Page 101 of Nemesis

We both look down at Reese, whose arm Apollo has captured and lifted over his head.

Reese and Kade are both taller than my brother. Probably the same height as Wolfe and Jace, actually.

Reese meets my gaze and smiles.

“So he just knocked out his ex-best friend for the hell of it,” Saint muses.

I shake my head.

We watch the last fight in silence. It’s the show the crowd has waited for—one of the female fighters pitted against Hercules. A big asshole like Minos, but worse. I’ve fought him a few times, too. He hits hard no matter who he’s fighting and rarely shifts his style to match his opponent.

And tonight, his sheer strength prevails.

I sigh. “Well, let’s go eavesdrop on what Reese asks for.”

Saint perks up, and he easily follows me out and down the hall. I find one of the alcoves and trigger the hidden door to open, and we take the cramped stairs down to the first floor. They meet in the back room once the fighters have a chance to clean up and the crowd disperses.

“What were you going to ask for?”

Saint side-eyes me.

“Come on.” I stop short and plant my hands on my hips. “What were you going to ask for if you won?”

“Nothing.” He rolls his eyes and continues. “We’re going to miss them.”

I scoff. “Yeah, right.Nothing, my ass.”

My words fall on deaf ears. Saint leaves me behind. I hurry to catch up, mindful of the twinge of pain in my side. I’m not a hundred percent—not even close. My head still hurts, although now it’s manageable with painkillers.

In short? Still a mess.

“Saint.”

“Artemis.”

I really hate him. “Would you have asked to move out? To be done with this?”

BythisI meanus. There isn’t even anusto consider, to register, but Saint has been with me for almost a full year.

He’s hated every second of it, as have I. But… I think I’d hate it more if I was alone in that place.

Typical Saint, though—he ignores my questions and enters the back room. There are columns here along the walls, providing excellent shadowy places to linger. He doesn’t, though. He just walks right out into the open and down the long room toward where my brother and his friends are gathered.

I scowl at all of them, now well and truly left in the dust.

“Tem!” Kora enters through a side door and meets me in the center. She throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “God, I’ve heard what’s been going on with you. Are you okay?”

I extract myself with a small grimace. “I’m… I’m fine, Kora. Really.”

Her eyes narrow.

“Okay,” I allow. “There’s some shit going on, but I’m handling it. I promise.”

She accepts that and brushes her dark-red hair off her shoulder. I’ve always secretly wondered if she dyes it, but Apollo said it was natural. And then the asshole made some comments about the carpet matching the drapes, and I decked him before he could finish his sentence.

Becauseew.

I do not need that visual of my friend. Although I’m thinking about it now… But that’s just in an effort to distract me from Saint’s low chatter with the guys.

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