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“Lupa?” I whisper her name.
The Russo Heir looks at me. “They’re going to test her, aren’t they?”
Her words mirror my thoughts perfectly. I bite down on my bottom lip and nod. “I think so,” I reply softly.
“Don’t think about it, Lupa.” Flavio squeezes her shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do either way.”
Lupa rolls her shoulder, shirking his hand away. “Easy for you to say, Flavio. You don’t love anyone as much as you love yourself.”
Instead of being insulted, he beams. “Exactly. So when I tell you I’ll do everything to get back home safely, you know I mean it. I’m too selfish to want to die in someone else’s battle.”
Fair words—I think I like him a bit more now.
I don’t tell her that I’d be surprised if they haven’t spent the last two weeks doing just that. Testing, training, and conditioning her. Something I know firsthand is more brutal than anyone—yourself included—realizes. I used to have fond memories of my own training, and it’s only now I’m learning how many things my mind is shielding me from.
The hunger, the pain… that I remember all too vividly. What I seem to have conveniently forgotten are the mind games. The way Nikolaos would play Gus and me against each other. I’m pretty sure my uncle once tied his own son up in front of me and… I can’t remember what he did to him. All I recall is that the name of the game was that I had to recite the States of America and the Greek alphabet with no mistakes before he was freed.
Like buying Liam’s mom and sending her son to Nikolaos’ house to test my morals. Cruel, yes—but at the hand of a Drákon, said cruelty is masked as training.
Sick bastards!
Kai signals for us to shut up and continue walking, which we do. I sigh with relief as we reach the large columns Ana mentioned to us. The area directly in front is cast in darkness, and if the map Ana gave us is to be trusted, we can use the ancient columns and large stones to hide behind.
Miraculously we make it as close to the maze as possible without being caught. I frantically look around for Gus and Liam. Not seeing them has me panicking all over again. They should be here by now.
I sheathe Mizéria in the holster on my arm before discreetly shifting the weight of the bag I’m carrying. A vicious smile takes over my face as I hear the soft sloshing sound from the liquid. Yes, I brought my jar with Marian’s finger. For no other reason than because I can.
A shrill scream pierces the silence, and before I can stop her, Lupa leaps out from our hiding spot. Her hood falls down while charging towards the maze. Frozen in place, we all watch as she recklessly runs into the lit area. My heart hammers in my chest and I’m only capable of forming a single thought; that wasn’t Morgana screaming.
Kai growls angrily, but Lupa is already too far away. Either that, or she chooses to ignore him. I quickly take his hand, yanking him closer. The surprise causing his sea-green eyes to widen is the only reason I could easily pull him to me.
“I love you,” I murmur.
Straightening, I wind my arms around his neck, ignoring the shouts coming towards us. I close my eyes and add pressure to my hold until my husband willingly bends so our lips are only a breath apart.
“I love you so much,” I repeat.
Then I close the distance between our lips. I know I can’t indulge for long, so I keep my mouth closed. But I don’t need his tongue to feel the undeniable love and attraction floating between us.
“And I love you, Nereid.” Kai’s tone is firm.
We’re interrupted by a woman’s voice. “Well, isn’t this touching,” she drawls.
Fucking Ana Lov. Guess I was wrong to trust Abel’s notes about her being trustworthy, she’s as fake as the rest of them. At least I think so… I… shit, I don’t know anymore.
When we met her in England she admitted to sending the texts to Lupa and Arthur, which, if it wasn’t for those, who knows when we’d find out Morgana was missing. That has to count for something, right?
“Get away from her,” Kai snarls lethally while trying to push me behind him.
Flavio doesn’t hesitate to move next to Kai, helping to shield me. It’s oddly sweet. I grip the handle of Liam’s knife tighter. “You betrayed us,” I spit.
She shakes her head. “No, I didn’t. Acacia, you need to come with me.”
Is that regret I detect in her voice?
“Is that so, professor?” Flavio snarks. “If you want Acacia, you have to go through me.”
She barely glances at the Russo Heir. “If you trust nothing else, trust I could kill you before you can draw your weapon.” Her tone is colder than the grave she’s threatening Flavio with.
