I couldn’t tell her. Not yet. We still hadn’t decided what to do with the information.
I’d spent the evening in talks with Elva, Erik, and Sloan, explaining what I believed to be a preposterous theory. But Elva filled in the blanks and when she brought out Mallory’s old robes, a simple touch allowed Sloan and Erik to see everything unfold.
Mallory visited mortals with only a single God knowing her whereabouts. Archer, God of secrets. She had felt out of place in Elysia and sought solace on earth. She’d fallen in love and became pregnant, but the mortal died before she could tell him. Finding herself in a bind, she stayed hidden on earth and gave birth before giving up the child, knowing what its fate would be if she brought it back to Elysia.
In her grief and heartache, she visited Elva and requested death, having lost the man she loved and unable to watch her child from a distance. Elva had no option but to grant her cousin’s direct request.
Quentin had spent twenty-seven years on earth and passed through the care system until Alexander and Vanessa Scott, two surgeons who struggled to conceive, adopted her into their family as a younger sister for their adopted son.
Her time on earth, coupled with her lack of faith, had led to the suppression of her divinity, but bringing her back to Elysia had caused it to stir.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into my chest.
It wasn’t often I waded into Quentin’s thoughts because I enjoyed her telling me things. It felt like a victory when she offered what ran through her mind, but all bets were off. She believed she’d inconvenienced me. That people were angry with her. That there was something wrong with her and that she was weak.
“Stop,” I demanded. “You’ll drive yourself and me completely mad.”
I stroked her hair, and she curled up closer to my body, limbs tangling together as she got comfortable. After a while, she fell asleep, and I spent the rest of the night watching the demigoddess in my arms.
Early into the morning, Quentin stirred, burying herself into my side, and I laughed softly. Her eyes fluttered open.
“What now?” she muttered groggily.
“I didn’t take you as someone who liked to cuddle.”
“You never stick around long enough to find out.”
“You never stick around long enough to let me find out.”
Neither of us hung around after we got what we wanted, but the warmth of her body through the night made me wonder if I should stop by longer.
Not that Erik would let me stop by at all after last night’s fiasco.
At the same time it hit me, the penny dropped for Quentin too because she quickly untangled herself, sitting up and running her hands through her hair.
“Don’t worry,” I said, noting she looked more fragile than usual. “I won’t let anything happen.”
I surprised myself with how much force was behind the words, but it was true. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her while we were up here.
She smiled weakly and got out of bed, and immediately, I missed her presence by my side. The small pockets of vulnerability selfishly made me want more. I longed to keep her at my side and unravel her until she inducted me into the inner circle that was so elusive to reach. I wanted to matter to her.
“I should get ready,” she said, pulling her hair up.
“Yes. You brought a black dress with you?”
“Yeah. And Gareth’s going to be in blue, right?”
“He’ll be wearing his host’s colours,” I confirmed and watched as Quentin left my room, leaning over to get a magnificent view as she went.
As per usual, I was the first to get ready. Her time-keeping was truly appalling and showed no signs of improvement, no matter how many comments I made.
When she finally made it down the stairs, I struggled to keep my thoughts in check. Her punctuality was the last thing on my mind. The black dress skimmed over her curves, clinging to her like a second skin and had a generous, plunging neckline.
She didn’t notice the effect she had on me today. Instead, she looked nervous and watched her feet as she came down the stairs cautiously.
“Get out of your head, Scott,” I told her, using my aura to tip her chin upwards as she came off the last step. “You’re in control.”
At least, she would be if she stayed around the Gods. And I had no plans to let her out of my sight. Especially when she looked like a temptress.
