Page 61 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

“Actually, I came to him.”

She looked from Athan to Rhys, tried to find some solid ground. “What?”

“Granted, I came to him to findyou, and tell you what a mistake you were making dealing with an Akakios, and how I don’t need you sacrificing yourself for me. But since he was there, I told him the same.”

“We came up with an alternate plan,” Athan offered. “One that serves all of us. Or could, if you weren’t so stubborn.”

She was both incandescent with rage, and something else. Something far more terrifying. A twisting, growing thing deep inside of her that she could not get a handle on. Could not set aside.

She wanted to throw her arms around him and hold on for dear life. She wanted alternative plans and going back to Greece and all the things it was not smart to have.

She had to be smart. Everything was up to her. She gathered herself as best she could and looked at her friends. “I want you all to leave.” She looked at Rhys too. “I need to speak with Athan alone.”

There was a lot of silent exchanging of glances, but in the end Auggie managed to corral everyone out of the kitchenette so it was only Lynna and Athan.

Lynna made sure there was as much space between them in the small space as possible. “What is this?”

“It is me fighting for you, Lynna. I know that’s hard for you, but I think it might be necessary.”

“No one needs to fight for me.”

“Not your friends? Not your brother?”

She was silent. She knew theywould, but that didn’t mean she wanted it.

“We all love you.”

“Stop saying that!” she shouted. And it was a shout, and the tears were threatening. It had been so long since she’d cried before last night, and ever since making her deal with Athan everything had been so tenuous. Too tenuous.

She turned away from him. She’d rather die than have him see her cry.

“Why should I stop saying it?” Athan asked gently. And she felt him come up behind her. She could have moved. She could have stopped him.

But she let him put his arm around her, pull her against him. If she leaned… Wouldn’t everything fall apart? And still, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. He rested his chin on her head and she felt like she could breathe for the first time in too long.

“I have made mistakes,” Athan said quietly. “I will always regret them, but I have also learned from them. I have changed who I am. If I could go back and change what I’ve done, I would. But since I cannot, I must make the best of what’s left.”

“There’s nothing left,” she whispered.

“You. You are the best of everything. And you are here, as am I.”

A tear slipped over, and she held herself very still. Maybe he wouldn’t see. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.

“Perhaps I have nothing to offer you—”

She whirled to face him then. How could this arrogant man so consistently undermine himself? “You are clever and funny and kind, in spite of yourself. And—”

His grin spread. “And you are too quick to defend me in spite of yourself,latria mu. I do not know that I deserve it, but I want it.”

“Athan.”

He reached out, brushed the tear off her cheek. “And I think, once you get passed your fear, you will find you want it to.”

“I am not afraid. I amexhausted. I am tired of fighting so hard.”

“Then stop. You do not need to fight. I will fight for you. Alongside you.”

She wanted to believe him. The yearning for that release was so sharp in her chest, she could scarcely breathe around it. But… But… How did she believe in this? How did she let these feelings win when she knew how dangerous they could be?

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