The Love Test (Gods of the Universe: Book 2)

One

Three years later

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Onyx and I turned seventeen today. Our parents are throwing a huge party to celebrate, and every god and goddess in existence is invited. My brother is thrilled.

I am not.

I keep getting bad feelings. Usually my twin trusts my feelings; today he swore up and down that he does. But he doesn't think anything will happen.

I don't speak to him as we stand on the balcony overlooking the crowd. They try to make conversations with each other, but Onyx and both I know everyone in the room is staring at us.

I feel all of Onyx's attention focus on one thing. The door. I slowly trail my eyes across my room to see what his fuss is about, and my blood goes cold.

I can tell by her aura that she's a goddess. But why is she here? Her aura doesn't match my brother's, green with tendrils of green that look vaguely like vines. No, this goddess's aura is black as can be with a reddish tint, and it gives me the chills.

She's not a goddess of death.

She's beautiful in a scary way. Her pale skin is accentuated by her dark black hair, and from here I can see her eyes are a cold, calculating black, too. She's wearing an ink-black dress that hides her feet and shimmers slightly, and there is the faint outline of wings behind her back. I know exactly who she is.

Eris, Greek goddess of strife.

"She scares me," I mutter to my brother.

"I know," he comforts. "I have to talk to everyone, though." He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in for a hug. "I'll be fine. I swear."

I swallow nervously but nod. I trust my brother.

"Ladies and gentlemen, gods and goddesses!" My father's voice rings out from behind my brother, and I just barely withhold a jump. "Thank you for coming tonight! As you know, we celebrate my son's seventeenth birthday today-" I suck in a quiet breath "-so it is my honor to present to you Onyx Starr!" The goddesses clap. I almost roll my eyes; they're all fawning over him.

I feel my father's eyes on me. "Oh, and my daughter, Ruby. Choose wisely, my son!" And just like that, all the attention is back on my brother.

I don't resent him for it. Attention's not really my thing; I like to operate behind the scenes. Besides, it's not Onyx's fault he's a Goddess Husband and my father likes him better. I suppose it's my fault for not being born earlier so I could have been in the competition with Lana Alcina. Onyx and I are only two years younger than her; according to my father, it should have been no problem for me to travel back in time and get myself chosen in Lana Alcina's competition.

Yeah. Makes no sense to me, either. He doesn't know about the auras that get people chosen; I don't think anyone does. I only never told anyone except for Onyx about the God Spouse auras I see because he never saw them.

"Ruby, don't just stand there," my father spits through a forced smile. "Get your ass down there and talk about Onyx!"

I snap out of my thoughts before my father can start yelling. "Yes, Father," I say quietly, adjusting my high heels so I don't trip hurrying down the stairs.

Earlier today, my best friends Zoe Ablesken, Emily Pistos, and my boyfriend Felix Fallere, helped me into a thigh-high single-strap dress made of several layers of sheer emerald green silk that matches my eyes. Coincidentally, it also matches Onyx's aura. My brown skin is smoother than its ever been, and my hair is a midnight sheet cascading down my back. I absolutely refused makeup, but Emily somehow managed to convince me that dark red lipstick was a perfect idea. I feel...weird.

Also, if I absolutely have to admit it to anyone out loud, a little bit sexy.

"Ruby!"

The feminine voice makes me want to sigh. Instead, I plaster a smile and turn around to face the goddess behind me.

"Iris!" I squeal, hurrying over to her. Her twin sister Arke appears next to her, shy and smiling as she tries to get a glimpse of my brother. "Arke! Hi, I haven't seen you guys in so long!"

As Iris chatters on and on about whatever she did last weekend, I admire the goddess's auras. Surprisingly, despite being the goddesses of rainbows, neither Iris nor Arke's aura is more than one color. Iris's is a pastel yellow and her sister's is slightly iridescent purple, matching the faint outline of their respective wings.

I think Arke might suspect I see more than I let on. She studies me in a way that says she knows all my secrets. I suppose being quiet and slightly introvert has its advantages; you usually know more than people think because they forget you're there.

I should know. My father has my brother eternally in the spotlight, while I'm forced to stand aside and look pretty. As they say, it's not easy being cheesy.

"...and I've never in my life seen a dress this color!" Iris exclaims, running a hand over the strap on my shoulder. "You must tell me where you got it."

I blink and step away. "Um, there's a great store around the corner," I answer.

Iris gasps. Arke looks annoyed. "Oh, Ruby, please take me there some day! I'd simply love to get a dress exactly like yours..."

I tune out as another wave of dread washes over me. Dread and fear and horror hit me like bricks, making me shiver.

Something isn't right.

"Come on, Iris," Arke says softly, her pale hair glinting in the fairy lights we've (I've) strung up around the room. "Ruby has things to do."

"Yes, alright," Iris agrees as her twin drags her away. "Give me a call, Ruby, okay?"

"Sure," I call back distractedly, already turning away, searching for Onyx.

I push through the deities, their colors overwhelming and only adding to my panic. I mutter excuses and apologies as push comes to shove-literally-and I can't find him. Anywhere.

Finally, I see him, but my dread only grows. He's talking to Eris, and his aura is...different. Tainted.

Panic sneak attacks me and grabs my heart, clouds my mind. I'm distantly aware that what I'm doing is stupid, but at this moment I only care for my brother's safety. I march over the pair, who actually seem to be hitting it off nicely (not a good thing when it's your brother and the goddess of chaos), and take Onyx's arm in a death grip, forcing a smile.

I seem to be doing that a lot these days.

"Hi," I say with false sweetness. "You must be Eris, Greek goddess of discord."

Eris smiles chillingly. "Why yes," she answers. Everything in her voice tells me she knows exactly why I came over here. "I'm so pleased someone recognises me on sight. You must be Ruby Starr, Onyx's sister!"

Must I? "That's me," I say with a laugh. Eris laughs with me and holds out her hand; I don't hesitate to grab it and shake, eager to see what she's hiding.

I can see into people's minds via touch when I try. What I see in Eris's mind chills me to the bone marrow.

Death. Pain. Discord.

Ultimate chaos.

My smile is probably a grimace by now. "Well, Lady Eris, it's been a pleasure meeting you, but I have some things to discuss with my brother," I say, already dragging him away.

Eris pouts. Literally pouts. "Well, if you insist," she says with mock reluctance. "Hurry back!"

I nod and turn around, letting my painfully false smile drop at last. "Come on, Onyx," I mutter, dragging my protesting twin up the stairs. "We've things to discuss."

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First, a huge thank you to everyone currently reading this book. I'm so thankful you all exist.

Second, The Love Test takes place during Lana and Anubis's wedding. Lana is about 19 and immortal, and Ruby and Onyx are both 17.

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