"I'm not supposed to be here, yet I came to warn you." Atropos glanced around the corners of the room as though someone or something could be lingering there. Jacen turned his focus there himself, then felt ridiculous. Then again, Atropos and other gods could flash in with no warning. Pan had the place warded against threats, but gods could be non-threatening…until the mood struck. While Theron probably couldn't get in, a god could manipulate the wards if they were patient enough. Hell, Aphrodite had apparently snatched Adonis' nymph out of there the night before. Why have wards at all with that going on? Magic often hurt as well as it helped.
"We appreciate you taking the time," Jacen said. "No matter what you have to tell us." London looked back at him and smiled sadly.
Atropos clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "Bloodlines are tricky beasts, hard to track through weavings past. My sisters have little time to study each thread for the lineages. If love is true, do not hesitate. Play Pan's song and you shouldn't have to wait long as the Satyr Moon rises high into the night sky."
London and he shared a glance. Jacen turned back to Atropos. "So, you're saying…you don't know if it will work but want us to try anyway."
She shrugged one shoulder. "Love is a risk. Take it. If it doesn't work, try another way." Atropos winked and then she disappeared.
He stared at the spot she'd previously occupied and flung an arm up in impatience, wincing at the sudden movement. The pain was far less than yesterday, but enough to remind him not to forget himself again. "Well, that…was unhelpful." Resentment coated his tongue, and he didn't know what to do. Then, London laughed and crawled up the bed to rest at his side. She clasped his hand into hers and smiled.
"You're a moron, but I love you anyway."
Baffled, Jacen started to ask what she meant but she cut him off with her fingertips pressed to his lips.
"Shh. Atropos gave us advice that anyone who didn't have connections to the actual Fates would be given: take a leap of faith. We'll have Pan attempt to play the syrinx for me tomorrow, and if it doesn't work, we'll consider alternative methods."
All those alternatives involved making her immortal and him remaining a satyr. He'd come to terms with his curse, but he didn't want to risk London. "Those are too dangerous."
"We'll figure it out when we get there." She kissed him lightly on his lips, but that wasn't good enough for him. He wrapped his fingers into her hair and kissed her deeply. She sighed against him, and he groaned as her hands slid down his chest. When she pulled back, he tried to prevent it, but she giggled and crawled out of bed. "You need to heal up, and I am going to check on Daphne and Sage. I need you in tip-top shape tomorrow."
Jacen watched the love of his life leave his room. Even though he was disappointed he wasn't making love to her right then and there, if Pan could really turn her into a nymph, and the curse could be lifted, not only would he live his human life out with this woman, but there was hope for the rest of them too. It all rested on them.
No pressure at all…
15
"This is bullshit," Ariston muttered. Adonis couldn't agree more. Pan had split them up into teams: Melancton with Zale to the east, Ariston with Adonis to the west, and Pan overhead in his Jersey Devil form, invisible to the humans below. "He only put us together because he wants us to work things out."
Adonis snorted. He'd noticed. "And we should." Didn't mean he liked it any more than his brother did.
"But we won't."
Hurt lacerated him at those words, but he didn't say anything. They had never had a good relationship, ever. Had never been close. But Ariston was his only family still alive, and Adonis had ruined any chance of them ever reconciling. The shame hurt worst of all. "I wouldn't blame you if we didn't."
Ariston stopped in his tracks. "Um, why would you blame me when I'm not the one who was going to pretend to be someone else to break their curse. Do you really think Lily wouldn't have noticed?"
Adonis' shoulders tensed as he faced his brother, who glowered at him from the street corner next to a busy crosswalk. Passersby gave them curious glances and moved along. "Sage didn't notice until after she kissed you, so maybe your upset isn't entirely at me and what I did. Maybe you're angry with yourself for believing that maybe, just maybe, Lily wouldn't have noticed."
His twin's eyes widened, and his face lost all color. Adonis turned and stormed off, guilt eating away at him and twisting his stomach into knots. He should have kept that to himself and never vocalized it, but walking in on Sage after she'd kissed Ariston—the jealousy, the bitter anger he harbored for his own past actions, seeing his brother again who had nothing but disgust for him…
If there was ever a day to pick up a drink again, it was this one. But he'd never lose control of his actions like he had in the past. He'd never willingly give up on things he took for granted—like his common sense, his mind. Adonis would own up for his past and take charge of his future. Nevertheless, he couldn't do that until he came to some sort of truce with his brother. If that never happened, well, he was doomed to an eternity of self-loathing. Good thing he'd gotten used to that already.
Rapid footfalls preceded Ariston clamping his hand down on his shoulder to drag him to a stop.
