“Oh, my god, you are. Why? You don’t even like me. We’re supposed to have sex, or whatever, so we can get out of here.”
“And that’s OK with you?” I ask.
“Yes. But…” She hesitates.
“But? But what?”
“Well… I don’t know how long this is gonna last, but regardless, at this point in time, we’re all connected. And you’redefinitely part of that connection, Quaid. And despite our initial hostility, I’m OK with the plan.”
“The plan. To use me for my glasses.”
“Wow. You have baggage.”
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?”
She lets out a breath. “Am I pretty?”
“What?” I’m scoffing again.
“Am I pretty?”
“Do you need me to confirm that for you? Are you looking for me to pump up your ego? Because I’m pretty sure Declan does that enough for all three of us.”
“No. I’m asking if I’m your type, Quaid. Like… maybe you prefer blondes? Or taller chicks? I’m pretty short. Or perhaps my personality just doesn’t do it for you. That’s what I’m asking. Because if that’s the case, we can keep it professional. I won’t get attached. I’ll let you work me up just enough to get what we need, and then I’ll pull back. But if it’s not, Quaid, and we’re gonna be stuck together for the foreseeable future, then I’d like to mend the fence between us and allow it to go where it goes.”
Go where it goes? I squint my eyes at her. “Are you… picturing some kind of relationship between the four of us outside of this situation? Because, I’m not gonna be a part of that.”
“Why not? Because I’m not your type?”
“Well, first of all, I’m not a demigod. And you’re going back to Olympus with both of them,” I say, hiking my thumb to the door behind me. “Or one of them, at least. And I’m mortal. So…”
“Oh, I see. I guess I hadn’t thought of that.”
Which makes sense. She didn’t even know who she was when we found her. She still doesn’t know who she is, not really. Which means I’m maybe… possibly… being… unreasonable here.
“But what if you could come?”
“To Olympus.” I shake my head. “It’s not possible.”
“Why not? If they can cross to this realm, why can’t you cross over there?”
“I dunno. It’s just the rules.”
“If it’s just the rules, then someone made those rules. Which means the rules can change.”
“Anyway,” I sigh. Because this is a nowhere conversation if ever there was one. “What about the collar? You were pretty pissed off about that.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, we will, I guess. When I take you back to Apollo.”
“Are you going to take me back to Apollo?”
It’s an honest question. One I can’t really answer. Partly because if it comes down to me against Declan and Aric, I’m pretty sure one of them will come out on top way before I do. And partly because if I had a choice, no. I would keep her. If she was my type. And she might not be. “You could be my type,” I say. Trying to close the distance between us. “You are pretty.”
She smiles. And it’s a real, honest smile. “OK. Now we’re making progress.”
“You don’t care?” I ask. “That we’re all here to use you, Star?”
