6 - ARIC
Star is kissing him! It takes me a moment to figure out what’s happening, and this is way too long to stop what comes next. But she’s not just kissing him, she’s grinding on him. Like he’s got some kind of hold over her!
Which I need to put a stop to immediately.
Fuck that. His gifts are charm and moving through worlds. I’m the fucking sex god here.
Demigod, technically. But that’s my kiss, not his! I’m the one with the belt buckle. It’s holding the curse of attraction that Ares gave me to be used in exactly this kind of situation.
And Declan has the nerve to steal this moment from me?
No.
I pull her back, hook my arms under hers, and drag her away.
“What is going on?” Quaid asks. “Was she just kissing him?”
“Yes. He put some kind of curse on her and?—”
Star begins to kick and scram. “Get off me! Let me go! I need to give him mouth to mouth!”
“Mouth to mouth?” Quaid sneers.
And just as he says that, Declan starts laughing. “I did it! I got the first kiss! She’s mine now! Rules are rules!”
“Rules?” Quaid asks. He’s such a Mr. Nobody. He doesn’t even understand that in the world of demigods, the first kiss is the claim. “What the hell kind of game are you two playing?”
“Star,” I say, pulling her to her feet and shaking her a little. “Snap out of it! Look at me!” But while I’m saying this, I’m unbuckling my belt.
“Bro,” Quaid says, flicking a lighter on so he can see. “Did you just unbuckle your belt? What the hell is happening here? Have you two freaks lost your minds?”
Star is still struggling while Declan gets to his feet. “Let her go, Aric. You saw it. She kissed me first. She’s mine.”
This makes Star go still, but I don’t let go of her. She takes a breath and composes herself. “Did you just trick me?”
“Yep,” I say. “He did. Which means, it doesn’t count. And anyway—” I have my belt off now, but it’s only the buckle holding the curse of attraction that I need. “Star has already been claimed byme!” Then I shove the belt buckle up to her face. And thanks to Quaid’s lighter, she sees it. And in this moment, she blinks. When the blink is over, her eyes find mine and they are filled with lust.
“That’s right,” I say. “See?” I lean in to her, pushing my face up to hers like we’re about to take a selfie together. “We’re a couple now. She was mine first, Declan and?—”
But suddenly I am thrown backwards, and the darkness is back. Because Quaid drops the lighter when he attacks me.
“You freak! Both of you,” Quaid says. He grabs the collar of my leather jacket and slams me into a rock wall. Then he pulls Star out of my reach. “Get away from us! The two of you are sick! She’s not a prize, for fuck’s sake! She’s a woman!”
The lighter flicks on again, only this time, Declan’s the one holding it. “Listen, Quaid. While I do appreciate your help back there in the cell, this is none of your business. You’re the one who needs to back off. This is between me and Aric.”
“Fuck that,” Quaid says, still backing up. “I’m not leaving her with you freaks.”
“Bru,” I say. Remaining remarkably calm. But that’s only because he’s Mr. Nobody. He’s got no chance of claiming Star, so I’m not even worried about it. I cursed her first. Declan’s kiss doesn’t count. She’s mine and that’s the end of it. “Just let her go and then you can be on your way and we’ll take it from here.”
“The hell you will,” Quaid snaps. He’s still backing up. And then, right before our eyes, they both just… vanish.
Like into thin air.
