Goddess of Pain - Katie May Page 0,24

unsuspecting humans. He wouldn’t hesitate; if he or she deserved it, he’d deliver the punishment. His deaths would be quick and merciful.

Arsin, on the other hand, would relish in the pain he could inflict. He would laugh in tandem to his victim’s cries. He would light them on fire and then watch the burning body like it was prime-time television.

“Before or after I escaped from prison?” Arsin asks seriously.

“Jesus Christ,” I moan. “Seriously?”

He scoffs, throwing his head back. “As if you've never been arrested for and convicted of first-degree murder.”

“Um…no. I haven’t been.” Shaking my head once, I focus on what’s important. Namely, the person who wants me dead.

I have no doubt that he or she is also the one who stole my memories.

“We don’t know who the client is,” Helio answers. “They usually contact us through a third party or on a secure network.”

“Or smoke signals,” Arsin adds with a nod.

“Okay.” I clap my hands together once, garnering both of their attention. “Here’s what we need to do. First, I need to find my other mates.” I nibble anxiously on my lower lip. “I also need to talk to Avery. See what he knows.” And who he killed. “Next, we need to figure out who wants me dead. I’m willing to bet my life—not literally, Arsin, so put that twenty away—that it’s the same person who did this to us. And finally, I need to figure out why.”

“And then?” I see the question in Helio’s gaze. It’s the same one that’s rattling around in my head, demanding attention.

Do I return to the Realm of the Gods? Do I return to my kingdom?

Or do I remain on Earth with my…with my family—a family that’s not biologically my own?

“We’ll figure that out when it’s time,” I whisper. When I left my kingdom—a home to thousands and thousands of lesser gods and goddess—it had been relatively safe and prosperous. What happened when I was away?

And would I even want to go back?

Chapter 11

“Avery Living, get your ass out here!” I bellow as soon as I enter our shared apartment. Oh, the irony of his last name.

Sin immediately wanders into the kitchen, where he begins opening cupboards at random and grabbing plates, cups, and bowls. Helio takes up sentry in front of the door, protecting us from anyone who might dare attempt an attack.

Say, my other two mates?

I’m not an idiot. It’s too much of a coincidence that I was attacked by three different people—four, if you count Helio, my silent stalker—and then I regained my memories. Desmond and Tate are here, of that I have no doubt.

And they’re trying to kill me.

“Avery!”

The door to his bedroom is wrenched open, and Avery appears a moment later, eyes drowsy from sleep. His golden blond hair sticks out in all directions, and he’s currently shirtless, the tan planes of his chest on display.

“What’s going on?” he demands, voice still heavy with sleep. But that drowsiness dissipates when he catches sight of first me, then Helio and Arsin. With an almost blistering speed, Avery grabs my arm and yanks me behind him. “Who the fuck are these people?”

I exchange a wary glance with Helio. It’s apparent that Avery Living is still not aware of his true identity.

Fuck, we’ve been best friends for years. I know everything there is to know about him. I even watched him fucking date.

And all this time, he’s been mine.

“Aves,” I say, tugging on his arm. His body stiffens, but he doesn’t turn from where he’s facing off with Helio and Sin. “Avery.”

“Did they hurt you?” he demands, and Sin throws his arms up into the air with a disgruntled scoff.

“Why does everyone think I’ll hurt her?” he asks, a manic glint in his steely eyes. “You blow up her car once, and that’s suddenly all people can focus on.”

“You…” I’m worried Avery’s brain is short-circuiting. “You’re the one who blew up her car?”

“Yes, we’ve been over this already.” Sin waves a hand in the air as if he’s attempting to shoo away a pesky fly. “Let bygones be bygones.” Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial murmur, he adds, “I rubbed one out in front of her, so I think we’re good now.”

Sometimes, I want to kiss Sin senseless—kiss him until he’s nothing but a writhing mess, demanding more. Other times, like today, I want to beat him with a rubber duck.

Avery’s spine straightens, the bare muscles on his back bunching, as he stares at me over his shoulder, expression unreadable.

“Avery, I