Apollyon

What do you think I’m looking for?

With you, one can never be too sure.

Oh, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Amusement flowed through the co

I made a face. What?

Seth laughed. Ah, I’ve sort of missed this, Alex.

Opening my eyes, I resisted the irrational urge to admit that I too missed the banter, the out-snarking battle that neither of us won. It was weird—the dynamics of my relationships with Seth and Aiden.

Aiden complimented me; he was the yin to my yang, the “ now, now” to my smartass. But Seth and I were too much alike, and in a way, we really were the same person. Together for too long, we probably would murder each other.

But yeah, there was a part of me that missed this—missed him.

Why haven ‘t you started yelling at me yet?he asked.

I choked out a laugh. Only you would ask that question. What? Do you want me to yell at you? I doubt that it would do any good. It’s not going to change you.

But that’s never stopped you from doing anything before. Even if you knew the outcome and it was pointless, you’d still do it.

Like now? Staying away from you is pointless?

The smugness was back, settling over me like a second skin. Very pointless, he added.

Frustrated now, I closed my eyes and sighed. Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do. I know you don’t care about anyone but yourself, but I really need to go.

Pricks of irritation overshadowed the warmth of amusement and arrogance. I want to talk.

Immediately wary, my hands opened and closed. What do you want to talk about?

How wrong you are.

It was a good thing Hermes hadn’t showed up, because my hand itched to co

I care about you, he said, surprising me.

I shook my head, wanting to deny it, because stripping my ability to make my own decisions was a hell of a way of showing how he cared, but it was the truth. But I remembered that night in Telly’s house, that moment I’d seen the indecision in his eyes, the vulnerability. He hadn’t wanted to hurt me then, but I believed that what he neededoverwhelmed what he wanted.

I know, I said, because, deep down, I knew he did care.

Even more shocking, there was a sudden opening in the co

My chest felt heavy and it ached, because there was also some truth to that.

But it never would’ve been enough, he added, and in a weird way, he felt closer now, like he was right beside me. I’m man enough to admit that. Even if I fought for you fairly—and trust me, Aiden has nothing on me when I’m determined—in the end, whatever you felt for me would’ve been leftovers. I would’ve been a leftover. You would’ve never really been mine. I’ve always known that.

I squeezed my hands until my joints ached. Then why did you want to be with me—in the Catskills, you asked me to give it a try. Or was that a huge part of your master plan?

Master plan?Seth laughed, but it was humorless. Why wouldn’t I have asked? I’m attracted to you, Alex. Doesn’t take much to figure that out. And there’s more. I’ve been drawn to you, ever since I first saw you. It’s just the way it is for our kind.

A distant, almost sad feeling crept through the co

There was a physical thing between us, partly due to the Apollyon bond and our own attraction to each other. I was grownup enough to admit that it still was there, but it was watered down in comparison to how I felt for Aiden. But some things didn’t change.

I care about you. The words were whispered and sounded broken to me.

For a moment, we said nothing. It was like a stalemate, a really weird, awkward and sad one.

Please don’t do this, Seth.

He sighed. Alex…

I can help you.

The pricks of irritation soured my stomach now. I don’t need help.

You do. I took a deep breath. You’re like an addict—the aether, whatever love and approval you’re seeking from Lucian. You need help.

I knew the moment I’d said the wrong thing. Irritation flipped to anger and it was like standing too close to a fire. I don’t need your help, Alex. What I need is for you to understand that you can’t escape Fate. That everything will be different—it will be better—if you just let Lucian do what needs to be done.

Seth—

And I need you to understand, Alex, if you can, that maybe—just maybe—Lucian actually cares for me, that I’m worth that, and he wants the best for me—for us. Do you think you can do that?

My throat worked on the lump that had formed there. You are worth someone caring about you, but—

But what?His voice snapped fire, daring me to say what he knew I was going to say.

I drew in a stuttered breath. But I can’t do what you’re asking. You are worth it—worth so much—but not Lucian. He’s using you. And it’ll be too late—

It’s not too late. In the end, no matter what, I will have everything that I want.

And then he pushed back and broke the co

CHAPTER 24

When I opened my eyes again, Aiden was still asleep, and although the cord hummed softly in my stomach, Seth was gone for now. I climbed to my feet and quickly sca

Swallowing down the lump that felt like a permanent fixture in my throat, I shuffled over to Aiden and sat beside him, pulling my knees to my chest. Gods, I didn’t know what was worse—if Seth was completely gone and there was no hope for him, or if there were a part of him still in there somewhere. Either way, wondering about it was hopeless. Right now I was on a mission to discover a way to destroy Seth. So did it matter? In the end, I couldn’t allow him to transfer power from me. Too many lives rested on stopping him.

Aiden must’ve been the proud owner of an internal clock, because when the sky started to turn orange beyond the irregular holes in the roof of the cavern, he stretched like a jungle cat coming awake from an afternoon nap.

He sat up fluidly and leaned over, placing his hands on either side of my bent knees. Heat rolled off his bare chest. He pressed his lips to the sensitive space beneath my ear and murmured, “Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“I’m guessing we weren’t overrun by spiders?” Aiden popped to his feet and stretched again, raising his arms, his back bowing.

“No.”

He sent me a look over his shoulder and then bent down, grabbing his shirt off the bag. “You hanging in there?”

I nodded.

As we ate a quick breakfast of gerbil food and got ready to head back out into the tu

When he handed me the musty-smelling cloak, I finally said something. “I saw Seth last night.”

Aiden stilled, hands clenching his own cloak. “Okay.”

I focused on his shoulder. “I know I should’ve said something earlier.”