“That was rude of you, Séverin,” complained Ruslan, withdrawing the knife. “My feelings are wounded.”

Séverin slowly withdrew his hand, watching the patriarch. Upon being called boring, Ruslan’s countenance had changed. He speared a piece of cheese and angrily shoved it in his mouth.

“Forgive my little joke,” said Séverin. “Your conversation is endlessly amusing, as always. I am, however, finding the days a bit tedious … would it not be—”

Ruslan turned his head slowly. He smiled, but it was a closed-mouth grin, like a child on the verge of denying he’d stuffed his face with forbidden sweets. A flash of acidic panic seized Séverin.

“Ten days,” said Ruslan primly. “And don’t forget, Monsier Montagnet-Alarie … I get bored too, and perhaps you will not always like what I find diverting.”

Séverin feigned indifference. Just then, a door near the back of the room opened. Eva entered, holding a vial of blood Forging liquid. Ruslan clapped his hands eagerly.

“Mine, mine, mine,” he sang, then licked his lips. “Juicy, sweet protection, though I do detest the regularity of it all. Once a day keeps the liars away…”

Ruslan held out his wrist. A faint sneer curled on Eva’s lips as she flicked her taloned ring across his skin. Blood beaded at the wound, and she collected it in her vial. She held it tight for a few moments. The blood darkened by a few degrees. When Eva emptied out the vial, the molecules rose into the air, twisting like an image of spilling ink centimeters away from Ruslan’s nose. Ruslan cocked his head, and then he leaned forward, snapping at the Forged blood like a creature eating something out of the air.

Blood spatter flecked his mouth.

He grinned, tonguing the corners of his mouth and cheeks. “It won’t be necessary when we’re gods, will it? No need for protections from deception … I’ll make sure of it.” Ruslan grinned up at Eva. “Though I don’t know what I’ll do with you. Maybe I’ll eat you.”

Eva’s face paled as she set the vial back on its tray. It trembled in her grip. Séverin waited until she was nearly at the door before he spoke.

“Ruslan, I hope you do not take offense when I tell you that I am lately deprived of beauty.”

Ruslan moaned and tapped his bald pate. “I have no delusions regarding my looks, sadly.”

“I fancied I might take the lovely Eva on a gondola ride this evening.”

Eva stilled, looking between Ruslan and Séverin. Ruslan chewed thoughtfully on a piece of fruit before shrugging.

“I have no objections,” said Ruslan.

“I do,” said Eva loudly. “I don’t want to go anywhere with him—”

Ruslan laughed. “Silly Eva. You know how I find your outbursts charming, but if you do it again, I will bring your father and kill him in front of you.” His voice was calm. Warm, even, in a way that brought goose bumps to Séverin’s skin. “And after that, I’ll fill your mouth with burning embers to scald all those fiery outbursts away.”