Page 28 of Guided by the Stars
“Fuck. They’re calling.” Alexius breaks the laughter, paralyzing us in our spots.
Daemyn jumps into, motion moving around the kitchen trying to clean things off. “How much time do you have?” he calls out, throwing some napkins away.
“Boys, what’s happening?” I ask, interrupting them, hoping one of them answers. Alexius is staring off into space, and Daemyn’s eyes haven’t looked my way one bit.
“It’s the eagles,” Daemyn spits out, and my head snaps towards him in confusion. “They are used to summon gods.”His words do little to explain what the hell all this means, and I turn, looking towards Alexius for answers I know I will not get.
His back is towards me, he’s grabbing a towel and wiping down his face. “Zeus’ eagles. I have a direct link to them. I’m requested to meet my ruler and give a debrief from our assignment,” he says, throwing the towel down and gripping the sink with his hands.
I don’t laugh despite how ridiculous this sounds. No one is playful, and the boyish looks they had moments ago transform back into the masks of the serious, hardened warriors they were. Deadly and sincere in chilling ways.
“Alexius, is it safe?” His back is still towards me and I inch forward, wrapping my fingers around his bulging bicep as his grip on the sink tightens.
“Nora, it’s safe for us. Just a hassle,” Daemyn says, his soft voice lacking the reassurance I’ve known him to give. “He was there last night. He’s perfectly fine,” he adds, placing a quick kiss on my soaked head and then he sighs, placing his hand on Alexius’ shoulder. He talks in his ear, their voices too low for me to decipher, but Alexius’ bicep flinches under my touch before Daemyn leaves the room.
My grip is still around Alexius’ arm and I try to pull this giant ball of muscle with all my strength. Of course, he doesn’t budge and keeps focusing out the back window. “Nora, it’s fine. I’m just trying to figure out what to say that won’t make him suspicious. It’s all part of the plan to get you out of here,” he states, ripping his arm from my hands.
“Alexius?” I hate that my voice is so quiet and unsure. I knew their hatred existed. What I didn’t realize was that the threat of Zeus also brings fear to these boys. “Can you promise me it’s safe?”
He rubs his face and then turns. Like a switch has flipped, the tension is gone and his lips curve into that beautiful damn smirk. My heartbeat picks up as he leans forward, his lips nearly touching mine as his minty breath cascades down my face, “Love, trust me.”
He’s close. Way too close. His rough skin brushes against my cheek and reaches behind me, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck. With a tug, he pulls my body into his. My breasts crash against him as he looks down, angling my head up towards his.
His smirk grows. Then his hot tongue darts out, hitting the side of my mouth and paralyzing me. Every nerve in my body erupts as the warmth travels up, his tongue licking the batter off until he reaches my ear.
“I’ll be back later to eat,” he murmurs, stepping away from me and then he walks out the door.
Fuck me.
Kai
When Souls are Damned
Throughout my entire existence, I have never watched someone sleep. Ever. It’s fucking creepy. And yet here I am, watching my redheaded captive while she tosses and turns, calling out her friend’s name. What does she dream of that makes her sound so scared? Perhaps she’s reliving the moment we took her, or maybe she’s watching her friend being hunted by grotesque creatures.
The image of Adriane being chased plays in my mind. After I banished the hellhounds, her eyes had turned soft and a lump built in my throat. I didn’t want her gratitude. I only saved her to secure my freedom, or at least that’s what I tell myself. Even though she’s more trouble than we expected, I feel a pull toward her. Some intangible cord that tries to bring me closer each day.
She asked me why I saved her, and while I was being honest in saying that it was a job, it was also…more. Every cell in my body was ablaze with the fear of her being harmed, and not only because of the shitty situation I’d be in with Hades.
Humans don’t heal like we do, and I would hate to see her pretty face scarred because she ran from me. Even through a fitful sleep, she puts me in a trance, my eyes glued to her, feeling like a creep. She’s so different from the girls I usually go for, she fights me at every turn, her mouth always quick to spew out some sarcastic remark or another.
Not like Rose, the forest nymph I’ve been fucking, who follows my directions and never questions me. She usually accompanies Kelsey when she visits Jax, and I finally gave in to her seduction attempts. Not that we’re exclusive, but she’s the type of girl I go for because there are no feelings involved. I don’t have to worry that she’ll expect love and monogamy, though lately she’s been a bit more clingy than I’m comfortable with. Maybe that’s why Adriane appeals to me. She’s the complete opposite of clingy, going so far as to run in the opposite direction. I don’t remember the last time I’ve experienced the chase, even if she’s my captive.
This human is a tiny thing compared to me, but her right hook had strength behind it. I reach up to touch my face and my skin still tingles where she touched me. It was easy to tell that wasn’t the first time she’s hit someone, and I wonder what reason she had the other times. Humans like her don’t need to fight, they flit around in their puny existence with happiness, warmth, and love.
She shifts on the bed, her face scrunched up with terror. “Nora…I need you,” she whimpers, reaching up to grab the half-moon pendant around her neck. She settles again and her aroma fills the room. It reminds me of the sweet, earthy scents from Persephone’s garden, though I can’t put a name to which flower.
My gaze travels down her body to the small sliver of porcelain skin exposed from her movements. And not for the first time, I wish my ticket out of here wasn’t wrapped in such nice packaging. Her hair falls across her face, and I imagine wrapping it around my fist while I bury myself in her throat. My cock hardens at the thought, imagining her lush pink lips wrapped around me while her bright blue eyes invite me to take more. I shake my head to clear it. This girl is nothing, a means to an end, and I need to remember that.
“Best wake her up,” Jax says, standing in the doorway. I wasn’t sure how long he’s been there, but the smirk on his face says he saw more than I wanted him to. “Hades is being a fucker, and if my vision is correct, we won’t be finding the palace today.”
“Fuck.” I slide my hand through my hair, angry at my father for hiding. I need to get back, trade her in, and get away from all this. I touch her shoulder, her skin is so soft beneath my fingers. She moans and rolls over, her arms awkward beneath her. Red marks adorn her wrists from the shackles, but we can’t take them off. She’s proven she can’t be trusted.
I shake her a bit, hoping for a better outcome. “Five more minutes, Nor,” she mumbles. I stifle a grin at this amusing human. Sleep for us is rare, only used to replenish our power if we’ve run out of nectar, and there’s no shortage of that here. I couldn’t imagine sleeping half my life away.
She’s fallen back asleep and my irritation rises. This girl may be beautiful, but she isn’t mine. I’ve got a job to do, and though Alexius might have fucked it up, I can still turn it around. “If you don’t get your ass up, we’re leaving without you. After your little stunt last night, I’d think you wouldn’t want to be on your own,” I say, my voice deep and loud in the small space.
Jax shakes his head but I ignore him. This girl is seriously testing my fucking patience, lying there unmoving on the bed. I put a hand out, closing my eyes as I deconstruct the small hut I made for us. The surrounding branches unwind and I reach out with my other hand, taking apart the bed Adriane is laying on.
