Favor of the Gods

By Ali Winters

Ever since Medusa unwittingly crossed her school's resident mean girl, her life has been hell.

If only she could keep her distance from Perseus who has a knack for always being in the wrong place at the right time.

But rivalry goes too far when a curse that can destroy the village is cast.

Only the favor of the gods can reverse it, but the gods are vengeful and not always forgiving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rising Flame Press
• Release date: Jun 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386389385

Ali Winters

Ali Winters is the USA Today bestselling and award winning author of The Hunted series, as well as an amazon and international bestselling author. She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest where she developed her love of nature, animals, and all things green. For as long as she can remember, she’s been mesmerized by the extraordinary world of books and fantasy. There has never been a time when stories were not begging to be told, either by drawing, photography, or writing. With encouragement from one of her favorite authors, she jumped in head first, to pursue the career that had been calling to her since the day she opened her first book. She has a deep love for coffee, tea, warm blankets, dogs, creating art in any medium she can get her hands on, and family. You can find her on these social platforms. Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoraliwinters Twiter: www.twitter.com/aliwinters_ Instagram: www.instagram.com/authoraliwinters Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/aliwinters Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/authoraliwinters Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/ali-winters

Book preview

Tears stung her eyes as she fought to hold them back.

Empty… again, Medusa thought, staring into her locker. Blue paint peeled off the metal in patches. Her books were gone for the second time in one week. This had been going on ever since she transferred to Phoenicia High. The last time her books had gone missing she had found them scattered on the pentathlon field.

She took in a deep breath and held it, willing her tears to dry, before releasing it. This had to stop. If she had known that saying something as innocent as hello to Perseus on her first day would have led to this, she would have kept her mouth shut. Much to her chagrin, the fact he always seemed to find a reason to talk to her never helped.

At first, she’d tried to ignore it, hoping they would forget about her and just leave her alone.

Today would be the day she stuck up for herself. Andromeda and her nymph friends would stop picking on her.

Medusa shoved a golden lock of hair behind her ear and slammed the locker shut. She spun around and bounced off a solid form, hitting the wall of lockers. The cartilage in her nose made a cracking sound, and the pain made tears spring to her eyes all over again.

Ouch! she said rubbing her nose and checking to make sure it wasn’t broken.

Oh, sorry. Perseus’s deep, rich voice made her freeze in place.

Oh no, oh no! Of all the people she could run into, it would be the one person in the school who would make things worse. Medusa cringed and looked up. Her green eyes met his deep sapphire ones. She wanted to swoon and it scared her that even after everything she’d put up with, she was still reacting to him that way. If she didn’t know better she would think Aphrodite herself had given him something to make him irresistible.

Are you okay? he asked. You seem upset.

It was then that she realized he had placed his hands on her shoulders to hold her steady. Medusa stepped to the side breaking the contact. The last thing she needed right now was for anyone to see them and think something more was going on.

He was sweet to worry about her. But his sweetness was also linked to his stupidity. Didn’t he realize? Didn’t he see how his being nice had made Andromeda hate her more? He can’t be that oblivious… could he?

I’m fine, I have to go. She turned and walked swiftly away. Why did the first guy she showed any interest in have to be the cause of so much pain?

Wait! he called after her. I wanted to ask—

But she didn’t stop to hear what he’d wanted as she picked up speed. Her heart went wild with possibilities and daydreams, but her mind pushed them away, refusing to let her focus and dwell on something that was not only unlikely, but impossible.

Medusa turned the corner and burst out the main doors. It wasn’t until she was behind the shelter of a thick cypress tree that she let herself stop to think.

Where would her books be? Last time they were on the pentathlon field, the time before that, in the cafeteria, before that…