Chapter 240

After two hours of practice, a messenger arrived to let Zoey know that Enzo wanted to meet with her. She had few delusions that such a summons meant ‘whenever was best for her.’ She was expected to make herself available immediately. That was fine, since she needed to speak with Enzo as well.

Back at the d’Celestin estate, she picked up Aria, and the two of them followed the messenger through the palatial hallways.

Enzo didn’t host the meeting inside his throne room, thankfully, but rather an outdoor patio overlooking the city of Mantle. Pale blue eyes took in his two visitors, settling longer on Aria, who, maybe understandably, froze at having his attention on her. He waved the messenger away, as well as the servant who had been standing to the side. When the glass doors closed behind the man, the three of them were alone on the patio.

“Sit,” Enzo said, gesturing at the empty seats across the short wooden table. There was a tray of what Zoey assumed to be tea already poured for them. “We have things to discuss.”

“Y-Yes, my Lord,” Aria said, curtsying and doing what had been asked of her with far more haste than Zoey. Not that Zoey delayed, but she realized, in that short display, that Aria was much more nervous to be in Enzo’s presence than Zoey herself. Which wasn’t to say Zoey wasn’t nervous; she just had less respect for Enzo’s title than the average citizen of this world. She hadn’t grown up hearing legends of the ‘Guildmaster of the Deepshunters.’

After a moment of silence, his eyes lingering again on Aria—who squirmed in place—he turned to Zoey and asked, “How did my daughter’s debut go?”

He took a sip from his drink, and Zoey slid her own cup closer and sniffed: it smelled herbal. Definitely a tea of some kind, though only the heavens knew what specifically.

“Good, I guess?” Zoey said. “Depends on what your goals were. She fought the Talbot siblings and embarrassed them, which I assume is what you wanted.” She raised an eyebrow at Enzo. “I’m sure you had someone watching, to give you an unbiased report, though. Why ask me?”

Enzo’s lips twitched, and he inclined his head to confirm her assumption. He leaned back in his chair and draped an arm over the top.

“You speak too casually to me,” he said.

Zoey blinked.

“I’m not trying to be rude, if that’s what you’re implying,” she said. “I just don’t know how to act around you. I’m not from high society.”

“It’s more than that.”

She shrugged. “You expect me to grovel?”

“Not necessarily,” Enzo said, his amusement growing at Zoey’s bluntness. “But most would consider it appropriate, perhaps.”

“I’m not your subordinate.”

His eyebrows shot up at that, and Zoey wondered if this was the approach she should be taking. But it did need to be made clear.

“I’m your daughter’s teammate,” Zoey continued. “And I’m loyal to her. That’s without question. But I’m not part of your guild, much less a servant of yours. I don’t mean this in any confrontational or disrespectful way, I’m just explaining myself.”

Enzo studied her, and Zoey didn’t shy away from his intensity—and yes, he was a very intense man.

Finally, he laughed and gestured at Aria.

“You’re making your partner uncomfortable,” he said wryly. “Speaking that way to me.”

Zoey glanced at her. Sure enough, Aria had all but broken out into a sweat. Zoey reached under the table to pat her knee reassuringly.

“This is Aria, by the way,” Zoey said. “She’s part of the reason I needed to speak with you.”

“Yes, the priestess. Rosalie broached the topic in passing,” Enzo said. “Something about needing a temple.”

“To spare you the full details, my class needs me to start a following. I was hoping you could help with the logistics of acquiring a temple. Since I assume it wouldn’t be the easiest thing to make happen, going through traditional channels.”

“No,” Enzo said, amused. “No, it would not be.” He hummed. “What an interesting class, that requires you to ‘start a following.’ Your sponsorship is the topic I wished to speak with you about as well. My daughter has been rather tight lipped about it—while trying to seem like she isn’t being.”

“Ah,” Zoey said. It looked like the conversation today would have trickier footing than she’d assumed. She couldn’t say she was surprised. They were intentionally keeping the most powerful man in the world—and more importantly, Rosalie’s father—in the dark on a number of topics. Any conversation with him would be complicated. “Well, I’m happy to answer.”

“If that were true, you or Rosalie would have provided a full and unobscured explanation to me already. So no, don’t lie to my face.” He waved his hand as if to dismiss the matter. “I can arrange a temple. However, I would like to know what, exactly, I’ll be condoning within my city. Your patron deity is Ephythithys, and as much as my daughter has been attempting to convince me of how Her godly domain includes bonds of less carnal inclination as well, I find myself dubious.”

Zoey squirmed in her seat. While Rosalie had brought herself temporary relief using that excuse, it couldn’t last. Not with Zoey starting a temple that would definitely be involving Ephy’s stickier nature.

“Bonds are a major part of my class, yes,” Zoey said. “And my domain only has partial overlap with Ephy’s. So Rosalie isn’t lying. But yes, this newest ability focuses on ... more intimate aspects.”

“And that means?”

Zoey glanced at Aria, who seemed to be more than happy to let her do the talking.