by Haley Weir
"With the intention of running away with me?"
He shook his head. "No, that came the second night we were together. I followed you to that cruise hoping you were my mate. When the bond never happened, I assumed my feelings for you had been a mistake."
"My leaving you in Ireland didn't help."
"I was upset," he admitted. "Then I started trying to convince myself that you were just a problem that needed fixing...but I was the problem all along. My connection with Hecate kept us from forging the bond."
Olivia stepped closer to him. Her eyes dropped to the mark he had shown her. "It weakened her hold on you when I promised myself to you?"
"I think so. How else would I have heard your call all the way on Olympus?" Balor shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels in the sand. "I come from the blood of gods and kings, but I am neither. My brothers and I like to pretend that we're superior to humans. To be honest, I think we envy them more than we would like to admit."
Olivia glanced over her shoulder at the enormous mansion in the distance. "Both of my attempts at dating have failed, and I'm halfway mated to you, so what happens now?" She prepared herself for the worst when Balor dropped his gaze to the ground. Clouds swept in from the north, obscuring the sun and casting shadows onto the island. Thunder rumbled overhead.
"Giddeon has a theory."
"I'm listening."
"He thinks I should claim you," Balor replied. "Because you're a Titan, our bond might be strong enough to free me from Hecate."
"What's the catch?"
"I lose my physical magic."
Olivia sensed the profound sadness within Balor. She sank deeper into the sand as she crossed over to him. "Is there any way we can prevent that from happening?" Olivia asked. "If we get you enough followers, can you ascend to godhood and—”
"I wouldn't want that. Being a Magi and being a god are two different things. Magic is an addiction, Olivia. It's one I've struggled with my entire life."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the path that led to the mansion. "Then train me. Help the others train me before the war and I'll teach you how to live a life without physical magic. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"You're willing to make amends with the gods you've wronged," Olivia suggested. "Starting with giving those sandals back to Hermes." She hiked up the long trail beside him, stopping just outside the front door. Olivia turned towards Balor with a sly grin.
"What?" Balor squinted at her suspicious behavior.
Olivia leaned close to his ear and lowered her voice to a husky, sensual whisper. "I just realized something about you, Balor Blackheart."
"Hmm?"
"You're in love with me." Olivia hadn't stopped to hear his response. Instead, she headed inside, where her companions wrestled on the floor for the remote control. Sand landed in comical clumps around the sparkling wood floors, feathers floated in the air from Styx's wings, and cotton tufts clung to Adonis's hair after Eros smacked him with a pillow. Olivia covered her mouth to smother her laughter, but the look on Balor's face when he stepped over the threshold was too much for her.
Styx chucked a handful of feathers at Olivia. "You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I'm on my own side. The three of you have some serious problems. The world might be ending soon, but—my all means—continue to fight over a useless remote."
"It isn't useless. What am I supposed to do on this island to distract myself from how good you look in that outfit if I can't complain about daytime soap operas?"
Balor picked up a small black rectangle and whipped it at Styx. "It's useless because there isn't a signal on the island during a storm. One's rolling in soon. Prepare to hunker down for a few hours."
Olivia raced up the stairs and followed the winding corridor to a lovely couple's suite. The bed against the far wall seemed too big to be real. She touched the fine silk sheets and nearly moaned when her hand grazed the soft fabric. Clearly, Balor hadn't spared any expense. "Before he met Casey, Giddeon was forced to sell land. When we came to town, he immediately asked Diana to write her script…and you bought an island?"
"I tried to give the money I had saved over the centuries to Giddeon, but he turned me down. There's more money in my vault than I could ever spend in a lifetime. " Balor sat on the edge of the bed and hung his head low. "It's frustrating, you know? Listening to him complain about having the world on his shoulders, but when I try to help, he turns it down. Things have gotten better since Casey, but he's still every bit the same arrogant soldier I've always known him to be."
"Maybe it's time you start thinking about building your own family?"
~*~
Silver Shores
He watched her like a jaguar stalking its prey. Balor's eyes dashed around the room, tracking every move she made. Deep inside, he searched for the mating bond that fate had woven between them like an intricate tapestry. Balor wanted the shocking moment of realization that his brothers had described. She was beautiful—far more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen before—and the brilliance of her soul was like a lighthouse in a storm. But whatever hold Hecate held over Balor, it kept him from feeling the overwhelming wave of possessive attraction that the bond inspired in others.
Lust, affection, envy, excitement…he felt it all except the maddening love and devotion. Balor grabbed Olivia when she passed by the bed. He pulled her into his lap and ran his hands over every curve and valley of her body. Beneath the lush layer of softness was now toned muscle from all of her training. "How long has it been since we were together?" he asked quietly.
"A month or so." Olivia slid her hand between their bodies and reached into his pants. "Did you sleep with Hecate?"
"Did you sleep with Eros?"
"That's not an answer," she replied as her hand halted its path further south. "Don't pull that bullshit with me, Balor. Did you sleep with Hecate or not?"
"I did. Twice. There would have been a third time, but I began to see your face." Balor rested his forehead against her shoulder. "As soon as I broke free from the illusion of lust she put on me, I ran out of there as fast as I could. I was weak, Olivia, and I gave in to the—”
Her lips silenced him. Olivia urged him to lie back as she pulled her shirt over her head. Balor's eyes widened at the sight of her heavenly figure. Large breasts spilled over the cups of her bra, teasing him with only a faint glimpse of her rosy nipples through the lace fabric. Saliva pooled in his mouth as his eyes trailed down the luscious slope of her rounded belly and hips that were perfect for his large hands to hold and caress. But it was the swatch of lace that covered the plump folds of her femininity that he wanted to remove with his teeth.
Balor rolled her over and sucked the lace into his mouth, tasting the slick of her arousal that had soaked into the material. He growled. Olivia arched off the bed and slammed her legs shut. She licked her lips, eyes burning into his soul with the passion that ignited between them. "Shouldn't we talk about this?"
"Talking never really works out for us, love," he muttered against her thigh as he licked and nipped at the pale flesh. Olivia covered herself and wiggled out from under him.
"I'm serious, Balor. A mating bond isn't something we can just ignore." She gave him a quick peck on the nose. "I knew what I was doing when I promised you my soul, but mating is...I've never even been in a relationship that didn't end with me moving to a new state. You have to show me how to do this."
"I've never been mated, Olivia. My first lover was Hecate and, until I met you on that cruise, she was my only lover," he whispered, moving up her body. Balor nuzzled into the crook of her neck and breathed in the scent of Olivia's skin. "We can complete the ritual and you can take me as your mate. If the bond is strong enough, the ownership of me will pass to you."
Olivia flinched at Balor's words, and what little pride he had left crumbled. "I don't want to own you." She cupped his face, tilted his head back, and forced Balor to look her in the eyes. "
How do I free you from Hecate?"
"You would have to challenge her."
"Then that's what I'll do," she stated firmly. The sheer force of her conviction made him love her just a little more.
"You aren't ready to fight a goddess, Olivia." Balor shook his head. "I'll give Hermes the sandals and ask him to sever Hecate's bond."
"But you'll lose your magic."
"Yeah," he breathed faintly. "Magic was what got me into this mess. Living without it...it might break something inside of me. Who I become might not be the man you see before you now."
"Giddeon and the others are already preparing for battle. We might not have three hundred years for you to make a decision." She kissed him gently, and Balor felt the cracks in the walls he had built around his heart expand. He kissed her back with more desperation than he intended. The sweet, tender taste of her kiss brought him peace. It was as if Olivia took away his pain and allowed him to break free from the voices in his head. Balor squeezed her against himself, deepening the kiss with a firm swipe of his tongue that caused her to moan.
A strange sound broke through the fog in his mind. Olivia scrambled for her phone and opened a text message. Balor watched a scarlet blush spread along the tops of her cheeks. "It...it's a match," she explained. "From the agency, I mean. Ninety-one percent compatible."
Balor rolled to his feet and willed his erection down. "Are you going to accept?"
"Not if you tell me who I am to you."
Balor spun around and felt the weight of her words like bags of sand on his shoulders. "Are you looking for a promise?"
"I'm looking for hope, Balor. Just tell me how you feel."
He stilled for a moment and contemplated the warring emotions inside of him. "You were right. I'm falling in love with you," he confessed. "The thought of living a life without magic is unbearable, but without you…I would have no life at all." Balor stepped closer to Olivia. "Seth told me that Diana was his best friend before she was his wife and his mate. You're my best friend, Olivia, and if we survive this...then I want you to be my wife."
Chapter Sixteen
Silver Shores
Olivia stared down at her phone and declined the dinner invitation from a dragon shifter named Gabriel Isaac. It hit her at that moment that she would never have known if Gabriel or any other male was her true love because she had chosen Balor with just one swipe of her finger. It all seemed too simple and yet far too complex to comprehend. Every lover she had known before she promised herself to Balor would become nothing more than a distant memory. Olivia dialed Giddeon's number as she stood less than a foot away from the tormented sage. Of course, Giddeon answered with his usual feral snarl that caused Olivia to roll her eyes. "Listen, I need to withdraw from the agency."
"Why would you want to do that?" Giddeon said with a sudden note of concern in his voice. "This wouldn't have anything to do with my idiot brother, would it?"
"It might…"
"Think long and hard on this, Liv. I only want what's best for you, and I know Balor will never choose anyone over his magic," the surly king said. "When it comes time to decide between us and his rank as a Magi...he'll choose power."
"Whether he chooses me or not, I chose him. It might make me a fool or a hopeless romantic, but I stand by my decision." Olivia gave Balor a sympathetic smile. She knew how much his brother's lack of faith in him took a toll. "Remove me from the agency and keep us informed on what's going on with the war."
"Peace talks are still on the table whether Madeu wants to admit it or not."
"I don't think so," Olivia replied. "I was in Olympus, remember? Even without the support of the other gods, Zeus is determined to put an end to this world. Sending up diplomats won't do any good."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind. The sword?"
"Safe."
"Olivia…"
"Sooner or later, you're all going to have to trust me." She ended the call and changed into something that wasn't covered in soot. Balor followed her downstairs, where the others sat with grim expressions on their faces. "Woah...what did I miss?"
"Zeus is calling me back to Olympus," Eros replied. "I can stall him for a few days, but I'll have to talk to him eventually."
"Can't you just lie?"
Eros shook his head. "The downfall to being the idol of carnal desire is that I can't lie. There's nothing rawer and more honest than lust and passion." The Olympian gave a pointed look to Balor, and Olivia grew flustered.
"When will I see you again?"
"Soon. Hopefully, before the fighting starts." And in the blink of an eye—Eros disappeared.
Styx removed the glamour that concealed his wings and shook out a pile of loose feathers. "I'm molting," the winged deity complained. "So, I have an idea. I know, I know. It's a huge shock to most of you, but it does happen on occasion."
"What is it?"
"The Divine Blade," Styx said, seeming much too proud of himself. "I think it's an awfully big coincidence that we learn Olivia is a Titan of Happy Ever Afters—or whatever—not too long after Diana starts asking Giddeon to forge the Divine Blade."
"The blade can only be wielded by someone who's worthy," Balor interjected.
"Exactly."
Olivia looked over at Adonis, hoping he wasn't buying into Styx's implications, but even he had a look of intrigue on his face. "I'm not worthy!” she protested. “I lie, cheat, steal, and talk my way out of trouble. I'm a freaking rogue!"
"You're fiercely loyal, compassionate, strong, intelligent—”
"Shut up!" Olivia crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "No! This is insane. Diana is the one with a prophecy about saving or destroying us all. Maybe it's her."
"It isn't," Balor replied. "The darkness in Diana that she inherited from her parents is too unstable. A Divine Blade would reject her and probably make it worse. Styx is right, Olivia. It's too big of a coincidence to ignore."
"Ask your father."
The shock on Adonis's face caused Olivia to slap her hand over her mouth. But it was too late. Balor was pinned to the floor before Styx or Olivia could stop it. Adonis summoned a dagger of radiant light and pressed it against Balor's throat. "You went into The Unknown? That entity is not your father, Basilius!" Adonis hissed as the blade marked Balor's throat with a shallow cut.
"W-what?"
"Who told you that the figure you saw in The Unknown was Samael?"
Balor struggled against Adonis's hold. "It came to me in a dream," he revealed. "Samael taught me ancient magic that helped me protect my people."
Adonis released Balor with a roar of bitter laughter that dripped with malice. "You gullible fool. That was Morpheus."
"The God of Dreams?" Olivia asked. "Why would he trick Balor?"
"Morpheus was locked in The Unknown by Zeus because he is the only Oneiroi that can influence the gods through their dreams. He's been trying to escape for millennia by possessing a body." Adonis paced across the floor angrily. He flipped his dagger into the air before he caught it in his hand. "Morpheus told you that Olivia was a succubus so that she could act as a conduit between the two of you. If you were to mate with Olivia to prove that she was a sex demon and take your mind to The Unknown, Morpheus could have used her power to possess your body."
"Then why mentor me?"
"He wanted a strong vessel. One with magic such as yours would have made him undefeatable," the Olympian answered. "His monsters take the shape of your greatest fears."
Olivia stopped Adonis. "How do we keep him from Balor?"
"You can't. Once you let Morpheus in, you can't get rid of him. The only thing you can do is hope he loses interest."
She turned away from Adonis and walked over to Balor. He looked shaken. "We can use this to our advantage," she said, catching his attention once more. "Tell Hecate about Morpheus. If Zeus is afraid of him, then so are the rest of them. She'll think you're tainted or something."
"What about my power?"
"I'll give you all
the power you need." Olivia took his hand in hers and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "I'll be your conduit so you can keep your magic. You shouldn't have to choose between the safety of your people and being my mate."
~*~
Forest of Hecate
She shouldn’t have come. Balor felt Olivia’s presence among the trees. Her scent was thick and sweet like molasses amidst the phantom pheromones of Hecate that attempted to lure him deeper into her realm. He moved swiftly towards the cauldron that cast an eerie emerald glow, scattering the shadows like city rats in a sewer. His boots crunched upon the leaves that littered the ground as he approached with caution. The trees parted to reveal Hecate standing beneath the moon. She wore nothing but a wicked smile as her eyes trailed up his body. “I knew you would return to me, Basilius,” Hecate purred. “No mortal woman could ever slake your lust.”
“Olivia is no mortal.”
A tendril of laughter floated from the goddess’s lips. “Oh? Then what is she?”
“I’m a Titan.” Olivia stepped into sight and moved to Balor’s side. She lifted her chin in defiance, staring down Hecate as if she were no more than an inconvenience. “And I’ve come to claim what should have always been mine. Release Balor. Now.”
He grabbed Olivia by the elbow and steered her away. “This wasn’t the plan!”
She smiled up at him with pure adoration in her gaze. “I know. But you wouldn’t have agreed to take me with you if I had told you the truth. Let me set you free, Balor. If your faith in me waivers now, then we won’t be able to survive what’s to come.” Olivia shook her arm free and glanced over her shoulder at Hecate. “Whether or not Morpheus strikes fear in her heart, I want her to know that she can’t have you.”
“This is suicide!”
“I can do this, Balor. Just trust me.”
Balor reached out for her, but Olivia sidestepped him.
He watched with his heart beating rapidly in his chest as she charged towards Hecate. The goddess struck hard and fast with a devastating spell that knocked Olivia off her feet. Balor attempted to intervene, but Olivia cast a shield around him that prevented him from getting closer. “Olivia! Don’t do this.”