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“Let me help you.” Reese kneels beside me.

How long has he been here?

He carefully takes the syringe from my fingers. He slides the discarded cap back on it and tosses it in the trash, then returns to my side with a wad of toilet paper. He holds it to the crook of my arm with one hand, supporting the back of my head with his other.

“Stay awake.” His low voice conveys the order, but also concern?

I don’t know why he’d be concerned.

I’m fine.

“Artemis.”

I focus on Reese. We’re standing. Moving.

Our footsteps are mere whispers across the tile.

I wrap my arm around his waist because I can’t really feel my legs, and I’m not sure how I’m walking.

Everything is coated in honey. He gets me out of the bathroom and down the hall.

My eyes shut, and the next thing I know, we’re in his truck.

He’s got my seat belt buckled around me, and my fingers dig into my thighs.

“Talk to me,” he says. “How bad is it?”

The urge to lie, to downplay it, surges through me.

Not bad , I almost say, but the words don’t come.

He found me on the floor of a dirty bathroom, shooting up heroin like my life depended on it.

I’m sure when this floating sensation leaves, I’ll give a shit.

I’ll probably be embarrassed. The worst part is, the rush wasn’t as good as I was hoping.

Imagining. It hit me hard enough to feel, and it took away the pain just like Gabriel said it would.

But…

But .

There’s another part of me that wants more. I want adrenaline and euphoria. I want to feel like I can orgasm from a single swipe of a finger across my nipple.

I don’t.

That’s not to say it isn’t good, but it’s far closer to what I’d imagine normal feels like. If normal means I can barely keep my eyes open and my skin tingles.

Reese takes me far, far away. The window is open a crack. The cool night air flows over me, sweeps through my hair and lifts strands from my heated neck. I lean my forehead against the glass, groaning at how cool it is on my fevered skin.

The stars are out tonight, but there’s also something else.

Smoke , a little voice in my head whispers. The smoke from an earlier fire… or maybe it’s still burning? I don’t know how long it took for Kade’s house to burn out, all I know is that he didn’t call the fire department. It didn’t leap houses, it just consumed what I meant it to.

For a brief moment, the fire conformed to my will.

I don’t think that would happen again, though. And I don’t think it’s the case this time.

My brother and I nearly burned to death in an explosion. It didn’t listen to my will that time either. The bomb was set to ruin the center of Sterling Falls, so of course we tried to stop it.

And accidentally detonated it.

But hey—no harm, no foul. Right?

Speaking of Apollo. I haven’t heard his voice in so long. Tears burn at my eyes, falling down my cheeks. I swipe at them, patting my cheeks, until Reese catches my hands.

“Hey, hey. Don’t hit yourself.”

There is a sob right there . I have a lump in my throat, my chest is tight. My breath comes in panicked little gasps and pants. My eyes fucking sting. All the hallmarks of needing a good, soul-deep cry, and I’ve got nothing.

I miss him.

Apollo makes everything better.

And yet… he’s not here. He left Sterling Falls, he left me , alone with monsters lurking in the shadows. Why didn’t he bring me and Saint with him?

Why did Jace ever put Saint and me in the same room?

They’ll be so embarrassed.

No, no, no.

Wrong.

They’re going to be so ashamed , and while shame and embarrassment are similar, one is infinitely worse to stomach. One will bring back all the memories of that stupid brothel that Apollo tries desperately to avoid. Killing people at sixteen…

The Hell Hounds’ leader, Cerberus, had to know he hit the jackpot when he learned of it.

How Apollo felt about that night, however, has remained a mystery.

I could only conclude he hated it, and me for forcing his hand.

“Don’t tell my brother,” I whisper across the near-silent truck cab.

He scoffs. “I know he and I haven’t had more than a single conversation, but trust me on this: he’ll kill me.”

“He’ll kill me if you do.” I wipe at more tears. “He’ll disown me.”

“Artemis. He won’t.” There’s something in his voice. He brushes the backs of his fingers down my arm, and goosebumps rise in their wake. Then does it again.

I look at him.

His expression is pained. “Everyone will understand. I don’t know how it happened, but…”

I huff my disbelief. “You went from telling my brother to everyone ?—?”

“You’re right.” He pauses. “I was making assumptions that they would eventually find out. But they won’t if you don’t want them to. Your brother, though, will understand… if it happened how I’m guessing. Will you tell me about it?”

He pulls over, kills the engine, and twists to face me.

Full attention.

I swallow. My tongue suddenly feels like it’s too big for my mouth. I’m going to stumble over my words—if I can even force them out. I have to try, though. Something about Reese’s expression conveys that I don’t have a choice.

“You caught the nurse who was giving me heroin,” I start.

“Saint did,” he agrees. “But I was there.”

“Right.” My heartbeat quickens. This is worse than adrenaline—it’s fear. “Saint was gone, and I think you were sleeping? Gabriel came in when I was going through withdrawals. He gave me more—not enough to put me out, you know, but enough to feel it—and then told me I knew where to find him.”

We’re all mad here , Gabriel had said.

I thought I dreamt it, but then I showed up at Madness, and it was a downhill slide from there. What would’ve happened if I resisted that first time? If I didn’t let him show me how to inject it, if I didn’t give in to that delicious rush the first time?

If I didn’t stare him down across the table and let him compress my finger on the plunger?

Maybe I wouldn’t be here.

Or maybe I would.

Maybe Gabriel would’ve kept trying, kept picking at me, until I gave up. He did it tonight, didn’t he? He knew I was fighting the addiction, and he shoved me into the darkest spot he could before offering the one thing to take the pain away.

I hate it.

I hate him .

And mostly, I hate myself.

“I found him,” I finish lamely. “I wasn’t strong enough to resist. I’m still not.”

“It’s not your fault, Tem,” Reese says carefully. “But we should get you some help. If you’re open to it.”

The truth, this time, is easy to admit: “I don’t want to be like this forever.”

He nods. I reach for him, and he takes my hands. He’s steady where I am weak.

“Yes. I want help.”

He tips his chin toward the truck’s windshield. I follow his gaze, my brows furrowing at the familiar sight.

We’re at the marina.

“Come on.” He gets out of the truck. He circles around and helps me down.

He guides me to a speedboat at the end of a dock.

Its navigation lights are on, and a man sits on the deck.

It isn’t until we get up next to it that I recognize Bobby, the houseboat owner.

He’s wearing a dark-blue windbreaker and white pants instead of his usual eccentric get-up, his long hair caught back in a bun and black cap covering it.

“Hello, wayward travelers,” Bobby greets us. “Are you ready?”

My stomach twists. “Ready for what?”

“Tem.” Reese releases me. “You’re free to stay here. I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you. But…” He runs his fingers through his hair, and it seems to be a sign of distress.

Should I be stressed, too?

I can’t feel anything, but… maybe .

“I hate that Gabriel got to you,” he confesses. He grips the back of his neck tightly, the cords of muscle on his forearms standing out. “Let’s make it better.”

All at once, it clicks into place. There’s only one place I can imagine would get me out of Sterling Falls but keep me safe from everyone . Kora spent time there. Kade mentioned checking it out in an effort to cover his bases about Reese.

Which would lead me to believe that Reese knows about it, too.

The island itself is fine—small, unassuming—but the trauma rehabilitation center that takes up almost half of it is the important note.

This isn’t quite trauma… but maybe it would be good to get away.

I can’t even face Antonio like I am. Haven’t admitted to anyone my issue, didn’t do a thing to get help. Not from my brother, Saint, Kade, Antonio… the list goes on. There are so many people I could’ve reached out to, and yet, I am totally alone.

Especially as I nod to Reese and climb onto Bobby’s boat.

He follows.

I glance back at him, but he just scowls. Like I’d be a fool to think he would let me travel alone.

“This isn’t forever,” he assures me.

Bobby hands us life jackets and points to where we can sit. I strap it on and fiddle with the buckles, while Reese takes the seat across from me. Bobby makes quick work of freeing us from the dock and firing up the engines.

We drift out a foot, then two, and Bobby puts the engine in gear. The water churns at the stern, and we pick up speed. I shiver.

“It can’t be forever,” I finally reply. “With Gabriel and Kade?—”

“The town isn’t as important as you,” he interrupts. “I know you care. I know there’s a lot at stake. But I’d rather you be alive and sober. Healthy . If I could stay with you, I absolutely would.”

“How did you arrange this—or when?”

He sighs. “You slept for a bit after I put you in the truck. I asked Kade who could get us out of the city.”

“And Kade was more than happy to help?”

He frowns. “He gave me Bobby’s number, but he didn’t want to know anything else. Yes, he was happy to help. I think he and Gabriel have some sort of… pact? About the two of us.”

Great. I don’t remember falling asleep, but there are lags in my memory. Time gaps. Going from leaving the bathroom to being buckled into my seat.

I nod slowly and turn my gaze to the open water.

No one stops us. No one shouts out. It seems like all the efforts of the Cyclopes have left the marina wide open.

Either that, or Kade paved the path for us. And knowing that Reese asked Kade for help, I fear it’s more than likely the case.

Which begs the question… do I owe Kade for making this easy? Or is he simply trying to right a previous betrayal?

I reach for Reese. He moves to my side and takes my hand, wrapping his free arm around my shoulders.

We stay like that until we lose sight of land.