The Paragon hesitated and hugged Aphrodite close. “And because…Hazel…there is a possibility your parents’ deaths were not an accident.” My heart sputtered. “What do you mean?” I asked in a shaky voice. “They died in a car crash.” “And within three weeks you had a coup on your hands?” The Paragon shook his head. “Mason was too well prepared for it to be a coincidence.” My spit tasted metallic and bitter. “You think they were murdered…to kick off Mason’s coup?” “It is a possibility.” The Paragon cowered a little, then hesitantly offered me his hairless cat. I wanted to burst into sobs and
...more
Aphrodite:
The Paragon hesitated and hugged Aphrodite close. “And because…Hazel…there is a possibility your parents’ deaths were not an accident.” My heart sputtered. “What do you mean?” I asked in a shaky voice. “They died in a car crash.” “And within three weeks you had a coup on your hands?” The Paragon shook his head. “Mason was too well prepared for it to be a coincidence.” My spit tasted metallic and bitter. “You think they were murdered…to kick off Mason’s coup?” “It is a possibility.” The Paragon cowered a little, then hesitantly offered me his hairless cat. I wanted to burst into sobs and scream—I’d thought it wasn’t fair my parents were taken from me when I was so young, but even just thinking that it might not have been an accident after all made their deaths that much crueler and more terrible. “Mmert,” Aphrodite said. I reached out and took her with shaking hands. I wasn’t expecting to really feel comforted by her—even if she was a sweet cat, the hairless thing kinda freaked me out to be honest. But Aphrodite climbed up my lap, planted her front paws on my chest, and leaned in, settling just over my heart. She purred, flooding me with warmth and assurance. A moment later, Killian slid a hand across my shoulders. “I’m sorry,” he murmured in my ear. It was hard to swallow, but I made myself do it. Aphrodite’s warmth gave me the courage to look up at the Paragon and meet his sad eyes.
