The Return
Page 57

So, yeah, what the fuck?
Pushing open the door, I entered the room and left it open behind me. The room was bigger and nicer than the one she’d had back in Virginia. My kind spared no expense when it came to furnishings and living arrangements. A small living area, complete with a loveseat, coffee table, and kitchen nook, led into a bedroom large enough to fit a full-sized bed and a dresser. There was even a bathroom and a walk-in closet.
I dropped the bags in the living area as I stopped just outside the bedroom. She stood in front of the neatly made bed, staring at a painting on the wall. I looked, and any other time I would’ve laughed.
It was of her father.
Apollo.
And it was a rendering of him in his true form—wearing white pants, head full of hair so blond it was almost white. In one hand was a golden harp. There was no way anyone seeing her standing there near that painting couldn’t see some of the shared characteristics.
I had no idea what was going through her head right then.
Her wide eyes met mine for a moment, and then she turned her cheek. The side of her neck was exposed again.
That fucking daimon had tagged her, leaving behind a crescent-shaped wound that would eventually fade to a scar a shade paler than her normal skin tone.
Tagged her in the same spot Alex had been tagged— Alexandria Andros, Marcus’s niece. The other Apollyon—the one who was supposed to exist. The girl I had helped train once it was discovered what she was. And the girl I’d given up the rest of my life for so she could spend hers with the man she loved.
It had been a long time since I’d let myself really think about her, really allowed any thought concerning her follow through. It wasn’t because she’d broken my heart or picked someone else over me. I’d cared for her—as much as I’d been able to care for anyone back then. No. Not being able to think about her had nothing to do with the brief relationship we’d had.
It had everything to do with how badly I had screwed her over.
I had no idea why I was thinking about this now or allowing myself to do so. Maybe it served as a reminder to get the hell out of here, because when I looked at Josie, I couldn’t help but think history was on repeat.
Here was yet another girl who had a fate laid out before her that she never chose, and I knew, when gods were concerned, she could fight that fate all she wanted, but it wouldn’t change a damn thing. Her life was on autopilot. And with me involved, that autopilot was set to crash and burn. She didn’t need me in her life, and if she knew everything about me, she wouldn’t want me there.
I needed to leave. Right now. Go ahead and get back on the road before Apollo appeared and I ended up stuck here. But it was more than that. I needed to leave before it got to the point that I didn’t want to leave.
So I should have been turning away and walking right out that fucking door. Saying goodbye. Wishing her good luck. She was going to need it, and then some.
Turning away, my hand curled on the frame of the door. My heart pounded in my chest as I closed my eyes and pushed it shut. A moment passed and then I pivoted around and crossed the few feet between us. Without saying a word, I took her hand and led her into the bathroom.
She needed to be cleaned up.
And I wasn’t leaving.
Chapter 18
MY HEART was somewhere in the vicinity of my throat as Seth led me into the bathroom. I had no idea what he was doing, but his hand was making me feel warm and weird again. He sat me down on the closed toilet, and I felt like we’d been here before.
Oh yeah, we had been.
“What…what are you doing?” I asked.
Kneeling down, he was staring at our joined hands, his brows furrowed together, and even though fifteen minutes ago we were arguing and I was threatening to nunchuck him in the throat, he was holding my hand like it was the most fragile thing in the world. “What is the real reason why you want to learn how to fight, Josie?”
The question caught me off-guard, and then he looked up, and he was staring right into my eyes, like he could see inside me. There were a lot of reasons why I wanted to train. I’d been helpless back there. It was something to focus on when everything had either been pulled out from underneath me or destroyed right in front of me.
I took a deep breath and I gave him the main reason, the one that sucked to say out loud. “I don’t want to be afraid, and I’m scared to death. If I can fight, I won’t be so afraid.”
His amber eyes flared brightly for a moment, and then he placed my hand on my knee. Letting go, he rose fluidly. “You’ll still be afraid, Josie.”
Well, that was helpful. “I thought you were leaving.”
He reached over my head, grabbing a hand towel. “You sound eager to get rid of me now.”
Pressing my lips together, I said nothing at first, because that was far from the truth. I didn’t want him to leave, but I couldn’t stop him from going. I shook my head. “You don’t need to do this…” I waved my hand, indicating the bathroom. “I’m fine. I can clean myself up.”
“Are you wearing anything under that sweater?” he asked, ignoring me.
“Um…” I swallowed. “Yeah, a tank top. Why?”
He shifted, turning on the faucet. “Take it off.”
“What?” My voice pitched high.
With the damp towel in hand, he was kneeling in front of me again. “I need to look at your neck again. It was bleeding earlier. You wouldn’t let me do it on the road, so let me do it now,” he said, and I opened my mouth to tell him hell to the no, but he spoke again. “Please.”