Apollymi’s eyes swam from unshed tears. “Too often we let our hearts lead our heads, and ignore signs that are sent to warn us of the truth. I wanted my Kissare so badly that I saw his face when it wasn’t there. And then when he was back, I’d been so badly burned that I didn’t believe in him or anything else, anymore. And especially not in something as cruel as love.” She drew a ragged breath. “The saddest part, Medea? Our worst hells are always made by our own bad decisions.”
And that was what terrified her the most. “How do we know when we’re making a bad decision?”
Apollymi laughed bitterly. “That’s the cruelest blow of all. We don’t. It’s only when we look back that we see clearly where we went wrong.”
“So is it wrong to love?”
A crystal tear rolled from Apollymi’s eye and froze to her flawless cheek. “That was the question I asked when I was told that my love was the cause of a war that should never have started. Not once. But twice.”
And with that, she headed for her garden, where she could mourn for her son whose birth had been cursed and who’d been torn from her arms by the prejudices and vindictiveness of others.
Life was cruel. Medea knew that better than anyone. It made no sense. There was no rhyme. No reason. Misery spared no one. Injustice baptized everyone equally, without prejudice or mercy. Sooner or later, death would come calling. Pain would stalk all hearts.
That was the nature of the beast.
Yet, she still had hope and she didn’t know why.
It made no sense to her. Truly, it didn’t. If anyone had a reason to lie down and surrender to the utter despair that was life, she would be the one.
And still…
She blamed Davyn for this stupid optimism that wouldn’t perish or go away.
And speaking of, she wanted to go check on him. If for no other reason, she suddenly felt a deep compunction to kick his ever-cheerful ass.
Yeah, that would definitely make her feel better. His neck in her hands…
In fact, every step that carried her closer to his room… and his throat, brightened her spirits. Along with the thought of beating him senseless.
As soon as she reached his door, she knocked on it. “Hey, Dav?”
Without thinking, she pushed it open, then drew up short as she saw that he wasn’t alone.
He was with a woman. Which was really, really,reallystrange.
Because Davyn was completely gay. In every sense of the word. And not only was Davyn naked in his bed with the woman on top of him.
The unknown woman was happilyfeedingfrom his thigh. In fact, she was so giddy, she was smacking.
Dumbfounded and horrified, Medea started to back up and leave them in peace. But just as she did so, she caught the slight, barely audible squeak from Davyn.
“Help me,” he breathed.
Yeah, that sounded more like a safe word or phrase.
Medea clutched at the doorknob, unsure if she should intervene or not. “Davyn?”
The woman looked up and hissed at her with a pair of glazed, feral eyes. Blood dripped from her chin and fangs.
Pale and weak, Davyn didn’t seem to be enjoying it. Rather, he appeared more like someone turning gallu.
Okay, this was all kinds of wrong.
“Get off him, she-bitch!” Medea rushed forward, intending to kill his attacker.
As Medea grabbed the woman’s arm and pulled her back, Davyn caught her hand in a surprisingly strong grip to keep her from making a lethal strike.
Stunned, she gaped at him. “What are you doing?”
