Page 52 of Invoking Ruin

“Why aren’t they following us?” I ask Sandro and I cut down an alley.

Stopping, I glance up at the sky, trying to catch the sight of wings, but the sky is clear of even birds as the sunset stains it red. I can’t shake the alarms going off in my head. My pursuers should be right behind us.

“A question we can ask once we’re out of here.” Hadn't I been the one telling him later not so long ago? I'm not sure I enjoy having the shoe on the other foot.

Sandro’s grip on my wrist tightens, and he drags me in closer, his other arm stealing around my waist.

It feels incredible, but my worries won’t let me settle, take comfort from this god. Even as I'm aware it might be my last chance.

“What if they’ve found Pegasus?” That’s the next worst case scenario. The winged horse might be able to shield himself from prying mortal eyes, but any god could spot him if they looked.

My heart threatens to break at the idea of anyone taking him from me.

He shakes his head. Where is the man who was a mess just a couple of hours ago? Who had been unspooled by using his own powers?

Now I’m the one following him like a lost puppy.

Momus must be working overtime for this bit of irony. Bastard.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” he says. “For now, move, Vita. Let’s not make it easy on them.”

Not able to argue, I break into a run, as we head back through the city, toward the park where we landed. Pegasus is just where he was, munching on some grass, wings and tail twitching in what passes for an unbothered attitude from the animal.

Nothing and no one is even chasing us.

“This is too easy.” I pace back and forth. “Eris would never let me go like this. She should have caught us, or Nemesis, or someone.”

The rustle of the grass and trees sets my teeth on edge. I should have taken a powerful sword, not a lyre. Actually, I never should have come here, never should have brought him here.

Sandro cups my face in both hands, tipping my head until I’m forced to meet his eyes. “Vita. Look at me.”

His eyes are deep, like falling into twilight. They’re as beautiful as they were the night he laid me out in the grass.

It takes my breath away.

“If they’re coming, we’ll fight them,” he says, once it’s clear he has my full attention. “But they’re not here yet, so we shouldn’t wait. A trap is only a trap if we’re caught.”

I draw in a deep breath. He’s right. We have Pegasus still, and a chest full of trinkets the gods would kill for.

When I nod, he lets go of my face and takes my hand once more.

“Come. I’ll hitch him for you.” The mortal I knew as Sandro never mentioned any experience with horses, especially the winged kind, but he has no trouble hitching Pegasus to the chariot.

More latent memories.

I should leave him behind. It’s the smart call. He’s my ally right now, but at any time, he could become my enemy. Despite telling myself it would happen over and over for months, I’m unprepared for the reality.

I’d sooner face down Eris again than his wrath. It will break me. Only a masochist would stay and wait for the shame and scorn he will no doubt heap my way.

I am the worst sort of masochist.

He rejoins me in the chariot, far more at ease than he had been just hours ago. I marvel at it. It’s like a sailor regaining his sea legs after years on land.

When he catches me looking, he frowns. “Are we going?”

I nod jerkily, shaking myself from my thoughts. He’s the only comfort I have. If his time at my side is dwindling, I’ll hold onto him until the very last second.

There’s no surviving him. There is no after.

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