I scratched my face, trying to hide my shame. “Yeah about that … I opened the box. The Fates said I was destined to.”
Selene sighed. “That’s what I get for meddling. I create a living vessel to contain the sins, and in doing that I tied your destiny to this. For that I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
I nodded. “You couldn’t have known, and if this was fated, then there was no way to circumvent it. But … what do I do now? They’re killing me. I’m not sure I can hold any more of them and there are still five out there.”
She nodded, gently brushing back one of the black strands in my hair. “It’s your half human side. I thought my god DNA would be enough … but it’s not. You’ll need to pass the burden to Cronus.”
Her mention of the Titan made me shift nervously. “Pass it to him?”
She nodded. “Cronus still has a life debt with you. Though he’s severed your bond, he still owes you for releasing him. This will make it easy for you to transfer the necklace, and that way he can house the sins. In the end, you need to find a new vessel to hold them all—one that this time, hopefully, won’t be able to be broken again.”
I cleared my throat, trying to digest all the information.
“Cronus is much stronger than you. He will handle the burden of the sins easily.”
“Okay, yes.” I nodded. “It makes sense. How do we transfer the necklace?”
Step one first.
She smiled. “Narida. She’s the strongest magic user I know. Have her transfer the vessel to him.”
“But Death. The last sin…”
No one could survive Death, right?
Selene looked thoughtfully at the veil, like she’d heard him smashing against it before too. “No one ... god, Titan, or human can survive containing death. It’s a sacrifice I made to save Earth, and one he will have to as well.”
No. Fucking. Way.
Selene started to flicker, her form blinking in and out for a second.
“Wait! There has to be another way,” I screamed. “What about the box to contain them? No one has found anything strong enough.”
Selene reached up and grasped my face, her fingers trailing my cheek. “Only a few things scare Cronus, and Death is not one. This is what you must do to save humanity.”
I grit my teeth together. “But … maybe I can handle it, maybe I can hold them all?”
She shook her head, flickering again. “You cannot. Two more Sins and you will be down here with me and Earth will fall. Go to Narida. Transfer the vessel to Cronus.”
She flickered as panic seized me. I loved that big asshole back there. I couldn’t ever do anything that would see him harmed. No, there had to be another way.
“Selene, wait!” She started to float backward, toward the waterfall. I ran after her.
She smiled up at me as her form melted away. “You were my greatest creation.”
“No!” I shouted as she completely disappeared.
My legs suddenly gave out as exhaustion settled into my bones. I collapsed to the grass, letting the soft sound of trickling water lull my anxiety.
Why was the only solution letting someone I loved die? No. That wouldn’t be the case. I was going to fight! I was going to figure something out … right after I took a nap in this peaceful place.
“Fuck you, Thanatos!” I heard Cronus shout. He sounded so close, but I was too tired to turn. I just wanted to rest in this beautiful place without my burdens.
“Maisey!” He sounded closer as my eyes drifted shut. Suddenly a pair of blue and gold eyes stared down at me. He looked beautiful and furious … and worried.
“You left me,” I whimpered as his arms wrapped around me, heaving me up into the air and tucking me into his body.
“I know, love. I’m so sorry. I promise never again,” he was murmuring against my neck when everything went black.
Chapter 7
The sound of lapping waves woke me from a deep and peaceful sleep. My dreams had been a mix of my two moms, one dark-haired and the other blond. The peace I’d felt in the underworld carried into my dreams, but the moment I woke unease burst free, crashing through me.
Stretching, I yawned, and let my arms fall down to the super-soft bed I was on. I moved my hand along the silky sheets, finally opening my eyes.
I wasn’t ready for reality, but I could no longer avoid it.
The moment I saw the wood floor and the endless ocean outside the window, I knew where we were. The same place that Cronus had brought me last time, before everything went to fucking shit.
Bali.
#YeahIHoldGrudges #GottaStickWithWhatYoureGoodAt
Like a force field that sucked me into its gravitational pull, my gaze went to the corner of the room. Cronus was perched in a chair, his huge body dwarfing the poor thing, making it look like its legs were about to collapse under it. His eyes were locked on my face like he hadn’t taken them off me for hours, his gaze steady, his expression completely unreadable.
I hadn’t forgotten what he’d said to Thanatos. I hadn’t forgotten anything.
But trust had been broken between us and it would be a very long time before I had faith that he wouldn’t just up and leave me again.
He shifted, some animation bleeding back in his face. “Hey,” he said, voice gruff.
I straightened, sitting up, clearing my throat as I tried to get myself under control. This was overwhelming … the emotions too much for me to process—especially with no food or coffee in my system.
Without a word, I got up and went into the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth, preparing my speech for him in my head.
When I returned, he was in the same spot, so I sat on the bed and faced him.
“I can’t do this, Cronus.”
The moment I said it, I realized how true that was. I couldn’t
