“Okay.”
“It might be best if you wait here,” she adds.
I smirk, lacing our fingers together. “Not a chance.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
WYNTER
Ienter Maximus’s room first. When he looks up, he appears genuinely pleased to see me, and I smile. But when he sees Wrath behind me, he jumps up from his seat, and Wrath throws me behind him, filling the doorway with his large frame.
“No,” I yell, squeezing back between the pair. I hold my hands up, praying it’s enough as they smash against Max’s chest. “Please,” I squeak out. “He’s with me.”
“I can see that,” Max snarls.
“We want to talk,” I add, and he takes a step back but still looks wary. I hold up the keys Alex gave me. “I can unlock you.”
He watches as I remove his metal cuff, then he rubs his wrist, just like Wrath did. “What’s going on?”
“We want to leave here,” I state, and he frowns. “And to do that, we need your help.”
He begins to laugh. “That’s never gonna happen. This place is locked up.”
“Are you at least willing to listen?” I ask, and he gives a stiff nod. I step to one side. “Okay, wait out there while I get the others.”
His frown deepens. “Out there?” he repeats warily.
I take his hand, and Wrath grumbles behind me. “It’s okay, I’m right with you.” I lead him from the room, and the second he sees Alex sitting with Martha, he begins to back away. I take both his hands to reassure him. “They’re on our side.”
I move to Zeus next and get the same reaction. “You left,” he says accusingly.
“I know,” I whisper, smiling sadly. “It wasn’t because I wanted to.”
He glares at Wrath. “Why is he out?”
“He’s helping me,” I explain. “I’d like you to help too.” He nods, holding up his cuffed arm without question. I smile, unlocking him and taking him to join the others.
Abe gives me a hard stare then turns his back. I made Wrath wait just outside the room this time, knowing Abe would be more difficult, but as I step farther in, I feel him lingering near the doorway.
“I’m sorry,” I say. Abe doesn’t respond. “I didn’t want to leave.”
“We had to . . .” he pauses, sadness passing over his face. “We almost hurt you.”
I smile sadly. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I can’t stop the feeling of guilt and?—”
I rush to him, pulling his head to my chest and cradling him. “It’s okay,” I whisper, running my fingers through his hair. It’s the first time he’s allowed me to touch him like this, but he falls against me so easily, I wonder if he’s ever been held.
Wrath stands in the doorway, and Abe’s attention is drawn to him. He dives up, and I stumble back. “He hurt you,” he yells, pulling when his chains restrict him.
“He didn’t want to,” I say, trying to push him back into the chair. “Relax,” I order, and he brings his eyes to mine, then they narrow.
“Why is he out?”
“Long story, but he’s helping me.”
“How?”
