Page 18 of Taken By the Blood God

“I don’t have a bag.”

I only had a few changes of clothes and a small handful of toiletries that Minerva and her friends had provided for me. That was all I owned in this world.

She threw back the blankets and climbed out of the bed. I watched as she disappeared inside her closet and came out a few moments later with a small brown bag.

“Here. You can pack your things in this,” she said, holding the bag out to me.

“Thank you.”

Before my sleep, supplicants would have supplied me with anything and everything I needed. Or I would have the money to purchase it myself. Humans, witches, shifters, vampires—they all paid me to grant them favors. Either with money, favors, or gifts.

It was strange to own so little after having all I could ever want. But I didn’t want to go back to that. I didn’t like who I became then. I’d been granted a second chance, and I didn’t intend to waste it.

“I’ll be ready soon,” Minerva said.

I nodded and left the bedroom. As I packed my bag, I realized that, in my time in Minerva’s home, I hadn’t wanted for anything else.

Nothing but her.

Chapter

Nine

Minerva

I closed my eyes and pressed my palms over them, hoping the dizziness would fade quickly.

Traveling via portals always screwed up my equilibrium.

My stomach churned, and I fought the urge to throw up. Goddess, I hated portal jumping. I drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, focusing my eyes on a point off in the distance.

As I took another breath, a warm hand circled my lower back. I didn’t have the energy to smack it away. And I was strangely reluctant to do it anyway.

After I showered this morning, I’d come into my bedroom to find a plate of cinnamon and sugar toast and a mug of tea waiting for me on my dresser. Both were made exactly to my preferences.

I didn’t know what to do with that facet of Talant, so I deliberately put it out of my mind as I finished dressing, braiding my hair, and throwing a few clothes into a backpack. I texted Ally before I left the room, but she hadn’t replied. No doubt she was still cuddled up in bed with her mate.

I also tried not to think about the look on Talant’s face when he said he didn’t have a bag. It was the first time his expression had been completely unguarded around me.

And it got to me, dammit.

I knew better than to trust a god, but my heart had softened toward him. Which meant I had to give him a bag to use. The entire time I was in the shower, I found myself wondering if I should get him some more clothing. Daniel had brought some things for him in a trash bag, and I’d brought home two pairs of shorts, three shirts, a package of underwear, some socks, and a pair of shoes for him a couple of days after he came to stay with me. It wasn’t much.

He was a god. He could probably conjure up clothes made of solid gold if he wanted to, but he hadn’t.

He also hadn’t come right out and said that his power was weakened, but I knew that it must be if dreamwalking with his brother had knocked him out for nearly twenty-four hours.

I would order him some more clothes when we returned and maybe another pair of shoes. Not that he’d wear a shirt or shoes most of the time, but at least he would have them if he needed them.

I know, I know, I was an idiot.

I shouldn’t be feeling sorry for him. He wasn’t a poor, lost soul. He was a blood god—a being created through magic, blood, and violence. But all I could see when I looked at him was a man. A man I wanted with an intensity that frightened me—despite my resolve to resist him.

The vertigo faded, and I lowered my hands, looking around us. We were on the outskirts of a small town. Based on the architecture and the vehicles, I thought perhaps England, but I wasn’t sure.

“Better?” Talant asked, his voice quiet.

I glanced over my shoulder at him and nodded. I gestured to the town in front of us. “Do you have any idea where we are?”

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