Page 71 of Martyr
The best one.
The only one that will work.
30KADE
Apollo and Artemisshare similar features. Twins, of course, just like the gods of old. Apollo and I have already met—once at Olympus, masked, and again when he tried to warn me away from his sister. But that was a shadowed, dark affair. I wasn’t analyzing.
Now, I’m outright staring.
Where Artemis has lean muscles and curves, Apollo has bulk. When he first escorted me down to the basement, he had scruff. Now, he’s clean-shaven. His dark hair is short—impossible to tell if it’s wavy like Tem’s, but it seems thick enough.
Jace King sits across from me. Apollo is behind him, leaning against the wall. His arms are crossed.
Wolfe James stands at my shoulder, just out of reach. In case I decide to really fuck myself over and attack him, I guess. With bound hands.
The zip ties are overkill, but whatever. If it puts them more at ease…
Anyway.
“It was pitched to us that your loyalty could shift in our favor,” Jace finally says.
Ah, that. Saint’s plea. Did he mention it, or did Artemis?
I roll my shoulders back. “Loyalty is an interesting word.”
“You’re loyal to a madman,” Apollo says.
“Iworkfor a madman,” I snap.
“Oh, you’re on payroll? You get your taxes taken out like a good little employee?” Wolfe snickers.
“Taxes, 401-k, health insurance, the whole nine yards.” I raise an eyebrow. “Does that make a difference?”
“Sure.” Wolfe drags out the chair next to me and drops into it. He faces me, his knees nearly touching mine. “Thelegalway means Justice Marcus Graves isn’t hiding who he’s employing. But Daniel did a financial audit on you. He said there were no direct deposits into your accounts, no cashed checks…. Nothing that would indicate you work for him. Just monthly payments from the military after your medical discharge.”
I nod slowly. “Guess that sounds about right.”
“So you were being facetious,” Jace clarifies.
“Obviously.”
“How does he pay you?”
“Cash. An apartment. He promised me he would help me find Reese. That was the biggest thing.”
Jace and Wolfe trade a look, but I can’t read it. I don’t speak their language. I’ve been holding on to thisloyaltyto Ouranos for so long. He made me rely on him, trust him. He carved out every bit of disobedience. Just like the military does.
It’s similar, in a way. Their need for soldiers who will listen and follow commands, almost without question. Sure, there are questions. There will always be questions. But my ability to shove those aside and do what needed to be done…
My chest is tight. If they weren’t watching my every move, I’d rub it. I’d press my fingers into the tattoo Saint gave me, the one he still doesn’t know about. Is it so bad that I want him to remember it on his own?
The crunch of gravel outside precedes headlights shining through the windows. The car pulls past and rolls to a stop, the engine cutting off a second later.
I crane back and catch a glimpse of Saint and Artemis climbing out of it. Artemis goes for the porch while Saint circles around to the trunk. There, he pauses.
Waits.
He looks around and spots me through the glass. His brows furrow.
