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"Will this harm her in any way?" Concern colored Marcus’ voice

"No" She started to shimmer out, but her voice still carried with its cold indifference "But I would not give her more than six doses The effects may becoone, leaving all of us open-mouthed Marcus exhaled loudly "Nice of her to throw that in"

"It could beco Apollo to look away "Did you know this?"

His eyes narrowed "I know the same amount as you do At least we know not to exceed six doses If it lasts at least four days, then that gives us nearly a month"

"If it lasts four days each tilanced down at the pitcher "Well, we’re about to find out"

I went down the stairs, detached as I could be Knohat I was about to take part in darkened ht sound dramatic, and before, I really didn’t think it was possible, but now I understood

"It’s for the best," Apollo said

Glaring at him, I slid past hi on the ainst the wall and knees tucked close to her chest She stared behind me, to where I knew Apollo waited in the shadows For some reason, Alex reacted like a crazed hydra when Apollo went near her

"Did you finally come to your senses and decide to let me out?" A smirk twisted her once beautiful lips They were now chapped from lack of water The bottle sat untouched by the wall

I unlocked the door "You know the answer to that"

Alex rose to her feet, swaying as she stepped off theher "I should’ve known none of you would be s it behind us I watched Alex wearily She was groeaker by the day, but the girl was a fighter to her core Marcusme deal with her as we’d planned

It see that I’d be the one who did this

Her eerie aaze slid past lass was deep blue and thick Recognition flared, and she took a step back Imy breath

As expected, she ild

Shooting forward, I wrappedht her to the floor as carefully as I could, but she thrashed and struggled Fros around her waist and locked them down over hers

Alex was trapped

"No! No!" she screaht to ainst hers, I forced her head back "I’m sorry, Alex, I’m so sorry"

"You can’t do this to le her head down but failed Her voice was laced with hatred and power, an edge that didn’t belong to her "You’ll regret this All of you, it will be the last thing you do I pro this over with Over Marcus’ shoulder, my eyes od looked disgusted e were doing

With a pained expression, Marcus crouched in front of us and grabbed Alex’s chin His hand shook as he lifted the glass of Elixir, and he squared his shoulders "Sorry, Alexandria It’ll be over in seconds"

Like a switch being thrown, the voice that canized and feared "Please don’t do this," she begged Seconds later, my cheeks et from her tears "Please, Marcus, please don’t do this to me"

Marcus hesitated "Alex?"

Her body shuddered against mine "I’ll behave I proive me the Elixir"

I drew in a shallow breath "What color are her eyes?"

"Gold," he grunted

Moving both of her slender wrists to one hand, I knocked Marcus’ hand away and grasped her chin "It’s not her, not really Do it Gods dammit, just do it!"

Alex wailed, and a part ofher jaw as her struggles renewed Energy hu lass to her lips, and the sickeningly sweet aroma of the Elixir filled the cell

Even after the contents of the glass were gone, Alex still fought Screa her head back and forth until I felt her breaths turning deeper, slower

Marcushis pants as if he could somehoipe ahat he’d just done to his niece, but it had left a mark on my soul

I’d never be able to wipe it away, no matter how hard I tried

I watched Marcus and Apollo as her ainst ainstbreath that sounded like a sigh

Gazing down at her, I saw theover her cheeks and down her neck Inked in blue, they brightened until the whole room ash in sapphire, and then they faded out Alex stilled

"You have to finish this," Apollo said

One of these days I was going to hit Apollo again I probably wouldn’t survive, but it was going to happen Turning Alex in ainst my chest and cupped her cheek "Alexandria, open your eyes"

Her lashes fluttered against her pale cheeks, and then finally, they lifted I sucked in a sharp breath Her eyes were shattered--dull broith gold shredded through the back at me blankly It wasn’t Seth either