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A twig snapped nearby Jaaze darted around the surrounding trees I frowned It wasn’t like there was anyone else out here And if there was, terrific, maybe they’d knoay back

“What—”

Jalared at him His broas furrowed, but as the seconds passed, his worry gave way to a boyish grin “Excellent,” he whispered, and I rolled my eyes

“If you don’t tell ht this minute, I swear I’ll—”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”

That gruff voice didn’t belong to Ja man stepped out from behind a thick trunk His dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and I could’ve done laundry on his abs

I blushed I’d beenafter the shirtless locals No way in hell was I lasting six whole months without him Maybe James would take ain

I tried to step forward to greet hi me back “Pollux,” said James with a nod “It’s been a while I see you still haven’t found a shirt”

Pollux The naod? From the looks of him, it wouldn’t have surprised me

“Hermes It’s Lux now,” he said in his heavily accented voice Most of it was English, but there were hints of other , ats of oplaces, too And was it ination, or was his jaw clenched?

“Ah, so you got the memo as well,” said James “Not that Lux blends in much better than Pollux, but whatever tickles your fancy I’m called James now”

“And I’ on? How do you two know each other?”

Lux eyedto ask you once—piss off”

Ja now, is it?”

“Co on his arm “Clearly he doesn’t want to be bothered”

“No, we’re not going,” said Ja on, Lux? Where have you been the past three thousand years?”

Right Definitely a god Lux growled in the back of his throat “I like you, Jaret to your pretty little friend”

Pretty little friend? Who did he think he was? Apparently it touched a nerve for Ja to me, and you know it On the other hand, all I have to do is let the right people know you’re here, and you’re a dead man”

Whatever line Jaiant leap across it Lux snarled and fleard us so fast that I didn’t have tied to push me aside a fraction of a second before Lux tackled hiround hard

“Stop it!” I screeched Lux had James pinned with his knees, and his fists were a blur as he beat the unholy snot out of hihter, not like Lux clearly was Could gods hurt other gods? I had no idea

In a fit of desperation, I grabbed Lux’s ponytail and yanked back hard It was enough to throw hi back to his feet

He advanced toward me, and I stuuy like to fight, but he had no qualirl Which would’ve been fine, except the only self-defense I kneas a knee to the boy parts and running away as fast as I could

“Lux” A quiet voice echoed through the trees as if the ere carrying it, and Lux stopped dead in his tracks He didn’t take his eyes offme, I wouldn’t have minded They were a beautiful shade of brown Pity he had such a temper

“I told you not to leave,” said Lux through gritted teeth “Go back to the cottage”

“They’re not here to hurt us” Another young h the trees, and I did a double take He and Lux were identical, down to their worn jeans and rebellion against shirts “Let theo”

Lux’s eyes searched mine, as if he were certain he’d be able to find so roan, and Lux broke away fro himself between James and his brother Apparently I wasn’t so much of a threat after hreat aall “They shouldn’t be here”

“Neither should you,” muttered James He stumbled to his feet, and to my relief, he looked co back in Greece?”

The brother who hadn’t beat Jaed “You kno it is Hide in the last place they’d expect We’re just passing through anyhow”

“And we’re leaving now” Lux took his brother’s aro”

Ja to hide your identities there, aren’t you?”

Lux glared at hionize hiht?”

“I’m very sorry for rowling Lux “Our interactions with the other members of the council have been less than pleasant, but Jaht’s about to fall Stay with us As an apology”

“Thought you had to go,” said James as Lux spun around to face his brother Before he could open his ave him a steely look

“We were in the process of sitting down to dinner when Lux sensed you co as the other members of the council aren’t with you, we can afford to stay the night like we’d planned”

I glanced toward the dusky purple sky “How far are we from Athens?”

“Half a day’s walk,” said Casey, and I groaned

“James You promised eren’t far”

“He kneere here,” ed you out this far To check on us”