part of me and not just the necklace.
“You mean inside the necklace?” Hyperion said, his eyes shrewd and assessing as he locked them on me. “Because magical objects of that nature are usually strongly forged using multiple god powers.”
I cleared my throat, not sure if I should lie to my grandfather. I mean, I didn’t have a ton of experience with competent father figures, as mine was a raging alcoholic, but it felt like telling him the truth was the right path.
Cronus interrupted before I could open my mouth. “We’re not totally sure about the necklace,” he said, eyes on me even though he was talking to his friend. “Maisey has had some odd side effects, and for now we need to speak with someone that might be able to give us more information.” I looked down at my fingers to see they were normal looking again.
Ugh, the last time he said that, we ended up visiting the Crone-who-wanted-to-kill-us.
Cronus finally looked away from me and I felt warm all over. This time it wasn’t from the power of the sins encased in my body, but from his eyes focused on me as they had been.
“You going to Jessell?” Hyperion asked, and it was random enough that I knew there was a huge back-story there. Probably one that ended with Cronus sticking his dick into the wrong woman again. #Asshole.
Cronus’ brow furrowed. “I’m not sure if she’s still in the business … or even still alive. The whispers of information that made it to my prison were few and far between. You’re usually more informed from the underworld…”
Hyperion, Crius, and Koios all shook their heads. “She’s not in the underworld, if that helps,” Koios said, rubbing a hand over his dark hair. He looked tired, his skin darker and more grey than usual—like Cronus when he’d expended too much energy, but I could already see color returning.
“I guess we’ll hunt her down and see what we find.”
Considering Cronus had been locked in a cage for a thousand years or so, it wasn’t surprising that a lot of his old contacts would be out of service. Or dead.
“Is she a god?” I asked, wondering what she might be able to tell us that the Titans didn’t already know.
Cronus shook his head. “She’s a powerful seer, blessed with longevity and future sight. At one time she was my greatest asset, but she defected to Zeus’s side and was part of my downfall.”
I stared blankly at him, blinking a few times. “Let me guess, you fucked her and then didn’t send flowers?”
Cronus shook his head as his brothers laughed—was that a smile on Hound’s face too?
#CronusIsASlut
“In this situation, I’m not sure of the reason,” Cronus told me, ignoring my jibe. “One day she was at my side, and the next she was helping those bastards lock me away.”
Anger rose inside of me, so swift and brutal that I felt like fire could rage from my fingertips and I wouldn’t even find it odd. It took me a second to see that some of my emotions were elevated by the new sins I carried, and if I let them take control now I’d probably lose my mind. So with a lot of effort, I dialed it back.
“We can’t trust her, then,” I bit out, somewhat under control. “I won’t speak with someone that betrayed you so easily.”
Cronus shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “It’s a cutthroat world. The Greeks probably offered her something that she couldn’t turn down. A lot of time has passed. It’s worth going to see her again.”
I snorted, crossing my arms. “Loyalty shouldn’t be able to be bought.”
Cronus and Hyperion exchanged a single smile. “And that’s why, my dear,” Hyperion said, “you are a breath of fresh air to us old Titans. Gods can be bought. Humans, on the other hand, occasionally there is one who will literally die before betraying those they love. Looks like you might be the rarest of breeds.”
I paused, not sure if that was completely true or not. Would I sacrifice myself…?
“You threw yourself into a storm born of pure sin to save the humans,” Cronus reminded me. “You didn’t even hesitate. Your altruistic nature goes against your love of selfies and that Facegram thing, but I think your true self has been hidden for a long time. Squashed by this world.”
Koios made a sound, and I startled because those two were so quiet at times, I forgot they were there. Giants silently observing in