Page 79 of Mortal Desires

“Your sister shouldn’t drag anyone else back,” I decided to share.

Pilar tilted her head to the side. “I told her we should wait until Dad is out of the way.”

I shook my head. “She took me from my own territory. She’s powerful.” My eyes went to the divider between us and the drivers. “Some territories can’t survive without their gods. They may collapse.”

A crease formed between Pilar’s eyebrows. “And if they collapse?”

She didn’t really want to know what would happen. “We can track your sisters down and contact them. We can find other ways to get to them without pulling their soulmate above with them.”

Not only was it dangerous to the fabric of existence, but I also hated knowing others were tethered to their soulmate. Even though it was only by her power, it still felt intrusive and I knew the other gods wouldn’t appreciate it and it could prove deadly.

Pilar nodded, looking serious. “I’ll tell Marnie.”

I dipped my chin and remained silent waiting to arrive at her father’s hiding place. My wife looked nervous, her hands fidgeting over her lap.

She looked different now—dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a simple black top. The top was skintight and showed off her perfect cleavage, and yet, as beautiful as she looked, the clothes made her look too human.

I hated all reminders that my queen belonged to the land of the living. Even as my eyes concentrated on the head of the snake poking right between her breasts, I couldn’t calm my worries.

Leaving Pilar behind would kill me. Who would've thought death could die?

I was immortal, but I knew losing her would irreversibly destroy me. Pilar seemed unaware of my inner struggle. Every time I looked her way she smiled timidly, trying to send me guarantees that everything would work out.

So I clasped my hands together and waited. Forty long minutes later, we parked somewhere near the spot on the map.

I jumped out of the van, tired of being confined in such a small space with my head bowed down so I wouldn’t scrape the roof with my horns. Pilar was on my heels and her sister and the human circled the car to meet us.

“There.” Marnie pointed to an old warehouse. “Gray didn’t think it was a good idea to park right in front.”

Pilar looked at the warehouse and nodded before looking back to her sister. “You two stay here.”

“Pilar—” Marnie started.

“No.” My wife was adamant. “You’re our backup, Marnie,” she argued before her sister could interject. “I need you safe in case—”

“Nothing will happen to you,” I interrupted. “Nothing will ever happen to you on my watch, witch.”

She sent me a sweet smile and then her focus went back to her sister. “Go. I’ll contact you when we are done.”

“You have…” Marnie trailed off.

Pilar patted her front pocket and nodded.

Her sister didn’t seem very convinced, but the human dragged her back to the car. I bet he wanted his mate as far as possible from this conflict. I understood his need. I wanted my stubborn wife back in our bed, naked and waiting for me.

“Let’s go, big guy,” Pilar said as the van left, raising dust as it went.

I looked at the warehouse, with one thing in mind. Take the bastard and never let him lay eyes on my wife again. I was lost in my own rage until I felt her small hand on mine, the brush of her hot skin on my arm.

She was determined to be the end of me.

We crossed the road, never meeting anyone on our way. As we stopped in front of the seemingly empty warehouse, I turned, ready to convince her to stay but she was already shaking her head.

“Where you go, I go.”

“Stay behind me,” I warned.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but opening the door so easily and strolling in wasn’t it. The place seemed deserted except for a lone woman. Right in the middle of the room was Cassandra, humming like she had every right to be here. Above. Alive.

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