Chapter 12
When we landed again, my head was spinning, and I wondered if I might throw up. “Was that just—?”
“The first sin,” Cronus said, his eyes shooting to Rhea, who looked pretty unruffled. “That particular sin has a close relationship with my ex-wife. He can track her, so we are not going to be safe staying put.”
I shook my head. “I’m part human, I need to rest. I can’t go on like this. I need food and water and sleep. I need them or you’re going to be carting around an unconscious body really soon.”
My stomach growled as if to prove that point and Hound gave a low bark of agreement.
#FeedUs
Rhea wrinkled her nose at me like I’d just announced I was dog shit, not a human. “I can block my energy from him. I didn't realize he would track me so quickly.”
“How do you have such a close relationship with Sickness?” I asked her royal bitchiness. “I mean, girl … standards.”
She started for me again, but Cronus got in the way. “Enough,” he said, his voice low and brimming with anger. “There is no time for this, we have to refuel and then continue with our task.”
Finally taking note of where we were, all I could see was forest and trees. Fuck. He was going to make me wipe my ass with a leaf. I fucking knew it.
“This is the best I can do for the night,” he told me softly, like he could read my thoughts. “These woods are ancient, filled with energy from the original creators. It will cloak us for a while if the sins or the gods are chasing us down.”
I squeezed my eyes tightly, exhaustion pushing on me so hard that I almost sank to the ground. A strong arm wrapped around me. “Come on, I’ll make it nice for you,” he said, pulling my reluctant legs along. Why was he suddenly being so nice to me? It’s like the presence of his bitchy ex-wife had softened him toward me.
Resigning myself to this fate, I didn’t put up any resistance, letting him lead me deeper and deeper into the forest. Under a canopy this heavy, it was next to impossible to tell if it was day or night, but Cronus seemed to know where he was going, so I didn’t say anything. Rhea and Hound remained close behind us, and I could practically feel the venomous glare from the bitch.
“Can she kill me with her mind?” I whispered to Cronus, and his lips did that sexy twitch thing.
“Rhea is the Titan of fertility and motherhood. Her powers are strong, but nothing like mine,” he said, in a low rumble.
#StayHumble
“She was the logical choice for the mother of my children,” he continued, making no effort to whisper. “However, she’s also a little unstable, and wants to bear children for as many Titans and gods that she can.”
She made a disparaging sound from behind us and I knew she could hear everything.
“It’s my duty to reproduce,” she said, sniffling. “You should have understood that from the start. An open marriage would have suited my lifestyle better.”
Now who was the prostitute?
Cronus shrugged. “I don’t share. That’s just how I’m made, how I feel, and I cannot compromise on that.”
“And her powers?” I pushed, because I was nervous about sleeping near her, being that vulnerable.
“They don’t nickname her the ice queen for nothing,” he whispered.
“I heard that,” she growled behind us.
“But she would have to physically attack you to hurt you, and I will not let her close enough for that.”
I believed him, and that was a huge step forward in our relationship. Cronus would protect me until he no longer needed me, that was a given, so I’d be able to sleep soundly. Or as soundly as one could on the ground.
When we finally reached the “perfect spot” as Cronus declared it, I all but collapsed into the somewhat cleared area. My head was throbbing, my stomach rumbled, and my throat was as dry as my fucking sex life.
“Hound,” Cronus said, “find food and water.”
The hellhound rushed off, disappearing into the dark forest in a second. My eyes closed of their own accord, and I sort of sprawled across my arms, not even caring that it was freezing under here in my leather shorts and silk top. I needed to start dressing like a fucking mountain climber. Clearly.
“Just need five minutes to rest my eyes,” I mumbled.
