His step faltered. “Did he tell you that?”

“I can figure things out on my own – and it wasn’t difficult to figure out.” Beneath the exhaustion I could feel a tremor in my bones, waiting to be called upon. It had given me strength and speed when I’d needed it the most. Mephi and Thrana were the same type of creature. It was the only thing Jovis and I had in common, and I’d not felt this power before I’d bonded with Thrana. “What are they? And what are we?”

“I was going to tell you.”

He wasn’t – I could see the barest outline of his face as he lifted his chin to stare at the sky. That was enough for me to know, to read it on his face. My father had told me: “If you know a person is lying, don’t countermand them. They’ll dig in. Just continue on with what you know is the truth.” I hated that his advice still held credence, but he’d been cruel, not foolish. I cleared my throat. “So we both have our secrets. I won’t spill yours, don’t worry. That benefits me in no way. And if I’m right, it benefits you to keep mine.”

I led him around a corner, brushing wet hair from my eyes. We’d both be soaked by the time we made it back – soaked and stinking of refuse. Part of me yearned for the days when constructs manned the walls and I could enter and exit without wondering what whispers or gossip would follow me.

“What do you mean?” he said, his tone cautious.

“You don’t want people to know that Mephi gives you your power. As soon as they know, it puts him at risk.”

He seized my arm. Fear tightened my throat. We were alone and out on the streets. He could end me now and then run without fear of many consequences. With Thrana’s help, I might match my strength to his, but I wasn’t sure how to do everything that Jovis did – not yet. So far, everything I’d done had been accidental.

But his touch was gentle. “There’s a garbage pile there. You almost walked right into it.” He let go, as if suddenly realizing whose arm he held. “My apologies, Eminence.”

I smoothed my tunic before continuing forward, my heartbeat still fluttering in my chest. “I suppose I can’t say you are remiss in your duties.”

“So that’s why you hired me: to keep you out of garbage heaps,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.