Page 113 of The New Gods

“Never.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I knew the first week with you that you were a liar, and a manipulator. Ineverworshipped you.”

“What makes you think this is the first time we’ve met?”

A million dreams passed in front of my eyes.

“How dare you dishonor me? This is my temple.”

I stared at my hands, my broken nails, bloody knees and tried to pull the ripped edges of my gown over my breasts.

“I called for you.” I spoke low, but I knew the goddess would hear me. “I begged for your help.”

“You didn’t deserve my help. You are here to serveme. And what did you do? Allow a god into my temple? Seduce him?” Her voice was so cold it raised a chill along my spine. The hairs on my arm lifted.

“I didn’t seduce anyone.” How could she look at me and blame me? From my broken fingernails to my scraped elbows and the split in my lip, it was clear what had happened. “And you know it.”

She smiled then, teeth even and white, and sharp. Behind her, beautiful black wings extended, pushed against the air in a gentle sweep that lifted her above the marble floor. “You think to tell me what I know?You?You have disrespected me. Shamed me.” Her gaze swept over me, taking in every injury, every bruise, and dismissed it. “You have no one to blame but yourself.”

A slow hiss filled my ears, and I turned, expecting to find someone behind me. But there was no one.

“Don’t you remember?” Diana—Athena—asked. “Do you want me to show you more?”

“No.” I didn’t want to see more. Didn’t want to see what I’d believed was only a nightmare.

“Leo.” Paris touched my elbow.

My hands were pale, with broken nails and dirt ground under them.Quiet as a mouse. I am so quiet.One hand pressed against my mouth so I couldn’t be heard. My stalker never appeared, but his footsteps kicked loose rocks and glided over the stones.

I heard the sword scrape over the stone, a warning hiss not so different from the ones that always filled my ears.

“There you are.”

I only had time to see the flash of my reflection, my bright brown eyes, and skin, dirty from being hidden—or hiding—for so long. My gaze swept above me, hypnotizing me, and then I realized what had happened.

A flash of silver in my peripheral vision fell toward me, faster and faster as my reflection changed, going from dull gold to gray, soft to stone.

And the silver fell.

Steel against my neck. Slicing. Severing.

I watched my body crumple as my head fell from my neck.

I screamed, hands clutching my throat as the dream fell away. Paris held me, but Hector stood in front of him, a shield to both of us.

“They don’t see what you are.” Athena smiled slowly, walking closer. Her hands were behind her back.

I couldn’t help stepping away, and immediately hated how it exposed my cowardice. But I didn’t want to see any more. I didn’t want her forcing nightmares into my head again.

“I see you, Leo.” Our gazes met, clashed, and held. “You and I are inextricably linked, over time and planes of existence. You made a vow, and I intend for you to keep it.”

I shook my head. My mouth had gone dry at her pronouncement. I wasn’t hers. I didn’t owe her anything. “You don’t know me at all.”

“I was there the moment you were born, and the moment you died. I remade you, and when you died again, I remade you again. Who do you think you have to thank for your life? Me, Leo. I am more of a mother to you than the bitch who birthed you.”

This was insane. I flashed a glance toward Pollux. He was staring at me, watching me like he didn’t know who I was.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re pushing things into my head and making me think I’m crazy.”

“It’s a game,” Pollux interjected. “A game like all the gods play. Leo’s not part of this game, Goddess. She’s just a mortal in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

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