In the movies, that was exactly why he would have taken off. But apparently this was no movie. Because if he’d left to protect me, he’d be nicer to me. Right? This asshole Cronus was all business, and that hurt the most.
#Motherfucker #CutThatGoldDickOff
When I was finished with the shower, I got out, brushed my teeth, and threw my hair into a thick top knot.
“We need to leave, Maisey,” Cronus said, startling me through the door. I had an immediate flashback to that first night in my apartment, when we’d been physically tethered together and I’d sung to annoy him. Right now, I wanted to do much more than annoy him.
I wanted to hurt him.
There were spare clothes in the bathroom, so I threw on clean underwear, jeans, and a simple white shirt. Then I slipped into tennis shoes, I didn’t care about my looks today. Swinging the door open, I was once again face to chest with a giant Titan.
“Maisey Parker, at your service.” I bowed.
#PettyAF
He sighed. “I didn’t miss your little tantrums, human.”
“You didn’t miss anything by the sound of it,” I shot back, before shoving him hard to get him out of the doorway. My hand slammed into solid muscle, and I tried not to soak in the warmth and power beneath my palm. He didn’t move; he grabbed my arm and transported us out of my home and into some back alley. After the silence of my apartment, it was loud. A city. Cars and an ambulance zoomed by to confirm my observations.
I crossed my arms, stepping back from him. “Where are we? And what happened to Rhea?” Not that I really cared, but I didn’t want that bitch loose in my apartment for too long.
“New York City. And she’ll find the other Titans and keep moving forward with the plan.”
As long as she wasn’t pawing through my shit, I really didn’t care.
“Jealousy is here?” I got right to business, because that was clearly the only reason Cronus was even near me.
A nod. “He tends to focus on densely populated cities. He hits hard and fast.”
Made sense.
“Okay, where is he, then? Let’s get this over with,” I grumbled.
Someone popped in right behind us and I would have screamed but Cronus got his hand over my mouth first, silencing the yell.
#No #HeSmellsSoGood
Why the hell did he do that? Now his scent and the feel of his skin on mine filled my mind. If he was going to so spectacularly reject me, he should at least have the decency not to rub it in my face. Literally.
The shadow closed in on us. “Are we ready to go after Jealousy?”
It was Hyperion who’d popped into the alley behind us. AKA long lost grandfather.
“Maisey,” he exclaimed, leaning toward me, arms out like he was going to hug me.
Cronus stepped in front of him. “We don’t have time for reunions. Jealousy has been hard to track. We can’t lose him now.”
I poked my head out around Cronus. “Hey, Grandpa! I’m not talking to you either. At least not about anything but business. You abandoned me as well, and I’m very good at holding a grudge.”
#DontMessWithMe #ICanHoldAGrudgeForever
His face crumpled and I fought against the instinct to comfort him. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his eyes imploring me to understand. “A lot has been happening and we’ve been trying to protect you.”
I eyed Cronus, but he neither agreed nor denied the claim.
#AgreeGodDammit
“We need to get in there,” was all Cronus said, and we were once again business.
“What’s the plan?” I whispered, following them as they edged to the front of the dark alley. It was a dreary day in the city, and this far back the huge buildings surrounding the area blocked what little light there was.
“Jealousy is not like the others,” Hyperion told me, trying to counter Cronus’ unfriendliness by being extra helpful. “He doesn't want glory or recognition. He doesn’t brag or show himself much. His power is subtle, but deadly in its intent. A lot of murder-suicides happen when Jealousy is near.”
Yikes.
Cronus sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked tired. I mean, he was gorgeous as usual, and gods never really looked anything other than perfect, but his eyes held weariness.
“Every time we’ve gotten close,” Cronus started, “Jealousy slipped by just before we could hold him. And then the one time we managed to trap him, the box we had couldn’t contain him.”
“It looks as if the necklace … and you, are the only containment options we have right now,” Hyperion said.
Screams ripped through the street then, jerking both of the Titans into action. Cronus slid around the corner, pressing his back to the wall. “He knows I’m coming for him,” he told me, when I perched close beside him. “But I have a plan to get the drop on him.”
A thought hit me. “What about me? He doesn’t know I’m coming, and maybe he’ll think I’m the perfect target. Female and influenced by Jealousy or whatever.”
“No,” Cronus snapped.
At the same time, Hyperion nodded. “It’s a solid idea,” he told the snarly Titan. “She can directly contain him in the necklace if she gets close enough to touch him.”
Cronus shook his head. “I said no. We cannot risk the only vessel that can contain the sins. Their power grows daily. I know you feel it too, and if we don’t get it under control there will be no happy ending for this world.”
Hyperion and I exchanged a look. Wasn’t that the
