23. Medusa

I wasn't just half starved in the basement of New Eden. I didn't particularly sleep very well in there, either. It wasn't just the thin mattress on the floor or the extreme temperatures. I was vulnerable when I slept. They couldn't come in my cell when I was awake. If they could get in my cell and cover my eyes, I would have been powerless. I didn't know if it still would have worked if they had blinded me like Pax.

But I could actually sleep now without worrying about someone hurting me. I didn't think I could sleep alone right now, but my mates had no problem holding me when I was sleeping. I felt safe the first time we slept together and was able to get more rest than I had been, but now? We were fully bonded and I could turn my gaze on and off. What was more than that, I had some magic I still needed to learn about.

I didn't just sleep this time. I was utterly passed the fuck out until I realized someone was touching me. Yeah, the new badass me instantly got transported back to that dank basement. I shot up swinging. I could feel my hair turn to snakes and my fist connected with something hard. I went for a punch instead of a headbutt because Dionysus once told me everyone lost in a headbutt and my gaze was still a decent weapon.

But something was wrong. I could feel my magic, someone was pressed to my back, and I could smell wild berries and incense. I knew that smell. Someone was calling my name, and I knew that voice, too.

"Shit, I'm sorry. We were trying to surprise you with dinner in bed."

"Fuck, did I just punch you in the face?" I asked, covering my face with my hands until I could get my snakes and gaze under control.

This was mortifying. I knew no one was expecting me to be okay this soon. Even I knew I was going to need help getting through what the Coalition did to me. Still, I'd just assaulted one of my mates.

"I actually asked a Minotaur to punch me in the face during an orgy once to see if I was into it. I don't just assume I'm not going to like something. I have to try it first. This was my fault. We were trying to spoil you, but I can only imagine trying to sleep in that place. I should have found another way to wake you."

"No, you're my mate. You've known me since I was just thirty-five years old. You should be able to touch me without getting punched."

"Hey," Benji said. "I was practically feral when Cas and Pax found me. I did much worse than punch them. None of us are going to judge or tell you how to react after being in that place."

"Same. I was there, too," Pax said. "I knew Cas was my savior and I would have been caught again if it weren't for him. Still didn't stop me fighting him every time I had a nightmare, and he tried to soothe me. No one expects you to be perfect after."

"We didn't think this through," Cas said. "We were so excited about bringing you soup in bed that we didn't think about what waking you would do."

"I'm such a mess," I moaned.

I still had my face buried in my hands. My snakes were riled up, and I didn't think I could put them away just yet.

"Do you want your glasses?" Dionysus asked.

"No. This can be a learning opportunity. I need to learn how to do this when I'm startled."

"It's only been two days. Give yourself some grace. You don't have to be perfect."

But I did. We'd started all this with Hannibal and the Coalition and I needed to be ready. They were great. They were better than supportive. I knew they didn't expect me to, but I needed to. Persephone and I did hot yoga when she was out of the Underworld for six months. I knew how to meditate.

I focused on my breathing. I was safe. I was a badass. No one could hurt me here. I didn't need my snakes and gaze here. I could hurt someone I loved.

My snakes calmed and my heartbeat went back to normal. I felt my snakes return to my usual wavy hair. I took my hands off my face and looked at them sheepishly.

"Sorry, you said you had soup?"

"Dionysus taught me how to make Revitha and your favorite salad. He made some fruit with Ambrosia and popped somewhere to get boba."

Ugh. And I ruined it.

"None of that," Dionysus said. "We're going to eat soup, watch bad TV, and forget the Coalition for a few hours."

Revitha was my comfort food. I'd learned a version from my grandmother and taught it to Dionysus. He couldn't read minds, but he always seemed to know when I needed it. And I needed this right now. Benji was bouncing next to me with the remote.

"I know the trashiest, get your mind off anything, television show that is perfect for this and Netflix has all ten seasons."

"You can't show her that," Cas said.

"No, actually, it's perfect," Pax said.

"I'm down for complete trash," Dionysus said.

"Show me. And I can't wait to introduce the rest of you to my grandmother's recipe."

"Girl time!" Benji shrieked. "After we eat, we're going to brush your hair and do your nails."

"You don't have to spoil me."

"Oh, I want to be spoiled, too. They're going to brush my hair and do my nails as well."

I laughed. Yeah, these guys.