Page 86 of Flame and Fury

I met her for a total of five minutes when Atlas first brought me to Kat and the Underground. I shouldn’t judge and, hey, first impressions can be wrong. She might be a lovely person who just doesn’t understand personal boundaries.

Savannah giggles and strides across the room to hug Atlas.

Nope. I don’t like her. First impression confirmed.

It’s her casual mauling of Atlas, like she owns some piece of him. Atlas isn’t even off the couch, so Savannah has to lean down, practically shoving her boobs in his face. Meanwhile, Atlas still has arm around me, trapped between my back and the couch.

I wouldn’t say I’m insecure about my looks, but I’m not blind. She’s beautiful. Kind of like the female version of Atlas with blonde hair and golden skin. And they’ve known each other forever, apparently. Maybe there’s history there.

Savannah groans obscenely when she finally pulls back from her hug. Estella raises an unimpressed eyebrow in my direction. I return it with a shallow shrug. What am I supposed to do? I’m not sure Kat or Atlas would be impressed if I punched the woman.

Savannah flops down on the couch on Atlas’s right side. She’s so close their thighs press together. I don’t know if Atlas wants to move over. He can’t because I’m plastered to his left side.

“You’ve been busy, Morrison,” Savannah says in a breathy laugh.

Why do I hate it when she calls him by his last name? It’s just a fucking name.

Kat lowers herself to one of the chairs. According to Lark, she introduced herself when the others came to the safe house.

“The Boar called.” Kat smiles at Atlas and then turns to nod at me, acknowledging my own part in that connection. “We’ve been making strides uniting all the factions of different rebel groups. The Boar has an excellent network on the west coast. When we’re ready for the next part of our plan, I believe we’ll have the manpower to pull it off.”

“What is your plan?” I ask.

Savannah scoffs. She leans forward to look at me around Atlas, her hand resting on his thigh. “I think that’s above the pay grade of most of the people in this room, including you.”

Atlas picks her hand up and moves it off his leg, but he doesn’t reprimand her.

“I doubt you know what my pay grade is,” I snap back before I think better of it. This is Atlas’s friend, a member of the Underground. Being a bitch to her isn’t going to do me any favors. Not that her behavior is any better.

I push up to my feet. Atlas’s arm stays on the back of the couch like an open invitation. I don’t look at his face. I really don’t want to know what he’s thinking.

“Wren.” Atlas says my name, but I give him a quick shake of my head without looking at him.

“I’m going to get some rest. Someone can fill me in if my services are required.” I dip my head at Kat but leave the room without looking at anyone else. What do I need to know anyway? We’re waiting on information from Hades. I’m a Fury who needs a soulstone amulet that’s guarded by a minotaur in a moving maze. My job is to put the gods back to sleep. Setting up plans with the Underground, figuring out how this network of people is going to rebel all at once, that’s Kat’s problem.

I scoff, concentrating on my softening my steps so I don’t stomp my way up the stairs.

“Wren.”

I’m only two treads up the stairway when Kat quietly says my name. With a sigh, I stop and turn to face her. I lean my hip against the railing and examine her face. Illumination from the living room creeps into the hall, putting Kat in the light and leaving me in the dark. We haven’t had much interaction. Most of what I know of her comes from Atlas and the media, which means a good majority of the information is likely incorrect.

Kat’s posture is straight as an arrow, but her fingers twist a ring around her finger. “I owe you an apology.”

Irritated voices float to us from the other room, but Kat’s tone is reserved. The side of her face is bathed in light, and I study her from the cloak of shadows. Now that I know she and Atlas are related, I can almost see a resemblance. If I squint and tilt my head. Maybe something in the stubborn set of their jaws.

“What for?”

Kat’s chest rises with a deep inhale, and she nods her head like I’ve said something else. “Multiple things. Most importantly, for putting your life in danger and taking the choice to participate in this fight from you.”

The light reveals lines in the corner of her eyes and a fatigue that she somehow hides away normally. Her life can’t be peaceful. She hasn’t taken the easy path.

“I just wanted you to know that I’m grateful. You have the ability to turn the tides. To stop a war before it ever begins.” Her fingers continue to twist the ring around and around. “And I’m thankful that Atlas has found someone he can be himself with. That is the greatest gift of all.”

Kat offers me a small smile before turning to join the others in the living room. I still have mixed feelings about this woman and her ruthless methods. Hearing Atlas speak of her, and knowing parts of her history helps me understand her a little better though. We may never be best friends, but there’s a growing respect between us.

Let’s hope I don’t let everyone down.

CHAPTER44

---