“I want you,” I told him hoarsely. “Right now.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see the trees on fire again and the oranges and yellows of the flames swirled into the colors our auras. My own fire raged within me and I innately knew that only one thing could quench it. And at this particular juncture, we didn’t have anything to lose anyway.
Brennan’s hands were everywhere, his breath on my skin. His tongue licked the soft skin of my neck, right before he bit. He drank more of my blood before dragging his mouth to mine. I felt weak with wanting him, but stronger than I’d ever felt at the same time. We were meant to be one. It was as natural to us as breathing. It was what we were both racing toward now. There was no turning back.
Suddenly, his fingers found the most sensitive part of me and I cried out. The intense pleasure overtook me and the solid granite altar beside us crumpled into rubble from the burst of energy. My cheeks were flushed and hot, my breaths panted raggedly. Brennan’s hands were on my back, my legs, my breasts. And where his fingers touched, his mouth quickly followed suit. Only one thing mattered now.
Only.
One.
Thing.
I pulled Brennan to me and I could feel his hardness, his maleness, his need for me. It was overwhelming, earth shattering, mind bending. I struggled to breathe and everything was a blur. We were moving, but I couldn’t define it anymore. I couldn’t control it or myself. And then suddenly, before I knew it, we were physically one.
I gasped and Brennan cried out.
In that one moment, with Brennan inside me, I had never felt more complete or at peace. I arched against Brennan as he moved in the ancient, old-as-time rhythm and I felt tears slipping down my cheeks. Sadness didn’t move me, an uncontrollable happiness did. There had never been anything so right in my entire life. Why had I resisted it for so long?
We moved toward an unseen precipice and I braced for what would come. It built up and built up and as Brennan exploded within me, so did the sky above us. Colors and pops and cracks and supersonic booms came from every direction and suddenly, the sky was on fire.
We froze and watched in wonder for several minutes as the sky burned.
And then, as the clouds and smoke moved and parted, we saw the sun and the moon separate, moving back into their rightful places in the sky. The eclipse was over. Our power, the energy that we had created together, had torn the eclipse apart.
I collapsed onto Brennan’s damp chest and cried…from happiness, from relief, from love. He held me close and whispered sweetly to me, cradling me against him. Whatever happened to us next almost didn’t matter.
“Use your will now,” I whispered to him. “Take us to the Underworld, Bren. We’ll never be stronger than we are right now.”
The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes was the sky opening up and the Olympians descending upon us. Then we were gone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I had never been as comfortable as I was right now.
I came to that realization as I stirred, as I slowly regained consciousness. I opened my eyes and found that I was wrapped in red silk bedding, situated in the middle of a massive, soft bed. Ebony bedposts as thick as my body framed each of the four corners and billowy gauze floated above me.
Brennan sat in a chair next to me. He was clean and shaven, and was dressed in linen trousers and a white silk shirt. He practically glowed with his own brand of health and beauty. His eyes lit up when he saw that mine were open.
“Empusa,” he smiled. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been asleep for a thousand years,” I admitted, moving my arms gingerly. “How long has it actually been?”
“A few days,” he said quietly, pulling my hand to his lips. “Our strength was completely drained. I slept for a solid day, myself. But I’m awake now and I feel better than ever. Do you feel better?”
I considered that. I stretched each of my hands, then my legs. I felt strong. My mind was sharp. I seemed to have made a full recovery from the effects of the eclipse. To be honest, I hadn’t felt so good in a long time.
“And Zeus?” I asked hesitantly.
“Seriously pissed off,” Brennan confirmed. “There’s a storm brewing now, Empusa. But we’re together and we’re both alive. Hades tells me that the game has changed. Your significance has changed everything.”
“Yes, indeed it has,” Hades added as he glided into the room. Everything about him was so fluid, so polished. So refined.
“I knew from the moment that I first saw you that you were special, Empusa,” he continued, as he poured nectar into a sparkling goblet and handed it to me. “I just didn’t know how significant you would actually become. I do believe that you will be the key that will change everything.”
“Well, no pressure, or anything,” I mumbled sarcastically. Hades smiled at me, his teeth bright white in the cool darkness of my bedroom.
“Do you like your rooms?” he asked casually. To be honest, I hadn’t looked at them. From my bed, I could see silken tapestries, thick woolen rugs, chandeliers, mahogany, gold. He had certainly spared no expense in decorating.
“You also have a sitting room and a Greek bathing room,” he added. “If anything isn’t to your taste, simply let Persephone know and it will be changed at once.”
“Persephone?” I raised an eyebrow. “How does she feel about my presence here? I’m assuming we’re in your palace.”
“Of course we are,” he confirmed. “And Persephone loves guests. Although, you aren’t a guest, of course. This is your home. Please treat it as such.”
“Where are Brennan’s rooms?” I asked.
“Right next to yours,” Brennan interrupted. “In fact, they adjoin.”
“You seem to have thought of everything,” I told Hades. He shrugged.
“I try.”
“What will happen now?” I asked. “If Zeus is angry, there will be hell to pay. We outmaneuvered him. He won’t stand for it.”
“Of course not,” Hades agreed. “Only the time has come that perhaps he will have no choice. You are a game-changer, daughter. And I think Zeus knows it.”
“I never asked to be a game-changer,” I pointed out. “And where’s my mother?”
“Well, whether you asked for it or not, it is what you are,” he answered. “And your mother is gone. The second that Brennan willed you here, your mother disappeared. I’m sure she is safe. In fact, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she doesn’t turn up here very soon. She certainly won’t stand on Zeus’ side. Not now.”
“Zeus’ side?” Brennan asked. “You talk like there will be a war.”
“Of course there will be,” Hades answered, completely unconcerned. “Finally.”
He was pleased. Brennan and I could both see that. I found that I was actually indifferent. I didn’t care about angering Zeus any longer. As long as my mother was free of his hold, it no longer concerned me- not as long as Brennan and I were together.
“So be it,” I replied carelessly. “It matters not.”
“Of course it doesn’t matter,” Hades agreed. He pulled the covers back on the bed and pulled me to my feet. “You look well rested, daughter. We must feast this evening, in your honor.”
“I cannot eat here…” I began out of habit. And then I caught myself. This was now my home.
“You are princess here,” Hades reminded me. “You can come and go as freely as you would like.”
“And Brennan?” I asked expectantly.
“Brennan will enjoy the same freedoms once he is your husband,” Hades answered.
Brennan’s eyes snapped to mine and held in an unwavering gaze.
“Married?” I breathed.
“Of course. Once you are tied together, he will enjoy the same freedoms and privileges as you.”
“And until we’re married?”
“Until then, he will be as any other person who enters the Underworld,” Hades said matter-of-factly. “If you choose to not get married, Brenn
an must drink from the river Leche to forget his mortal life and he will remain here. I’m sorry, Empusa, but I’m sure you know that I am a very fair god. Rules for one apply to all. I can treat Brennan no differently. But that doesn’t concern you, does it? Weren’t you planning to marry?”
Were we? Brennan had asked once upon a time, but so much had happened that it hadn’t even crossed my mind in so long. We were together. That was all that mattered to me. Making it official wasn’t a concern.
Until now.
“Brennan?” I asked.
“You already know that I want you to be my wife,” he answered. “And it appears that in marrying me, you will save me from a lifetime of amnesia.”
It was true. Drinking from the river Leche would render him without memories. He would forget who he was, who I was, who we were together. Suddenly, it was no longer a question. It was inevitable.
“We’ll be married at the soonest opportunity,” I told Hades.
“Wonderful,” he dipped his head. “Congratulations. I’ll tell Persephone. She can ready the feasts and the ceremony can commence tonight. There is no time like the present.”
He walked toward the door. “I’ll leave you alone,” he said over his shoulder. “I will send your maid to ready a bath.”
He stepped out and closed the heavy door behind him. I stared at the ivory inlay. They were carved with scenes from my life, beginning with my birth. They stopped at the present point, where Brennan and I stood together in marriage. There was blank space left to fill on the bottom half of the second door. Hades had truly spared no expense or trouble in preparing my suite.
I turned to Brennan. “So, this is your last afternoon of being single. You should ask Hades for a bachelor party.”
Brennan laughed. “I would marry you this minute if I could. I don’t need a bachelor party.”
“I worry that you are so young,” I told him. “You haven’t even lived yet.”
“My soul is old,” he reminded me. “And when I’m not with you, I’m not living anyway.”
“Good answer,” I told him with a smile.
“I try,” he shrugged, mimicking Hades. It was a perfect impression and I laughed.
“I should be nervous,” I told him seriously. “I’m sure that Zeus is planning a battle of epic proportions, but all I can feel is relief that we are out of the clearing and here together. I feel safe for the first time in…ever.”
“Me too,” Brennan admitted. “I think it just feels good to know what side we are on, finally.”
“What about your father?” I asked him. “Apollo will not be happy with you.”
“He’s not truly my father,” Brennan answered brusquely. “Not really. He fathered me and gave me immortal gifts, but he’s nothing to me.”
I nodded, but before I could say anything, there was a soft knock and then my door opened. A small woman entered, quiet and plain. I had heard that Persephone only had plain house servants. She was a very jealous woman.
The woman approached me and bowed low. “Princess, I’m Simone, your maid.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Simone,” I answered. “I would practically kill for a hot bath right now.”
She startled, then smiled when I did.
“I would never hurt you, Simone,” I assured her. “I know that there are many things said about me, but I would never hurt you.”
“You are legendary, princess,” she answered, without going into the sordid details of my curse. I appreciated that. “I’ll just go run your bath.”
She curtsied once and left the room.
“Can I stay for this?” Brennan asked softly, running his fingers lightly along my arm. Electricity tingled where he had touched. We had been in survival mode for so long that simple acts like this were truly wonderful. And I found that I wasn’t ready for him to leave my side just yet.
“Of course,” I told him. “Please stay.”
He stuck his arm out for me to hold and I was suddenly glad for it. Lying in bed for days tended to make legs a little shaky. I discovered that when I took a few steps and faltered.
“Careful there,” Brennan laughed, holding me up. I leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around me. He smelled heavenly and I stood still, simply inhaling him.
“Did Hades say anything about my curse?” I asked softly. Brennan shook his head.
“No. But one way or the other, Em, it will be fine. We know that we can handle it, so it doesn’t matter now if you have it with you forever, right? That’s the worst that can happen.”
And he was right, I realized with a start. I had lived so long with the sole goal of having my curse removed so that I could live a normal life that I was suddenly at a loss when I realized that it didn’t truly matter anymore. I’d like for it to be removed so that I didn’t have to be quite so cautious when I was around Brennan, but I knew now that I could control myself and not kill him. That was the most important thing.
“We’re getting married tonight,” I told him with a smile. “I think it might be bad luck if you stay here while I get dressed.”
He looked disappointed.
“Truly?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Truly,” I confirmed. “I’ll get ready and then come downstairs and meet you. I want to look beautiful for you.”
“You always look beautiful,” he assured me, leaning down to kiss my nose. “But if you’d like some privacy, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
He strode toward the door, turning once he reached it. “I love you, Em.”
“I love you too,” I answered.
He was gone then and I was alone.
Simone poked her head back into the room. “Your bath is ready, princess.”
I smiled and joined her. I couldn’t help but stare around me in wonder. The Greek bath was something out of a history book, straight from an ancient royal palace. Marble floors glistened under my feet. The tub was sunken into the floor, inlaid with jewels on the bottom. Rubies, sapphires and amethysts sparkled in the light. The room was large and a hundred candles burned. Fresh flowers sat in vases all around us and I had never seen such a lavish bathroom.
Simone helped me undress and before I knew it, I was sinking into the luxurious bathtub. I laid back on the inclined seat and the water rose to my chin. Simone dropped perfumed oil into the water and then stood back.
“You can go,” I told her. “Thank you. I’ll call you if I need anything else.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right outside, princess.”
“You can call me Empusa,” I answered. She looked mortified.
“Or princess will work, if you prefer,” I added. She looked infinitely better at that. I certainly didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. She bowed and left the room and I closed my eyes. The flickering candles certainly were relaxing.
I soaked and soaked, reveling in the warmth, the clean feeling of the water, the safety that I felt here. I was just about to finally open my eyes when a voice hissed in my ear.
“If you hurt my husband, I swear to you that I will rip your heart out and eat it like an apple.”
I startled, then relaxed before opening my eyes. It seemed that Persephone had found me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
As I opened my eyes, I felt Persephone’s thin fingers on my temples. My head was leaned back against the marble tub edge and she massaged my head, harder than she needed to.
“I know who you are,” she continued, her voice icy and calm at the same time. “I know what you’ve been through. It might have done a weaker person in which is impressive. None of that concerns me now though. What does concern me is my husband’s well-being. I do not wish him upset or harmed in any way. I do not wish for his hopes to be raised in relation to this war with Zeus by someone who does not intend to follow through with her promises. If you disappoint him, in any way, I will pull your eyes out of your head and feed them to you. Do you understand?”
I stared into her cobalt blue eyes which were glittering intensely at
this moment and then sat up, shoving her hands away from my face.
Turning, I stared at her once more.
“I understand that you think that I am a threat to the god of the Underworld. I understand that as a wife, you are concerned. What I do not understand is why you underestimate your husband so much or why you feel that you are skilled enough to threaten me.”
Bright red spots of color stained Persephone’s alabaster skin and her lips pinched together. But before she could speak, I continued.