Sobs racked through me.
“Alexis Hert.” Nyx became visible, purple eyes glowing against gleaming black scales. “You are thestrongestperson I’ve ever met—and I’ve met all manner of Spartan heroes.”
I cried harder.
She leaned closer and hissed, “You’re the same girl who befriended a monster without fear. You’ve fought every day of your life for yourself and Charlie. You’ve lived your entire life being strong—don’t you dare give up now.”
“You’re not a monster,” I gasped, wiping snot off my face.
“Kid—we both know that’s not true.”
Tipping my head back, I whispered, “I don’t want to live like this. I justcan’t.”
I held my wrists, which ached with phantom pains.
Life was finally supposed to get better—not worse.
I wasn’t supposed to feel like this.
Not anymore
I can’t do this.
“It’s temporary.” Nyx’s tongue flickered across my tear-stained cheek. “Do it for Charlie—he’s waiting right now for his big sister to come home to him. Don’t let him down.”
Sucking in air, I dropped my head into my palms.
My little brother was scared and alone, living in the woods.
Pull yourself together, woman.
I hummed loudly, pressed my palms into my eyes, and focused on a peaceful melody.
Time passed.
Breathing shallowly through my teeth, I wrapped my fingers around the “C+A” tattooed across my forearm. “Icando this,” I whispered.
“Yes,” Nyx hissed. “You can, and you will.”
Using toilet paper to wipe the tears and snot off my face, I stood up and slowly hobbled back into the classroom.
As I collapsed back into my seat, Professor Augustus opened his mouth to say something about my extended bathroom break. His gaze met mine, and he closed his mouth, jaw clenching. Mercifully he said nothing.
Whatever he saw on my face kept him silent. But the corners of his eyes crinkled, and his mouth pinched, like he was distressed.
I wiped at a tear, rocking in place.
He snuck glances at me for the rest of class. His expression tightened as time passed, until he was a dark cloud of fury.
What is he mad about now?
The professors traded places—again and again, endlessly. Information was thrown at us in a steady torment of words and numbers.
Time lost all meaning.
“Leo Apollo,” Professor Augustus said, and I barely registered that he was speaking.
“Leo!” Augustus repeated with a sigh.
