“Is this . . .” I wondered, glancing around. Patches of overgrown grass grew to my knees, and once neat bushes and flowers lay in a jumbled heap, overgrown or dying. “A garden?”
“It was,” Seth confirmed, looking down from the chime. “Mother’s garden. I used to tend it with her.”
“Why did they let it die?”
“Nobody cared about it but her. And me, I suppose.” He took my hand and guided me through the overgrown vines to a secluded spot between the trees. I could see the river through the trunks, growing darker as night came.
Turning around, I studied the old chime. It was crude, as though crafted by a child. Seth must have made that for his mother.
Throwing back his hood, Seth took my hands in his. “I’m sorry I left. I shouldn’t have.”
“Eleos had the same reaction,” I said. “I should have told you.”
“I think I understand Seraphim now.” He glanced at the grass beneath our feet. “Even though we suffer, and we fail, and we wish we could redo everything . . . that’s what makes us who we are.” He turned back to me with a faint smile. “Had I not slammed the door that day, I wouldn’t have found the means to save you.”
“Save me?” I breathed.
Seth tilted my chin, turning my eyes toward the grass. He laid his head atop mine, fingers knitting tightly through mine. One by one, flowers blossomed from the ground, vibrant and blue, covered in red speckles that looked like fresh blood.
Slowly, the red overtook the blue, until the petals were entirely crimson.
I inhaled sharply. “You’re—You . . .”
“I saw my Mother. The way you see Ainwir.” He lifted his head off mine. “I think she was fed up with my moping.” Leaning his forehead against mine, he stared into my eyes. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”
Gazing into his scarlet eyes, I tried to make sense of my feelings. I didn’t want him to suffer the way I did. To comeunwound and fade away. But . . .
I gasped, choking on a sob. “I don’t want to die.”
Seth wiped away the tears falling from my eyes and kissed me. “I won’t let you. Whatever comes, however much time we have left, Iwillprotect you.”
More tears burned behind my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. Seth kissed me again, and I pressed my lips against his, knitting my hands around his neck to prevent him from pulling away.
We stumbled back, and he pushed me up against one of the trees. Dull pain throbbed in my wounds, but I didn’t care. They reminded me I was still alive.
I was sick of crying—of being frightened, and worried.
Finding the clasp of his cloak, I untied it and pulled it from his shoulders. He did the same, loosening my cape and letting it fall before trailing his hands down my sides.
Seth came to his senses and pulled back. “Should we be doing this here?”
“Yes,” I said, pulling him back to me.
Any control he had left vanished. Seth kissed me with fervor, and I hardly felt him reach for the sash of my toga before it slipped from my body and hit the ground.
Wrapping his arm around me, Seth spun me around, setting me down on the field of flowers. He pulled away abruptly, eyes flicking over me with concern. “Am I hurting you?”
He was, a little bit. But I didn’t care. Shaking my head, I tugged on his collar, beckoning him to fall with me. He followed me, cupping my back to lay me down gently before climbing atop me.
Sliding my hand down his chest, I undid his trousers and traced my fingers across his hard length. Pulling it loose, I wrapped my legs around his waist, guiding him between my thighs.
Seth made a sound of protest and broke our kiss. “Why are you in such a rush?” He breathed, opening his eyes. “We have all the time in the world.”
“Save the foreplay for round two,” I said, reaching for him again.
Seth jerked backward, out of my reach. “I don’t think you understand, Aethra. You’re not the only one who can seal the Acheron anymore. We have years ahead of us.” He smirked. “There’s plenty of time ahead for me to fuck you.”
Gently grabbing my hips, he spread my legs and pressed his mouth between my thighs.
