“I don’t want to talk about that cheating, lying bastard a second longer. You’re lucky I didn’t kill you the second I found you, like the whore you are.” She raises her hand again, and this time, the earth beneath my feet cracks open, sending waves of molten energy rushing at me.
I leap to the side, my heart pounding and adrenaline coursing through me.
There’s no time to hesitate.
This time, there will be no second chances.
I had a life as Winnifred that ended horribly, and I refuse to allow that same fate to happen to Thea.
“Fuck you, bitch,” I hiss, charging at her again, my dagger a blur of silver in the air.
The magic crackles as the blade cuts through the pulse of energy she sends out, splintering the attack.
The goddess’s expression darkens. “You fight like you have nothing left to lose. But you do, Thea. You have everything to lose. Do you really think I’ll allow this slight to stand? If you give up now, I’ll leave your precious men alone, but if you don’t…”
She steps forward, her lips curling into a predatory smile. “I’ll fuck them until they forget you even exist. Then, when they’re so consumed by love for me, I’ll slit their fucking throats.”
A roar of rage bursts free.
She can threaten me all she wants, but the second she mentions my men? Yeah, the gloves have come off. She’ll fucking die.
I swipe at her repeatedly, forcing her back step after step—and straight onto my cactus.
She screams in pain, flicking her gaze towards the plant.
“What the fuck?” She lifts a foot to kick it away, but I slash at her before she can, cutting the fabric of her shirt.
No one is allowed to hurt Potty.
“Enough playing, you insolent bitch!” She lifts her arms in the air?—
Just as the door to her apartment is kicked open, my guys spilling inside, followed by a panting Athena.
“Thea!” Everett calls, relief overtaking his features.
They’re here.
My guys are here.
They found me.
I knew they would—that they wouldn’t stop—but to see the evidence firsthand…
Everything around me fades away.
The voices go silent, as if they’re holding their collective breaths. The blood dripping from the wall freezes, as do the shadowy monsters advancing in my direction.
A few things become painfully clear.
My men came for me, as they promised they would.
Aphrodite is a threat that needs to be stopped.
I’m the only one capable of doing that.
The goddess is currently distracted, her gaze homing in on my men, whom she deems the biggest threat.
Her mistake.
