too intense to ignore.
The hike yesterday with Zagreus, finding the satyr compound, Max…
Before she could get too excited at the knowledge Max was really okay, another memory hit. This one of her and Zagreus in the trees, arguing. Him, telling her they were going back, trying to force her to leave. Her, breaking free and…
What? What had she done when she’d broken free of his hold?
“You’re as selfish as everyone said you were. I-I can’t believe I didn’t see it before…”
Her own words echoed back in her head. Every ugly one she’d uttered to him in anger. And her pulse beat hard and fast when she remembered that boulder rising in the air then whirring past Zagreus’s head.
He’d ducked out of the way, hadn’t he?
She swallowed hard, frantically thinking back. Yes, he had. That rock hadn’t hit him. Relief swept through her, but was quickly shattered when she remembered his words as he’d grabbed her again.
“Stop fighting me, dammit. And stop using your fucking brain strength to throw things at me.”
Wide-eyed, she looked down at her trembling hands and turned them over in her lap. Had she really done that? She’d never been able to move objects with her mind before. Couldn’t even remember consciously thinking about throwing something at him. All she knew was that she’d been so upset then, she hadn’t been thinking straight. And he’d been the one thing standing in her way.
She glanced over the bed and realized she was right in the middle of the mattress. The pillows around her weren’t disturbed. She’d slept here alone. He obviously hadn’t wanted to have anything to do with her once he’d brought her back to the castle.
She wasn’t sure what had happened after their fight, but she suddenly didn’t care. All she could think about was him. What she’d done. And why he would ever want to be around her again after she’d all but accused him of being the monster everyone else thought him to be.
Panic pushed at her chest. She looked up at Nysa, standing at the side of the bed, eyeing her warily, almost as if she wasn’t sure what Talisa would do. “He’s all right, isn’t he?”
Nysa’s eyes narrowed. “Zagreus?”
“Yes.”
“He’s fine,” she said cautiously. “How are you?”
“Stupid.” Talisa threw back the covers and moved to the other side of the bed. She was wearing a flimsy white nightgown again, just like the first time she’d awoken in this castle, but this time she barely noticed. She pushed to her feet and glanced around. “Where are my clothes? I need to talk to him.”
“Your clothes are being cleaned.” When Talisa turned to look at the nymph, Nysa said, “I brought you some new things to wear. If you’re interested. As long as you’re feeling better.”
It hit Talisa then that Nysa knew what had happened. What she’d done. And that the nymph had been sent to guard her.
“I’m fine. I’m not…” She looked down at her hands. “I don’t even know how I did that.” Her gaze met the female’s hesitant one across the bed. “But I won’t flip out again like that, I promise.”
“Hm.” Nysa’s gaze narrowed. “It seems to me your gift of strength is stronger than you thought. And that it might be tied to your emotions. Gifts unchecked like that can be dangerous. You’re lucky Zagreus was there to help you.”
She moved away from the bed, into the center of the room, and reached for something from the couch.
As Talisa watched her, she had another memory flash. Of her yelling at Zagreus that she didn’t need him, and him grabbing her and saying, “You do. You’re just too stubborn to admit it…”
Her heart raced all over again. He was right. She was stubborn. She’d always been stubborn. She’d fought so long and so hard for respect, for independence, for a place with the Argonauts, she’d convinced herself she didn’t need anyone. Not family, not a mate, not even a lover. She had herself and that was enough.
One other female in her realm had thought that way. One other warrior who’d been controlled by her emotions. By hate and revenge.
Her throat closed. Atalanta had felt that way. The female who’d kidnapped and raised Max. The female who’d thought she deserved a place with the Argonauts and who’d been so driven by vengeance when they’d shunned her, she’d traded her soul for a shot at immortality. She’d let that hate rule her until she’d become as powerful as a god. Until she’d turned