When they reached Dervinias’s little house, Michael pulled the stolen jeep in front. Venus jumped out and tried to run. It was more of a jog. When she got to the door, she held her breath and pushed it open.
“Zaren!”
Michael followed her in. Faster than lightning Zaren appeared next to her. Strong arms wrapped around her tightly. She rested her cheek against his chest. He felt so good, she wanted to cry. Lemon and a hint of sweat filled her nose.
“Zaren, did you talk to them?”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her at arm’s length. Searching for some indication of trauma, Venus guessed. After a moment, he glared at Michael, his anger thick. He released her and lunged at Michael, shoving the palm of one hand into the boy’s chest. She knew he’d held back, since a real hit would’ve killed him. Michael sailed backward, his head smacking the wall, before crumbling to the floor with a moan.
Venus glared at Zaren, rushing to Michael. “Are you okay?”
“He shouldn’t be. I should kill him for what he did.”
Venus peered back and noticed his hands were clenched into fists, the muscles in his jaw grinding.
“Zaren, he helped me escape. Without him, I’d still be in that cell.”
“You were taken in the first place because of him! It’s all I can do to control my desire to kill him.” He paused, shaking his head, like he was trying to get the images he saw in her mind, out. “And I would’ve found you.”
He didn’t sound convinced. She must’ve been too far away. “Of course,” she said softly, squeezing his hand.
He grunted as he crouched next to her, and grabbed the collar of Michael’s shirt in a fisted hand, twisting and lifting. “If you’d allowed them to finish. If you hadn’t helped her . . . I! I—!”
“I know, man. I know.”
Zaren relaxed the grip on his shirt and shoved his palm into Michael’s forehead so his head smacked against the wall.
“Cret, Zaren. Seriously!” Michael made a mistake. She appreciated that he was trying to repair his wrongs. The way he’d felt was understandable. Given the circumstances she might’ve reacted the same way. Venus had said things . . . treated his mother without respect. He’d been dealing with a lot.
She and Michael were like two ends of the same string. And the longer they stayed attached, the stronger their connection grew. Their bond allowed her to experience his pain—emotionally and physically. Right now both were affecting him, in a terrible way.
“Zaren, help me get him over to the sofa,” she huffed.
Zaren sighed. “Yes, Princess.” He stuck a hand under Michael’s arm and hoisted him over his shoulder.
“This isn’t necessary. Put me down.”
Zaren shifted him on his shoulder and Michael groaned.
“Fine.”
Once they reached the living room, Venus pushed the remote and some newspapers out of the way. Zaren flung Michael onto the sofa.
“Easy, Bluto.”
“Don’t push me, runt.”
Venus patted Zaren on the chest. “Go get some ice, would you?”
When Zaren left, she moved Michael’s hair off his forehead. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. Please be okay.” She ran her fingers through his hair. Touching him, their closeness, she didn’t want to stop.
“Mmmmm, that feels good . . . Princess.” A slanted smirk appeared on his face.
She quickly moved her hand away. What was she doing? Or more importantly, what was this guy doing to her? Venus batted him on the forehead with her fingers.
“Hey. What was that for?”
Ignoring his question, she said, “Lift your head so I can tuck a pillow under it.” She chewed on her lip, nervous. “Go on,” she urged when he didn’t move fast enough.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.” She slid the pillow under his head. He still had a smirk on his face. “Are you even in pain, or pretending?” She tossed a pillow at him.
“I’m in terrible pain. You saw what the oaf did.” His smile grew genuine.
“I’ll show you oaf. Give me thirty seconds, that’s all it’ll take to turn you into hamburger,” Zaren said as he walked into the room with a bag of frozen peas. He stood over Michael and dropped the cold bag onto his chest. “Here you go, kiddo.”
“Gee, thanks Dad.” Michael stuck the bag of peas inside his shirt. “Ha. Cold.” He wriggled, trying to get into a more comfortable position, she supposed. “So, what’s the plan, Zaren, ole’ buddy. How are we going to help Venus get home?”
“You have done enough. Might as well scat back to your . . . father. I’m sure he’s curious about the latest developments.” Zaren pulled Venus to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. His strength buoyed her spirits.
“Look, I’m sorry. Okay.” Michael removed the peas and tossed them on the seat next to him. “My mother had just been murdered, and I wasn’t thinking straight.” He looked right at Venus and she noticed the peculiar expression on his face. “Venus, I am really sorry. What Abe and Frank did, I know I can’t take it back.” He shook his head as though trying to clear the awful images of tests they’d done to her, away. “I swear I want to help. Tell me what to do.” He sounded full of regret.
Venus glanced at Zaren wondering what he’d say. There wasn’t any point in sharing her feelings about how Michael could help. He’d needed to fall in love and he hadn’t. If the Gods were still denying her return . . . her life was over. But she wasn’t mad at him. The assignment Ith and Aetha gave her had been difficult—important for some reason, but difficult.
Zaren watched her face and sighed. “They—”
He wasn’t able to finish. A loud male shouted through a megaphone. “Come out with your hands up. We have the place surrounded.”
Zaren left her side and ran to the window. Venus followed. They pulled back the black curtain and saw several green military vehicles along with a white van and a lot of men with guns.
Michael came up behind them, “I’ll go out and talk to them. Zaren, get her away from here. I’ll meet up with you if I can. Where will you be?”
“The less you know, the better,” Zaren said to Michael, though his attention was focused on Venus, an odd look on his face.
What the cret is going on with these two?
It suddenly dawned on her that Michael and Zaren were jealous of each other, and Zaren was reading Michael’s thoughts.
Knock it off, Formytian, she yelled internally.
“Let’s go, Venus.” Zaren started pulling her toward the back door.
“Wait,” she said, yanking her arm from his grasp. The idea of leaving Michael didn’t feel right. Venus knew it was the connection they had. “Zaren, can you give us a minute?”
“I’ll be in the kitchen.”
She waited until he’d gone, one hundred percent positive Zaren would listen to their conversation, but the fact remained, she had things to say. And while Venus knew her feelings—annoying as they were—rested mostly on Zaren, the undeniable bond between her and Michael had to be discussed. For her sake.
Three. Two. One.
“Michael,” Venus touched his arm. He looked down at her with such gloomy eyes. “Whatever happens, will you promise me you’ll allow yourself to truly love? Open yourself to it, regardless of the consequences. I know your parents did things—hurt you. I also know you have so much to give, so much love inside. I feel it. Every time I sleep, every time I’m near you. And, it isn’t just me. Ith and Aetha, the Gods I told you about, they feel it too.”
“I’ll try.” He nodded, tears surfacing on his lashes. “Adonis was an idiot. He rejected Venus and then he died.”
Venus blinked, curious as to why he was bringing up the Shakespearean character. “Yes, well Adonis cared more about the hunt than anything else, including love.”
“Venus. Beautiful Goddess . . .” He caressed her cheek with a thumb. “I’m not a fool—at least not as big of one as Adonis. I’ve d
one stupid stuff, hurt you, but I don’t want you to go.”
Venus shook her head. “I’m not a Goddess, and you aren’t a fool.” She reached up and put a hand over his, bringing it down and pressing it between both of hers. A tingle rushed through her body, but she shook it off. “One thing I know for certain is that my Gods believe you’re special. See, I’m sort of . . . well, you and I, the Gods somehow . . .” She wasn’t sure how to say it without sounding like a complete doof.
“We’re connected, you and I.” He pulled his hand from between hers. Then placed both of her small hands inside his much larger ones. “I realized it while Abe and Frank were testing you. It was as though everything they did to you, they were doing to me, too.”
Breathless, she said, “Yes, that’s right. And I’ve seen your life and what you’re capable of. I know you can have the kind of love you seek, the kind you deserve. I know it. You aren’t like Adonis. Find love.”
His fingers touched her hair and slid down to the nape of her neck. He gave a slight tug, raising her face to his. “Why does it matter that I discover love? Who am I to your Gods?” He searched her eyes, pleading.
Venus’s heart beat hard. Could he hear it? “I’m not sure, but they’ve decided you’re important. Who am I to question their decisions?” She shrugged, but couldn’t look away.
“This may sound crazy, but there’s something I should tell you. See, I think . . . No, that’s not true, I know I’ve—”
“You have thirty seconds and then we’re gonna start shooting.” Frank hollered through the megaphone.
“Cret!” They both said together, followed by soft laughter.
Venus needed to go. Plus, she didn’t want Michael getting hurt. Shooting her wouldn’t be a big deal. She’d be dead soon anyway, and Zaren couldn’t be hurt by bullets, but Michael could.
“Michael, go.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It happened so suddenly, she sucked in, only for a second. As before, it seemed like time stopped for them. His lips caressed hers, pressed her mouth open. She responded with such force, she surprised herself. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer, their bodies touching. He lifted her and she wound her legs around his hips. One of his hands held her head, his fingers laced through strands of her hair while the other roamed her body. The smell of him—pears and sunshine—filled her senses as their lips continued in a steady, perfect rhythm.
After what seemed like seconds, she heard someone—Zaren—clear his throat.
“Venus, we have to leave.” He spoke with a quietness that brought her back to reality.
She released Michael, her breathing ragged. He reluctantly let her down, their fingers finding each other’s and entwined. His eyes held hers captive. She wanted—what? To stay? To die?
“Here, will you take this? To remember me.” He pulled the book he’d been reading from his back pocket and handed it to her. It was entitled: Love Poems & Sonnets of William Shakespeare.
She took it and held it to her chest. “Thank you, Michael. I’ll never forget you.”
He nodded as he worked to get his emotions under control. “And I’ll never forget you, Venus.”
“Goodbye.”
He raised a hand in farewell. She placed her palm against his briefly and then he turned and went through the living room, to the front door. His pain, his sorrow lingered on her fingertips. She knew he didn’t want their new relationship to end this way. Neither did she, but what other choice did she have?
Venus moved to watch him. He turned the handle and pulled, but before he went through, he paused and looked back. Unspoken words hovered on his lips.
“Go.”
He walked out the door, taking a piece of her with him. It hurt. An agonizing cry escaped her mouth. She covered it, surprised. Then walked to the kitchen, where Zaren waited. She couldn’t look at him. Too sad. Too embarrassed.
“I’ll need to carry you.”
She allowed him to pick her up. The back door had already been opened. She could see cars and men in green, but they wouldn’t stand a chance. Zaren could run faster than bullets.
“Ready?” he asked.
Chapter 49
Never Say Goodbye