I had worked myself into a panic and was doing my best to get back to calm. But serenity was elusive when my target might begin unraveling my secrets. I couldn’t risk it, couldn’t let him know my mission. And I burned with shame that Roth knew of my folly with Farrow—knew I was weak and foolish. He and Apollo were probably laughing at me. Humiliation tinged my thoughts, and I didn’t know the tears were falling until I lay in a heap in my closet. I hadn’t cried since that day in the Forgotten Forest. Nothing could break my impenetrable shell. Until Roth.

I remembered well all the times I’d been yelled at and cut down by bosses in the human world—men on power trips who enjoyed abusing their workers, especially the females. I’d remained stoic, letting the insults roll off until my employers no longer aimed their ire at me. There was no point. I never got upset or showed the slightest bit of emotion because I had none. I was numb from the day I was cast out, and I continued on sewing, writing stories, making money, and saving for the day I could meet the Oracle and return to Olympus on my own terms.

But now here I was, lying in a closet and mewling like a kitten. Something had changed me—made me weak. And I knew it was Roth. Knew I was succumbing to the same mistakes that got me here in the first place.

A slight knock on my bedroom door had me hastily wiping the tears away and climbing from the closet. I wasn’t about to let Roth see my tears. “I’m busy. Go away. We’ll talk tomorrow night.”

After a slight hesitation, Anne’s voice came through the wood. “Umm, I just want to check on you. See if you’re all right.”

Ordering the girl away was on the tip of my tongue until Anne said the magic words. “I brought chocolate.”

I cracked the door just enough so Anne could shimmy inside. She was wearing a see-through robe that showed off her lustrous ebony skin and barely covered the essentials, but I didn’t care. I closed the door and grabbed the proffered chocolates, plopping on the bed as I unwrapped one and savored it on my tongue.

Anne perched on the bed, waiting patiently as I finished off a couple of the chocolates before beginning. “So, tell me what’s wrong.”

I let out a guffaw, well aware my Southern was showing. “I don’t even know where to start. Let’s just suffice it to say, the gods have a wicked sense of humor.”

Anne ran her hands through my hair absentmindedly before offering, “I could help you feel better, you know. I am a nymph after all.”

I almost choked on the chocolate. Ordinarily, I would have felt inclined to smack anyone who made such a forward offer, but I could tell by Anne’s sincere expression she was truly trying to help. Nymphs, sheesh.

“That won’t be necessary.” I gave her an awkward pat on the knee. “But I, er, appreciate it. And the chocolate has already gone a long way toward making me feel better.”

I started picking through the food I’d snagged from the kitchen, no longer feeling very hungry. I offered my stash to Anne, who munched on a peach while still stroking my hair with one hand. The feeling was oddly calming, even though the nymph had just propositioned me. Anne reminded me of my sisters, making the pain of my separation from them fresh. I tilted my head back and looked at the ceiling, willing the tears away.

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

“It’s probably best I don’t. Besides, I’m beat. I think I’m going to turn in and start fresh again tomorrow night.”

Anne rose and gave me a kiss on the forehead. I was overcome again, sensing the tears threatening, but this time they sprang from the feeling of sisterhood Anne was evoking. I could picture Elena trying to comfort me just like this… Except for the proposition part.

“I’m always here if you need to talk.” Anne squeezed my arm before leaving.

After brushing my teeth—which I did religiously even though there was no threat of tooth decay—I burrowed into my blankets. I wanted the oblivion of sleep, no longer worrying about Roth or Ares or Artemis or Farrow.

Despite my efforts, I fell asleep remembering the feel of Roth’s lips on mine, demanding more. And I had been so close to giving him what he desired. Too close.

* * *

Roth’s screams echoed through my mind, sounds of torment so wretched no mortal could survive it. Ares had him somewhere beneath his cavernous throne room and was meting out a punishment worse than eternity in Hades. And it was all my fault. I stood next to Ares’s throne, as if bound there by some invisible force. The hourglass sat to my right; the blood was all but gone—I’d delivered Roth on time.

The stench of death clung to the air and invaded every cell of my being. Another scream cut through the stillness, and I struggled against my bonds, desperately trying to make it to Roth. He needed me, even though I’d betrayed him. I could make it right, if only I could get free.

“You want to help him?” Ares whispered in my ear, the evil snaking from his voice and into my mind. “Is that what you agreed to?”

Roth’s anguished cry came again.

The handsome god of war’s face did nothing to hide the evil that lay within. It seeped out of him like the reek from the bodies that hung in the stairwell. Ares grabbed a handful of my hair and wrenched my head back. “Tell me! Is that what you agreed to?” His voice was inhuman.

Pain seared along my scalp. “No!”

“You agreed to bring him to me, did you not?” He pushed my head to the side and ran his tongue along my neck, setting the mark of Artemis on fire. Revulsion churned in my stomach.

“I won’t ask you again.” So quiet, so lethal, his tone made my heart skip a beat.

“I did.”

His eyes were pits of the vilest malevolence, but I couldn’t look away. My fear locked me in his sights, paralyzing me.

“I’m beginning to think you want to be my slave.” He smoothed his cold hand under my shirt and up my back as I tried to shrink away from him. “Don’t you?” He dug his nails into my skin.

“No!” I struggled to free myself.

“Perhaps I’ll keep you anyway.” He gave another sharp tug on my hair before sinking his teeth into my neck.

“No!” I was caught in his snare. As he licked the blood from the wound on my throat, laughter rolled out of him, malice in every note. His fingers shredded my skin, and I screamed, unable to save myself.

“I’ll bring him!” I fought against his hold. “I’ll bring him.”

“Yes, you will.”

Instantly, I was sitting up in my bed, clutching the sheet that had gotten tangled around me as I slept. Sweat made my pajama top stick to me, and my breaths came fast and shallow. I tried to shake off the fear the dream had caused but found myself staring around the room, examining every shadow as if Ares were there, watching me. Only a dream.

I rose from the bed, rushed to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on my face to calm my nerves. My face was ashen, and my eyes carried a haunted look. I reached over and flipped on the shower before peeling off my pajamas. Before I was able to get into the steamy jets, something in the mirror caught my eye. Turning my head to get a better look, I gasped—bloody claw marks had been etched into my back, and a crimson rivulet flowed from the bite on my neck.