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Emre grinned and I shot him a deeply unamused look. “There’s my proof you knew exactly what I was talking about. Fix it.”

“The control orher?” The question was a deflection. Because if I thought too much about the fact that it was becoming clear that Reyna was more than just someone who was in my life, but a real, threatening vulnerability,then I wasn’t liable for my actions.

Emre’s eyes tracked the popping sparks flying off my hands, clearly telling me to prioritize that, but said, “I can’t give you all the answers.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t that what I pay you for?”

“No.” Emre bent and picked up a broken piece of mirror, lifting it to fix his hair in it. With his hair shorn that short, there was nothingtofix. But that was immaterial. He tossed it aside into a pile of rubble. “We’ll clean this up. But someone wants to harm the gods. Or use this.”

I sighed, a deep, heavy exhale that did little to release the pressure bearing down on my chest. “I don’t know which I think is worse.”

“All of it.” Yeah, that was what I thought too.

I stood, wiping my hands clean and ignoring the way the lights hummed in response.

Soon, I told my power. The Mediterranean was in for another night of bad weather it seemed. I was only thankful the rain and storms were normal for this time of year.

Because with this much power and fury and guilt in my veins, I didn’t know what would come out.

Chapter 14

Reyna

I didn’t speak to Adrian for four days. And I didn’t seek him out either.

We werenothingto each other but a transaction.

The ease of our conversations, the easily building trust, the ill-advised kiss were all immaterial.

I didn’t even pester Emre to make sure that Adrian was still coming tonight. I simply assumed he knew his presence was required. I’d told my mother he was coming, so his attendance was expected.

I crumbled the morning's paper in my hand, reminding myself what I'd decided.

Jupiter and Romulus tryst reported on date in Rome!

Last night, I’d had a long discussion with myself. I’d be nice, cordial, but entirely unemotional. I would simply match Adrian. It was the only way I’d get through this thing relatively unscathed.

I stood by my front door, adjusting the overlapping chains of my bracelets when I heard the snap of Adrian’s arrival from behind me.

I breathed in, steadying myself to look at him and to force a passive expression to my face. Apparently, he did not enjoy the hesitation.

“Reyna.” My name was hard, commanding on his tongue. And just with that one word, I knew he saw the difference in the way I was holding myself.

I lifted my head slowly, meeting his eyes immediately. You would think the fact that I’d seen him in suits countless times would make it easier to confront, but no such luck. He was as potent and imposing and impossible to ignore as ever.

“Ready?” I said casually, letting my lips part in a smile.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then he took a step forward, like he wanted to test my reaction. I stayed still, looking at him with about as much emotion as I’d give to a flower bush. Appreciative but unemotional.

It was the only way I’d survive this. The only way I wouldn’t shove at his chest and try to forcefully crack open his head to read his thoughts.

“What’s wrong?” Adrian asked, his eyes bouncing over my face.

I brightened my smile and pulled my eyebrows together. “Nothing.” I looked down his chest and to his hands. Then remembered what I’d planned to ask him. No, demand. “You don’t mind if we take a car today, would you? Don’t want to cause too much of a stir.”

I also didn’t want to have to hold his hand, to feel his strong, calloused fingers against mine, before I absolutely had to.

Adrian’s nostrils flared, his own anger visibly building. Good, it would simply match mine. “Fine.”