“I’m … I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I just wanted to get you back home.”
He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. “It worked, but it wasn’t worth the risk you took with your life.”
She patted his chest. “Have you gotten to see your daughter yet?”
“Yes.”
“Then I say it worked out well.”
The woman cleared her throat again. “I’m sorry to break this up, but what you both did was entirely inexcusable.”
Maya’s head whipped around and she looked at the black-haired woman. “I was not going to stay there with people constantly interfering further with my life. They made it so my clothing wouldn’t stay on my body, and sent Cosmo in to try to force us to mate.”
“They—” The woman’s eyes widened, then narrowed so that the red was barely visible. “Explain, Mr. Hart.”
Maya looked up and watched as Apollo kept his expression calm. “Cosmo will know more about it since I never encountered the couple. What I do know is what Maya has told me.”
“Go on,” the woman said, her arms folded over her chest.
“Cosmo woke her up by entering her room. Maya is able to … generate clothing, and that particular magic wasn’t working properly after he entered.”
Maya nodded. “But he was decent. Mostly. Tossed some frilly mess of a shirt at me, so I chose something else to wear.”
“Very interesting,” the woman said dryly.
“You asked, lady. And I feel compelled to point out that you asked someone who wasn’t there what happened. If you don’t want supposition and hearsay, you should ask one of the people who was actually there.”
“Considering you were dead for nearly two hours, Miss Strife, I’m not sure how much of your brain is working yet.” The words struck Maya, and she looked up at Apollo, her mouth slightly agape. “For the sake of getting things cleared up sooner rather than later, I’m asking the only person present who may be able to explain what is happening before I get further involved.”
“That is all I know, Athena,” Apollo said, his hand gently rubbing Maya’s back.
Maya tapped his chin. “I was dead for more than an hour?”
He looked down at her. “More like a state between life and death. I had to use a lot of magic to keep you breathing so you didn’t suffer brain death due to lack of oxygen. I can’t yet say what the ramifications will be. I’m so sorry, Maya.”
She fell silent, her eyes dropping so that she was staring at his hand. Something about it tugged at the back of her mind as she stared, her brain only processing bits and pieces of the conversation.
Finally, the woman said, “I will need to approach the situation with caution, so I can’t make any promises about what will happen. As for sending you back, I’m afraid she is too unstable to return.”
“The only people we encountered were Naomi and Cosmo. The old couple also knew we were on the island. Apart from that, no one is present on the island who will notice our absence.”
The woman’s jaw ticked as she looked at them. “Very well. I will leave you to care for her. I trust that you won’t say anything about this to anyone else.”
“I stand to lose just as much as you should this incident be known.”
The woman nodded, then disappeared.
“Who was that?” Maya asked.
“Don’t worry about it. For now, I think you need more rest.” He slipped off of the bed and laid her down carefully on some incredibly comfortable pillows. “And don’t worry, no nightmares, so you can sleep soundly.”
“Wait, Apollo.” She grabbed his forearm as he started to tuck her into the bed. She looked at his hand. “It looks fine.” She looked up at him. “I thought it was … hurt.”
He gave her a soft smile. “You aren’t the only one who uses magic as dressing.” Then he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Sleep.”
His calming smell coupled with his quiet voice and gentle touch helped her to relax, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Chapter 10
