you know I'm a monster.

His touch and presence soothed me. I didn't want it to. I wanted to stay angry. I rested my head back against his chest, thoroughly exhausted. His arms circled me, and I pulled up one hand by the thumb. ”My G.o.ds, Mismatch. You gotta trim those nails.”

Can't kill with them short.

”You shouldn't be killing at all!”

I hunt my food at night.

”That's really weird.” I relaxed into him and gazed at the gardens. ”What does a gargoyle eat?”

Grotesque. Usually something the size of a full grown sheep or deer.

”The whole thing?”

Flying requires a lot of energy.

His wing unwound and fell away, tucked at his side again, leaving me pressed against his body. I felt a tingle when Lantos flirted with me; when Mismatch or Adonis touched me, my insides ignited. At least when he was a monster, I could pretend there was nothing between us.

”I don't know what to do,” I said before I could stop myself.

Sleep. Your fate isn't yet set. You must complete two more trials before you are of use to any member of the Triumvirate.

”I can't sleep knowing I might be dragged out of here and chopped into pieces!”

I'll stand watch.

”You have to go kill a cow.”

I already ate.

His tail was tapping the gla.s.s of the French doors. I sighed and stood with him at my back. I shouldn't have trusted him more than I did anyone else. But I did. At least, at night I did. During the day, Adonis couldn't be far enough away.

”I want to go back to my forest. The one you chopped down.”

He said nothing.

Recalling how he'd destroyed my home, I moved away. ”I'm going to bed.” I closed the doors behind me, leaving him on the balcony.

A nightgown was laying out for me in the dressing room part of the bathroom. I changed and tidied up for bed, fatigue driving me to skip brus.h.i.+ng my hair in favor of arriving to my bed a minute earlier.

Sinking into the ma.s.sive bed, I stared out the window. Mismatch was perched on the balcony railing, wings tucked and muscular thighs drawing my gaze. His teal eyes were on the world outside of us.

As much as I hated to admit it, I liked the creature side of Adonis. A lot. Enough to want to curl up in his soft wings again and fall asleep. And I knew if he were here, no one could drag me away to torture me. I was safe with my monster watching over me.

I fell asleep facing the balcony.

Chapter Eighteen.

I slept in late and ate a huge breakfast before getting ready for the afternoon event. No one wore masks the next afternoon when I arrived at the garden party at the Silent Queen's court. The crowd was smaller, and the servants and guards in purple. Leandra had picked my lavender gown and done my hair and makeup again. She trailed me closely, and I could feel her excitement at being in a place more suited to her than me.

The bushes of the gardens were shaped into fantastical animals from Greek myths. Smartly dressed men and women holding champagne gla.s.ses spoke quietly in small groups around several of the bushes. Serving staff armed with trays of food and drink wove among the partygoers.

I couldn't look at anyone without thinking they wanted me torn to pieces and strung up. I ended up focusing on the rainbows of ribbons everywhere. The ribbons calmed me, fascinated me.

”Is that all these people do?” I complained to Leandra. ”Go to parties and drink?”

”Yeah,” she sighed wistfully. ”And wear amazing clothes.”

I was in another traditional dress and wearing shoes that according to Leandra didn't remotely match. But after my night, I wasn't going near anything with a heel. I also had the knife Cleon procured for me strapped to my thigh.