by Raye Wagner
Dahlia shook out her dark hair, and it fell in cascading curls down her back. “I think that’s it for today. I have a date, so I can’t stay and play.”
Hope thought back to their conversation a few nights ago. “A date with who?”
Dahlia pursed her lips before answering, “Doesn’t matter to you. Now, go take a shower, or whatever it is you do. I’ve got to go.” She threw her gear into a mesh bag and then hung it on a peg by the door. “Good night, Hope.”
“Good night. Have fun, Dahl.”
“I will.” The beautiful girl walked out the door.
Hope scanned the room. Despite Dahlia having called time, Hope wasn’t done. Her gaze settled on an athletic bag that had been bolted to the floor. Two others hung from the ceiling. She went over to the stereo, cranked the music up as loud as it would go, and then started kicking and punching the bags. She matched the staccato beat of the drums, thumping the bag over and over and over again. When she couldn’t move her arms anymore, she went upstairs to take a shower and go to bed.
HOPE’S AGGRESSIVE EXERCISE left her exhausted, and when her mind finally allowed her to relax, she slept late the next morning. Anxiety slowed her, and she dawdled through her morning routine. When it came time to pick out something to wear, she pulled out a cream sweater her mother had bought her for her birthday and completed the outfit with dark boots and skinny jeans. Yep. That would be fine. She smiled at her reflection and headed downstairs.
She walked into the kitchen and heard a low whistle.
Dion sat at the table, a plate of eggs in front of him, untouched. In his hand, he held a stemmed glass filled with what appeared to be a mixture of juice and wine.
“Poly oraios! Hope, you are beautiful.” He tilted the glass at her.
She blushed and pointed at the glass in his hand. “Isn’t it a little early?”
“Ah. You are beautiful, but skliros, no?”
Hope grimaced. “Skliros?”
“Hard, cruel, tough.” Athan answered from behind her.
His words were like a physical blow. Is that what he thought of her?
“She’s not really one to spare your feelings,” Athan continued talking, directing his comments to Dion. “But . . .” Athan hesitated as he met her eyes. “You’ll always know where you stand.”
She wasn’t even sure where Athan stood with her, or she with him. While the two men spoke, Hope surveyed Athan. His bronzed hair and skin were lighter than she remembered, probably from spending so much time indoors. His jeans hung low on his narrow waist, and although he was lean, he was far more muscular than the son of Dionysus.
“Alitheia kai ithikotita. Truth and honor.” Dion glanced at Hope, then continued his conversation with Athan, “Do you ever get tired of your ideals?”
Athan laughed. “I’m not training her. Xan is.”
“Xan?” Dion laughed. “You’re, how you say, teasing, no?”
Athan shook his head. “No. Really. Xan is her mentor.”
“Alitheia? Ouai. I wouldn’t have . . .” His glazed eyes wandered over his plate and then to Athan. “Everyone grows, no?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Athan smirked, driving in the thick sarcasm coating his words.
Hope narrowed her eyes. “Why would you say that? Why is truth and honor such a stretch for Xan?”
Athan pinched his lower lip before answering. “I would hate to burst your bubble about someone you think you know.”
Hope glared at him. What was it with demigods not answering questions? Maybe there were advanced lessons she hadn’t gotten to. The idea was infuriating. “Why don’t you try me? I like to make my own assessments. I appreciate honesty. And, sometimes, like Dion said, people change. I’d like to think people can change.”
Athan’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Would you give Xan the benefit of the doubt?”
Her immediate thought was yes, but she considered. “I’d like to think so.”
“Hmmm. Do you believe in double standards?”
Dion rubbed his temples and stood.
“You two have some history. I think I will go now.” He took his glass and left the room, his plate of food still uneaten on the table.
Hope looked at Athan, and he held her gaze. Why was he staring at her? “What?”
He licked his lips as he regarded her. “What time do you want to go to lunch?”
Her heart jumped, and something warm, like honey, spread through her chest.
“I haven’t had breakfast yet.” Her voice came out all breathy, and the warmth spread to her cheeks.
“No? You slept in?”
Hope rolled her eyes and swallowed a giggle threatening to escape. She’d stayed up half the night worrying he’d cancel. Even now she teetered on the edge of hope and doubt, but excitement fizzed through her like a carbonated drink.
“Well, how about brunch, then? Are you hungry?”
Hope bit her lip. Would he remember?
Athan laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I should’ve known. Okay, let’s go get something to eat.”
He did!
“Where are we going?” She rolled up onto the balls of her feet, ready to sprint to the car.
“Downtown. There’s this bakery in the Market that makes an incredible egg scramble, better than you’ve ever had. And they get their sausage from a local butcher. You’ll love it.”
They stepped out the door to be greeted by three tall, blond men.
“Hope and Athan,” Ty said with a smirk.
Hope frowned. What were they doing here? “I thought you went with Xan and Thenia?”
Ty laughed, a short barking sound. He looked her up and down, his lips curling into a sneer. “I bet you wished we had.”
Athan clenched his teeth, and the muscles of his neck tightened. “Back off, Ty. I’m not interested in dealing with your drama right now.”
“Whoa-ho-ho. What do we have here? You two know each other well? Is Hope the demigod you found in Goldendale? The one that disappeared for a while?”
Athan grabbed Hope’s arm and stepped to go around the side, but Ty and Tre moved to block them.
“Are you? Weren’t the two of you friends?” He made air quotes around the word friends.
“Why would it matter?” she asked.
Ty chuckled. “World’s greatest psachno, and he loses his prize. Not so great after all, eh, Athan?”
“Come on, Hope.” Athan tugged her hand, but again the bigger men blocked their path.
“No. I want to ask her something. I know you already told us you didn’t see anything, but maybe she did.”
“She didn’t.”
Hope glared at Athan. She hated when others answered for her. She directed her gaze to Tre and Ty. Prax stood behind them, a scowl on his face.
“What do you want?” she snapped. “I’m hungry, so make it fast.”
“Gods, I’d love to break you, Hope. You’re so mouthy.” Ty leaned forward into her personal space. “I bet you like it rough, too.”
Athan stepped in front of Hope. “If you have a question, ask her. Otherwise, get out of her face.”
“What do you care, Athan?” Tre stood toe to toe with the other demigod. “She’s not with you anymore. She’s with Xan.”
Hope gritted her teeth. She was not property. “What’s your question?”
Tre stepped away from Athan and said, “Have you seen the Sphinx?”
She glanced up at Athan, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest.
Ty grabbed her jaw. With an iron grip, he forced her to face him.
“Have you?” he growled.
Hope tried to shake her head, but Ty didn’t release her. Clenching her chin tighter, he brought her face close to his, and she stumbled forward.
“Have you seen the Sphinx?” His sky blue eyes, eyes that matched all of his brothers’, were colder than ice.
She shoved him away with every bit of her strength, and he fell to the ground. “I shook my head.”
He jumped up and stepped towa
rd her, his hands balled into fists. “You looked at Athan first.”
“Because he’s my friend.” Her blood pressure climbed with her pulse.
Ty glared at her and took another step. “You haven’t seen her?”
“Not since last Halloween. But then I see at least five of them every year.” If he came any closer, she’d go for the blades in her boot. There was no way she was going to let him touch her again.
“Come on, Ty.” Praxis called. “She said no. Leave her alone.”
Ty turned back to Hope. “I don’t believe you.”
That was it. She’d had enough. “I don’t care two cents what you believe. I told you no. And no means no.”
She grabbed Athan’s sleeve and pulled him to the garage.
“Why didn’t you say something?” she hissed.
Athan opened the car door for her then met her gaze. “Because they can tell when you’re lying.”
Just great.
THE DRIVE WAS SHORT, and Athan made small talk. There was no further reference to the earlier conversation. It wasn’t until they sat down with their food in the little café that he broached the subject of the two of them.
“What happened? Did you hear me and my dad talking? Is that why you left Goldendale?” Athan sipped his orange juice. “I thought you’d at least come back to get your stuff.”
She’d been afraid of this moment. Afraid he would crush her heart. That he wouldn’t care. So why did she feel like they were sitting at her kitchen table in Goldendale? “I sent movers to pack up and bring it all over to Seattle. I did go back to apologize to you. I wanted to patch things up, but you were gone. Myrine was completely coherent for a few minutes then went all crazy again. I saw Haley, and those beefed up lunatic sons of Apollo showed up. In your truck, I might add.”
He grimaced. “I sold them that monstrosity. I hated that thing, and I was trying to get them off your tail.”
“I don’t think they recognized me, though. Not that time.” She thought about her brief fight, while she smashed pieces of her muffin with her fork.
“I can’t believe you saw them again. Gods, Hope. Do you have a death wish?” He ran his hands through his hair, eyes wide.
She studied him while considering his words. He seemed sincere, like he really did care. “They seem pretty bad.”
“They are the worst kind of immortals, taking pleasure in other’s pain.” He pushed his empty plate back. “Twisted and sick, and they will kill you. We need to figure a way to get you out of the conservatory.”
“I’m leaving.” Now that they were talking, she wanted to tell him everything.
His hand stilled on the plate. “What?”
She nodded. “Next week.” She took a sip of orange juice. “It’s not like I can change in there. And the sons of Apollo are only going to get worse. I can’t hide from them, if I’m right there.”
He ran a hand over his face. “They’re brutal, too. You know, they’re the ones who tortured your aunt.”
Her heart froze. “Priska?” Guilt hung in her chest, followed by a burning hatred. “They’re the ones?” If they came near her again, she would kill them.
“Where are you going to go?” He reached across the table, his hand stretching toward her. Then he grabbed her fork and took a bite of her breakfast. “Would you move back in with Priska?”
She missed her aunt, but she couldn’t go back. She’d need more help breaking the curse, and Priska wouldn’t, or maybe couldn’t, take the risks necessary. “Maybe I could move in with Myrine.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not really an option,” he said after swallowing another bite. “Myrine sold her house. I don’t even know where she is now. Would you need to stay with anyone?”
“Isn’t there protection in numbers? Especially if someone like Ty comes after me.”
“Nice thought, but have you seen those guys? I think your best bet is to go back into hiding.”
Hope took a deep breath. “I want to break the curse. That’s why I’m here. I’ve been trying to study and find clues in the Olympian library.”
“Is that why you were asking about monsters and curses? Did you find anything?”
“Not much.” She frowned, unsure if she should tell him about Briareus. “Why did Myrine move?”
Athan took the change of topic with grace. “That’s how Myrine is. She does her own thing. It’s always nice when our paths cross, but she’s her own individual. She doesn’t really cater to anyone. If she likes you, she’ll help you, and she’s always truthful, but . . .”
“But?”
“But her perspective is sometimes different.” He stared at her, searching her face for something. “She told you to come here.”
“No. Actually, I went with Priska and made an offering to Artemis. Artemis told me to come here.”
He flinched as if she’d struck him. “Artemis? Really?”
Hope nodded.
“Skata. Did she tell you why?”
“She told me to come here and do a bunch of research. Myrine told me to beware lies and trickery, and something about another realm.” Her shoulders dropped, and she pushed her eggs away. “But so far, all the time in the library has been a dead end.”
He frowned. “You’ve really found nothing?”
Even if it was wrong, she couldn’t lie to him. And she didn’t want to. She shook her head. “I’m not even sure why I came.”
“That’s the thing about oracles and gods. You never know what you’re going to find. It isn’t always about the literal thing you’re doing. Sometimes they put you on the path of where you need to be.”
And he would know that how? Right. His dad. “Okay, but still I don’t know anything, and I’ve got to be out of there before I change again.”
Athan grimaced. “I want you out of that house, now. It isn’t safe with Apollo’s sons in it.”
Hope thought about her options. She really didn’t have any. She needed to finish that last book of the Moirai. It was all she could think to do.
Athan stared at her. Examining her, as if her face would answer questions that her words would not.
“What happened? Did you fall in love with him?”
She blushed. He wasn’t really going there was he? “What do you mean?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me, but. . . What’s going on with you and Xan?”
This was not the conversation she wanted to be having. Hope considered her words carefully. “Nothing is happening with Xan.”
He exhaled a slow breath, but he was clearly waiting for more.
Time to tell him the whole truth. “I thought what had happened in Goldendale was . . . mutual, that you cared about me.” Her mouth was dry, and her heart pounded. She went to sip again at her orange juice, but only a few drops trickled their way into her mouth. She forced a swallow.
Athan raised his brows but said nothing.
“When I got here, I heard you had a history of doing whatever necessary to get an immortal to the conservatory, even using . . . deception.” It was the nicest way she could think of to say it.
His eyes widened, and his face blanched. After taking a deep breath, he schooled his features and said, “Even if that were true, you said yourself that you’d give someone the benefit of the doubt. Or does that only apply to Xan?”
Irritation flashed through her. “I did say that I would try to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.”
Leaning forward, he set his fork down. “Did you mean it?”
“Yes, I meant it, but—”
“Not for me?” he snapped as he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. He clenched his teeth as if trying to bite back further protests.
“I didn’t say that.” Why was he doing this? Why was he so mad? She shifted in her plastic seat but couldn’t get comfortable.
“Then what?” He flung his arms, gesturing as he spoke, “You would forgive Xan’s past.”
She didn’t even want to talk about Xan. “I didn’t say
that either. I don’t even know his past. I only know how I’ve been treated.”
“And you think he’s more sincere?” He thumped on the white tabletop with his index finger.
“It isn’t about a comparison.” She glared at him. How dare he? They were beginning to draw attention, and Hope took a deep breath before continuing, “I always thought you were sincere. You never gave me any reason to think otherwise. It was only when I got here and heard things—”
His green eyes hardened. The longer she spoke, the more corded his neck became, his pulse thrumming under his tanned skin. “From whom?”
“Xan, and then Obelia. Even Thenia told me there had been stories.”
Athan’s gaze bored into her, and he scrunched his face. “You believed the stories?”
“Not at first. But, it made me doubt, and you weren’t here to contradict any of it.” Had she been too quick in her judgment? Had she misread him? Had he kept his distance because he thought that’s what she wanted?
“I came, Hope. As soon as I knew you were here, I came,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “Do you know where I was before I came here?”
Her heart tripped and skipped. “Myrine said you were looking for me.”
“Yeah.” He leaned toward her. “I spent weeks searching small towns along the Columbia River and in Portland. Then I got a tip and came over here to Seattle. Since you left, I’ve spent every minute scouring the city for you.”
“I didn’t know.” She dropped her gaze to the white Formica tabletop. That sweet something burst in her chest, spreading its warm honey again.
“Did you know . . .”
For the first time since she’d left him, joy pulled her lips into a smile.
“Did I know what?” She glanced up, excited. So excited to hear what he would say.
Terror lined his features. “Skata!”
Her entire body was doused with fear. “Athan?”
Athan stood up. “Our meal has come to an end. We need to leave.”
He pulled his wallet from his pocket and threw several bills down, his gaze remaining fixed on the front window of the café.
