I heard him whisper, “Eíste pánta mou…”
You are my everything.
CHAPTER 9
No matter how convoluted my life got, one thing remained consistent—my hair looked like a baby opossum had taken refuge in it, invited some friends over, and thrown a party. That’s what I got for sleeping on it wet.
I wrangled it into a thick braid and took a deep breath.
Admittedly, I’d seen better days. Well, my face at least. Most of the damage I’d done to myself. Aiden hadn’t raised a hand against me the entire time we’d fought. He’d only defended himself. But we were both lucky to be standing after facing Thanatos and the furies.
My reflection winced.
Aiden was gone by the time I had crawled out of bed. I’d wanted to stay among the covers, inhaling his unique scent of sea and burning leaves, holding the pillow he’d used close to my chest. I’d wanted to wait there until he returned, so I could wrap myself around him, doing a replay of last night.
But reality wasn’t going to pause or wait for us. There was way too much to be done and I needed to face everyone. I took a long breath and pushed away from the mirror. Staring at my face for hours wasn’t going to fix anything.
I found the bag of clothes I’d brought with me when I’d stayed at Aiden’s parents’ house and Aiden had the sense to take when we left Deity Island. There was some items in there I hadn’t packed or noticed before—one of them being a Sentinel uniform. That brought a smile to my face. I tugged on a pair of jeans, surprised to find how loose they were. Slipping on a pair of boots that were nothing like Olivia’s, I went to the doorway and flinched. Olivia. Oh, dear gods, I’d used a compulsion on her. I seriously hoped she wasn’t still in the basement.
I crept down the silent hall, scrubbing at the itchy bruise on my cheek. I didn’t even know what month we were in. It had been cool, but not freezing when I’d been outside yesterday. Hell. I didn’t even know where I was.
Grabbing the middle of my braid, I went down the steps, fiddling with the ropey sections. At the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of a tall Sentinel with brown hair pulled into a low ponytail. Solos. As far as I recalled, I hadn’t threatened him with bodily harm—at least, not to his face.
He turned at the waist. “Well, look who’s back.”
My cheeks flushed and I stopped on the landing, wholly unsure of what to say.
Solos smiled, and it distorted the scar that cut deep into his cheek. “I’m not going to bite, little one.”
Heat now swept over my body and I raised my chin. Gods, what was wrong with me? “Good. Because I bite back.”
“That’s what I hear.” His blue eyes glimmered. Now I flushed for a whole new reason. “I’m sure you’re hungry. You’ve slept for almost a whole day. Everyone’s in the kitchen now.”
My stomach growled at the thought of food, but then soured. “There’s not sharp silverware or anything?”
Solos’ laugh was deep and rich. “No. It’s a take-out night, so you’re in luck.”
Finding my courage, I followed him down the hallway. He went into the kitchen first and I peeked around the corner. Deacon and Luke sat on one side, several cartons of Chinese spread out in front of them. Laadan was beside them. Marcus, Lea, and Olivia were across the table. I had no idea where Aiden was.
“We have company,” Solos announced, grabbing one of those yummy dumplings and popping it into his mouth.
Everyone turned. And everyone stopped eating and stared.
I let go of my braid and gave the group the most awkward wave ever. “Hi.”
Luke dropped his chopsticks into his noodles. There was a nasty bruise on the side of his face, disappearing into his hairline.
“Did I do that?” I stepped into the kitchen. “The bruise?”
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “When you slammed me into the wall… without touching me.”
I winced. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“Aw, don’t worry about it.” Deacon smiled as he leaned back in his chair, rocking it up on two legs. “He’s okay.”
“My ego’s not.” He shot Aiden’s brother a dirty look. “She didn’t even touch me.”
Deacon shrugged. “Well, she is the Apollyon. Duh.”
A chair scraped over tile and my head jerked toward the sound. Marcus walked around the table and stopped in front of me. Now, I had threatened him quite a bit to his face, but he’d still come to fight yesterday, as had Solos.
I felt horrid.
Marcus placed his hands on my shoulders. There was a fine tremble to them. “Alexandria…”
My uncle had always refused to call me by my nickname, and I’d always called him Dean, due to his position at the Covenant, but things… things were different now. “Marcus?”
There was a long, terse moment, and then he gathered me in a fierce hug. For once, it wasn’t an awkward, weak one with my arms stuck out at my sides. I hugged him back, just as tightly, and tears burned the back of my throat.
Marcus and I… well, we’d come a long, long way.
When he pulled back, I bit back a gasp. Those emerald-colored eyes were normally cool, but they weren’t now. They were like staring into my mother’s eyes.
He inhaled sharply. “I’m glad to have you back.”
I nodded, swallowing thickly. “I’m glad to be back.”
“Hell, we all can agree on that.” Luke picked up a donut. “There’s nothing creepier than having a psychotic Apollyon caged in the basement.”
“Ha,” I said.
Luke winked and then tossed the donut to me. I caught it. Sugar flew everywhere.
“Or waiting for her to break loose and run amuck,” Deacon added as I took a bite. He glanced across the table. “Or waiting for someone, no names mentioned, to not listen to us and go say hi.”
Olivia’s cheeks reddened as she stood. She approached slowly, waited for me to finish chewing. I started to apologize. “I’m really sorry—”
She socked me in the stomach. Hard. I doubled over, gasping for air. “Gods.”
Solos and Marcus both stepped forward, but I waved my hand at them. “That’s okay. I deserved that.”
Then I realized they weren’t moving in to protect me, but to guard Olivia. I guessed no one was a hundred percent relaxed around me. Guess I couldn’t blame them when I wielded the most powerful weapon on earth, and only a day ago I’d been willing to use it against them.
“You totally deserved that.” Olivia’s voice shook. “Do you know how terrible I felt when Marcus came down and found me sitting there like a turd? I helped you escape!”
I thought she might hit me again, so I took a step back.
Olivia smoothed her hands over her tight curls. “But I’m better now, especially since I got to hit you.” Then she sprang forward and hugged me.
Standing there, I patted her back, hoping she didn’t change her mind and snap my spinal cord. “I’m really sorry.”
“I know.” She pulled back, smiling. Her eyes were misty.
Laadan was next. The raven-haired beauty was as elegant as ever. Dressed in a form-fitting red turtleneck and white slacks, she enveloped me in a warm hug. She smelled of spring roses and when she pulled back, I didn’t want to let go.
“We’ll talk later. Promise,” she said, and I knew she was talking about my father. Taking my hand, she pulled me to the empty spot next to Olivia. “Sit. Eat.”
Glancing around the table, I watched as a plastic plate was passed around, each person slopping a helping of food on it. Even Lea, who hadn’t said a word to me yet, placed some shrimp on the plate. When it came back to me, my mouth watered, but I had to say something first.