Page 54 of Guided by the Stars
This night has been a nightmare. I’m in shock, terrified of what I saw and scared of losing either of them. Alexiuswarned me from the beginning, I just couldn’t imagine a situation similar to this. These gods are the true definition of evil.
A blanket being wrapped around me brings my attention to Daemyn. “I’ll take Alexius upstairs. Want to crash in here tonight?”
“No,” my voice comes out raspy, but firm. “Can we just stay down here? All of us?”
With Daemyn’s agreement, I managed to get changed and cleaned up in record time before heading back down the stairs. Relief overwhelms me as I walk back through the door and see Alexius laying on the couch still asleep while Daemyn grinds the horn into powder.
“It’s easier to spread into his wound this way,” he explains as I make myself comfortable on the couch, needing to be closer to Alexius. Daemyn doesn’t miss a beat and smiles, “Guess you’re not mad at him?”
“I’m sorry, I know he hurt you—”
“Baby Girl, this was Hera’s doing. Alexius had no control tonight.” I nod to him in agreement as he continues, “She’s powerful, and by the looks of it that mark will keep going. I have no idea how long it will take, but this,” he holds up the powder in a glass jar, “will keep him asleep until her power fades.”
With a sense of numbness taking over, I pull the blanket over me and rest my head close to Alexius’ chest, listening to the beat of his heart to remind me that I didn’t lose him.
Daemyn’s voice hits me before the exhaustion takes over, “I’ll be right here watching. Goodnight, Baby Girl.” Leaning in, he gives me a kiss on the head and lets me sleep.
***
A welcome breath hits the back of my head, causing my thoughts to focus on the whispered voices above me. “Stop it right now. She’s fine, Alexius.” I keep my eyes closed, sensing his head inching closer towards mine as a whiff of rain mixed with fresh air flows over me. He’s holding me securely, with his arm tight around my waist. “You controlled it. One minute you were ready to strike, and then you stopped yourself, for her.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I grabbed her. I hurt her! She’s not safe around any of us.”
“Maybe not, but here we are and she came in choosing to save your ass. She’s tough. Give her the credit she deserves.” Unwilling to open my eyes, I pay attention to the shuffle of Daemyn’s feet as he moves from the couch. “The blood has stopped, but whatever she used is keeping the flesh open for longer than I would like. Want more to sleep it off?”
Alexius’ stubble from his chin scrapes against the back of my head as he nods. “You’ll watch her, right?”
A brief movement happens before Daemyn’s feet fade away. “Always. Now sleep.”
My heart jumps an extra beat as the Alexius’ lips touch the side of my head. The softest kiss brushes against my temple before he whispers, “Sweet dreams, love.”
Within minutes, the opium’s power lures him to sleep and I follow shamelessly, welcoming the security his protective hold brings.
I wake up to the touch of his hand creeping higher under my shirt, warming me up hotter than the morning light shining through the window. With his nose nuzzled into my hair, he whispers his good morning while pressing his body into mine, his dick nudging against my ass. The guttural growl escaping him lights a tingle of electricity across my skin and heat travels from the outside in, sparking that primal need deep in mycore. “Alexius,” I barely breathe out, grinding myself against him, feeling the sensation of his fingers tracing small circles around my nipple. I’m lost under his touch, burning with need as he swings his legs over mine, capturing me between him.
“Good morning—” Daemyn’s voice trails off as his knowing smirk meets our shocked faces. His smile fades when the beast of Alexius clears his throat, pulling himself away as quickly as possible. “Well lovebirds, figured we had certain issues to discuss.”
Alexius stands and hisses, “Give me a minute,” as he storms out of the room without so much as a look back.
Daemyn fills the cold void Alexius left by pulling me up into a quick hug before spinning us around towards the kitchen. “Come on, Baby Girl. I made you a cup of tea already.”
“Today, we need something stronger.”
With a smile spreading across his face, his eyebrows wiggle suggestively. “Wine and bread?”
With my legs already heading to the bottle, I nod. “My thoughts exactly. Wine and bread. And lots of it.”
Alexius doesn’t take long to join our little kitchen meeting. He strides in like the god he is, commanding my absolute attention. He’s fresh out of the shower, holding his t-shirt in his hand and wearing only a delicious pair of gray sweats, low on his hips.
Not even an hour ago, I’d pushed every inch of that body against mine, wanting and needing more. Now he stands there at a distance. His arms are crossed and a cold, firm edge of annoyance graces his face.
“I think you might have some drool piling up there,” Daemyn whispers in my ear before making his way towards Alexius. “Let’s see it,” he demands.
Tension builds among us and Alexius flashes his eyes towards mine for a split second before stretching out his arm for Daemyn’s inspection. “Guess the bitch gave me a piece of her I’ll never forget. Another fucking external reminder that my existence depends on her,” he spits out as Daemyn studies the image of Hera’s face.
“What did she use this time? Was it the peacock?”
Peacock? This time?
