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"Alex, you’re not responsible for those who died today" He shifted so that his face was right over ht"

But it IS right, whispered that voice "People expect ht and kick ass You can’t tell me the people out there didn’t expect me to take out those daimons And if Artemis hadn’t shown--"

"You would’ve snapped out of it Just like you did," Aiden said, cuppingtoo hard on yourself What you’ve been through is going to affect you, and you’re not giving yourself any time to deal hat just happened You’re not okay, Alex, but you’re not broken and you’re not daed"

My breath shuddered from me "Then what a and brave, and who has been through way too much Too many people expect too hteen, Alex Even if you were twenty-eight, all this crap would be too htly uneven from the raised scars "You’re the Apollyon, but you’re only one person And you’re not alone You have me You have Luke, Olivia, and your uncle You have Solos, and you have rin appeared on his lips "And tomorrow, you’ll have a whole army You’re not alone in any of this You’ll never be alone"

I blinked back the wetness gathering ina book full of the right things to say"

He chuckled softly, and then his lips brushed mine in a quick kiss "Nah I just love you, Alex"

Raising my hands, I placed them on his smooth cheeks The tiny scratches fro behind faint o crazy without you"

He kissedan arm around my waist In the quiet moments that followed, I didn’t feel numbness or fear I was content, war to be a big day, and who kneas waiting for us beyond that I didn’t want to think about any of that Not right now

I rolled onto ether The kisses started off slow, nothing like thiswhen they’d almost had a fevered pitch to the inether, a shiver danced downthe bare skin of my waist My hand moved across his chest, and I wished I had so disappear That would’ve been really handy right about now

He eased ue swept in, scatteringme in A delicious tension built in asped My reaction was iainst him

Aiden shuddered as he lifted his head Those eyes were heated silver "We need to press pause for a second"

I knew I couldn’t have heard hi in a way that hadat my lower lip

"Seriously, we need to talk for a second," he said, his voice thick

A s me"

"That’s an excellent idea" He pressed his lips to the sensitive spot under my ear "Yet so incredibly hard" But then he did sit up, cross-legged beside "

The way he said thatserious" face "Okay About what?"

"About what Artemis said to you out there today"

"About my hair?"

He shotinside you"

"Oh That? Weird, right? Apollo’s son--Hippo-whatever--said the sa not to be too freaked out by it "I have no idea what they’re talking about"

"You don’t?" Surprise flooded his voice

"No" I frowned "Do you?"

Aiden opened his mouth and closed it Several seconds passed, and then he thrust his hand through his hair, scratching his head "Think about it, Alex"

Crossing htento make me say it?" He swore under his breath as his hand fell to his lap "Of course you are Don’t you think there could be a possibility that whatever Artenant?"

I stared at hinant"

"No" I coughed out a laugh and rolled my eyes "No way"

Aiden looked at me like I was half-stupid