Deity (Covenant #3)(59)

I realized something so important, so powerful then.

Aiden could tell me he didn’t feel the same way I did. He could fight what lay between us night and day. He could speak only in lies from here on out. It didn’t matter.

I would always, always know differently.

Even if space separated us, or a dozen rules were imposed to keep us apart, and we could never be together, I would always know.

And gods, I loved him—loved him so much. It would never change. There were so many things I was unsure of, especially right now, but that I knew. Before I could stop it, a single tear escaped, running down my cheek. I squeezed my eyes shut.

He drew in another breath, this one much sharper, more broken. The bed dipped as he moved, and his hand slid into my hair, where his fingers curled around the strands. His lips were warm and smooth against my cheek, kissing the tear away.

I became very still, afraid that any movement would send him away. He was like some kind of wild creature about to break.

When he spoke, his breath danced over my lips, sending shivers through me. “I can’t feel that way again. I just can’t.”

He was so close, still holding my hand tightly in his while his other slipped out of my hair and traced an invisible line over my face.

“Okay?” he said. “Because I can’t lose—” He cut off, looking toward the door. The sound of footsteps grew closer. His lips pressed into a tight line as he turned back to me. He dropped my hand and straightened. “We’ll talk more, later.”

I sat there dumbly, my heart fluttering spastically, and said the most eloquent thing I could. “Okay.”

The door opened, and Marcus walked through. His shirt was half-tucked in and his usually-pressed trousers were wrinkled. Like Aiden, he looked a mess, but relieved. He stopped beside my bed, exhaling loudly.

I cleared my throat. “You’re wrinkled.”

“You’re alive.”

Aiden stood. “That she is. I was just filling her in on everything.”

“Good. That’s good.” Marcus stared at me. “How are you feeling, Alexandria?”

“Okay, I guess, after dying and all.” I shifted, uncomfortable with the attention. “So about this Leon god thing? I don’t know of any gods named Leon. Is he like the red-headed stepchild god that no one claims?”

Aiden retreated to the corner of the room, a much more appropriate distance for a pure-blood. I immediately missed his closeness, but he kept his eyes on me. It was like he was afraid I’d disappear. “That’s because Leon isn’t his real name,” he said.

“It’s not?”

Marcus sat in Aiden’s spot. He reached out, but stopped and lowered his hand into his lap. “Do you want some water?”

“Um, sure.” Weirded out a little, I watched him refill my cup and hold it for me to drink. The alien in my uncle had obviously taken full control. Soon, it would claw its way out of his stomach and tap dance across my bed.

Aiden leaned against the wall. “Leon is Apollo.”

I choked on the water. Wheezing, I clutched my stomach with one hand and waved the other in front of my face.

“Alexandria, are you okay?” Marcus set the cup down and glanced over his shoulder at Aiden, who was already beside the bed. “Go get one of the doctors.”

“No!” Eyes watering, I dragged in air. “I’m fine. Water just went down the wrong pipe.”

“You sure?” Aiden asked, looking torn between wanting to drag a doctor in here and taking my word for it.

I nodded. “Yeah, that just surprised me. I mean, whoa. Are you guys sure? Apollo?”

Marcus watched me carefully. “Yes. He’s definitely Apollo.”

“Holy…” There weren’t enough words in the world to do that justice. “Did he explain anything?”

“No.” Marcus tucked the loose blanket back around me. “After he brought you back, he said he needed to leave and that he’d be back.”

“He kind of popped out of the room.” Aiden rubbed his eyes. “We haven’t seen him since.”

“And that was yesterday,” Marcus added.

“So I’ve been sleeping for an entire day?” My gaze darted between the two. “Have either of you slept this entire time?”

Aiden looked away, but Marcus was the one who answered. “A lot has been going on, Alex.”

“But you guys—”

“Don’t worry about us,” Marcus interrupted. “We’ll be fine.”

Not worrying about them was easier said than done. Both of them looked terrible. “Is… Linard is dead.”

“Yes,” Marcus said. “He was working with this… this Order.”

I glanced at Aiden, now remembering that sickening crunch I’d heard. If I was expecting remorse in his steady gaze, I didn’t find it. Actually, the look on his face said he’d do it again. “What about Telly?”

“He never landed in New York. Right now, we have no idea where he is. Instructor Romvi has also disappeared.” Marcus dropped his hands into his lap again. “I’ve made some calls and I have a few trusted Sentinels looking for Telly right now.”

“Trusted like Linard?” As soon as those words came out of my mouth, I wished I hadn’t said them. My cheeks started to burn. “I’m… sorry. That wasn’t right. You didn’t know.”