Page 24 of Whiskey, Thieves, and Bastards
“And Athena?” Megaera asked. “She went about it the wrong way and could have told you the truth so you came to usagesago, but is she actually your enemy?”
“I guess not.”
“I’m guessing even without the whole turning people to stone with just a look, you’re pretty badass as a green witch.”
“I accidentally turned a Venus Fly Trap into this thing with real teeth, but yeah.”
That plant was ridiculous and Benji kept putting his finger in her mouth and asking if she wanted a bite. He’d turn to smoke when she tried to chomp on his finger. I didn’t speak plant, but I’d seenLittle Shop of Horrorsand didn’t think he should be provoking weird plants.
“And your mate bond should be totally sealed now that you’ve met the others, so they should all be able to feel you once you’ve made that step. You’ve got two mates who can make it to you in seconds, even if you do happen to get cornered. Even if you were just a green witch and not a fury, you’re pretty fucking safe.”
Medusa’s shoulders squared. That was my girl. I didn’t know what to expect with the furies, but they were actually pretty amazing. They left no detail out. She had us. Of course, she did, but she would have been a badass even without us with her fury powers.
“Your base power is green witch,” Pax said. “You literally command the Earth. Once we get rid of the Coalition, you wouldn’t really have any enemies. If the Coalition tried to come for you again, we’d break you out.”
“You’re safe, little monster,” Benji said.
“You could protect yourself without us, but you’ve got a polar bear, a god, a smith, a hybrid, your god friends, the furies, and it sounds like the Fates are on your side, too, if anyone wants to fuck around and find out,” I said.
I couldfeelher getting stronger in my arms. I was pretty sure she knew this deep down, we just needed to let her know it was true.
“You’re right. You’re all right.”
“So, take off the glasses,” Alecto said. “You know you can now. You can control it. You don’t need the snakes or the gaze until youwantit.”
I didn’t know if she was going to hesitate. I knew only gods were immune to it. Alecto was looking right at her like she wasn’t afraid and I was pretty sure that was giving her a little more steel in her spine.
Medusa lifted her arms and took her glasses off.
Fuck me. I wasn’t expecting to get three new sisters in the furies. I’d just met them and they were alreadywaymore supportive than my sister by blood or when I tried to go to the Gorgons. I had no idea if it was just that theysawme or that they busted their ass enough in therapy to help other people.
I honestly had a feeling it was a combination of both because after the furies and my mates were through with me and Alecto told me to take off my glasses, I wasn’t afraid anymore. There was just something soothing about the furies and having my mates touching me.
I justknewtaking off these glasses was going to be okay. It was all going to be okay. I could exist in public now.Athena wasn’t going to fuck with me anymore and Poseidon had forgotten about me. And they reminded me of something. Iwasa pretty badass green witch. I could have fought off anyone but a god if they’d tried to violate me.
I could just bemeagain. I was enough and I could take care of myself. I took my glasses off and looked at the furies. They didn’t turn to stone. They were beaming at me.
“Welcome back, Gorgeous. The four of you might want to be delicate around your mate because jumpy furies who are getting used to their magic is how people’s shit gets fucked. Someone startled me in a tavern during the Viking era and was never the same after that,” Megaera said.
“That’s because you shifted and bit his nose off.”
Megaera just shrugged.
“He just went with it when everyone started calling him Ivar the Noseless.”
“But yeah, she shifts you’re a statue. So, keep things peaceful around the house,” Alecto said.
“I’m a Smith and I’m blind. I think that’s why I’m fated to her. She can’t turn me to stone and I can turn everyone back if she does. I tested it in the bowels of New Eden Asylum.”
“That’s so romantic,” Megaera sighed.
“Ignore our sister. She’s never been shafted by a really hot spaghetti god,” Alecto said.
“Seriously, can you introduce me?” Benji begged.
Was I breaking new fury sister code if I also wanted to meet him? He was so hotand that voice.
“If I ever see that man again, he’s going to meet the bad side of a fury. I’m not going to hold it against you ifyougo to his concerts because fuck me, that man can sing. I’m just not going to go with you because I’ll get arrested.”
