Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The agony that tore through him was so severe he couldn’t catch a breath. It wasn’t physical like a wound, though he would swear his heart had shattered into a million pieces. He was lost in a haze of red anger and thick, dark energy that filled the room. It was difficult to believe all that death and pain spilled from him. Was this how the god Thedos felt, and why he had to be taken down by his mate? Kian wished for someone to end his torment, or at the very least, he needed a place to vent it, but he’d already much too easily ended Diara and Apep. All he could do at the moment was hold on to Gwen. Stroke her hair and take in her scent. His mate was the sun and in a short time she had given him everything he’d ever wanted, except now he wanted her back and even as desperation filled him, he didn’t know how to fix this.

“Son.”

Kian was so lost in his grief he hadn’t even noticed his father had entered the room. He lifted his head and looked upon the god who had sired him. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Argathos squatted and touched Gwen on the cheek. “But it was supposed to happen this way. It was her death that pushed you into your hidden power. Now, you must bring her back before she is lost forever.”

He blinked as if that might help him understand the words he’d just heard. “Bring her back?”

“You are understandably too deep in your grief to notice she is still here.” He looked around. “In this very room. Cera has not allowed your mate to cross over, and Ra’s gift has kept her tethered to you, but Gwen’s time is limited.”

“I don’t understand. How do I bring her back?”

His father smiled. “You carry much of your grandfather inside you. He was the god of death and pain. Shove aside your own torment and look for death and there you will find your mate. She is waiting for you to pull her back into this world.” Rising to his full height, he continued. “Only you can do this, and it will be easier if I am not here to disrupt you. Believe in yourself. You have saved many lives, now it’s time to save the one you treasure most.” Then his father faded away.

Kian looked down at his motionless mate. He had zero fucking idea what he was supposed to do, but he was a demigod, and one with apparently some kick-ass powers. If he could bring Gwen back, then he would try everything at his disposal. Closing his eyes, he delved deep for any link still present to her.

“Gwen, if you are still here, I need you to let me know.” It was in the silence of his mind that he finally realized there was still a connection. Their bond had not been completely severed. A soft caress touched his arm, and he knew it was her. She was still here, and he knew he had to work fast. The dark power that had been swirling in a chaotic mess about the room slowed to a pulse. Waited for his command and now he knew why he and Gwen had bonded so quickly. He needed this connection to her in order to save her, as well as the fact that he needed her to save him from the dark destruction that had nested in his soul. Right now, however, he required that darkness to assist him.

Searching for death, he blew out a breath and opened his eyes. Standing beside him was his mate. She had been here all along. He only needed to open his eyes and see her.

Kian, can you hear me?

He nodded. “I can hear you.”

She smiled. Your grandmother is keeping me on this plane, but I fear my time is running out.

He knew then what he had to do, and it was so simple it seemed ridiculous. He reached out, and to his surprise, was able to take her hand in his. “Gwen, I need you here with me. We have an eternity of discovery, and I want to explore the love I feel for you. You are my other half and I command you to live.” He shoved all of his power into her and swore he felt Thedos right there with him.

Gwen screamed before her soul melted away in front of him. He panicked but knew he had to keep shoving his power into her or lose her forever. It seemed like minutes ticked by with nothing happening when suddenly her eyes snapped open, body went stiff and her back arched as she took in a ragged breath. When her lungs were fully expanded, again she let out a scream that both elated and broke him.

“Gwen.” He pulled her even closer as she shivered, and he tried to warm her. When she was finally quiet, he bit into his wrist and pressed it to her mouth, where she drank as if she were starved. He imagined dying then being brought back was traumatic. When she’d finally had enough, she pushed his arm away and licked her lips.

“Gods that hurt.” Her voice was a quiet whisper.

“I am so sorry, but your wounds are healing.” He helped her to sit up.

“I am the one who is sorry. I knew death was my fate in order to bring about your darkness.”

He took in a deep breath and then kissed her. There was no gentleness left in him, and he was a desperate man who had just been through the wringer. He kissed his mate with the passion of a man who had just lost everything and had been given a second chance.

The pain melted away as Kian kissed her, and Gwen realized she was alive. Given another chance to have happiness with the man she had waited a lifetime for. She was completely overjoyed to once again be back in her body, but damn, never did she want to experience that again. Now she understood how Lucan had felt when Marcus and Cassie had brought him back from death. When Kian finally stopped kissing her and leaned back, she swore his eyes were filled with unshed tears.

“We have to leave here. I need you,” he whispered into her neck as he nuzzled her.

“Where do you wish to go?” If he kept dragging his fangs across her skin, she was going to insist he take her right here, and neither of them wanted that. Not here. Not in this place of death and pain.

“Where no one will bother us.” His voice was low and thick with desire.

“My powers are back. I will take us to my home in the mortal realm. We should be left alone there, especially if you can put wards on the house to keep everyone out.”

He lifted his head, his eyes now dark and lust filled. “I can do that. Take us there, now.”

She didn’t hesitate to comply, for she was just as eager to be with him. They needed this time, but she worried about the others. “Can you let everyone know we are okay?”

“Already done. They are busy searching for Khedeus right now and holding hearings for those who were involved in the war.”

She flashed them to her small cottage back in New Orleans and observed they were both covered in blood. A hot shower sounded wonderful right now. “Care to shower with me? I’ll let you scrub my back.” She offered a wicked grin as she batted her lashes. He laughed, and she loved the sound of his happiness.

“I will wash more than your back.” He flashed their clothes away and pulled her into his arms. “Take us to this shower of yours.”

Before she did, there was still one question that needed an answer. “Have they found Netasis?”

“Yes, she has arrived safely and is being debriefed. The goddess of destruction sends her love to us both and will see us when we return.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, take us to wash up before I forget our filth and take you right here on the floor.”

Her desire flared, but clean first, love after. Gwen was quick to flash them into the bathroom, thankful she had a large walk-in shower. Reaching in, she turned on the water and adjusted the temperature to just under scalding. Even though she was back to her normal self, there was a part of her that still felt cold, and she wondered how long it would linger. She would have to speak to Lucan about his venture into the realm of death.

Stepping inside the now steaming box, she let the water flow over her body and realized just how tired she was. Apparently, dying took a lot out of an immortal. Kian’s blood had done wonders, though, and she couldn’t wait to taste him again. He stepped in behind her and began soaping up her back, giving her shoulders a massage as he did so.

“That feels so good.”

“I am glad.” When he’d finished with the soap, he spun her to face him, and the look in his eyes concerned her.

“Kian, what is wrong?”

“I… I lost myself when you died back there.”

She touched his cheek. “But you are back now. Ra told me of your experience with the darkness when you were young.”

He shook his head. “No, you don’t understand. It wasn’t that I allowed everything that is black and evil inside me to surface that bothers me. It was that I lost you. The one thing I cared about slipped through my fingers and it wasn’t until then that I realized what you meant to me.” He took in a deep breath. “I realized I love you and it slammed into me like the power of a thousand gods. I might be able to stand you walking away from me, but never your death. Not again.”

“I have no desire to walk away from you. Cera chose us to be together and in my heart I know my feelings for you to be real. I love you too and I will be at your side no matter what comes.”

“And if ever I become like my grandfather, you will follow in Cera’s steps and end me?”

She didn’t like the turn this conversation was taking. “That will never happen. You are not Thedos, and I will be here to balance you. Look at Hades, he has managed quite well to bring himself back around and now that he has Mia, he is even more changed.” She pushed herself up on her tip-toes until her mouth was inches from his. “Do you not already feel the bond between us?” She didn’t even give him time to answer before she kissed him. Poured her entire soul into it.

My beautiful warrior, I feel whole for the first time in my existence, and it is because of you.

He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pressed her back into the cool tile. He was inside her with a quick thrust and her world flipped upside-down. With each movement, she spiraled into a world filled with love and desire for this demigod that had suddenly been placed in her path. Her fangs punched down on their own and the need to taste him overruled everything. She struck quick, the taste of comfort, love and protection blasted her tastebuds. Whether he knew it, her mate was all of that and more to her and she never wanted to let go of this moment, but she knew they were both on the edge and ready to fall. With one last pull of his blood, she closed the wound and let go. Together, they reached climax. Her world shattered and knitted back together again.

“One of these days, we will take things slow,” he breathed into her ear.

She let out a chuckle. “Fast, slow, I can’t get enough of you either way.”

“Mmm, me neither.” He kissed her as he pulled free and helped her get back on her feet.

“We should finish showering so we can get back to Edala.”

“I hate you are right. I like your little home here in the mortal world.” He moved under the spray and cleaned up while she pondered what was next.

“Where will we live, Kian?”

He reached for her hand and pulled her to him. “Wherever you are happy.”

As his erection pressed into her, she smiled, knowing that Edala would have to wait just a little while longer.