Page 135 of Remnants: Disruption
“I heard a rumor, acolyte,” he says, grin turning a bit predatory as he uses the term.
“Those are dangerous,” I say, nearing the group, but keeping the Cradle within view. “Sometimes they get people killed.”
“I heard a rumor that you’re the Dark One,” he responds, apparently ignoring the threat. “That before you showed up here as Hiraeth, you were one of Nye Verden’s finest.”
I turn my full attention on the man and notice as his posse of followers spread out a little. I don’t recognize any of them, but they look powerful enough to be a problem.
And not to mention I have no idea what Gareth himself can do.
“Of course I am,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. “What about it?”
Even Marla and Trish had known. Hell, the only reason Ty didn’t is because he’s preoccupied with school and work. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone knew.
Gareth, though, looks as though he’s won the war of semantics. “I wonder just how dangerous you really are, Hiraeth.”
“Are you trying to find out, or?” I ask, genuinely confused where he’s going with this.
“No,” he says, smiling broadly. “I just wanted to confirm a bit of hot goss’ as they say.”
I can’t help the way my lip turns at his behavior. The guy is downright gross.
“Is there a reason why you’re holding court in the basin?” I ask, glancing at the men now definitely fanning out. “Or did you all just happen to run into each other?”
“Oh,” he says, making a show of looking around. “No, we just were on our way to the bars. We had a pretty important meeting after the archons left. You know, Council things.”
I raise my eyebrows at the implication, but he continues undeterred.
“You wouldn’t know much about the goings-on here, being new and all. Though, I did ask why you were under Azazel’s tutelage. Guess the mage was just doing something nice for their lover.”
“Their what?” I ask, wondering if I heard him right.
“You didn’t know?” Gareth asks, glancing around at the others. Like this is some sort of known secret. “Azazel and Bloody Mary go way back. They’ve been together for years, though it’s one of those hush-hush type of secrets. Since the GodQueen recruited you, it makes sense that Azazel would be the one to train you.”
My ears ring with his words, and my stomach pitches unevenly.
“You okay, acolyte?” Gareth asks, grin becoming ghastly. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but both of them are taken—if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Gareth guffaws as he turns to his group.
“Off to the bars, gentlemen.”
And, with that, Gareth von Kemp saunters away like he hadn’t just dropped the world on my head.
I turn to the Cradle and wonder if it’s worth even telling Cass now.
Or whatever her name is.
I’d never been cheated on. But as my feet find the stairs to the recessed meeting room, I wonder if it’s supposed to hurt this much. I guess it makes sense, since life had started to look a little less bleak.
It’s time for another train wreck.
Though that would require Cass and I to have agreed on what we are. And we hadn’t. Since it kinda just started today.
And I hadreallywanted it to mean something.
God, I should have listened to my gut from the beginning. Marla and Trish were going to be paying for this with ice cream and wine.
“Fucking idiot,” I grumble, taking the stairs to the room behind the Cradle’s seating.
