Page 90 of The Shadow Gods

I moved until I was on my knees and could gaze into Pollux's face. He was pale, that golden tan gone, leaving only a green tint to his skin, like he was about to be sick. I understood. The tea I had earlier was churning more than the waves outside.

“It is it,” Pollux retorted. “I found her. I protected her, and when you all fell for her, I dealt with it. Leo—” He stared at me. “I love you. I fucking love you. I don't want to lose you.”

He slid his hands to my elbows, then up to my neck. A tremor ran beneath his skin. I wasn't sure where this fear was coming from. I wouldn't choose one of them over another.

“I love you too.” I kissed him, then looked over my shoulder. “I love you all. I don't understand what's happening.”

“Pollux, you're taking this the wrong way. I'm angry you're keeping things from me, not that you're with her.”

Hector needed to stop while he was ahead, but a quick peek at Achilles showed the same thing. Was this really happening? Why now?

Something prickled along my skin, a warning.Danger.

In a haze, I listened to Pollux's angry retort to Hector, and then they were all arguing. The words were black and oily and snaked around each other, leaving a film over everything they touched.

“This isn't us,” I said, but they didn't acknowledge me. Pollux put his hands under my arms, lifting me so I was alone on the bed and he could go nose-to-nose with Hector.

Outside, waves crashed against the ship, splashing against the window and muting the light.

“You're a selfish bastard,” Pollux suddenly yelled and pushed Hector.

The big man barely moved, but Paris was quick to come to his defense. The otherness was growing, unfurling, and stretching. “Guys...”

They were hurting each other, and I was afraid something was going to happen. Something we couldn't take back.

“Guys, stop.”

They couldn't hear me over their raised voices.Danger.

Protect them.

Something was here. “Stop!” I yelled, my voice shrill and jarring, but it did the trick. They shut up and faced me, shoulders heaving and brows damp with sweat.

“Do you feel that?” I asked. I lifted a hand to my head, pressing my fingers against my temple and the growing headache.

Achilles shook his head, but Paris...He turned to me, face pale. “Yes. I feel it.”

The world went quiet. Not even the waves or the ship made a sound. We stood still, holding our breaths.

And then light.

So bright, it blinded. I threw my hand in front of my face to block it, but when I shut my eyes, I saw the shadow of her form.

Then her power wrapped around us.

And that was it.

Paris

Iopened my eyes and blinked up at the bright blue sky. For a moment, I just stared. Where I was, what I was doing—it evaded me.

“Get up.”

Groaning, I rolled onto one side. It felt like someone had nailed me in the stomach, then yanked my arms out of their sockets. Every muscle ached and strained. It took me getting on my hands and knees, huffing for breath, to realize Hector was next to me in the same position. It had been him who spoke, but I hadn't recognized his voice.

The sun beat down onto my back, making my skin hot and tight. Hector squinted at me, and I studied his face.

Something was wrong. Rolling back onto my heels, I gripped my thighs and let my head fall back. The sun was so hot, it hurt.

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