Page 23 of Guided by the Stars
I try hard to focus, refusing to shift my body, but I can’t hide the shiver running down my spine and the sides of his mouth twist into a pleased grin. “Well,” he rasps, leaning forward and letting the scruff on his jaw scratch the side of my cheek. “Couldn’t have been that bad. It kept your full attention,” he adds, his low, husky voice hitting my ear, earning him a whimper as my common sense melts away.
“Thought so,” he says, pushing himself off the chair and walking towards the kitchen, giving me a chance to release the long breath I was holding. They say don’t play games with the devil, as he’ll fight unfairly, bringing you to your knees. This god is worse. The beast in him is tantalizing enough that if I’m not careful, I could find myself submitting under his domination. I was wrong, he’s not like my brother’s friends at all. He doesn’t play simple. He’s devious and thrilling all at once and knows how to get under someone’s skin.
Daemyn clears his throat, bringing a blush straight to my cheeks as I refocus on him. He sits relaxed with a mischievous smirk plastered across his face. These two separately are enough to handle, but together they give off a blazing heat that anyone would combust under.
“So, nightmares? Anything you want to share?” he chuckles.
Nope! Not doing this conversation.
“Just thinking of A.” I say, switching gears. They explained that it could be days before they figure out what realm those assholes took her to. It’s not encouraging at all since apparently realms are like countries, each god having their assigned section. It leaves Adriane lost in limbo and there is not a goddamn thing I can do about it.
Daemyn sighs, leaning forward and grabbing my hand. “I know this is all scary, Baby Girl, but we are here for you.”
Curious, I eye him and ask, “Why call me Baby Girl?” Between the portal and being taken by gods, I didn’t bat a lash at that. At this point it doesn’t even bother me. Unlike the Beast, he’s kind, and it’s oddly comforting when he calls me that.
“It’s in your eyes,” he says, smiling bright and squeezing my hand. “They are a soft, baby blue color that are sweet and hold a kindness behind them that we’re not used to inOlympus.” I smile at his words, feeling the blush deepen as he continues, “It’s a bright innocence that should be protected, and I promise we will do just that. Everything will be okay. Adriane will be safe.”
I go from warm to freezing cold. His words, meant to comfort and reassure me, grip tight into my heart. There is a sincerity about him that’s overwhelming and reminds me of my brother as he’s making promises that shouldn’t be made. There are no guarantees in life. One moment could change everything and shatter your whole world.
“Both of you need to stop. No one is in that much control.” My voice cracks as tears threaten to fall. The seriousness of our circumstances wash over us, and the reality of what I have to lose hangs in the air. Although Bill and Jane took me in, Adriane is the one that pulled me from the darkness after everything around me disappeared. “I’ve lost enough in my life, I can’t lose A as well.”
“Come here,” he says, pushing himself off the couch and kneeling in front of me before pulling me into a hug. A familiar scent of pine crashes into me, forcing me into memories from another life. First, bright green woods, then the colors of lavender in the garden, and then laughter coming from every room. The last and the worst, soft hazel eyes making a promise before I had to say goodbye.
Tears start flowing and anxiety shakes me from within as Daemyn’s hug grows tighter, convincing my walls to crumble. I give myself this moment, to center myself by being engulfed by him. I focus on his fingers, soothing me with gentle strokes against my back. Silently, I count his deep breaths as they rise and fall. The hum coming from his throat as he whispers in my ear. Something about him centers me, bringing a sense of calm. It washes over me like wax dripping against your skin.It’s foreign and feels out of place, but it covers and coats me. “Stop fighting it. Let me in, Baby Girl.”
“What the fuck is it now?” Alexius’ booming voice spits out in anger as he marches into the living room, melting that calm I was exploring, and I flinch, feeling the fear return tenfold. I’m back, trapped in that closet, hiding as a gunshot goes off.
I push myself out of Daemyn’s arms, leap over the coffee table, and run straight through the front door. My legs move fast along the gravel path and I make it past enormous oak trees before I stop.
I’m panting, looking up at the bright green leaves and sucking in deep breaths, grounding myself in this moment. The soft touch of air hitting my skin. The bright blue sky above. The sun peeking in through the gaps in the trees. And the coarse dirt under my bare feet. I close my eyes and enjoy the peace the woods bring, just like my dad always told me it would.
Minutes pass and I find clarity, but I’m startled out of it as strong arms wrap around my waist pulling me close.
“I meant every word of what I explained,” Alexius whispers into my ear. “Zeus will not hesitate. There is no mercy in his soul. Your blood is as tempting as ambrosia,” he says, his chest rising and falling heavily against my back. “I don’t know how to make this any clearer. You can either listen to me and trust me, or keep running. The choice is yours, I will not fight against you to keep you safe. We’ve risked enough already.”
Refusing to look his way, I squeeze my eyes shut and sigh, “I’m not trying to run from you, Beast. I just needed a minute.” He loosens his grip slightly on me and his head dips down into the crook of my neck. “Are you sniffing me, asshole?”
“You had your minute,” he barks out and tightens his hold against my waist before slinging me over his shoulder with ease. “Time’s up!”
“Alexius, stop,” I yell, kicking my legs, attempting to wiggle out of his hold. “Put me down, you big asshole.” All my efforts stop with a stinging sensation on my ass.
“Stop yelling woman or I’ll just spank harder,” he mocks. The husky dip in his voice makes my cheeks flame and adrenaline shoot to my heart. I’m in trouble with the Beast and instead of fighting, my mind is begging for more.Why did I like it!?
I surrender to his hold, pushing down my thoughts, denying them. I can’t be this naive and let him affect me. I stay silent and even obey as he places me back on the couch and barks out an order for me to stay put.
“Ground rule,” Alexius starts, taking his place and sitting on the coffee table in front of us as Daemyn shifts, leaning in closer. “You’re not leaving this house.”
“What? I wasn’t going anywhere. I needed a minute outside.” He’s expressionless, watching me boil over. “You said it yourself. They never come to these woods,” I shriek, narrowing my eyes in defiance. This is ridiculous. I get the danger, but just yesterday they explained that this side was safe.
Daemyn pulls me into a quick side hug, sighing in frustration at his friend. “It’s a precaution, babe. What Alexius means to explain is that our power will overshadow any trace of you being here just in case someone does come around. It’s not typical, but there is potential. So, think of us as big bodies, and if someone were to look, they couldn’t see you hiding behind us. That’s kind of how your gene works, it puts off a little bit of power, and ours covers it. Around us, you’re safe.”
“There are a lot of gods here, Nora. There will be no more running the fuck off and no exploring anything, unless we allow it,” Alexius orders in a rough voice as he sits a little straighter, crossing his arms and eyeing me. “While you’rehere, you’re stuck with every inch of me, love,” he adds with that wicked grin, igniting fire under my skin.
I get up, aligning my face with his, leaving him no choice but to look at me, and I lift my brow for the last time today. “That’s right. Son of Zeus has spoken,” I say in the sweetest voice I have. “Your wish is my command, your Highness.” I do his little wink and pat the top of his head before leaving him to stew in his own daddy issues.
Adriane
When Time Stops
