Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Suddenly, her fingers touch mine while my hand rests on my lap, and I look her way again. She gently smiles, interlacing her fingers through mine, and it makes me feel so damn fucking good I want to smash my lips onto hers.
But it’s too soon. Too early. Too fresh after all that killing.
She used me for her own gain, pushed her mother into my father’s arms just to get closer to Ares …
I unfurl my fingers from hers and look away, but the soft, breathy sigh leaving her lips doesn’t go unnoticed.
Ares parks the car and opens the door, but the second he steps out he nearly collapses. I immediately jump out and run to him to support him under my shoulder.
“I’m fine,” he says.
“Stop lying,” I say. “Let me help you.”
He snorts. “You’re one to talk.”
“Guess we’re both perfect liars then,” I murmur with a grin. “Let’s get you inside.”
I tug him with me, but not before glancing over my shoulder at Blaine and Crystal who just stepped out of the car. Even though she stomped on my heart by admitting to her lies, it still aches for her. And I don’t think anything will ever change that fact.
I’ve fallen in love with not just one but two liars.
Blaine
Crystal looks as pale as snow, and I offer her a hand when she steps out of the car.
“I can walk,” she says, nearly falling over, but I catch her just in time, my palm fitting neatly into the small of her back.
Perfect.
“I … I …” she murmurs, a blush creeping onto her cheek.
I place a finger on her lips. “You don’t have to say anything. I know how you feel.” I smile. “Even though you only wanted me to teach you so you could kill Ares, I knew what I was getting myself into.”
Her eyes flash with surprise. “But Ares didn’t tell you why.” She pauses. “Or did he?”
I swallow and nod. “Ares tells me almost everything, except for the blood on his back, but he doesn’t speak about that to Caleb either. Not to anyone, I think.” I clear my throat. “Regardless, even if I did know, it’s not up to me to tell someone else’s story. It would’ve only fueled the hatred. Something I wish didn’t exist between us.”
She sighs and looks down. “I just … wish I knew what to do.”
I tip up her chin. “Whatever choice you make, I’ll be there with you every step of the way.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“I don’t know, are you mad at me?” I raise a brow. “We both kept information from each other.”
She snorts. “I guess we’re all liars here.”
“That’s what Tartarus is known for,” I muse, hooking my arm through hers. “Liars, deceivers, killers, gamblers, all the riffraff of society living under the same roof. I feel so lucky.”
She hides her laughter under her hand.
“Glad I could make you smile a little,” I say, winking.
“I’m surprised you almost let me kill him, though, that was very unlike you,” she says.
“Believe me, it took every ounce of my restraint.” I shrug as I add, “But you heard him warn us not to intervene.”
She frowns and looks up at the staircase where Caleb is helping Ares get back to his room. “It almost felt like he … wanted me to kill him.”
“Maybe …” I mutter. “He’s been dancing on that edge with Caleb for quite some time. Both of them keep each other alive when the other was about to fall.”
“They really have a complicated relationship,” she mutters.
“Yes. But when you came into the mix, it was like chucking a fire at a concoction of gasoline and alcohol.”
She swallows as though it falls hard on her, especially when Caleb glances at her over his shoulder. Even I can feel their palpable connection from this distance, like lightning zapping across the room, the same lightning I feel whenever I touch and kiss her.
I sigh out loud. “I’m sorry, darling. I don’t want you to think it’s all your fault. Those boys have been toxic for a very long time, believe me.”
“It’s fine. I know what I’ve done.” Her resolve strengthens, I can see it in her eyes. “I’m not finished yet. I just need to figure out …” Her words taper off as though she’s still trying to decide on the words to say. But no words will ever suffice for the complicated feelings we have.
I grab her hand and press another kiss to the top. “Whatever you choose, you know I’ll always be here waiting for you.”
Caleb
When she approaches Ares’s room, I immediately walk to the door and stop her from entering. I don’t want to get between them, but if she still intends on ending his life, this would be the perfect opportunity.
She peers at him over my shoulder at his blood staining his shirt, so I block the view with my body and fold my arms while I peer down at her.