My bottom lip trembles with need. The door to my forge swings open. Erevan, God of Enchantment, enters. He has the power to alter things, whether it be moods or flesh and blood.
He’s dressed in his finest clothes, as if there’s a festive occasion and not a silent dinner. His brownish-yellow gaze rakes over me. He sees not the soot covering me but the imprint of his fingertips and the red hues left by his silken sheets.
Erevan longs to keep me a prisoner in his bed. I desire it, too.
Gold-spun threads around Erevan’s collar are illuminated with his magic, casting rays of rainbow light in the forge. His hair resembles waves of a golden sunrise frozen in time for me to admire.
A feeling of calm tries to penetrate me, and for a moment, a mere blink of an eye, I allow it. I grant myself mercy and forget the wrongs I have done.
If Lucian is an unmoving stone, Erevan is sand.
Lucian wants people to see the beast. He wears white in battle so others can see the stains of death on him. Erevan hides his nature with beautiful clothes and wide smiles. Like sand, he invades the smallest cracks, slowly scratching away your defenses.
“Since when does turbulence settle?” Erevan eyes Lucian, mocking him with playful disdain.
The only time these men can withstand being in a room together is when I am here. When the gods were at war, I was sent to negotiate peace between them. I did, but it cost me my heart, which they both claimed as their own.
Erevan saunters over to me; his shadow blocks the heat of the fire that warms my cheeks. “My love,” he purrs in a deep tone that settles into my body, causing an ache to sing throughout my very being.
Lucian flicks his fingers. The battle in his palm intensifies. “She might be your love, but she is my addiction. Everyone knows addiction outfights and outwits love on any battlefield.” His smile sharpens coyly.
“I will be no one’s if we do not think of something,” I point out.
“Thus my appearance.” Erevan places a lover’s kiss upon my lips. My body betrays me as I part my mouth and accept eagerly. The weight of Lucian’s stare presses into my skin with more heat than his fingers possessed a mere day ago.
I belong to neither of them yet both of them at the same time.
The three of us are pandemonium. I, the God of the Forge, created it. Lucian, being Turbulence, fueled our battling hearts.Erevan, the God of Enchantment, made us believe the three of us could be happy amidst conflict.
Erevan cups my face. “Even gods need rest, Amariel.” His eyes roam my face with worry.
I look away. “How can I slumber when our world dies? This is my?—”
In a sudden jolt, Erevan grabs my hips, soldering me to him. “Do not utter those words again. You made a gift; they used it as a weapon. It’s their fault. You need to rest. Come to my bed tonight.”
“I hardly think a night with you would grant her rest.” Lucian's eyes turn smug. “I assume she must do all the work to get you off.”
“If you wish to watch us, just ask.” Erevan devilishly grins as he squeezes my ass, and my cheeks flush.
“I don’t watch. I take heed,” Lucian replies sharply. The challenge in his voice is as clear as the drums of war.
“A strong man knows when to comply,” Erevan counters. “A weak man just continues to bark orders.”
Lucian grinds his teeth.
I sense an argument stirring. “Stop it,” I plead, stepping back so the fire of my forge ripples over my spine again.
“The enemy sleeps, thus their successes,” Erevan tries to persuade me.
I raise my chin. “I will not close my eyes until I see hope, and if it can’t be found, then my eyes will close for death.”
“Enough of this talk.” Erevan rolls his eyes, turning to Lucian with a rare spark of agreement. “I have a plan. We can not save our world, but that does not mark total defeat.”
Lucian closes his palms, silencing his magic. “I’m listening,” he says warily.
A chill ripples down my body. They’re… agreeing. This truly is the end of times.
Erevan grabs my hand, pulls us closer to Lucian, and then he does something he usually doesn’t; he lowers himself to the ground and sits next to Lucian. He places me on his lap and kisses my hair.
