Quentin turned away and reached for her shower gel. I took it out of her hand and grabbed her bath lily, washing her body.
“You won’t even think about it?” I pressed.
Her shoulders dropped before turning to look at me. “Gray… we don’t even know if I’ll live to see tomorrow—"
“Don’t say that,” I snapped, tone sharp and harsh.
I couldn’t imagine a world where Quentin Scott didn’t exist. I’d come close to that reality and it was too much to bare. Now that she was immortal, I intended to keep her alive and by my side.
“Then there’s the case of maybe telling everyone I love what I am. The project. Getting to know my family.”
She gave me a list of every excuse in the book, but I knew the truth. Quen was scared. The biggest failure in her life had been a long-term relationship she believed would be her last. Being bound was a gift that was given to us, but somewhere in her mind, a marriage—an engagement—could still fail.
Usually, I would have teased her about being so worried over an issue, but held back this time. She needed to know I was serious about this.
“I’ll ask again,” I told her.
“Why?”
“Because I am a God and I’m used to getting what I want.”
“Grayson—"
“I’ll ask you every single day.”
“You’ve got too much time on your hands.”
In all the excuses she delivered, she’d never once said no. I clung to that thought and let the matter die as we finished showering.
Once we stepped out, Quen wrapped her hair in a towel and opened the bathroom door before letting out a scream.
“Oh!” Erik’s voice sounded surprised and amused.
I strode past her to see my brother lounging in a chair. The urge to pluck his eyeballs out of his skull for witnessing her naked caught hold of me.
“I would have been here sooner,” he explained, “but I sensed you were a little busy.” A slender finger pointed to the sticky, rumpled sheets on the bed. “I assumed you were finished. I didn’t expect you to both be naked.”
“You’re an idiot,” I hissed.
Quentin had retreated into the depths of her bathroom in embarrassment, cursing under her breath. A golden glow filled the space. I walked into the bedroom and collected a towel and some clothes for her before handing them over and shutting the door.
“What do you want, Erik? Why couldn’t you wait downstairs like a normal being?” I asked, towelling myself dry.
“Because I’m an extraordinary being,” he countered innocently.
“Why are you here?” I snapped.
“Hunter called us for a meeting. I was wondering why you were taking your time, but it makes sense now.”
“Why has he called a meeting this early?” I asked, pulling clothes on. “Does he expect her to be there?”
“No. Just the three of us. He hasn’t said anything yet. Maybe he’s let go of the ridiculous idea of wanting to get rid of her.”
“Maybe he’ll let me bash his brains out of his skull and offer me his throne.”
Erik was an optimist but there were times it bordered on delusional.
“What have you done?” Erik asked suddenly, narrowing his eyes.
