Page 30 of These Godly Lies
Cassius rubs the back of his neck, cringing. “For the record, I had no intention of doing anything untoward. I simply needed assurances of your honesty.”
“You had no right,” Khiran snaps.
“My lover’s name left her lips. His safety weighs more than my morality. Surely, you can understand that?”
When Khiran remains stubbornly silent, Cassius sighs. “Things aren’t as they were before you left. This past millennia… you can’t take a moment to look at the stars without fear of someone going for your throat.”
Frowning, Khiran scoffs. “It’s always been like that.”
“Maybe between his favorites, but the rest of us? Those that were content living on the outskirts? Brother, something is happening. The Tree—”
“Is dying,” Khiran finishes. “I’ve heard.”
Cassius raises a brow. “And the fruit?”
“What of it?”
“They’re gone. Each one rotting from the inside, slowly. He’s tried, several times, to increase our numbers over the years. The magic didn’t take.” He looks to Anna, studies her as if she holds all the secrets he covets. “Eight-hundred years you said? Strange that you just happen to be the last to receive its gifts. Don’t you think?”
Anna inhales sharply, the shock of it like ice water. Beside her, Khiran has gone stiff. It’s only the intensity of his stare, the way he searches Cassius’ expression for any sign of falsehoods that convinces her that it’s news to him as well.
“A coincidence. It has to be.” Khiran shakes his head, his hold tightening on her hand. “I stole a peach. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Come now, Brother—”
“Stop calling me that.”
Cassius continues as if never interrupted. “We’re too old to believe in coincidences.”
“I didn’t do anything to the damn tree.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“Thenwhatexactly are you accusing me of?”
“Of stealing a peach.Thepeach.” Cassius makes a wide, sweeping gesture. The smile he wears is sharp. Ready for a battle neither of them are prepared to face. “There’s only one that left The Tree without The First’s blessing. One. And she just happens to be immune to my gifts? Don’t you see?! You set it all in motion, whether you realize it or not. We are going to rip the throne away from him, and she’s going to be the reason we succeed.”
“You’re still a fool,” Khiran sneers, but it sounds more tired than sharp.
“Funny, because I don’t remember you being such a coward.”
“I could kill you.”
“And I could kiss you,” Cassius counters, “but that would be incredibly rude being that you’re spoken for.” His eyes linger on her, bright with hopes and sharp with vengeance. “I suggest we behave ourselves, at least for dear Anna’s sake.”
CHAPTEREIGHT
He has every reason to distrust him—has carried the burden of his betrayal longer than Anna has drawn breath. He had come, prepared to sacrifice his pride and consider the possibility of forgiveness. Such generous intentions shattered when the fool pressed his lips to hers and tried to lure her into a war that isn’t hers to fight.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
SUMMER1958
“You shouldn’t have agreed to stay.”
They’re in the private rooms Cassius has lent them, surrounded by delicate silks and plush velvets—brass and marble. Their host seems to have more opulent tastes. Comparatively, it makes the treasures Khiran has collected over the years look more sentimental than lavish.
Anna shrugs off her jacket, feeling oddly out of placeas she hangs it on the gleaming scrollwork that makes up the coat rack. She’s missing her wooden pegs and the painted leaves that weaved between them. “Where else would we have gone, Khiran?”
