Page 18 of The Shadow Gods

Right.

I might have been alone when it happened, but not when the seal showed me the memory. I couldn't see him, or feel him, but Paris had been beside me the whole time. Something gave way inside me. A knot of fear, or maybe embarrassment, released its hold on me.

I wasn't alone.

Orestes draped his arm over my shoulder, and I leaned my head on him. A wave of tiredness hit me and I yawned.

I wasn't alone in my memories, and I wasn't alone now. Closing my eyes, I listened to the guys speak in low tones and, eventually, fell asleep.

Leo

Iwoke up hours later on a comfortable bed enveloped in blankets.

The sun streamed through the small window, beaming directly onto my pillow. Blinking against the brightness, I studied the room and found Paris and Orestes pulling bags onto their backs.

“We tried to let you sleep as long as possible,” Orestes said, “but it's only been a couple of hours since we stopped.”

I was weary down to my bones, but I sat up and stretched my arms over my head. A little caffeine and some water splashed on my face, and I'd be fine. “That's okay. I know I slept in the van.”

Paris nodded. He'd been my body pillow and hadn’t complained about it at all.

“I didn't crush you?”

The man rolled,rolled,his eyes. “Please. I had to fight Hector and Orestes to keep my spot.”

I laughed, truly doubting it.

“There's a bathroom here.” Paris pointed to a narrow door over his shoulder. “Achilles and Hector are chomping at the bit to go, so take your time.”

His humor caught me off guard, and I stayed where I was, half-in and half-out of bed, processing what he said.

“Did you make a joke?” I asked.

“First time this century,” Orestes replied.

Whowerethese guys?

I pushed the sheets off my legs. Someone had taken my shoes off but left me in the clothes I was wearing yesterday. I got a whiff of them—dried salt water and diesel—and grimaced. “Where did you sleep?” I asked as I picked up the bag Paris indicated.

“With you,” he replied.

Seriously? I glanced at the bed. Sure enough, the pillow was dented and the sheets mussed. Then again, I was a bed hog, so I easily could have star-fished the entire thing.

Orestes gestured to a not-so-comfortable wingback chair.

“You should have pushed me over.” There was no way he got any sleep in that high, narrow chair. “I don't mind sharing.”

Orestes lifted his eyebrows, while Paris let out something like a choke. It hit me.

They didn't mind sharing either, apparently, since I was sleeping with Paris,sleepingsleeping with Achilles, and kissing Pollux.

Rather than make a bigger idiot out of myself, I grabbed the bag and hurried into the bathroom. I didn't linger long under the weak spray, washing my hair and body.

When I got out, I flipped my hands over to stare at my palms. Like yesterday, there was nothing there. Not one mark to indicate I'd hurt myself.

And just like the visions of a past life, this was something it would take a while to figure out. I swept my hand over the mirror, wiping away the condensation, and froze.

The face reflected back at me wasn't mine.

---