Page 76 of Crown of Serpents

“I could accompany you,” he offered, a hopeful lilt in his voice, “if you wanted to visit those places.”

He offered a sheepish grin, and warmth bloomed in her chest. “What about Perseus?”

He would never abandon his oldest friend while Perseus needed him.

Kleos waved his hand. “He’ll be fine — especially withherwatching his back. That is if they don’t tear each other apart first.”

He grimaced, glancing toward Perseus and Medusa locked in a sparring dance. Their swords flashed, snarls punctuating their movements. Were they arguing or flirting? Andromeda knew them well enough to suspect both.

Kleos turned back, his grin returning. “You, on the otherhand, could use a companion.”

She raised an eyebrow, mirroring Medusa's challenging expression. “Why is that?”

“Because with your current fighting style, you’d only be able to defend yourself against … an eighty-year-old priest, maybe? If he’s drunk ...”

Andromeda folded her arms, feigning offence. “But you said my technique was good.”

“Not badfor a first training session,” Kleos retorted with a smug smile.

She laughed, and as Kleos joined in, her worries momentarily vanished. The cold wind, her uncertain future, even Joppa — all faded in the warmth of his laughter.

When it subsided, Kleos's face grew earnest. He squeezed her hand, the one she'd forgotten he still held. “It was just an offer, Andromeda. If you prefer to sail alone, I understand. But I've always wanted to travel the world ... and would love to do it with you.”

Andromeda’s lips curved into a hesitant smile as she brushed a stray curl from her cheek. “I’ll think about it,” she replied.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Night crept across the sky, a velvet cloak studded with the first glimmering stars.

It was always during dusk that Perseus stood in front of Medusa’s door, his hand raised but never knocking. He had been unable to stop thinking about her since that fateful night. Her scent, her taste, and the noises she had made were brandished into his mind.

Yet, Perseus hadn’t dared to return. Did she want him to? He shouldn’t have snuck out of her room the following morning, but the sailors had stirred outside their door, and he panicked. He didn't want to claim her after one night, not after what she'd endured. Yet, that’s how it would have looked to his men the moment they emerged from the cabin together. So, he had bolted like a coward.

But he would be a coward no longer. Perseus took a deep breath. Tonight, he would knock.

Andromeda’s giddy voice floated through the wooden door. “You seem to be getting along with the crew since you returned from Rhodos — especially with Perseus.”

Perseus, caught off guard, leaned closer to the door.

“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” Medusa replied coolly.

He shouldn’t eavesdrop, yet he was rooted in place.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Little liar.

Andromeda clearly agreed. “Come on, Medusa. I’m not blind. The way you looked at each other sparring ... the way you blushed when you were on top of him —”

“Just like you blushed when Kleos gifted you that dagger?” Medusa retorted.

She was deflecting, Perseus noted, recalling her straddling him, her nails piercing his throat.

“That was nothing.”

Perseus pictured Andromeda's sheepish grin.

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