Chapter 13
Morpheus
Serapina freezes in my arms, her nerves seeming to paralyze her limbs. I slowly release her and circle to face her. “Are you afraid of me or the water?” I ask cautiously, needing to know if I’ve pushed her too far.
Her nose scrunches as she looks up at me.
“I’m not afraid of you or the water,” she says.
“I just… I’m nervous.” She frowns. “And I don’t want to be nervous.
I want to be strong. Not timid. Not na?ve.
But adventurous. And… and you know what?
Yes. I want to have an anatomy lesson. Explain what a knot is. ”
I arch a brow. “Explain it or show it?” I ask, intrigued by this bold side of her.
Her eyes widen. “You would show me?”
“I did just offer to provide an anatomy lesson, didn’t I?”
She blinks. “Oh.” She glances down and then back up. “I… I actually would like to see a knot. If you… don’t mind.”
My lips curl. “An Omega asking to see her Alpha’s knot is a fantasy, little dreamer. So I definitely don’t mind at all. But I would ask that you lead in this exploration, as I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Her blue irises pulse as she peers up at me. “Lead how?”
“Well, I’ll take off my shirt. Then you can unbutton my pants. And we’ll go from there, okay?”
She swallows, her pupils dilating. “Okay,” she echoes, her gaze running over me with interest. “I… I accept.” The way she squares her shoulders tells me she’s trying to bolster her confidence.
“Good,” I tell her, praising both her agreement and her obvious self-assurance. Then I reward her by making a show of removing my shirt, something her eyes confirm that she’s enjoying as she watches me undress.
Though, even without her gaze, I would know she’s interested.
Because her scent is suddenly all around me, causing me to inhale greedily.
Fuck. She smells like sin. Chocolate. Decadent nights lost in the sheets. My own personal dream come to life, right before me.
I want to kneel and beg for a taste.
Dine between her thighs.
Indulge in her slick.
But I force myself to remain steady, going as far as to fold my shirt before setting it on the ground. I went without an undershirt, so I’m naked from the waist up—something my Omega is currently admiring. “Your tattoos haven’t changed for me.”
“I imagine they won’t,” I reply. “They typically connect to an observer once and then never shift again.”
Her pretty gaze returns to mine. “Is it a form of magic?”
“Yes. Illusionary magic.”
She studies me. “Does that mean the tattoos are not actually real?”
I shrug. “Is anything real? Or do we all reside in a fantasy contrived by someone else? Maybe even one created by ourselves?” It’s a hypothetical quandary, one I ponder often. “What matters is what we believe in,” I go on. “And if you believe my tattoos exist, then they do.”
She reaches out to touch my skin, her fingers tracing my pectoral muscle. “It feels real.”
“You feel real,” I tell her in a whisper. “Now the question is, will you make my fantasy come true?”
She bites her lower lip as she skates her attention down to my groin. “By removing your pants.”
“That would be ideal, but I’ll settle for you unbuttoning them instead.”
She nods, seemingly to herself, and starts tracing a path down my torso. I shiver when her nail skims the muscular lines of my abdomen all the way to the light dusting of hair that guides her down to my groin.
Except Serapina pauses when she reaches the top of my pants, leaving me a little breathless with anticipation.
I’m so fucking glad I didn’t wear a belt today. Otherwise, she might be inclined to stop. And I don’t want anything to get in the way of her exploration.
Serapina visibly steels her resolve and pops open my button, then freezes like she can’t believe she actually did that.
“Now the zipper,” I encourage her. Only, she doesn’t move, so I add, “I’m wearing boxer shorts, sweetheart. So you’re not really exposing my knot yet, and you don’t even have to if you don’t want to.”
I would never force her to do something she didn’t desire to do. Push her limits, maybe. Seduce her, definitely. But I will never compel or force her to do anything.
She must believe me because she plays with my zipper—which has me swallowing a groan. Because fuck, that’s hot. It’s her touch coupled with the boldness flashing in her expression that has my knot pulsing in response.
Oh, I might not be naked when she finishes removing my pants, but there certainly won’t be any question as to what a knot is once she reveals my tight boxer shorts.
Her eyes wander downward as she finishes unzipping my pants. “Now what?” she whispers.
“Whatever you want,” I tell her. “You can push my pants down to the ground. Or you can turn around while I finish the job, then meet me in the water. Entirely up to you, Serapina.”
She shivers, her gaze slowly returning to mine. “If I choose the water, will you be naked?”
“Would you like me to be naked?” I ask, my lips threatening to curl. I can tell she’s nervous, though. So I don’t allow myself to smile. I want to make her comfortable, not overwhelmed.
“I don’t know,” she admits. Then frowns and says, “Yes, I do. I want… I want to be adventurous.”
“Then how about you turn around while I finish disrobing and get in the water. Afterward, I’ll face the wall while you decide how many clothes you want to leave on, and we’ll regroup in the lagoon.”
Her brow furrows at the idea, and she glances around me at the small lagoon I misted us to. “But I don’t know how to swim,” she reminds me.
“I know. That’s why I brought us here. The water is calm and has a set of natural steps there.
” I point to the rock formation that’s been sculpted into stairs.
“It’ll be about four feet deep when you reach the bottom.
Then I’ll be there to help you go farther into the cove, if you want to do a little swimming. ”
She considers that for a moment and nods. “I like this idea.”
Amusement flirts with my mouth as I reply, “I do, too.”
Her lips curl a little, and she rotates away from me. I study her for a moment, searching for signs of discomfort. But she appears to be mostly relaxed now, so I proceed with removing my pants and boxer shorts and walk over to the stairs.
I feel her eyes on me while I enter, aware that she’s peeking over her shoulder. Though, I pretend not to notice and instead make my movements slow and purposeful until I reach the bottom.
The water covers me where it needs to, but it’s rather clear, leaving me mostly on display.
Rather than turn around, I take a few more steps away from the stairs and say, “I’m ready for our adventure, Serapina.” The word is purposeful, as she said she wanted to be adventurous. So I’m daring her to follow through.
The sound of rustling clothes confirms it was the right thing to say because my intended mate is disrobing.
I wonder what she’ll choose to keep on for our swim. Her panties, perhaps? Maybe her tank top, too. She went without a bra earlier, so chances are—
The water ripples behind me, stilling my thoughts and causing me to hold my breath. I want to hear every movement. Sense her presence. Feel my Omega.
She’s moving cautiously, likely because the water scares her.
“I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” I vow, needing to reassure her. “You’re my reason for being, little dreamer. The purpose that gives me life. Just say the word, and I’ll slay any demon that stands before you, even a pool of water.”
A quiet moment passes between us before she asks, “How can you feel that way for someone you barely know?”
I can tell by her voice that she’s only a few feet away from me, but I don’t turn around yet. I’ll wait until she tells me it’s okay to move first.
So instead, I focus on her question and reply, “An Alpha knows his soul’s mate. Which I realize is a foreign concept to you, and probably a bit intense. But it feels natural to me. My entire existence revolves around pleasing you.”
She doesn’t respond right away. However, I hear her moving in the water, likely taking the final two steps to the bottom.
“If Alphas know their mates, then why am I being hunted? Do they all think I’m their mate, too?”
“Some Alphas don’t care about soul bonds and only value pleasure…
for themselves.” My jaw tightens at the notion.
“There are some who believe Omegas should be enslaved and used for knotting. And, unfortunately, the disappearance of your kind worsened that need, turning a lot of my brethren into feral versions of their former selves.”
I mentioned some of this to her already when reviewing the history of the Mythos Fae and the collapse of our realm.
“You’re also the first Omega presence anyone has sensed in a very long time, which has many of my brethren crazed with a need that overrides reason.”
“But I visited your realm, and no one seemed to hunt me there,” she points out, her voice right behind me now.
“Yes, because you were very much human a mere few days ago. However, Maliki’s talented tongue changed that.
” An explanation I haven’t fully confirmed but suspect is quite true.
“Further, the call you emitted told my kind you’re unclaimed, which means soul bond or no, you’re fair game—in their eyes. ”
“And in yours?” she asks softly, her nails touching my shoulder blades and tracing my spine downward.
I decide to translate that as an invitation to turn around, but do so slowly in case I misread her touch.
Though, when I find her blue eyes blazing up at me, I know I was right to move.
“In my eyes…” I trail off and look down, thrilled that she’s chosen to wear nothing at all.
“In my eyes, you’re exquisite, Serapina.
” However, I don’t think that’s what she meant, so I meet her gaze again as I add, “You’re a Goddess, little dreamer.
I live to serve you and your desires. And while my soul may know you as my mate, I will forever cherish your right to choose. ”
She stares up at me, her palm on my chest since I shifted to face her. “Is it strange that I believe you?”
My lips curl as I reach out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “No, Serapina. Time is a human mechanism, an illusion that either affords mutual understanding or fosters distrust. But our existence is endless. We rely on our souls to guide us, and yours knows mine.”
“Because you were mated to Persephone.”
“Yes, though I never claimed her as mine.”
She frowns, her nails digging a little into my skin. I mentioned this in passing once before, but I didn’t elaborate.
Something that becomes apparent now as she asks, “Why not?”
“I refused to force her to choose between Hades and me, and I knew he wouldn’t share her.” Which is something else I commented on before, too. I think when I told her that Persephone loved him very much. And he adored her as well.
“Yet, you think he’ll share me, er, her… now?” Serapina asks, her incredulous tone telling me her own opinions on that question.
But I don’t let that stop me from speaking my truth. “He may choose not to share you, just as he did with Persephone, and there’s nothing I can do if that’s the case. But at least my soulmate will know how I feel about her—about you—in this life. That’s what matters most to me.”
Her brow creases. “Persephone never knew…?”
I shake my head. “No. I didn’t want to hurt her by inserting myself into her life because I knew Hades would demand that she pick between us. So, I… I tried to protect her heart by not involving myself in her life. And I ended up losing her in the process.”
It was a mistake I would not be making again.
Hence the reason I’m currently standing naked in a body of water with Serapina.
“I’m not going to lose you, Serapina. Even if you don’t want me as a mate, I’ll still be here as your friend. Your protector. Whoever or whatever you desire, I’m yours. I always have been and always will be.”
She seems to freeze before me, her lips parting on a nonexistent breath.
Fuck. I’ve overwhelmed her.
She was raised human, not Mythos Fae. She doesn’t know that this intensity is just who we are, what we expect, how we exist.
“I’m sorry, Serapina,” I say with a sigh. “I don’t mean to upset you. It’s… it’s merely my truth. And it’s not one I can shy away from. Not again. Not if it means protecting you.”
“I’m not upset,” she whispers, her fingers sliding up my chest to my neck. “I’m… I’m in awe of everything you just said. A week ago, I would’ve said you were just another fae at the bar uttering a line. But I can feel your veracity. I can’t explain how or why; I just… I do.”
My lips curl as I cup her cheek. “Explanations are a human construct. And you, my heart, are a Goddess.” She just hasn’t embraced that part of herself yet. Not fully. However, this is a firm step forward.
Because I can see the trust in her gaze.
It warms me to know I put that there.
That I—
“You have three seconds to release my mate before I drag you to the death world, Morpheus,” a deep voice says, the silky quality of it making me sigh.
Because of course Hades would choose now to return.
Just as I finally break through some of Serapina’s mortal walls and reach the Omega deep within.
“Three,” he begins to count. “Two…”