“I never said that,” Athena points out. “I simply said that I helped her and that I’ll explain more when she wakes up.”
“She’s awake. Start talking,” Krystian grumbles, folding his arms over his chest.
He and Zaid stand slightly in front of the couch I’m on, their glares fixed on Athena.
Athena smiles, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. Aphrodite may be the Goddess of Beauty, but Athena? She could give her a run for her money.
“It’s funny how love works, isn’t it?” Her smile slips slightly, replaced by something softer. Sadder. Her gaze flicks towards a framed photo beside the bed. “One second, you’re strangers, and the next, you’re willing to talk back to a god for them.”
Love?
I shift uncomfortably, the mere mention of the L-word making my skin crawl.
“Please. Just tell me what’s going on. What happened? How did you cure me? Do you know who I am?”
Athena moves to claim an armchair opposite me, her movements fluid and graceful. She folds her hands primly in her lap.
“I’ve never seen you before today,” she answers.
“Truth,” Rafe rumbles, and I remember he has the ability to detect lies.
Athena’s smirk returns. “You don’t need to use your powers on me, fae. I have no reason to lie.”
“I don’t trust you,” he answers simply, unabashedly.
“I suppose it makes sense why you’re cautious.” She tilts her head to the side, a strand of curly hair catching in the light. “But you have nothing to fear from me. None of you do.”
“Then give us some damn answers,” Krystian snaps, and my eyebrows shoot up at the vitriol in his tone.
At first, I think he transitioned into Krys while I was unconscious, but when I turn towards the elf, I see that his eyes are still a light, calming blue.
“I did what I could to help young Thea for the time being,” Athena begins, seeming to choose her words carefully. “But it’s like trying to use a bandage to stop a dam.”
“I don’t understand,” I whisper, my brows drawing together.
“That tattoo…” Athena nods towards my hip. “Where did you get it?”
I hesitate, choosing my next move carefully. Do I tell her the truth or lie?
But we came all this way for her help, and the only way to get it is by telling her the truth.
“I don’t know how much the guys told you…” I flick my gaze to Rafe’s impassive face, then Everett’s scowling one, before finally focusing on Zaid and Krystian, who still stand side by side.
“They’ve told me nothing,” Athena says, obviously amused by that prospect. “They simply snapped at me, threatened me a few times, and then guarded your unconscious body like hellhounds. It’s…admirable.”
Once again, sadness flickers across her face, there and gone too quickly for me to be sure I saw it correctly.
“Well…” Quickly, I tell her the entire story. About how I have no memory of my life outside of that strange room and the incessant tugging in my chest forcing me to reap souls. The insanity that always barrages me, followed by the pain. I explain how the only way to stop it all is to place the dagger on the pedestal in the room.
At that, Athena demands for me to describe the runes, so I do.
Then I explain how I was brought to the guys and defied the natural order of things by saving Zaid’s life—which causes the wraith to smile adoringly in my direction. I talk about my quest to find answers and my fear that I’ll be whisked away and forced back into that damn room. I tell her about the dagger and theway it merged with my flesh, becoming a tattoo. I mention our brief meeting with Aphrodite.
Rafe interrupts then, claiming he traveled back to the goddess’s apartment during an orgy and discovered a sketchbook belonging to Athena.
A sketchbook that held images of the runes etched on my dagger.
I didn’t know he did that, and all I can think is—the fucker went to an orgy?! He better not have participated, or so help me god?—
