Page 115 of The Gods Forbid

Regardless, he stopped what he was doing and shifted his gaze to the woman who’d interrupted us. I really wasn’t a fan of women in galleries talking to him.

Though this woman, I could tell, was related to him. There was something in her features that reminded me of him.

Sebastian gave her a thin smile, which made me think that she was well aware of his plan against my brother, if not a part of it. “Bianca. I was hoping to make this a quick visit. I meant no offense.”

Bianca nodded, sliding her gaze to me and Penn curiously. “Well, I’m happy to have both of you in my museum.”

This museum wasn’t her anything, but I assumed she worked here. I stepped up to Sebastian, feeling a strong need to protect him from his own family. Bianca’s narrowed eyes didn't sit right with me, especially when they landed on Penn.

“Hello,” I greeted, keeping my voice calm and extending my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Persy.”

Bianca blinked, obviously placing me. “Ah, the other Jupiter.”

My back heated with the proximity of Sebastian’s body as he stepped closer to me. “The better one, some might say,” I said with a smile, choosing to ignore her blatantly rude tone.

Bianca’s eyes narrowed even further, making her look all the more serpentine. “Right. Well, I just wanted to come say hello to my cousin.”

“You’ve done so,” Sebastian’s voice came from behind me.

Bianca blinked up at him, her head turning slightly in confusion. I understood that reaction. I was sure the last time she’d spoken to Sebastian it had gone very, very differently. “Well,” she said, drawing out the word. “Ariana was asking about you yesterday. I’m glad I have something to tell her.”

Ariana was his aunt. The same one his uncle had said would have a hard time dropping this plan, holding tight to her promise of money and power. Based on the way Sebastian stiffened, I assumed that wasn’t the reaction he wanted. “Tell her if she has something to say to me, she can say it herself.”

Bianca nodded slowly, her reaction stalled before her lips broke into a smile. “Happy to report whatever you wish, Apollo. Especially … this,” she finished, gesturing her hand around to me and Penn.

Oh, that wasn’t wise. Before either Sebastian or I could tell her otherwise, she was turning on her heeled foot and walking away from us.

Right as she walked away, timed with the click of her heels against the floor, my heart started to beat harder in my chest. Painful, loud pumps that constricted my chest and made me feel like I was about to keel over.

It was then that I realized how screwed I was. That level of immediate jealousy, which hadn’t gone anywhere, combined with the protectiveness running rampant through my limbs was bad, bad news.

“I think it’s time we leave,” Sebastian said, his voice thin. All I could do was nod as I tried to get myself together, trying to wrestle my heart into compliance.

Penn seemed as happy as ever, blissfully unaware of the gravity of what just happened. We’d satisfied my brother’s request to get Sebastian out into the world, and it culminated in the one loose end getting an earful from his cousin about us together.

I was in a daze while we walked through the portal and while saying goodbye to Penn, barely making it through his excited hug with a genuine smile on my face. I needed to get out of here, and I knew exactly where to go.

On the silent walk back to my house, though it had felt like companionable silence, I fought the urge to run towards my side of the studio.

I also fought the urge to tell Sebastian to come with me. I had this insane desire to hand over pieces of information about me, parts that I normally kept firmly to myself.

This was one of them. Probably the thing I kept most protected.

Despite that, after a quick excuse about leaving and pointedly avoiding Sebastian’s observant gaze, I walked toward the studio and looked over my shoulder at him. Despite how private I kept this, I left the door open as I walked inside and sat down in search of some peace.

Chapter 24

Sebastian

She left the door open.

She’d never done that before.

I was at my wits end trying to resist the urge to figure out what was behind that door, and this might have done it, fully ripping away my control and decorum.

That might have been a distracted mistake, especially since she’d seemed dazed and out of it since we’d left the museum. My own heart still hadn’t calmed down.

I felt like a child who was caught sneaking toys they weren’t supposed to have in that gallery. Any longer in Persy’s maddening presence and I would have admitted to her that she was the woman in Sunlight Incarnate.