36

36

Cassandra

I take my time packing a suitcase. There’s no rush, though I don’t intend to stay in my apartment overnight. It feels strange to be back here after the ridiculous luxury of the last few days, to pack my nice serviceable clothing instead of the high-end things I’d been wearing recently.

If I do this, my life is going to change dramatically.

It was always going to change dramatically, but this was never part of the plan. I’d been prepared to have to learn the way things worked outside Olympus and to be there to play support while Alexandra did the same.

Staying means learning to move through the very circles I’ve set myself apart from. It means learning to swim among them instead of watching from the outside. It means opening myself up to the potential of more pain.

It’s worth it.

I finish packing and drag my suitcase to the door, cursing its broken wheel. I’ll have to call a car before I go downstairs. Apollo would shit a brick if he knew I’d taken my things and waited on the curb. The neighborhood is safe enough, but he worries. I smile a little.

I’m so distracted, I almost miss the fact that I’m not alone. Almost.

I straighten and look at my ex. “What are you doing here?”

“Our meeting ended early with a bang.” Hermes moves around my tiny kitchen, poking at things. “Apollo won’t be home for ages, though, if you’re worried about your timing. Zeus has him, Aphrodite, Athena, and Ares in a little war meeting. It’s all very dramatic.”

“Hermes.”

She exhales slowly. “I’m sorry. I should have realized that Apollo would get over that moral high ground he clings to so sweetly and bring you along if he was invited to the party. I failed to anticipate that development and you got hurt because of it. I never wanted that, Cassandra.”

“I didn’t get hurt.” Even as I say it, it feels like a lie.

She gives me a look that speaks volumes. “You witnessed a murder, honey. And two attempted murders. That’s harm. I honestly thought if you heard me and Minos talking about the gory details, you’d leave. I didn’t expect you to develop a white knight streak.” She makes a face. “He’s rubbing off on you.”

I scrub my hands over my face. This has been the longest few days in existence and I’m not at my best right now. There was a time when I didn’t bother to worry about that kind of thing with Hermes, but after the last twenty-four hours… “How could you? A man is dead because of the knowledge you passed on.”

She leans back against the counter and crosses her arms over her chest. “If you had all the information, you’d see that this was the only course of action available to me.”

“Then give me all the information.” I know, even as I say it, that she won’t.

She confirms my suspicions with a shake of her head. “If things go well, it won’t matter because we’ll have headed off the danger at the pass.”

I don’t understand her. How can this be the lesser of two evils? But I know better than to ask. She’s more than proven she won’t tell me. “They’ll hate you for this.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Or maybe they’ll thank me in the end.” She starts for the door and stops to squeeze my arm. “I’m happy for you, Cassandra. Apollo’s the best of us, and he’ll treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Like a queen.”

I swallow hard. “I didn’t say I was going to him.”

“Didn’t you?” She gives a bittersweet smile. “Try not to hate me too much. I’ll be sad if I’m not invited to the wedding.”

“I sure as fuck didn’t say we were getting married.”

“You will. Just like you’ll live long, happy lives and have half a dozen children. Yes, by the way, I’d love to be a godmother.” Hermes moves past me to the door. “Oh, and I called you a car. It should be here by now. Things won’t be as safe as they used to be in the city, at least for a little while.”

I barely wait for the door to close behind her to rush to open it, a thousand questions on my lips. Hermes, of course, is nowhere in sight. “I hate it when she does that.”

Her words swirl through my head, threatening to distract me, but there’s not much I can do about the greater Olympus problem right now. I can, however, set my path on the course that will bring me the happiness I’ve been too afraid to take for far too long.

True to her word, a car idles waiting for me at the curb. It’s only when I climb into the back seat and direct them to Apollo’s building that I wonder if this could be some kind of trap, but we make the trip without issue. It just confirms my ongoing belief that Hermes never meant me harm. It makes my feelings about everything that much more conflicted.

I walk through the fancy lobby, waiting for someone to tell me that I’m not allowed to be here, but no one stops me. They barely even look in my direction.

Upstairs, I use the key Apollo gave me years ago to let myself into his penthouse. After the slightest consideration, I change into an oversize T-shirt that’s so faded, I’m not entirely sure what the graphic started out as, tuck my suitcase into the closet, and climb into bed. I fully intend to stay awake until he comes home, but my body has other ideas.

I jolt awake at the feeling of the mattress giving as someone sits down next to me. I open my eyes to find Apollo staring down at me like he just found his favorite gift beneath the Christmas tree, but he’s afraid it’s not truly meant for him.

He reaches out, pauses without touching me, and drops his hand back to his thigh. “What are you doing here, Cassandra?” The question isn’t harsh, more…hopeful.

“You shouldn’t give out your keys to people. It’s going to be dangerous in the city for some time, and you might come home to find a stranger in your bed.”

“You’re no stranger.” He can’t seem to help himself. He strokes a hand over my hip. “You came back.”

“I love you.” It’s not an answer, though, and we both know it. I sit up and shift back to lean against the headboard. “Apollo, I…” Gods, this is harder than it has any right to be. “When my parents died for their ambition, I promised myself I’d never be like them. I would never strive for power or prestige or anything except keeping my sister safe and getting the fuck out of this city. I closed myself off to everything. I, well, hated pretty much everyone. Except you, and that was despite my best efforts.”

He watches me with serious eyes. “And now?”

“Now, with the stakes changing so dramatically, it’s made things clearer for me. I…” I take a breath and push forward. “I have people who care about me, even if I haven’t been the best of friends to them. My sister is happy here, though I had such strong tunnel vision, I didn’t even realize it until today.”

“Cassandra—”

“I’m not finished.” I take another harsh breath. “Things are going to get dangerous in this city. We both know it’s the truth. I am not going to let my pride dictate my choices, to leave just because it seemed like the only option. It’s not. I can help, Apollo. You’ve said it yourself. I’m an asset, and you’re going to need everyone in your corner that you can get.”

He goes still. “That’s why you’re choosing to stay.”

“It’s part of it.” I reach out and cover his hand with mine. “I’ve also been desperately in love with my boss for years now and he’s really great to me, the best man I’ve ever met. I’d be a fool if I walked away from him.” I squeeze his hand. “I want a life with you. I realize that I’m a cranky asshole and that I’ll cause friction in the circles you move in even after I figure out how to move in them, too, but—”

He gently presses his fingertips to my lips. “I choose you, Cassandra. The opinions of those in the upper circles have never held much weight for me, and certainly never as much as your opinion does. I love you. If I thought for a second you’d say yes, I’d propose right now.”

I smile against his fingers. “Ask me in a few months.” I already know what I’ll say, but even after knowing Apollo and working closely with him for five years, there will no doubt be kinks to be worked out while actually dating each other.

“I will.” He lowers his hand. “I wanted more than anything to ask you to stay, but it wasn’t fair to demand that of you. I’m having a difficult time believing you’re actually here.” He smiles. “You’re choosing me.”

“I’m choosing you,” I confirm. I lean forward and press a careful kiss to his lips. “Come to bed, Apollo. Our happily-ever-after starts now.”