He groans and licks the side of my neck. Like before, the area tingles. There’s a tug, and I feel his tongue and mouth moving on my neck, drinking my blood. My body quickens, and I move faster.
He lifts his head and licks the drop of blood lingering on his lips. “Forever mine.” His fang pierces his bottom lip, and blood wells. With a sigh, I capture his lips with mine, sweeping my tongue over the few drops, taking his blood into me, as I kiss him with all the passion burning inside me.
Warmth spreads throughout my body, and I know it’s his blood. My heart beats hard and fast as if it’s going to burst out of my chest. My need becomes unbearable, raging out of control, and I clasp him to me, crying out for him.
He flips us and takes over, moving impossibly fast, but his eyes are locked on mine, full of wonder and a hint of possessiveness. My body shakes, and I fall over the edge, bringing him with me.
His lips glide over mine, then move to my neck and cheek, bestowing light kisses everywhere they touch. Clinging to him, I murmur my love, nuzzling his cheek as I work to catch my breath. Mathias runs his hand up and down my body until both of us calm.
I sigh, and his lips claim mine in a languorous kiss, silently murmuring words of love and devotion.My mate, forever. I’m never letting you go.
I pull my lips away. “I heard you. In my head.” I stare at him, trying to silently get my own message across, then I kiss him and flash an image of The Parthenon.
He rears back and looks at me in shock, then he nods and slides out of bed. “I’m going to grab the others.” He opens his mouth to say something, but I quickly shake my head and put a finger to my lips. The gods may be listening.
The second he leaves, I jump out of bed and grab a quick shower, then pick up the phone to ask Charlie to meet me in my garage. Ten minutes later, I’m stepping into the portal with the key, the panels, and the Blades of War. Hephaestus told me Ares already gave me what I needed, but since this is all I have, I’m guessing they’re vital to this plan.
Given our history, I didn’t want to leave without giving Mathias and the others a clue, but I also couldn’t break Hephaestus’ rule.
But it wasn’t about following the gods’ rules. When Mathias woke me, I knew I didn’t want to leave here without cementing our bond and showing him how I felt. Just in case things don’t go according to plan, whatever that may be. I wanted no regrets between us. And if it was also my best shot at sharing information without saying it out loud, then that was a bonus.
Charlie sways a bit as he steps out of the portal. “Are you going to be okay here by yourself?” His eyes scan the temple behind me, then he looks at the backpack on my shoulder. “The Parthenon, huh? I can’t do two jumps across the pond in one day without recharging. I’ll hang around for a bit.”
Grateful for his understanding and his offer, I give him a hug and take a deep breath. “Thanks, Charlie. You’re a damn good friend.”
Pivoting, I begin the trek up the hill to the Acropolis. Built during the Golden Age of Athens by the most skilled artisans and architects of their time, the Acropolis is considered by some to be the birthplace of democracy and Western civilization. Such irony the gods chose this spot. They’re not exactly into free speech.
Once I reach the city, I continue climbing until I’m standing at the pinnacle in front of The Parthenon. A symbolic statement on the importance of Athena, its magnificence is still incredible to this day.
I glance at my phone. Almost eight thirty p.m. The summer sun is just beginning to set, marking the start of the Great Panathenaea, the ancient Greek festival celebrating Athena. I wonder if she chose this day and time for us to meet.
Entering the cella, I set down the backpack and grip the Blades of War, waiting for the gods to arrive. Hephaestus enters first, his eyes darting from one corner to the other. Apollo and Artemis arrive next, the brother and sister eyeing the weapons in my hands with raised brows. Athena strides in, shoulders thrown back, clearly at home in her magnificent temple.
Demeter appears at the entrance, her soft face and delicate features the epitome of tranquil, and her golden robes representative of the harvest and the nature she has dedicated her powers to protect. She dips her chin, a small smile on her face. I lower the blades, not wishing to offend her.
Ares comes in with a flash of light. He looks at the blades and smirks, but he does nothing to take them from me. Something Apollo and Artemis immediately notice.
With all of them assembled, I remove the key and panels and set them on the ground at my feet. Athena smiles and opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, lightning fills the small space.
When my eyes adjust, Zeus is standing there with Hera on his arm. I nervously take a step back and drop to my knees, my head bowed. My stomach sinks. I’ve never seen Zeus up close. Only the other gods. But I know he’s aware of me. He wanted to send me to Hades that day, but Demeter stepped in and offered me a different punishment, the one I ultimately accepted.
“Athena!” Zeus orders in his booming voice. “Explain.”
Trembling, I glance up.
She dips her head. “Our powers are waning, and the gates between the worlds are weakening. You know this, but you choose to ignore it, believing we can continue to uphold their integrity. We can’t. This plan was voted on by the Twelve Olympians. Six voted aye, six voted nay. Given the tie and our rules, we are within our rights to move forward.”
“Only a god can hold the portal gates,” Zeus snaps back. “Humans don’t have that power, not even one like her.” He curls his lip when he says “her”, and I realize he really hasn’t forgiven me for opening the vase.
“She isn’t human anymore,” Demeter murmurs, to my astonishment. When Zeus demands to know what she’s talking about, she lifts a shoulder. “An apple fell from one of my trees. She took a bite.”
The apple that knocked me out?
Hephaestus steps forward. “The ritual was completed last night when she accepted nectar from me.”
He gave me nectar of the gods?! What have they done?
Confused and desperate, I turn to Athena, who sighs. “We knew she would need god powers to hold the gates, so we made her a demigoddess.”
