“I can’t.”
“He’s seen too much. You’re glowing.”
“I won’t say a word,” James said, shielding his eyes. “I didn’t see anything.”
Quen nodded slowly, and I let go of her face and stepped aside. James’ gaze slid from me to his colleague, and the look on his face was one of pure awe. Jealousy bubbled through my veins at seeing another man stare at her in such a way. The adoration that poured from him in waves made my aura appear around me, ready to shield her from view.
Quentin hopped off the bed, straightening out her shirt, but didn’t approach him.
“What have you done?” James whispered, dropping his hand. “Self-experimentation is highly unethical.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing on my late nights? Getting spiders to bite me?”
“If Grayson can shape-shift into a spider, then yes.”
“You’re an idiot, and I can’t believe I made you my second in this lab.”
“I’m an idiot, I agree. But what are you, Scott?”
His fingers reached out and played with the wisps of her aura that surrounded us. I wanted to snap every single digit for doing it, without her permission. For thinking he was worthy of touching anything that belonged to her. He should have been on his knees.
“I’m a…” She stopped, faltering with the admission. “I’m a demigoddess.”
“No fucking way,” he breathed, dropping his hand and looking at her again.
My aura wrapped around his throat, walking him back until he hit the wall. I was done with being patient.
“Gray,” Quentin called. “Stop.”
“She is a demigoddess,” I confirmed. “And that knowledge needs to remain a secret, otherwise there will be dire consequences.”
“Let him go!” she yelled, striding over to him. I did as she asked, and James heaved in a deep breath. “I’m so sorry,” Quen said, helping him stand straight. “Are you okay?”
“No one else knows?” James rasped.
“It’s a little complicated. I didn’t find out until recently.”
James rubbed his throat as his brows furrowed. “This was why the project stopped.”
“Proving why I picked you as my second,” she muttered under her breath.
“Gareth doesn’t know?”
“No one does apart from the Gods,” I chimed, joining her side. “And it stays that way if you value your life.”
Hunter was already trying to force her hand and, although I was gently coaxing her towards the idea, I wouldn’t make her do it before she was ready.
James shrunk away, less comfortable around my form than Quen’s.
“Please, James,” she said.
“I won’t breathe a word. I’m not going to risk getting my ass kicked by the Lord of chaos.”
“He’s a softie, really.”
“Quentin,” I warned, but she moved to James.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, playing with her aura again. “Not that you weren’t before. You were.”
