AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’stheirroom,” I specify, lowering my head, wishing I could stay here and go back to sleep.
“And miss out on the opportunity to verbally denigrate that imposter of my brother? And his faux bride? Not a chance, Elysia.” Thanatos departs from the bed, and I can’t help but smile from his assurance. I crane my neck to where he fetches my chemise from the floor before tossing it to me. “I look forward to learning all about it when we meet again.”
Again…I chew on my lower lip, pondering, then shrugging the chemise over my head and shoulders. At least I will get to see Quillion. And Nita, undoubtedly. Finished with the chemise, I procrastinate with a groan and dangle my hand over the bed, prepared to climb out when a familiar hot tongue scratches at my palm…followed by a little love bite.
I snap my head up and squeal to my hellcat pouncing on the bed to tackle me. “Spitfire! How in the—”
“Chasm creatures may cross the boundaries of the Soul Plane,” explains Thanatos while Spitfire licks my face, pinning me down with his newfound strength. He’s now the size of a small mountain lion. “He must have followed your soul trail. Probably took him all night.”
Hopeful at the prospect, I peer up at Thanatos and plead with him, “Can you keep him here? Protect him?”
Thanatos knits his brows over his hooded eyes. “Why?”
“He referenced that Lux would need a week to recover. I’ll break the oath every day, Thanatos. I won’t let him use my body. Not that way,” I hint, trembling but shaking my thoughts from the blood paint the previous night.
Thanatos chuckles and clasps his hands behind him. “You won’t need to worry about him the next few nights. He will scent death on you.”
Death doesn’t seem enough to ward off Destruction, especially given his hatred for his brother. Surely, it would drive Neoptolemus to the extreme until he wishes to ravage me more, but I don’t question Thanatos. Why would anyone?
First, I twirl my Halo light into a fist-sized orb inside my palm and grin as Spitfire lashes his tongue to lap up my flames and sate his aching belly. A warm lightness in my chest, I curl my fingers into his thick, furry hide, marveling at the heat blooming along his belly. His arrowed tail erupts into a flicker as he finishes his treat before I grant him a molten meal of flame shreds.
Finally, I climb out of bed and steady myself before making my way to the Prince. “Thanatos?” I squint, seeking those halcyon irises through the black holes, but he offers nothing more than a starry twinkle in his pupils. What a paradox he is to Neo. Even his dark skin, perhaps only one shade lighter than Destruction’s, echoes frost, not flames. And his hair is not silver but the purest obsidian black—and silky as an angel’s wings.
When Thanatos chortles low, I flush. My Halo mimics my embarrassment with a rosy glow curling from my skin and even from my curls.
“I’ve never been compared to an angel,” Thanatos confesses, hands falling to his sides. “But I’ll welcome any of your future musings on my Princehood. Perhaps you will happen upon the right one at some point. But you have a question for me before you depart…”
I part my lips, then purse them, hesitating. Thanatos doesn’t comb his fingers through my hair like Neo or brush his knuckles across my cheek. No, Thanatos is far morecalculatingin his pressuring encouragement. He prickles frost along my spine, so I gasp and arch, my body collapsing against his. He smirks down at me as my breath quickens from those minuscule ice crystals needling all the way up to the site of his sickle. This is Thanatos’ special touch—reserved for me. His feather-light fingertips of hoarfrost: an icy kiss that both heightens and soothes my nerves.
Inhaling a sharp breath when his fingers retreat, I gesture behind my back, wondering, “Your mark…”
“Yes?”
“I understand the sickle is a reaper symbol. It’s just not what I expected.”
“Did you expect a skull?”
For a moment, the corner on one side of his mouth tugs up. A shadow of a smile. Squeezing my shoulders together, I smile and shake my head. “No, I just imagine there’s a story.”
“So there is, but you will be late if you don’t depart. To keep it short and sweet, the sickle is older than the scythe, which evolved after it. My baby brother prefers the long-handled scythe, but I prefer the sickle. Used on a smaller area, one must lean over…” When Thanatos lowers his head toward me, a vein thrums in his dark neck—not with silver blood but black while he finishes, “…to small cut with each precise swing.”
My core churns heat, and I inwardly chastise myself before Thanatos shakes his head and proclaims, “No, Elysia. Do not ever condemn your fire blossom as you dub it. You may control your emotions, your responses however you deign. But never chastise them.”
One solemn Death fingertip traces my open palm from my left fourth finger and follows the gold vein along my arm, the same vein erroneously believed to lead straight to the heart. How surprisinglyromantic.
Thanatos then flexes all his fingers and drops his hand to finish, “Not even when it seems to betray you. In fact…” Thanatos raises his finger with a wry smile, “Give him the fire blossom today when you dress for breakfast. Remind the Prince of Destruction of your holy flames. You will bring him to his knees…eventually. Now, off with you and our dream within a dream.”
And to the land of the living…and Destruction, I echo within our bond, heave a longing sigh, already missing him. Closing my eyes, I sense the portal of the Soul Plane that is always open to me. Much like Neo’s shadow door—except Thanatos’ is comprised of ice crystals and darkness.
Once he skirts his hand to part the crystals and shadows, and I embark beyond the veil, a supermassive black hole of solar masses launches me back into the center of Destruction’s tower within moments. Wind almost knocked out of me, I must catch my breath.
I’m in Neo’s bed, dressed in the same white robe from last night but without the blood designs. No fang mark, thanks to Thanatos. I snap my head up when Neo deep-snarls next to me. As if he’s waited for me all night. Fear cripples me, but my blood rushes at the same time.
Before I can rise, Neo pins my struggling arms to the bedpost and mounts me—in his full and naked glory. Yes, he’s waited for me…all night. Oh, heavens! His eyes dilate with hunger and lust. My heart slams against my chest as every muscle in his body bulges, and he thrusts the robe to bunch around my hips, preparing to plunge into my sex.
I’m ready to…burst.
“Oh, hell!” he growls through gritted teeth and immediately releases me because I have burst—well…sort of.
