Blood of Zeus (Blood of Zeus #1) - Meredith Wild Page 0,88

stick my neck out to save a demon unless I get something in return.”

Maximus’s pissed-off glare returns full force. “How noble of you.”

“Take the favor or turn it down, son. This is your grail to lose, not mine. If no one stands in the way, your beloved will be tossed into the flames of eternal torment faster than you can imagine. You can doubt me if you’d like. But before you do, take one look into her eyes and tell me if you think she does.”

I tighten my grasp on his arm and press my forehead to his shoulder. A silent plea for his understanding.

“If I choose to believe you…and if I say yes…what do you want?” Maximus’s voice holds enough resignation to give me another surge of renewed hope.

“I’ve been looking for you for nearly a decade, Maximus. I’d like a chance to get to know my son. Nancy robbed me of your childhood. In doing so, she robbed you of the opportunity to know yourself. To know your purpose. Your gifts. I just want a chance to make that right.”

The tension rippling off Maximus would be palpable even if I wasn’t so wired into him.

“If she wanted me away from you, she must have had good reasons.”

Z’s expression remains unaffected. “I’m sure she had reasons. I can’t say they were good.”

“Don’t talk about my mother—”

“Do you want my help or not?” Again, Z looks more determined than amused. Another sign that there’s a god under that suit used to getting his way. The confirmation should comfort me but doesn’t. Somehow I already know he’ll want more than a casual reunion with his long-lost son. He can’t have traveled this far and searched for so long to settle for that. There’s much more to the story here. Still, I can’t bring myself to challenge him and risk the help he’s offering.

Maximus wraps his arm around me and holds me against him protectively. The act is equal parts tender and possessive, and I hope it means he’ll do anything to keep me there. Even if it means letting this stranger into his life long enough to save mine.

“What’s it going to be?” Z taps his foot a few times.

Maximus squares his jaw. “If that’s your condition, then make your calls.”

Z simply nods. “Very well. Until I know more, she’s under your protection. I’m not responsible for anything that happens on your watch.”

Maximus strengthens his hold on me infinitesimally.

“She’ll be safe with me.”

I press closer to his side, conveying how much I believe his every word. How thoroughly I believe in him. In us. In return, I receive an influx of his energy, warm and strong and full of purpose. It’s all I need right now. It’s what I’ve defied my family for. For this man—this demigod—who has every part of my heart, inch of my soul, and minute of my life in his hands.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to my beta readers, Jonathan, Lauren, Jennifer, Martha, and Mindy, for your early insights and excitement for this story. It meant so much to get your stamp of approval when the story was so fresh.

Thank you, Scott Saunders, for your eagle eye and your thoughtful red pen. To know my words are always in such good hands means more than you know!

Angel, I’m so grateful for your enthusiasm and all the heart you brought to the page for this. I’m so proud of our book baby, and I can’t wait to create more magic with you!

Thank you, Victoria, for the sprints and the check-ins, but most of all, for your friendship. I’m holding you in my heart through every word. We’re going to get through this!

Lastly, this book is dedicated to my wonderful, beautiful friend, Mindy Moniz. Thank you for always being there for me and for the constant stream of memes that keep me sane. Love you.

— Meredith

There’s no better place to start than the pinnacle of the blessings tower, where goddess Meredith Wild resides. What do I say here? How do I express this fullness of my heart and joy of my storyteller’s soul? Impossible. I can only tell you that birthing a world like this has been so epic with a friend and guide like you. Thank you for teaching me with the words and inspiring me with your heart. You are such a beautiful blessing in my world.

Scott Saunders: The words sing with you to help refine, smooth, comment, and galvanize them. My gratitude to you continues to be boundless and