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With the silence between us for the past six months, however, it didn’t feel like it I hadn’t ad around in hopes of seeing Henry in the crowd, there even when he wasn’t supposed to be But no n of him Granted, half a year was practically a blink of an eye for someone who had existed since before the birth of hun that heht for every small step forward Every look, every touch, every kiss--what if six ht us back to square one? He’d spent a thousand yearshis f irst wife, Persephone, and he’d only knownto a wonderful love story It’d been the beginning of eternity, and nothing about our new life together was going to be easy For either of us

Especially considering that on top of adjusting to e, I’d have to learn how to be Queen of the Underworld, as well

And nonone of it would help when it ca over the dead

I pushed ate of Eden Manor came into vie York, school, my mother’s illness--that was my past My mortal life This wasthe summer, I would have the chance to be with Henry now, and I wasn’t going to waste a ate

I could do this Henry would be waiting for me, and he’d be thrilled to see o another sixher, spending the summer without my mother had been torture, but she’d insisted--this f irst summer was my own, and she and Henry wouldn’t be involved But I was back now, and everything would be okay

Jahtly colored trees that lined the road "All right?" he said tothe way he druers on the armrest nervously He stilled, and after a moment I added before I could stop ht?"

James blinked and said coolly, "Who? Henry? Couldn’t say I’m not him"

That was the last answer I’d expected, but of course he wasn’t going to be cheerful about it James would have been the one to replace Henry as the ruler of the Underworld if I’d failed, and even though it hadn’t come up on our trip, James was undoubtedly sore about it

"Could you at least try to pretend to be happy for me?" I said "You can’t spend your entire existence mad about that"

"I’m not mad I’m worried," he said "You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, you know No one would blao back to Eden?" I’d already passed the tests I’d told Henry I’d be back We werelike you’re the be-all and end-all for Henry," said James "It isn’t fair to put you under that kind of pressure"

Good lord, he really was talking about not going back

"Listen, James, I know you liked Greece--so did I--but if you think you can talkto talk you into anything," said Ja toto take your mother away from you now if you decide you don’t want to do this after all"

"That’s not--that’s not why I’ back at all," I sputtered

"Then why are you, Kate? Give ive you a dozen"

"I only want one"

I sniffed It wasn’t any of his business I’d nearly died into walk away froht not like the Underworld "I don’t kno you do things, but I love Henry, and I’ood forto do if Henry doesn’t love you?"

I slammed on the brakes and forced the car into Park so violently that the head of the stick shift snapped off The car was a piece of shit anyway "That’s impossible He said he loves me, and I trust hilared at hie With a huff, I cliht on le ently undid it for me

"Don’t be mad," he said "Please After what happened to Persephone--I want to ht? That’s all" I wasn’t an idiot I knew part of Henry would always be in love with Persephone After all, he’d lost the will to continue after she’d given up her immortality to die and spend eternity with a mortal, and he wouldn’t have felt that way if his entire existence hadn’t revolved around her But I could give hi she never had--requited love