As powerful as I was, Hecate was still a goddess. If we evertrulycame to blows, I would have my hands full with her.
It was all fun and games until she finally decided she was sick of my shit and realized I would probably be cuter as a cat-skin coat.
“You made my brothereat me out!?I knew you were a sick piece of shit, Shemhazai, but that’s low, even for you!”
“He’s notactuallyyour brother!” I protested, glancing over her shoulder and Fenrir and Sköll, who were standing behind her, still fully naked.
Now that the elixir had run its course and they were no longer possessed with lust, their faces were both a deep red, and they were awkwardly keeping their distance from each other. I couldsmelltheir shame from whatGabe and I had forced them to do to each other, and I nearly giggled with glee.
Hahahahahah! Fuckers. That’s what you fucking GET!
“Besides, you had it coming. This is payback for making me fuck that obese asshole! At least Fenrir is hot.”
She screeched again and shot another fireball at me, which I easily evaded.
“That wasfive hundred years ago!Get over it! Plus, you think you didn’t already get me back enough for that!? You started the fucking witch trials!” she snarled, and I winced but forced myself to quickly recover, shoving my hands into my pockets with a shrug.
“His teeth were fuckingrottingout of his mouth, Hecate. I fucked his black gums forhoursbecause of you. Did you really think I was just going to let that go?”
Sköll and Fenrir quietly exchanged a glance, and I didn’t miss the way their lips twitched in amusement. I narrowed my eyes on them.
“Something funny, fuckers?” I snarled. “Do I need to make you suck each other off again? That’ll wipe those smiles off your smug faces.”
“Leave them out of this!” Hecate hissed, and I glanced back at her. She was still pissed, but she was clearly calming down. Her eyes weren’t glowing anymore. They had returned to their usual silvery grey, and her hair was no longer floating in the air.
“Come on, Hec. I had to wake you up somehow. What did you think was going to happen? You thought you could hide yourself in a mortal body and give yourself fake memories, and that would be enough to hide from me? I was always going to find you.”
“Take a fucking hint, Hazai. I didn’t want you to find me. I was asleep for however fucking many years, and you justleftme there. I had to claw my way out of my own grave. Where the fuckwereyou?”
I winced again, my own temper fizzling out. I bit my lip and sighed.
“I—You’re right. I’m sorry. I was betrayed. What happened to you… I never meant for that to happen. I tried for centuries to wake you up, I swear.”
She was about to scream at me again, but she paused as she digested my words.
“Did you just…apologize?”
I shrugged. “Yeah.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and suddenly, she softened further. Her hissing snakes retreated, and several of them vanished back into shadow.
“You weren’t… Arteqoph told me he was taking me to you, but then that seraphim was there… He was too strong.”
Anger and hurt shot through my chest at just how much of a fool I had been to trust Arteqoph.
Wouldn’t be making that mistake again.
I glanced at Gabe, who was standing quietly to the side, watching Hecate and I bicker with a soft frown on his face.
Was I an idiot to trust him too?
What was I fucking doing?
Shaking off the doubt, I glanced back at Hecate, who was mulling over what I’d said.
“So Art betrayed you?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s a long story. I was busy killing his ass over it when you woke up; that’s why I wasn’t there to help pull you out of your grave. I’m really sorry, Hec. We play games, but I never wanted to truly hurt you, not like that. You shouldknowthat. Why do you think I spent so fucking long trying to keep Ares from catching you?”
