Page 66 of The Gods Forbid

I was a Jupiter, too. The only difference between Adrian and I was a few years. I could have easily been born first.

“And so you settled on the fact that I wouldn’t be attracted to your brother?”

It was not lost on me that I asked if he thought I was pretty and he’d corrected to attracted. The problem was, it was likely just his interpretation of what I’d asked, but I wanted to read into it. “Yes,” I said, dropping my eyes back down to the floor. If I looked at him, there would be no mistaking the color heating my cheeks.

“It was part of it.”

Before I could think better of it, my head snapped back up. Sebastian was already looking at me, his hands clasped confidently behind his back. The second our eyes connected, he took another long stride towards me.

I stumbled back a step, retreating on instinct. It was only natural, when someone was stalking toward you like you were prey. My jaw was practically on the floor. “You’ve said it yourself, I do have excellent judgment when it comes to beautiful things.” My heart beat was rivaling a hummingbird’s now. “And you, love, are certainly beautiful.”

Sebastian’s stare was so intense, almost like he could see down to my bones, I could only conclude that he was being honest.

And Fates help me, that made me want to do something really, truly wrong.

“Thank you,” I managed to croak out. And then his eyes zeroed in on my cheeks, his expression darkening when he realized how deep they were flushed. I felt this sudden need to explain it away, to give him any other reason for the reaction to prevent him from assuming—correctly or otherwise—that it was that simple compliment that made my skin flare up. “It’s just that I don’t hear that often—or I guess many people don’t tell me if they think so … that is, from well, men specifically and—”

I slammed my mouth shut. Great, I’d just admitted to the most attractive, most charming, most perfect man I’d ever met that men never really told me I was beautiful.

Apart from one, short-lived moment I had with someone who used to work at Prometheus, I had never really been pursued.

It was something I’d tried not to let affect me, especially since there were any number of reasonable explanations. I spent most of my time in Prometheus or with family or friends.

When I went out, no one approached me for fear one wrong move would result in a lightning bolt smiting them.

It was fine—mostly. I liked the way I looked, but sometimes it was nice to have someone affirm that. Having the god of art do so should have smoothed that small bit of hurt quite well, but Sebastian’s words just made me feel even more tense.

A certain kind of tension, but the more I allowed myself to dwell on that fact, the harder it was to ignore.

I fought to hold eye contact, needing to remain steady and deal with the consequences of my actions.

Sebastian scoffed, the sound so shocking my brows creased together. “While I am floored at the level of idiocy most others possess, I can’t find the mind to be sorry about it. They’d be limited to simply calling you beautiful or pretty—though both true.” Sebastian had to have been unintentionally dipping into his power of poetry because I was hanging on every word like it was water after years in the desert. “Their inadequacy simply leaves room for me to compliment you as you deserve.”

A sound broke off in my throat. I didn’t think I could hear much more of this. My power felt too close to the surface, making goosebumps erupt down my arms.

“You really shouldn’t,” I said, my voice coming out in more of a whisper than I’d intended. I was stronger than this. Stronger than melting from sweet words. My knees were simply weak for an entirely different reason.

Sebastian let out a short breath of laughter, shaking his head. “On the contrary. This is about reconnecting with my power, is it not? You’d deny me the chance to become a poet again?”

I hated him in that moment, for being so good at spinning things I could only answer him with silence. I understood his resistance to me doing it tenfold now.

Sebastian smiled broad when he realized I wasn’t going to disagree with him. “Good girl.” I didn’t know whether it was wiser to take a step closer to him or away. Fuck. Keep it together, Persy. “Because you see, love, you’re standing in front of a painting widely recognized to be one the most beautiful landscapes ever created, and yet it looks nothing more than a backdrop intended to frame your perfection.”

“Well,” I swallowed thickly, Sebastian’s eyes dropping to my throat to track the movement. “You certainly are talented.”

Understatement of my life, but I surely wasn’t telling him the depth of how much that had affected me.

Sebastian’s smile turned wicked at the corners. Hands still clasped behind his back, he leaned down, bringing our faces mere inches apart. “Talent that will not be wasted, not with such a pretty little muse.”

My heart caught in my throat. I needed to regain some control and fast. The little kindle of attraction I felt towards him couldn’t grow. He was leaving, let alone the fact that I was technically in charge of his redemption.

I forced a smile to my face. “Was that the only thing stopping you? The way I looked?” I fought a wince at how gravelly my voice sounded.

Sebastian’s grin went nowhere. “I thought we agreed to give me a few days before answering that. You wouldn’t be reneging on a promise, would you?”

I fell into his trap, half willingly. “Be happy I’m not resorting to other measures to get you to tell me.”

“Oh, yeah? What would those be, love?”