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“Natos?”
Back to me, he pauses at the entrance of the arched doorway. As soon as he turns his chin until one side of his face is revealed to me, I stand before him and confess, “I don’t want to hide.”
To him, I am simply…Elysia.
I slip the bridal gown straps from my shoulders to slide down my arms and let the waterfall of crystals and frost pool to the floor like a lake—a lake of souls!
Another glimmer invades my vision. Arrayed in the splendor of my Halo, I ascended ten crystal steps to a throne,mythrone of hundreds of crystallized roses with elaborate, curling ice vines and skeletal patterns that had tempted me while Thanatos remained lower on a pedestal. Higher than Death in his own realm!
When the vision clears, Thanatos stands before me, his dark shadow overthrowing my face. Gold dust showers my skin because I can’t control my Halo’s response. No butterflies. Just this lingering heat and violent emotion. Gold roses, like goosebumps, erupt upon my skin when Thanatos slides one hand around my naked waist, stationing like an early winter on my spine and drawing me closer. I cage a whimper when my naked, golden body meets his Reaper robes. My heart sputters.
“Natos?” I whisper a plea that escapes like a waft of December air.
He kisses me. Oh, Saints! I moan as he folds my lips back so I may taste his serendipity and starlight. So I may taste every fantasy of bliss and romance and rapture and euphoria. His hands explore my back, fingertips pressing on every vertebra of my long spine. He massages my shoulder blades, gathers a host of my curls, and cups the back of my head to draw me further into his mouth. He claims my tongue in a beautiful waltz that reminds me of ice and fire dancing, of my gold dancing with his frost to the melody of Swan Lake. His fog travels up my legs, billowing into my sex, coaxing and hinting. Gold drips down my thighs freely.
How I long to touch him and for him to touch me!
However, as soon as my fingers light on his collar, Thanatos seizes my hand, shifts it away, and breaks from my mouth. “No, Elysia. Not tonight.”
My lips are swollen. Deep desire kindles within me, but Thanatos does not surrender. Instead, he lifts my naked, glowing body into his arms and carries me to bed, tucking us inside the blankets with the dead rose petals under my skin.
“I can’t sleep with you behind—”
“Yes, you can. And you will,” Thanatos professes, kissing the back of my neck and sliding his arms around my waist, luring me closer to his body.
“Triumvirate?” I question, wondering what could have possibly happened during those months to make me long forthis.
“Triumvirate,” he confirms, sweeping aside my curls.
I sense him. I sense his lust, his passion. Hisarousal.
“Why, Natos?”
“You do not wish to hide, Elysia. But I do. Death will keep his secrets. And you shall sleep, my love. Sleep.”
Somehow, I manage to settle my head against the pillow. With Thanatos humming the melody ofSwan Lakein my mind through our bond, I close my eyes and slip into a blissful slumber that is loveliest, darkest, and deepest.
Epilogue
“AFTER THIS IS OVER, BROTHER, YOU CAN KISS YOUR KNEECAPS GOODBYE.”
NITA
Sunrise – Pre-Wedding
After Mordere departs from the room clutching his bleeding mouth and squealing like a stuck pig, I blow my girl a silent kiss of approval. Serves the swine right. A proud warmth floods me at our sweet girl’s defense.
Now, I rejoin my alter I’ve dispatched to shadow-track the necromancer, who is escorting Neo to the dungeons. Once the sun rises, I imagine I’ll be keeping two eyes on Elysia, but this blood oath that she’s agreed to will make it far more difficult to intervene.
Somehow, I must release my brother so he may usurp Mordere’s claim. Even if it means wrestling with the necromancer. Let’s see how it will do against a Hydra Creator when it’soutsideMordere’s body, considering I spent hours trying to summon itbeforethe battle, but to no avail.
As much as I desire to comfort Elysia, I must focus on the end goal. Besides, in another few minutes, she won’t even remember my name.
Due to such a short amount of time, the alter I created is far more like a wraith. One that tracks whatever I desire but has none of the five senses. So, when I follow its trail like shadowy breadcrumbs and arrive before the arc bridge that leads to the Court O’ Destruction, I understand the Under Circle will be my brother’s dungeon. Of course, a mere cage is not enough for Mordere; he will humiliate Neo by taking over his Court and dispensing justice before the true Prince of Destruction’s very eyes.
Mordere has been rather busy. His ten-thousand-bitten vampire army strong provided a suitable diversion, enabling him to drain all of Neo’s destructive blood, ridding the Court O’ Destruction of my brother’s essence and power…and replacing it with Mordere’s commanding blood.
No trace of the necromancer yet, but I can sense its presence. Its soothsayer black magic infects the air. I wrinkle my nose at the scent of the stench of blood sacrifice and fire drifting like incense upon the air.
