He laughs like that’s a funny joke and not a reminder of the extreme lengths he was ready to go to just to see her. “No, no—they merely wish to be graced with the honor of meeting you individually.”
Fuck, no,Everett says immediately, glaring out over the sea of people here.That will take longer than the twelve minutes and forty-two seconds you have left, and I need to be in younow.
Maven smirks and waves coyly at the ice elemental before following the cult leader to the first group of people he wants to introduce her to. Crypt follows her, and Silas is right behind him.
“She’s so fucking mean,” I sigh.
Everett agrees, grumbling, “It’s annoying how damn sexy that is.”
I nod and then examine him. “So what, you’re a masochistanda voyeur?”
“You know, I didn’t freeze Silas because I worried what it might do to his brain in the long run.” He looks me over. “You? Wouldn’t even hesitate. Hell, you might even come out smarter. Maybe then you’d mind some boundaries.”
Dick.
Our attention is drawn away when Coates guides Maven back to the table full of food.
“Please, eat,” he invites with excitement. “We made these meat sticks just for you.”
“Thanks, but no,” she mutters, eyeing the sauce-drenched meat.
“The only meat stick she likes is mine,” I inform him seriously.
Everett chokes. Maven barely holds in a laugh, amusement sparkling in her dark eyes. And seeing her right in front of me again, with all that beautiful bare skin and her scent and my biting mark and emblem so proudly on display…
Damn it. I’m hard again.
How much longer until we can pounce on Maven?I ask only Everett.
Can’t remember. Whatever it is, it’s too fucking long,he scowls through the bond.
I’m not sure if he even knows how hard he’s checking her out, but it’s not like I’m any better.
Nearby, I hear a raven croak and realize a few of the glossy black birds have fluttered over here from the temple to carefully watch over the daughter of the reaper goddess. I’ve always thought ravens were ominous little featherballs, but knowing that Maven can influence them makes me wonder if they’re here because she called them or if they’re just…here.
Six minutes,Crypt warns Maven.
I don’t see him anywhere in the party when I do a quick scan, so he must be in Limbo. Silas is standing on the opposite side of the party now, drinking another cup of wine as he watches Orlando Coates lead Maven back to the center of the party.
I’m just as transfixed by my mate’s every move until Coates calls out, “And now, we will present the goddess with her gift! As in times of old, we hereby gift this temple to the demigoddess in our midst. Daughter of the Reaper, please enter and inspect the temple we have built and dedicated in your honor. We shall not leave this place, nor shall we stop feasting and celebrating your presence in this world until you tell us we have won your favor!”
I’m not sure if he’s pulling all of this out of his ass or if he really did study a shit-ton of history books about howpast demigods and demigoddesses were treated. Either way, everyone claps and whistles. Even the shy Nether humans look happy for her.
Maven thanks Coates and turns to saunter toward the temple, but her beckoning voice echoes through the quintet bond to the rest of us.
Well? Come on. This temple isn’t going to defile itself.
44
EVERETT
My heart poundsas I follow the woman I love into the temple built for her.
She’s been teasing us. Tormenting us.
I need her so fucking badly, it hurts. I can’t tear my eyes off of the sway of her ass as she walks in front of me.
The echo of distant celebration still hums beyond the stone, but here in the temple, it’s all pristine stone floors and wooden pews with flickering candles left out to light the space dimly. It’s a small temple, but definitely nice enough for a god, let alone a demigoddess?—
