“Because of Seth.” She said it slowly as if she was just understanding who’d saved her. Her gaze flickered around the room.
I cleared my throat. “They wouldn’t let me go after you.”
“Why?”
“Oh, you know, a weak excuse. Something about my emotions for you overshadowing my duty and all that.”
She grinned. “Because you love me.”
“Yes, because I love you.” It felt so good to say it out loud again. I held her in my arms and inhaled her scent. “Please don’t scare me like that ever again.”
“I live to keep you on your toes.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, unable to keep my hands from traveling down her arms just to make sure she was really whole and not still bleeding or in pieces. It had taken a few minutes for Raphael’s healing to kick in.
A knock sounded at the door. I relinquished my hold on Athena and looked across the room.
Seth stood there, a sheepish grin on his face. He looked like crap. But, I would too if I had bled myself dry. He was still unable to do much except walk around. I knew he was bored out of his mind because he reminded me of it every time I visited him and didn’t play cards.
“Seth.” Athena grinned so brightly I nearly fell off my chair. “I missed you.”
I fought the urge to punch Seth in the face.
“I missed you too,” he said, a look of confusion spreading across his face as his eyes flickered to me and then back to Athena. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”
Athena sighed. “I’m great. Thanks to you.”
Seth blushed. “Not a problem.”
The room fell silent as they both looked at me.
I felt like I wasn’t wanted. I cleared my throat. “I, uh, I need to go check on something.” I stepped out of the room and went in search of Michael.
Once I reached his door, I knocked, then let myself in. He was, of course, waiting for me. It was as if he knew my every move.
“I take it you know,” Michael said once I took a seat.
“Know?” I repeated.
For once Michael looked uncertain; his eyes shifted from me to the door and back again. “About Seth and Athena?”
“Do we need to use their names in the same sentence right now?” I asked sarcastically.
Michael didn’t look amused, in fact he looked worried.
I put my hands in the air. “I was joking. What’s wrong?”
Michael scratched his head. “When Seth gave his blood to Athena, it was more powerful than, as a Seeker, what she is used to.”
“Makes sense.” I nodded. “He used to be an archangel, so I can understand that on a molecular level it would be different. Will it hurt her?”
Michael shook his head. “No, just the opposite. She will be even better at her job. If that’s possible.”
We laughed together, and then the room fell silent again.
“It created a bond,” he said quietly.
“A bond?” I repeated. “Like a brother-sister bond?” Please say yes, please say yes.
“No,” Michael said. “A little stronger than that. You see, as partners, you and Athena complement each other. She needs you to be stronger. She relies on you to be the best she can be.”
I licked my lips. “Does she need me anymore?”
“Of course!” Michael laughed. “Now more than ever!”
“Why more than ever?”
And why was Michael shifting so much in his seat, like I was going to explode at any minute?
“Because Seth needs Athena the way Athena needs you.”
“Come again?”
“Because she has nearly all of his original blood. She brings him comfort, healing, companionship. She is his other half.”
“But she’s my other half,” I argued.
“I know.” Michael sighed. “In a way, the three of you need each other.”
“No.”
“I’m afraid so.”
“But what about…” My mind immediately went to my ideas for Athena. I wanted us to be together, forever, and my little fantasy didn’t include Seth tagging along like some third wheel.
“If Seth doesn’t have Athena, he will eventually succumb to the Darkness, Adonis. I’m sorry to say, but where you two go, he follows.”
I looked around the room for something to throw. But the only thing I could think of was the chair I was sitting in, and I didn’t think Michael would approve of my childishness or immature response.
“I know you need some time to process this, and I am sorry that you have this burden.”
“I just want her heart,” I said softly, walking to the door.
“Son, sometimes there are things worth fighting for.”
I nodded and made my way back to Athena’s room.
Seth was already gone; she was lying in her bed staring out the window at the dark ocean. A whale swam by. She smiled and sighed.
“Daydreaming?” I asked taking a seat next to her.
“I guess.” She shrugged then looked at me, her eyes violet. “Seth told me about… the blood thing.”
“Did he now?” I tried to keep the bitterness from my voice but was doing a terrible job.
Athena reached for my hand. “It changes nothing, Adonis. You know how I feel about you.”