Chapter 9
I couldn’t keep from staring at my beautiful lover, my body still light and tingling with satisfaction. Death smiled softly back, and let out a sigh as he pulled me snug against his chest, burying his nose in my hair.
“I thought I knew what sex was like,” he murmured.
“I have seen it and felt it countless times in the memories of the dead. But it seems I was wrong to think I knew anything. The visions I see must be just echoes, because with you…” He stroked my hair and searched for the words.
“I was very unprepared for how good that felt,” he finally said.
That brought a smile to my face, along with a swell of pride. “I mean, it’s got to be different when it’s you feeling it, rather than a random dead person.”
“Yes, apparently so,” he agreed. “Hmm, I suppose now I understand why there are so many demigods.”
I winced at that thought, something that could not only shatter our fragile happiness but might also lead to my execution. I looked up at him and scrunched up my nose. “Oh, no. There will be no demigods here.”
Thanatos laughed softly and gave me a reassuring pet. “Yes, that would be for the best. In any case, I am unsure if it is even possible with me. Life from Death? That does not seem like something that would work.”
That was probably wishful thinking, but no matter. “Well, let’s not find out. Thank heaven for Alex. She stole me some plants.”
“Some…plants?” he wondered, then made a face when I explained. “Ew. I will get you something else.”
I giggled. “What, do you have Underworld magic to chase the babies away?” That would be nice, actually.
“Well, it is not Underworld magic.” He grimaced and paused to consider. “It will be…ugh, never mind. I will figure it out.”
I raised an eyebrow, questioning, but Thanatos shook his head. “Pay it no mind, my love. I will let no harm come to you.” He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Even from babies.”
“Mmm.”
We lay together in cozy silence, and I relaxed to the rhythmic sound of his breathing.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I wished I could stay here and forget the temple for just one night.
I wanted so badly to ignore the tug of my leash.
But I knew that cuddling with him was making me reckless, making me forget what I risked: that it could be my life on the line.
I shouldn’t push my luck. What time was it now? I didn’t even know.
“I wish I could sleep with you,” I said sorrowfully.
“Oh,” he said, and a shade of regret colored his voice. “I am sorry, but I do not think I can just will myself to be tired…”
“Not like that, silly. I just want to be with you, you know? Wake up to you. But it’s too risky to be gone so late again, or to teleport me around the complex. Somebody will figure it out.” I sighed. What we were doing now was inviting enough trouble.
“Maybe someday we can.” He stroked my cheek as he considered it. Then some thought occurred to him and he failed to suppress a sinful grin. “Wow, you really are a walking blasphemy now, aren’t you?” he reminded me cheerfully. “My naughty priestess.”
“That excites you, does it?” I purred back. “Have you acquired a taste for the forbidden?”
“Oh, yes. In fact, I think I will be in a ruinous mood should I be unable to taste the forbidden every night henceforth.”
I giggled. “Woe befall any who confront Death in a ruinous mood!” I exclaimed with mock severity. I dropped my voice to a sensual hush. “I will have to do my part to forestall such tidings.”
“I will dwell on your words when I am missing you,” Thanatos said.
His voice carried an unexpected hint of melancholy that made me wonder whether he referred only to the time between our meetings.
“Speaking of which,” he continued, “I believe it would be safest for me to take you back to your temple now. Not that I am pleased by this necessity.”
“I know,” I said with a grumbling sigh. “Can’t let Apollo find out now.”
He nodded, and we reluctantly began the search for our discarded articles of clothing.
I observed intently as he dressed alongside me, determined to memorize the fastenings of his shirt around his wings so that I could more easily remove it in the future.
Once all of my clothes had been replaced, I did my best to smooth out the wildness in my hair.
“Well, do I look as though I’ve just succumbed to the unholy?” I joked.
“Stop blushing, and you might pass for innocently sleepy.”
“And how am I supposed to manage that while you’re looking at me like you want to undress again?” I accused. “After what you’ve done to me, I would be lucky to avoid striding unevenly through the sacred halls.”
“Hades forfend!” he groaned. “Here, practice your nonchalance, and then I will drop you in an obscure corridor.”
“One more kiss, first?”
Thanatos obliged, sweetly but all too briefly. I nodded, then collected myself, more seriously this time. I wrapped myself carefully in the poise and purity and stoicism of my station once more. “Alright. I’m ready.”
He held me by the shoulders and flicked his wings. Our surroundings twisted from our sacrilegious bedroom into a cold and empty hall.
“Sleep well, my naughty priestess,” Thanatos said. “I will see you tomorrow.”
In the next breath, he was gone, leaving me with only my racing heartbeat and the subtle taste of him on my lips.
I hoped his scent would stay for me to savor all night.
How could I ever fall asleep now? My mind swam with thoughts of him as I navigated the corridor and ascended the stairs to my room: how he looked in the throes of passion, how he smelled and tasted and felt. Oh, how he felt inside me…
A pang of longing flashed in my groin, and I tripped over my feet, catching the railing just in time to save my face from the stairs.
I straightened my spine hastily, wincing at my mistake.
I was going to have to work harder on resetting my poise.
Luckily, when I glanced around, there was no one to be seen. This time.
I made to finish my ascent and sneak through the heavy door to our chamber.
Entering undetected would be difficult with how the hinges squeaked, but it was doable, and it would be best if none of my sisters woke to my return.
I could avoid their questioning and slip silently into bed.
Then I’d be free to dream of Thanatos all night…
But when I opened the door, I found that a lantern was still lit, along with the candle atop the reading table. Why were they awake? Zoe and Sophie sat at the ends of their beds, with Alex on the couch. The three of them broke off their conversation to turn and look when I entered the room.
“What’s going on?” I asked uneasily. I shut the door and made my way to sit on the lounge beside Alex. Hey, Thanatos had sat right here once. He’d sat here, divinely beautiful, and smirked at me across the room, teasing me. Not like the way he teased me now. With his tongue. And his body…
“See? This is why we have to do it.” It was Zoe’s voice that pierced my daydream. She shot Alex a meaningful look.
“Have to do what?” I asked, snapping to attention. Sophie shifted awkwardly in her seat, but Alex was giggling.
“We figured you’d be late again,” Zoe answered for them, a small smile playing at her lips.
“And seeing as we were correct, we think we should know at least a little about what’s going on.
” She seemed neutral enough, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Perhaps she’d already decided her feelings on the matter.
“And we have to pester you again to be careful,” Sophie added insistently. Come on, did they think I was completely stupid? I sighed in exasperation.
“Stop worrying about me,” I groaned. “It will be fine. I know what I’m doing.”
“Sure, maybe you do,” Sophie persisted, “but it’s our job to look out for each other, and you’re doing something dangerous. We gave this same talk to Alex before, remember?” That was true. She had me there.
“I was there for that discussion! I don’t need to hear it again!” But it was becoming increasingly clear that I’d never win this debate.
Alex gave me a sympathetic glance. “I know, but you need more practice than I did. I mean, you know we won’t judge you, and we trust that you’ll be careful. It’s just that with these things…” She bit her lip. “I was so much better at lying than you are.”
I supposed I couldn’t deny that, either. I’d always had difficulty keeping my emotions out of my expression. “It’s my stupid face, isn’t it?” I groaned.
“Yes! You need to stop looking so happy!” Alex laughed as she said it, but she also shot me a serious sisterly glance. Don’t you dare get caught.
I threw my hands up with an air of finality. “Alright, alright! Look more miserable. Got it. I promise I’ll work on it.”
There was a moment of tense evaluation, but this promise was satisfactory, it appeared. But it also seemed like the conversation wasn’t over. My sisters fixed their eyes on me expectantly.
“Well?” asked Alex when the silence stretched too long. She grinned and gave me a knowing look. “You know you have to tell us.” Right.
I sighed and feigned more irritation. “There’s no satisfying you, is there?”
But in truth, my heartbeat picked up and I couldn’t help but smile.
No matter how much I pretended, I was dying to tell them how I spent my nights.
How could I love this man and not say anything about it?
As my girlfriends, my sisters, they deserved to hear the details; we should get to marvel over them together. But those I knew I couldn’t give.
Instead I smiled mischievously and pulled up the hem of my skirt, parting my thighs for them to see my bruises and bites. “He was very enthusiastic,” I said timidly, my cheeks burning.
“Damn!” Sophie exclaimed, and now she finally met my eyes with some approval. “Alright, alright, we understand! Do what you have to do. I for one will personally kill you if you don’t keep him.”