“He’s here,” I hissed, bile rising in my throat. “He’s here. He’sfuckinghere.”
“Who?!”
“Aidan.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO - CHLOE
I NEARLY FELL on my face as I bolted up the staircase—almost running over Hera in the process. Only I didn’t care. I couldn’t see from the tears in my eyes as well as the panicked heartbeat throbbing in my ears.
Aidan was… he was agod?
Gavin was pulling on a shirt when I ran into the room.
“Hey—“
I started throwing all my things into the suitcase, ignoring his concern. My breath still hadn’t caught up with me. I was lightheaded, dizzy, ready to pass out at any moment—
“Whoa, Chloe.” Gavin grasped my elbows and pulled me into him. I fought him, squirming to get free, but his hands wrapped around my wrists, and he forced me to look at him.
“Chloe.Chloe!”
“Arrow,” I said exasperatedly. “Arrow. Arrow. Arrow!”
Tears fell from my eyes. I was in such a panic that I barely heard his response.
“Wait, what happened?” Terror lined his own voice. I was spiraling, unable to straighten out the words in my head. “Chloe, talk to me!”
“It’s fuckingAidan.” My entire body shook. “He’s here.”
“What do you mean he’s here? Why would your ex—“
Gavin’s panic turned to pure, unadulterated rage. The world went silent as if whatever had clicked in Gavin’s mind ruled over every domain.
“Tell me his band name.”
The slow, threatening way Gavin spoke soothed me slightly. Somewhere deep inside of me, I had heard that voice before, and it was all I could do to talk myself out of that panic.
“Chloe, tell me his band name,” he said, and his finite tone was so dark that I swore a cloud covered the sun.
My teeth chattered as I answered in a breathless whisper, “Scorcher.”
Gavin looked like he might break apart the earth right then and there.
And he stormed away from me before I could stop him.
“No, wait! Gavin!”
I ran, considering sliding down the banister to try and get in front of him. But he was taking the steps two at a time, his strides long and harsh.
“Gavin!”
My shouts fell on deaf ears. Persephone was striding up the walkway by the pool, lazily yawning, but I called Gavin’s name again and saw her perk up. Her eyes darted from me to Gavin, to the people below, and her pace picked up.
As if she, too, had figured it out.
The noise of cheerful greetings and hugs filled my ears. Everyone was exchanging niceties.Everyonewas in the room.
I reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to see Gavin push through the throng of people to Aidan and punch him in the face.
