“He might not, but there’s a lot of people here that would’ve protected their asses and hung me out to dry if I’d done something to them. But you scared them off. Had them running.” He laughed. “You scared me a little bit. Wasn’t expecting that.”

My brows rose.

“Anyway, thanks. I figured you all were trying to keep what you are quiet and you risked that. Thank you.”

I didn’t know what to say, so we sat there in silence for a couple of moments.

“So . . .” He bit down on his lip as he stared ahead. “Are you going to tell me to leave now, or would you like the company? I mean, I can be quiet and sit here, stare at some plants.”

A begrudging smile formed on my lips. Honestly, I wasn’t up for much conversation, but what else was I really doing other than staring at some plants and feeling sorry for myself?

So I took a deep breath and said, “You can stay.”

“Huh.” There was a pause and those midnight blue eyes met mine. “Do I have to be quiet and stare at plants?”

I coughed out a laugh. “No. You don’t have to do that.”

“Good,” Colin replied. “Because I have all these questions about you I’ve been dying to ask, you know? I’ve never met a demigod before. You cool with that?”

Was I? I shrugged. I had a feeling Colin was going to be disappointed with my answers considering I’d never met a demigod either, and I really didn’t consider myself one. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

Seth

I was in full creep mode.

Which wasn’t any different from the last four days that I’d been keeping an eye on Josie. Some would probably call it stalking. I would call it making sure she was safe.

The last couple of days, she’d gone to the garden after training with Laadan. Today had been no different. She’d headed straight for the enclosed area and I followed like I had every other time.

Deep down I knew I didn’t need to do this. Wasn’t like she was going to be attacked by a rogue rose bush, but I didn’t like this. Her going to this quiet place, sitting for an hour on a damn bench, staring off into nothing, looking . . . looking so damn sad, it took everything for me not to go to her. Cross the small distance between us and pull her into my arms. Comfort her. I didn’t want this for her.

There was a lot I didn’t want for her. Namely my fucked-up ass.

Staying away from her wasn’t easy. Every night I fought against the draw to go to her, and practically every night ended with my hand on my dick and the image of her branded in my mind.