Free Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco

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