Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“There have been a lot of bad days.”
“Go inside already.” He rolls his eyes. “And make it worth my while.”
I growl. “YOU WILL NOT WATCH!”
He holds up his hands. “Kidding, kidding, wow, it’s just so easy with you these days. Don’t keep it in your pants, and I’ll turn my back and watch Ken devour a few…things.”
“What if—” I can’t even bring myself to say it. Drawing a fortifying breath, I finish, “What if this changes everything?”
His back is to me, the blade still in his right hand. He’s watching the waves, then looks up at the sky. “Change is necessary in life, Ra. You’ve done so much for the world, yet the world has done nothing for you. Maybe change is exactly what we need.”
“And if I fail my trial?”
He looks over his shoulder. “Would it be so bad to be a husband?”
“You were spying.”
“It’s what I do.” He winks. “Go to her.”
I settle the mask over my face as I turn away and walk, and then I run, I throw myself through the mouth of the cave as thunder booms overhead, and I grab Cleo, tossing her onto the bed.
I rip off my tunic dropping it to the floor. I’m not gentle.
Her eyes drink me in, heavy with lust. “You came back.”
I lean over her, my mask skill covering part of my face. The only thing I’m wearing is what the gods wear to worship the sacrifices. “I’m not leaving until the morning.”
Her eyes widen. I grip her dress and rip it down the middle, tossing it to the ground. Leaning over her until I have her completely pinned to the bed, I whisper in her ear. “Run.”
I jerk back away from her, my smile evil. She has no idea what would have happened when she was forced to choose a mere immortal, but she will know now what it means to choose the heat of the sun.
“What do you mean, run?” She scrambles back on the bed, the bell around her ankle making the pretty little noise it makes when she moves. “Like run outside?”
I smooth back her hair and smile. So innocent, even now. “The cave has several different caverns and pools. Let me chase you.”
“But I thought—”
“You have exactly three seconds.” My words sound grated. The anticipation of sinking between her thighs may actually kill me.
Inti was right.
Change is needed.
And it starts with an immortal chasing his sacrifice, coveting what blood will be spilled, and enjoying her joy, her warmth, until the end.
Cleo scrambles off the bed and starts to walk backwards, deeper into the cave.
Torches line every single one of the walls, there isn’t a room I haven’t been in. I stalk toward her. “One. Two.”
Cleo turns on her heels to run, but she of course didn’t listen to my threats.
“Three.” I grab her by the wrist, twirl her around, and press her back against the rock wall.
Cleo cries out, a solitary tear runs down her cheek. I lean close and catch it with my tongue, licking up the side of her face and ending with my mouth at her sensitive ear. “Should have listened to me. Don’t worry, you’ll learn, but until then…” I flip her around and clamp my mouth onto hers. She wraps her arms around my neck and clings to me.
“I can’t.” I break apart. “Can’t stop.”
She reaches for me and nods. “Then don’t.”
I lift her higher and sink into her. She tries to grip the rock wall with her hands. As I pump my hips, she stiffens and then arches her back, pushing herself backward into me, taking everything I can give her and panting for more. My thrusts deepen until I’ve spent myself inside her,
I slide out, still hard and rife with desire for her. I press against her, allowing her to feel my lust. “Let’s try this again…run.” I let out a pant and release her.
She sprints past me, but her legs are no match for mine, the bell on her ankle rings to the right, then the left. I catch up to her and grab her wrist.
The gurgle and bubble of the first spring reaches my ears. It’s one of cleansing. I’ve only ever touched it once.
The caves are built on holy ground.
But what better place to take her than in the spring that promises futures beyond your belief even though I know it’s a sad fantasy that the lower gods talk about, like a fairytale you want to believe in but know isn’t true.
Maybe I’ll believe in it tonight.
Maybe I’ll wish on a few stars too, maybe tonight one will fall and save us all.
Maybe I won’t kill her in the morning.
Maybe I’m wrong.
I wrap my arm around her waist and fall with her into the green and blue water. She drifts below the surface, but when I haul her up her eyes are clear, focused on me, needy. “You promise?”