“Flynn,” Malachi hissed.
“Oh, please. She’s probably heard worse from Grayson.”
Flynn looked past me, and I quickly peeked over my shoulder to see Gray leaning against the wall with a little cloud of black surrounding him. When I looked back to Flynn, he was blowing Gray a kiss and wiggling his fingers in a wave.
“He hates me,” Flynn pointed out cheerily.
“It’s a long list. You aren’t special,” I replied.
He tipped his head back and laughed. “Very true.” Flynn shuffled across the sofa and slapped the space next to him and I sank into it. “Don’t take it personally,” he said, knocking his shoulder into mine. “The wholewanting to kill youthing. It’s survival of the fittest. We’re all looking out for ourselves.”
“Except for you,” Waverly pointed out. “Why help us? And don’t tell us it’s your job.”
My gaze flicked over to Malachi, who stood over us, arms folded across his chest. They were all waiting for my answer.
What would be the harm in being honest? It was the first time I sat with elite Gods who were willing to listen to me, so I took my chance to appeal to them the best way I knew how. By presenting them with facts.
“I never believed in you because I felt like none of you listened to me. I took this job because I wanted the glory that would come with it when we finished,” I admitted, looking down at my hands.
When I glanced up again, my eyes fell on Gray. Ignacio and Erik flanked him as they spoke, gesturing wildly, and Gray tried to pry them apart. Elva and Sloan hovered nearby, looking amused at the scene that was unfolding before them.
“I didn’t expect to fall in love with one of you,” I said, still watching Gray. “I didn’t expect to find family when I was certain I had none.”
Elva tucked herself into Ig’s side, scrunching her nose when he kissed the top of her head. It was the same reaction I had with Gray.
“I don’t want to get rid of any of you,” I said, tearing my eyes away. “I don’t want to cause trouble.” The admission was on the tip of my tongue, the one that I had tried running from, but it was becoming more and more difficult to escape it. “I want to have the chance to come home and learn about a piece of me that’s been missing for as long as I can remember.”
“Way to make me feel like an asshole,” Flynn muttered, and I pulled my attention back to them. “I had you down as a murderous wench.”
“He really doesn’t know when to stop talking,” Malachi said as a way of an apology.
“You should try to spend more time with us,” Waverly pointed out. “Step out of your lab from time to time. It would be a good place to start learning about yourself.”
“I didn’t know if anyone would want me around. You’re not the most welcoming bunch.”
She shrugged. “Well, the offer is there now. I’d be happy to get to know you better.”
The tension around us eased, and the conversation flowed away from my mortality and into gossip. I sat quietly, listening as Flynn explained Erik would want to run the wedding ceremony, but Ig would rather eat his hat.
It was strange to think that Gods and Goddesses did such menial things like share whispers when they were in charge of the fates of so many mortals. It was all a balancing act they’d grown comfortable with.
As Waverly launched into explaining her latest fight with Aria, I caught sight of Larkin. Her expression was stony and miserable as she weaved gracefully through the guests and out of the room. Anxiety pitted in my stomach, making my fingers twitch, and I waited a few moments to see if anyone followed her. When none of the guests left the room, my chance to put my plan into action materialised into reality.
“Would you excuse me for a second?” I asked, getting up from the seat. “I’ll be right back.”
Shuffling out of the room, I watched Larkin climb the stairs at the end of the hallway and counted to five before following her. She disappeared through a doorway and I took a deep breath, pushing the door open and joining her in the space. She whirled around as I shut the door.
“What do you want?” she snapped, voice echoing in the bathroom. “You’re spending too much time with Grayson because this borders on creepy.”
“Larkin—"
“I see you didn’t bother listening to my warning.”
“I heard what you said, but Gray is different.”
“Because you’re bound?”
“Even before that. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
