This was bad lust. It was pure evil in form. The human side of me wanted to take as many showers as possible to rid myself of the filth of that encounter.
I shuddered, and in an instant Adonis pulled me into his lap. His hands went to my face, touching me, consoling my fluttering heart. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to realize he was doing the opposite of calming me.
Just what had that kiss been about?
And why in the world was I thinking about him kissing me, when eternity could be hanging in the balance?
Foolish.
And yet, Adonis enticed. It’s what he did.
“Do you ever…” I felt myself slightly blush then gathered more courage. “I mean, have you ever enticed me?”
He looked away, a smug grin plastered on his face. “I’ve never had to.”
“Adonis.” I pushed against his chest in anger.
He held me tighter. “I’m kidding, Thena. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you laugh.”
“It’s been three hours,” I said dryly.
“Exactly.” He purred as his perfect face neared mine. I could almost taste him.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Adonis exhaled a long sigh. “Truly, I’ve never tried to entice you. I would never do that to you. It would be entirely unfair… to both of us.”
Great. A loaded answer, just what I wanted.
“That kiss…”
“Helped your strength.” He tilted my chin toward his lips. “Am I correct?”
I nodded. Seriously, why in the name of Hades did the guy have to be so beautiful?
“Good, then it’s settled. I must kiss you as often as possible.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I pushed against his chest again, this time using more strength. His hold remained firm on my body. I was never uncomfortable in his arms. I smiled. His arms — where I had lived for thousands of years. I couldn’t imagine having that ripped from me.
“You should be resting, not fighting against me.” He blew a kiss across my face. I felt it as if he had truly kissed me.
I tried to close my eyes, but the only thoughts that plagued me had to do with Adonis, not the fact that Michael would be returning with our mission. I couldn’t lose Adonis. If this mission went wrong it could be fatal. I shuddered in his arms. If wisdom told me to leave him, I would. I would leave him to save him.
I’d been fighting since I was out of adolescence, which for a Nephilim meant I had stopped maturing at the ripe old age of nineteen. None of us knew why. None of us really cared either.
Sometimes I wonder if my brain stopped maturing as well, since a lot of my responses to things seem immature. I blamed it on the well of emotions that had been gifted to our race. The ability to love had always been the greatest gift to all mankind; now it seemed as if that gift was a curse.
Seekers longed for certain things they would never have: security, hope, a family. Forbidden words among our people.
Adonis and others — the Enticers — mainly seemed to be happy with their lot in life. The rest of us, the ones who see the fighting and bloodshed, we wanted so much more, yet none of us dared to hope for that type of future. Our only hope was that one day in Eden it would come to pass, that is, if we were lucky enough to survive through the war.
Some days I had my doubts.
I let out a loud sigh, and felt Adonis’s arms tighten around my body. His thick muscles radiated heat behind me. It would be so easy to turn into him, to allow myself to be pulled into the essence of him.
Yet it seemed tragic that I would throw myself at him. I would be like every other woman in the world, and I refused to be like them.
I closed my eyes and begged them to sleep, but it wasn’t until Adonis kissed me on my cheek and hummed one of our ancient songs that my body began to relax.
Chapter Six
“Athena… my beautiful Athena, return to me.” The musical voice haunted me, causing a stirring in my soul I’d never known until this moment. “You feel it too… I can sense your emotions, so strong, Athena. They make you powerful, like a goddess. Let me love you.” I wanted to yell stop; the words sounded so sweet yet completely wrong. “Let me find you… Let me search you out, oh beautiful one. I want you for myself. You will be mine.”
“Who are you?” I said hoarsely.
The musical laughter chilled me to the bone.
“Your destiny.”
“I don’t understand.” I told my lungs to suck in air as the nightmare suddenly became too real.
“Thanatus…” Lips brushed across my ear. “For everything there is a time. Until then.”