on Co

ck in a bit." Archer's words, a

ance at Kennedy's interruption, b

, unmistakably, their hushed whispers, followed by the

a hammer blow to my already shattered h

it hard against my ears, desperate to bloc

ere already burn

irst rays of dawn pierced through t

all the others, wa

m my face, a fierce reso

m

I reached for the small, wooden bird carved by m

ly thing I ha

, finally drifting

My eyes snapped open. A low grow

ht, heart leapin

scle and teeth, with eyes li

er, Hades, a beast

ath hi

ed charm, pretended to help me overcome. He' d brought Hades home, promising to desensitize

just growling. He had

and wooden. My

en, furious protectiveness surged through me, ec

all I h

the throbbing pain in my body f

ly between its teeth. I scrambled after him, my b

, a sprawling, perfectly manicured

des wagged his tail, dropping the bird at her feet. Kennedy picked it

o me, contempt dripping from her voice. "Your

r wrist, she hurled the wooden

crack, splitting int

in my throat. M

arp, it cleared my head of all fear. The image of my father, his

ith a rage so profound it shook me to my

yson. Still so naive. What are you going to do? Run

snapped

in and betrayal coalesced into a single, blinding fury. I lunged

ed, my voice hoarse. "Gi

eked, clutch

teeth clamped down on my arm, tearing through the thin si

s a red ha

e ripped me awa

impact knocked the wind out of me, darkness swirling at the edges o

ch

as a mask of furious cont

ai