Page 144 of The Gods Forbid

I knew what was going to happen, as clear as a prophecy straight from the Oracle’s hands.

There was so much hate in her eyes, only the type that could come when you felt like someone had ripped your very life source away.

Power had been hers.

And she was pointing a crossbow at mine.

It was the worst type of revenge, to have the exact same weapon I’d used, albeit unintentionally, to harm someone mere months prior pointed at the woman I loved more than life itself.

But there was no time for passing thoughts about the circle of life or karma, not when my energy was better dedicated pushing people out of the way.

I didn’t see anything in front of me other than Persy’s face, smiling widely and drawing all attention towards her.

Fates help me, she was so full of light.

Light that I refused to let someone snuff out.

Persy was the first to notice, turning towards me as I was running up the stairs towards her, an adorably confused look building on her face.

There was no time to address it, not when I was two steps away. Persy’s face fell when she noticed the anguish on mine, her hands immediately reaching for me.

Good, I thought. It helped me hide her better.

And that was the last thing I thought before an arrow ripped through my back, piercing my heart in one clean puncture.

The pain, the feeling of blood spilling into my chest and abdomen, was a distant thought.

I was just glad the arrow hadn’t shot through my front.

Persy didn’t need to see that.

There were screams. Pushing. Cries for help and shouts to grab her.

None of that registered.

I was losing strength, and quickly. I knew what was going to happen. The god of medicine and all.

Something had ripped through my heart. I’d bleed out in seconds, and based on the pressure in my chest, I was already halfway there.

I sank to my knees, needing to save my strength and focus all my fleeting energy on Persy.

“Sebastian?” she cried, following me down to the floor, her hands coming up to my chest. I looked down, relieved to find that I wasn’t getting blood on her. “What did you do?”

“I had to, love,” I said, my voice nothing above a whisper. My eyelids felt heavy, begging me to close them. I forced them open.

I needed to see her. One last time.

Persy’s eyes were welling with tears. No, no, I didn’t want that.

But she’s alive, I reminded myself. You saved her.

“You’ll be okay,” I managed to say. She would. I’d made sure she’d be safe. Made sure that if I died, she would at least have something to help her.

“No,” Persy said, shaking her head. I wasn’t really aware of the way my body was moving, but I was laying down now. My head on her lap. I was pretty sure the arrow had broken. “No, please, no,” she pleaded, like she could barter with me.

I only managed to shake my head.

There was never any choice.