Page 18 of Vampire's Promise
“No. If he wishes to speak to us, then he will appear. I think we have both tested his patience enough for now.”
She let out a laugh. “You meanI’vetested his patience.”
“I was trying to be polite.”
“Nice try.” Gwen plopped down in the sand and stared across the vast blue waters. “I’m thinking nightfall will be a real joy.”
He sat beside her and looked at the sky. “That would be my guess as well. Judging by the sun, I would say we have a few hours of daylight, but who knows in this world. We need shelter and you need to feed.” He scooted closer, his body touching hers, and she thought the contact was going to make her combust. He held out his wrist.
“Take as much as you require. You need to be at full strength in case we have to fight something.”
She hesitated, wondering how drinking her mate’s blood was going to affect her. From everything she had learned, it was only going to make her want him more. She debated refusing but realized it would only leave her vulnerable to whatever came at them in the darkness.
“You hesitate, why?”
She finally met his warm gaze. They were so close now and it would only take her leaning in slightly and she could press her lips against his. How would he react if she kissed him? She guessed he would kiss her back since he had made it clear she was desirable to him, and she was likely to be his tonight. To her, he was more, and she wondered what it might take to earn his trust.
“Am I going to have to invade your privacy to get a reply from you?” He referred to using his demigod powers to read her mind.
She shook her head and answered his question by wrapping her fingers around his wrist. Fangs extended. She raised his arm to her mouth, then kissed the soft flesh. She could have simply struck, but there was a naughty side to her that wanted to witness his reaction. Their gazes locked, and what swirled in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. She pressed her pointsto his skin, then slowly broke the surface. His lids lowered and lips parted, and when she took her first draw of blood, they both moaned.
He tasted like her future. Tasted of comfort, love and protection mingled with the spiciness of raw desire. The more she drank, the more intense the energy between them grew until she worried she might melt into him and become part of him. She wanted him, but she also wanted his trust. Needed him to believe she was his fated and what they were to each other wasn’t some kind of trick. It was something destined by a much higher power. Getting more than enough of his blood, her body was energized unlike never before and she figured it was both because he was her mate and he was a demigod. Reluctantly, she freed her fangs and licked his wound, even though it healed on its own. As she released her hold on his arm, he leaned in and claimed her mouth.
The world around her tilted.
Desire bloomed even hotter across her body as his kiss started out gentle. Soft swipes of his tongue across her lips, but when she parted them… Gods help her, because he staked his claim. Cupping her face, he kissed her as if she were his last breath. Something inside her snapped into place, and it was as if she had known Kian her entire life.
The ground beneath them shook and small rocks tumbled down the cliff. Kian broke the moment and was on his feet before she could react. Both heated and breathless, she looked around and got to her feet, brushing sand from her backside.
“Khedeus again?”
Kian shook his head. “No. This felt different. Much older.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“That was a god or goddess of ancient age trying to wake from a slumber. By the feel of it, one who is related to me.”
“I had no idea they slept.”
He nodded. “Yes, but I’m not sure if anyone actually knows how many sleep. If they wake before they are ready, it can cause a disturbance in the universe.” He looked around. “We should select a spot for our camp and prepare for tonight.”
She sighed. So much for their romantic moment, but there wasn’t any doubt in her mind that something had passed between them. She only hoped it might have broken through his barrier.
Argathos hadn’t seenthe palace of their ancient home since they had fled. He figured by now it would have been vandalized or occupied. It was neither. Of course, he should have figured Zarek would place protection spells on it to keep everyone away. Far, far away it seemed as no one could go any farther than the foot of the small hill where the royal palace stood in the gods’ realm of Edala, which ironic enough meant judgment. As he stared out over the glistening white spires of the other gods’ and goddesses’ temples, he wondered at their reaction when they realized Zarek was back. One thing was certain, whoever was behind hiding his son from him was going to feel the fury of the god of visions.
“Nothing has changed, has it?”
He turned to face Hades. “No. It’s still the pristine dreadful place it was before.” He turned back to staring outside. “Where is Zarek?”
“He’ll be here shortly. He was waiting for his mate.”
Argathos grinned at the thought of the queen, Qadira. Being the goddess of fire, she was the creator of dragons and would likely be escorted by, at the very least, two Draki warriors. If the temples below didn’t know the royal family was back, the fire-breathing beasts in the sky would be a sure sign no one could ignore.
“Do you really think mother is trying to wake?”
Hades shuddered, which said a lot considering he was the lord of dark and nasty things. “I agree with Aidyn. We better fix shit and fast if we all wish to remain unscathed. If mother wakes and finds out about the war, she will lose her shit.”
Their mother, Cera, could take out a god without batting a pretty eyelash. After all, she had slaughtered her own mate when he became mad with insanity. She had used a blade to remove his head, but that had been mostly for show. In reality, she could ash a god with a mere thought. She was the daughter of Ra. The ruler of the living and the dead and when she found out that the gods and goddesses hadn’t been playing nice for centuries… Had started a war so devastating it had led to the death of her son––she wouldn’t care that Aidyn was now alive and healthy–– and to the murder of her daughter-in-law. Not to mention that the entire mortal race that had once worshipped the deities who lived here were now gone… Well, her wrath would be felt for eons.
