Thin grooves ridge her forehead. “You said you chose me because I was his daughter.”
“I said it was one of the reasons, not the entire reason.” I wait for her to ask what the entire reason was. She doesn’t, so I volunteer it. “The other reason I picked you was because?—”
“I was pining for Mal?”
My eyebrows slam low. “No.”
“Yet it came in handy, didn’t it?”
“I didn’t choose you because of your crush. I chose you in spite of it. I chose you, Electra Serran, because when Trenton handed me your file, I couldn’t fucking tear my eyes off your profile picture.” Before I lose her interest and attention, I confess, “My mission was to seduce you so I could score an invite onto your island and blow up the mine.”
Her pupils swell so fast they eat up their vibrant backdrops. “Why did you ever think seducing me would lead to an invite?”
“Because it’s how one of ours ended up on your island—Polly Tatum.”
When her eyes don’t narrow, I take it she’s heard of her.
“Tarian’s brother unmasked her before she could destroy the mine, but she set foot on your island.”
“You’re misinformed, Reeve.”
I frown. “We have satellite images of her on your island.”
“Not about her trip. She did come to Atlantis. I remember her. I still lived there at the time.” Under her breath, she adds, “Didn’t know she was one of yours, but I guess it makes sense. Explains her physique. That girl had more muscle on her than Sym’s usual type.”
“What was I misinformed about?”
“How she died. Symeon didn’t unmask her,” Electra says. “Gaea did.” When my frown digs deeper into my brow, she adds, “Since you gave us Trenton, I’ll give you this one—Gaea is the name of our goddess, the one who inhabits our mine. Symeon tried to give Polly magic; Gaea decided she wasn’t worthy and stopped her heart. If you’d tried to enter our mine, you would’ve been struck dead before you could’ve rigged an explosive. You do realize it was a suicide mission?”
“I imagined it would be.”
“But you still went through with it?”
“Quinn deserves to be free.”
Electra’s throat strains like she’s struggling to swallow.
“That’s what you do for the people you love. You save them.”
Electra’s pupils shrink. “How touching.” She doesn’t look touched. I think it’s because she doesn’t believe me, until she swings the door open and says, “Should’ve swapped cars. You would’ve gotten your happily ever after.”
“That’s not—” The door bangs shut. “Electra!”
Fuck.
“Electra!” I yell again, but she doesn’t come back.
Chapter 52
Electra
Salt in my already gaping wounds. That’s what Reeve’s ultimate confession feels like.
I hate that it hurts, but hate what the pain means even more. Why must I fall for the wrong men? First Malachi, then a Holy Hunter in love with his childhood friend.
When I catch sight of Ines at the top of the stairs, I blink away the moisture and steel my features. “Your five minutes start now.”
She glances around the crowded kitchen. “Can we go for a walk?”
