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Chapter 27

Reyna

I was going to try again. I had to try again. Because there was a word floating around in my brain that made me want to jump out of my skin. Strong enough to knock the wind out of me.

The thought had almost materialized so many times. Like it was peeking over a ledge and just needed someone to push it off.

Seeing Adrian walk back into my parents' house with my mother, something he was saying making her laugh and clap her hands together in joy, almost did the trick.

So did the gentle kiss he’d placed on my forehead. The first touch of the night to not make me flinch.

Which meant my resolve was dangerously close to slipping away. We wrapped up dinner with my parents with a noticeably less tense dessert. Especially when my father dropped the news about his will.

I’d expected Adrian to freeze up, realizing that he’d satisfied his end of the bargain when I’d done little to satisfy mine, but the news only served to chase awaysome of the tension in his shoulders.

Then he leaned close and whispered, “I’m proud of you.”

Four little words and my resolve was back with an iron grip. I refused to give anyone any information that could hurt him. I already knew too much.

Once we were in the car and pulling away from my parent’s house, I opened my mouth to try again. To push him away. Because despite his promise to let me go, I knew Adrian wasn’t the type to go down without a fight.

“Whatever you are about to say, I’d advise against it,” Adrian said, cutting me off while still looking out the window, pressing his hand against his jaw.

My heart rate started to kick up violently. “I haven’t changed my mind. I don’t think it’s wise that we—”

Adrian turned his head and my words dropped off when I saw the look in his eyes. “Your options are to either stop talking voluntarily or stop talking because you’re too busy kissing me. Choose wisely.”

Fuck, I missed kissing him. To dispel that thought, I crossed my arms and stared out my own window with ahmph. “I hope you’re taking me home.”

With almost comical timing, the car stopped. I’d been too dazed earlier, that I was just now realizing that we were in a car that seemed to belong to Adrian. I didn’t recognize it. “Sorry to dash your hopes, then, honey.”

I whipped my head around. “I’m not going to Olympus with you.” If I did, I’d crack.

“I’m not trying to fuck you,” Adrian said darkly. My silly, fucked up brain almost askedwhy, you don’t want to anymore? I had no right to be disappointed whenI was the one who was putting distance between us. “We’re going to Lounion.”

And then he got out of the car, cutting off my shockedwhy?

I could see him rounding the car to open my door, but I opened it myself and shot to stand before he could get to me. Adrian’s eyes narrowed, like that served to increase his anger.

Then he crowded me against the car door.

For the love of Jupiter, I used to crave moments like this. Now they just made me sad.

“Why?” I tried again.

Adrian gave me a slow once over. “I supposebecause I said soisn’t the answer that you are looking for?”

“Are you serious?”

Deadly, by the looks of it. His next words were harsh. “I’m not content just sitting here knowing that something happened to you and you can’t tell me what. I want to see where Daphne’s at with the antidote.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. A tiny trickle of hope curled through my chest before I could stop it. If Daphne could find a cure for the poison then maybe we could stay together.

Fuck.

I blinked the thought away. Adrian still hadn’t moved, so I crossed my arms over my chest. “Can I help you?”

Adrian's eyes narrowed at my tone. Like he was cataloging every time I threw him an attitude and was planning some type of revenge, which hadnoright making me excited, but it did.