Page 73 of Gods' Battleground

“No, I’ve gotten only two hours of sleep thisweek,” I told him. “Hey, it’s no problem. Angels can go without sleep for weeks, so I bet that means gods and demons can do it for like months. But, aaaanyway, back to the Bubble. So, yeah, Pops hates the name, but that’s his problem. He’s not running this show, so he doesn’t get to name things. And, besides, ‘the Bubble’ is way more accurate than the vague term ‘the Ancient Lands’.”

“You really should take a nap,” Nero said, his brows drawing together in concern.

“I love how you worry about me.” I scooted a little closer and draped my arms over his shoulders. “But I don’t need a nap. That’s why I have coffee. And chocolate. And also this weird drink Bella gave me that’s a combo of sugar and caffeine—and more sugar and more caffeine. And some weird witchy herbs.”

“What kind of weird witchy herbs?” he asked me.

“I didn’t ask. It’s probably best that I don’t know,” I said. “This drink really jolts me awake, but afterwards, it kind of feels like my mind is detached from my body. I wonder what kind of magic does that?”

“It’s not magic. It’s what happens when you’re sleep-deprived and ingest large quantities of caffeine and other stimulants.” Nero narrowed his eyes at me.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “And you’re cute when you scold me.”

He growled in frustration.

“That’s cute too,” I said with a coy smile.

“You should go to bed.”

“Only if you go to bed with me.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

A soft snort escaped his hard granite guise.

“Come on, you have to admit you’re tempted.” I rocked my hips against his and trailed my fingertips down his arms.

His hands flashed out and caught mine. “I’m always tempted by you.”

“Samesies.”

“That’s some pretty excessive flirting you’ve got going on here, guys,” Aerilyn said as she strolled into the throne room and totally ruined our moment.

Slowly, reluctantly, I peeled my hands off of Nero. Well, at least one of them. I kept the other wrapped around his back.

“Excessiveflirting?” I said to my cousin. “You’re one to talk.”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Leda.” Aerilyn set her hand over her heart. “I’m always so reserved.”

I smirked at her. “That’s not what my brother says.”

“I’m disappointed in Zane.” Aerilyn pretended to be annoyed, but we all know she wasn’t. “A true gentleman never kisses and tells.”

“Actually, I think he was trying to avoid being kissed,” I told her.

“He’s just playing hard to get. Your brother is actually totally and completely in love with me.”

“Here’s what I’m wondering,” I said, glancing at Nero. “Aerilyn is my cousin. Zane is my brother. So if they get married, what does that make them to me?”

He considered my question, then replied, “A genealogist’s worst nightmare.”

Picturing all the sideways lines across my family tree made me chuckle.

“Pandora, you shouldn’t try to make sense of your family,” said Nero. “It will never make sense.”

“Hey, it’s not justmyfamily that’s wacky, Windstriker. Here’s another problem for the genealogists,” I said. “If my foster mother and your grandfather get married and have a baby, that kid will be Sierra’s great-aunt or great-uncleandat the same time also her aunt or uncle. And Calli will be both my mother and my grandmother-in-law.”

“And if Zane and I get married, Bella will be both my niece and my sister-in-law,” Aerilyn chimed in. “That might be worth doing just for the fun of confusing all the wedding guests.”

“Here’s a tip: if you want Zane to marry you, maybe get your dragon to stop trying to eat him,” I suggested.

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