Radiant Sin(73)

I sigh and hang up. She’s working her ass off in order to pave the way to a better future. I can do no less than the same.

I open the door to find Apollo on the bed, working on his laptop. He looks so deliciously mussed with the sheets gathered around his waist and his black hair on end from me running my fingers through it. He looks up and smiles as if just the sight of me is enough to make his day.

It could be like this…

I ignore the little voice inside my head and move to get dressed. I feel a little shaky, as if the ground is shifting beneath my feet, so I choose the dress I’d saved for a time when I needed the emotional boost. My favorite. It’s a deep silver that’s almost black, and I immediately feel better when I have it on. I learned long ago that clothing can change a person’s perspective, both the one I have of myself and that of others who look at me. It’s a different kind of armor than Ares’s soldiers wear but it serves much the same purpose, even if the weapons being sharpened by the upper crust in Olympus are words and ambition instead of guns and knives.

It won’t protect me against either, though.

True to form, Apollo doesn’t take long to shower and get ready. He sweeps a glance over me as he steps out of the bathroom. “You look devastating.”

“Thanks.” I check my lipstick in the mirror and pull on my heels. I can’t look at him directly because if I do, I’m going to touch him, and if I touch him, I can’t account for what happens next. It’s tempting to do it anyway, to prolong this relative peace when it’s only the two of us, but I manage to restrain myself. “Is Hector still working through the emails?”

“Yes. He’s managed to eliminate everything that definitely wasn’t useful and now he’s wading through the rest.” He finishes buttoning his shirt. “It takes time to track down all the threads, but he should have an update later today.”

“Good.”

He offers his arm. “Shall we?”

Downstairs, most of the rest of the guests have beaten us to the table. The only two spots left are between Hermes and Pandora. I’m surprised when Apollo presses a hand to the small of my back and urges me to take the seat next to Hermes. Then again, is it really that surprising? From the start, he’s aimed to protect me. Though from the beaming smile Pandora gives him as he takes his seat, maybe he’ll be more successful at easing her into conversation than I would have been.

Then she turns it on me.

She reminds me a bit of Persephone Dimitriou, at least before she ran off and fell in love with Hades and shed the happy princess persona. Except…more. Having this woman smile at me is like getting a straight shot of the midsummer sun. I can only blink in response.

“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” She reaches across Apollo with a charmingly apologetic wince. “I’m Pandora.”

“Cassandra.” Her palm is warm and smooth against mine. “Nice to meet you,” I say. I don’t stammer, but it’s a near thing. She’s beautiful.

“The feeling is entirely mutual.”

On my other side, Hermes snickers. I remember myself enough to turn and shoot a glare at her. “Shut up.”

“Always so cranky until you see a pretty face, and then you forget that you know how to talk.” She nudges me with her shoulder. There’s no edge to her voice, just a deep fondness that speaks of our long history.

Apollo, though, tenses. “Leave her alone, Hermes.”

She holds up a finger, nails painted matte black. “One: you should know better, since I don’t leave anyone alone.” She lifts another finger. “Two: Cassandra is more than capable of defending herself if she feels the need to.”

“Just because she can doesn’t mean she should.”

This feels strange. I can’t decide if it’s a good kind of strange or a bad kind of strange, but I’m not inclined to let them argue over me like two dogs with a bone. Even if they’re both coming at the conversation with the intention of protecting me. “That’s enough.”

Apollo opens his mouth but seems to reconsider whatever he was about to say. He gives a short nod and turns to his plate. Hermes narrows her eyes like she wants to keep provoking him, but I catch her gaze and shake my head silently. She sighs. “Fine. I’ll behave.”

Lunch is a surreal experience. It’s so…normal. Everyone chats easily as if a man wasn’t almost murdered a few rooms away less than twenty-four hours ago. I knew the Thirteen and those close to them were different animals, but it’s never been clearer than in the time since Pan was attacked.

Especially considering my new theory that they’re here for Minos to do their dirty work in return for part of the profits.

Don’t they realize that this will give him leverage over them? Or do they really think they’re that untouchable?

Or maybe they’re planning a double cross once they get what they want from him? All the gain and none of the possibility of sharing the rewards or future blackmail.

The possibilities make my head spin. I can’t be the only one who sees the dangers. Surely I’m not. But they’ve ignored my warning so far. They truly think they’re untouchable. Even Apollo, in his own way. He’s willing to endanger himself for the greater good.

By the time they realize they might be wrong, it will be too late.