The God & The Shadow

Chapter 38

LORE

"Gods. What I would do to lay in bed all day instead of this bullshit."

"You didn't have to join us, goddess." I quipped.

Florens cursed and shifted in front of me on the horse. We had left the kingdom before sunrise and prepared for the Kottran ball hours prior.

Everyone wore coats over their formal clothing— the pearls on Florens' hair and the small crown on Olivia's the only visible indications as to where we were headed.

It was Wilton's idea to take only five horses so as to not attract too much attention and waste time on us all having a horse to each, especially when some of them didn't know how to commandeer one.

I would've agreed without question, if it weren't for her body pressed against the angel's on the horse several feet ahead ours.

She was sleeping once more with her thick wool coat wrapped around her body and her head leaning against Nixon's shoulder. I couldn't blame her— I knew her nightmares had plagued her every night since the Blacksmith.

What I didn't understand was how she could close her eyes and sleep herself to a state of unconsciousness in the arms of such a vile creature; isn't that the one subliminal thing an assassin must possess? To not trust anyone?

"You're gawking." Florens said through her teeth.

"I'm not." I argued.

"Please. I can't even see you right now and I know you are. Your anger often radiates through the air." She waved her hands through the air in emphasis.

I pulled her hands down. "Yes and your mouth often talks too loud. Keep it down."

"What? Afraid I might wake up your girlfriend and she might hear?" Florens leaned back and whispered while turning her head to me. "Oh wait, she isn't your girlfriend. I mean, how could she when she has this handsome, hunky, valiant angel always following her around?"

"She's right you know." Hermes teased as his horse galloped beside mine. Warren was vehemently nodding behind him, book in hand.

I scoffed at them. "You all don't know what you're talking about."

Warren closed his book and dropped it to his legs with a thud. "And clearly, you don't either."

"Careful, warlock— you forget too easily." I said in a light tone, but the threat carried itself like a blade that cut the smile off of the immortal's face.

I rolled my eyes at them and turned my gaze back forward. The angel's back was all I could see now, his arms no longer rested on his side.

Was he embracing her? Was he touching her? Did she finally wake? Was she comfortable in his arms?

Veronica was more than capable of defending herself, but I couldn't deny the selfishness growing within me to do nothing but protect her.

There were many things she had yet to learn, and I wanted to be the one to show her.

And yet, she didn't choose you. Not today, at least.