Chapter Fourteen

Now I lay me down to sleep

I traversed the Underworld, I caught glimpses of tormented souls, their anguished cries echoing in the sulphur stench they must smell. Yet, their pleas cannot slow my determined stride. All that consumes my mind are the haunted images of that demon’s eyes piercing through my Juniper’s delicate skin. His hunger, his want of her body.

The stench of despair lingers, mingling with the oppressive weight of sorrow that hangs heavily on my shoulders. Many, including humans, demons, and supernaturals, wanted her, and I despised them for witnessing her in that state.

I pray to the Lord my soul to keep.

How many souls looked at her in want over the years? Countless men gazed at her naked body in hunger, want, and lust. They wanted her for their own depraved desires to take upon themselves with their animalistic breeding rights.

How many touched her? Were they allowed to do anything else to her?

If I should die before I wake,

I could only see what the demon could see. He had touched her, wanted her. He was going to buy my Juniper. Yet she stood tall, proud, and was determined she would never be his. She would belong to no one from that club.

How did she still stand, still smile, and live her life day by day with such hope?

I pray my soul the Lord to take.

With a fierce snarl, I unleashed the power of my wings, feeling the rush of air as I soared through the murky depths of the Underworld. Darkness enveloped me, its suffocating presence surrounding my every move.

I would soon enter Juniper’s mind and find out who had seen her body, who had seen her in her vulnerable state, then rip their souls from their bodies. Fates be damned if their life threads were yet to be cut. They would pay for what they all had seen or done.

Once I landed in front of my domain, I ruffled my feathers and strode into my home. I rushed inside to make sure I was there when my mortal woke, because I would not let her wake in my empty home.

When I pulled back the curtain, instead of seeing only my Juniper wrapped in the bed with Fluffy at her side, I saw my brother sitting in an oversize chair he likes to travel with beside the bed. His mouth hung open, drool on his shoulder, snoring.

I strode up to him and flicked his bare foot that lay hanging on the arm.

He shook his head. His wings nearly hitting my Juniper. I grabbed one wing to make sure she didn’t wake. “What are you doing here?” I hissed at him. “Why are you near her?”

Hypnos lazily looked over at Juniper and scratched his head. “She had trouble sleeping. I was keeping the nightmares away, but she wasn’t sleeping peacefully, so I took her to the Dream Realm to watch Harry Potter with me. She’s going to wonder where I went, though.” He scratched his chest where his robe had fallen open.

I swore and put my hand over her covered leg. I shook her, whispering her name. “Juniper, you must wake.”

Hypnos ran his hand over his face. “She won’t wake since you woke me up. I didn’t take her out. You know the rules.”

Damnit.

“How many times have I told you not to take mortals into the Dream Realm, brother? Remember what happened the last time?”

I growled, pulling the covers back from the bed.

Hypnos rolled his eyes. “Yes, and the last time you woke me up as well. However, this time, you can wake Juniper. We don’t have to wait for someone that cares deeply to kiss her. You can just do it.” He gave a smug smile.

Fluffy yawned and licked his maw and jumped off the bed. He paid no mind as we bickered.

“I don’t know if it has crossed your mind, Hypnos, but I do not have skin, nor lips, and that would be a violation against her!” I yelled at him.

In the dim light, my shadows and wings enveloped us, embracing both myself and Juniper. With a gentle touch, my bone thumb glided across her cheek, eliciting no response from her serene slumber. The rhythmic sound of her even breaths warmed my feathers, and her lips rested in a subtle pout. Her long, red hair cascaded over my robes, adorned with beautiful blonde strawberry highlights. I’m sure they were soft to the touch.

“Why do you fear your real self?” Hypnos whispered. “Why do you fear your true body? You could easily change into your skinned form.”

I hummed as I lifted one of Juniper’s eyelids and stared at the clover-colored eye and gazed into the soul I feel so deeply for.

“Perhaps it is because with skin, blood, and muscle, I feel too much. There was a time I was like you, brother. I longed to belong like the other gods, but being an empty shell became so much easier. Being alone—”

I dug deeper into Juniper’s soul. The outermost part, where her memories brought up from her past often still lingered and easy to see without having to pry too deep. And there, I saw her as a little girl with toys on the floor. But she wasn’t playing with her toys. She was looking into the kitchen with a mother and father figure coddling a baby.

I couldn’t fully understand the scene. I didn’t know the context, but I could feel the sadness in her soul. I pulled away, and took a deep breath, a long breath leaving my ribcage.

“For me, being alone is easier. I understand that is not the case with others.”

Hypnos stood and stepped forward and put a hand on Juniper’s forehead. With any other male, I would push him away.

“I am sorry. She was having nightmares of her attacker. That was why I intervened. Tell me you took care of him.” Hypnos words were dark, not his norm.

“Not enough. I will ensure that he spends his time with Lucifer wisely. I got enough information out of the bastard. I’ll speak with one of my guards to hunt down a warlock. However, I hope Juniper will give me more information that I need,.”

“About that,” Hypnos nudged me. “Tell her you want her for more than just for information.” He gave me a side eye. “The total lying, the angst, the long drawn-out chase scene is just plain boring. Tell her you want her, tell her she is yours, that you want to consume her, want her for keeps.” His eyes grew dark, and he squeezed my shoulder.

I held Juniper tighter to my body and stepped away. “What in Tartarus have you been watching?”

“Porn.” My brother said simply. “Ares lent me some. In fact, he and his mate even star in some. I haven’t watched that stuff yet. I put some on your desk. He also gave me some books on how to woo a female. I would take it with a grain of salt though. The god is dense, but he has a general idea how to take charge. Chocolate always seems like a great idea. And flowers, dates, and—”

“Shut up!” I snapped. “I will do it my way.” I looked over Juniper’s body. “My time, my way.”

Hypnos shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, well, get to it and wake her up. I don’t want her to watch the whole Harry Potter marathon without me.”

My brother stared at me, waiting. It has been years since I’d transformed my body from a skeletal form into that of skin and muscle. I didn’t know if I had the strength to do it. Strength of my mind, that is.

I pushed my shoulders back as I held Juniper. Feeling her against my body would be for the best. I could gain my strength from her. I couldn’t let her stay in the Dream Realm. She might never want to wake up, or worse yet she would like my brother more than me.

That was terrible though, for her to like him more? For her to fall in love?

Fuck, I didn’t even understand love, and I was worried she would feel this emotion toward him?

I didn’t want her to like him more than me. I wanted her to seek comfort in me.

From now on, she could never be near him alone. Only with me.

Consumed by my insatiable obsession, my yearning intensified with each passing moment. Determination surged through me as I commanded my left hand to transform, envisioning sinewy muscles, taut ligaments, and coursing blood within it. Then I visioned the sight of my hand metamorphosing until it finally appeared.

I held Juniper in one arm and flexed my hand.

“Wow, an entire hand.” Hypnos joked. He pulled on my robe and saw the rest of my arm is still nothing but bone. “How does that work exactly? The blood just stays right there in your hand?”

“We are gods. Does it matter?” I growled.

I took my hand and for the first time in centuries, the first thing I wanted to feel was Juniper’s skin.

I reached out and saw her exposed arm. She showered last night, put on in the clothes that I had provided for her. A sense of pride rose within me. She was allowing herself to become comfortable in my home, taking things I was giving her.

I extended my arm, gently grasping her elbow, and in an instant, a surge of electricity coursed through me. The crackling sound filled the air as a dazzling burst of light emanated from her skin. The sheer force of it propelled my body backward, yet I refused to release my grip on her arm.

The euphoria was overwhelming, an undeniable pleasure coursing through me as my hand grazed her soft, velvety skin. I felt it deep within my bones, which caused them to quiver with an insatiable desire. If only the rest of my body was adorned with flesh and muscle, I would yearn for her in ways beyond her intellect alone. I would crave her in a primal, animalistic manner, akin to those devilish beings I encountered at the strip club.

And for some inexplicable reason, it felt as though I alone possessed the privilege of experiencing her body. I was the sole individual permitted to embrace her body, to sense its warmth, to caress its every contour, and to explore the depths of her being.

Images of her coming on my hand flickered in my mind, her delicate figure wilting beneath me, her lips parting, uttering my name as her body shuddered and trembled around my touch.

I wanted her more than I wanted anything else, and my craving for her intensified.

By the Fates.

I had denied it. I never thought it to be possible. The God of Death to be given such a gift of a mate? More popular gods were receiving their mates. Why would a lesser be gifted? My hold tightened on Juniper, a gentle moan leaving her lips, and a humble growl left my throat.

I was gifted with a human. A perfectly beautiful human with a soul so perfect for me, and I had been too blind to see it from the beginning.

Her Majesty knew exactly what she was doing—that she-devil.

Juniper’s head rolled from side to side. She was awakening. Just a touch woke her and not a kiss.

Slightly disappointing, but also happy it was not the cliche Sleeping Beauty kiss. I needed her awake for when I did finally take what was mine.

My anticipation grew to see her eyes open. Wanting her to see me holding her excited me. What would she think? Would she like it? Loath it?

Either possibility would be a great scenario to play upon.

“Brother?” Hypnos broke my thoughts.

I darted my head to him and Fluffy, who stared at me, questioning me. I glared at them and held my female—my mate tighter.

“Leave.” I commanded. “Both of you, get out of my domain.”

Hypnos smirked and crossed his arms. “Ah, now you see it.”

As my wings unfurled behind me, they stretched out like ebony feathers, casting a looming shadow over the room. With purposeful steps, I advanced, my dark presence enveloping both individuals, urging them to depart. The flickering flame of the candle abruptly extinguished, leaving the air crackling with the electric scent, reminiscent of burnt cobwebs.

“Leave now and do not return unless invited,” I snapped.

Fluffy whined and slinked around Hypnos. He petted Fluffy and cooed at him. “It”s alright my friend. He’s found his mate. Gods are a little more protective than a dragon shifter. Once he claims her, he will let you back home and spend time with Juniper.”

Fluffy tilted his head back at me and I nodded my head. “Give me time, my friend. I don’t want to hurt you accidentally. You have my shadows that will keep your form, this I promise you.”

Fluffy rubbed his body against my leg and Hypnos touched Fluffy and they vanished into the air.