Part 111 (1/2)

”You,” he spat, starting to stalk toward me. ”Christ, always lose my mind around you. f.u.c.kin' crazy.”

He was f.u.c.king crazy but not for the reasons he thought he was.

I couldn't share this. I was circling as he kept stalking and heard an obviously not torn up about the recent demise of Cora, The Nasty, Baldur call, ”Please don't. This is most amusing.”

Therefore, I knew one of the witches was going to intervene.

She didn't.

Pol kept stalking.

I kept circling.

They were probably amused too, and it was clear Pol was right.

Cora, the Dead was expendable.

I stared at Pol thinking this sucked.

It sucked!

How could life be so awesome, so full of promise, so beautiful and here I was facing down my freaking ex confined by a magical cage in a whole other world?

I mean, really.

”Trust you to spoil it all when I'm finally happy,” I snapped at Pol.

”Do not make me chase you, b.i.t.c.h,” he clipped back.

”When Apollo gets here, he's totally going to cut off your steel hand, your other hand and conk you in the head with his sword again.”

”Wake up, Ilsa, this s.h.i.+t is not gonna go good for you. The dude's probably already dead.”

I could not believe that.

I would not believe that.

But just at the thought, my heart hurt.

”He'll save me,” I hissed.

”Kiss him good-bye, babe,” he returned.

”Come closer to us, Maddie,” Circe called.

”I don't want him near you guys,” I called back, still circling but doing it well away from the girls.

”Come closer, Maddie!” Finnie yelled.

”I don't-” I started.

”Come! Now!” Cora shouted.

I didn't know why I did it, but I ran their way.

The instant I got close, Circe clasped my hand and I noticed all of the women were holding hands in a circle.

Finnie grasped my other hand and the second she did, Circe ordered, ”Think about your man.”

I had no idea why she wanted us to do that but I did it.

It wasn't hard. It felt good. Beautiful. Calming. I pulled up a picture of Apollo, tall, strong, big, handsome, his cloak billowing out behind him, then falling forward, swaying around him, enveloping him in its embrace.

That cloak was totally bada.s.s.

So was my man.

On this thought, a charge shot through my hands and a ring burst out from our huddle colored in gold, ice blue, violet and poppy stripes. It sliced through Pol and Baldur, taking them off their feet.

Then the ring expanded, stretching tall, and the blue bars of the cage disintegrated.

Finally, it exploded and multi-colored sparks shot everywhere.

I guessed they were wrong about Circe's magic not working here.

Thank G.o.d ”Now, run!” Circe shouted.

We ran toward the doors.

They closed with a loud crash.

c.r.a.p!

I skidded to a halt when my arm jerked because I was still holding Circe's hand and she'd gone down, tackled by Baldur.

She rolled him and Finnie grabbed onto his hair, yanking it back.

He howled.

”He was correct,” the disembodied voice sounded. ”This is most amusing.”

f.u.c.king witch b.i.t.c.hes.

I couldn't think on them. Not yet.

I was about to help with the Baldur situation when I was pulled back with a forearm at my throat.

Pol's.

He jerked me two steps back but I twisted in his hold, coming loose. I ducked and shuffled away.