Page 18 of The Hunger
“Coming into my powers isn’t almost dying.”
“I meant the part where she tranced you so you lost track of time and ended up in a lake full of angry mermaids.”
Megan sighed and tugged her hand from mine.
“I love you both for wanting to protect me. But daughter of Hades, here. The Oracle, herself, said she wasn’t stupid enough to enrage the gods by doing something to me.”
“The gods aren’t exactly around to do anything about their children. How long do you think her fear will last when you’re back, demanding things from her? Adira and the Council are afraid of her for a reason. Oanen’s right. It’s dangerous. As much as I hate to say this, I’d rather see you work with the Council to see if you can find something that way.”
Megan glared at both of us. Well, mostly Oanen.
“You’re really annoying me.”
He leaned back and crossed his arms.
“Is that supposed to change my answer?”
The lust grew thicker. My stomach cramped, and I stood abruptly, taking the bottle of syrup.
“Thanks for breakfast. I better get going. I’ll call you later.” I was out the door before I said the last word.
“You made her run,” I heard Megan yell.
I didn’t wait to see how Oanen would distract her from her stupidity. Instead, I closed myself in the car, took a large gulp of chocolate syrup straight from the bottle, then spun gravel getting out of their driveway.
Going to Megan’s had been a mistake, but not the way I’d anticipated. Which was silly of me considering how new they were as a couple.
Driving toward town, I tried to figure out where to go next. I was frustratingly low on hiding spots. Fenris’s voice rang in my head. Then stop running.
I sighed as I realized I was right back to where I’d been after Ashlyn disappeared. Nowhere to go and no one to spend time with. When my thoughts veered to Fenris again, I turned on the music and sang along until I parked in the Quills’ garage.
Rather than going inside, I sent Megan a text.
Me: Try not to be mad at Oanen. He can’t help himself. You’re the most important thing in his world.
Then, unable to help myself, I gave in and read the message from Fenris.
Fenris: Since you didn’t ask when to meet me, I’ll come to you.
My eyes rounded, and I scrambled from the car. I needed clothes and a place to hide. But where? None of the previous hiding spots, obviously. Lost in thought, I rushed into the kitchen and almost ran over Mrs. Quill.
“Eliana,” she said, catching me before I fell in my attempt to avoid her. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry. I wanted to pick up some clothes before I had to…” I didn’t know what to say. Had to run again? Leave to avoid Fenris? Go back to Mom’s.
A surge of sorrow from Mrs. Quill distracted me from coming up with an excuse.
“You’re staying with your parents for a while, then?” she asked.
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
She gave me a small smile and gestured to the kitchen island chairs. While she spoke, she started making me homemade hot chocolate.
“I’m glad you’re able to spend some time with them both. I know it wasn’t easy for you to grow up with only your father in your life. Then to be stranded here without either of them. I also know it’s not easy to see them together again.
“So, I hired a druid to check the windows. They’re warded against everything. I also spoke to Adira about leaving you alone while you’re in my home. No more dinners. No more surprise visits to push you into choosing someone to feed from.
“I know you’ve been avoiding coming here, and I understand why. I haven’t been standing up for you like I should have been, and I’m sorry I made an already difficult situation even more difficult because of that. I want you to stay, Eliana.
