Everyone turned back to see Hecate walking away, leaving Nyx staring down at Kronos. He had not died but was still coughing and sputtering about on the ground. Nyx turned her head and searched for Erebus, her eyes finding his instantly. He knew what she was asking without even needing to say it, and he gave her a short, nondescript nod. It was over in a second. Nyx pulled a blade of moonstone out of the air, and in one fell swoop, she cut Kronos’s head from his body.
No one reacted. The gods all stood, looking at Nyx, the body of Kronos, and at one another interchangeably. The goddess sauntered forward, and the clouds began to clear. The rains stopped, and slowly, by the time she reached them, they were bathed in the soft light of twilight. The group that was left was small, a fraction of how many gods had first gone into battle. They were covered in blood and gore, wet from the rains, and staring at Nyx with expressions ranging from awe to terror to anger. Zeus stood farthest away and closest to the back of the crowd, with enough wisdom to at least appear humbled. Nyx stood in front of the crowd of the gods—at least, those who were left—and addressed them.
“Gods.” Her smile was soft, and her tone was placating. “This war is over. There is no more Kronos, and any titan who would seek revenge for him lies dead beside their leader. Whatever you wish to do with yourselves, you may.”
There was a collective sigh of relief as Erebus watched her in utter awe once more. It was Poseidon who raised his voice next.
“Might I suggest… everyone retires for the evening. Go home. There are many things that we’ll need to discuss, but those can wait until morning.”
“Or at least until I’m drunk,” Dionysus called out in response, looking utterly put out that he had been pulled into a war and not an orgy. He was a formidable foe, nonetheless, sheathing a wicked blade that Erebus was sure was typically used to harvest grapes. The gods scoffed and let out a quiet laugh, Dionysus effectively diffusing the mode.
The gods turned and took off in all different directions, and Erebus’s mind reeled. There were still so many things that they would have to sort out.What are we going to do with Zeus, who was very much alive? Nyx needs to know that we can’t trust Hermes. Do Hades and Poseidon think that their brother is aware of what they tried to pull? Those damned chains need to be dealt with…
“Erebus.” Nyx said, pulling him from his thoughts, and he snapped his head up, seeing her standing in front of him. He smiled, his arm going around her waist and pulling her to him. He looked up at the setting sun.
“We have a nightfall to arrange, my love.” His voice was raspy, heavy with the exertion of the day. Nyx let out a soft laugh, leaning into him and running her fingers down Erebus’s jaw.
“I have something I want to do first.”
38
Erebus raised a brow as he looked at Nyx. The expression on her face was unmistakable as he studied it, her hands going down to his chest, tracing the edges of the fabric there. She tilted her head in response, only giving him a coy nod.
“Not here,” Erebus shook his head, looking around at the valley. A devilish thought crossed his mind, and he grinned. His grip around Nyx’s waist tightened. And he took off, her arms tightening around him in surprise. She made no use of her own power, content to let Erebus carry her wherever they were going. There had been enough talking between them for now. She buried her face into the crook of his neck and inhaled, his body still smelling like smoke and power. Nyx’s power was absolute, and she had hardly broken a sweat with her display. Erebus was a different story.
When she felt her feet touch the ground, Nyx picked her head up and looked around the room. She felt a rush of heat run down her body and leaned in closer to Erebus; his hands didn’t leave her waist as she looked around.
“Oh… that’sdark.”Nyx couldn’t help but laugh as they stood in the middle of Zeus’s great hall. All the gods had left, and they were alone. She studied Erebus’s face as decadent thoughts went through her mind. “What if he comes back here?”
Erebus shrugged, his gaze predatory as he stared down at her. “I don’t mind an audience.” Nyx’s grin turned wicked as she turned around, walking to the center of the room. She stopped when she got to the massive dais, her chiton flowing behind her as she walked up the steps. Nyx settled herself down in Zeus’s throne, spreading her legs as wide as the chair arms would allow her. The folds of the fabric kept her from being exposed but the motion was enough to set Erebus off.
Nyx smiled, licking her lips as she raised a finger and beckoned Erebus closer. “Come to me.” Her voice sounded like liquid velvet, and Erebus nearly launched himself at her before she held up a hand. He stopped. “Slow-ly.” Erebus watched her tongue move when she uttered the word as his hands twisted at his sides.
He resumed what felt like an impossibly long walk to where Nyx was seated at the head of the room, both drinking their fill. Erebus’s hair was wild, the humidity and rain sending his curls in all directions, except for where it was plastered to his temples. Nyx felt tension rising in her belly as she watched him, coming towards her with slow, predatory movements. His black chlamys was open on one side as she got an eyeful of his muscular thigh with every step. The sharp indent of his hips and the muscles of his ribs where visible to her, and Nyx had to fight from grinding down in her seat. Dark hair dusted his chest and arms, and his eyes were alight with adrenaline. She didn’t think that he had stopped breathing hard since the battle had ended. Erebus’s blood was running hot, full of the ancient power she helped him to release, but every muscle in his body was tight as he approached her.
When Erebus reached the foot of the dais, he growled.
“This suits you.”
He looked and took in the sight of her sitting on the throne. Nyx was in her mortal form, a tight band around the waist of her chiton arranging the fabric in such a way that it seemed to hug her skin. Her long, dark hair was trailing down her back, and Erebus wanted to wrap it around his fist and pull. Erebus took one step up, but Nyx shook her head, her lust turning over to a devious expression. She grabbed her hem, pulling it upwards, and Erebus watched as his blood raced, watching as Nyx’s shapely legs were revealed, up to decadent, curvy thighs that nearly glowed white. She stopped right before revealing herself entirely to Erebus, and he growled, his whole body tightening like a spring.
Nyx wanted to laugh but felt the ache between her thighs magnify at the sight of him, poised like an animal who wanted todevourher. The atmosphere around them was heavy with strums of power and the smell of sweat and blood. She leaned her head back against the chair and dropped her hem, her hands going up to her breasts and squeezing. Erebus made a strangled sound that was somewhere between a growl and a moan. Nyx sighed, her voice breathy as her eyes fluttered closed.
“Worship me, Erebus.”
The command in her voice was a green light to Erebus’s body, and he launched into action. His hands were rough on her skin, and Nyx gasped, Erebus dropping to his knees in front of her. He pulled her chiton off in one rip, the controlled violence of the action only making Nyx writhe in her seat. Erebus’s hands pushed her legs open impossibly wider, pulling one leg up on his shoulder and holding it there. His free hand gripping her other hip and beginning to rub small circles there.
“Darkness—ah!” Nyx had started to plead with him, and it turned into a cry, as Erebus leaned forward and licked up her core. Nyx felt the rest of the strength leave her body as it melted across Zeus’s throne, legs held open by Erebus as he began to feast on her. She twisted in the seat until Erebus’s grip tightened on her, holding her in place as he probed her gently. Nyx made another mewling sound as her hands found his hair, pulling at it and then pushing him closer. He let out a dark chuckle at her urgency that reverberated inside her, stealing her breath.
“I guess this is where they keep the nectar on Mt. Olympus.” Erebus smirked, finally starting to fuck her with his tongue. Nyx let out a small scream, sending off ripples of starlight around her. Erebus let go of her waist, his thumb finding her clit and beginning to draw similar circles around it. Nyx was a live wire. The sight of Erebus on his knees before her was almost enough to send her over the edge. He leaned back and Nyx cried at the loss of contact, slumped down in the seat from where Erebus was still holding her leg on his shoulder. He smirked, wiping traces of her off his chin.
“I swear, if you don’t—” Nyx didn’t get a chance to finish her pleas. Erebus leaned forward and pulled her clit into his mouth. It was all that it took, and Nyx’s whole body was arching off the throne as she came. She was white-hot, her veins pulsing with nothing but lust and moonlight. When she fell back against the back of the chair, she was possessed —all she wanted was to be filled with Erebus, she wanted his shadows to consume every part of her. They had been apart too long, and it was never going to happen again. Every particular in their bodies was singing out for its counterpart, a desperate, ancient force destroying any defenses they had built up against one another. Erebus sat on his knees, his hand rubbing soothing ministrations on her leg.
Nyx pulled her leg off his shoulder slowly, standing up on shaky feet. She took a deep breath and stared at Erebus, her expression leaving no room for debate.
“Sit.” She growled, and once again, Erebus moved like it was compulsory.
He traded places with her, sitting down on Zeus’s throne. As he shifted in the seat, the chlamys moved, revealing his hard length to her. At the sight, Nyx felt her muscles clench around nothing, and she hissed. Erebus laughed, enjoying the sight of her so flustered over him. It was a sight that he would never take for granted—that the most powerful woman in the universe was reduced to this at the sight of him. He made her this wild. It stroked part of his ego, and he preened, unable to contain his pride at pleasing her.
