Page 9 (1/2)

"Only once or twice, Spartan Now, go over there and let the Bogatyr know that the two of you are cool As long as he’s here at Mythos, you et to know hiht just be your Prince Charrateful smile and went over to the others He and Alexei walked away fro Oliver said so, and a small smile broke out on Alexei’s face For the first tiood could come out this whole horrible situation

At this point, that small hope was the only one I had

Chapter 7

My friends and I sparred in the gy back to our dore Thirtyhall Usually, I ate with Daphne and Carson, but the two of the about the winter band concert, and since our date had gotten interrupted yesterday, Logan had suggested that we eat breakfast alone together

Well, us and Alexei

He’d disappeared to shower and change just like the rest of us had, but once again he’d been waiting outside my dorm room when I’d opened the door Now, he stood a few feet aith his black bag at his feet and his back against the wall Alexei stood next to one of thejust as solid, still, and ireaton the wall above his head

With its paintings, suits of armor, and tables topped with fine white linens, delicate china, and glea hall ay more upscale than your typical school cafeteria In fact, it looked ant restaurant than a place where students ate on a daily basis Adding to the illusion was an open-air indoor garden that stood in the e, and alrapevines snaked up, around, and over all the branches, before plunging into the black soil Statues could also be seen in the garden, food and harvest gods mostly, like Dionysus and De the trees and twisting vines, although their faces stared out at the students as they ate

Unfortunately, the food was even fancier than the decor Lobster, veal, and escargot were a the daily items on the lunch line, all of which the academy kids loved Yucko Even when it cana, the Mythos chefs were always using exotic ingredients and whipping up weird sauces to serve them with, which completely ruined the dishes At least for me

I didn’t have much of an appetite so I just picked at ,strawberries and kiwis froh it was one of an scarfed down a pile of pancetta and his second Greek omelet topped with spinach and thick cruhed, put et you soan asked "The chefs set up a s"

I didn’t want a s to make me feel better, so I forced o, if they have it?"

Logan grinned "I’ll be back in a rabbed his now-eet another omelet while he waited for the chefs to o, but he didn’t otten anything for hiranola bar I wondered if not dining with the enemy was soestured at the table "You can sit doith us, you know I’ave me a cool stare "Me like me, take our responsibilities very seriously We do not eat with people we are supposed to be keeping an eye on"

Apparently, I’d been right about the protocol thing Yeah for me

"I’m not so wrong"

"No, you just let Loki escape froht, Gwen?"

I looked up to find Helena Paxton standing on the opposite side of the table-and she wasn’t alone Her A with several guys Anger filled all their faces, and the emotion rolled off theot to my feet Helena jerked her head, and her friends for me between them and the table The conversation around us died down, as the other kids in the dining hall stopped eating and turned to stare at us

"Are you enjoying your breakfast, Gwen?" Helena asked in a sweet voice "It looks like you’ve hardly eaten a thing Maybe your conscience is finally bothering you It should"

I didn’t say anything There was no point in it Helena hated me, and she wouldn’t believe a word I said anyway But rier She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing to slits

"I can’t believe you just walked in here thiswas okay, like we all don’t knohat you did-and what a traitorous Reaper bitch you are"

The kids circled around aze went froer and no mercy I wasn’t psychic, not like Grandma Frost was, but I kneould happen now The other kids couldn’t take their rage and frustration out on the Reapers who’dto lash out at the next best thing-me

"I didn’t do what the Protectorate says I did," I replied "I didn’t do anything wrong"

How many times would I have to say those words before people believed me? I could scream them for hours, and it wouldn’t make a difference Not after the asseht now

Helena arched an eyebrow "Really? Because I re you at the Crius Coliseum the day the other students were irls who got killed Tell me, Gas it you who stabbed her in the back? Or one of your Reaper friends?"