Page 48 of The Gods Forbid

It was not lost on me that I had the urge to defend Sebastian, but I intentionally chose to ignore that. “Noted.”

Nikolas scoffed, the sound half a laugh. “You know he thinks we’re dating, right?”

I straightened slightly in my chair. “Why do you think that?” I mean, I knew that was true, but I was still … curious.

“He wouldn’t be half as combative with me if he thought we were just friends.” Nikolas was staring at me like he was expecting me to spill about something, but he’d find nothing but a paper thin rapport that consisted solely of me talking and Sebastian trying to restrain a threat every time I thanked him for something.

I waved a hand in dismissal, this topic making me feel slightly … more terrified, I guess. I couldn’t do this now, not when I had an entire night ahead with him. I’d have to go right to my side of the studio if I was going to handle that.

“More importantly,” I said, pointedly ignoring the look Nikolas gave me that screamed I caught that diversion. “He’s giving me a list today of all the high-ranking members.”

Nikolas lurched forward in his seat. “Already?”

My eyebrows scrunched together. I didn’t know Sebastian that well, but I didn’t think that was out of character for him. “He said he knew when he’d lost.”

Nikolas smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don’t make me respect him, I swear to the Fates, Persy.”

I laughed rather than telling him that was my goal. He knew what the end goal was.

Sebastian leaving.

Well, Sebastian back as Apollo.

“Can we please try to finish this?” I looked down at the stack of files on my desk, trying to finalize a proposal for placing former residents at one of the universities in Rome. I knew how to handle this, at least. There was a clear path forward.

Nikolas hit me with another look I chose to ignore, leaning forward to take the proposal out of my hands. “Go home, Persy. I can finish this.”

“But, I—”

“Oh, no you don’t,” Nikolas said, wrestling the papers out of my grip. Unfortunately, he was naturally stronger than me and I didn’t really feel like using any of the maneuvers Lilah Ares taught me on him. “You’ve done enough for me today.”

I frowned at his insinuation. “I don’t consider having lunch with two friends to be a chore.”

Nikolas’s mouth curved into a smile that was surely intended to be self-deprecating. “You were my support system because I have yet to keep my head on straight around Kostas.”

I moved my hand over my mouth to cover the purely gleeful grin on my mouth. Nikolas knew how excited the prospect of him and Kostas getting together made me, but I didn’t want him to feel even more pressure than the weight he was already placing on himself.

“I thought it went really well,” I said, trying to hide the excitement in my voice. Nikolas and Kostas would have to come together on their own, even though I knew—from their own admission—they were both half in love with the other.

Nikolas brought Kostas freshly cut flowers at least once a week. Kostas had made every single dish, pastry, or small bit of food that Nikolas had ever mentioned for him.

But there was still a bit of hesitation on both sides, both of them still working through the reasons they ended up in Prometheus.

As a friend, I wanted them together as soon as possible. But as someone who might be in a position of authority, especially for Kostas, I didn’t want to risk either of them thinking getting together was something they had to do.

“I was a blubbering idiot,” Nikolas cried, dropping his head back.

“If you won’t listen to her, at least listen to me,” a kind, but confident voice sounded from the door. “I do have the gift of knowledge after all.”

Nikolas straightened right as a smile broke across my lips. My throat prickled with the threat of tears at the uninhibited excitement that sprang across Nikolas’s face at his sister-in-law’s voice.

He all but jumped out of his chair to go give Daphne a hug. Daphne returned it freely, letting him rock her back and forth. Once Nikolas gave her an inch of slack, she pushed back and grabbed his face with her hands. “Kostas loves you and you know it. Take your time, but at least be confident in that.”

Nikolas’s shoulders dropped an inch in relief, and the same emotion spread through my chest. “Right as always, sister.”

Daphne smiled at the endearment. The first time Nikolas had called her that, I was pretty sure she’d almost cried. Her eyes had looked like amber leaves covered in morning dew. She stepped aside slightly to meet my eyes. “Do you mind if I steal him away?”

I opened my mouth to say yes, I can finish his work before catching myself at the last moment with a breath.