"I was out of options, Princess," Sebastian wheezed, leaning heavily against the brass wall as he dragged himself out of the water. He slumped onto the dry stone floor, his chest heaving. "It was either bite the giant, or let him pop my head like a grape. I went with the high-protein diet."
He wiped his mouth with the back of his torn leather glove. His lips were stained crimson. He felt like he had been run over by a freight train, backed up over, and then set on fire. The reality anchor was an absolute bitch. Being a mortal human after months of acting as a literal god was a terrifying, exhausting demotion.
"Are you okay?" Valerie asked, dropping to her knees beside him. She reached out, her hands gently checking the tight gauze wrapped around his right thigh.
