Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He jolts. “What?”
I hadn’t meant to say the words, but now that they’ve been voiced, they feel right. “I’ll resign,” I repeat. I find myself grinning. “Yeah, fuck this title.” I’m not a good fit for it. I never have been. Not to mention, power isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s brought me nothing but grief, and I’m over it. “Fight your own fucking war. I’m done doing it for you.” I turn and start for the door.
“If you walk out of here, you’re dead to me.” His voice surges into a roar as I keep moving. “Do you hear me, you little shit? You’ll be no better than these Olympian vermin and I’ll exterminate you alongside them.”
I glance over my shoulder. It strikes me that Minos looks…small. Ever since he took me in, he’s felt larger than life. The only god I worshipped, the only power I devoted myself to. Now, with his chest heaving and his mouth working while he tries to find the exact combination of words to hurt me enough to make me buckle, he’s nothing more than a man, and a pathetic one at that.
I have no allegiance to Olympus. I’m not an attack dog switching sides—switching masters. But I’ve found my first sliver of true happiness here, and I won’t let anyone endanger it. Not even him. “If you touch one of my people, I will come back here and skin you alive. You taught me to do that when I was seventeen, remember? There will be no mercy for you. Don’t fuck with me.”
Minos, god of my teenage years, flinches.
That’s all I need to turn around…and find the Minotaur blocking the door. I stare at him. We’ve been rivals and enemies and occasionally something that almost resembles friends. There’s nothing of that in his eyes now. “Get out of my way,” I say softly.
His empty gaze flicks over my shoulder to where Minos is still cursing and throwing threats with enough venom that I’m glad he’s not armed. “Might be a mistake.” He matches my tone, his words designed not to carry. “Backing the wrong horse.”
“I’m not backing any horse.” We barely talk, and even then, it’s usually about fighting techniques or weapons. Still, after spending half my life at his side, I can’t help the desire not to leave like this. “I’m choosing to be happy—if I can figure out what the fuck that looks like. You should do the same.”
Another glance at Minos. The Minotaur shrugs. “I’m where I want to be.” But he moves slowly to the side and allows me to pass.
I slip out of the room, but I don’t take a full breath until I’m back in my car and winging my way to the hospital. My hands won’t stop shaking. I think I made the right call—or at least the only call available to me—but there’s a pit of loss inside me that’s going to be a bitch to wade through when things calm down.
If they calm down.
I park in a hurry, ready to charge into the emergency room and demand answers. Unfortunately, my body is fucking done with the abuse I’ve heaped on it. My knee locks up as I try to climb out. I curse and slump against the side of the car, gritting my teeth and riding out the pain. The hospital is right there, but I can’t power through it this time. I’ve been ignoring my limits for days—weeks—and now I’m paying the price.
“Theseus?”
I look up to find Adonis standing a few feet away, his features drawn. He holds up an unlit cigarette and gives a sheepish smile. “Seemed a great time to start smoking.”
“Throw that shit away.” I try to put weight on my leg and hiss out a breath when all I get for my trouble is a rush of agony. “Bad for you.”
He’s by my side in an instant. “Your knee or your ribs?”
“Knee. Put it through…too much.”
“I suppose fighting for your life and then charging off to confront Minos will do that.” He slips beneath my arm without asking, which I appreciate even as I curse. The truth is that I’m not getting into that hospital without help.
“News?”
“Not yet.” He doesn’t look at me as we make our slow, painful way to the sliding glass doors. “She’s still in surgery. They’re not even updating Zeus and Ares.” A pause. “Are you okay?”
“No.” I grit my teeth. “But I will be.”
The two people in question stare at us as we move through the doors. Zeus glares at me and I glare right back. This motherfucker better not think he can keep me from my wife. He stalks up to us, and just like every other time we’ve stood close together, I’m surprised to find he’s not particularly tall. He’s got a big presence.