Page 58 of Touch of Death
“How dare you imply such a thing,” Death seethes. “I would never—"
“You would never?” Eros snorts, his grin widening as he turns his head toward Death. “Have you forgotten the rules already? Or do you truly wish to deny your feelings for the mortal?”
As he says this, there’s suddenly such clarity and sharpness to Eros that I almost can’t believe it. Was he faking being drunk just a moment before?
Not that it matters as my eyes slip to Death, my heart pounding in my chest as I wait for him to say something.
Death has gone unnervingly still; though his back is to me, I can imagine the narrow of his inky black eyes as they stare Eros down.
“What?” Death finally asks.
“Do you not lust for the girl, Death?”
There’s a long pause, and I’m certain the two of them can hear my heart as it beats wildly in my chest. No matter how hard I try to tamper down the hope that has sprung to life inside me, I’m unable to. I’m desperate to hear Death’s answer, desperate to know that I am not alone in my feelings.
I lean forward on the bed as Death takes a deep breath.
“No, Eros. You are mistaken when it comes to my feelings for her.”
26
Hazel
My heart shatters into a thousand tiny little shards at this.
I knew, all along … I knew it was too good to be true.
I’ve been idealizing every moment of tenderness I thought passed between us. Every gentle touch and longing gaze, every half-smile. His kindness had morphed into something more powerful, borne out of my desperate need to be loved.
How could I have been so foolish?
He is Death, after all. Deadly and all-powerful. Terrifying even in his beauty. Known by every living thing and feared by nearly all of them.
And then there’s me.
Nothing more than a simple mortal. A mere human of little consequence … and a dead one at that.
Deep down, I’ve always known this. Known that he could never feel anything for me.
Still, there had been hope.
Some small part of me had thought it possible. The part of me that had believed the fairytales I grew up with. That believed there was a happy ending out there for me. The part of me that had always thought maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that Death could love me the same way I do him.
Where Merelda and her sons had failed to break me, Death finally has.
Tears well in my eyes as I try to fight them back. I will not allow Death, or Eros, to see me cry. For either of them to piece together the true nature of my feelings for him.
It’s bad enough that I know what a fool I’ve allowed myself to be. I don’t want them privy to that knowledge as well … but I fail as a small sob escapes me.
Immediately, both Eros and Death turn toward me.
In a breath, Death is kneeling before me beside the bed, his eyes soft as he searches my face worriedly.
He doesn’t touch me as he tries to soothe me, and that nearly makes the tears come faster. I hate the confirmation that he’s only here because he feels responsible … guilty over the loss of my soul.
“Hazel,” he says, his voice painfully soft. “What is it? What is wrong?”
I can’t find my voice, my tears choking me as I try in vain to regain control of my emotions. It’s a losing battle, though, as stifled sobs escape me despite my best efforts. Tears stream down over my cheeks.
