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So, yeah, what the fuck?

Pushing open the door, I entered the rooer and nicer than the one she’d had back in Virginia My kind spared no expense when it ca area, complete with a loveseat, coffee table, and kitchen nook, led into a bedrooh to fit a full-sized bed and a dresser There was even a bathroo area as I stopped just outside the bedroo at a painting on the wall I looked, and any other tihed

It was of her father

Apollo

And it was a rendering of hi white pants, head full of hair so blond it was alolden harp There was no way anyone seeing her standing there near that painting couldn’t see sooing through her head right then

Her wide eyes met mine for a moment, and then she turned her cheek The side of her neck was exposed again

That fucking dai behind a crescent-shaped wound that would eventually fade to a scar a shade paler than her normal skin tone

Tagged her in the saed-- Alexandria Andros, Marcus’s niece The other Apollyon--the one as supposed to exist The girl I had helped train once it was discovered what she was And the girl I’d given up the rest of my life for so she could spend hers with thetime since I’d let ht concerning her follow through It wasn’t because she’d broken my heart or picked someone else over me I’d cared for her--as much as I’d been able to care for anyone back then No Not being able to think about her had nothing to do with the brief relationship we’d had

It had everything to do with how badly I had screwed her over

I had no idea why I was thinking about this now or allowing et the hell out of here, because when I looked at Josie, I couldn’t help but think history was on repeat

Here was yet another girl who had a fate laid out before her that she never chose, and I knehen gods were concerned, she could fight that fate all she wanted, but it wouldn’t change a da Her life was on autopilot And with me involved, that autopilot was set to crash and burn She didn’t needabout ht now Go ahead and get back on the road before Apollo appeared and I ended up stuck here But it was ot to the point that I didn’t want to leave

So I should have been turning away and walking right out that fucking door Saying goodbye Wishing her good luck She was going to need it, and then so away, my hand curled on the frame of the door My heart pounded in my chest as I closed my eyes and pushed it shut A moment passed and then I pivoted around and crossed the few feet between us Without saying a word, I took her hand and led her into the bathroo

Chapter 18