Shivers

by Remmy Duchene

  “I think it’s bed time.” Carter stuck his head out the door. “You two can keep talking. I just want to stretch my back out.”

  “I will come with you,” Ciro said. He stood and smiled down at Kofi. “Thanks for dinner. I will see you in the morning.”

  “Good night, you two.”

  Ciro took Carter’s hand and allowed himself to be led through the large house, up a winding staircase of wood with a black banister. Finally, they entered a large bedroom and Carter closed the door. Ciro looked around. The bed, immaculately made, sported beautiful dark red sheets and matching pillows and cushions. Suddenly, he felt like a human teenager on his first date. Pressing his hands against his thighs he looked at the windows, causing them to swing open and the curtains to blow inward.

  “Thanks for tonight,” Carter spoke finally. “Most men wouldn’t have gotten along with Kofi.”

  “He only has your best interest at heart. He loves you, you know?”

  Carter smiled. “Yeah. And I love him too. Listen…” Carter walked to Ciro and rested his hands against Ciro’s hips. “I want tonight to be the first step toward having a future together. I know—you already know I’m the man for you. I’m human—give me some time to grow into the situation, to grow into you.”

  Ciro couldn’t help himself. “You already grew into me.”

  “You’re so dirty,” Carter accused playfully, lifting his lips to Ciro. “But I wouldn’t have you any other way. Anyway, in all seriousness—I guess I am agreeing—no— accepting your offer for forever.”

  Ciro smiled, cradled Carter’s face and kissed him. “You have no idea how happy you have made me.”

  “How about I strip for you and you show me?” Carter licked his lips.

  He started removing his clothes, and Ciro levitated away from him to lay on the bed with his arms folded behind his head.

  “Before we do this, there is something I wish to discuss,” Ciro said, wanting to kick himself. He sat up and inhaled. “Children… Do you want children?”

  “Of course—don’t you?”

  Ciro smiled. “Yes, but I am Shiver…”

  Carter stopped and cradled Ciro’s face. “We will have children, Ciro—you’ll see. Even if we have to adopt, we will have our babies. Besides, you have the hook-up with the Goddess of Love.”

  “That I do.” Ciro grinned, feeling happier. “Good. Now, about that little show you were giving me.”

  “What about it?”

  “Oh, please do carry on—slow down a little. Turn around and show me that ass.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Carter spent the early morning making breakfast for his man and his brother. He even hummed a little. To think he was with someone who adored him and his brother had no hang-ups about it—well, no regular issues—was grand for him. The urge to jump and click his heels flowed through him but he merely laughed and shook his head. He was way too old for those kind of shenanigans, then again, he was alone in the kitchen. Who would know?

  Carter glanced over his shoulders to ensure he was in fact alone before he jumped, clicked his heels and grinned broadly to himself. He checked behind him again—alone.

  On his second cup of coffee, he flipped some pancakes and carefully checked to ensure the blueberries inside hadn’t popped. He was always very carefully about that. No one liked messy blueberry pancakes. After taking those out, he poured more batter into the large pot, and watched them take form. Kofi had taught him how to make them and ever since, it was one of the only breakfast things he would make when he cooked for his brother. Footsteps coming down the stairs caught his attention and for a moment, his heart. Then he remembered, his man was a Shiver—no one was getting into the house without Ciro knowing.

  Turning, Carter waited until the owner of those steps appeared in the kitchen. “Morning.” He refocused on his cooking.

  “Hey.” Kofi yawned and instantly made his way for the coffee. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Better than I had in weeks,” Carter replied. “It’s good to not have to worry about Aerios.” He removed the last of the pancakes from the pot and added them to the pile he had sitting on the counter. He then dropped some sausages into the frying pot and rolled them around in the oil. “You know, I can honestly say, for the first time in a long while that I’m happy.”

  “That’s good.” Kofi sipped from his coffee before dishing himself some of the pancakes and took a seat by the island. “I need to say something before Ciro comes downstairs.”

  “Um…” Carter looked toward the door, hoping Ciro would use it to give them a heads up rather than just appearing out of thin air. Carter’s heart pounded crazily as he remembered how angry Kofi was at Ciro and all the paranormal crap that was happening around them. Just thinking of what his brother had to say made the racing of his heart worsen. Carter inhaled, held it then exhaled. “Okay.”

  “He’s not a bad guy—just has a messed-up family.”

  Carter chuckled. He sat with Kofi and the two delved into a conversation. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering but a conversation to keep them both smiling. It had been a while since they’d spent a lazy morning, just sitting around talking, and it was long overdue.

  “Speaking of whom, where is Ciro?” Kofi looked over his shoulder. “Do Shivers sleep in?”

  “I have no clue.” Carter grinned. “But this one does. It’s probably the first time in a long while he hasn’t had to worry about his crazy brother bent on world domination. He deserves some sleep.”

  “I’d say. Can you imagine having to be on the alert because your brother wants you dead? Damn. That’s no way to live for man, or Shiver.”

  Carter couldn’t agree more. He nodded. “Maybe he popped out for a bit to check on Hades and the others. Sometimes he stays away to give us time together—he didn’t tell me that but I can feel it.”

  “That’s another good trait. He’s beginning to make it extremely hard to dislike him.”

  “Now why would you want to dislike him?”

  Kofi shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m supposed to inherently hate anyone my brother is with—they are never good enough.”

  Carter laughed aloud then covered his mouth just in case his mirth drifted up to the bedroom. “I see. The brotherly thing.”

  “You dang right, the brotherly thing.”

  “I love you for it. But I’ll be fine. You’ll see. Anyway, I’m going to take him some food in a bit. Even a Shiver has to eat.”

  “Do they have to eat?”

  “He’s not a god.” Carter froze to think about the question. He’d never really asked Ciro—he’d just assumed they had to eat something. “I think they have to. Okay, food to my man.”

  “You do that.” Kofi chuckled. “It’s still so strange to know this man has supernatural powers and that Greek mythology isn’t really mythology after all.”

  Carter nodded. “I tell you one thing—every time it rains, I’m going to think maybe one of his stupid brothers is up to no good again.”

  “Who you tellin’?” Kofi stood. “I have to head down to the office. I was thinking we should have a barbecue on the weekend—maybe invite the others.”

  “The others?”

  “Yeah. The rest of his army,” Kofi said nonchalantly. “I have a feeling this Ciro is going to be around for the long haul, so I might as well get to know the clan—right?”

  Carter laughed. “I’ll talk to him about it.”

  Kofi walked around the counter and gave Carter a tight hug. Without saying a word, he folded one of Carter’s pancakes, bit off a piece and exited the room. Carter blinked at his older brother’s retreating back and pouted at his missing food. Still, he smiled, rose from his seat and plated breakfast for Ciro. He climbed the stairs and walked into the room to find Ciro partially dressed and sitting on the side of the bed.

  “Morning,” Ciro called, but he had an expression on his face Carter had come to know very well.

  “What’s wrong?” He pl
aced the plate and coffee on the bedside table. “What’s with the look?”

  “I have to visit the oracle and it is best to do it before the day gets too old.”

  “The one who was wrong about your mate? Why would you want to do that? It could have just been an honest mistake.”

  “Remember the attack on you and Osaki?”

  “Yes. Where I crashed the car?”

  Ciro nodded and reached for the coffee. He took a sip. “My mother questioned the attacker and he confessed he was sent to kill you by Oracle Gnóseis.”

  “Well that makes no sense. Why would this Oracle Gnóseis want me dead? I mean sure, she didn’t see me coming but maybe it was because you were the first Shiver she ever had to read. Mistakes happen, you know?”

  “I do not know. That is what I wish to find out.”

  Carter wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. “Baby, maybe you should just let this go. Maybe it’s…”

  “Carter, I need to know. I need to know so if this comes up again I can protect you—I know you don’t want me to…”

  Carter kissed Ciro—partially to stop his words and because he just couldn’t watch those sexy lips and not taste him. He allowed his tongue to flow over them before Ciro sucked him in. When they pulled back and Carter exhaled, he could see his breath as if he was outside in the cold. He laughed softly.

  “Can I come with you?” Carter handed Ciro his coffee and watched Ciro take a few sips.

  “Whenever I go walking into danger…”

  “I’ll be by your side. Sometimes you’ll want to cause a tornado because of my stubbornness but…” Carter shrugged. “That’s how human relationships are, Ciro. Once you have one you do nothing like this alone.”

  Ciro smiled and nodded. “Yes, you can accompany me. She is not on Mount Olympus, so you do not have to die to go with me. But we must go now. I would like to come back and spend some quality time with you.”

  Carter smiled but accepted Ciro’s lips in another kiss that made his cock hard and his whole body boil. He held the back of Ciro’s lips, sucking the coffee-tasting tongue into his mouth and moaning with the electricity that caused. “We should go,” Carter replied around each kiss. “We really…”

  Ciro reached down to squeeze his dick.

  “Damn… Ciro don’t start this if you’re not going to finish it.”

  “You are right,” Ciro laughed. “Let me finish getting dressed.”

  “Okay.” Carter flopped to his back on the bed while Ciro moved around the room. “Kofi wants to have a little get together for us and the rest of the gang.”

  “Rest of the gang?”

  “Yeah—Osaki, Adrestia, Ares, Sisqo—the rest of the gang.”

  Ciro chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure Sisqo will not say no. The others will come if I ask. That’s very nice of him.”

  “Yeah. I think it’s his way of getting to know them and not being freaked out the God of War would be sitting on his back deck drinking a beer or something.”

  “Well, it is a good way to start,” Ciro replied. “Now, let’s go see what is going on with Oracle Gnóseis.”

  Carter stood and Ciro stepped in close to him. He knew they were about to disappear but wasn’t sure if it would feel the same as when Ares did it. Instead of asking him to touch his hand, Ciro merely covered Carter’s lips with his own in a kiss. Carter whimpered, tangling his arms about Ciro’s neck and allowing his lover to drink from his lips almost greedily.

  When Ciro lifted his head and Carter looked around, it shocked him to see they were standing atop a hill overlooking white houses with blue domed roofs. “Er…are we in…”

  “Greece,” Ciro replied, taking his hand. “Come on. We must hurry.”

  “But it’s so beautiful,” Carter managed. “Just one minute to take in the scenery.”

  “After, darling—I promise.”

  They scrambled down a path leading toward what looked to be a dark cave. At first, Carter was nervous but then remembered this was something they had to do in order for Ciro to be happy, to have some form of closure. Besides, Carter was a little curious about why some old woman he’d never met wanted him wiped off the face of the earth.

  He tightened his fingers around Ciro’s at the mouth of the cave. Once they stepped in, it was as if they walked through a light-flowing waterfall, but Carter was still bone dry. On the other side of what he would forever call the force field, the place was set up like a palm reader’s lair. Bottles hung with strings from the ceiling. A few paintings of eyes on the walls and tall vases with strange objects floated in water. No, this place looked more like a scientist’s kooky lab than a palm reader’s lair.

  “You have invaded my sanctuary,” a voice that sounded like it belonged to an old grandmother called. “How dare you!”

  “How dare I?” Ciro called. “I have questions, Oracle Gnóseis, and I will not leave until I get answers.”

  “You make demands from me? No one demands anything from me.”

  The woman peeled herself from the dark. She gave Carter the creeps with long, graying, frizzy hair and big, white eyes. There was no black in them, no pupil at all. She took a step toward him, but before Carter could react, Ciro moved his large frame before him.

  “I make demands of you because I know you will answer my questions. If not, I will make you very sorry.”

  “Ciro—is this a good idea? Threatening an oracle?” Carter questioned softly from behind him. No good could come of any of what was happening. He heard the anger in Ciro’s voice and if he were completely honest with himself, Carter would admit he was a bit scared.

  Ciro took a step toward Oracle Gnóseis and she gasped and took a hasty step back. That must have told Ciro a part of what he needed to know. “There is something different about me, is there not, Oracle Gnóseis? You feel threatened by me and my relationship with Carter. You feel so threatened, you tried killing him. Tell me why!”

  “When you were born, I was asked to give your reading. It was such a strange thing for me. I had never read a Shiver before—you were first. I am not certain why it happened, but it was too early for your destiny to have been written. Zeus cared not—he said you were his firstborn to your mother and he wanted your reading to be done fast. It made no sense to me he was in such a hurry. After the reading, things started coming together—making a little more sense. I found out some things—the most important of which was that Zeus did not tell me your mother was Thýella. That would make all the difference.”

  “Why does that matter?” Carter stepped to Ciro’s side. “A reading is a reading—no matter who the mother is.”

  “Why does it matter?” Gnóseis asked, casting a savage look at Carter. “Foolish humans—you claim to be so intelligent, yet you do not see the problem within this. Your mother, Ciro, is the Goddess of the Storm Winds. Storm winds are notorious for being unpredictable. They cannot be controlled. The only person who can control them is Thýella. The rest of us have no clue. You have a storm running through your veins, Ciro.”

  “What?” Carter asked.

  “Do you not feel it when he beds you?” Gnóseis questioned while tilting her head to peer at Carter. “Do you not hear the howl of a thousand storms inside your head? Do you not feel the earth move?”

  “Start making sense,” Ciro demanded.

  Gnóseis looked at Ciro once more, leaving Carter feeling vulnerable.

  “Your destiny was not written, Ciro,” she continued. “The fates cannot write it for they do not know which direction you will come. By the time I realized what had been done, it was too late. I tried correcting it by cursing a few of your brothers to handle the situation, but my spell collided with Hera’s. They became evil and began wreaking havoc on Olympus and Earth. I could not have that—Earth cannot be destroyed, for it is instrumental in too many of our people’s lives. Then I saw a chance to kill two birds with one stone. If your brothers were fighting you to begin with, why not get rid of Carter so that we could push your destiny in the way
it was supposed to have gone?”

  “That is why you sent Aceplese after Carter? You were killing two birds with one stone? You must have known I would not have allowed that?”

  “Yes.” Gnóseis fell into a tall, dark chair with skulls along the back of it. It was as though her feet had given out and she could no longer stand. “The sniveling little moron cannot do anything right. There is so much unpredictability in your life, Ciro. There is no room for unpredictability within the fates. We did not know Carter would be protected.”

  “Then that does not make you very bright, Gnóseis,” Ciro said coldly. “Of course he would be protected. My brothers want me to suffer, and this is the man I love. He will always, always, be protected.”

  Ciro stood and listened to the answers he was given. The anger cursing through him was unlike anything he’d ever felt before. “Do you understand that because of you, I have had to kill my own brothers?” he questioned. With the fury inside him came his powers. Released within the room, his energy toppled canisters, broke bottles and downed furniture. The sound of a hundred wind chimes hanging from the ceiling filled the air but not for long. Soon all he could hear was the whoosh of the strong breeze surging through the enclosure.

  “Ciro,” Carter called.

  Instead of looking back at his lover, Ciro formed a vacuum of sorts around Carter for protection and stepped toward Gnóseis. Though the fury of a windstorm charged though his veins, his heart was heavy. Ciro tried relaxing but couldn’t. His shoulders remained rigid. He balled his hands into fists by his sides and his neck elongated. For the first time since he’d known her, Gnóseis, seemed genuinely scared.

  “They were my brothers. They were everything to me. Now they are dead because you screwed up? They are dead because you cannot understand we are all different?”

  “Ciro,” Carter hollered.

  “You tried to break me,” Ciro continued.

  He stopped walking a few inches from Gnóseis’ seat and leaned forward, looking into the blankness of her eyes. “My life is not written by anyone. I have free will. My destiny is my own choosing…”