29. Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
Corre
T he days passed into a week, and then another, and Corre couldn’t bring herself to mention the throne again, despite the clock ticking before she had to leave. She had to figure out a plan, but she didn’t want to ruin anything. When she was with him, she was light and free. Everything was somehow okay when his arms were wrapped around her or when they sparred after his dungeon battles and he taught her how to use her mind and passions to gather the powers around her. She just wanted to enjoy the moments she got to see him before it all had to end. Because even if he did take the throne, what then? She was the goddess who was to bring life and beauty to the Earth, and he was the god of death and darkness.
She didn’t let herself think about it too much, even though she hadn’t gotten to see him much the last week or so. Thanatos had him on a tighter leash, for some reason. She’d heard one of the demons say something about it in front of his room when he’d left a few mornings prior, but she couldn’t make out what it had said.
Whatever the reason, Markus was being worked half to death. Corre supposed it was relatively usual, but it felt different. Worse. He came back more and more tired every time she saw him. She wasn’t sure when he’d come back today, but as she folded his towels into bouquets of flowers, she hoped tonight he’d be done early.
Because today was the day. The one she’d been dreading. Her twentieth birthday.
She didn’t tell him because it had slipped her mind until he’d already left that morning, but all she’d been able to do since he’d left was fold the towels into various flower shapes, trying to figure out how she could ever make real ones the way her mother did.
Her mother.
The thought tightened her stomach into a knot. Berenice would be home from that forest mission any day now. Hopefully, it wasn’t today. She’d said she’d be back by Corre’s birthday. Luckily, the older goddess notoriously lost track of time. But Corre had a feeling that her mother wouldn’t do that this time.
She was out of time.
But she’d think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow, she’d plan. She’d let herself have one more day. One more day with Markus. With Hades.
She ran out of towels halfway through the day, so she messed them all up and made more intricate ones as if the talent would somehow transfer to actual plant-making. She was so concentrated on not thinking about anything other than the cloth in her hands that she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Markus say, “What are you doing on the floor?” She looked up at him in shock, her heart in her throat. He laughed. “Did I scare you?”
She pursed her lips. “No.”
“You’re so cute,” he said with another laugh, and the tension in her body drifted away.
She tugged on the faux petals. “Thank you.” She looked up at him coyly and said, “What a kind thing to say to the birthday girl.”
His eyes widened. “It’s your birthday?”
She giggled, then sighed. “Yeah, but I wish it wasn’t. It’s my twentieth.”
“Ah,” he said, about to sit down when he suddenly straightened. “But still, you deserve a celebration.”
She passed him another coy grin. “Oh? And what do you have in mind?”
“Wait here,” he said with a smile that made her knees weak.
“O-Okay,” she said, but he was already halfway out the door. She sunk against the wall, smiling to herself giddily, eagerly waiting for his return. Already missing him.
Markus
There had to be something here. He sifted through pans and opened pots and cupboards. Nothing. How was there nothing in the kitchen? When he heard someone come in, he started to duck, but it was too late.
“Master Theron?”
He shot up. “Y-yes. Um, I mean, yes ?” He said the last word more firmly, more authoritatively.
The hunched demon skittered over to him, its hollow eyes gaping in confusion. “Is something amiss? Did you forget a meal?”
“Um . . . Yes! I’m starving. Do you have anything sweet?”
“Sweet?” it said, its scratchy voice rising. Markus had never wanted anything sweet before.
“Yes, I’m quite hungry for something sweet.”
The creature turned around and said, “There is nothing ready at the moment, but if you wait a few minutes, I can have a pie finished for you. There’s already one being prepared for General Nikias.”
Markus suppressed a wicked smile. “That one would be perfect.”
Corre
When Markus returned, Corre jumped, her heart fluttering at the sight of him holding a freshly baked pie. Its crust was the perfect shade of brown, plump and steaming. It had a warm, fruity aroma that made her drool. “Mmm! What is that?”
“Pomegranate pie for the birthday girl.” His eyes crinkled at the sides, turning her legs into gelatin.
“Sounds delicious.”
“I imagine it is. I’ve never tried it, but it looks amazing.”
“What are we waiting for?” she said, practically yelling. Markus lifted his finger to his lips, unable to contain a smile. “Oops. Sorry,” she whispered, and he laughed.
“Make a wish,” he said. Her heart skipped at the way he looked at her. Giddiness bubbled through her, and she wondered if she’d ever been this happy before. She closed her eyes, knowing the answer.
She hadn’t. She’d never been so happy in her entire life.
So she wished for the one thing she wanted more than anything and then opened her eyes. “Okay, I did it.”
“Was it a good one?”
She nodded, her dimpled smile stretched so far across her face it made her cheeks sore. It must have been infectious because his smile widened, too.
“Good. Now, let’s eat. You get the first bite.” He whipped out a knife from his tunic and started slicing. He cut each slice into perfect triangles.
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“With what?” he laughed, dropping a piece into her hands. It was filled thickly with purple seeds and gooey jam. “Sorry. I forgot plates.”
“That’s okay. We can use my artwork.” She took one of the folded towels and shook it until it was flat again.
“Aw, but they were so pretty.”
“Not as pretty as your excellent pie-slicing work.”
He chuckled. “Right. Okay.” His smile was bright, and there was a faint shade of pink creeping along his cheeks.
She eagerly took a piece of the pie, warm and sticky in her fingers, and tossed it into her mouth. The taste was tangy and perfect, each seed melting in her mouth. “Mmmmm.” Her eyes closed in pure bliss.
“Whoa,” he said with a teasing smile.
She shoved him playfully. “Shush. It’s so good.”
He took a bite of his piece, his eyebrows rising. “It is good.”
“See?” She went for the rest of her piece, dropping it all in her mouth without feeling the need to pretend to daintily rip it into proper fragments. “Mmmmm,” she said again, eyes rolling to the back of her head. Markus burst out a laugh. “What?” she said with her mouth full.
“You have pomegranate juice all over your face,” he said, leaning forward and dabbing it off with a towel.
Suddenly, the taste of the pie was second to the feeling of his fingers touching her skin and the warmth of his breath. She leaned forward and kissed him, tasting the sweetness of the pie in his mouth, before leaning back in a dizzy flush.
He put down the towel and smiled, then leaned forward and licked her cheek.
She squealed. “What are you doing?”
“You have juice all over you!” he said, licking her again.
“You’re such a weirdo!” she said, laughing, but he was on top of her, and she was lying on the floor, throwing her arms around him as he leaned in to kiss her.
When the sweetness of his lips returned, she welcomed the flurry of sparks and starlight that beamed through her. She reveled in the way he touched her and the way his mouth left purple kisses down her neck.
She squealed in delight as he picked her up and threw her on the bed, jumping on top of her and kissing her deeply. She let her mind go numb and her senses be taken over by him and the breaths he left on her neck and chest, and the sweet static that crackled through her when his mouth trailed all over her body.
Her skin grew warmer the more he touched her, and it turned white-hot when his hands moved up the skirt of her dress. He moved down to kiss her legs, and her body ached as he moved up her thigh, his tongue finding its way to the soft skin beneath her hipbone. The sensation was overwhelming, and she loved it. She gathered his shirt in her fingers, and he sat up as she ripped it off him.
When he looked back at her, the insatiable desire in his eyes made something ignite in her blood. Everything was urgent and heated, and she couldn’t stop herself from grabbing him and sinking her lips back into his. She loved the taste of his tongue and the movements of his body, so tight and hard against her. She wanted every part of him, and she wanted to give him every part of her.
He trailed his hands up her arms and threaded his fingers in hers. She loved the feeling of his body on hers, his knees on either side of her hips. And as his mouth trailed to her chest, she fell into bliss. Her body was completely his. His fingers ran through her hair, grasping it as he kissed her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and let her hands run down his bare back, nails lightly scratching his skin.
As they kissed fervently, passionately, he sat up and pulled her onto his lap, but they never stopped kissing. Her hair fell around him. His hands trailed down her back. He sucked on her tongue. Her bottom lip. Her neck. She breathlessly fell into him.
“You make me feel wonderful,” she whispered into his ear, gently biting his earlobe.
He wrapped his arms around her, squeezed her, then fell back with a smile. “I think you make me feel even better,” he said, touching his thumb to her lips, and holding onto her chin before letting his hand fall to her exposed thigh.
She bent over and kissed him. “You’re a fantastic kisser.”
He laughed and kissed her nose. “I can’t say I have a lot of experience.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Funnily enough, you don’t get to court many goddesses when you’re getting your ass whooped by demons and monsters all the time.”
She gave him a tight smile. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said, chuckling, “but I am curious about your experience.”
She rolled her eyes with a smile and lay down next to him. “There’s not a lot to talk about. But I wasn’t the most work-oriented goddess on Mt. Olympus growing up. So, I may have kissed a fella or two.”
He trailed the back of his hand down her arm, his eyes drinking in every inch of her skin before flickering back to her gaze. “Don’t make me jealous now.”
She scrunched her nose and laughed. “I didn’t realize I could make you jealous. Maybe I should tell you about aaall of my suitors, then.”
He shot her a playful glare. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would.”
He lifted himself onto his elbow and kissed her so deeply that all the memories of those past kisses muddled together and fell away.
“Did you make love to them?” he asked, his voice low.
Her face went hot. She shook her head. “No, I’ve never had sex.”
Something in his eyes lit up, and as her gaze trailed down his body, memorizing every muscle and curve, she wondered what it would be like. To become one with him and feel their passion even stronger, more intense.
“But I’d like to,” she said. Their eyes locked. She loved the way he looked at her. Like she was the most beautiful creature in the entire world. “With you,” she added quietly, heat blaring on her cheeks.
He sucked in an excited breath and leaned forward to kiss her, pulling her back into him. She grabbed hold of his shoulders as she fell back onto the bed. He smiled and looked down at her, the waves of his black hair brushing along the side of her face. And then it all hit her.
This moment wouldn’t last forever.
None of this would.
And suddenly, it was all too much.
He pressed a soft kiss against her lips, but before he could continue, her voice filled the small space between them. “Don’t forget me,” she whispered.
He shook his head, keeping his eyes on hers. “I could never forget you.” He lay next to her, took her hand in his, and kissed her knuckles. He placed the other hand gently on her cheek. “Where is this coming from?”
Tears burned in her eyes. She swallowed, but her breath was shuddery as she spoke. “I have to leave soon. My mother will be back any day now if she isn’t already. It’s been weeks since I came here, but—” A sob cut through her voice. “I may never see you again.” She tried to contain it, but she couldn’t anymore. As soon as one tear slid down her face, the rest followed, and she burst into sobs. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I ruined the mood.”
He hushed her softly and gathered her into his arms. “You could never ruin anything.” He held her against him, and she cried into his chest as he stroked the back of her head. “We’ll see each other again. I promise.”
She sniffed and wiped her face before looking up at him. “You do?”
“I do,” he whispered, placing his forehead on hers.
She closed her eyes and let his warmth blanket her body. “How do you know?’
He grabbed her face gently and looked at her with such tenderness in his eyes it made her want to cry even more. She couldn’t lose this. “Because I love you,” he said. “And I can’t bear living a life without you.”
Through the tears, a smile broke across her face. Something within her soared. She let out a quiet, joyful laugh through her trembling. “I love you, too.”
They looked at each other one moment longer before he kissed her again, slowly this time, and she savored every second of it.
“No matter what happens, I’ll find you,” he whispered, “and you’ll be mine. Always.” She nodded, and he lifted her chin toward him. He smiled softly when their eyes met again, and he wiped the tears from her face, then kissed the spots where they’d been. “I’ll always take care of you.” He kissed her again. “That’s a promise, too.”
“Okay,” she whispered back, and she let him hold her until every sad feeling fell away. The way his arms felt around her, strong and protective, made her feel safe. She wanted to believe him. So she chose to. She would never let her life be without him. “I promise, too. I don’t want a life without you in it.”
A smile stretched across his face, and he scooped her face into his hands again and kissed her. Her entire life, Corre had never felt so beautifully alive—so wonderfully free—as she did when she was with him. She never wanted the feeling to end. Safely together, tangled in bliss.
She laid her body flat, and when he saw her lying there, he gave her a hungry, playful look and jumped on top of her. He pinned her wrists against the bed, and she could hardly breathe. Excitement buzzed through every nerve, burning every inch of her skin. But as soon as he kissed her, the door swung open.
“I knew it! I knew you were hiding something!”
Corre’s stomach dropped. Her eyes darted to the lanky man standing in the doorway. He had the pinched, smug face of a rat and tightly combed-back blonde hair.
“Guards! In here! He has the girl!” he called, and her stomach was sick.
The look on Markus’s face said everything she was feeling. He jumped off the bed and to his feet, shielding her from the guards pouring into the room. “Don’t you dare touch her!” he shouted, but the demons pushed into him. “Get back!” He lifted his hands and pushed his power against them.
All four of them crashed into the opposite wall.
“Thanatos will—” the god in the doorway began, but Markus pushed another bout of power against him, too, and sent the man flying into the hall.
Markus turned around and grabbed Corre by the hand. “We have to get you out of here!” She jumped out of bed. She could taste the fear on her tongue like a hot iron. They were bolting down the hall when another group of guards flocked toward them. Markus tried pushing through them with his power, but there were too many coming at him in every direction, and they were stronger than the others. Large, gray creatures with no eyes and withered skin, but giant bodies of pure muscle. Each one was armed with sharp weapons and covered in thick plates of armor.
Markus’s back pressed against Corre. His arms formed a rounded T to protect her, but more footsteps marched at them from behind. The four guards and the thin blonde man pushed through the mass of bodies.
They were surrounded with no way out.
“There’s no use trying, Theron,” the pale man spat. “They have the chains. And you know you can’t get out of those.”
The look on Markus’s face told a story of pain Corre would have to ask him about later, but for now, she had to do something. She lifted her hands and tried to remember what he’d taught her in their spare moments of training these last few weeks. She used the desire she felt to keep Markus safe to fuel her power and then pushed it at the guards in front of her. When Markus saw this, he turned around and tried the same with the others.
She managed to bowl five of the muscled demons over. This might actually work. Power gathered between her fingers again, but then Markus cried out, and before she could turn around, she was on the floor, chains shackling her wrists. The metal pierced her with an electric energy that vibrated through her bones.
Her body was filled with painful static.
She couldn’t move.
“Take them to Thanatos,” the blonde god said. Corre turned to Markus and saw him looking so desperately at her that she wanted to cry. Tears were forming in his eyes, and she could tell he felt guilty about this. As if this was somehow his fault. They were pulled to their feet by their chains, the metal digging into her wrist bones. The pain was so sudden and intense that she let out a cry.
“I said don’t hurt her!” Markus roared. He writhed and growled, tackling one of the demonic guards holding Corre in place, knocking it to the ground. But it was futile. Another one of the guards took him by the chains and kicked him, then violently struck him in the face with the bottom of its spear.
Corre gasped, but the guards pulled her forward, grabbing her skull and forcing her to stare straight ahead.
Markus , she wanted to whisper, but she knew it would make things worse.
They were headed for the chopping block.
They were headed to his master.