He turned back to Sonah, offering his arm for her to take. As soon as she did, she pitched forward and emptied her stomach.
Sonah paced her room.It may have been a cowardly move on her part, but she did not wish to watch Hermes swan about as ifhe was the king of the realm. She’d decided during his conversation with Leander that she did not like the god.
A knock sounded at her door. Before Sonah could call out, the door creaked open and she gasped as Bethana snuck inside.
“Wha—”
“Shh,” the nymph cautioned, bringing a finger to her lips as she closed the door. Moving quickly, she grasped Sonah’s hands. “We have a plan to sneak you out.”
“But I can’t leave!” Sonah whispered loudly, growling when Bethana shushed her again. “What about Leander? Hermes is acting crazy enough to actually kill him!”
Bethana waved her hand as if it was a ludicrous thought. “He won’t. Hermes won’t do anything that will push you further away. You and your sister are too important. Listen to me. Rydon is waiting by the spring near the olive grove. Melanos and I spoke and he’s going to stay behind with Hermes. I will come with you.”
Sonah shook her head even though she wanted to do exactly as Bethana was saying. “I don’t know…”
Bethana gripped her hands harder. “Would you rather stay here with Hermes or would you rather go to your sister?”
“What about the others? What about Daris? And Leander! He’s?—”
“Hermes has your wolf by the short hairs,” Bethana sniped and Sonah scrunched her face in confusion. What did that even mean?
“Hermes is trying to control your sister by holding on to you,” the nymph continued. She dropped Sonah’s hands and strode past her, gathering Sonah’s meager belongings.
Before long, Bethana had gathered everything into a bag and shoved it in Sonah’s arms. “We need to leave here while Melanos and the commander are distracting Hermes. They will be finehere. Neither of them can die, so I doubt Hermes will exert himself too much in trying.”
“He could still hurt them,” Sonah mumbled as she followed after Bethana on wooden legs. The nymph opened the door and, after peeking out into the corridor, motioned for Sonah to follow.
They snuck down the hall and the steps leading behind the refectory through the courtyard. Sonah glanced behind her. Before she could turn her head back around, she smacked into Bethana.
“Ow!”
Rubbing at her nose, she glanced up to find the nymph frozen in place, staring up with her mouth opened.
“And where are you two little mice scurrying off to?”
Daris’s moodcould not sour further. He stood in the wide courtyard beside Melanos, his hand on the pommel of his sword in a hold so tight his hand cramped. Trying to regulate his breathing, he stared out at Sonah’s dawning horror.
“You know,” Hermes went on with a wag of his finger as he gave Sonah a fiendish grin. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to get away from me. But that can’t be!”
Hermes spread his arms and looked around at his men, all of whom were grinning or chuckling at the women as they huddled close together. Bethana tried to move in front of Sonah but the little goddess was having none of it.
“Aye, I was trying to get out of here,” Sonah called out, her voice shaking but loud as she lifted her chin. Glaring at the god, she fisted her hands at her sides. “I’m going to find my sister. And you will do nothing to stop me.”
A few of the men made sounds of amusement as Hermes’s grin turned feral. His eyes darkened. “Oh, little mouse. I think you underestimate what I will do.”
Daris shifted and glanced at Jason. His lieutenant was staring at Sonah with impotent rage. They all knew what was about to happen and none of them could do a thing about it.
Hermes glared at Sonah for a few charged seconds before the young shifter was brought forth. Bloodied and barely able to stand, he was dragged before Hermes by Scar and another one of his men named Theo.
Sonah’s face lost all color and she darted forward, screeching Leander’s name. Bethana grabbed her arm and held her back as Sonah raged at Hermes, tears streaming as she yelled unintelligible words at the god.
“You did this,” Hermes said, his eyes wide as he held up his hands. “I had a feeling you and your friends were planning something foolish and, since I can’t kill your eudaemon, the poor shifter drew the short straw.”
Sonah glanced over at Jason before looking away quickly. Daris exhaled, grateful Sonah at least had the sense not to bring any scrutiny on someone else she cared for.
Snatching her arm out of Bethana’s grip, Sonah swiped at the tears on her cheeks and set her lips in a sneer. “You are an unbelievable coward.”
A few gasps sounded around them that were quickly stifled as Hermes’s face turned red. But the goddess did not back down.
