I tasted me. I tasted Theo. I tasted hints of the sea. Little slices of the Mediterranean, small bursts of flavours on my tongue which seemed incongruous right then. A tantalising taste of something alluring that distracted when nothing should have in that blissful moment. But it did. At least, for me.
It took a second or two to realise it had nothing to do with Theo’s love. With his Pyrkagia. Or mine. That it was all Nero.
Come dance, Aether, Water said, invading the moment and pulling me from the fervent touch of Theo’s hands, his now near naked body sensually gliding against mine. Hard edges and smooth curves, fitting precisely together. Come dance with me, it urged.
A chill breeze cooled the sweat on my skin. Theo let out a shuddering groan, his movements becoming frenzied. The ground beneath us shuddered expectantly, rocking my body up to meet my Thisavros. Fire swelled, sparked, crackled with a warning, entangling in Theo’s, merging, growing. Consuming.
Nero retreated.
I finally breathed…and Theo stopped moving.
Panting, eyes feverish with desire, gold glinting in their depths, almost blinding, he swallowed.
“What was that?” he said, a little breathlessly.
“Nero calling,” I offered, stroking a hand down his back and then cupping his cheek. The moment was lost, and he knew it. “I’m sorry,” I said, feeling wretched all of a sudden.
Part of me pulled toward Nero; its pain, its tantalising call; its soothing cool waters. Part of me ached to tangle my Stoicheio with my Thisavros.
“Bloody hell,” Theo said resolutely. “It’s Genesis all over again.”
I smiled, and then let out a chuckle. Which I think might have been Theo’s intention. My body relaxed as his did above mine, Theo shifting until he was lying down the length of me, his hands moving slowly, carefully, no longer enticing Pyrkagia to dance. But seeking to reassure and soothe instead.
“Will there ever be a time when I can just enjoy the pleasures of your body uninterrupted?” Theo queried mildly.
I couldn’t believe he wasn’t suffering in some physical manner, but he hid his reaction admirably.
“We can still…” I started, but Theo softly shook his head; gold still blazing from his eyes, letting me know his reactions might be controlled, but his Pyrkagia wasn’t.
“I only sought to help you,” he whispered, brushing the hair off my face and gazing into my eyes. “To let you have a moment for yourself. No thoughts, only sensations. But your Pyrkagia is so beautiful, Oraia. So tempting to mine. We tangled before I could stop it.” He offered a self-deprecating smile and shrug of his shoulder. “Perhaps Nero was reminding me that this had begun with only your satisfaction in mind.”
“Somehow I doubt Nero is so self-sacrificing,” I murmured. “It’s also being guided by the Rigas,” I added, as an afterthought.
Theo tensed, all evidence of the still aroused Thisavros disappearing. The Prince of Pyrkagia taking his place.
“What do you mean?”
I frowned, trying to pinpoint what had brought that thought forefront in my mind. Then I repeated what the Element had said.
“‘Come dance, Aether. Come dance with me.’”
Theo shook his head, a scowl marring his perfection. I reached up and stroked my thumb along the frown lines, smoothing out his forehead. He smiled. Turned his face, and kissed my fingers.
“Why are those words significant, Oraia?” he murmured, so much love shining in his eyes.
He didn’t need the gold to show me. He wore his love on his face for all to see. For me to see and cherish. I smiled back up at him.
“Nero, when talking to me, always uses ‘us’,” I said softly. “All Elements do. They speak in the plural, not the singular when referring to themselves. Nero has never said ‘Come dance with me’ or ‘Come dance with us’ even. I hadn’t realised until now; it says ‘Let’s dance, Aether.’ An invitation, not a demand. The Rigas is the one who has used that turn of phrase or used the singular. From the very first moment he spoke inside my head. Those are his words, not Nero’s. I know it.”
Theo didn’t look convinced, but he also didn’t call me out on it. He just nodded his head, settled down beside me, and pulled me into the warmth of his embrace.
Staring up at the roof of the tent, he said, “The Gi Basilissa influenced Earth. I guess it is reasonable to assume the Water King can do the same to Nero.”
I smiled into the dimming light of the room; Theo’s golden glow diminishing as the seconds ticked by and his unfulfilled desire faded. He might not have been convinced by my argument, but he was prepared to consider it.
More and more I felt less and less alone.
“Do you think he can find us?” he finally asked.
I frowned into the darkness, letting Theo’s heat warm me as the chill thought of discovery invaded.
“It would have been the Rigas’ voice in my head,” I said slowly, “had he been close enough to communicate. But using Nero to send his message does complicate things.”
“You need to speak to your grandfather,” Theo urged. But now, more than ever, sleep evaded.
I couldn’t imagine I would go without sleep forever. But relaxing enough to dream right now seemed impossible. Theo had tried. Giving me a moment out of time to forget my worries. But the Nero Rigas had stormed in uninvited.
Perhaps because I had lowered my guard.
I sighed. Theo shook his head softly.
“It’s not going to happen tonight, is it?”
“No,” I whispered.
“You need sleep, Cassandra.”
“I need you. Sleep will come when it comes, but until then, we’re on our own. I have no way of reaching Gramps outside of the dream visits.”
“Then we are once again blind.”
It was a statement and a curse of sorts, the way Theo had uttered it. We had no idea what the Alchemists were doing, how much they influenced the Nero, and what the Nero Rigas was actually capable of.
“It changes nothing,” I said, and Theo laughed. It was entirely mirthless.
“No,” he replied. “I suppose it doesn’t. But that still doesn’t mean we should advance. The longer we wait…”
“We don’t have time to wait,” I interrupted. “And even if we did, do you think placing that sort of pressure on me to sleep and dream would make it any easier for it to happen?”
“Shhh,” he said placatingly. “It’s all right. We’ll think of something. Perhaps if we just cuddle for a while.”
He was persistent; I’d give him that. Theo thought that if we fell silent, and snuggled warmly beneath the sleeping bags, sleep would eventually prevail. Under normal circumstances, I would agree.
But Nero was still calling; subdued from the flare of Fire, the might of Earth, and the cleansing breeze of Air. But still there.
Aether, it called. Come dance with me.
I shook my head and started to rise from our sleeping platform.
“What are you doing? Cassandra, just try to relax,” he pleaded.
“The Rigas wants a meeting,” I said, slipping my t-shirt back on. Theo scowled. “We’re not going in completely blind,” I argued. Theo crossed his arms over his bare chest, emphasising his muscles. “We know he wants something,” I added, thinking aloud, trying to ignore the Adonis sitting before me. “We know the Alchemists are the most likely to have provided lightning for the Rigas to travel. Staying here is not necessarily outside of his reach.”
“Going to him is definitely within it,” Theo snapped back.
“I’m not alone.” Despite what the shaman had repeatedly said. “I am also Aether now. In possession of Nero. The situation has changed since I last was in his presence. I have more power, literally and figuratively.”
“How do you reason that?” Theo demanded.
I stared into his amber eyes, the hint of gold making them shine in the darkness of the tent. Worry as much as anger ruled his features. I finished dressing, and then sidled closer, straddli
ng his thighs, chest to chest, face to face.
“Shhh,” I said, in a mimic of his earlier placating tone. “It’ll be all right.”
“Oraia,” he said pleadingly.
“It’s with me constantly,” I murmured.
“What is?”
“Nero’s call.”
Theo frowned. Then reached up and cupped my cheeks. “That’s why you can’t sleep,” he guessed, searching my eyes.
I nodded, welcoming the warmth of his touch, his thumbs softly stroking my cheeks, sending tendrils of heat throughout my body.
“He knows,” I said.
Theo looked crestfallen
“He knows I need to sleep to reach Gramps.”
“The Alchemists,” Theo surmised.
“They’re still in control of Nero’s Rigas,” I agreed.
“Then going there…”
“Is the only thing I can do.”
“No!”
“Theo,” I said with a soft smile. “I’m tired.” My voice cracked.
“Oh, Oraia,” he murmured, pain dancing in his eyes.
“I constantly feel nauseous,” I added. “It’s getting worse, the more exhausted I become.”
“Are you sure you can’t block Nero’s call? You’re so strong,” Theo pointed out. “I’ll add my Pyrkagia to yours. We could do it.”
“Your Pyrkgaia turns me on,” I reluctantly admitted.
“Pyrkagia can also be soothing.”
“Not right now.”
“What do you mean, ‘not right now’?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t put into words what I was feeling. Not adequately. Not enough to make him understand. I squirmed on his thighs, rubbing myself inadvertently against his semi-hard erection. Theo growled low, settling his hands on my hips and stilling all motion.
“OK,” he said, between clenched teeth. “I understand.”
“Do you? Because I sure as freaking hell don’t.”
He smiled. And then chuckled. And finally sobered enough to say, “I’m your Thisavros.”
“I think we’ve established that,” I bit out.
His smile widened. “You’ve recently come into Nero.”
“Yes?” I demanded.
“Nero prize their Thisavros above all others.” Hip’s words.
“I’ve been acting possessive,” I mused.
“Exactly.”
“Growly.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Protective.”
“Indeed.” He smiled wide, flashing teeth. I was guessing he liked this new development.
“But that doesn’t explain how your Pyrkagia makes me react,” I pointed out stubbornly.
Theo’s smile dimmed. His hand softly cupped my neck, my cheek. “Pyrkagia and Gi,” he murmured. “Nero and Aeras. Casey,” he said, “you’re all four now. Your body has to adjust to the new connections. Not just ours, but the natural connections of the Elements to one another. Nero is calling to your Aeras. Compounding the call of my Pyrkagia to your Gi. It doesn’t matter that I am not of those Elements. I am your Thisavros. Always.”
Meaning no matter what Elemental connection was ruling me, I would always channel that attraction toward my Thisavros.
“This complicates things,” I whispered.
“Not really,” Theo said simply. I frowned at him. He smiled softly. “It just heightens what we share. Makes my Pyrkagia ‘turn you on’ as you so eloquently put it. Makes you want to separate any other Ekmetalleftis from me. Makes you more susceptible to Nero’s call.”
“It’s tantalising,” I agreed, licking my lips. Gold flashed in Theo’s eyes briefly.
“But does that mean we should answer it?” Answer Nero’s call, he meant.
I glanced towards the exit to the tent. Felt a chill shiver through me. Earth sighed. The wind whistled eagerly. A pop sounded out in the dwindling campfire.
And raindrops frolicked cheerfully against the tent’s surface.
My Elements all agreed. It was time to dance.
“Yes,” I said to my Thisavros. “Yes, we answer it. We must.”
“Oh, Casey,” he said, gathering me in his arms. But he didn’t argue. He didn’t offer up any further distraction. He just held me. Supported me.
And accepted my words as law.
This is what being a Thisavros means, I thought solemnly.
No, Aether, a voice said inside my mind. This is what not being alone means.
Chapter Fifteen
This Wasn’t How It Ended
I had no idea who the voice belonged to. It wasn’t Nero’s. It wasn’t the Rigas’ either. It was old and steeped in wisdom, ancient as the sun and stars. As big as the universe. As wise as any shaman’s. It was otherworldly. Elemental but not.
“Aetheros,” I said, making Theo startle. But no stars appeared. No pressure inside my skull. Nothing to indicate the Elemental god had woken up and decided to converse with me. Reasonably. Not lethally.
I shook my head. It could have been another Nero, I supposed, but that didn’t feel right either. The Nero, when they talked inside my mind, had a certain flavour. Tantalising. This voice was new. Crisper than Air. Deeper than Earth. More powerful than Fire.
It comforted. It soothed.
And then it disappeared. Completely.
“Casey?” Theo asked.
We had a fifth player. “Aether,” I said with a smile.
“What are you talking about?”
“Aether just said hello.”
“Aether the Element?” Theo asked, confused.
“Who else would I call Aether?” I replied, still smiling. Aether had left me in a surprisingly good mood.
“I didn’t know it could talk to you like the other Stoicheio,” Theo admitted, making me blink. I hadn’t considered that, but then, I hadn’t thought the four main Elements made up the entirety of being Aether, either.
Back in Aeras, I’d been sure more was to come.
“Does this mean, I’m not actually Aether yet?” I asked aloud.
“I have no idea,” Theo announced, reluctantly. “But perhaps we should reconsider.”
“Reconsider?” I asked archly. “The Nero?” I confirmed.
“If Aether is yet to Awaken, then challenging the Nero Rigas right now could be premature.”
“I need to talk to Hip,” I said, unable to formulate a respectful argument. We’d been through this already; I’d thought Theo understood my desire to face the Nero. My Elements’ conviction it was the only course. To dance.
“Very well,” Theo said quietly, a look of hurt flashing in his eyes.
My body softened. My heart squeezed.
“It’ll be all right, Theo,” I promised
“You keep saying that,” he murmured, accepting my embrace eagerly.
“That’s because I know it. I feel it. Inside.”
“Do you?” he pressed.
I nodded my head against his chest where it lay. He tightened his arms.
“OK,” he said softly. “We’ll do this your way. But I want you to promise me something, Oraia.”
I stilled. He brushed his lips against the top of my head and held me closely.
“Promise me that you’ll retreat if things go badly.”
I could do that. I leant back and looked up at him. “OK,” I said with a small smile. “We’ll establish a fallback plan,” I offered.
“Good,” Theo said resolutely. “I’ll discuss options with Nico and Aktor.”
“And I’ll go talk to Hip.”
Theo leant down and kissed me soundly. “Don’t be too long,” he whispered against my lips.
I raised an eyebrow at him. He chuckled.
“You’ve not got the monopoly on being possessive,” he said.
Oh. My lips stretched into a big smile. He patted my rear and sent me scurrying out of the tent, the glint of gold in his eyes obvious when I turned around to face him. Stars twinkled overhead, the fire crackled off to the side, the vast planes of Afr
ica surrounded, and Theo smiled.
His grin outshone everything.
“I love you,” I said softly.
“Oraia,” he said with a happy sigh. “For eternity. No matter what.”
No matter what. I turned when he did and found Hip still sitting alone by the fire. He’d witnessed the entire scene. I had to wonder if he’d also eavesdropped on our intimate moment, or at the very least, the conversation we’d just been having inside the tent.
I shook the disquiet away; I needed the Aeras guide, even if I hadn’t fully begun to trust him. I just had to ensure I remained on guard.
“Aether,” he said cordially, as I approached the warmth of the fire.
Aether. Was I?
I almost laughed. This was a rollercoaster with disastrous consequences. I couldn’t get off it. I couldn’t slow it down. One minute I believed. The next I doubted. Gramps would have had something to say about that, but I couldn’t even relax enough to dream visit with him.
One thing at a time.
“We’re going after the Nero,” I said, taking a seat on an outcropping of rock beside the fire.
“Yes,” the Aeras guide said simply, not sounding in the least surprised.
“How do you think things will go?” I asked, trying to ease into this gently.
“How they always go, Aether.” Disastrously, I thought. “How they are meant to go.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded. As a guide, so far he was failing miserably.
“Aether is eternal,” Hip said. “What will be will be.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. Hip may not talk in riddles, but he sure as hell made as little sense as his grandfather.
“You’re not helping,” I groused.
“I don’t have the answers you seek, Aether. Look inside yourself, and you will see.”
I stared into the flames of the fire, seeking comfort in their flickering light. I let Pyrkagia surround me; touching, warming, centring. I had no idea what I was meant to do, but my gut told me to seek out the Nero. Was that looking inside myself, trusting my instincts? Is that what the shaman wanted me to do? Because I knew anything that Hip said here was merely a reflection of what his grandfather had told him. And Hip wanted me to look inside myself.
The Tantalising Taste Of Water (Elemental Awakening, Book 4) Page 14