“She will stay with me,” Smith said evenly. “In time, I’ll send her to visit you, Ivy. But for now, she will always stay at my side. Poseidon isn’t the only one of my brothers I need to watch when it comes to her.”
“Does Hera know about her yet?” I felt guilty asking in front of her, but I wanted the whole story and I had a strong feeling Smith would hold back whatever he could.
“Not yet,” he replied. “I’ll tell her tonight.”
“She won’t be upset that… you know… with my mom?” Wow. I never wanted to ask that question again.
He smiled indulgently, “My marriage has always been strictly business.” He rose to his feet and held his hand out to Honor. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’ll head home.”
Honor threw her arms around my neck and we hugged tightly. I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want her to have anything to do with this mountain or these people. Smith had done such an amazing job taking care of her until now, why couldn’t he have found a safer place for her to hang out until everything settled down?
“I’ll find you before I go,” I promised her. “We’ll say goodbye tomorrow.”
She nodded against my neck, sniffling back tears. “Okay.”
“Love you, little girl.” The words were blissful and sublime on my lips. A month ago, I had thought I’d never get to say that to her again.
“I love you too.”
She stepped back, took her dad’s hand and left the house. I felt her absence physically. I wanted to run after her and lock her up with me. I wanted to make Hermes take usnow. I wanted him to flash us… orapparateus… or whatever the hell it was called out of here this second!
“You okay?” Ryder’s hands moved over my shoulders, down my arms until they gripped my hands.
“No,” I told him honestly.
He stared at me with those gunmetal gray eyes of his and I felt my soul calm down and my nerves smooth out. I felt myself come back together. I felt oxygen refill my lungs and my heartbeat even out.
I felt grounded and centered and alive again.
I felt hope.
“I have things to do,” Hermes called from somewhere else. “Help yourself to the house, but I wouldn’t recommend leaving it. There’s food in the kitchens and new clothes in your rooms. I’ll be back later…”
“Thanks, Hermes,” Ryder mumbled, but we barely noticed him leave.
“Hungry?” I asked him.
His eyes darkened. “I am.”
I swallowed nervously. “Should we find the kitchen?”
“Let’s get cleaned up first,” he suggested. “I can’t take myself seriously in this dress.”
I laughed at his bedraggled appearance, knowing I didn’t look any better. “I bet the closets here are filled with more of them.”
He frowned. “Tomorrow morning can’t come soon enough.”
My smile wavered. He was so right about that.
He took my hand and led me toward the bedrooms. The closets had been filled with modern clothing and the bathrooms stocked with amenities. We planned to sleep in the same room, but separated ways long enough to take quick showers and redress.
The attached bathroom was incredibly luxurious, but it was hard for me to appreciate the multiple showerheads and silky, warm water after everything we went through. I just wanted to get home. I just wanted to leave this mountain behind me forever.
Thankfully, Hermes had given me a few options of normal clothes. I put on black yoga pants and a loose gray tank top, combed through my hair with my fingers and called it good. The bathroom had been stocked with every kind of facial cream and makeup product imaginable, but I didn’t need that stuff with Ryder. I would save the cosmetics for the morning.
I met Ryder in the hall. He leaned against the wall casually, but I saw the tension in his shoulders, the alertness in his eyes that roamed the corridor. He didn’t trust Hermes or his home, any more than he trusted Nix.
He relaxed some when I stepped out of my bedroom. I took in his lean, muscled body as he moved toward me, his wild hair that was still wet and tangled, the jeans and t-shirt he’d found… he was breathtaking. He was more beautiful than any Greek god or supernatural creature.
