Sentinel [Covenant #5] (8 page)

halt a few feet behind Apollo. There were daggers in his hands. Amber eyes dilated, Seth took a deep breath and let it out slowly as his gaze landed on Apollo. “Oh. It’s you.” Well, now we knew Seth most definitely could get out of that cell when he wanted to. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aiden draw his gun. Deacon crept back to our side. “Yeah, it’s me.” Apollo seemed to grow in height, which was a bit frightening considering he was already Godzilla-sized. A handful of Guards appeared behind Seth, all of them out of breath and a bit banged up. Seth shrugged and turned, handing the pair of daggers back to an empty-handed Guard. Several of them began talking at once. “He just got out. No warning,” one Guard said. “We tried to stop him.” “Sorry,” Seth said. “I thought it was another god, one more annoying than this one.” My eyes widened. Apollo smiled tightly. “Oh, you’re so cute.” Seth smirked. “I am fabulously sexy, the last time I checked, but I’ll go back to my cell now. Breakfast would be nice, by the way. I’m starving.” “This isn’t a hotel,” Aiden said, his gun leveled on Seth. The Apollyon eyed the gun in Aiden’s hand and then arched a brow. “You really like pointing that thing at me.” “You have no idea how much joy it gives me.” Seth got that look on his face—the one that said he was tossing out bait and knew Aiden was about to bite. “Don’t let me forget. I do owe you for the knock over the head yesterday.” “You want that again?” Aiden smirked. “Keep talking.” “Oh, for the love of gods everywhere, stop it,” I said. “This is ridiculous.” Everyone turned to me. “Obviously you don’t think he’s tricking us, Apollo, or you’d have blasted him with some god juice by now.” “Just because I haven’t doesn’t mean I won’t.” Seth opened his mouth, but I jumped in before he could make the situation worse. “And it’s rather pointless. He can get out if he wants to. So what’s the point of making him go back into the cell?” “I can knock him out again,” Aiden suggested calmly. “He’ll stay put for a while after that.” “You’re really starting to annoy me.” Seth turned to Aiden, his eyes glowing faintly. “You know what your problem is?”I rolled my eyes. “Do tell.” A muscle spasmed in Aiden’s jaw. “One word.” Seth took a small step forward, a grin playing across his lips. “Jealousy.” I threw my hands up. “I give up. Not like we don’t have real problems to deal with, but let’s continue the boy-fight.” “Actually, as entertaining and long overdue this boy-fight is, Alex has a point for once. Surprising, huh?” Apollo earned a death glare for that. “Aiden, put your gun away. Marcus, there’s no need for daggers.” Then he eyed Seth. “If you have nothing to hide, you aren’t going to run from me.” Seth’s spine straightened. “I would never run.” I had no idea what was going on, but Seth held himself still as Apollo took two long strides and placed his hand on the center of the Apollyon’s chest. Surprise flickered across Seth’s face, and then Apollo stepped back. “He’s telling the truth. He’s no longer working with Ares, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still a threat,” Apollo announced, and I had a feeling I knew what the god was referencing. And then he turned to me. “We need him here anyway. He’s not the problem. You are.” “What?” He was staring at me. “Why me? I’m, like, the voice of reason for once.” “It’s not that.” Apollo faced me completely. “Guards, leave the room and close the door behind you.” They didn’t even hesitate. They scattered like cockroaches. Unease formed little knots in my belly as I glanced at Aiden. He hadn’t put the gun away, and looked like he was going to aim it at Apollo next. Deacon had successfully pinned himself against the wall, out of everyone’s path. “Have you been marked?” Apollo asked, his nostrils flaring. I shook my head, taking a step back. Sweat dotted my brow as I eyed the door. I wanted out of this room really badly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but you’re starting to freak me out.” Apollo’s eyes flipped from blue to white—no pupils, no irises. Static crackled in the air. “Come here,” he repeated. I needed to get out of here. Blood pounded in my veins. Every ounce of my being screamed for me to leave. Apollo wasn’t— He shot forward—over the roaring in my head, I heard Aiden shout—and clamped his hand down on my shoulder. I staggered under the weight. “Did he mark you?” Apollo demanded, his expression furious. “Did Ares mark you?” Those all-white eyes became my whole world. “What is going on?” Marcus asked, but he sounded far away. Apollo reached around me and grabbed the hem of my shirt. By the time I realized what he was doing, it was too late. He yanked up the shirt, exposing my back. Aiden exploded, yelling at the god as I tried to twist away. “There it is.” Apollo’s hand landed on the oddly-shaped scar, and my entire body jerked as if I’d been shocked. “Phobos! Deimos! Show yourselves!” Seth cursed. I started to think Apollo might’ve lost his damn mind, but then, without any warning, there was a deep wrenching inside me. I broke the god’s hold and stumbled back a step. A tremor worked its way through my body, rippling through every muscle. The room tilted. “Oh, gods,” I whispered, doubling over and clutching my stomach. “Alex?” shouted Aiden. “Don’t touch her!” Apollo got in between us, holding Aiden back with nothing more than a raised hand. It was like an invisible shield appeared between us. “Deimos! Phobos! Σε διατάζω να σου α ήσει αυτό το πλήθος!” The skin…oh gods…the skin under my hands moved, pushing out against my shirt and my palms, andformed…fingers. Pressure expanded my stomach, and I dropped to my knees. Something slithered through my chest, into my throat. I couldn’t breathe. Aiden’s voice sounded further and further away as a sensation like icy, sticky fingers crawled under my scalp. It slipped down to the base of my skull, joining the mass in my throat. Tears streamed from the corners of my eyes as I threw my head back. I opened my mouth to scream, but thick, white smoke poured out of me, steaming to the ceiling. Through the haze of tears, I saw the smoke spread and then drop into two separate pillars. There was a final tugging motion deep in my chest, as if something was digging in and not wanting to let go, and then it broke. The last of the smoke slipped out of me. I fell forward, catching myself with my hands. Breathing raggedly, and with trembling arms, I lifted my head. “Holy crap,” someone whispered. The pillars of white smoke spun like mini-tornados, taking shape with each dizzying pass. Two sets of legs. Two sets of arms. An ear-piercing cry reverberated through the room. A burst of wind rattled the chairs and the desk, and then there was nothing. Silence. Two gods stood in the room, their forms translucent, but there was enough mass to them to make out their identical features. They weren’t as tall as Apollo, but I had a feeling they weren’t fully formed. One of them drifted toward me, too quick for me to react. Through his eerily handsome face, I could see Seth’s legs coming forward. “You’re prettier on the inside…” the god said, his voice slick like a snake. “Than you are on the outside,” the other said. The first one gave a mocking smile. “Then again, you’re not…” “All there, are you? It’s nothing but rot.” the twin finished, chuckling. It sounded like ice falling. “What a shame,” the first spoke again. The second floated closer, his wispy lower body dissipating. “And who’s really to blame?” “In the end?” “When there’s nothing left to defend?” I shrank back, horrified. They were like the twisted oompa loompas of the Olympian world. More and more, their forms faded out, but their words were clear. “You’re all destined to die. Taste the fear…” Strong arms encircled me from behind, pulling me back from the gods and against a hard chest. Aiden turned, using his body to shield mine, but it didn’t stop me from hearing their final words. “It will all be over by the end of this year…” A loud sigh swept through the room as the smoke dispelled. The twins were gone. “Well,” Apollo drew the word out. “That made absolutely no sense.” Muscles weak, I slumped over and would’ve face-planted on the carpet if Aiden hadn’t caught me. He gripped my arms, but my skin felt too sensitive, too raw as he gently lowered me to the carpet. I crawled away, dragging in deep breaths. “What…what was that?” Deacon asked, his voice hoarse. Shaking, I sat back and lifted my head. There was a balloon expanding in my stomach, moving up my chest. Apollo stood in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips. “That was Phobos and Deimos. The gods of fear, dread, panic, and sheer terror. They are Ares’ sons. When you fought him, he marked you, giving them access to your psyche. I knew something was off about you while you were in Olympus, as did Artemis when she was here, but I didn’t see it until now.” I blinked slowly. “What?”“Phobos and Deimos have been riding you, feeding off your emotions, and choosing and amplifying which ones you feel.” Seth paled as he took a step back. His eyes met mine. “I didn’t know.” He raised his hands. “I had no idea.” “That’s what Artemis meant by something being inside of her?” Aiden was kneeling beside me. Horror whipped through his voice. “They were inside her?” “Yes.” The white light dimmed in Apollo’s eyes and blue irises appeared. “I thought…I thought I was going crazy. I thought I was pregnant. I didn’t think…” I was too shocked, too everything to care about what I had just admitted to everyone in the room, to even acknowledge Aiden’s sharp inhale or how broken it sounded, or the way Seth turned his back, like he couldn’t bear to look at me. “They were inside me this whole time?” “Since you fought Ares,” Apollo confirmed. “I’m sorry. If I could’ve come sooner, I would’ve known.” Staring at the god, I had a hard time accepting what he said. I got it. I believed it, but to think another god—gods—were inside my head and my body, tinkering around, messing with me and being with me the whole time floored me. A floodgate broke, and the balloon in my chest burst. Rage flooded me, burning like lava through my veins. It tasted like blood and acid. The room tinted amber. Seth whirled around. “Uh, guys…” The hair lifted off my shoulders and neck. Aiden called my name, but I was beyond hearing. I was beyond listening. I lost my shit, right then and there.CHAPTER 10I don’t remember leaving the dean’s office, but must have, and I assume no one tried to stop me. I needed to be alone. I needed space. I made it to a room down the hall. I stood inside, the door swinging shut behind me, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I was feeling too much—anger, hurt, loss, hate, love, and everything else that had been muted while Ares’ sons had been camped out inside my body. All the emotions at once were a poison in my blood. The lid on the bottle inside me had been completely unscrewed. Emotions broke the surface in a rush, and it felt like I had been drowning this whole time. A burst of power left me. The heavy oak desk in the corner, as well as a line of chairs and small tables, lifted into the air. They rose to the ceiling. My fingers curled in, nails digging into my palms. Wood creaked and groaned, then splintered. The furniture shattered like dry, brittle bones. A volcano erupted inside me. I opened my mouth and screamed. I didn’t recognize the sound. Windows cracked. Shards of glass fell, and stopped before they hit the floor. It wasn’t enough—the destruction wasn’t enough. It could never be enough. Every cell inside me had been violated on a level I couldn’t begin to comprehend. The room shook and the building shuddered as I took a step forward. My feet lifted off the floor. Below me, the tile warped and peeled up, breaking apart in large, uneven sections that rose into the air. Another shockwave of akasha rolled out from me. Blue light pulsed, incinerating the flooring. In a flash, I felt the rage and shame of being so broken by Ares. I hadn’t mourned all those who’d died at the hands of Ares until that moment. I hadn’t feel the loving embrace of my mother’s arms or the loss of her all over again until that very second. I felt the damage that’d been done to my body and head all over again. I tasted the bite of fear and the tang of fury when I remembered the condition of Aiden’s hands when I first saw him after waking up. I tasted them again when I remembered seeing Marcus’ mangled face. I felt the horror of pulling the trigger and killing Lucian. I felt it all. I felt alive, as if I was finally awake, and it was too much. Another scream tore through me, and the walls trembled. The door opened behind me, and I slowly turned around, breathing through my nose. Seth stood there. My feet touched the floor. “You need to try to calm down,” he said. “Or you’re going to bring this whole building down.” Calm down? Oh, shit was about to get real up in here. I flew toward him, my arm snaking back. My fist cracked off his jaw, snapping his head back. Seth stumbled a step and bent over, clutching his face. The burst of pain flaring across my knuckles felt damn good. “Gods,” he grunted. Jerking my leg up, I slammed my knee into Seth’s stomach. A harsh expletive exploded from his mouth as I grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and shoved him backward. He caught himself against the wall with one hand.“Okay.” He spat out a mouthful of blood. “I’ll admit I deserved that.” The stupid cord in me didn’t understand the violence, but it liked that I was touching him. For that reason alone, I dropped down low and spun. I took his legs out from underneath him. Seth folded like a paper sack, hitting the destroyed floor on his side. I vaulted to my feet and then dropped into a crouch. Seth was back up in record time, his golden brows slammed down. “Okay. You want to work out your aggression. I’m all for that, Angel.” “Don’t.” I dipped under his arm and sprang up behind him. “Call.” I slammed my hands down on his shoulders and brought my knee up. “Me. That!” Seth twisted away before I could say hello to his spine. He faced me, pushing the longer strands of hair out of his gleaming eyes. “Come on. Bring it, Angel.” The sound that came from me would’ve sent most people scurrying for the hills. He lifted his hand and gave the universal “come get some” sign. “Work it out of your system. You can’t kill me.”
I wasn’t sure if my anger was so much directed at him or if he just made for a very convenient punching bag, but I launched myself at him. I hit him in the midsection, knocking him backward. We crashed into what was left of the desk and toppled over it. In a rather impressive feat, Seth shifted and hit the floor under me, taking the brunt of the fall. I was on top of him, straddling him. My arms rose up and I brought them down on his chest, over and over. I hit him, and I kept hitting him. His face blurred through the sudden wetness in my eyes. What the hell? The dampness rose and spilled over. My hands ached, but I couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down my face and the whole time…the whole time Seth let me hit him. He didn’t raise a hand. He didn’t stop me. My body shook and my arms ached. The sobs came from deep within me, from that dark and rotted-out place that had cropped up when Ares shattered my bones. My fists landed against Seth’s chest once more, weaker this time, and I couldn’t lift them. I hunched over, my chin dropping to my chest, and I cried so many tears I was sure I was going to drown the whole world with them. “Stop.” Seth gripped my arms. “Come on, Angel, stop.” I wished I could, because crying on top of Seth wasn’t my ideal way of licking my wounds in private. It was a whole lot of pathetic and awkward, but it was like the seal that kept me from crying had been broken. There was no turning back now. Seth made a sound, and then he rolled. A second later I was lying on my side. For several long minutes, we were stretched out the floor like two idiots, his arms like a vise, restraining me from doing any more damage to him or the poor, unsuspecting room. It took more time than usual for the tears to finally ease off, and for me to calm down enough to speak. “Why you?” I asked, my voice thick and gross-sounding. Seth sat up slowly, pulling me into his lap, my back against his front. “And why not Aiden?” I didn’t answer because it was obvious. “You would’ve killed anyone else who came in this room.” My head hung limply. “That wouldn’t have stopped him.” “I had to tie him up and stash him in a closet.” When I stiffened, he tightened his arms and laughed. “I’m just kidding. I didn’t do anything other than use my deadliest weapon—logic. Apollo may’ve had to restrain him a bit, but he’s right outside this room waiting.” “Logic?” I laughed, and although the sound and feel of it didn’t hurt, it sounded strange to me. “You never used that before.” “I know.” He was quiet for a long moment. “But I’m very familiar with this kind of rage, Alex, and I know what you felt. And you haven’t really dealt with everything until now. Aiden thinks he knows how you feel, and maybe he has an idea, but I know what you felt and I know what you went through.”I was still ashamed that anyone had been privy to those horrible, wretched moments when I’d prayed for death and wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything. It was so weak, and I had been so broken, flayed open to the core. Seth rested his head on mine and sighed. “I wasn’t lying. I never wanted something like that to happen. Out of everything I have done and caused to happen…it’s the one thing I can never ask forgiveness for.” And I wasn’t sure I could ever truly forgive him. I knew he hadn’t done this to me, but he’d played a significant part in all of it. But I was too tired and just…too done with everything to hold onto the anger anymore, because it was doing what Ares and his sons wanted. It was chipping away at me, killing me. I relaxed and closed my eyes, concentrating on the steady rise and fall of Seth’s chest. A little part of me still felt lost, and I wasn’t sure when I’d feel whole again or if I really ever would, but I knew what was happening right now. It was that connection between us and the calming effect it had. Seth had done this before. He’d used it to calm me down when I’d had nightmares, and he’d used it to connect and control me, but now, when I was at my most vulnerable, he didn’t twist the connection back on me. He used it to help me. *** Some time passed before I was in any condition to stand and face things. My legs and arms felt strangely weak. I glanced over my shoulder at Seth and cringed. A deep crimson stain was already spreading across his jaw. “Sorry about your…face.” Our eyes met, and an uneven grin appeared on his face. “No, you’re not.” “You’re right.” Seth stepped forward, and I eyed him wryly. “You know you can take a time out, right? Take the rest of the day to just, I don’t know, deal with it all. Get some rest.” I was exhausted in the way one felt only after going through an emotional upheaval. The idea of laying my little head down on a soft pillow was more appealing than eating cheese fries loaded with bacon. “I’m sure Apollo has a reason for showing up other than yanking those freaks out of me.” “He can wait.” Concern flickered in Seth’s eyes, and it was odd seeing that. As long as I’d known Seth, it was rare to genuinely see him care about someone other than himself. Then again, I wasn’t giving him credit. I’d changed. He’d changed. “No. I’m fine.” I turned to the door. “We don’t have time for me to take a nap.” “We have time.” Seth followed me. “Not like tomorrow is going to be any different than today.” Who really knew if that was true? Denying the urge to agree and go find the nearest bed, I opened the door. It was slightly off its hinges, so it scraped the floor and opened only halfway. I sighed as I squeezed through. I wasn’t surprised when I saw Aiden and Marcus leaning against the opposite wall. Both seemed to relax a little when they saw me standing and obviously not looking like I’d stuck my hand in an electric socket. Though I did come to an abrupt halt when my gaze centered on Aiden again. It was like seeing him for the first time—the broad cheekbones, the full, expressive lips, his dark, unruly hair, and those brilliant smoky-gray eyes. A veil had lifted from my vision, and I couldn’t—didn’t want to look away. How much had Ares’ sons affected? Everything, it seemed. Marcus’ gaze shifted over my shoulder, and his brows rose. A small grin tipped up the corner of Aiden’s lips. No doubt he was happy to see that I was unscathed while, on the other hand, Seth looked like he’d run into a wall. My uncle recovered first, stepping forward. “Are you okay, Alexandria?” “Other than the fact I just spewed out two gods like a drunk college chick? I’m feeling fabulous.” Relief shuttled across his face. He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “There’s my niece.” I cracked a grin at that while I kept an eye on the two guys. Aiden and Seth were eyeballing oneanother like they were about to start boy-fight, round two. Marcus squeezed my shoulder and then dropped his hand. For him, that was a whole exercise in bonding, and I was okay with that. I turned, catching Seth’s attention. My eyes narrowed and his rolled. Raising his hands in surrender, he pivoted around and headed into the dean’s office. Marcus was right behind him. Before I entered the room, Aiden caught my arm and stopped me. We were alone in the hall. “Alex,” he said, his voice low and rough. Turning to him, I looked up and met his gaze. My mouth opened, but a sudden knot clogged my throat. I threw myself forward, pressing my forehead against his chest and breathing him in. He shuddered, and then he wrapped his strong arms around me. He dropped his head, pressing his cheek to the top of my head as he held me in a tight, heart-melting embrace. I clung to him like a deranged baby monkey, soaking in his warmth and the absolute feel of him. There was a lot we needed to talk about, but this hug? Gods, I needed this hug. I needed this hug from Aiden. “Shit, Alex…” Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a choked laugh. “It’s funny when you cuss.” “Only you would laugh at something like that,” he said, and I heard the relieved amusement in his voice. Fingertips appeared under my chin, and Aiden lifted my gaze to his moonlight-colored one. “You’re with me now?” I blinked back tears. “Yes. Yes, I am.” “Good.” His thumb smoothed over my jaw as his intense gaze searched my face. “I’m happy to have you back.” Turning my cheek into his palm, I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.” “I’m the one who should be apologizing, especially for last night. I was jealous, and that was stupid, I know, but I’m—” “No.” I shook my head slightly. “No, you were right to be upset, but that’s not what I’m talking about. That’s not what I’m apologizing for.” His brows rose. My chest ached. “I know…I know there was a part of you that was okay with the idea of us having a baby. I know there was a part of you that was excited in spite of everything else, and I’m sorry that’s not what was going on. I’m sorry that it was this and not—” “Stop.” Aiden dropped his forehead to mine and slid his strong hands up to cup my cheeks. “You do not need to apologize. Ever. Do you understand me? None of this is your fault. And you haven’t done anything wrong. What we thought? It doesn’t matter.” “You have to be disappointed,” I whispered, curling my fingers around his wrists. “Never,” he swore. “If anything, I’m upset this happened to you. I’m freaking pissed that it did, but, Alex, we have a lifetime ahead of us to have that conversation and feel that way again.” My breath caught. “You’re perfect.” “And you know that’s not true.” “It is.” A throat cleared behind us, and then Apollo said, “Seriously, you two? It’s not like you’re keeping a god waiting or anything.” Aiden drew back with a soft groan. “Sometimes I hate him.” My lips curved up. “Sometimes.” “I heard that,” Apollo said. “And I’m pretty sure there’s someone else you hate more than me. I’ll give you two clues. Starts with an S and ends with an H.” There was an audible huff from inside the office. I started to grin.“Well, you got that right.” Aiden’s eyes were fixed on me. “You want to do this right now?” I nodded, and then Aiden lowered his head once more, kissing me in a way that truly felt like the very first time. When he lifted his head, his eyes shone with everything he was feeling in that moment. I knew what he’d said moments before was the truth. He believed we had a lifetime to feel that odd little burgeoning of hope again, and I latched onto that. Together, we turned and headed past Apollo. He followed us in and took up stance in the middle of the room. “Well, the gang’s all here. Almost. We are missing a few, but this will do.” We were missing Solos, Luke, and Olivia, and it didn’t feel right that they weren’t here. And it felt really weird that Seth was here. He was leaning against the wall where the daggers had once hung. He arched a brow at me. “Your mark should be gone, which means the twins won’t be able to get back into you,” Apollo said, and I resisted the urge to yank my shirt up and check right then. Then he turned to Seth. “And don’t think you and me are okay. It’s great you’re no longer Ares’ little bitch-boy, but you’re still a punk-ass.” Aiden snickered. “And I hope your jaw really hurts,” Apollo added. Seth smirked. “Hey, if you want to go a few rounds again, Golden Boy, we can do it.” “This is an awesome start to our Army of Awesome meeting number two,” Deacon murmured. The air around Apollo crackled, and I let out a loud sigh and propped myself against a chair. “So, I’m assuming you had a reason for coming here besides helping me and arguing with Seth.” “That’s right.” I waited, and when Apollo said nothing, I crossed my arms. “And that would be?” “We need a plan,” he replied. “Wow.” Seth folded his arms. “That’s a unique concept.” “Seth,” I hissed, shooting him a look. “That’s okay,” Apollo replied, smiling at Seth in a wholly creepy “hide your kids” kind of way. “When you least expect it, I’m going to turn you into a pink flower that smells like cat pee.” I choked on my laugh. “Oh, my gods…” Seth’s eyes narrowed into thin, amber slits, but before he could volley back, a whole different conversation sprouted out of the depths of my very own personal hell. “I’m sorry.” Marcus was leaning against the desk, looking a bit green. “Am I the only one stuck on the fact that these two thought they might’ve been…that you could’ve been…that there might have been…?” “That we could’ve made you a great-uncle,” I supplied since he’d obviously run out of words. His eyes narrowed, and heat spread across my cheeks. “Can we not talk about that right now?” “I second that,” Aiden muttered, shifting awkwardly. “I disagree.” Apollo’s “hide your kids” smile was now spreading across his face. “This conversation is going to be epically entertaining.” “For you.” Aiden cut him a dark look. “Exactly,” the god replied. Marcus ignored that. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you two that you shouldn’t be sharing a room.” He turned to me. “I don’t care how old you are or that you’re an Apollyon, Alexandria. You’re my niece; therefore, I am responsible for you. And you?” He spun on Aiden, whose eyes widened. “You know better.” “Oh my gods,” I moaned. I rather have run naked through the quad then had this conversation both with my uncle and with an audience. Especially with this audience. “Don’t ‘oh my gods’ me.” The color had returned to Marcus’ face. It was red. “Do I really need to have a conversation with you about responsible sexual activity?” Seth looked like he wanted to shove a dagger in his eye.“I think you do,” Apollo suggested. “Oh! You’re one to talk!” I whirled on Apollo. “Seriously? If I was to Google ‘irresponsible sexual activity,’ it would be your picture staring back at me!” Apollo made a face at me—actually made a face at me like he was ten years old or something. Marcus was now staring at Aiden like he wanted to take his dagger and use it on Aiden in an area much lower than the eyeballs. “Okay, can we move on to the important stuff?” I demanded, losing my patience. “If not, then this is wasting my time, and I’m going to bed. That just might include irresponsible sex, because I’ve had a really crappy day!” Five sets of eyes settled on me. One set was particularly interested in what I had just said. “What?” I rolled my eyes, scowling. “Get on with it.” Apollo sent Seth one more scathing look, which I was sure wouldn’t be the last one directed at the First. “As I said, we need a plan, and although I have many talents…” For some