Finnian’s nostrils flared. He curled his legs up to shove Cassian away. The High God’s knee pried in between Finnian’s legs and maneuvered in between them.
“I never assumedvoluntarily.” Cassian leaned down, keeping him pinned. “You are far too stubborn to do something when I ask.”
Finnian jerked against his hold, cursing his unfathomable strength. He was much older, his divine power more honed. Finnian stood no chance against him in this position.
Worry beat thickly in Finnian’s racing pulse. He opened his mouth to cast an incantation.
Cassian’s movements were brisk, forcing the vial’s spout into Finnian’s mouth, drowning his spell. The glass clinked against his teeth. He clamped his throat closed. The potion fizzled on his tongue.
Cassian hooked the thumb of his other hand underneath Finnian’s chin, forcing his jaw closed. “If you wish to hex me with that pretty mouth of yours, you’ll have to swallow.” He smothered his palm over Finnian’s lips.
Finnian bucked and squirmed to break his arms free. The potion burned and tingled the inside of his cheeks. The harsh fumes of it tickled his throat. Tears stung his eyes.
He pushed the liquid to the front of his teeth, refusing to swallow. Dribbles leaked from the corners of his mouth, puddling in his ears.
Cassian lifted his hand from Finnian’s mouth.
In a fit of coughing, he turned his head and spat out the potion onto the altar. He blinked through the moisture clouding his eyes.
Rage quaked in his limbs.
Cassian tightened his grip on Finnian’s wrists, momentarily straightening up.
Finnian locked his thighs around Cassian’s waist, lodging his knees in the High God’s ribcage to force him back. Anything to prolong the small time he’d been given to clear his mouth.
“Remotionem—”
“Don’t bother.” The High God threw his head back with the vial to his lips and downed the remains.
He tossed the empty vial aside.
The glass shattered.
Cassian’s abdomen flexed against Finnian’s knees as he bent forward.
He snaked his hand underneath the base of Finnian’s skull.
Finnian gasped.“Remo?—”
Cassian sucked him into a kiss.
His eyes went wide, and he sealed his lips together.
The fight of a dying life force blazed in him, while simultaneously, his body slackened in Cassian’s hold. He couldn’t make sense of it and had little time to try as Cassian’s tongue pried in between his lips to create access for the sterling liquid.
The filmy, bubbling concoction filled the back of his mouth again.
He clenched the sides of his throat and bit down hard on Cassian’s bottom lip. The taste of iron infiltrated the potent, bitter taste of the potion.
Cassian tore his lip free from Finnian’s teeth and reared up. Crimson ran down the High God’s chin.
Before Finnian could spit the potion out, Cassian cupped his face and dug his thumb and index finger into the joint on the sides of his jaw and applied pressure, locking against Finnian’s bones. He had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
Finnian rolled the back of his head over the altar, fighting Cassian’s hold. He pushed the potion through his teeth. Trickles of it leaked from his lips.
Cassian planted his palm across Finnian’s mouth for the second time. “Quit being so stubborn and just swallow,” he growled.
Finnian glared at him.
