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"Obviously I was just a pawn in her little game with him" I twisted off the top of my fresh bottle It was so out in front of Lucky "It’s great that she cared about his Sirens, but he’s still treating theie stands it century after century" I took a s and savored the smooth slide of the rich liquid down my throat "I realize no lucky I was to escape, even if I did loselosses But when he wiped your e favor Think how horrible you would have felt all these years, wanting what you couldn’t have" Laurie and I were quiet for a few hts

Finally, I spoke hts out loud "But why did he leave me with any powers at all? I obviously can still draw h gie about that The bottoood stuff inside me that Achelous didn’t take"

Laurie moved over to sit beside me She put her hand on my shoulder and stared into my eyes "Seriously? I think Achelous did all he could do to you, Glory He couldn’t reach any deeper And that, ie and the sisterhood really should hear You ht hold the key to their freedom"

We smiled at each other Yes, Achelous was a bastard and I’d like nothing more than to pay him back for what he’d done to me Free the Sirens? Suddenly I had a plan

It was a beautiful night, not a cloud in the sky, but I still shivered Maybe because I was on the shore next to a lake again Too many memories haunted me as I stared out at the calie in the first place Achelous’s teo on But tonight I’d called Aggie and arranged aRay about it He wouldn’t like it when he heard, but this washe needed to know

A quiet splash signaled that ed fro suit I knew she didn’t usually hide her assets when she was out trolling for victiuess Had she killed so at ie wrung out her wet hair, blinked and she was dry and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a snug red T-shirt Her hair was dry too and it was beautiful, with golden waves down her back

"Neat trick Why didn’t you use it the other night ere with Achelous?"

"I was going for his syot any" She frowned "And I hoped the wet look would take hisfor my records in the archives?" I sat down on the blanket I’d brought along "You’ve got to know the kill numbers you trotted out blew my mind" I stared down at ain "How can you deny you’re evil, Aggie?"

"You used to kill too Though your nuie sat across fro and pulled out a compact and lipstick "Guess we’re both evil Deal with it"

"I’ for sport? I just couldn’t i part of that I sed a nausea that had been with me ever since I’d found out I’d been like her once, able to kill and then just… powderfor my next victietting to me and lifted my chin "Achelous is a piece of work You really have to debase yourself like that every tiie closed the coame the Sirens play, to keep the peace I don’t appreciate your attitude"

"Sorry if I’ you" Of course it had huie who strutted around Austin in her designer duds took no prisoners

"Like you could" She tossed her hair, deterirl

"Yeah, well, humor me I have questions about e information--if you care to share" I put my hand on her arm This was important, and I knew she could tell me to just stuff it and take off at any moment

"I came here, didn’t I? I’ve actually felt kind of sorry for you, Gloriana The sisters and I talked about you We realize Achy did you dirty All of us have had bad seasons when our numbers were down The idea that he could toss any one of us out and wipe our ie shuddered then carefully put away her lipstick and compact "So I’ll cut you some slack What do you want to know?"

"First, about my blood I’ve made a vampire, then she turned Ray, Israel Caine They have Siren blood now Will that give theet our power froie ran her hands down her own perfect shape "Which is one reason I was so freaked when Circe cursed me that time and took h for us the other night Woet nada, zip, frorinned "Except , don’t you know"