Аполлион

Seth’s laugh still had that weird, warm feeling. At least this way you can’t hit me.

Hitting Seth still felt like a viable option. I don’t have time for this right now.

Curiosity filtered through the connection. What is it that you’re doing right now, Alex?

What are YOU doing right now, Seth?

There was that laugh again. It was a nice laugh. It didn’t have the same effect as Aiden’s, but it was rich and deep and it reminded me of Seth.

Pre-killing-rampage Seth, that is.

You tell first.

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Aiden stir a little. Then I closed my eyes and focused on the connection. I figured I might as well glean some information from this.

A split second later, Seth took form in my thoughts. For some reason, he only had half his clothes on. I wasn’t sure if that was me doing that or if he really was shirtless. Either way, it was way too much golden skin exposed. Treading lightly, I tested out the connection and the emotions it fed to me. I didn’t know if I could somehow get sucked into him this way, so I proceeded with a great deal of caution.

The only thing I felt was… calmness, which was really—

A sudden cold chill snaked down my spine, and then Seth said, Whatever you’re looking for, you’re not going to find it.

What do you think I’m looking for?

With you, one can never be too sure.

Oh, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Amusement flowed through the connection as Seth said, Or it’s the pot calling the pot a pot.

I made a face. What?

Seth laughed. Ah, I’ve sort of missed this, Alex.

Opening my eyes, I resisted the irrational urge to admit that I too missed the banter, the out-snarking battle that neither of us won. It was weird—the dynamics of my relationships with Seth and Aiden.

Aiden complimented me; he was the yin to my yang, the “ now, now” to my smartass. But Seth and I were too much alike, and in a way, we really were the same person. Together for too long, we probably would murder each other.

But yeah, there was a part of me that missed this—missed him.

Why haven ‘t you started yelling at me yet?he asked.

I choked out a laugh. Only you would ask that question. What? Do you want me to yell at you? I doubt that it would do any good. It’s not going to change you.

But that’s never stopped you from doing anything before. Even if you knew the outcome and it was pointless, you’d still do it.

Like now? Staying away from you is pointless?

The smugness was back, settling over me like a second skin. Very pointless, he added.

Frustrated now, I closed my eyes and sighed. Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do. I know you don’t care about anyone but yourself, but I really need to go.

Pricks of irritation overshadowed the warmth of amusement and arrogance. I want to talk.

Immediately wary, my hands opened and closed. What do you want to talk about?

How wrong you are.

It was a good thing Hermes hadn’t showed up, because my hand itched to connect with his face. Oh, gods… Seth, I can’t do this—

I care about you, he said, surprising me.

I shook my head, wanting to deny it, because stripping my ability to make my own decisions was a hell of a way of showing how he cared, but it was the truth. But I remembered that night in Telly’s house, that moment I’d seen the indecision in his eyes, the vulnerability. He hadn’t wanted to hurt me then, but I believed that what he neededoverwhelmed what he wanted.

I know, I said, because, deep down, I knew he did care.

Even more shocking, there was a sudden opening in the connection. Not that I could read any of Seth’s thoughts, but there was a vulnerability that hadn’t been there before. It wouldn’t have been bad between us, even if you never connected with me. It wouldn’t have been terrible.

My chest felt heavy and it ached, because there was also some truth to that.