Chapter 66 #2
I frown, worried about her. The shadows aren’t something she’s been upfront about discussing. My stomach twists, hoping that if she needs help, she’ll ask.
“I’ll miss you. Are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?” I ask, not having a clue where she’s going, but ready to tag along to the ends of the universe if she wants me by her side (and Sin, since we’re a bit of a package deal).
“Damn straight,” he agrees.
Arianna steps back and takes a measured breath before steeling her shoulders. “No. You’re needed here. But I’m not, and there are still demigod children being held from the breeding program. I’ve been going through Nymara’s files, trying to find clues as to where Need might have held them.”
I open my mouth to tell her that we can help, that this is something we can work on together, but she continues, “You already have your hands full. But I – I can do this. After what the Guardians did to us, it feels personal. I can’t sleep, knowing I’m not out there, searching. I know I can find them.”
The pools of darkness at her feet are growing larger, and we both ignore the tremble in her hands.
I nod, and her expression is relieved. “Okay, but please let me know if we can help? We’re here for you, Ari, even though I know you’re obviously the better spy and you’ve got this. But you aren’t alone.”
My spy comment finally stops whatever dark place her mind was stuck in, and she gives me a genuine smile. “Thank you.”
“But you’ll be back next week for family dinner, right?” I confirm.
I don’t care how silly they think it is that I’m trying to get everyone to come home once a week. All I’ve ever wanted is a family, and these dinners will hopefully remind everyone that we always have each other.
“Of course! Dr. Parnard scheduled our follow-up session an hour before next week’s dinner, and I really think I’m making progress in therapy.
Last week, he was left speechless, so I think that means I’m winning.
” She beams as she circles back around the table, heading for the door, but pauses when Conner twists in his chair, reaching for her.
“I’ll wait for you, Ari,” he proclaims, with all the flair of a Shakespearean actor.
Arianna avoids his outstretched hand and turns to give him a terrifyingly sadistic smile. “I might take you up on that. You seem sweet, and Cerberus is always looking for new treats.”
“Yeah, she’s definitely into me,” Conner mutters to himself as she leaves.
“Dude, I know you flirt with everyone, but I think she might actually kill you if you keep trying,” Isaac notes, sounding concerned.
“No way, man, she likes me. Otherwise, she would have killed me already.” He has a cocky, self-assured grin as he says it.
“She hasn’t killed you for the same reason I haven’t. You’re Vivian’s friend,” Morgana grits as she continues to try to wipe off the wine he got on her dress.
“Awe, Morgie, no need to get jealous,” Conner answers, pausing to blatantly check her out. “Look, I know me and Ari are true loves, but there’s plenty of me to go around. So long as my shadow mommy is cool with it, I’m totally down for a menage-a-trois.”
Isaac gives Conner a horrified look, and Sarah starts to apologize for our friend, but clearly, Conner has lost all ability to keep himself alive.
“That means a three-way, by the way. It’s French. Sexiest language in the universe,” he adds with a wink.
“Conner, if you ever set foot in my realm again, I won’t kill you. I’ll drop you into the forest of the forgotten dead and leave you there,” Morgana hisses.
She continues to threaten Conner, and I’m having a great time watching their antics. I’m so invested that I almost miss the smallest pulse of red from Sin’s tattoos. A second later, I feel a hand trailing up my thigh.
I turn to narrow my eyes at him, and he holds up each of his hands, as if to say, ‘what? It can’t be me, my hands are up here.’
I try to kick him again. But this time, he’s ready for me, and traps my leg between his, effectively spreading me open for him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask in my mind, knowing he’ll hear me.
“Just remembering that time I threatened to spread you open over a table and devour you,” he responds without missing a beat.
Arousal floods the bond, and my pulse kicks up a notch.
I raise a brow at his self-satisfied smirk, and the hand trails higher, almost at my center. Heat pulses through me, and I try to close my legs, only for Sin to use more of his power to hold me.
“Want me to stop?” He purrs, and the hand pauses, the heat just above my core.
The others are all still talking, oblivious to the silent conversation between Sin and me, and I purse my lips, considering what I want to do.
Sin is trying to get a reaction out of me.
But two can play that game.
I pull on his presence in my mind a little, sending him my own mental image.
I lower myself under the table, settling between his legs.
I’m slow as I undo the fastenings of his pants, just enough that I can pull out his cock.
It’s already rigid and ready for me when I twirl my tongue around the head.
He reaches under the table, fisting his hands in my hair, just as I take him fully into my mouth.
I let him control my motions, moaning around his thickness as he thrusts down my throat, all while he sits in his chair.
Sin chokes on his wine, and the disembodied hand vanishes.
I grin.
“You’re cruel,” he groans, discreetly trying to adjust himself.
“Hmm, you should probably pray for forgiveness later,” I tease.
Turning my attention back to the others, I find Morgana shaking her head at us. “Get a room – or a realm.”
“Gladl–” Sin starts, pushing away from the table, only to be interrupted by a bang as the door slams open. He stiffens as Hades swaggers into the room.
The God of Death is whole again, but I can still see a thin red line around his neck. He’s found a new set of black fighting leathers, and his hair is shorter, now slicked back from his eyes.
His icy blue eyes sweep over the room, and he looks completely at ease as he pulls up Arianna’s now vacant chair, sitting back and kicking his feet up onto the table.
A full week to recover from decapitation – that’s not bad, I mentally log.
Could I have healed him immediately following the battle?
Yes.
But I wasn’t feeling too giving after he threatened my mate.
“Would one of you kindly tell me the whereabouts of the little traitor who decided to cut off my head?” He asks the question mildly, but I don’t miss the tension that rolls through his body, or the way shadows creep up the walls.
Sin’s tattoos pulse a faint red, and the violent ambience kicks up a notch.
I take a sip from my wine, making sure the God of the Underworld knows I’m not afraid of him (mostly). “If you want to remain allies, you won’t be touching a hair on her head, or you’ll answer to me,” I finally answer.
Hades raises an unimpressed brow, and his shadows creep forward, only to spark against my own crackling, violet power.
He hesitates. “A goddess?”
He sounds duly impressed.
“Do you want to see who’s stronger now? Or are we going to act like adults and use our words?” I respond, giving him my best challenging stare.
Look at me, threatening literal gods.
I’m pretty sure I still wouldn’t be able to tell my waiter if my order at a restaurant was wrong, though.
That would just be crazy.
Sarah claps her hands. “Ouuu burn! Good one, Vivi!” She blushes when Hades glances her way, and Isaac sidles a little closer to her.
“Fine,” Hades drawls, almost sounding bored as he turns back to face me. “We can remain allies.”
“Good. See? I knew you’d eventually loosen up.” The corner of my mouth tugs up.
Hades laughs, and the tension starts to bleed away once more. Morgana updates him about how the battle ended and what’s been done over the last week. He gives her a curious look, but it’s gone a heartbeat later.
Sin joins in the conversation as they discuss the fact that Need couldn’t have pulled off imprisoning and murdering gods alone.
Hades is determined to find every person involved, and from the promises of unspeakable violence in his eyes, I’m grateful we’re on the same side.
The conversation continues for a few more minutes before Conner changes the subject, and everyone settles back into comfortable conversation. There’s laughter and banter, and even Sin laughs a few times.
The tightness around my chest eases as I finally let myself breathe.
We made it.
We survived.
My friends are here, my realms are still in one piece, and I feel more at home than ever before.
Even though I know there’s still so much work ahead of us to figure everything out, the thought is no longer overwhelming.
I’m not alone.
Sin squeezes my hand and looks at me adoringly.
I smile back, knowing with absolute certainty that as long as we’re together, everything will be okay.