“But instead of finding a well of power, the mission went wrong.” Morgan didn’t understand their constant need for more power. “Something escaped.”
“When we arrived, there was no sign of those who broke the seal.” He began to unwrap one of his wrists, and she was shocked to see the wounds were nearly healed. Though she healed fast, she wasn’t that fast and couldn’t help being envious. “We were trying to contain the damage, a temporary measure until we could discover a way to re-seal the gate, when the screams began.”
“Wait. I thought the gods were dead.” Morgan couldn’t wrap her brain around what he was implying. “Are they still alive in Tartarus?” Her stomach lurched into her throat at the thought that the gods could still be alive and trapped. She wasn’t sure whether she was thrilled at the idea of meeting them or terrified.
“So did we, but something survived.”
“I can’t imagine that whatever remained alive inside of that hell was pleased to learn their jailers, who’d been stealing their magic for years, had come back to finish them off.” Her heart leapt at the possibility of meeting people like herself, but common sense reasserted itself. Gods were not benevolent. If they were alive, they would want revenge. Her head snapped up in understanding. “The fog.”
“It took us far too long to figure that out. We went into the fog, convinced that we would be able to find answers, recapture what escaped, but we underestimated the full scope of the trap. Almost immediately everyone became infected.” He shook his head and stood, limping away from her to lean against the wall. “A few of us saw our worst nightmares come alive inside the fog, while others saw loved ones they thought long dead. It wasn’t long before everyone ran off and disappeared—”
“But you didn’t.” The stubborn ass was too honorable to leave a job incomplete. He stared at her for a heartbeat too long, like he was surprised she knew him so well.
“The fog became more aggressive, grew stronger and spread faster with every creature it consumed.”
He wasn’t lying, but he wasn’t telling her the truth, either. Getting answers from him was like trying to catch a fish with her bare hands. She stood and studied him carefully. He saw something in the fog that scared him shitless, and a man like him didn’t handle helplessness well.
“What did you see?”
He glanced up at her, the shadows in his eyes so haunted, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “You. I went in search of a cure…and found you.”
At his intense stare, the strength went out of her legs and her ass plopped down on the box behind her. She swallowed hard, not sure how to respond to the revelation that she was either his worst nightmare or greatest hope. “That’s why you think I can do what you and your team couldn’t manage.”
He had more knowledge about this realm than she could ever hope to gain.
How was she supposed to accomplish a task he couldn’t?
She wasn’t even close to being in his league.
“Morgan.”
“Hmmmm?” She peered up at him, her mind overwhelmed by the information overload, trying to figure how the hell she was going to get them out of this mess.
He picked up her hand, and everything inside her jolted at the contact. When he placed her palm directly over the mating mark on his shoulder, a charge shot up her hand, the marking on her arm humming with static.
“Every day, I saw you struggling to cope with the mating marks while your relationship with the others deteriorated. You didn’t need me to put more pressure on you.”
“So you were trying to spare me?” Morgan lifted her eyebrows, not believing him for a second. “Or were you ashamed?”
“Ashamed?” A vein throbbed against his forehead. He looked so furious Morgan stood and backed up, but Atlas refused to let her retreat, following her step for step until her back thudded against the boxes.
Loki lifted his head, took one look at Atlas, then jumped off her shoulder.
Coward.
Then all her attention switched to Atlas when he didn’t stop, pressing his body flush against hers. “That you survived two assassination attempts? Practically raised yourself to be one of our best assassins? You not only saved the Academy, you stopped a full-out attack on the world. You’re an honest-to-gods princess.” He ducked his head, his shorn hair falling forward. “You are beyond anything I could ever have hoped for in a mate.”
Her face heated at his praise, and she ducked her head, struck mute, not sure what to feel anymore. “Then why?”
He cupped her chin, lifting her face to his, pain ricocheting in her chest.
“I’m a failure. I couldn’t stop the plague, I couldn’t save my friends.” He dragged his fingers through his hair again, then scowling at the short strands. “We’re trained to be cool and contained, analyze before we react. I can’t do that with you. It’s all emotions when I look at you. Being granted permission to touch you would make me useless. But I can’t fail you. I believed that if I kept my distance, didn’t get caught up in my emotions, I would be able to better protect you.”
“And how’s that working for you?” A small smile kicked up the corner of her mouth.
His turbulent eyes darkened to a forest green that fascinated her, and a growl rumbled in his chest. Before she could move, he lunged at her, picking her up by her hips and slamming his lips down on hers. His mouth was hard and demanding, not seeking permission, but taking everything he could, as if afraid this would be his only chance to be close to her.
Every nerve ending exploded at the contact, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, sinking her fingers in his hair, surprised to find it silky, almost cool to the touch. Yearning for more was a physical ache, and she dragged her nails down the back of his neck.
He shuddered, then nipped at her bottom lip hard enough to sting. His hips thrust against her, his erection hitting her exactly right, and her breath caught in her throat. Every inch of her skin became sensitized, craving his touch.
Morgan heard the door open, but when she tried to lift her head, Atlas leaned down and bit the side of her throat, the gesture so possessive and primitive, goose bumps spread down her arms. Pleasure almost sent her eyes rolling back into her head, his complete loss of control nearly making her forget they were no longer alone.
She ran her hands back up his shoulders, grabbed his hair, and gave a good yank to get his attention. “We have company.”
Instead of releasing her, his hold tightened to the point where she knew she’d have bruises. He turned his head, and actually hissed at the guys who entered, his canines lengthening, his nails nicking along the flesh of her hips.
Kincade glanced at her, his face hard, but none of the guys moved an inch or reached for their newfound weapons. “He’s in full mating lust. He’s denied the mating for too long. Until he’s staked his claim, he will see us as a threat and fight us.”
Morgan tensed at the thought of the others being in danger. “What do I need to do?”
“You have a choice.” Kincade fisted his hands, while the others slowly fanned out. “You can either allow him to claim you or we remove him.”
None of the guys were smiling.
The moment the guys started moving, Atlas tucked her closer, angling his body to keep her protected. Morgan was ashamed the guys thought she would prefer them to fight rather than accept Atlas as her mate, but she couldn’t blame them.
“What do you need me to do?”
Everyone stopped, and Kincade’s eyes snapped toward her. “Sex would be the easiest way.”
Morgan swallowed hard, unable to stop wondering if that’s why her connection to the guys had deteriorated so rapidly. She couldn’t help but feel like a failure for her neglect.
“We don’t have time if we want to leave before sunrise. It is not a decision you want rushed, and later regret.” Ascher shot a look full of daggers at Kincade. “A blood exchange will work temporarily, until he can get himself under control. Then you can decide what you want.”