Blood Flows Deep in the Empire (10 page)

Confused, Ismini almost didn’t catch what he’d meant. Then it hit her. It hit her so hard that she could feel the seizure knocking harder at the doors of her mind.

He’d brought her vibrator. He’d brought her fucking
vibrator
!

He was asking her to use it.

Dyletri’s next demand was snarled harshly into her ear. “Did you hear me, Ismini? I want you to use it tonight. And I want you to do what you always do. Think of me.”

Ismini didn’t have a chance to answer that, not that she would’ve been able to. Her life seemed to be leaking right out of her.

With a growl, Dyletri disappeared, leaving her on legs that were about to give out.

Relief flooded Ismini’s veins. He didn’t realize. Dyletri may have known he turned her on, but he hadn’t figured out there was more to it.

Not yet, at least.

Which was a good thing. Now, if she could just find a way to get to Vedlyl before the thing inside her burst and killed her, everything would be golden.

Chapter 8

“I don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Cyake, shut it. Stop mimicking me.”

“Iss, I’ve gone through a lot of trouble.”

“And by trouble you mean that you snapped your fingers and made everything appear.”

Cyake glared over his shoulder at her. “It’s the thought that counts, remember?”

Ismini had barely made it out of bed, feeling like utter shit, when he had stormed into her room, a party hat on his head, and dimples flashing with his huge smile. She’d been rushed through her shower, threatened with his “help” if she didn’t hurry, and forced out of her room.

And all because he’d gotten it into his head to throw her a belated birthday party.

“This is so not necessary,” Ismini grumbled under her breath.

The two black, wooden doors they were heading toward flung open. Lizzisi stood on the other side, hands on her hips and lights glinting off her pale, blond hair. The scowl on her face made both Cyake and Ismini stop in their tracks.

“Taking all the credit already, aren’t you, asstard?”

Cy had the grace to look sheepish under Liz’s glare. “Okay.” He looked down at Ismini, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I might’ve had help with the whole ‘finger-snapping’ thing . . .”

Ismini and Liz rolled their eyes.

“Come,” Liz said, stepping forward and grabbing Ismini’s arm gently.

“Guys. I’m serious.” Ismini cringed as she was led inside. “This isn’t necessa—”

“Surprise!”

That massive yell sent her stumbling back into Cyake. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You idiots. She already knew!”

Ismini blinked, taking in the massive room they had stepped into. It looked like a miniature ballroom, complete with the same marble floors and pillars that littered the entire compound.

One wall was nothing but glass and she could see out into one of the courtyards below. The sun glinted off the tiles and the water in the huge fountain that lay in the middle. Buffet tables covered the whole right side of the room; on her left was a big table with an even bigger six-tiered cake on top, and a pool table stood right in front of a movie screen.

All the gods were there, as well as Evesse. Eve came forward, a red and black party hat placed askew on her head. She wasn’t the only one wearing a hat that color. Zeniel, who stood by one of the tables with Sillizi, looked odd but adorable in his.

I’ve lived long enough to meet real gods . . . and see them wearing party hats. The fuck?

“Happy birthday times two, bitch!” Eve cried with a smile on her face.

Ismini pointed at the hat, looking back and forth between Eve and Zen. “Hat.”

Eve stopped and looked up toward her hat. “What?”

“Ismini means to convey her gratitude for helping me come up with this idea, Evesse.” Cyake placed his hand on Ismini’s upper back and led her deeper into the room. “And,” he mumbled, looking down at her out of the corner of his eyes, “she will also not interfere with my matchmaking genius, correct?”

“Huh?” Ismini stared up at him, convinced that the God of Divination was out of his ever-loving mind. Even if there was an attraction between those two, neither would ever give in to it.

Right?

The others came forward in a rush, each of them offering her a hug and birthday wishes. Ismini felt her throat tighten. She pushed back her exhaustion and her misgivings, managing to give each of the gods a smile.

It wasn’t lost on her that Dyletri wasn’t amongst them. Actually, she hadn’t seen him for two days now. He’d just left her, sick and confused, not giving a damn. Which was to be expected right? She obviously didn’t mean anything to him, so why would he stick around?

Still, pathetic as she was, Ismini couldn’t help but wonder where exactly he’d run off to.

I will not ask. I will not ask.

“He’s off taking care of business,” Cyake said in a low voice.

Guess I didn’t have to.

“How is it that you do that annoying thing again?” she asked.

“I see everyone’s future decisions within a three second span.”

“Even when I change my mind.”

“Even when you change your mind. It’s quite funny when you fuckers do.”

Ianthen draped his arm over Ismini’s shoulder and directed her away from Cyake. “We each got you a little something.” A box appeared in his hand and he handed it to her, smiling.

Yeah, okay. Little. “Thanks, Ianthen.” She smiled up at him as they came to a stop before one of the buffet tables. Sillizi rushed forward and offered her a cup. “You can open these later,” she said.

Ismini managed a smile for her as well. She took another look around, noticing for the first time the banners hanging between the pillars. Two of them had the customary “Happy Birthday Ismini” on them. The other two . . .

“Cyake,” she growled, knowing he was responsible.

Cyake grinned and pointed at a smirking Ianthen. “He put up the second one.”

Ismini looked at the other gods in the room. The ones she’d assumed had common sense. Obviously, she’d been wrong. “And you guys let them put it up?”

She shook her head and looked away, trying really hard to ignore the fact that one of those signs seriously started with: “There’s an easy way for people your age to add a little variety to your sex life . . .”

“That’s more like a perverted birthday card greeting.” Ismini glared at Cyake. “And you’re a pervert for putting it up.”

“But that’s the one Ianthen picked.”

Vedlyl walked up to Ismini, a large smile on his face. She blinked up at him, noticing the dimple on the corner of his mouth for the first time. “I told them they’re sick. I’m technically a doctor, and they still don’t believe me.” He surprised Ismini, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a light hug. “Happy Birthday.”

Ismini pressed her lips together, waiting for something to hit her. Anything. Why the hell was her body not reacting to any of the gods in that room? Especially the uber-hot one currently holding her up to his beautifully sculpted chest, damn it.

“Thank you.” She smiled up shyly at him, returning his hug and stepping back.

Liz clapped her hands. “Okay. What do you want to do first?”

“Eat.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Cyake. It’s Ismini’s party.”

“But I’m hungry.”

Liz stomped her foot, her irises shuttering between gray and black like a camera lens. “You don’t need to really eat, motherfucker.” The lights in the room flickered, looking like they were about to burst before settling back to normal. She turned back to Ismini, eyes returning to their light gray shade. “Sorry, he drives me insane. Now, what do you want to do, hun?”

Ismini swallowed heavily. “Food sounds good.” Eve came up to her and looped their arms, leading her toward a large settee.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, urging Ismini to sit down.

Shitty. Desperate. Confused. So angry at myself that I want to rip off my own skin.
“I’m fine.”

Evesse stared at her out of the corner of her eye. “Uh-huh.”

Ismini forced herself to hold her stare. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She should’ve kept her mouth shut. Eve pounced on that question, sidling up to her and nailing her with a hard look.

“What’s going on between you and Dyletri?”

What the hell? Was it written on her face or something? That question sliced through Ismini, the truth behind the answer mocking her. “Nothing,” she mumbled under her breath. And that really was the truth, wasn’t it? It didn’t matter that she had been attracted to him for years before actually meeting him.

It certainly didn’t matter that that attraction had now morphed into something that was both physically and emotionally catastrophic. She was on a path that meant certain death, no matter what.

Eve was still giving her that disbelieving look. Annoyed, Ismini rolled her eyes. “He’s sacrificing me, as you now know. That’s all.”

“And
why
are you just letting him do so?”

“If he doesn’t, bad things happen. As in, millions of innocents might be hurt.” Bitterness was truly the type of emotion that could be tasted. Ismini took another sip of her soda even though its sweetness could do nothing to overcome the acrid flavor at the back of her throat. The look on Eve’s face didn’t make the situation any better. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Of course, Eve didn’t.

“I think it’s really funny how you think I’m just letting this happen to you.”

Ismini sighed. “Evesse, let’s not talk about this anymore. Supersonic hearing abounds in this place.”

“Whatever. I haven’t asked to be taken home because I’m not letting it happen. Period.”

Zeniel came up to them, offering each of them a plate. His gray-blue eyes were slightly blood-shot, but he had a small smile on his face. Ismini nibbled on her lip, sneaking a peek at Eve as Zen handed her the plate.

And, yeah, Evesse was avoiding his stare and there was a pink tinge forming on her cheeks.

Zen knelt in front of them and stared up at Ismini. She met his stare, feeling a soothing fog descending on her head.

“You really feeling all right? You gave us all a scare when you first got here.”

Ismini nodded. She was having a hard time pulling her stare away from his. “What are you doing?” She shook her head. Nope, no go. She was still being held prisoner by what she knew was somehow coming off him.

“Sorry.” Zen smirked and shrugged almost shyly. “Can’t control it. It’s what I do when I sense someone’s grid is off.”

“Grid? What grid?”

“You’re tranquility grid. I can sense and see that your emotions are . . . not calm, to put it lightly.”

Ismini nodded, understanding dawning. “So you calm people.”

Eve choked on her food. Coughing, she held a finger up and shook her head at Ismini. “I beg to differ. He’s infuriating.”

Zen blinked slowly, trying to guard his expression, but Ismini could still see the frustration in his eyes.

She saw Cy’s gloating look from across the room.
Oh . . . damn you, Cyake.

“Okay. Now stop that.” Ismini waved her fork in Zen’s direction. “I feel like I’m high on something.”

He laughed and stood up. He was still chuckling when he stepped back, shaking his head.

She turned and pinned Eve with a stare. “We need to talk about this.”

Eve didn’t even blink. “No, we don’t. Remember?”

Cy walked back in Ismini’s direction, shoving an entire cheeseburger into his mouth. Yup, in one bite.

“I know you think you’re my new best friend, but I have explained to you that this is a
delusion
you’re having,” Ismini said.

He stopped right in front of her, glowering. He swallowed what was in his mouth all at once, leaving Ismini gaping and slightly repulsed. “Shut up and eat, smartass. I’ve been dying to play this game.”

Sillizi looked like she was fighting for patience. “I don’t understand your fascination with that stupid game. You are not going to get to play that, it was explained to you, Cy.”