Charmed by Apollo

5. Geri

As soon as the steamy tropical air dissipated and was replaced with the cool forest breeze, Geri knew they were at their intended destination.

“We’re here.” Apollo glanced around warily.

“It certainly is something,” Geri said, letting out a slow whistle. They stood outside Bran Castle and were met with an eerie yet captivating sight. The castle loomed before them, its imposing silhouette outlined against the dusky sky. The ancient forest around it exuded an aura of mystery and intrigue. The main door, adorned with intricate carvings and iron embellishments, stood tall, beckoning visitors with an air of foreboding. Geri felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed up at the towering structure. The centuries of history seemed to whisper through the castle’s walls, hinting at its secrets.

“Do you remember what we talked about?” Apollo said, intruding into her thoughts.

“Yeah.”

Before they left Siquijor, Apollo had warned her about the vampires. “They’re thirsty, blood-sucking creatures,” he had said. “They’re crafty and sly as fuck, and show no mercy. We have to be careful, not only because they can drain us dry, but they’ll have no trouble turning against us. We don’t know what their reaction will be when we ask them about their dark magic.”

Apollo patted the pockets of his pants. “Just in case, I picked up some garlic, a crucifix, and some holy water too.”

“Garlic? A crucifix?” She frowned. “I thought that was only in the movies. Do those really work?”

“Uh, maybe?” he said, sheepish. “Can’t hurt, right?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” She massaged her temple with her fingers. “You know, despite what humans write about us, shifters don’t really turn into wolves when the moon is full, nor can silver bullets kill us outright. Normal ones do just fine.” While shifters had accelerated healing compared to humans, they were not immortal nor immune to diseases.

“I just want to be prepared.”

“Have you ever dealt with vampires before?”

“I did…a few thousand years ago, maybe? I met one, and he was…creepy.”

“One?” she exclaimed. “That’s it?”

“It was enough, believe me. But other gods have dealt with them in the past, and even if they exaggerated, it still wouldn’t hurt to be ready for anything.”

Okay, she had to give him that, at least. “Fine. What’s our game plan then?”

“Game plan?” He stared at her blankly. “I thought you had one?’

“Me? I’ve never dealt with vampires before.” She blew out a huff. “And apparently, you’ve only dealt with one, which still makes you the more experienced one.”

“And this whole thing is your idea. But, anyway”—he glanced up at the sky, now streaked with the purples and blues of dusk—“we still have time before it’s completely dark. We can come up with a plan.”

“What do you propose we do?” she asked. “Maybe you can sneak in there and have a look around? Would they have records? Or perhaps some secret dungeon?” She glanced up at the high castle walls. “This place is huge…even with your powers, it might take you hours to find something. And I can’t let you do all the work.”

“Well, I was thinking?—”

A reverberating creaking sound made them both start. Geri gasped as the massive wooden door began to move.

“Oh shit,” Apollo said. “Geri, get behind me.”

“What? Behind you? Why?”

“Who knows what horrible creature is behind that door? If you stay behind me, I can protect you!”

Geri rolled her eyes. “I can protect myself fine, thank you. But why don’t you just whisk us away from here?”

“What—oh, yeah, right!”

As Apollo reached for her, the door stopped, and the silence it left was deafening. Both of them stood rooted to the spot, frozen as they waited for someone—or something—to emerge.

“Hey there!” greeted the figure whose head popped out from behind the massive wooden door. He smiled brightly at them. “Are you guys lost or something?”

Apollo’s eyebrows furrowed together as he stared. “I, uh, maybe we’re in the wrong place.” He scratched at his head. “I could have sworn this was Bran Castle.”

“Sure is, dude!” The man stepped out from behind the door and stood in front of them. “How can I help you?”

Geri’s gaze bounced from the man to Apollo, then back again. “I, uh, I guess we’re looking for vampires?”

“Groovy,” he crooned. “Well, here I am. What can I do for you?”

Geri’s mouth opened, but nothing would come out. From Apollo’s warnings—and perhaps what she’d heard about vampires and seen in movies—she’d expected a somber creature dressed in black with pale, cold skin. While the man in front of them did need a tan, he was nothing like she’d imagined. He had long, straight hair that went past his shoulders, a full beard, and wore a tie-dye shirt with bell-bottom jeans. Is this vampire a hippie?

“You’re a vampire?” Apollo interjected. “A real vampire?”

The man smiled, flashing a pair of fangs. “Absolutely, brother. And you two are not human. You’re a shifter,” he said to Geri before turning to Apollo. “And you…I’m not quite sure.”

“How did you know we weren’t human?” Geri asked.

The vampire’s cool green eyes stared into Geri’s, and for a moment, her heart stopped. “It’s probably similar to the way you can tell I’m not a human.”

Geri cocked her head, blocking out other smells and sounds to focus on the vampire. The first thing she noticed was the lack of a heartbeat. Then, she realized the vampire did indeed have a distinct smell. It wasn’t bad, per se, more like a strong flowery perfume, but it definitely did not have the same complex notes as humans and gods did.

“Vampires don’t sweat,” he explained, as if reading her mind. “And no, we don’t read minds either. But see, much like your senses allow you to scent other beings, vampires can smell blood.” He peered closer at her. “Wolf, right?”

Geri could only nod.

He turned to Apollo. “You, however…you smell…divine.”

“I am,” he replied. “A god. Apollo.”

He nodded. “Outta sight, man. I dig it. God of the Sun, right?”

“You bet.”

“Niiiice. Oh, and speaking of which”—he held out his hand—“the name’s Marley. I’m the leader of the Bran Coven.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Apollo took his hand. “And this is Geri.”

Geri also shook the hand Marley offered. “Er, nice to meet you, Marley.”

“Same. I don’t meet many people, much less non-humans. So, Geri, Apollo, what can I do for you?”

Geri and Apollo looked at each other, both seemingly equally at a loss. Finally, it was Apollo who spoke up. “We need some information. Something only vampires might know about.”

“I see. Oh, what am I doing?” He slapped his forehead. “I’m forgetting my manners. Not cool on my part. Sorry, it’s been a while. Why don’t you come in? Actually, my coven and I are about to sit down for breakfast. You can join us. We have human staff, and I’m sure they can make you something to eat.”

When they hesitated, he chuckled. “I swear, it’s safe in here. I promise, I won’t eat you.” He made an X over his chest. “Cross my heart—it may not be beating, but you know what I mean.”

Apollo cleared his throat. “Mr. Marley?—”

“Cool it with the formal talk,” he said with a chuckle. “Marley’s just fine. Well, I go by Marley Rainbow these days, but that’s not really a last name or anything.”

“Er, Marley,” Apollo began. “Could you give me and Geri a moment alone?”

“Sure, man.” He winked at them. “Just walk in and join us in the dining room, down the hallway on the left, third room on the right. I promise, we’re a welcoming bunch.”

Once they were alone, Apollo said, “We should leave. Maybe we can find?—”

“Leave? What are you talking about?”

“There’s this shaman in—wait, what?” Apollo’s jaw looked ready to unhinge itself. “Are you…seriously thinking of joining them for breakfast?”

“To get the information we need? Of course?”

“But they’re vampires!” He raised his hands up high. “What if we’re breakfast?”

Geri snorted. “Oh, don’t be an idiot. He said he wasn’t going to eat us.”

“Well of course he said that, so he can lull us into a false sense of security before he eats us.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And I don’t buy that hippie bullshit act.”

“He can’t eat you, can he? You’re immortal.”

“Technically, yes. I don’t grow old or get diseases and can heal myself, and bullets or stab wounds won’t kill me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be hurt or tortured. You could technically tie me down and start chopping me up into tiny pieces. Or, say, drain my blood quickly before my body has a chance to replenish it. You could even burn?—”

“Ugh, stop.” She held up a hand. “I get it.”

“And you still want to go inside this castle with a whole coven of vampires?”

Geri paused, thinking of what to say. She couldn’t quite describe it, but she knew they were in the right place. Or, at the very least, they could trust Marley. “I have to know if they have the magic to bring Grannie back or not. And we came all the way here…Look, you’re a powerful god. It probably takes a lot to incapacitate you, right?”

“Hmm…true. Only the power of another god could take down another god.”

“So, if anything happens, you can quickly get us out of here,” she said. “And don’t forget, I’m a shifter. I can fight, I’m fast, and I heal faster than a human.”

He blew out a breath. “You’re determined to go in there, then?”

“Yes,” she said, resolute.

“Alright. But make sure you stick next to me at all times.”

“Fine, fine.”

“I’m serious.” He took a step forward, crowding her against the wall of the castle. “If anything happened to you…”

She inhaled a sharp breath, and her stomach fluttered at the closeness. This near, she could get a strong whiff of his masculine scent, and that primal urge tugged at her chest once more. Her lashes lowered as he leaned down.

Was he going to kiss her?

“…Hades will kill me.”

The spell broke. “Excuse me?”

“Actually, Persephone will kill me if you get hurt.” He took a step back. “Then she’ll hunt me down in the Underworld and then kill me again.”

“No, she won’t.”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Alright, she probably will.” Geri would do the same to anyone who hurt her best friend, after all. “But I think between the two of us, we can get out of any scrape.”

The corner of his mouth tugged up. “We do make a pretty good team.”

“So? Can we go in and have breakfast with the vampires now?”

“Fine,” he relented. “Let’s go.”

“Thank you for the lovely spread,” Apollo said as he finished off the plate of eggs, sausages, and toast one of the castle staff had brought in for him and Geri. “And for being such good hosts.”

Just as the vampire leader promised, they were welcomed warmly to breakfast inside the castle. The dining room looked surprisingly normal—at least, it was in the sense that it matched what Geri would have imagined such a room in a castle would look like—tall ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a long, ornately-set table in the middle. The rest of the interiors, at least what they had seen when they walked in, looked typical too. In fact, the only thing out of the ordinary inside Bran Castle were its occupants. The rest of Marley’s coven—three men and three women—were all dressed like they were all going to Woodstock.

Marley, who sat at the head of the dining table, responded. “You’re very welcome, both of you. And we’re glad to have you.”

“Bran’s not exactly a swinging place,” one of the female vampires, a willowy, dark-skinned woman who had introduced herself as Harmony, said. “It’s probably been decades since we had non-vamp company.”

“Oh?” Apollo. “Why’s that?”

“We keep to ourselves, but it’s probably our bad rep,” Marley said with a chuckle.

“This really is amazing,” Geri said as she mopped up the remaining egg yolk from her plate with her toast and popped it in her mouth. “Um, I hope we’re not being rude.”

“Rude?” The vampire leader asked. “How?”

“Because we’re the only ones eating,” she said. “But—oh, you don’t eat. Or do you?”

Marley grinned. “Of course, we do. I mean, we drink to sustain ourselves.” He shook a small silver bell on the table beside him. A few moments later, several members of the castle staff came in and placed large wine glasses in front of all the vampires filled with a ruby red liquid.

Apollo turned pale. “Is that…blood?”

Several of the vampires gasped, and Marley, who was about to take a sip, put his glass back down on the table. “Are you talking about human blood?”

“Y-yes?”

“Oh no,” Marley shook his head. “Drinking blood is lame.”

“Lame?” Geri asked

“Like, uncool, you know.” Marley tsked. “Why, we’ve never even fed from real people or tasted real blood.”

“Blood is grody, man,” said Artho, the curly-haired young man on Apollo’s right said.

A murmur of agreement came from the rest of the coven.

“Wait, so vampires don’t drink blood at all?” Geri wrinkled her nose.

“Oh, we do—I mean, we used to,” Marley began. “But now we use blood substitutes. Looks like the real thing, tastes like the real thing—at least I’m told—and has the necessary nutrients to keep us alive. The vampire community had been using it for years.”

“So that’s not real blood?” Apollo gestured to the wineglass in Marley’s hand.

“For all intents and purposes, it is blood, but it just didn’t come out of a human or animal. See, back in the 1950s, after World War Two, many of the vampire community became tired of the death and destruction. Many of us served, albeit discreetly, in the Allied forces. But, we lost a lot of our kind.”

“But aren’t you immortal?” Geri inquired.

Marley chuckled. “Another misconception, I’m afraid. Vampires have very long lives. Eventually, we do grow older, just at a very, very slow pace. And we can be killed the usual way—stake to the heart, sunlight, and of course, we can’t exactly come back from being obliterated by explosives, which is how many of our kind died during the war.”

“So, how did you develop this blood substitute?”

“One of our vampire scientists, Dr. Will Rodrigo, found a way to create a blood substitute that could sustain us. Since then, all vampires switched to it, and anyone created after 1955, like us, has never even tasted real blood or bit anyone.”

“We call it Improbable Blood,” the pretty, petite blonde named Sapphire, who sat next to Geri, said.

“Like the fake meat product?” Geri asked.

The Improbable? brand had exploded in the last five years or so. While initially a niche product that catered to vegetarians, now even fast-food chains carried Improbable Meat? burgers, tacos, nuggets, and deli sandwiches.

“Well, where do you think the technology to make it came from?” Marley said. “Dr. Rodrigo is the CEO of the corporation that owns Improbable Meat, and he’s also the chair of the Vampire Council.”

Interesting.Well, that certainly reassured Geri that they in fact, would not be eaten for breakfast or any other meal.

“I didn’t know that,” Apollo said. “I’m afraid what I know about your kind is terribly outdated. Like, a few centuries outdated.”

“Yeah, I’m afraid gossip, rumor, and media have really done a number on our reputation,” Marley said. “But in some ways, that’s good, and the Vampire Council prefers it that way. Keeps the mystery and the dangerous people away. Like those who don’t understand us and want to kill us. We just wanna live in peace, you know? Love and harmony…that’s what we’re all about.” He raised his glass to Geri and Apollo and took a sip.

Apollo, too, raised his water glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Well, this has truly been an interesting breakfast,” Marley said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin, “But you said you needed some information from us? What about?”

When Apollo opened his mouth to speak, Geri raised a hand to let him know she wanted to be the one to tell them. “It’s about my grandmother.” And so, she proceeded to tell them about Grannie and what happened in Siquijor, including what Lola Conching had told them.

Marley rested his elbows on the table, then planted his chin on his interlaced fingers. “I see.”

“So, do you have the power to raise the dead?” Geri asked. “I mean, without turning them into vampires?”

“Actually, someone would have to be alive to be turned into a vampire, and it’s more complicated than what you may have read about in books,” the coven leader said. “I can’t tell you the exact way we do it, but it’s very regulated. We need permission from the Vampire Council to turn someone, and even then, you can get turned down. But one thing I can tell you is that one of the requirements is that you need to be alive first.” He leaned back. “But as for raising the dead…I don’t think we have that power.”

“I’ve heard of something like that.”

They all looked at the vampire at the end of the table, a fresh-faced youth Marley had introduced as Bodhi.

“You have?” Marley asked.

“Yeah…I mean, just rumors and whispers, you know?” Bodhi’s tone dropped down to a soft whisper. “So, it was before I joined you guys, and I was a roadie on that tour with Jerry and Bob and the rest of the guys. I was newly turned then, and then I meet this old vamp just outside The Fillmore. He was trying to school me about all things vampire and how the ‘good old days’ were better.”

“Ugh,” Sapphire said in disgust. “One of those guys.”

“There are a few of us who want to go back to the old ways of feeding from humans,” Marley explained. “But go on, Bodhi. What did you hear?”

Bodhi continued. “Anyway, I thought he was just talkin’ shit, you know? But he did say that ‘back in the day,’ we could just raise people from the dead. Like, he was talking, going to cemeteries and graves and shit.”

A glimmer of hope fluttered in Geri’s chest. “So, do you think it is possible?”

“I don’t know,” Marley said. “It is but, but only the oldest among us might know and—” He snapped his fingers. “Wait! You’re in luck.”

“How?” Apollo asked.

“Well, our quarterly Vampire Council meeting is tomorrow, and it’s going to happen here. Dr. Rodrigo and the other council members will be arriving after sunset. They might be able to help you or at least let you know if we can or can’t bring your grandmother back. You should stay here with us, and I’ll introduce you tomorrow.”

“You’ll let us stay and do that for us?” Geri asked.

“Of course! Dr. Rodrigo would be thrilled to meet you—especially the god of the sun himself.” He nodded at Apollo. “And I think you’re a couple of cool cats, right, guys?”

The rest of the coven agreed.

“So, stay the night, hang with us, and then we’ll get you set up in a guestroom.”

“You mean guestrooms,” Geri said. “Two rooms. Separate.”

“If you have the space,” Apollo interjected.

“This is a huge castle,” she pointed out. “I’m sure you have lots of rooms, right, Marley?”

“Sure but—oh, I thought you were together?”

“No!” Geri protested a little too loudly. “I mean…we’re not.”

“Alright, alright, we’ll get you separate rooms,” Marley said. “Sorry for the wrong assumption. So, what do you say? Do you guys wanna hang here at our pad and wait for the elders to arrive tomorrow?”

“Sounds great,” Apollo said.

After the vampires had finished their breakfast, Marley led them to another room in the castle—what appeared to be a drawing room, complete with a fireplace roaring, giving the room a cozy glow. However, it was obvious its current occupants had given the room a makeover—posters from bands from the 60s and 70s lined the walls, as well as tapestries that had tie-dyed designs or mandalas and floral motifs. A vintage stereo and speaker set up played records while the floor was covered in shag carpets, and beanbags and floor cushions were strewn about.

As they made themselves comfortable, the staff came in to serve more refreshments—more blood substitute for the vampires and tea and coffee for Apollo and Geri, as well as some snacks.

“Sorry, we don’t have anything stronger for you,” Marley said to Geri as she accepted a mug of coffee from one of the staff. She and the vampire leader sat down cross-legged on the floor as the other members made themselves comfortable.

“It’s alright, coffee is good, but it might not help me sleep tonight,” she joked.

“Sleep? Oh yeah, I keep forgetting you non-vamps sleep at night.”

Geri took a sip of her brew. “I’m jet-lagged anyway, plus, because I’m a shifter, I don’t need as much sleep as humans.”

“I see. Same with us.”

“It’s really interesting what you told us about vampires,” Geri began. “Thank you for sharing.”

“And thank you for not judging us right away,” he said. “It’s tough when people have these preconceived notions of you.”

“Well, to be honest, we did think you guys were going to eat us. Sorry about that.”

“No worries at all,” he said with a laugh. “And speaking of which, sorry about the assumption that you and Apollo were?—”

“It’s fine,” she quickly interrupted.

Marley scratched at his head. “You just gave that vibe, you know?”

Curiosity pricked at her, wondering exactly what vibe Marleywas talking about, but at the same time, she did not want to discuss her and Apollo’s non-relationship. “So, um, did you all become vampires in the 1960s?”

“Sure did,” Marley said. “We were one of the first vampires turned after the council declared drinking human and animal blood illegal. We formed our own coven, and then the council gave us this territory and this castle.”

“You don’t mind being all the way out here? Isn’t it boring?”

“Boring? Not at all. We traveled around a bit, but it was getting harder and harder to stay under the radar since we were all supposed to be growing older. Also, with technology like biometrics, not to mention camera phones and the Internet, it was difficult to stay under the radar. And it’s kinda nice. We have a safe place where we can just be ourselves, and we stay busy—many of us work online for the Improbable Corporation. I’m actually a manager in the accounting department,” he said with a chuckle. “If my old man was around, he’d be laughing his head off.”

“Why?”

“Well, back when I was a teen, I told him I didn’t want to go to college, and he was furious. He said, ‘Harold Fowler’—that’s my real name—‘a business degree will help you climb the corporate ladder and ensure you have a stable career.’ But after I went to Woodstock in sixty-nine, all I wanted to do was be free to travel around the country to follow my favorite bands on tour.” He slapped a hand on his knees. “And now, when Monday comes, I have to make sure our quarterly reports are ready to be submitted to the compliance department. I’ve been doing this for three decades and probably will for the rest of my life.”

Geri, too, couldn’t help but laugh. “I guess immortality isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, huh?”

“Sure isn’t, but…with the right person, it might be.”

“Oh? Is there a right person in your life?” Geri couldn’t help but ask.

“There was…” A shadow seemed to hover over Marley’s bright disposition. “But…he decided immortality wasn’t for him. And I loved him too much to force the issue.”

“But you said vampires aren’t true immortals, right?”

“Yeah. But still, I’ve been a vamp for decades, and I don’t even have one gray hair on my head. We don’t live forever—either we can choose to die, or we eventually wither away. But he decided he didn’t want that, and so he remained a human, and he died ten years ago.”

Geri wrapped her arms around her knees. “Doesn’t sound like it was worth it in any case.”

“Immortality or love?” he asked. “Because I can tell you, every moment with him was worth it. Would I like to have him by my side now? Sure. But I wouldn’t want him to be unhappy either. And if I found someone to love like that again, I would do it over and over again, even if they end up leaving me.”

Before Geri could answer, a loud, high-pitched giggle interrupted her.

“Oh, Apollo, you’re a riot!” Sapphire laughed, her hand lingering over his bicep.

Apollo beamed at her. “If you like that joke, I have more.”

Geri felt her blood pressure spike at the sight of the female vamp and Apollo looking cozy as they sat together on a large bean bag.

“I love this song,” she exclaimed when an upbeat Motown song came through the speakers. “C’mon.” She got to her feet. “Let’s dance.”

“I don’t really—oh, okay,” he exclaimed as the vampire pulled him up. “Wow, that’s some grip you got there.”

“Yeah, we vampires are very strong. Everywhere.” She flashed him a flirtatious smile. “Now, don’t be a downer. Dance with me, God of the Sun.”

Apollo took her hand. “Alright then.”

As the couple swayed to the beat, a few of the other vampires joined them on the carpeted floor. Geri, however, watched them, a tightness building in her chest as she watched Apollo twirl and swing Sapphire around, their bodies brushing together briefly. When the music changed into a slower tune, the female vampire sidled up closer to him, her arms going around his neck as his hands landed on her waist.

A low sound reverberated in Geri’s ears, and she realized it was coming from her, from somewhere deep in her chest. When Marley gave her a startled look, she loudly cleared her throat. “Actually, you know what, Marley? I am starting to feel tired. Must be the jet lag.” She quickly rose to her feet. “I hate to be rude, but I should get some sleep.”

“I see.” He nodded at one of the staff members, who strode over to them. “Kyle will show you to your room.”

“Thank you, Marley,” she said. “I’ll see you in the morning—I mean, after sunset.”

“Of course, have a good sleep, Geri.”

Geri nodded her thanks, then followed Kyle out of the drawing room, which she thankfully managed to do without glancing back at Apollo and Sapphire.

He can dance with whomever he wants to, she told herself. It wasn’t like they were exclusive; hell, they weren’t even in any kind of relationship, even if they did share a bed last night and a kiss.

It doesn’t mean anything.Apollo, after all, was a philandering charmer, one who’d had thousands of lovers.

“Here you are, Miss Geri,” Kyle said, gesturing to the door. “There’s a phone in there that can call directly to the staff room if you need anything. The bed has been made, and the bathroom is fully stocked.”

“Thanks, Kyle.”

She entered the room and then closed the door behind her. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting medieval battles and courtly life scenes, their rich colors adding warmth to the stone surroundings. A large four-poster bed stood in the center of the room, its intricately carved wooden frame reaching toward the high ceiling. Heavy velvet curtains hung around the bed, adding a hint of luxury and providing privacy in the vast space.

The room was bathed in a soft, golden light cast by flickering candle sconces set into the stone walls. The air was heavy with the scent of aged wood and ancient tapestries, adding to the atmosphere of timeless elegance. Despite the grandeur of her surroundings, Geri felt comfortable and relaxed in the cozy embrace of her castle bedroom. As she settled into the plush cushions of the four-poster bed, she wondered where Apollo would be staying. Would his room be just as nice? Or would he even use it tonight? Or would he be sleeping in Sapphire’s bed?

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Maybe Kyle forgot something? She yanked the door open with an impatient shrug. “I don’t need anything—Apollo?”

He stood at the threshold, brows knitted together. “Marley said you were tired and had left.”

“Yeah.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I was. So what?”

His lips flattened. “You should have said something. I need to know where you are at all times.”

“And why is that?”

“What if something happens, and I have to transport us out of here quickly? I can’t do that if I don’t know where you are.”

“I don’t think we’re in any danger from these vampires,” she said. “They’re harmless, and they want to help me.”

“We just met them.” He lowered his voice. “I still don’t trust them one hundred percent. I want to keep you close to me, just in case.”

“And how would that work? Am I supposed to stay at arm’s length while you’re getting some free love from that blondie vamp?”

“What?” he thundered. “What the hell are you talking about, Geri?”

“What do you think I’m talking about?” The rumbling once again reverberated throughout her chest. “Now you know where I am, and you can go back to your hussy!” Grabbing the door, she slammed it shut—or at least attempted to, but Apollo was faster as he braced his palms on it. Gritting her teeth, she dug her heels in to keep it from flying open, but the god was much too strong for her.

“Damn it!” she cried as Apollo pushed himself into her room, the door slamming behind him. “Get out!”

“No!”

As he strode toward her, Geri scuttled backward until her back hit one of the bed posts.

“I don’t want you here.” Her heart hammered in her chest, and the most unnatural feeling came over her—and she realized that for the first time in her life, she felt like prey. “Leave now.”

“Or what?” His eyes seemed to glow in the dim lighting. “Are you jealous again, Geri?”

“No. Never.” Yet the raging emotions stirred within her, making her animal side rise up once more. “I’m not.”

“You’re not?” He placed one hand over her head on the bedpost, then leaned in. “Oh, then I suppose you won’t mind if I went ahead and fucked Sapphire and maybe her friend too?—”

“Damn you!” she growled. “I mean…go ahead. I don’t care. Sleep with them all! Maybe I’ll fuck Marley or Bodhi?—”

“You’ll be doing no such thing,” he roared, then slid his hand down to the side of her face. “I don’t want to fuck Sapphire or Harmony or anyone else.” His palm moved farther down, brushing over her neck and then down to boldly cup her breast. “I only want you, damn it.”

Geri’s mouth went as dry as the Sahara. Before she could say anything, Apollo lowered his head and slotted his mouth against hers. She told herself to shove him away, to tell him to stop and she didn’t want this. But unfortunately, that would have been a total lie, because she did want this. She did want him.

He pushed her back down on the bed, their lips remaining connected. His mouth devoured hers as if he couldn’t get enough. He kissed her until she was breathless, then pulled back.

Hovering over her, she could see his face and his eyes, which burned with desire for her, and she knew he was telling the truth about wanting only her. It caused the most curious warmth in her chest.

“So beautiful,” he murmured as he leaned down again, this time to kiss her neck. She gasped when his mouth touched the sensitive skin. As he teased her, he lifted the bottom of her shirt over her breasts, then pulled down the cups of her bra before rolling her nipples between his fingers.

She gasped and dug her fingers into his shoulders. He moved his mouth away from her neck, then moved lower to her breasts and sucked one of the hard nubs into his mouth. He suckled at her deep, and white-hot bolts of pleasure shot straight down to her pussy, making her clit throb in need.

“Please,” she begged. “Apollo, I need you…”

He pulled his mouth away from her breast. “Wait.”

“What is it?” she whined. Her overheated body ached for him, to be filled by him once more. “What’s wrong.”

He let out a slow breath. “Tell me this isn’t just sex.”

“W-what?” She was so caught off guard by his question, she didn’t know what else to say.

“Tell me this isn’t just about scratching an itch.” His eyes sought hers out, the blue pools boring straight into her. “That you’re not going to walk away again and pretend this never happened.”

“I…what are you…why…Apollo…” Flustered, she tried to scramble out from underneath him, but he pinned her down with his torso. “Get off me!”

“Not until you say it.”

“Say what?

“What this is about. What sex between us means.”

She pressed her lips together. “Why does that matter? I thought we were about to have some fun. Why are you acting like this?”

“Is this all meaningless to you?” he asked. “Just a fuck? A way to pass the time?”

“Why would it be anything more than that?” She regretted the words the moment she said them, and even more so when she saw the hurt so clearly in his eyes. “Apollo?—”

Quickly, he slid off her and off the mattress. “For crying out loud, Geri, I thought…I’ve been spending time with you, helping you, held you in my arms while we slept?—”

“Now, wait, just a moment!” She sat up and pushed her shirt over her breasts. “Is that how it is now? You help me find a way to bring my grandmother back, and I give you sex? Do you think I’m some kind of sex vending machine, where you put in coins and sex comes out?”

“No, I don’t think you’re a sex vending machine,” he said softly. “But neither am I.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then quickly shut it. An uncomfortable feeling crept into her chest. “Apollo, I didn’t mean…I’m not…”

“We’ve always had sex on your terms,” he said. “When you want it, how you want it, and same with what happens afterward. I never get a say at all.”

His words hit straight to her gut. He was right. “I’m sor?—”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “Never be sorry for that. But I get it.” He let out a sardonic laugh. “Maybe it’s my karma…” He shook his head. “Never mind. Sorry to have bothered you in the first place.”

“Apollo, wait?—”

“I should go,” he said. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you here all alone, and I’ll see this thing to the end with you. I’ll help you, protect you, but that’s all there’ll be between us.”

She stood there, frozen, as she watched him leave. Once the door closed, the pit in her stomach grew.

“What the hell does he want from me?” she said aloud. She focused on the fury building in her chest and ignoring the emptiness Apollo’s absence seemed to cause. His delicious scent was all over her, too, on her clothes, her hair, her skin, reminding her of what almost happened.

Stomping toward the bathroom, she stripped off all her clothes, stepped into the shower, and pulled on the tap to let the water hit her at full blast, as if that would erase the memory of his mouth and hands on her.

“Stupid man.” What was that about anyway? What the hell else did he want from her? A relationship? Were they supposed to be girlfriend and boyfriend now? Did he want long walks on the beach? Romantic dinners by candlelight?

He was a god, and she was a shifter. He would live forever, and she would grow old and die in a few decades. No, it just couldn’t work between them.

Geri shut off the tap and leaned her forehead against the wet tiles. She didn’t have to think about that—any of that, because there would be no mating between them, or with anyone for that matter. No, she was determined to live her life as a lone wolf, never needing anyone, never depending on anyone. The only thing she needed in this life was her grannie. She had to remind herself of that.