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“No,” I replied. Mona’s face swept back into my mind, bubbling rage under the surface. My emotions felt stronger. I felt like I could move mountains if I wanted. I wondered if I could. “I’m going to get my sister back, then kill Alexander.” I paused, looking up at the lightening pastel sky. I rubbed my fingers against my temples and cussed under my breath. “I can’t. I need someone to take his place, and that someone needs to be Thalia. I can’t replace both his sisters.”
Maddox nodded along. “Yep, that would make you an asshole.”
“What do I do?” I looked at Edmund.
He paused, glancing upward like he did when he was deep in thought. He tapped his fingers against his thigh, then nodded. “Raiden will be returning, albeit briefly, to kill Freya after he’s gone to the underworld. Either you can wait for him and explain, then go with him to kill Alexander and have Thalia take his place because Raiden needs to be the ruler of the underworld first for that to happen, or…”
My stomach dipped. “I go to the underworld.”
“Yes.” He inhaled sharply. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“I’m immortal now. I can go and I should. I can help him take Lucius down.” Fear gripped me as I looked out through the trees. “If he doesn’t kill me for this first.”
Maddox clicked his tongue. “Girl, he is not going to kill you. Like I said before, he?—”
“He doesn’t,” I snapped before he could say it again. “Besides, this is his sister, Maddox. His sister.” I repeated myself with emphasis thick in my tone. “He loves her so much. He’s known her for centuries. He’s known me for weeks.”
Maddox licked his lips. “Unless you plan on running from him, like Freya, then you don’t really have a choice but to face him.”
Naomi sighed. “I hate to say it, but the asshole’s right.”
Maddox smirked. “See? I’m right.”
“Still an ass.” Naomi scowled, clearly not over the creepy comment.
“I can’t leave Mona,” I said quickly.
Edmund chimed in. “He’s not going to kill her. She’s leverage. As long as Alexander believes Freya is still alive, he has no reason to believe otherwise. He thinks she’s gone to summon Raiden and kill him, with you, so you have about a day, I reckon, before he starts looking.”
“Then I need to leave now.”
Edmund grabbed my hand before I could prepare myself to speed away. “Elle. We need to talk about this.” He looked me up and down. “You’re immortal now. We need to find out if there’s a way to reverse it. If there is, I know Maddox and I can find it.”
Maddox laughed. “If she even wants to reverse it. Imagine being a goddess. I wouldn’t give it up.”
Edmund’s jaw clenched. “Elle is nothing like you. She doesn’t want this.”
Naomi tapped her foot against the ground. “Has anyone even asked her what she wants?” She turned toward me. “Elle?”
I swallowed thickly. “I can’t stay like this. If there’s a way out, it means Leda can come back.” I looked at Edmund. “If you can find a way, I’ll do it.”
Ferocity burned in his bright eyes. “You can count on us. We will always have your back, Elle.”
I smiled. “I know.” I scratched the back of my neck. “Uh, so do I like carry you back, or… Well, could one of you go on my shoulders and…”
He shook his head, and Maddox rubbed the back of his neck. “Girl, I don’t think any of us want that awkwardness today. You go. We’re only an hour from home, and Alexander isn’t coming after us, so we’re good.”
My eyes widened. “Wait here.” I sped back to Freya’s body, pulled the dagger out of the ground where bugs had covered it during the night, and wiped it on my dress. If Alexander saw this, as unlikely as it was, he’d kill Mona instantly.
I grabbed Freya’s body, flung her over my shoulder, and dug an effortless hole next to a tree. After dumping her in there, I refilled the dirt and pressed my lips together.
Realization washed over me like a splash of cold water. I was a murderer. Even if it was the right thing to do, I’d still taken a life. My mind swarmed, and I pushed it back. I couldn’t think about that right now.
Holding onto the dagger, I sped back to them and hugged them each in turn.
“Be safe. We love you,” Naomi said.
Tears welled in my eyes. “I love you all too.”
