Page 27 of Touch of Death
I feel the draw of his power. Notice his every move, his every word, and his every look. There is a certain appeal to him that I cannot ignore, and I must be wary of it for Hazel’s sake.
Especially when I see the way he looks at her, hunger practically making his skin glow, and he does not even know what she is yet.
If I am not careful, she will be unable to resist him, mortal as she is.
After all, he is lust, desire …sexincarnate.
I can feel the way he is feeding off the very energy of the creatures in this room, draining them of their desires in order to satiate himself.
“We made a temporary switch,” Eros explains coolly. “I am allowing Anteros the benefits of … certain aspects of my own palace as a wedding gift. Funny, is it not, how age-old feuds seem to all but disappear when desire comes into play?”
Persephone lets out an annoyed huff before glancing up at me.
“I swear I did not know,” she says. “Had I, I would never have brought you here.”
“I know,” I say. “Come, let us be gone from here.”
“What, and ruin the fun?” Eros exclaims as he rises to his feet, once more demanding our attention with the lure of his voice.
He takes his time sauntering off the dais on which Anteros’ throne sits. Moving through the creatures, they reach for him, crying out as they try to get him to join them. But he ignores their pleas, his sights set on us.
Even in his refusal, though, his mere proximity is enough to help heighten their passion and ecstasy, their sighs and moans intensifying as he passes.
I tense as he approaches, my shadows swirling up around me as I try to block him from sensing Hazel. The last thing that I need right now is for Eros to become interested in her and learn that she is mortal.
I have heard far too many stories about Eros’ exploits in the mortal realm to risk that.
I can only hope that Persephone and I are enough of a distraction for him.
“Tell me, why do you seek my brother?” Eros asks.
Persephone opens her mouth to answer, but I cut her off with a look before replying, “That is none of your concern, Eros. My business is with Anteros, not you.”
“Yourbusiness,” he says, and I immediately realize that I have said the wrong thing as Eros’ pale eyes shift to me. His gaze almost seems to sharpen, despite the fact I know he cannot actually see me.
“We really must be going—” Persephone starts, but Eros holds up a hand to silence her.
“Yourbusiness,” he says again, tilting his head to one side and giving me a grin that does nothing to diminish the way his eyes flash with sudden understanding. In a breath, he steps closer to me, too close for comfort with Hazel tucked just behind me. “Who is she then? The one you shield behind you.”
When I do not answer, his eyes shift to Persephone. Turning toward her, he dips his chin, his expression intensifying on her.
“Eros, please,” she breathes.
She blushes deeply, biting her lip to the point of drawing blood as she tries her best to resist his charms.
“Fine, if neither of you will tell me, I will ask her myself,” he says. Lifting his chin to the air, Eros closes his eyes as he spreads his hands out to either side in dramatic fashion.
My hand on Hazel involuntarily tightens as I clench my teeth together. I can almost feel the way his other senses suddenly heighten, the atmosphere shifting around him.
“Eros,” I warn in a low voice.
“Strange,” he mutters, ignoring me as his brow furrows in thought, “I have not met this one here before. She has a certain … innocence to her that one does not often find among our kind. If ever.”
“Which is exactly why you need to let us leave,” I say darkly.
Eros’ sharp eyes snap open to land on me, and I can see the spark of desire swirling deep within his gaze.
He wants Hazel, or at least the challenge of claiming her.
