“Is Megan all right?” Zotera asked.
“She is. She’s making sure that her grandma is safe and is going to call Eliana to see who Adira might go after next in an attempt to distract her.”
I pocketed my phone as my mind raced.
“Once Adira thinks they’re distracted, she’s going to make her move here,” I said.
Zotera reached out and held my hand.
“You’re safe here.”
“But they’re not.”
She didn’t have anything to say to that.
“There has to be something we can do,” I said.
“Leaving here is exactly what Thanatos and Adira want us to do,” Zotera said. “And sacrificing yourself to save your friends will not protect them in the end. You know that.”
I understood what she was saying. If anything happened to me, Hades would likely lose his grip on reality and destroy the world.
Zotera led me from the bedroom and took a left in the living room to head for the game room.
She did her best to distract me for the next hour, asking questions about the games, making bets if I could win against her, and creating pretty new things to add to the room. I tried my hardest to focus on her and not on what was happening outside my house, but I wasn’t entirely successful.
When my phone chimed with a new message, I almost dropped it in my hurry to read it.
Megan: Grandma, Nicolette, and Jason are safe. Zayn broke Nicolette’s tracking spell.
Fenris: Eugene is safe and understands not to answer the door or phone. Leaving now.
Eliana: Vedar, Kelsey’s dragon, understands what’s happening and will keep Kelsey and Zoe safe.
Megan: Oanen? How are your parents?
“Can a dragon stand up to a god?” I said, glancing at Zotera.
“Dragons were made to mock Father’s other form. They are among the strongest creatures made, second only to the furies. Thanatos would not have an easy time defeating a dragon. He would choose an easier target if possible.”
“Which would be Eugene.”
Zotera gave me a worried look.
Me: Eugene is the weakest target.
Megan: Stay where you are!
I frowned at the text.
“Did she really think I was going to leave?”
Zotera looked at me and gave a small shrug. Then she held up the basketball.
“Will you help distract me from my worry, Ashlyn?”
“He’ll be fine,” I said. “Megan won’t let anything happen to him.”
She bounced the ball to me, and I embraced distracting us both. Zotera was taller, faster, and way more competitive. She ran circles around me and made three baskets in rapid succession. I paused, bending to put my hands on my knees.
