Page 110 of Blood

The universe seems to be listening to me, because at that exact moment, another scream ricochets through the room. It’s louder than any sound I’ve ever heard, blowing my hair away from my face and sending my body farther into Dimitri’s.

Athena.

I shakily move to my feet, ignoring the way my legs wobble, and turn toward Cal.

“Cal?” I ask softly.

He nods once, his jaw muscles bunching together, and reaches for my waist, plucking me out of the pile of bodies.

“We’ll meet you downstairs,” Frankie murmurs, easily recognizing what I’m about to do.

With Cal’s arms wrapped tightly around me, he takes a running dive straight out the window and flies toward that low, keening sound.

* * *

Athena kneels beside a still body, tears streaming down her face and her blonde hair caked in blood. She whirls around when she hears us approach.

I expect to see condemnation in her gaze, maybe even anger or accusation, but there’s only pain that slices at my skin like a dozen razor blades.

Slowly, I move away from Cal and drop to my knees next to Balor.

He’s exactly where I left him at the edge of the city, his body partially hidden behind the bristle of pink bushes.

But before, his skin wasn’t ashen, there wasn’t blood on the corner of his lips, and his eyes weren’t glazed with pain.

“Balor.” His name comes out as a sob as I take one of his hands in both of mine, hating how cold he feels to the touch.

“I never expected to die for you, little vampire,” Balor murmurs, his tone dry. A cough shakes his body, and more blood trickles out of his mouth, cascading down his chin. A wry smirk twists up his lips. “But alas, here I am.”

A watery smile forces its way on my lips as I laugh humorlessly. “I’m not a vampire, you ass canoe.”

“Well, it seems counterproductive to call you a goddess, doesn’t it?” he drawls. “That may make it seem like I like you. Though, I suppose, it wouldn’t hurt to call you a demon...”

“You can call me any name you want as soon as you get better,” I promise around the second sob that threatens to escape. The suddenly cold air is like needles in my lungs. Breathing is impossible, nothing but a ragged sound distant through the thrumming in my ears.

“We both know that’s not going to happen.” Even in agony, Balor still manages to roll his eyes, a scoff of exasperation escaping in the process.

“You’re going to be okay,” I assure him, already scanning his body for injuries, though I know I won’t see any. It wasn’t his body that got stabbed by that god-blessed dagger meant for me—it was his soul.

“Stop bullshitting me.”

Pain rushes through me, but my rage tempers it. “Listen here, Balor,” I hiss, lowering my head so my blonde hair swings forward, curtaining us from view. “You’re going to live, so I can kill you another day. Do you understand? This isn’t how you’re going to die.”

His savage, self-deprecating grin chases a chill down my spine. “I think my mother knew I was going to die here today,” he murmurs, shocking the shit out of me with the abrupt change in topic.

I physically reel back, as if he slapped me. “What?”

“I think Memphis had a vision about my death...which is why my mother insisted I accompany you here today.” Balor doesn’t sound upset about the news. Just...accepting. He huffs out a dry, humorless laugh. “She knew that if I wasn’t here, you would die. And if you died, we would have never been able to defeat Zeus. My own damn mother sold me out.”

“She wouldn’t do that,” I insist, shaking my head quickly. “She loves you.”

“Not enough,” he murmurs, his slashing eyebrows pulled low over pain-filled eyes. “Never enough.”

“Balor—”

He pierces me with a look that reminds me of a flaming sword. “I’ve done horrible things, Violet. You know it, I know it, and the world knows it. You should be celebrating my death, not trying to make me feel better.”

Grief coils through my chest like barbed wire. “I never wanted you to die, Balor,” I confess softly, stroking his sweat-soaked hair. “Even when I hated you.”

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