Cassian blinked at him, mildly baffled by his wisdom. It only pushed his intrigue further, kindling a ridiculous longing to peel back the young god’s layers, one at a time.
“Living in the present moment is not a skill I excel in,” he said. “But what of you? Tell me something about yourself.”
Finnian rested his head back on the tree and he let it roll sideways, facing Cassian. “What if I say that I do not wish to speak any longer?” His hooded gaze drifted from Cassian’s eyes to his lips.
The air thickened between them, clotting the oxygen in his lungs.
With Finnian’s head tilted back, it exposed the scape of his throat, the bulge of his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed. Cassian had this bizarre need to trace it with his tongue, bite down on it to see what sort of reaction it would stir in Finnian.
He was suddenly all too aware of his own breath, of Finnian’s flared pupils, and the flutter catching at the bottom of his stomach.
Finnian twisted his torso and leaned in, lifting an arm and sliding a hand around Cassian’s nape, guiding him closer.
Cassian slanted forward, utterly confused by the sudden silence in his mind. His mouth went dry as Finnian’s lips brushed over his, eliciting a tremor down his spine.
“Are you in this moment with me, Everett?” Finnian murmured, tenderly kissing the corner of his mouth.
Heat simmered and sparked in Cassian’s bloodstream. A longing he’d never felt before blossomed in his core, ravaging him piece by piece. The intensity of it caught his breath as Finnian’s question resounded in his mind.
You are Everett, not Cassian.
The reality hit Cassian like hailstone in his veins, freezing over his desire.
No matter how much Finnian irritated him, he could not deceive him this way. It felt wrong and too unlike himself.
It served as a sharp reminder of his purpose.
Finnian was still the young god stealing souls; the young god who’d declared time and time again his refusal to give up necromancy; who’d trapped Cassian in sigils and destroyed his altar. Cassian could not afford to sway on his task simply because Finnian’s personality, beneath his pompous attitude and infuriating skill of witchcraft, had depth.
Cassian forced his hand to lift from the grass and slip between their chests. “I am.” It came out low and gruff as he gripped the base of Finnian’s throat.
Cassian felt the upturn of Finnian’s lips against his cheek as he smiled. “I must say I am not opposed to choking, but know whatever you do to me, I will do to you tenfold.”
Cassian pushed the pads of his fingers into Finnian’s throat just enough to make it hurt. “What a fiery god you are.” The mellow tone of Everett’s voice transitioned into a richer, darker one.
Finnian stiffened beneath his hold and slightly pulled back, his eyes darting over Cassian’s face. Not once had Finnian mentioned his divinity.
The lust in his gaze evaporated into a frigid fire as he studied Everett’s face. “And who mightyoube?” The friendly ire in his tone reverted to its usual aloofness.
“It’s been a while, Little Nightmare.” As the words left Cassian’s mouth, he shape-shifted into his regular form.
Finnian yanked back.
Cassian shoved the young god firmly against the tree. “Ah, not so fast.”
The skin around Finnian’s eyes constricted—a visible trace of irritation. Though, his lips twisted into an obnoxious smirk. “Your life musttrulylack enjoyment if you go through all this trouble to deceive me.”
Cassian wanted to reach inside of his twinkling gaze and snatch the smugness right out of it.
“You did trap me in a sigil. Or two.” Cassian’s fingertips slowly sank deeper into his skin. “And while witnessing you revive a dead dog from a trash bin was endearing, your actions are giving me a rather persistent headache.”
“It would’ve been fun to fuck a High God.” Finnian spat back. “You really should have waited ten minutes to reveal yourself.”
Cassian’s divine power swam through his blood, blackening the skin of his wrist and hand into the fingers hooked around Finnian’s throat. “You seem like a kind individual, undeserving of one of my curses. It is not too late to reconsider?—”
The chrysocolla pendant around Finnian’s neck began glowing fiercely, alluring Cassian’s gaze.
His grip around Finnian lessened for a quick second, and the young god struck a palm to Cassian’s chest, knocking him backwards. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his body as his back collided with the unforgiving ground.
