AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure, you just materialized here.” He rolled his eyes.
“Actually…”
“Look, lady, if you’re gonna come in here, force me to put on pants, and ralph all over my bathroom, I think I deserve some kind of an explanation.”
I smiled in spite of my attempt to remain serious. How could anyone stay tough when that accent was so delightful? “I did not throw up all over your bathroom. I kept it very centralized.” I waved my hand in the area over the toilet. “And I’d like to see you manage to keep your shit together when you get dropped off the godsdamned night road unexpectedly.”
The night-road mention got his attention. Leo’s expression changed from mildly annoyed to downright terrified in a heartbeat. His skin took on an ashen quality, and he checked over his shoulder, like I might have brought Hecate with me.
“I’m alone,” I assured him.
“What do you want?” He shut the door behind him, closing us into the bathroom together. With no easy route of escape and him edging closer, I became distinctly aware of how imposing his size was and how much damage he could do if he wanted to.
He was a demigod, after all. They were stronger than humans and weren’t always known to have the most evenly keeled temperaments.
Wonder where they got that from?
I wanted to get up, at least put myself on the same footing with Leo, no matter that he was almost a foot taller than me. The illusion of equality that standing would give me might bolster my certainty and put a little kick back into me. Lying on the floor was hardly a good way to have someone take you seriously.
But as I braced my arm on the lip of the toilet and started to lift myself, the weight of my body issued a protest, and I sank back down with a thud.
Interdimensional travel really takes it out of you.
“Fuck,” I grumbled. “Do you have any donuts?” Let it never be said that I didn’t know how to balance my priorities.
“Donuts?” He sat on the edge of the tub, bringing him closer to level with me. If the expression on his face was any indication, the man thought I was completely insane.
“Leo…” I propped myself into a more comfortable position and wheezed from the exertion.
“I didn’t say that was my name.”
“Yeah, you also didn’t tell me your shoe size, but I know they’re big. Some things don’t need verbal confirmation. You’re Leo Marquette.”
“You some kind of psychic?”
“I like you. You bypass stalker and go for psychic. FYI, I wasn’t kidding about those donuts. Do you have any?”
“Like, laying around? No. But if you want to get out of my apartment, I can point you in the direction of some beignets.”
Beignets.
His accent, and the sounds I’d heard coming from outside when I landed.
“So I’m in New Orleans.”
“Lady, are you on drugs or something? Do I need to take you to a hospital?” The terror I’d seen was gone, replaced with genuine concern. Which was kind of sweet, except the fear would keep him alive longer.
“Your dad sent me.”
“Julian?”
I paused, not comprehending his meaning. “Who?”
He stood up so quickly my head spun, and I briefly considered throwing up again. Instead I decided enough was enough, it was time to get down to business. I held out my hand to him, crooking my fingers.
Obviously a gentleman at heart, Leo grabbed my hand without hesitation and helped me to my feet. Standing in such close quarters with him I was reminded of the last time I’d shared alone time with a man in a bathroom.
“Hecate be damned,” I spat, suddenly remembering what I’d left behind. Cade and Fen were stuck with Mormo and Hecate, and I sincerely doubted they would give him any straight answers about where I’d gone.
