Chapter 6 #2
“Even with me spinning the Wheel of Fate, I cannot tell you with certainty what the future holds. Only possibilities and probabilities...”
I stared at her for a moment, then something settled in my chest.
“She is mine,” I said with a conviction I couldn’t explain.
My mother’s silence only confirmed what I believed. I smiled, a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest. Too many thoughts fired off in my head for me to make sense of any of them. After a moment, I refocused on my mother, realizing I’d been lost in my musings for quite some time.
My cheeks heated, and I shifted in my chair. She gave me that tender motherly expression again that messed me up further.
I cleared my throat and changed the topic to hide my embarrassment.
“You who know flowers well, could you tell me where I could find a specific glowing flower? I’m sure I’ve seen them before, but I cannot remember where.”
She nodded, allowing me to share the vision I received from eating the Onis’ hearts.
“Sanguine crocus,” mother instantly said.
I slightly recoiled. “Those cannot be sanguine crocuses. That’s not what they look like,” I argued, confused that my mother could be so off about anything.
She gave me an indulgent smile. “They do take that specific appearance but only on a moonless night.”
My jaw dropped with sudden understanding. No wonder I didn’t see any earlier while flying around.
“Where can I find them?” I asked without much hope, expecting her to chastise me again for asking questions she couldn’t answer.
To my surprise, she did, although in her typical vague and careful fashion.
“They grow in swampy areas.” She hesitated for a second before pursuing, confirming she was working around the Covenant. “Trollfrogs love chewing on their roots.”
My shoulders drooped as I stared at her with a crestfallen expression. “There are at least a dozen swampy areas in Willow Grove where trollfrogs dwell!”
She gave me a shit-eating grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Actually, it’s more like thirty-six of them.”
She burst out laughing at my disbelieving look.
“It’s not that bad, my son. Talk to your Inquisitor. Sanguine crocuses are often used in magic. She’s a powerful mage and very knowledgeable,” Mother replied in a noncommittal fashion.
I frowned. “Should I even get involved in that investigation?”
She stared at me quietly for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. In that instant, I would have given anything to read her mind. Was she disappointed that I was even considering not getting involved? On the contrary, was she shocked that I would meddle in mortal affairs?
“Follow your heart, Lyall,” she said at last. “You have been making many good choices over the past year. Stay the course. Listen to your inner light. With every passing day, it shines a little brighter.”
I pursed my lips, bowed my head, and reflected on her words.
I couldn’t say why exactly I had asked the question.
In my mind, it was already settled that I would see this through with the Inquisitor.
And now that my mother had more or less confirmed that she was indeed my soulmate, there was no way in the Nine Hells that I would let my mate face all that danger on her own.
And yet, at a subconscious level, I had hoped for a response that would have answered something else.
Unfortunately, my conscious mind didn’t even know what the fuck it was that I wanted answers or reassurance about.
“Thank you,” I finally said as the silence stretched.
I rose to my feet, gave her a polite nod, then turned to leave.
“Lyall!” my mother called out, stopping me dead in my tracks.
I glanced back at her over my shoulder.
“You have a good heart, my son. Whatever negative thoughts you have about yourself, cast them aside. Others see you. You have friends who love you.”
I turned to fully look at her as I huffed. “I don’t have friends. People find me insufferable and detestable for good reason.”
“Yes, Lyall. You do. Remember my words well in your time of need,” Mother warned.
My back stiffened, and a sliver of worry took root in the pit of my stomach.
“Why does it sound like there’s a shit storm coming?” I asked.
“When is there not?” she asked with a shrug.
I snorted. “Fair enough. I will remember your words.”
“See that you do.”
With one last nod, I turned around and left.
My conversation with my mother replayed in a loop in my mind as I raced back home.
It was silly to hurry as I had already been gone for long enough that Eleni would be asleep by now.
My suspicions were confirmed as soon as I landed on the large balcony outside the guest room she occupied.
Although I shouldn’t have, I discreetly entered her room.
By the Gods, she was beautiful! For the first time, I got to see the silky strands of her long hair splayed around her face on the pillow.
She’d kept it tightly bound in a bun previously.
It made sense to prevent potential enemies from grabbing it to control her during combat.
Her olive skin looked luminous under the soft glow of the moonlight pouring into the room.
It surprised me that she hadn’t drawn the occluding curtains.
For a split second, I considered doing it for her before changing my mind.
Eleni struck me as a very organized and calculated person.
She wouldn’t have forgotten to do so. Therefore, I could only assume that it had been a deliberate choice to leave them open.
I walked up to the bed, the warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest growing exponentially.
Yes, Eleni is mine.
With a will of its own, my hand reached for a few locks of her hair.
I stared in awe as they glided through my fingers, reveling in the softness of the strands.
With much reluctance, I released her hair, not wanting to wake her.
Morning couldn’t come quickly enough for me to see her beautiful eyes again.
I turned and started quietly leaving the room.
“Sweet dreams, Lyall,” Eleni whispered behind me.
Startled, I jerked my head around to find her looking at me with a gentle smile. How the hell had I not realized that she was awake?
“How?” I caught myself asking.
Despite the question being far from explicit, she immediately understood what I meant.
“Pretending to be asleep or unconscious in a convincing fashion is part of an Inquisitor’s survival training,” she replied in a slightly teasing tone.
I snorted and walked back to the side of her bed. “Someone took their training seriously. Well done!”
I leaned forward and stopped, my lips barely a centimeter from hers. My heart leapt when Eleni lifted her head, closing the short distance between us to kiss me. It was brief and chaste.
Just perfect.
“Sweet dreams, Inquisitor,” I said against her lips before straightening.
I walked out of the room without saying another word.
The night stretched endlessly as I tossed and turned for what felt like hours.
My mind wouldn’t just shut up. All I could think about was the fascinating woman sleeping only a few meters away from me.
The feel of her lips against mine lingered.
A part of me regretted not getting in bed with her if only just to hold her.
As much as I wanted Eleni, I wouldn’t have allowed things to go further until all of my serum had left her system.
There would be no question Eleni was all in when she gave in to me.
Still, feeling the warmth of her body against mine would have settled the restlessness that pestered me. I couldn’t tell at which point I finally surrendered to oblivion.
I woke up with a start, my thoughts flying directly to my pretty little Inquisitor.
To my pleasant surprise, I didn’t feel exhausted or grumpy as one would reasonably expect to be with how little sleep I got.
Then again, my regeneration abilities made it difficult for me not to feel rejuvenated even with only a small amount of rest.
I jumped out of bed and made my way to the massive shower of my en suite bathroom. I had it designed to almost look like a natural waterfall with a huge window looking out onto one of the interior gardens of my domain. It was elevated enough so that people outside couldn’t see in.
As I began to wash, my mother’s words resurfaced, igniting a spark of worry deep within me.
That she hinted trouble ahead meant that something terrible would happen.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it.
She wanted me to be mentally prepared for something devastating. What could it possibly be?
Just as I was listing a series of possible scenarios, the door to my bathroom suddenly opened.
My eyes widened upon seeing Eleni walk in.
She stood by the entrance, wearing the elegant robe that one of my servants had provided for her.
She remained still, eyes locked with mine.
In that instant, I realized she was waiting for me to tell her to leave or otherwise express my agreement with her staying.
I merely raised an eyebrow in an inquisitive fashion.
She lifted her chin so subtly it was barely noticeable.
Her gaze never strayed from mine, she detached the belt keeping the robe secured in front of her and let the silky fabric slide down her shoulders and puddle at her feet in a soft rustling sound.
With a will of their own, my gaze roamed over the perfection of her naked body.
Firm and slender, it still had the right curves in all the right places, with a narrow waist and round hips, perfect for a man to grip.
Her breasts were made to fit inside my palms, round and perky as their little buds pointed provocatively at me. Even her shaven sex beckoned me.
By the Gods, she was breathtaking!
When I remained quiet while feasting my eyes on her beauty, Eleni calmly started approaching with measured steps. I didn’t move as the lukewarm water continued raining behind me with a steady beat.
“There’s a shower in your own room,” I said at last when she stopped two steps in front of me.
“I noticed,” Eleni replied nonchalantly. “Do you want me to leave?”
“It depends. What brings you here?” I asked in the same conversational tone.
“I was curious about what a demigod looks like naked,” she retorted with a shrug.
I snorted, amused by that unexpected response.
“Then sate your curiosity, Inquisitor,” I quipped mockingly while spreading my arms wide.
She pursed her lips and gave me an appreciative once over before reaching for my chest. My abdominal muscles contracted as the heat of her palm settled on my left pectoral.
Her hand glided over my skin as she circled around me, tracing a burning path over my sides, back, my left butt cheek, and my upper left thigh.
As she completed her circle, she stood in front of me and grabbed my cock with a familiarity that nearly had me gasping.
She gave it a gentle stroke while examining the unusual ridges swirling around its length, as well as the spikes. She flicked her thumb over the row of spikes around the base of the head, sending a bolt of lust exploding in the pit of my stomach.
I hissed and fisted her hair on her nape, forcing her to look back up at me. My fangs descended as I bared my teeth at her in a menacing fashion. Undeterred, Eleni wrapped her hand around my length and gave it a slow stroke.
“You made quite a boast last night,” she said with a taunting glimmer in her eyes.
“I never boast,” I growled as blood flooded to my groin as she continued to stroke me.
“Then allow me to put that claim to the test,” Eleni replied.
I crushed her lips in a punishing kiss. A part of me was beyond turned on that she would make the first move.
The other felt cheated out of being the hunter.
And yet, as much as I wanted to convince myself that I craved a submissive woman, I couldn’t deny loving how bold my mate was turning out to be.
My Eleni knew what she wanted, and right this instant, she wanted me.
I deepened the kiss, her lips parting willingly to welcome my invasion.
As our tongues mingled, I settled my spare hand on the firm but round curves of her behind to draw her closer to me.
To my shock, she resisted and broke the kiss.
Before I could inquire as to what was amiss, Eleni began kissing a path down my chest as she crouched before me.
She immediately began stroking my cock in earnest before leaning forward to give it a long lick that had lava swirling in the pit of my stomach.
“The so-called boast was about me wrecking you,” I ground out between my teeth as incredible pleasure quickly built in my loins.
Without slowing the movement of her hand caressing me, Eleni peered up at me with a mischievous expression.
“Oh, but you will! Hence why I must sample you while I still can. Because after you’re done with me, I likely won’t be in any condition to do so.”
My chuckle shifted into a lascivious moan as she swirled her tongue around my head.
“I think I like you, Inquisitor,” I whispered, my voice gravelly from lust.
“You’re about to like me even more, Doppelganger,” she retorted before swallowing my cock.