Aeëtes only nodded in response, and the pair began walking back to Circe’s home. Aeëtes looked down between them, wanting to crawl out of his skin, his fingers just grazing hers. It would be so easy to reach out and take her hand, to stroke his thumb across her palm and break this barrier between them.
Except there is something between us—and it’s not entirely a wall.
Aeëtes stopped walking.
Hecate turned around, looking at him with a brow raised. “Aeëtes?” she asked gently, her voice missing its normal disdain for him. There was something in his eyes that Hecate couldn’t place as Aeëtes stared at her. He let out a long breath and rubbed a hand over his eyes. The air around them shifted, alive with the magic of the island, and Hecate could have sworn she felt the breeze pick up, almost pushing them towards one another.
Aeëtes picked his head up and looked at her, the intensity in his gaze unmistakable. He looked half-mad, still covered in a bit of blood, only wearing the fleece around his waist.
“Aeëtes?” Hecate asked again, taking a step towards him. “Are you alright?” Her mind began to race as she studied him, wondering if there was some sort of Hera’s magic affecting him.
“No,” Aeëtes growled, his voice low. Hecate took a surprised step back, frustration etching itself onto her features.
“What is wrong with you?” she snarled at him.
“Fuck this.” Aeëtes snapped his head up, stared at Hecate for a split second, and then all hell seemed to break loose. He crossed the short distance between them, grabbing Hecate’s face with his hands. Aeëtes’s grip was shockingly tender for such a large man with embers in his eyes. Hecate nearly whimpered, feeling herself lean into him entirely on instinct. She felt her magic reacting to him, coursing through her veins and making her go blind to anything except Aeëtes.
“Tell me now if you don’t want this,” he whispered, his breath warm on her face. Hecate said nothing, unable to think or rationalize anything other than the look in Aeëtes’s eyes.
“Thank the gods,” he grunted, and the next thing that Hecate knew was only heat. Aeëtes crushed his lips to hers, and everything around them dissolved entirely. His hand moved to cup her jaw, the other wrapping around her waist and pulling her even tighter to him. It was a tender, almost cautious embrace, and Hecate gasped at the feel of him. He took the opportunity, the kiss morphing into something desperate.
Everything in her body seemed to turn molten, her magic moving in waves. It danced from her to Aeëtes, making him moan as he felt it running over his skin. There was nothing else in the world that mattered in that moment, the taste of him, the way her body drifted towards him unconsciously.
Aeëtes pulled back slightly and bit at her lip, groaning her name against her own skin. Hecate sucked in a deep breath…and it was like the oxygen cleared her muddled brain. She lurched back from him suddenly, her hand flying up to cover her face. They were both silent for a second, trying to catch their breath.
“Hecate…” Aeëtes murmured, taking a step towards her. She held up a hand and stopped him, shaking her head.
“No.” Her voice was shaky, and she couldn’t look him in the eye. “This didn’t happen, Aeëtes.”
“Now, wait a minute—”
Hecate was already walking away, hurrying back to Circe’s house. “This didn’t happen,” she bit the words out, hardly tossing him a glance over her shoulder. Aeëtes stood there, stunned and trying to understand Hecate’s hot and cold attitude. He gave her space as she went towards the house.
Except it absolutely fucking did, little witch.
16
Circe was waiting for them as they approached the house, the lion having rejoined her side. She stroked its head lazily and took a sip from her cup, raising a subtle eyebrow at Hecate. Aeëtes ducked inside, going over to Pelias, and both men laughed about something that Hecate didn’t hear.
“Don’t say a word.” She looked over at Circe, pausing in the door frame.
Circe shrugged. “I didn’t open my mouth.”
“You said it with your eyes.” Hecate’s lips pulled into a thin line.
“What would you rather me do?” Circe looked at Hecate with an expression that was downright conspiratorial.
“There’s nothing to react to,” Hecate clipped, cutting the conversation short as she stepped inside.
Circe followed, both women joining Aeëtes and Pelias in the kitchen. Pelias was laughing at something that Aeëtes had said, and Aeëtes turned his head as soon as he heard the women. Rather, as soon as he heard Hecate; it was as though he was a sail and Hecate was the wind. He was utterly attuned to her presence. His face morphed the moment he saw her, turning from something boisterous and joyful to something softer, but as always, still smiling. It did something to Hecate’s insides, and she fought to keep it off her face.
“We’ll head back to the shore.” Hecate ignored him and nodded towards Pelias and Circe. “And we’ll get out of your hair.” Circe let out a small laugh, putting her cup down on the counter and walking over to Hecate. She pulled the other woman close to her, wrapping her up in a hug and squeezing. Pelias and Aeëtes took that as their cue to leave, stepping outside to give Hecate and Circe some space for their goodbyes.
“You know that you’re hardly an inconvenience,” she chastised. “I miss you when you aren’t here.” Hecate held on for a moment longer, relishing the feeling of closeness that she so rarely felt with others. She pulled away with a sigh.
“We shouldn’t stay in one place too long with Hera on our tail,” Hecate said wistfully, knowing that she would rather spend another few days on Aeaea if they could. “You know how much I love this place but…” she trailed off.
“I know.” Circe nodded, all too aware of what was happening to Hecate, even if she had no clue. She found herself pulling Hecate close for one more hug, whispering gently in her ear.
