Page 138 of God of Pain (Legacy of Gods 2)

“Anni…there’s so much you don’t know.”

“Then tell me. Don’t just keep me in the dark and ask me to accept situations I don’t understand.”

“I will, but as I said, I need time, baby. I’m just asking you—imploring you, begging you—to cut off ties with this Creighton.”

“Mom!”

“I’ve never asked anything of you, Anni. I only wanted you to grow up into the bright, cheerful, and absolutely beautiful young lady you are. I didn’t stop you from ballet even though I’m uncomfortable with it, I didn’t stop you from traveling to the other side of the world, although I was scared for your safety, but I’m begging you to let him go.”

“I can’t…do that. I love him.”

“You haven’t been together for long. Those feelings will eventually disappear.”

“You can’t possibly be serious?”

She stands up, releases a long breath, and whispers, “I’m trying to protect you.”

“By hurting me? You’re cutting me open by demanding I stop seeing the only person who’s not only embraced me for who I am but who’s also encouraged me to grow into myself.”

She strokes my hair back, a sad expression covering her face. “It’ll all get better with time. I promise.”

Then she steps out the door, leaving me with pain, sadness, and, most importantly, confusion.

What the hell just happened?

* * *

When I wakeup after a restless sleep, the first thing I do is check my messages.

My chest immediately deflates when I find no text from Creighton.

Maybe he’s mad that the one-day deadline is over and I still haven’t made good on my promise to fix things.

So I type another one.

Annika:Morning! It’s morning here, so it must be around midday there? I’m going to find an opportunity to talk to Papa about us. I was hoping Mom would be my ally, but I guess that’s out after she weirdly opposed to our relationship last night. This will be the first time I’ve gone up against Papa head-to-head. Wish me luck! I miss you. I want to kiss you.

I wait for a few minutes in case he reads both my texts and finally replies, but there’s nothing.

Maybe he lost his phone.

I stroke the necklace he gave me, then text the girls’ group chat.

Annika:Morning! Did you get together with the guys this weekend?

Cecily:With Remi and Bran, yeah.

Annika:How about the others?

Cecily:What others? Eli and Lan don’t hang out with us.

Glyndon:She means Creigh, silly. And no, Anni. He didn’t come along.

My fingers tighten around the phone and I frown.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s spent all his time sleeping, but ever since we got together, he doesn’t sleep as much.

I was hopeful—and probably delusional—enough to think he probably preferred my company over sleep.

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