I zeroed in on that. “Did he live here long?”

Nyktos nodded. “He was a godling that never Ascended—didn’t have enough eather in him for the change to take hold, but his mother wanted to be a part of his life. She was a goddess.”

“Was?” I whispered.

“She was killed several years ago.” Nyktos didn’t elaborate.

And he didn’t need to. “Kolis?”

“He destroyed her soul,” Nyktos told me, and my chest hollowed. “I don’t even know what caused it. She was in a different Court at the time. It could’ve been anything—a perceived slight or a refusal to obey him. He made sure Hamid learned the details of her death.”

“Gods,” I whispered, sickened.

 Saion glanced at me, his gaze straying to my throat—to the mark Nyktos left behind. I shifted the blanket higher. “Is it possible that he somehow found out what she plans to do?”

I stiffened.

“That’s impossible,” Rhain countered. “No one would dare speak of what she plans.”

“Planned,” I mumbled, but no one seemed to hear me.

“You know damn well that none of us would’ve disobeyed his orders. We wouldn’t want to piss him off.” Ector popped his head out of the bathing chamber. “And unlike me, Nyktos would think before destroying the soul so he could continue to fuck with us after we’re dead.”

But what would be the reason for a mortal I’ve never interacted with to feel as if they need to kill me? Then it occurred to me. “He came to visit Gemma. I guess during the attack or afterwards,” I said, and Nyktos turned to me. “Aios said that Gemma was only awake briefly. Not long enough to discover if she knew what had happened to her. Is it possible that she knows and said something to Hamid when Aios wasn’t there?”

“That’s possible,” Nyktos stated.

“Gemma is still here.” Ector brushed past Saion, holding a pile of towels in his arms. “She was asleep when I checked on her, and that was right before I met up with you all downstairs. So, that was…what? Less than thirty minutes ago?”

Nyktos turned to Rhain. “Find Aios and see if there was a time that Hamid was alone with Gemma. Have Aios stay with her, even if she is still asleep. Then I want you to check out Hamid’s house and the bakery he worked at. See if you can find out anything of interest.”

“Of course.” Rhain glanced at me, bowed, and then quickly left the room.

I was still thinking of what Gemma could’ve told Hamid. “But if Gemma realized that she died and I brought her back, why would that cause Hamid to try and kill me? He was concerned about Gemma. Wouldn’t he be happy that she’s alive?”

“You’d think. That’s a good question I would’ve loved to have answered.” Nyktos sent a pointed stare at Ector, who studied the floor as if it were of great interest. Nyktos shifted his focus back to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, and I nodded. He still came back to where I was sitting. “Let me see your neck again.”

I sat still as his fingers brushed my hair back, grazing my shoulder, desperately trying not to think about how he’d touched me before—how he’d held me. His gaze lifted to mine, and when he spoke, I thought his voice sounded thicker, richer. “I don’t think it will bruise.”

“Are you reading my emotions again?”

He said nothing as he let go of my hair, his fingers brushing my cheek—his warm fingers.

“Oh, my gods.” I shot up.

Nyktos eyed the broken leg I held as if he were half-afraid I’d use it against him, which was absurd enough that it actually made me want to use it. “What?”

“Your skin. It’s warm,” I told him, having forgotten that until now. “It’s been warm since last night, after you…” I trailed off as Ector looked over at us, his expression curious. “Well, since last night. Is it because you fed?”

Nyktos frowned. “No. That wouldn’t have changed it. My skin has been cool for as long as I can remember. Kolis’s skin most likely felt the same way.”

“Well, it’s not that way now,” I told him. “Can’t you tell?” When he shook his head, I looked over at the two remaining gods. “Haven’t any of you noticed it?”

Saion coughed out a laugh. “Why would we?”

“It’s pretty noticeable.”

“If one of us is touching him,” Ector returned. “And none of us walk around touching him. He doesn’t like to be touched.”

I lifted my brows and looked over at Nyktos. “I didn’t get that impression.”

“Yeah, well, he enjoys your kind of touching,” Ector stated. Shockingly, I felt my face heat.

Nyktos turned to the god. “Do you have a death wish today?” he growled, and I began to wonder the same thing.

“I’m beginning to think I do,” Ector murmured and then shifted the bundle of towels. “But let me touch you. See if she’s telling the truth.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why would I lie about that?”

“Why would we not question everything that comes out of your mouth now?” Nyktos shot back.

A hundred different retorts burned my tongue, but every part of me locked up as I stood there. His accusation was warranted, but the coldness in his tone reminded me so much of my mother that it rattled me to my core.

Ector moved toward Nyktos as the Primal stared at me, his features unreadable. Forcing myself to remember Sir Holland’s breathing instructions, I focused on Ector.

The god touched Nyktos’ hand. Immediately, Ector’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, your skin is warm.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Nyktos was still staring at me. I could feel it. “It…it has to be your blood.”

“If it is, it’s not like I did it on purpose.”

“I wasn’t suggesting that.”

“Are you sure—?” I sucked in a stuttered breath, dropping the wooden leg as a sharp ache darted across my skull and along my jaw, leaving a webbing of shivery pain in its wake.

Nyktos stepped toward me. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I bit out, pressing a palm against the side of my face. I squinted at the suddenly too-bright lights.

“Does your head hurt?”

“Or your face?” Ector asked.

“A little.” I drew in a shallow breath as the throbbing ache settled deep in my temple and under my eyes. “It’s just a…a headache. I’m fine. Shouldn’t we be heading into—whoa,” I murmured, blinking as the floor felt like it rolled slightly under my feet. “That felt odd.”

Nyktos was suddenly beside me. He clasped my arm, and I barely felt the jolt of his touch. “What did?”

“The floor,” I said, and his frown deepened.

“Are you dizzy?” Nyktos asked, and I started to nod, realizing that was rather dumb as the pain deepened. “I took too much of your blood—”

“It’s not that,” I told him. “I’ve had these headaches before—sometimes in my temples and under my eyes. Other times in my jaw.”

His brows snapped down. “How often have you gotten them?”

“On and off. Only this…this intense once before. I think there may be something wrong with one of my teeth. There’s been a bit of blood when I brush,” I told him.

Ector lowered the towels and stared at me. “When did that start?”

“The blood?” I winced.

“Any of it,” Nyktos demanded.

“I don’t know. A couple of years ago. It’s not…it’s not a big deal. My mother gets them sometimes, too. The headaches. So maybe it’s just that.”

Nyktos’ features were strangely stark as he stared down at me, too. “I’m not so sure that is the cause.”

“Then what would it be?” I asked.

“Impossible,” Saion breathed, and I’d never seen the god so unsettled.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s impossible.”

“What?” I forced out around the throbbing ache. “What is impossible?”

“What I’m thinking is impossible, but I think I know what might help,” Nyktos said and then turned to the gods. All it took was for him to send them one look, and they left the chamber. “Why don’t you lay down? I’ll be back shortly.”

For once, I didn’t argue with him. I nodded. He started for the door and then stopped. “There will be a guard outside this chamber,” he said, his head lowered slightly. “You’ll be safe.”