Page 28 of Nemesis

Normally I’m good at keeping my awareness up, constantly cataloging my surroundings. It’s one of those survival instincts that I’ve apparently retired today.

Atlas slowly lowers himself down beside me, then leans forward and peers down. “Do you drink tea?”

I glance over at him. Today, his dark hair is a bit shorter. There’s a curl that flops down across his forehead, very rockstar-ish, and his dark eyes stay fixed on the water below. His whole persona seems rockstar-ish. Kind of slouching in a confident, I-don’t-care vibe.

Hot, too.

I should’ve pegged it from Olympus, the fight. He’s not what I’d call classically handsome, but the slope of his jaw, his high cheekbones, make him stand out. He’s more startlingly, devastatingly pretty… and it’s completely at odds with his muscular frame. I’d put his age at late twenties. No ring on his finger, though.

That doesn’t really matter when it comes to intentions. I learned that early.

“I do like tea,” I say.

The corner of his lips lift, and he holds out a travel thermos. He unscrews the cap and pours some, passing me the makeshift cup. His jacket is army-green, open to expose a black t-shirt. Jeans. Work boots. It’s a normal outfit that gives me zero clue about what we’re going to be doing today.

I bring the mug to my nose and inhale. It smells spiced, and steam curls off the top of the liquid.

“It’s not drugged, right?”

His jaw tics. “I don’t drug women. And it would be a poor way to spend our day.”

“Ah, yes, about that.” I set the mug aside. “We’re officially on the clock.”

He chuckles. When he doesn’t move, though, I pick the mug back up.

I sip the tea, mildly impressed by the amount of flavor packed into it. I wait for him to ask something of me. For him to goad me to rise and take me… wherever he has planned. But instead, he leans back on his hands and watches the sunrise with me.

And it is certainly a brilliant one.

Happy birthday, Artemis.

My phone buzzes. I fish it out and scan the text from my brother.

Apollo

Beautiful sunrise today. Chin up, sister.

I stuff it back in my pocket without replying. He’s got his family to help him usher in the day. They’ve made no attempt to corral me into their plans, which is fine by me. Antonio will want me later. But for now, I’ve got…

I glance sideways. “What is your name?”

He frowns. “Perhaps we should stick with Atlas.”

“You knowmyreal name.”

“Artemis is your birth name?” Surprise colors his tone.

“My mother was very invested in Greek mythology.” I shrug. “She had odd quirks.”

“Had.”

“Indeed.” I tip forward and once again contemplate jumping. It wouldn’t be so bad. At this time of year, perhaps the waterwould even be warm. Warmer than the chilled bite in the air this morning.

She’s still alive, but he doesn’t need to know that. He doesn’t need to know that I haven’t talked to her since the morning of my fifteenth birthday. The last image of her burned into my brain is her sadness as my dad drove me away.

“Kade.”

“Friends call me Tem,” I offer. “Not that we’re friends.”

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