“What are you doing to us, lass?” I whispered against her hair. “Three years we managed without an axis. Three years of perfect control. Then you come along and suddenly nothing makes sense anymore.”
She didn’t answer, of course. Just continued her soft, even breathing against my chest. I sat there for what felt like hours, just watching her sleep, memorizing the curve of her cheekbone, the small beauty mark near her right eye, the way her lashes fanned against her skin. I knew I should take her back to Percy’s room. He would wake soon and find her gone, and that wouldn’t end well for anyone. But I couldn’t bring myself to let her go just yet.
The bond between us hummed contentedly, stronger than it had been even a day ago. I could feel her even when she wasn’t in the room now, a constant silver presence in the back of my mind.
It was addictive.
“Eris?” Her sleepy voice startled me from my thoughts. Her eyes were half-open.
“Hey there,” I said softly, my hand stilling in her hair. “Sorry if I woke you.”
She blinked slowly, seeming to register her position on my lap. But instead of pulling away as I expected, she relaxed against me again. “S’okay. What time is it?”
“Late. Or early, depending on how you look at it.” I resumed stroking her hair, unable to stop myself. “You fell asleep on the couch.”
“Mmm.” She yawned, her body stretching slightly against mine. “Percy’s parents are coming tomorrow. He told me.”
I tensed. “Aye, they are. Right bastards, the both of them.”
She laughed softly, the sound vibrating against my chest. “So I’ve gathered.”
“You don’t have to meet them if you don’t want to. We can run interference.”
Her fingers traced idle patterns on my arm, sending shivers across my skin. “No, I’ll meet them. I’m not afraid of entitled assholes. I’ve dealt with enough of them already.” She looked at me with a small smirk. “Present company included.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
She fell silent for a moment, her expression growing more serious. “Eris... about what happened in Philadelphia...”
“You don’t need to talk about it if you’re not ready,” I said quickly.
“No, I want to.” She shifted slightly, sitting up straighter but not leaving my lap. “When I saw that bane hurt Percy, something happened to me. Something I can’t explain. It was like... like every rational thought just disappeared, and all that was left was this need to destroy anything that threatened him. That threatened any of you.”
I nodded, understanding perfectly. “That’s the bond, lass. It changes things.”
“Is it always like this? This intense?”
“No. This is different.”
She studied my face in the dim light, her silver eyes searching. “Different how?”
I chose my words carefully. “Most axis bonds are powerful, but they’re very controlled. Professional, even when they’re intimate. Most people develop romantic attachments with their bond mates due to proximity, or ease rather than genuine feelings. This is...” I gestured between us, searching for the rightwords. “It’s like you’ve tapped into something ancient in all of us.”
Her hand came up to rest against my cheek, her touch feather-light. “It scares me sometimes, how much I feel for you guys. Even you, who obviously still wants other women.”
I hissed through my clenched teeth and pulled back, looking directly into her eyes. “I wouldn’t touch another woman with three pairs of gloves on, sweetheart. Since the second I laid eyes onyourcute little ass, I’ve been fucking my own palm by my lonesome.”
She laughed, but I could feel her shock.
Before I could think better of it, I turned my face into her palm, pressing a kiss to the center. I felt her breath catch. “Jupiter,” I said, my voice scratchy. “You should go back to Percy’s room.”
“I know,” she whispered, but she didn’t move. Instead, her thumb traced the outline of my bottom lip, her eyes following the movement.
The tension between us stretched taut, a bowstring ready to snap. I knew if I kissed her now, there would be no going back. Percy would feel it. So would Aiden and Draco.
But gods help me, I wanted to. I wanted to crush my mouth to hers and taste the sighs I’d heard. I wanted to lay her down on this couch and make her forget any other man’s name, forget everyone but me.
As if sensing my thoughts, she slowly leaned forward, her eyes never leaving mine. Her lips hovered just a breath away from mine, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her sweet, minty breath.
