Evander stiffened. “Typhon?”
Echidna froze, but Evander quickly said, “No, keep going. He recognizes you.”
Something stirred within Evander—something he had thought was gone forever.
For the first time since he was in Elysium, he felt Typhon rise. Echidna’s fingers continued gentle sweeping motions over his wing, and a roar of yearning filled Evander’s chest.
Evander closed his eyes with a groan. The strength burning within him was both familiar and foreign all at once. He had forgotten howpowerfulTyphon’s presence was.
A shudder rippled over him, and he fell to his knees. Echidna gasped, but Evander shook his head, eyes closing against the intensity of Typhon’s emotions. “It’s all right,” Evander grunted. “It’s just… so much.”
So much pain.
So much longing.
So much grief.
Mine!Typhon bellowed.
The ground shook, and a resounding cry rattled the trees.Every single spirit went utterly and perfectly still, including Echidna. A stunned silence followed, broken only by Evander’s broken breaths.
Then, after several tense moments, Typhon whispered,Echidna.
The word echoed around the forest, and only then did Evander realize the name had burst from his own lips.
But it wasn’t his voice—it was Typhon’s.
Echidna uttered a sound that was a half laugh, half sob. “Yes, my love. I am here.” She drew closer to Evander, running both her hands along his wings now. The acute sensation of her gentle touch sent tremors rippling over Evander’s body. Gods, the force of Typhon’s desire for her was overwhelming… It almost madeEvandersee Echidna in such a way—her beautiful, shimmering eyes, the lust and longing brimming in her own gaze…
Evander shook his head with another anguished groan. What was wrong with him?
A sudden thought occurred to him, and he huffed a wheezing laugh. “Is this how it was… when you felt what I did for Mona?”
Typhon growled in answer. And Evander had to laugh again.
“I am sorry, old friend, for putting you through that,” Evander murmured. He had to close his eyes once more. If he looked at Echidna again, he worried that same maddening lust would overwhelm him.
It was disorienting. Unsettling.Jarring.
But he couldn’t blame Typhon. The lovers had been separated for a millennia.
“Be free,” Evander urged him. “Be with her again, my friend.”
Typhon hummed as Echidna continued to stroke him. Her fingers had moved to the small horns atop Evander’s head. Evander couldn’t stop the low moan from rumbling through him.
“Please,” Evander pleaded. “Please, Typhon. Go to her.Please.”
“Come to me, my love,” Echidna breathed, her soft voice gentle and coaxing.
Typhon seemed to thrash against the restraints of Evander’s body. Evander frowned, feeling helpless. Perhaps it was somethinghecould do. Ifhewas in control of his body right now… could he somehow unlock whatever door Typhon was trapped behind?
Could he let Typhon take over?
Evander recalled that moment from so long ago when he and Typhon had finally merged together. He had no longer seen the demon within him as an adversary or something to fight. He saw Typhon as an equal—another side of himself. A side he had fully accepted and embraced.
Evander didn’t realize he was gritting his teeth until he forced himself to relax. He let go. His form sagged as he released all the tension and stiffness in his body.
Be free.He said the words to himself and to Typhon.
