Page 102 of Lost

“So that Aphrodite is good. Really good,” she said.

“Yep, absolutely,” he said.

“You sound pretty stuck on Other Aphrodite.”

Kevin met her gaze. “I’d say Aphrodite is spectacular—in any world.”

Aphrodite snorted and then was silent for a while, sipping champagne and nibbling caviar and crackers. Kevin finished his sandwich and was mowing through the mound of chips when she spoke again.

“It must be a lot different over there.” She’d lit the fire and was staring into the fireplace like she could see the other world within the controlled flames.

“It is. And then it isn’t. That world feels different because it’s a lot less scary. Neferet’s defeated. Zo and her friends run the New North American Vampyre High Council, which means they’re in charge of the House of Night sites in the US, and they’ve started these awesome programs where humans can take classes with fledglings.”

She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Human teenagers. At the Tulsa House of Night. Taking classes.” She shook her head. “It’s hard to imagine.”

“It’s not happening just in Tulsa. Humans and vampyres are coming together at a bunch of the schools. It’s cool.”

Aphrodite went back to being silent. Kevin was going to ask her for a pillow and a blanket when she spoke again.

“We’re all so damn isolated over here. But your sister’s world doesn’t sound like that at all.”

“It’s not, but notallof us are isolated here, either. Not Dragon and Anastasia—not my g-ma. Actually, not any of the Resistance fighters. They’re friends, but more than that.”

“Bleeding hearts,” she said.

“Friends with a cause,” he corrected. Then he met her gaze again. “You don’t have to be alone. Not even here. You aren’t alone in Zo’s world.”

“This isn’t your sister’s world.”

“No, it’s not. It’s mine. And I’m going to change things.”

“You?”

“Me.”

“All by yourself?”

“Well, no,” he smiled. “I’m not by myself. You’re helping me.”

“I think you’re an idealist,” she said.

“Probably.”

“Idealists get people dead.”

“Sometimes, but while they live, they live magnificently. Join me. Join the Resistance. You might as well—you already kinda have. You saved Dragon and all those people today.”

“I’m also the one who put them in danger,” she reminded him.

“Did you want to? Did you want to be the reason the Red Army killed them?”

“No! I hate all this death and killing. And I hate that Neferet uses me like a weapon.”

“Then help me find a way to change things for the better in this world.”

Instead of answering she got up and disappeared into her room, returning with an armload of blankets and a fluffy goose-down pillow, which she plopped on the couch beside him.

“Hey, thanks. This is really nice of you. I’ll clean up the dishes before I fall asleep,” Kevin said.