Before stepping into the lab, I phoned Cass, who picked up on the third ring. Cassidy rarely, if ever, sounded disappointed in me, but there was a first time for everything. I didn’t blame him. We were weeks away from his wedding and I’d gone radio silent. It was Sophie who suggested that it might be work related, which was the only reason he hadn’t booked a flight home. With a lump in my throat, I apologised profusely to my brother before telling him it wouldn’t happen again. He sighed irritably before thawing, but as I got off the phone, all I wanted was a hug from Grayson. Without that comfort, a lead weight settled in my stomach and refused to leave me all day.
Cass was the reason I kept control of my aura in the chambers. If it came down to it, Hunter could kill me. But the moment he mentioned my brother, I knew I couldn’t lose control. With Cass’ image firmly in my mind, I took every blow Hunter offered because for once, someone needed to look after Cass.
Charlie hovered around the lab as I pulled cryovials of cells from liquid nitrogen and revived them. Every time she got close, I inched away, feigning illness and cursing the fact I hadn’t slapped a cuff on my wrist that morning.
“This is an unusually late hour to still be at work.”
I’d sensed another God before he spoke. When I looked up from my laptop, he was standing by the door, watching me with his dark eyes.
“Gods don’t take holidays. Or I’m sure that’s what I’m meant to believe,” I replied, and then clamped my mouth shut. The filter between my brain and mouth had yet to reappear since Hunter dislodged it in the chambers.
He took measured steps towards me, but I didn’t feel threatened. There was something calming about his presence. Like a teacher or a parent who wanted to have a gentle word.
“I’m not sure you should talk to me,” I said when he pulled up a seat opposite me and sat down.
“Why not, Quentin Scott?”
“Hunter wouldn’t be happy about it.”
After his display in the council chambers, I didn’t want to come up against Hunter again. I was used to being alert, walking with my keys between my knuckles when it got dark. But Hunter’s attack was in broad daylight. It was also difficult to swallow that not a single one of the Gods had asked him to stop the brutal attack. They were all happy to sit and watch. I wouldn’t risk his temper again.
“How else do you expect me to make an informed decision?” he asked.
I closed the laptop and looked at him properly. “You should introduce yourself if you’re going to discuss such sensitive topics with me.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Malachi. God of patience.”
He stretched his large hand out across the table. Multiple silver rings decorated his fingers, and I regarded it for a moment before shaking it.
“What is it you want to know?” I asked, taking my hand back.
“Do you understand why you’re in this predicament?”
“Mallory didn’t follow the rules.”
He hummed. “She did not. But I meant more specifically.”
“Some of the minor Gods explained it to me,” I said, dropping my gaze to the table. “Demigods were trouble. They were convincing mortals to stop praying and threatened your existence. But it wouldn’t affect them because they were part mortal. They’d lose their divinity but continue without it.”
“Precisely. So we got rid of them.”
“I’m one being.” I looked up at him. “How much harm am I capable of?”
“You’re a scientist, Quentin. One microlitre. One milligram. One decimal point. The smallest fraction can change the course of your work and endanger lives, no?” When I didn’t reply, he continued. “What guarantee can you give that you wouldn’t turn your back on us? You were never a believer. You didn’t care about our existence before. Why would you bother to protect it now?”
I bit my tongue from offering the first crumb of truth that popped into my head. Grayson was always going to be the reason, but I couldn’t tell him that, so I went for the next thing.
“I’ve made friends with some of the elite. Erik and Sloan. Ig. Elva is my family.”
“Blood doesn’t always mean loyalty. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”
“I feel you’re playing a game, Malachi,” I said, leaning back slightly. “Like you know more about me than you’re letting on.”
“I know that you rarely prayed and that you’re rather impatient.”
My confidence wavered. “Not exactly the best qualities to be highlighted.”
“Would you like to tell me some of the better ones?”
