Athena

The dawn came slowly, creeping through the tall windows of the Grayhound Pack mansion, painting the walls in muted shades of gold and gray. I woke with a dull ache in my muscles, the remnants of yesterday’s battle throbbing in every limb. My stomach was tender, a constant reminder of the two little lives depending on me, and the weight of that responsibility pressed harder than any sword or blow could.

Beauty was already up, moving quietly across the room. Even at this hour, ...