Page 77 of Scion of Chaos

“No.”

I grin. “You know Pan found me first.”

“That’s what I said!”comes a strident voice in my head. I can’t help but laugh at the indignation I feel through my bond with the satyr in stark contrast to the irritation on Vesh’s face.

“Don’t remind me,” Vesh grumbles.

“You sure didn’t seem to mind being mashed up against his dick inside my pussy,” I tease, gratified when his cheeks actually redden. “Maybe we should revisit the whole scenario that started this again.”

He gives me a heated look, and I sense Pan’s avid interest, though it’s tinged with caution. I send an inquisitive thought his way.

“I am on my shift,”he explains.“Besides, I don’t want the others to think you’re playing favorites.”

Vesh sighs. “As much as I’d love it—and amnotjealous—I have a meeting to get to. If we’re going to recapture the Titans, this is crucial.”

“What can I do?” I ask, sitting up straighter as he pushes past me and stands. I get one brief, delicious glimpse of his naked body and all its coiled, ropey muscles accented by dark hair and whorls of iridescent purple tattoos. His usual outfit of black materializes around him as he turns to look down at me.

“Practice holding onto your magic and bond with the others. I’ll be back when I can.”

With that, he disappears.

I flop back on the bed with a frustrated sigh, staring at the ceiling while I try to decide what to do. “Bond with the others” means the ones I haven’t bonded with yet. I’ve barely evenmetthem, yet I’m certain this is the right path. And except for the one they call Alcides, I’m pretty sure the other three feel the same way.

But Asterius promised me answers to a question I’ve had for a long time. How did the Bloodline even come to be?

“Right. History lessons it is,” I say as I sit up. Before I can even waste a thought on it, my clothes appear on the bed beside me, neatly folded and smelling fresh and clean. I wonder if I can do what Vesh did when he dressed himself?

Instead of manually putting on my clothes, I stand and stare at them, willing them to justappearon my body.

All I get is the strongest impression of amusement coming from the shadows. I huff and grab my pants, stuffing each leg in.

“You don’t have to laugh at me,” I snipe.

“I’m not laughing. Perhaps you can learn to use your magic as he does. I suggest starting smaller. And remember the magic comes from within you, not from without you.”

I’m not sure how to interpret that yet, so decide to tackle one thing at a time as I head out the door and down the staircase outside the tower, aiming for the library below.

36

Vesh

“You look refreshed,” Erika comments when I appear at her camp to retrieve her for our next task. She’s seated under the command canopy with a stainless steel travel mug in one hand and the first half of the key in the other. On the table in front of her is a notebook with a detailed pencil sketch of the complete key and several notes jotted around it. It looks old, though, not recent.

“Mm,” I say noncommittally. “Research notes?”

“Privateresearch notes.” She snaps the notebook shut and stands. “Shall we?”

I glance around, noting the camp is empty. “Where is everyone else? Down at the dig site?”

“Gabby won’t leave her father’s side. It’s a muddy mess after the rains, but my team is building some platforms so we can move camp down there at least until this is over. You know the key itself isn’t enough, right? The key requires a drop of blood from one of the residents of Olympus.” She holds the jagged-edged semicircle up as she threads a chain through one of its holes, then drapes it over her neck. It hangs like a heavy medallion against her breastbone.

“That won’t be an issue.”

She studies me for a beat. “You mean your guard Alcides, right? But he wasn’t here in the flesh. I’m guessing if we pricked his finger the next time he showed up, it would beyourblood that came out. Am I wrong? And if I’m not mistaken, you’re too old to be a descendant of one of the twelve gods who lived here.”

I take a calming breath. “You’re not wrong. But he will come in the flesh if I ask.”

“And how goes it with your secret weapon? Nemea, was it? You look like you relieved some of that tension you were carrying yesterday.” She gives me a subtle smirk.

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