I tested the weight of the sword in my hands. I ran a finger along the sharp edge, careful not to cut myself. As Seth found out, the edge of this blade inflicted real and permanent damage to a god. The grayed flesh at his neckline had assured me he would not come back to life. I knew instantly the blade responsible, though it had been lost for centuries.
“If you tell me werewolves exist too, I’ll faint dead away.” Vivien lifted the back of her hand to her forehead.
Timothy cracked a smile at that. “Well, now you’re just tempting me.”
I interjected, still examining the blade. “The race who forged the Blade of Bane is what we refer to as the fae. Like gods, they are immortal, but only if they do not undertake serious bodily harm. They possess a more delicate constitution, like that of a human. Stab me in the heart, I will survive and regenerate. They would not. The fae possess magics and talent as varied as they are secret. They managed to stay far out of the gods’ way in history, but times of war compelled them to seek security should they need it. Thus, they created the Blade of Bane.” I turned and deftly sliced the sword through the air. “However, this is not that weapon. This is a replica of the original design.”
Timothy looked down at his tablet, his face tightening. It was bad for all of us that this had resurfaced.
“How can you tell?” Vivien asked.
“Because the authentic god-killing blade is quite light. I’ve held the sword before, and this clunky, unbalanced piece of steel has all the flourish, but none of the mastery imbued by an expert swords-maker.”
Her shoulders slumped, hope fading from her eyes. “You’re telling me I ran all over the city tracking down a fake sword? And that he…” She trailed off. Vivien crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back.
I dropped the sword to my side and stepped forward, cupping her face. “What? What happened?” I asked gently.
“If someone has been worshiping a god, what happens to their soul when they die? Do they have to go through you for judgment?”
Her hand covered mine and played with the skull ring I wore. I hadn’t worn it since the late eighteenth century, but lately I’d been drawn to the gold ring with ruby red eyes.
“Their fealty and service guarantee them automatic entry into the afterlife. Why?” Seth took worshippers. It was forbidden, and Osiris would have punished him severely.
With an almost imperceptible shake of her head, Vivien told me she wasn’t ready to talk about it right now. “I—I need some sugar.” She tripped over her own words.
A devilish grin curled my lips.
“Not that kind,” she said, smacking my chest. But I caught her hand and turned it so I could drop a kiss on the inside of her wrist. Her pupils expanded into dark pools as she shivered. “Well, maybe that kind.”
I hadn’t noticed when Timothy left, but now that work was done, I swept her up into my arms before she could change her mind.
3
Vivien
We didn’t even make it up to the room. As soon as Grim carried me into the lift, he had me splayed against the tufted wall. My ass rested on the handrail that curved along the elevator, my legs balanced around his hips as he pushed into me, rocking us both toward insanity through our clothes.
When did I lose my top? I was down to my cherry red lace bra.
I had a weakness for lingerie, and I especially liked what it did to Grim. Though I was convinced I could wear a paper sack and the man would get a stiffy for me.
I helped myself, unfastening his pants and slipping a hand inside. My fingers wrapped around his incredible girth. Grim stopped kissing my neck to drop his forehead into the crook of my shoulder.
“Fuck, I need you,” he groaned.
“You’re so big,” I breathed, enjoying the feel of his silky skin stretched taut over his hardness.
Lifting his face to meet my eye, the amber irises now glowed gold. “And you’re so beautiful. My fierce warrior woman, handling all the hunting, while I stay tethered to my godly duties. How can I ever show my appreciation?” Then he leaned down to lave his tongue against the sheer lace of my bra. Zings of pleasure shot through me and down to my core, making me squirm. Appeasing me, he covered my peak with his entire mouth, sucking until I moaned with need. The fabric added a layer of friction, but I wanted to rip it off to feel his hot, wet tongue.
He pressed a large hand against my lower belly, stoking the smoldering heat between my legs into a blazing fire.
“I think… I mean, if you’re up for it…” I stuttered.
He hummed to let me know he was listening, but the vibration shot directly into my breast and pinged down to my very needy center, making it even harder to think.
“I was thinking we could try that, uh, trick again.”
He paused his ministrations this time, lifting his head. The glow of his eyes had simmered to a molten, liquid gold as he searched my face. “Are you certain?”
