Lucretia stood, as did Walt. “As you wish,” she whispered.
Of course, separated again. As soon as Lucretia and Walt left, I let loose.
“Do you have a problem with me?”
Damion blinked, his glass of water hovering in front of his lips. Belinda gasped, a hand going to her chest.
“Oh, William! No!” She shook her head and tears actually pooled in her eyes. “We have come to care for you deeply! Like one of our own!”
I hated seeing her upset, and I almost apologized. Almost. Stuff still didn’t add up, though. “Why won’t you let Lucretia be near me, then. I’ve noticed. Any chance you get, you send her on an errand or need a favor from me. And yet…you seem to shove her and Walter together.”
Belinda lowered her gaze to her hands, a bitterness present in her posture. “I told you he would notice.”
“That you did,” Damion said. He then took a long drink from his water glass. “It’s time we told him, I suppose.”
“Yes, he should have known a while ago.”
Damion squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his lips together. Something told me he didn’t agree. When he opened his eyes again, they were fixed on me. “It’s because we suspect you are the incarnation of Hades in this particular world.”
“Wh…” How did I respond to such a statement? None of it made sense. “What?”
Belinda sighed. “As you know, we are able to travel through worlds. One of the rules is that you cannot travel to a world where a version of yourself already exists. When you gained your magic, something about your receiving the gift went differently. We believe it’s because you are Hades.”
How did I respond? What part did I take on first? She’d just told me I was the incarnation of a god, more or less. Rather than let them steer me off topic, I stayed the course. “Flattering as that is, I’m not sure what this has to do with Lucretia and me?”
“Your destinies are not intertwined. We are protecting her from heartbreak.” Belinda gave me a weak smile. “And you.”
I glared at her. “What do you know of my fate? Why do you get to decide it?”
“There is a lot I’m not sure how to explain, and a lot I’m too tired to say. Just know this is the best way to deal with the situation. For both of you.” Damion finished his water and stood from the table. “There will be a better time to discuss this. One that isn’t the middle of the night. You need your rest, William. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Every ounce of magic must rejoin you.”
So, my magic would be coming back. Excellent.
I stood as well, determined to have the last word. “Whatever reasons you have, they don’t matter. No one decides my future but me.”
Chapter Twenty
Rebelling for the Heart
And of course, I got to my room, and I couldn’t sleep. Despite my body begging me to lie down and close my eyes, I ended up pacing the floor. When I got tired and dizzy from going in circles, I left the room to wander the halls of the house instead. I made it a point to stay as far away from Belinda and Damion as possible. At least I understood why Lucretia wouldn’t talk to me anymore. If I could get her alone…maybe…
Turns out, she found me—on accident, but it counts. We literally ran into one another as we each turned the same corner going in opposite directions. Her nose bumped my chest, and my elbow hit her shoulder.
I uttered a curse, and she squeezed back tears. Once I actually processed that I’d hurt her, I leaned in to investigate her injuries. “Are you bleeding? It’s not broken is it?”
She shook her head. “No, the only thing injured is my pride, I think.”
“I didn’t think anyone was out,” I whispered.
“I was on my way back from Walter’s room,” she also spoke in a whisper.
Heart crushed. I tried to shrug it off. “That is your business, I suppose.”
“It’s not…” She sighed and ran a hand through her dark locks.
“It’s not your business?” I chuckled, desperate to make things light.
“It’s not what you think,” she said instead.
I folded my arms in front of me. “And why should what I think matter?”
No answer. Not helpful in the slightest.
Exasperated, I faced away, hoping that by not seeing her beautiful face I could express myself effectively. Watching the pain on her face was always too much for me to take. “All you have to do is tell me you prefer him over me, and this awkwardness between us will end.”
“I can’t say that.” The words came out so quickly, they blurred together. I almost didn’t understand them.
Slowly, I spun, so I could gaze down into her eyes. “Your guardians told me why they don’t want us together. I told them they have no control over me. Or my heart. Why can’t we at least see if this is a relationship worth pursuing on our own terms. If we fail, they can always say ‘I told you so’.”
“I don’t think we’ll fail, but our time together will not be as long as you’d like.” The tears filled her eyes again, and I hated that every time we were together, she cried. Every. Time. Once again, I felt on the outside. I was the one guy who didn’t know the big secret. “William, the hope was that our relationship stopped before it got out of control. There is no denying our attraction. I see us working
