Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
A part of me wants to remind him about how Isabella also once made me stand for over an hour even knowing I had a bad knee, but I decide against it in the end. Eros did say the half-nymph is like his granddaughter, and everyone knows grandparents can be terribly biased.
I will never doubt you again, I vow. But...
Eros raises a brow. "But?"
There has to be nothing but the truth between us from now on. So if there's anything else you want to confess...
"Ah."
I look at him suspiciously. "What do you mean 'ah'?"
About that...
I cross my arms over my chest. Just spit it out.
There is one nymph that I once had an affair with.
As Professor Lucious?
As Eros.
My teeth gnash against each other. Who is it then?
Georgia.
Who?
Isabella's mother.
If not for Eros covering my mouth in time, I'd have ended up yelling 'what the fuck' a dozen times.
Because seriously.
WHAT. THE. FUCK. KYRIOS.
I can feel my god wincing in my mind. I'm sorry, moraki mou.
My head reels, and I find myself pacing the limited length of his balcony.
Does Isabella know?
No.
Does her father?
No.
You're sure on both counts?
It happened way before Gelar was even born.
I've forgotten that nymphs are also immortal, and I find myself secretly and foolishly jealous that there's another woman in this world who's known my god that long...and that intimately.
"I'm sorry this has upset you."
I start to tell him that I'll eventually get over it when something occurs to me—-
Eros?
Dark eyes narrow at me. What is it?
Remember when I told you that I thought I saw Isabella watching us when we were being attacked? What if it wasn't really Isabella I saw...but her mother?
Eros curses up a storm. Fuck! He calls for his brothers, and they join us in moments, their presence unseen but palpable.
My heart drops to my stomach as I listen to my god summarize what I've told him in a few sentences. The more I think about it, the more things make terrifying sense. It has to be Georgia I saw that night, and Eros' brothers appear to agree.
She has always been petty, Anteros says grimly, not to mention vengeful as hell—
The other god's words make me remember another vital clue.
Birdsfoot trefoil, I blurt out. That night of the attack, its scent was in the air. It symbolizes—-
Revenge. The rage in Eros' voice as he utters the word makes me shiver. That bitch.
Think back to that night, Halyna, Anteros suddenly orders. Are there any other clues that you may have overlooked—-
Goosebumps pop all over my skin, and I hear myself say, There was one other thing that bothered me, but it was more like a feeling. When we were at Coriander House, I felt as if there was something crawling underneath us, and I had the same feeling on my way to the festival—-
I haven't even finished talking when Eros opens up a portal mid-air.
Take her, Erma.
Ready, little sister?
Hell no.
I try to step back, but Eros' brother only laughs, and before I know it, he already has me in his invisible arms, and I can only scream as we jump out of the balcony and straight into the portal.
Shiiiiit!
I nearly throw up when we land, and I promise myself that I will never ever forget to close my eyes the next time I have to go through another stupid portal.
Eros and the other gods are right behind us, and the last thing I hear before the portal closes is the sound of wild applause coming from other Sub Rosa members. Is it just me or do those people just loooove to celebrate?
Halyna?
All four gods are now invisible, but Eros' grip is fierce and protective when he takes my hand in his.
Show us the way.
I take my phone out so I can use the school app to retrace my steps.
"There."
One of the gods uses their powers to dispel the darkness, and we find a trapdoor hidden underneath piles of old cardboard boxes. Eros' brothers take point, and I climb down after them while Eros guards my back.
The distinct smell of horse piss pummels our senses, and my soul shrivels anew. Everything feels like it's about to come full circle—-
"Watch out!"
The voice is old and hoarse.
Male.
A shrill, furious scream follows, and I see a woman who looks so much like Isabella jumping out of the dark.
"Georgia, no!"
The nymph never reaches me, and the look of stark terror on her face is something I'll never forget.
Not a single sound escapes her as she starts to fall, and she's already dead before her body hits the ground.
This, I realize dazedly, is the true power of the Erotes.
Together, they're able to stop even an immortal's heart from beating—-and all because they willed it to be so.
Somewhere, we hear a man start to cry.
"You should've listened to me. You should've listened. Why didn't you listen?"