I wanted to cut him off, but considering how many times Bob kept his mouth shut about witnessing my intimate moments with Xander, I didn’t have a step to stand on.
Bianca glided across the room, her crystalline baby blues meeting mine. It was like staring into a cloudless sky, and my mood shifted into a lighter state. In that one look, she communicated more than should have been possible.
A brief flash of disappointment over how things turned out, deep empathy for me over Xander’s death and now for the burden I carried.
Not sympathy,empathy.
It was like she cupped her hands gently to my heart with a loving aura that soothed my sins.
My lip trembled as the forgiveness flowed through me. Her divinity was like touching the softest ray of sunshine.
Her power over me ebbed as she wrapped her slender fingers around my shoulders, leading me to the platform Vivien was just on. Bianca nudged me to step up onto the riser and look at myself. “Vivien didn’t mean arm you with lethal weapons. The gods will view you as weak simply because you are a mortal. When you walk into that ballroom, you need to be dressed in a different kind of armor. One that will teach them exactly who you are. A warrior. One worthy to protect us all. And rest assured, we can help with that.” Her lips curled up in amischievous smile even as Timothy and Vivien came up from behind me on the other side, a knowing glint in their eyes.
Viven added, “Oh, we guarantee you will knock ‘em dead tomorrow night.”
A spike of fear shot through me, but I was surrounded.
After the dress fitting,I was exhausted from the pushing, pulling, and sheer number of decisions that needed to be made. I had to pull Vivien back from her wild ideas until I curbed the design to something that would reflect me. Thankfully, Bianca was the voice of reason, keeping things from getting too out of hand.
Despite feeling like an irate pin cushion, I dragged my ass to the gym to get in a workout while I could.
As I reached for the free weights, I focused on the burn in my muscles, each lift a step toward becoming stronger and more capable. The wounds on my arm still burned and ached, a vivid reminder of Bes's attack, but I pushed through the pain. I needed to be prepared for what lay ahead. I killed one god, but I had countless others to go.
Sweat dripped down my face as I pushed through another set of shoulder presses. The clinking of weights and the buzz of gym equipment filled my ears, but a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Working hard, I see.”
I turned to find my neighbor Michael standing there with a towel around his neck, his gym attire accentuating his muscular physique. His presence was unexpected, yet not entirely unwelcome.
"So, you've joined my gym now?" I asked, setting the weights down.
Michael flashed a casual smile. "Seems like it. I've been looking for a good place to work out, and this one's close by. It's a bonus getting to run into you. Need a spotter?”
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Why not?”
A little company couldn't hurt. Besides, I really did need a spotter.
There was something about Michael that was intriguing, a kind of gentle strength that was hard to ignore. His presence was comforting, a stark contrast to the chaos of the last couple days.
As I settled onto my back to do some heavy chest presses, he chatted about his life as a financial consultant, and joked about rising his way to the top where he would inevitably rule the world. He laughed low and hit a timbre that resonated through my bones with unexpected warmth.
He was everything that should appeal to me—handsome, stable, normal. Yet, as much as I recognized this, my mind kept drifting back to Xander. His wild, untamed nature, the way my body responded to his mere presence with a burning intensity I couldn't deny.
I went harder on the weights, trying to push out the confusion and desire swirling within me.
Michael was clearly interested in me and was the sensible choice—a man who could offer stability and maybe even normalcy. But my heart, my very soul, seemed entwined with Xander's chaotic essence. The thought of him ignited a fire in my belly, a yearning so visceral that it scared me. It wasn't just attraction—it was a profound connection that defied logic.
Michael and I worked out, side by side, while he politely kept the conversation light. Still, I could feel his eyes on me, appraising yet not intrusive.
Night was fast approaching, and with it the inevitability of facing Xander again. It sent a thrill mixed with dread through me.
Finishing my last set, I sat up, catching my breath. Michael handed me a water bottle, his touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
“You’re quite impressive, Miranda,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “Not just your strength, but your resilience.”
I offered a weak smile, the weight of his words sinking in. “Thanks, Michael. I’m always just trying to get a little stronger every day.”
He chuckled softly. “I have a feeling you’re more than just alittlestrong.”
