So with this thought in mind, I gave Hadrian my best big-girl smile. "Don't worry about me."
"I don't think the thunderbolts will make it here, but if something happens, just give me a call—-"
"I have my own powers as your LOTUS," I reminded him.
His lips twitched. "So we're still sticking to that?"
"Never even considered looking for an alternative," I answered airily. "Now go and save humanity." I pretended to shoo him away, but Hadrian only pulled me close with a smile...
And then we were kissing.
The long and slow kind.
Oh.
Wait.
It's hard and deep now.
Toe-curling deep.
And then...nothing.
"Take care, love. Stay safe for me." The words were his favorite way of saying goodbye, but before I could answer, Hadrian was already gone...and my teeth started chattering, the moment I realized I no longer had to fake things.
Because honestly?
I'm terrified out of my wits right now, just completely out of sorts, and feeling like my hormones were all over the place.
What in Hell's name was happening to me?
Horrific scenes from disaster movies started flashing in my mind.
Armageddon.
The Day After Tomorrow.
Interstellar.
Even Riverdale. I mean, if you've watched the show, you know that makes sense. The crime rate in the supposedly idyllic town was horrific, and they had everything from serial killers to gargoyle kings terrorizing the townsfolk. Oh, and let's not forget how almost every resident had at least one murderous secret hidden in their closet, and if they didn't, it only meant their turn to play killer would come next season.
Add all of those things together, and it's kinda obvious, isn't it?
Riverdale is set in post-apocalyptic times, but because CW knows where the money's at, teen drama it is.
But on the other hand...
I started pacing, hoping to distract myself from the boom and flash of thunder and lightning overhead, but since the porch wasn't exactly expansive, it only meant six steps forward and back.
Total, not each.
Archie and company still had it good, I thought gloomily. Since they were just playing make-believe, they only had to bleed fake blood and never had to actually fear for their lives.
Back in the real world, however...
Our villain was an honest-to-goodness Greek god, which meant he could also just as honest-to-goodness kill all of us—-
Boom! Boom! Boom!
That sounded a little too close for comfort, like cannonballs in the skies that Zeus could swing in my direction at any moment, and a shiver of paranoia slithered down my spine. Squinting at the distance, I was able to make out what seemed like an aerial battle unfolding-—
Were those people flying on broomsticks?
I rubbed my eyes furiously, just to make sure my mind wasn't playing any tricks on me.
And it wasn't.
There really were people flying around on broomsticks, battling it out against Zeus' thunderbolts.
Wow.
I felt a little faint, just thinking about it—-
Oh. No. Wait.
I was feeling lightheaded.
Strange.
And then...nothing.Chapter Two"Oh shit." I woke up feeling miserable and ashamed, my head cradled on Hadrian's lap. The rain had finally weakened to a drizzle, but the air still crackled with danger, and a few steps away, the Greek god of medicine had his bushy brows puckered in a frown.
I looked up, worried that the immortal physician was here because of Hadrian, but he only appeared exhausted, not hurt.
My gaze drifted back to Dr. Ace, who also seemed his usual ancient grumpy self.
Technically, Greek gods like these two didn't ever get old, but Aesculapius (his real name, in case you're wondering, and it took me ages to memorize how to spell that, FYI) took eccentric delight in disguising himself as your usual grouchy neighborhood grandpa.
Like I said: eccentric. But I'm not gonna judge. I had my own life to worry about, especially since...
My gaze reluctantly lifted to Hadrian's. "I fainted. Didn't I?"
"I found you unconscious on the porch," Hadrian said tightly, "and had Aesculapius come right away."
Oh no.
Zetes, one of my few immortal friends, had warned me about how nasty fast gossip sites worked in their world. Once word gets out about me fainting at the first sign of anger...
Shudder.
The pool of misery inside of me spiraled up and sucked me in like a whirlpool. Fainting was fine if I were an eighteen-year-old virgin from the eighteenth century. Fainting back then was fine. Fashionable even, and a thoroughly acceptable instrument for flirting.
But...I wasn't eighteen, and the Regency period was long over.
Instead, I was forty-one, we were a few hundred years in the future, and my newly acquired title required a certain sense of dignity.
So fainting at my age?
Absolute epic fail, and the dreadful realization had me trying to sit up in hopes of doing something to reverse the situation.
"Take it slowly—-"
"I'm fine—-" Not.
The world started spinning, and I could feel blood rushing up to my head.
Shit.
I went absolutely still, hoping that this would also keep the pain at bay.
"Now, do you believe me?" Hadrian's exasperated tone sounded a lot like 'I told you so' but my head was hurting so bad by now that I didn't even have the energy to roll my eyes.