Page 12 of Tears of Tungsten
“And if that fails,” Knox piped up, “I can always take over. Cerberus and I are better at killing people than you are.”
I grimaced, but silently acknowledged he was right. The Typhon was the most destructive chimera, but the firepower I had at my disposal made it more suitable to use against other vessels or structures. The toxic fumes Typhon could emit were a more discreet method, but they were almost impossible to control. They could do permanent damage to the environment, and we tried to avoid that, for Terra’s sake. Cerberus had an easier time hunting people, which was why he was the only Grand Chimera sent on missions like destroying terrorist groups.
“I might just take you up on that, but let’s hope it won’t be necessary. In any case, we have to keep this from Selene.”
“I agree,” August said. “She already has enough to handle without worrying about this too.”
“How are we supposed to keep it from her, though?” Pollux asked. “She’s telepathic, remember?”
Fuck. I’d completely forgotten about that detail. “She avoids using those powers against us, but she does slip up when we’re having sex. We’ll have to come up with a way to make sure she can’t do that.”
It was easier said than done, but I had a few ideas on how it could be accomplished. Selene was still very new at using her telepathy. If we distracted her through sensual means, she might have trouble focusing, which would make it impossible for her to read our minds.
I barely got the chance to explain my tentative plan to the others. Mere minutes later, the door opened and Selene walked into the room.
She looked tired, her usually vibrant eyes dull and her hair limp. Even so, the first thing she did was ask us about our well-being. “Everything okay? You all look very glum.”
“That’s my line, Selene,” I replied, evading her inquiry. “You’re pale. Did the lessons on Terra not go well?”
If Selene noticed I hadn’t given her an explanation, she didn’t show it. “Actually, they went great.” She grimaced and reached back to massage her neck. “A little too well, if I’m being honest. I overexerted myself a bit while I was trying to figure out if I had Gaia’s Gift or not.”
Well, shit. If I’d had any doubts about the possibility of sharing the new, royal command with her, that would’ve settled it.
“I take it you do have it,” Pollux guessed.
“Yes, I do. It’s pretty powerful on Terra. My mother has already promised to give me lessons, although she says I’ll never be as talented at it as I am at tachyon manipulation.” Selene plopped down on her bed and closed her eyes. “I think it will all work out, though.”
“Of course it will. Our powers were given to us for a reason. You wouldn’t have this gift if the gods didn’t deem you capable of carrying this burden.”
I must have said the right thing, because Selene’s expression lit up with a beatific smile. “That’s what I think too,” she whispered.
She was so beautiful it hurt, and at that moment, a small, selfish part of me wished she didn’t have any power at all. If she were a regular woman, like Penelope, I could stash her away, hide her in a secret mansion, keep her safe and protected from harm.
But that wasn’t an option, and just making the suggestion would have been insulting to her. And so, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. When I kissed her, she eagerly responded. And when the others joined us and our bodies came together as one, we forgot all about our doubts and focused solely on our future.
Her power wouldn’t take her away from us. Not even the gods would be able to separate us. I wouldn’t allow it.
