Shivers

by Remmy Duchene

  Carter kissed him and he popped out. He stood, face away from his brother to inhale deeply then turned. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry…” Kofi fell into a nearby chair and rubbed his hand over his mouth. “You’re sorry. He’s sorry. I’m sorry. We’re all fucking sorry—and dead.”

  * * * *

  After leaving Carter and Kofi, Ciro made his way to the North Shores. He rarely went there but desperate times, as the humans say, had caused him to visit twice in the past little while. Taking a breath, he peeled his coat off his shoulders and felt when his mother entered the room. He turned to look at her and saw just how exhausted she was. He offered her a smile.

  “Hello, Mother.”

  “Ciro.” She rushed forward, fell into his chest and kissed his cheek. “I am sorry for Guao.”

  “Mother. Why do you apologize each time this happens?”

  “Because it is my fault. I should have just said no,” Thýella replied. “Now my sons are terrorizing the people I care for so desperately and I have not the heart to stop them. I never once thought of what this could be doing to you.”

  “It is my job to protect you, Mother.”

  “No.” Thýella shook her head vehemently. “I am your mother. It should be my duty to protect you. You are my child but I have failed you all. What mother allows her children to run amok in the world slaughtering one another, stealing one another’s happiness? I knew allowing Zeus to bed me was wrong but he was so powerful and beautiful. Now I shall pay for these indiscretions with the lives of my babies…” She touched Ciro’s face. “Why can my children not be happy with the power they have? Use this curse of Hera’s for good, like you? Why do they wish to see everything destroyed?”

  “I do not think that is what they are doing, Mother. They want ultimate power over earth.”

  “But that is Gaia’s domain.”

  “Yes. But what they also fail to realize is if all of them want power over the humans, the humans will fight back. If the humans lose, my brothers will still not be satisfied for then they will fight amongst one another and, once the smoke clears, my dear brothers will be kings of nothing.”

  Thýella sobbed silently, pressing her face into Ciro’s chest.

  “I have fallen in love, Mother.”

  She looked up into his face then. “Koi told me your love is human.”

  “Yes. And he and his brother are in danger. His brother, Kofi, hates me now because all this is my fault. With my selfish wants and desires I put their lives in peril and I do not know if they will ever be able to forgive me.”

  “You will make this all better,” Thýella told him, patting him against the shoulder. “And it will be all right again—better even.”

  “Mother.”

  The voice caused Ciro to swing around for the doors to the great hall.

  “Peace, my son. It is but Koi.”

  Ciro took a breath but rose from where he sat. Thýella walked to the door to greet her second oldest son with a hug. Ciro shook Koi’s hand, and Thýella excused herself so they could talk. They walked from the great hall and along a corridor with arched windows exposing the vast garden.

  Ciro folded his arms behind his back, “Has Aerios returned here?”

  “No. He would not dare,” Koi replied, his gray eyes flashing anger. “I am not certain what his problem is. I have been meaning to speak with you about your lifemate, this human.”

  “What about him?”

  “When you told me he was human I was surprised because we were all told your life mate was male and a demigod. Something is amiss here. That cannot be right.”

  “He is the one, Koi. I feel such a pull to him that baffles me. He hears my thoughts and feels me. Aerios is after him, Koi, which means Aphrodite was correct and Oracle Gnóseis was wrong.”

  “Oracle Gnóóseis is never wrong. There has to be something to all of this. I will look into it. In the meantime, I will get the rest of our brothers together and we can figure out what to do next. Sending someone to get into Olympus means one thing. Aerios is up to something and I am quite certain whatever that something is will be mega big.”

  “Mega? Since when have you been using such terms?”

  Koi laughed. “Since I have fallen in love with this little dark-skinned child that makes me laugh more than I think I should. We have to stop Aerios, Ciro, or he will destroy all the happiness I have found on earth.”

  Ciro nodded. “Very well.”

  “I will get to Oracle Gnóóseis and the others. While I am away, I think you will have some explaining to do…”

  “How do you know…?” In that moment, he could hear Carter calling for him. He groaned.

  “Did they not tell you? If your life mate is human, after the first time you bed your human when he calls for you, you will be able to hear.”

  “Yeah, they never explain the fine print,” Ciro replied cheekily.

  “You move fast, brother. You have already bedded him. I must congratulate you.”

  Ciro chuckled, “You are speaking of this like it is some kind of match. He is my mate and I cannot seem to resist him.”

  Koi shrugged. “Correct me if I am wrong, brother, but the whole deal of being in love, of having a lifemate, is for you not to be able to resist each other, right?”

  “I have to go,” Ciro replied and hugged his brother. “Let me know what you find and tell mother I had to go but I shall return.”

  “I shall,” Koi promised. “But this conversation is not over.”

  “Oh, trust me, baby brother, it so is.” Ciro said over his shoulder and laughed. He beamed himself back into the great hall to get his coat and even as he was shrugging into it, he disappeared.

  Chapter Twelve

  Being home again was strange. He wasn’t alone. Normally the only other person in his house was his brother but now, Sisqo stood in his den staring out of the window at something in particular. Shrugging, Carter left the room and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. Since it had been argued that being with Ciro was safer, he began packing a few things to take back to his lover’s place. Once that was finished, he grabbed the bag and made his way back down the stairs. His stomach growled and he tried remembering the last time he ate.

  He couldn’t.

  “I’m going to make something to eat,” Carter explained to Sisqo. “You want anything?”

  “No, thank you.”

  The two entered the kitchen, and while Sisqo sat at the island, he set about creating a sandwich to carry, as well as a fruit platter. He hadn’t had a chance to work out in the last little while so he probably should eat healthy. “So tell me, are you a Shiver too?”

  “No. I am a demigod.”

  “That means you’re half god, half human—” Carter racked his brain going through his Greek gods and their children. “Who’s your father?”

  “Poseidon.”

  “Oh, like Percy Jackson.”

  Sisqo laughed softly. It was the first time Carter had seen that look on his face. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Do you eat?”

  Sisqo nodded. “I assure you, I eat. It’s just…I’m not hungry at the moment.”

  Their conversation was slow at first but after a few getting-to-know-you questions, they were talking as if they had been friends for years. Carter needed that, for he didn’t have any friends aside from his brother and a few business associates that had taken off to Aspen for a big golf tournament. Golf wasn’t his game on the best of days. He couldn’t see it as a sport anyway.

  “Sometimes I envy humans,” Sisqo admitted, popping a grape into his mouth. “You have this…this air about you that I could never have. I think you call it freedom.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the gods are petty. They go to war over the simplest things. My father was just recently allowed back into Olympus for something he had no control over. So we’re constantly looking over our shoulders to see if one of our parent’s enemies or one of Ciro’s brothe
rs will freak the hell out and come after us. No freedom there.”

  “Yeah. That would suck.”

  “Come on. We should head back to Ciro’s.”

  Carter picked up the bag with his sandwich to eat in the car and stopped to grab some juice while Sisqo got the bag he’d packed earlier with his clothes. They drove silently away from the house and that gave Carter some time to think of everything happening in his world.

  “I’m scared I’ll have to let Ciro go to protect my brother.”

  “He wouldn’t hold that against you,” Sisqo replied. “I know he would want you to be safe and happy and if that is without him, he would let you go.”

  “It’s not that easy, Sisqo. I have never felt anything like what I have for Ciro. It would kill me to have to let him go before I can explore—but my brother is in danger now. I can’t let what my heart wants overshadow my love for him and his safety.”

  “There are some decisions…”

  Something heavy crashed into the hood of Carter’s car, causing him to swerve. The wheels squealed. The vehicle careened to the side and though he tried pulling to a stop, he just couldn’t manage it before it slammed into a light pole. The airbags deployed but Sisqo stuck his hand out across Carter’s chest, keeping him stiff against the back of his seat. Dazed from the crash, Carter heard the fizz of something beneath the car. Sisqo was already out and pulling him from the damaged vehicle.

  “What was that?” Carter questioned, sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck.

  They both turned to see a man, dressed in gray, walking toward them with a sword in one hand.

  “Son of a bitch,” Carter swore.

  “You must call Ciro.”

  “What are you going to do?” Carter asked, thinking of Ciro.

  “Hold him off. You get out of here.”

  “I’m not leaving you!”

  “That wasn’t up for debate, Carter. You are my cousin’s heart and I am not having it ripped from his chest. Go.”

  Carter slipped over the small ravine and hit the dusty floor hard. Leaves crinkled beneath the weight of his body. The distinct clash of sword on sword echoed through the air as he was pushing to his feet. There was no way he could leave Sisqo to fight this guy alone. Even if he had no powers, he had to do something until help could arrive.

  He dug his feet and fingers into the dirt and climbed his way back up to the road. He hunched low, watching what was happening. The assailant could fly, so he seemed to have an advantage over Sisqo. Ciro’s cousin took a hit to the side of his head and sailed across the space into the wrecked car.

  There was only one thing to do.

  “Hey!” Carter stood and waved his arms above his head. “I’m the one you’re after, right? Here I am.”

  “Carter! What are you doing?” Sisqo called. He rose but only succeeded in falling back to the ground in a heap.

  The attacker turned in Carter’s direction, sending his heart racing. The man shoved a hand out toward Carter and he felt himself lifted off the ground. Struggling didn’t seem to help. If anything, the choking feel at his throat grew worse.

  “So, you are the one Ciro chose,” the man spat, levitating. “Aerios believed you to be untouchable. That was a joke to me. I can merely crush you beneath my thumb like the insignificant insect you are.”

  Carter coughed. He could barely breathe. He struggled harder, kicking forward, trying to get the man to let him go. He rose higher into the air now. Something caught his attention at the corner of his eye and he tried desperately not to turn to it, just in case it was help.

  Suddenly his ascent stopped, his attacker lay on the ground and Sisqo stood over him, blade out. That caused Carter to hit the ground again with a grunt. He coughed, sputtered as he tried sucking air in.

  “I told you to go,” Sisqo stressed.

  “And leave you alone?” Carter sputtered. “Never.”

  Sisqo made a sound in his throat before turning toward the being, blade up for an attack. There was a sickening gargling sound just as Ciro appeared to Carter’s left side.

  “Sisqo, stop,” Ciro called, rushing to the fallen man’s side. He fell to his knees beside him. “I do not know you. Who are you?”

  “But I know you…” The attacker gurgled.

  “You are not Shiver. I cannot feel your essence,” Ciro pushed.

  “Who cares what he is?” Sisqo snapped. “He is trouble. He works with the rogue Shivers and he has to die. Either that or you must pronounce sentence over him.”

  “No,” Ciro replied, standing. “I will allow mother to deal with this one.”

  “No,” the being on the floor begged. “Please. I’d rather die than face Thýella again.”

  “Not to worry.” Ciro eyed him. “You will get your wish—at least a part of it anyway. Can you see to Carter getting back to my place?”

  Sisqo nodded.

  “I shall return as soon as I can…” He stopped, walked closer to Carter and cradled his face. “I am so sorry…please forgive me.”

  “Go. We’ll talk later.”

  * * * *

  Ciro dropped Carter’s attacker on the ground by his mother’s feet and stepped back. “Do you know who this is?”

  “Yes…” Thýella replied, walking around the shaking man on the ground. “His name is Aceplese. He was the one who betrayed me the night I conceived the Shivers. He was the one who brought Zeus to my hiding place. I told you I would see you again, Aceplese. Now you are a thorn in my son’s side.” Thýella faced Ciro again. “Has he told you who sent him?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “You are going to cooperate, are you not, Aceplese?” Thýella focused on Aceplese once more. “You will tell my son what he needs to know then you and I are going to spend some private time together.”

  “She said nothing about any of this,” Aceplese stuttered. “I was only supposed to kill the human and walk away.”

  “And what was your reward?” Thýella questioned. “Zeus already prized you with immortality. What more could there be?”

  “Wealth…”

  “Who sent you?” Ciro asked.

  “The oracle—Gnóseis,” Aceplese admitted then curled into a ball.

  The bottom to Ciro’s heart fell out and he merely stood there, shaking, eyes cast on the sniveling immortal on the ground before him. “You are a liar.”

  “Why would I lie?” Aceplese questioned, voice quivering. “There is no reason for me to keep up pretenses any longer.”

  “I must go, Mother,” Ciro exclaimed.

  “To your love, I assume.”

  “Yes.”

  “Very well, my son.” She kissed his cheek. “You do that. I will go play with the toy you’ve brought me.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Carter woke up to Ciro nuzzling his neck. Gasping, he sat up to wrap his arms around Ciro’s neck, hugging him tightly but wincing and groaning from where he’d hit the ground earlier. “You’ve been gone a while,” Carter told him.

  “I am sorry. I had to speak with my mother.” Ciro kissed Carter deeply. “She misses me and sometimes our visits run longer than normal.”

  “You weren’t gone too long.”

  Ciro eased back and turned on the bedside lamp. He caressed Carter’s face then inspected his side and shoulder with a disapproving look on his face. “He hurt you.”

  “I’m fine, Ciro. Really. Well, a little achy but fine.”

  “It is swollen.” Ciro dragged a tender fingertip along the bruise.

  Carter gasped. Even such a gentle touch hurt.

  “I will take a bath tomorrow and it’ll go away,” Carter promised.

  Ciro said nothing. He merely eased Carter back against the bed, crawled over him and fused their lips together. Heat radiated from both their bodies and Carter couldn’t help how turned on he was. All the questions he had in his head about the attack were gone the instant their tongues touched, setting off a firework of pleasure surging through him.

  All his
life he’d searched for a man who made him feel precisely the way he was, now that he had all those beautiful sensations pulsing through him, Carter knew he couldn’t let that go. He’d never find that with anyone else. Ciro nipped at Carter’s nipple.

  “Damn…” he muttered.

  He lifted as if he had no control over his body. Each spot Ciro’s mouth touched was as if he was slowly going to explode. He tangled his fingers in Ciro’s hair but the Shiver merely took that hand and passed his lips over every finger then kissed the palm. He did the same to the other hand, lacing their fingers together, then pushed Carter’s hand back to the bed. For that moment, they just stared at each other.

  To Carter, the moment was just as intimate as if they were making out. Every inch of his body craved Ciro, wanting to be stroked by his long fingers. He rolled his hips upward, causing their cocks to collide. Ciro’s eyes rolled back in his head as a low sound escaped his throat.

  “You do these marvelous things to me,” Ciro whispered.

  “You’re preaching to the choir.”

  Carter pushed Ciro’s body up then slid down it against the bed. He happily took the Shiver’s cock into his mouth and sucked on it slowly, lashing the head and shaft with his tongue. His reward was a nice, hot stream of pre-cum on his tongue. Ciro drove his hips down, sinking his dick deeper into the back of Carter’s throat. It caused his eyes to water but soon he relaxed, allowing his lover to use his mouth in such a vulgar way, it made Carter blush. He enjoyed it and was almost disappointed when Ciro pulled back and shimmied down him to meet his eyes.

  “Fuck me,” Carter whispered softly. “Can you do that for me?”

  Ciro smiled, an expression that sent Carter’s cock twitching against his lover’s body. “Turn over…”

  He readily did as Ciro asked and without reservation. He pushed his ass up until he was on his knees, head against the bed and his cheeks spread. When a cool drop of lube fell against him, Carter moaned in pleasure and anticipation of this one man taking him, the one who made every part of Carter come alive with a simple touch.