Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Delicious.” She practically purrs the word. “In that case, let’s go somewhere more secluded and have a frank discussion.”
I follow her to a private room located down a long hallway. It strikes me as I walk through the door that this could be an ambush, but the room is empty except for a U-shaped booth that takes up most of the space around a large table.
I fucking hate booths.
I sit across from her and watch as she fiddles with a salt shaker, unravels all the silverware wrapped up in napkins, and flips the menu over several times, far too quickly to have read anything. Finally, she folds her hands in front of her and gives me a solemn look. “I’m ready to hear your proposal.”
I didn’t come here with a proposal. I didn’t come here with a fucking plan. I’m starting to wonder if it was a mistake. “What business do you have with Circe?”
If I wasn’t watching her so closely, I wouldn’t see her nearly imperceptible flinch. She gives me a bright smile. “I suppose the cat’s out of the bag now that the lovely Ariadne has gone telling tales. You’re aware that Circe was originally an Olympian. She and I have a history. You might call us old friends.”
The statement leaves a lot to be desired. It doesn’t matter. I care less about her history with Circe than I do about the future. “Are you with her or against her?”
“That question is too simplistic.”
I don’t have the patience for word games. I brace my elbows on the table and stare her down. “You haven’t done a single damn thing to stand in Minos’s way. You’re not actively helping him, either. So let me ask you this instead—do you want the barrier to come down?”
Her smile is brilliant enough to light up the room. “Now that, my dear Minotaur, is the right question.”
16
Ariadne
After a long day of shopping and watching my words while a secret part of me relishes the ache between my thighs, I almost don’t answer my phone when my brother calls. But that’s selfish and shortsighted. Hera promised him safety, but Icarus has to get out from under my father’s thumb first. He can’t do that if he doesn’t know that escape is possible.
“Hello?”
“Ariadne.” He exhales shakily. “You’re okay. When I didn’t hear from you, I started to get worried.”
Guilt threatens to swallow me whole. I haven’t been thinking about Icarus, for all that I used his safety as a bargaining chip. I’ve been worried about myself and my future. Selfish. So fucking selfish. “I’m sorry.” I swallow down the excuses that spring to my lips. That I’m overwhelmed. That I’ve been so busy that I lost track of time. That I’ve been working to keep us safe.
“It’s okay. I would like to see you, though. If you think you can get free.”
I look around the penthouse, empty once again. I’m not sure where Dionysus went this time, but he made a passing comment about not waiting up. Who knows if he’ll even come home tonight? “Why don’t you come here? It would be safer than meeting outside, and we can talk freely.”
He hesitates long enough that I think he might say no, but finally he sighs. “Sure. I’ll be there in twenty. Tell security not to shoot me on sight.”
I don’t think that’s a real risk, but as soon as I hang up with him, I call Dionysus. Just in case. Wherever my fiancé is, there’s blaring music that makes it hard to hear him. I manage to get my point across, and he promises to add Icarus to the list of approved guests. I’m a little worried that he’ll forget as soon as he hangs up, but twenty-five minutes later, I get a call that my brother is in the lobby. Less than five minutes after that, he’s right in front of me.
Icarus looks like shit. He was always thin, but his face has a gaunt look that worries me. And his hair, normally as impeccable as mine, hangs lank and greasy against his forehead. Even his skin has lost its luster. More worrisome, he throws himself into my arms and hugs me tight enough to steal my breath. “You’re really okay.”
I hug him right back, alarmed to feel his ribs. I’ve only been gone a couple weeks. How has he deteriorated so quickly? “But you’re not. When’s the last time you’ve eaten?”
“I had a shake this morning.”
It’s nearly 9:00 p.m. Gods, but this is bad. I take his arm and drag him into the kitchen. Dionysus keeps it well stocked, though I haven’t seen evidence that he actually cooks. I’m not good at it myself, but even I can throw together a few simple things.
Thankfully, Icarus’s favorite is easy enough. Blueberry pancakes. A quick check ensures the kitchen has the necessary ingredients, and then I get to work. My brother watches me with haunted eyes. “You look better. I’m sorry about the choices you had to make, but I’m glad that it’s working out.”