Page 31 of Pandora's Pain
“Why are you here, Hope?” Zavier asked.
I sensed Alex freezing in the background just as my own blood ran cold. That wasn’t the kind of thing we’d prepared for. What did I say?
“I’m a historian,” I blurted out. “Researching Ancient Greece this month.”
What a stupid thing to say. Though at least I’d be able to bluff my way through any questions about the gods.
“Oh, you mean like Mars?”
“Ares,” I corrected instantly, hoping it covered up Alex’s scoff of derision from behind me. I really hope Ares hasn’t chosen this moment to look in on how I was doing, he wouldnotlike being called by his Roman name. Of all the gods, he was the one with the most against his Roman alter ego. I wasn’t too sure why. They did exactly the same thing—they were just being worshipped in different parts of the world.That’s just the gods though. Fickle and confusing.
Alex scoffed again. Oops, he must have heard that.
“Aren’t they the same thing?” Zavier asked.
“Kind of,” I responded. “But the Pantheon is a big fan of revenge, best not mix them up.” Especially given I knew first-hand what they’re view on punishing people was. There was no hurry to revisit imprisonment from my end.
“Got it.”
I was oddly impressed by him. Zavier was smart, but he wasn’t overbearing with his intelligence.
We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I shifted slightly, not knowing what he was even visiting for. It was still early in the day, and as far as I knew, I didn’t have any plans with Ashton and him until later.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go for some brunch.”
“She already has—”
“I’d love to,” I interrupted Alex, sending him a glare in my mind. He seemed to get the message. Besides, I didn’t already have plans. Unless I counted destroying souls and trapping them in a box. Which I didn’t.
That was more of a hobby anyway.
“Great. Want to meet me downstairs in twenty minutes?” he asked, his gaze lazily pursuing every inch of me.
“I only need five.” I leaned in and went on my tiptoes, pressing a kiss against his cheek.
He paused, studying me with a warm look that fluttered all through me. He only smiled before turning away and I watched his retreating back with a sense of longing I couldn’t quite place. These men were getting to me, it had to be said. And I was even more certain that I wouldn’t be able to capture them.
Changing the track of my thoughts before Alex caught on, I tried to work out what I was going to wear. I’d bought a lot clothes to make me look good for a night out but not so much during the day. Major oversight on my part, really.
“Alex, would you mind?” I asked, gesturing downwards at myself and hoping he understood.
He sighed. “Will this move you closer to getting the damned sins back in your box?”
“Yes.” No. Maybe. It wasn’t really looking promising to be honest.
Alex gave me a knowing look but waved his hand in my direction anyway. The bed sheet changed around me, transforming into a summer dress—form fitting on the top with a floaty skirt falling to my knees.
“I took the liberty of fixing your hair too,” he said.
Without really thinking, I lifted a hand up and ran it through my now smooth and styled hair. It was soft and perfect against my fingers. Part of me wanted to go check how I looked in the mirror but the rest of me figured it was unwise to piss Alex off by thinking I didn’t trust him. Even if I didn’t.
It wasn’t like he was the god of apparel for heaven’s sake.
“Thanks,” I replied. “See you later.”
“Oh no, you’re not going alone.” His voice interrupted me as I placed my hand on the door.
I turned back to him. “I think you’ll find I am.”
