Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“You missed my wedding and didn’t even bother to send a note,” Rayne accused as he marched over. Shey winced. He was half tempted to thrust Tyche between them as a shield, but he couldn’t. Rayne had every right to be angry. Shey had claimed that they were friends, and he should have been there for his friend’s most important day. At the very least, he should have called or sent some kind of letter trying to explain. But he’d taken the coward’s way out.
Rayne straightened to his full height and tipped his head so he could stare down at Shey along the length of his nose, which almost made Shey giggle after Tyche’s comments. Despite his efforts to appear composed, Shey didn’t miss that Rayne’s pallor was still a mix of gray and green from his flight across the ocean on dragon back. His hair was windblown, and even his clothes were more than a little rumpled, but none of that mattered. Rayne still looked pulled together and in control. His training was too ingrained.
“I would punch you, but then I would have to move on and forgive you. I’m not ready to forgive you yet. We expect a gift. Crystal. Expensive. And get Fiona to pick it out. Your taste is atrocious.” Each word shot at Shey was crisp and sharp, as cutting as a dagger.
Behind Rayne, Eno made a choking noise. He covered his face with his hand while his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Shey withdrew his arm from Tyche and caught Rayne’s clenched fist. His skin was icy and clammy from the ride. He wrapped both hands around Rayne’s, trying to infuse some warmth into those still fingers. “Rayne, I’m sorry. I don’t have an excuse. You have every right to be furious with me. I failed you as a friend.”
“I’m a piece of dog shit,” Tyche suggested in a stage whisper. “Oh! And a teenage boy who has yet to learn how to deal with grown-up emotions that make me feel awkward and helpless.”
Rayne and Shey turned their heads to stare at Tyche. The mischievous God of Luck grinned up at Shey, looking far too proud of himself.
“What? I’m helping you.” Tyche turned his attention to Rayne, his expression unwavering. “Congratulations on your marriage. He really is an idiot, and you should think twice about being his friend. But in his defense, he was locked up in a prison and being tortured while you were getting married. So that is a pretty good ex—”
Shey released Rayne and grabbed Tyche. With one arm wrapped around his shoulders, Shey slapped his hand across that wicked mouth, muffling anything else that was about to come out. By this point, Eno, Caelan, and Drayce had joined their little party.
Caelan’s dark eyes twinkled with ill-concealed mirth. He touched Rayne’s arm and jerked his head toward him, but it was Drayce who tactlessly blurted out, “You’ve now met the God of Luck.”
“What?” Rayne gasped, all his composure crumbling in the blink of an eye.
“Another god?” Eno joined in, his deep voice like the rumble of distant thunder.
“I-I-I’m so confused. Another god? How? I thought…” Rayne’s head snapped from Caelan to Tyche to Shey, who could feel Tyche’s grin growing wider against his fingers.
Nori stepped forward with a gentle look. “Why don’t we go inside, and you can rest? Some nice, soothing tea will help to settle you after your long trip. We can get you caught up on all that’s happened before you share the news that you have brought.”
It was as if the old dragon had waved a magic wand over everything. Just like that, Rayne pulled himself together, losing his befuddled expression. His face returned to its usual look of calm control, and he nodded.
As a group, they followed Omari Nori through the clan buildings until they reached a central meeting hall big enough to hold the contingent from Erya, as well as a god and a wayward prince from Caspagir. Haru and Adrian had been roused from their rooms, and both appeared rested.
Nori sat at the head of the room on a wide chair that was something like a modest throne, while Megumi and Uki took seats on either side of him. Meanwhile, the rest of them were arranged along the length of the room as if they were all seated at a giant board table, except there was no table, only an empty aisle in front of them. Delicate, narrow tables separated each chair. Upon each, a squadron of servants had rushed in to place tea and snacks for everyone, which Tyche promptly started to eat. The god, however, wrinkled his nose at the tea. As Haru had stated, there wasn’t a coffee bean to be found on the Isle of Stone outside of the ones he’d brought.