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“Yes, Buttercup,” he whispered as he moved closer to me, his body heat radiating to me, but I tried to ignore the distractions of his closeness and his warm, intoxicating scent.
“When Ares set his Glory on me, I saw his essence,” I said. “I saw his intentions and what’s in his nature. He isn’t Earth’s protector, not as he claims. He’s all about war, bloodshed, and destruction. He’ll destroy our planet in the end.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” he said, his hand brushing against my fingers. His heat once again soothed and comforted me. “We’ve never trusted him. We’ve had a contingency plan for centuries.”
“But the game plan has changed, hasn’t it?” I asked.
He nodded. “You’ve come into the picture, so we’ll need to get him out of the picture.”
“I think he’s working with Lucifer.”
“We might have to join with Hell’s forces as well to cast him out of Earth.”
I widened my eyes.
“A different Hell force that isn’t loyal to Lucifer,” he said. “We’ll have to forge alliances in the most unlikely places.”
Just like Paxton and me. Our common enemy had made us temporary allies. I didn’t exactly trust the Demigod of Sea, but as he said, I needed him.
Not in a million years had I expected that I could talk to him like this. Yet he shouldered my burden and carried my dark secret with me.
I’d thought Héctor was my ultimate protector, but that was before I’d learned the other part of my heritage. I hated this gap that now grew between Héctor, Zak, Axel, and me because of my despicable demon blood, but I’d rather have my heart torn out than see disgust for me on their faces.
Just then, a pair of lustrous, massive wings pierced the mist, silky feathers shivering in the wind.
I gazed up, and Paxton shook his head in irritation.
“I’ve never met anyone who shows off more than he does,” he said in disapproval.
I concealed a smile. The Demigod of Sea was jealous of the Demigod of Death.
In one swift, smooth landing, Héctor alighted before me.
“Héctor,” I cried in joy. “You’re glowing!”
“Everything for you, lamb,” he said.
Paxton snorted. It was the first time he and I had really talked, and I guess he hated Héctor spoiling our moment. But I didn’t mind it. I loved the sight of Héctor at any time. Héctor always had my heart. I just hadn’t told him that.
The death demigod glared at Paxton before fixing his sole attention on me again, his face softening as soon as it wasn’t trained on the sea demigod. He let me admire his obsidian wings a bit longer before they vanished.
I tossed myself at him, pressing my face against his hard chest, my arms wrapping around his waist.
“Miss me already, lamb?” He chuckled, pleased.
Paxton watched us.
Héctor stared at his cousin again. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be, Paxton?”
“Nope,” Paxton said. “Sorry to disappoint you, old boy, but if you check the schedule again, you’ll see that today is my turn to accompany Buttercup to all her classes. So you can be somewhere else, and I suggest the somewhere be Manhattan since it’s your duty to find the Living Flame.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Living Flame.
Last night, the demigods had talked about the urgency of finding the ultimate weapon. With it, they were sure they’d subdue both Lucifer and Ares, protecting me completely.
None of them, not even Paxton, knew that the Living Flame was connected to me.
All the more reason why I needed to visit the elemental. How could I get it to open the tree portal for me?
