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Her body shudders, and she shifts against me.
“Until you learn to stay safe, and not go running out into the world. It’s a dangerous place for a woman like you.”
“A woman like me?” There’s a challenge in her tone, and she pulls away, pushing her hands against my chest. I let her, but keep my arms locked around her.
“You’re mine,” I reply, and the words are so final that they echo in the space between us. Katy’s mouth opens and then closes, her expression going thoughtful.
“Do you mean that?” She asks, her voice soft, and I know I’ve made a mistake.
I want to tell her, no, that I was wrong. But I can’t. I’ve put us on this path, with my hubris and arrogance, thinking I could flout the laws of existence.
She’ll learn, but it’ll be too late.
I’ve already doomed us both by loving her.
I am a fool. I will hang for it, but before that, she will be destroyed in front of me to punish me. Nothing good comes of the god of souls falling for a human, and now, when I’ve finally done it, the whole universe is going to make sure I pay.
“Of course, I mean it,” I murmur, and it’s not a lie. The truth is, the moment I saw her, I knew.
She’s the one. The one woman I would die for. The woman I would let die for me.
I kiss her again, chasing those thoughts of tomorrow away. Every day stretches out in the mortal realm, and I can pretend for a little while longer that the future is not going to come to pass.
As I slide inside her, the tight heat of her body embracing me, I wonder if... maybe... it’s worth it.
But then her eyes open, and I see everything I’ve ever wanted in them, and I know it is.
I wonder if I’ll still feel like that later.
25
Katy
For the second time in a week, I’m waking up in Hadrion’s bed.
But this time, when the sun’s fingers stretch over the sheets, I’m not by myself.
At least, I shouldn’t be. I reach out, my questing hand finding... nothing but empty cool bedding. I sit up with a jerk, and no, I’m not mistaken.
The room is empty and silent, except for me. Instantly, it feels like my heart is crumbling in on itself.
What did I expect? He’s a god, I’m a human.
It was just sex; I remind myself, but even as I think that, the lie in it stings.
Feeling upside down, my chest caved in, I get out of bed and see there’s clothing laid out at the end of it. My eyes sting, my lower lip trembling, and I hate how stupid I was. Of course, it wasn’t more to him. Why would I be? I’m just a vessel, a blood bag, meant to guide him to retake his throne.
How the hell am I so stupid?!
I grab the t-shirt, yanking it over my head angrily, and pull on the underthings and loose jeans. Also, Hadrion is a jerk. A Grade A asshole. I hop on one foot, shoving the other into a sock so hard that I nearly miss the opening of the sock and smack my foot on the metal frame of the bed. I miss by an inch and hiss. I don’t need physical pain to add to my misery right now. It already feels like he’s carved out my heart with his fingernails.
There’s a knock at the bedroom door, and it cracks open. Elenora bumps her hip against the door and enters, a tray in her hands.
Always with the tray. Always with the food. Hadrion gives me everything, clothing like I could never afford, the perfect job with co-workers I actually like and who like me, a servant who is around just to prepare me food that I love, the best goddamn night of my goddamn life—
“Miss?” Elenora’s polished voice is gentle, and as she looks at me, I realize she’s sizing me up a bit like I’m a feral horse and she’s not sure if I’m going to bite or kick. “Are you?”
“Do not,” I snap, “do not ask me if I’m okay. I am not okay.” It’s not like she’s clueless. Who else laid clothing out for me to wear? Obviously it was her, creeping in, silent and unassuming. It’s not like Hadrion would have debased himself to pick out clothing, and make sure they were perfectly uncreased on top of everything.
