“Stop pouting; you ain’t fooling anyone,” Ares growls.
“You’re one to get offended, skirt-boy. You never told us about Poseidon either,” Theo adds. His input is always annoying, but he does state facts – sometimes.
“Everyone’s got secrets, I’m over it,” Carter adds.
I turn away, zoning them out. I know they will survive, but if they lose… It’s time I put my backup plan into play. I have focused on control for as long as I can remember, and it’s going to come in use now. It has to.
I’m about to leave the room when Allie grabs hold of my arm, a questioning glance in her eyes.
Did you know?That’s what she’s asking. I cast a spell so that no one can hear her.
I did when we first got here,I admit.
She nods curtly. “Were you planning on telling me?”
Ideally, after this was all over,I write.We have had time in the last three days, but I didn’t feel there was a time that was right to just drop it on you.
She nods. “Yeah, I get it, trust that fucker Helios to drop it like that,” she mutters. “Dante most likely knows…”
She looks distracted for a moment before she sighs.
I’m sorry,I write.
Allie shakes her head. “Don’t. It’s fine. I just didn’t expect it to be me…”
She sighs heavily, and I raise an eyebrow.Logically, it makes sense, you just don’t want it to be you,I write with a small understanding smile.
Allie gives me a flat look. “Ok, that.”
She walks off, needing some space, and I don’t follow her. I know Allie. Instead, I decide to get to work. I have seven days. That’s more than enough time, as long as no one gets in my way.
I’m about to walk away when someone – I know exactly who it is – tugs on my hair. My stomach does that weird jolt whenever he’s close, and Goddess, do I hate it.
I turn, casting him a deadly glare as he lets go of my hair. “Oi, Blondie.”
What?I write with a pointed look.
He smirks. “Nobody but you has that look on your face that you’re up to something. Are you?” He raises one of those annoying brows.
I roll my eyes, cocking a brow, my emotions are already locked in, keeping my surprise well hidden.
How the hell does he do that? I tilt my head.I’m afraid your intuition doesn’t run as deep as Jayce’s because you’re wrong. I’m not up to anything,I write.
He cocks a brow. “I don’t have intuition; I’m just good at reading body language,” he remarks, looking down at me. I’m far too aware of my sheer top and cross my arms smoothly over my breasts.
Well, nothing to read here,I write with a toss of my hair before brushing past him, far too aware of the way his arm felt against mine…
Goddess, help me get over him.
Jayce
The last sevendays have felt like a lifetime. My own emotions are a storm, wanting to know how she’s doing, hating her for leaving, angry at her for not telling me the truth, pissed at myself for not being able to be there for her, and above all the uselessness I felt and the betrayal I felt when she rejected me, the desire to free her, to let her go home to her family and then, hating that these emotions I thought were under control have returned. Or maybe they were always here but just suppressed?
One thing I’m certain of is that when we’re done here, I will move on from all of it. Focus on myself without the blame that was cast on me for failing to protect her.
Loving someone is a waste of time… I wish I had known that first.
We now stand at the gates to the Kingdom of Solaria, the highest land under Helios’ domain, where his castle resides. Clouds float around our feet, and there’s a flight of steps that lead to a golden arched gate, the top shaped like the rays of the sun.
