Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Mom smirks. “In the shower too, and I was covered in blood.”
“Oh fuck me,” Uncle Felix growls, averting his gaze in embarrassment, and everyone explodes in laughter.
Just like the good old days.
EPILOGUE
Orion
“Oh my God!”
The squeal that follows is so loud it nearly pierces my own eardrums. But I can’t believe what I’m holding in my hands right now.
“My book. It’s here!”
Xavier and Sunny peek around the corner of the Tartarus living area, where they were having a little brunch with the two of them.
“Sorry to interrupt you two,” I mutter. “But oh my God, look!”
I hold up the novella for them to see, and Sunny smiles as I approach them.
“Wait, did you write a novel?” Xavier asks.
I shake my head. “My poetry got published.”
Xavier frowns as he steals the book from my hand to take a closer look. “For real?” He sifts through the pages and grins. “Well, well, well, I’ll be damned. I don’t know how you did it man, but I’m proud of you.”
He opens his jacket and pulls out a new notebook. “Speaking of. I promised you something a while ago, and I’m a man of my word.” He hands me a brand-new notebook just like the one I penned down all my poetry in. The same one he ripped a paper out of. “For the trouble.”
“Thank you,” I reply.
“Of course. So how did you actually get your poetry published?”
Sunny snatches the book from his hand. “I secretly submitted it to an agent.”
My eyes widen. “Wait, that was you? I thought that agent just landed in my inbox out of nowhere.”
She proudly wades through the poems. “It looks good.”
“It’s all thanks to you,” I say, placing my hand on her arm to pull her closer. “And I couldn’t be more grateful for my muse.”
I lean in to peck her on the forehead, feeling infinitely grateful that I’ve gotten this far thanks to her. My words would’ve dried up long ago if she hadn’t existed at the forefront of my mind.
“Nicely done, Orion,” Xavier says, patting me on the back, before he waltzes to the cabinet to take out some hard liquor. “We should toast to that.”
I hold up my hand. “No thanks, I’m good.”
Xavier frowns. “Why not? You love—”
“I quit,” I interject.
“Wait, for real?” Sunny’s eyes widen.
“Mm-hmm,” I say. “It’s true. I don’t need it anymore.” I cup her face and lean in, a smile forming on my face. “When I have the imminent threat of murder lingering over my head, I have nothing else to drown in.”
She snorts. “You’re a strange one. You know that, right?”
“We’re all strange here,” I muse, kissing her on the lips because I just can’t get enough of her taste.
“Does the family know?” Xavier asks.
My lips pull away, and I stare at him for a moment, having an epiphany. “No,” I reply, excited as hell. I don’t think I’ve ever been this elated in my entire fucking life. “Fuck, I should go tell them. I’m a published poet!”
Xavier
“Pull!” Sunny yells. Her dad pulls the lever, and the target pops out. She shoots it down with ease, and everyone in the family cheers.
“Nice shot, Sunny,” Atreus chants, whistling after her.
“Why does she always have the fucking highest score?” Silas growls.
We’re having a casual picnic in the woods while shooting targets, courtesy of Atreus Foley, who brought his gear with him just so we could all have a little fun get-together with the entire family.
“Because my sister is better than you at shooting,” Elliot taunts.
“Pull!” Sunny shouts.
BANG!
“Try to beat me with a knife,” Silas growls, throwing a knife at the target before Sunny even has a chance to shoot, and it cracks in half. “Fuckers.”
“Always the jealous one,” Levi muses.
“Fuck you,” Silas growls.
“Enough with the talk,” Sunny says, handing him the shotgun. “Let’s see your moves, kid.”
“Kid? Kid? Who are you calling a kid?”
“I am, because I’m the oldest of us, so you all listen to me,” she retorts, winking.
“All right, senior citizen.” Silas loads more bullets.
“Wow, those two are going head-to-head soon, guarantee it,” Ivy mutters.
“Nah, this is how they always act, but they love fighting for the number-one spot,” Max replies.
“Speaking of number one … How’s it feel to be loved by the most cutthroat woman on the planet, Xav?” Atlas asks me all of a sudden, catching me off guard.
My cheeks light up, and I grab a cookie from the plate to stop it from spreading as I stuff it into my mouth. “Nothing’s different.”
“Nothing?” Sunny turns back to look at me, and I nearly quiver in my boots. “Sit.”
My butt immediately slams down onto the picnic table, and our family chuckles.
“He’s in deep, bro,” Heath says.
“We all are for our ladies,” Apollo says, grabbing a strawberry so he can stuff it into Aspen’s mouth. “Always listen to your lady.”
“That’s sound advice,” Atreus says, taking a sip of his beer while enjoying the sun.