I wokeup in Ophelia’s bed for the third time this week.My sheets no longer smell like her, and I can’t get to sleep without her scent.The sun shines on my cheek through the curtains, which shouldn’t be open.I remember closing them to block out the moonlight before I passed out.
Rolling onto my side, curled up with Ophelia’s pillow, I don’t want to get out of bed.I want to stay with her for another minute.This is the only time that I feel like she’s still here.
“Get up,” Apollo says in a deep tone that forces my eyes open.
I glare at him and wrap my arm tighter around Ophelia’s pillow.“Go away!”
“If I didn’t know better,” Apollo says, “I would think Atlas is right about you being in love with Ophelia.But my big brother is too self-centered to love anyone more than himself.”
Fucker.
I lift my head from the pillow and sit up.“Why are you in Ophelia’s room?”
“I woke up, and you weren’t in your bed.This is getting out of hand, Ares.You knew the consequences before you touched her.I told both of you to keep Ophelia close.Not to fuck her.”
My head snaps to Atlas, perched on the windowsill with his knees bent, the sketchbook on his lap.He taps a charcoal pencil on the page, biting his bottom lip.
“Save your speech.”I push out my palm to silence Apollo.“Atlas comes in here every day to sketch her.And I don’t hear you giving him shit.”
“I hear it,” Atlas shoots back.“But I don’t care what either of you thinks.Ophelia is my muse.I need the connection to her.”
All of us got it bad.Even Apollo is catching feelings for her.If this continues, he might break his curse.He might have a shot at a normal life again.
I slide my legs off the bed and stretch my arms above my head, yawning.“I miss her.So fucking what?I know both of you do, too.I want her to come home.This house is unbearable without her.”
“She will,” Apollo says with confidence.“After we finalize the last part of our plan, I will drag Ophelia back here.”
“Not like she has a choice,” Atlas adds.“If she wants her inheritance, she has to come home.”
None of us ever wanted to hurt her.This was always about taking down Belen and Alexander Drakos.Unfortunately, changing her father’s will change was necessary.
Belen had to disown Ophelia for our plan to come to fruition.And he would only do that if he saw her with us.We knew that would be the final straw to force her out of the family.Our mother, bless her saintly heart, even suggested it.
I hate myself.
My brothers feel horrible.
“She’ll come back,” Atlas agrees.“This is her home.”
“So is Olympus,” Apollo interjects.“She can have it.I don’t want it.”
He wantshermore.
“She’ll come back for The O Club,” I say with certainty.“And if she forgives us, maybe she’ll stay for us, too.”
We hurt Ophelia because it was the only way to avenge our father and reclaim what we lost.But once she discovers her mother’s dying wish, she will change her mind.My little dragon will see that we’re not the villains in her story.
The letter from Cora is real, written by her mother one week before her death.She had been my mother’s best friend since high school.They were like sisters.
There’s one more secret to reveal.A big one that will make Ophelia see things differently.We just need to get her back on our side.
ChapterForty-One
OPHELIA
I haven’t answeredAres’s calls or texts.Even when Atlas sends a sketch of me, I delete the image and throw the phone at the wall.Apollo tries to reach me, too.
I hate them.
