Page 6 of Flame and Fury

I stand and Wren cocks her head to watch me cross the distance between us in three long paces. I give into the need to touch her, cupping her elbows. I slide my hands up her arms until my fingers grip her shoulders. Bending down a little, so I can look her in the eyes while I speak, I tell her, “Kat isn’t some would-be dictator who’s looking for a way to seize power. The whole reason the Underground came into being is because she was trying to help people. Kat saw that need in so many that she couldn’t sit back and continue to watch while the clerics and gods, like Zeus and Hera, devastated families with no consequences. She wants to have elections, to let people’s votes count.”

For as long as I can remember, Kat has been studying how civilizations were run. Everything from ancient history up to just before the gods woke. “She believes in fairness and equality. Sometimes the fight to get there is turbulent because people don’t want to relinquish the power they have over others.”

Wren’s dark eyes lock onto mine. I wonder what she sees when she looks at me like this. I want to drop the armor, to show her how I really feel. She has no idea how much hope she brings me. How much hope she could give to the whole damn world.

“You are a miracle, Wren. The clerics might say that they’ve found Furies, but these days it’s all lies to keep people afraid. The fact that our paths crossed is almost unfathomable.” Goosebumps break out over her skin, pebbling beneath my fingers. I glide my hands up her neck and cup her cheeks, holding her hostage and hoping my words penetrate her thick skull.

“You have the power to change the world. Don’t you see that?”

Wren swallows loudly, her body sagging in my hold. I step forward and Wren moves with me unquestioningly until her back presses against the wall. Her chin is tipped back, her lips parted on a sigh as I brush my thumb over her cheek. Her dark lashes lower and I press my body close to hers, soaking in the warmth of her skin. I may have fucked up, more than once, but I'm going to fix it.

CHAPTER4

WREN

It’s really unfair how handsome Atlas is. He’s all golden skin and masculine features that pair together so beautifully, it’s no surprise his father is Zeus. His closely shorn hair is starting to grow out on top, but his stylist must have cut the sides down because he looks too damn good. His eyes are more green than gray right now, with gold that spikes out from the iris.

I didn’t put two and two together before, but now that I know Zeus is his father, the little streaks of lightning in his eyes make so much sense. It’s like the universe wants to keep reminding me I’m a fool. Even knowing that, I can’t push him away. The scent of leather and musk makes my head swim, the warmth of his hand on my cheek is hypnotizing, and all I want is for him to close the distance between our mouths and make me forget how stupid I am with a kiss.

There’s a brief knock on the door before it swings open. Atlas curses, a grumble of unhappiness vibrating in his chest before he drops his hands from my face and steps away from me. Kat pokes her head inside and it reminds me of when my dad used to check on me before bed at night.

“Do you mind if I come in?” Kat asks, but I get the sense she wouldn’t retreat if I said I did mind.

The two of them obviously had a plan here. What was it? Have Kat talk to me, and if that failed, then have Atlas charm me? I gesture for her to enter, as though I have control over things. I stay in my corner, lost in a haze from Atlas’s proximity, from everything he just said.

Atlas, Kat, they want me to put the gods back to sleep. Yeah, well, there’s a really big problem with that. I have no idea how the hell to make it happen. It’s not like there’s a Fury class in grade school that taught me everything I need to know about this other side of me. All I have are stories from my grandmother, and anything my father could remember from tales my mother told him. None of that included directions for magicking the gods to sleep.

Crossing my arms, I watch as Kat closes the door and leans her back against it.

“Did the two of you get a chance to talk?” Kat’s eyes dance back-and-forth between me and Atlas.

Instead of answering, he turns to look at me like he’s waiting for me to answer.

I don’t bother responding to Kat’s question. “What happens now? I can’t quit the game.” That damn band around my heart tightens again and I huff out an annoyed breath. I’m just stating the obvious problem, not declaring that I’m going to run off in the middle of the night.

I wave my hand in front of my chest. “Unless your end game is to have my heart explode.”

Kat nods, a resigned look on her face. “Since the two of you are bound by the contract to stay in the games, we would like you and Atlas to go back and act as though none of this has happened.”

I frown at Kat and then look at Atlas to see if he’s as confused as me. His emotionless face is back, but he doesn’t appear surprised by Kat’s declaration.

“I thought you wanted…” I rub my forehead, a headache creeping up behind my eyes. “Why?”

Kat pushes off the door, taking a small step into the room. Her hands are clasped in front of her again. “It gives you access to the gods. With you and Atlas on the inside, we’ll have an advantage.”

“Yeah, but what can we do? It’s not like we’re searching for documents to give to the police. The gods do their evil shit right out in the open.” I shift my weight, and the strips of leather on my skirt sway, brushing over my thighs. Atlas’s gaze drops to my legs before his eyes lift back up to mine.

“We’ve realized over time that not all the gods are equally culpable in the crimes against humans. Some might even support our demands for fair treatment and equality. Your involvement in these games gives us the opportunity to make allies.”

“You want us to befriend the gods?” I stare at her in disbelief, certain I’m not hearing her correctly. I’m a Fury. One of the only things the deities fear. My kind put all of them into a sleep that lasted three millennia. Kat wants me to do what? Spill my secrets to the gods and hope they want to form an alliance instead of chopping off my head on the spot?

Kat nods slowly. “To gain their trust. Yes. Ares seems to like you. And from what we’ve heard, Hades as well.”

What the hell? I glare at Atlas, disliking how much he’s been spying on me and then reporting to the Underground.

He shrugs. “It’s true. After all, you were able to get that stone from the Underworld somehow.” The corners of Atlas’s eyes crease like he’s annoyed that he still doesn’t know how I made that happen.

“Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. You want me to buddy up to Ares and Hades. Confess that I’m the gods’ most hated enemy, and then ask them to betray the other gods to help us out? Do I have that right?”

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