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"Don't be jealous," I teased him, kissing the sharp edge of his cheekbone. "I'm sure Harvey still loves you."
"Shut up," Kai muttered.
"If you want me to bring up your dark circles, too," Harvey drawled, turning to throw a smirk at Kai, "I'm more than happy to. I just didn't want to kick a man while he was down."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Meaning…"
"That dead fox you're wearing as hair these days," Harvey replied innocently. "You've got enough trouble grooming that thing without—motherfucker!" he shouted, the air vibrating with one of Kai's snakes.
"I'll poison you," Kai hissed, the light returning to his eyes. "Don't tempt me."
I relaxed into the sofa with a smile, stroking a finger over the shadow wrapped around my arm until Wane slumped against me with a slow breath. Balance was restored. And honestly, Harvey was a sarcastic little shit that loved to wind people up; Kai should know by now he had enough insults for both him and Wynvail.
"What is it?" Wane asked—Wynvail? I was expecting Em, but Emlyn's head was tipped against the chair back, and he was close to nodding off. My heart went all melty and gooey even if we really needed him to help us plan the prison break.
"Verena needs therapy," Wyn replied, running a hand over his brown hair. It was a lot more unkempt lately, like we were all more unkempt. It was hard to take care of yourself when you were trapped in a cycle of grief, depression, and fighting for your life. I called it a win when I remembered to wash my pits and under-boob areas. "I left her in the kitchen with a steak and a meat tenderiser," he added. "I couldn't think of anything else."
Kai exhaled a soft laugh. "She's going to murder that steak."
"I'll still eat it," Harvey reassured him.
"You'll eat anything," Wane remarked, nudging his brother with his foot.
"We probably all need therapy," I murmured, meeting Wyn’s serious gaze. "Especially lately. But—you're right. When we've got Renna out of the prison, we'll find someone to help Verena. Lili might know someone."
Wane slid the spiral-hilt knife I gave him out of its sheath, turning it over and over in his hands. "I don't want to talk to anyone."
"Ditto," Kai agreed instantly, his eyes glowing. "My shit's mine. No one needs to know it."
"Not even me?" I asked, stroking the spiky defensiveness on the other end of our bond until the sharp edges smoothed.
"Of course I'll talk to you, my rose," he promised, but I got the sense it was only because he couldn't say no to me and not because he wanted to talk.
I pressed a kiss to his cheek, my lips lingering. "But before therapy and all that sensible shit—how are we going to break into a prison that belongs to Cronus? Without catching his attention. I don't want to see that monster again. Ever."
Wane’s shadows tightened on my arm. The air trembled with Kai’s power. I saw the memories of losing me in each of their eyes; Em was wide awake now, any peace sleep had promised him wiped away.
"We don't—have to do this," Kai said hesitantly, his eyes averted from me even as he remained on my lap. "I know Renna helped us, and she's a friend, but—is it worth the risk? To put ourselves back on Cronus's radar? For him to have undeniable proof Haley is still alive?"
"Yes," I answered in a hiss, my voice sharper than it had been since Phoebe left. Their panic banged around my chest like a pinball—or a wrecking ball—but I forged on, "Renna came for us in Aphrodite's prison. She helped get us out. We're returning the favour, and it's not up for debate."
"So this relationship is a dictatorship," Kai muttered, scowling at all the places our bodies aligned.
I sucked on a tooth, my blood roaring, but … he was right.
So I sighed and said, "Alright, then we'll vote. Raise your hand if you think we should rescue Renna."
Em, Harvey, and I raised our hands.
Wane, Kai, and Wyn didn't.
Shit, it was equal.
"I vote we go," Verena said, making us all jump when she appeared in the doorway, a bronze orb in her hand glowing with bright golden sunbeams.
"You're not coming, so you don't get a vote," Kai argued, instantly protective. I had a weird flash forward to him saying, you're not going out in that skirt in our future and for a moment I smiled.
"Alright," Verena agreed placidly. I didn't trust it for a second. "Then who's staying behind to babysit me?"
