“Then why aren’t you helping me?” Ree cut her eyes at the goddess.
“I know it doesn’t seem that way, but we are helping you, Ree. We’re doing everything we can to make sure you win.” Brigid leaned back next to Ree and folded her hands in her lap. For just a moment, the goddess lost some of the otherworldly sheen and looked like a tired woman who’d been working too many jobs.
“You’re right. It doesn’t seem that way.” Ree picked up a twig and ran it through her fingers. “It feels like you guys are set on making me your puppet. Trying to take away and kill everything that makes me human.”
“You aren’t human anymore, Ree. But I know what you mean.” Brigid looked at her and frowned. “Many of the gods only see you as a tool. But a few of us are working to make sure you have everything you need. Try to understand that for a long time, the gods thought nothing was on their same level. They will always think they do not need humans.”
Ree bit her lip to keep from bringing up the mess with Roland and Paden; to not point out all of the times they could have helped or intervened but hadn’t. Thankfully, Brigid kept speaking, so there was no empty silence for Ree to fill with her angry thoughts.
“The fact is, we can’t be seen intervening. We can’t do anything the dark gods could use to try and overthrow the final verdict. We have to maintain our stance that the battle remains between the chosen warriors.”
“Looks like the bad guys are getting an awful lot of help. From both sides.” Ree threw the stick down on the ground and turned to face the goddess. “I’m not losing any more people. You guys need to step up and start working to protect the innocent. I have enough on my hands that and I shouldn’t have to worry about the safe zones not being safe. I’m going to fight my brother. To the death. And I’m going to fight with everything I have in me. But you guys need to start making sure I have someone backing me up. My team isn’t going to be able to function if you keep letting our families be murdered. On your land.” She stood up and rubbed her hands on her jeans. “Step up and fight back. You ask that of me, and now I’m telling you. Show them you’re not letting them break the rules either. They are laughing at you. At your laws and the lack of conviction you are showing. If you want to keep this planet and its people the way it is, then you need to act like you care.”
Brigid stood up and looked down the trail leading to the house. “I will work to keep the island protected. Leave it to me. For now, you need to get your head on straight and focus on your plan.”
“You know what our plan is?” Ree let her hands hang limply at her side. “You think it will work?”
“I think it’s smart. Of course, Athena wouldn’t have been so set on making you her kin if you didn’t have a brain for strategy.” Brigid looked back at Ree with an amused smile. “I’m going. Don’t break any more statues if you need me. Just call. I’ll be listening.” With that, the goddess snapped out of existence. Ree sat back down on the root and looked at her boots. The soft sound of feet running down the path brought her attention away from the dirt on her shoes.
Paden rounded the bend with a frantic look on his face. As soon as his eyes landed on her, relief washed over him. He slowed down when he took in her expression and came to sit next her. He braced his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, turning slightly so he could look at her.
“I felt Brigid come to the island.” His voice was steady and even, but she could feel the worry just underneath the surface. “Looks like you made an impression.” He nodded with head toward the gritty residue of the statue.
“You could say that.” Ree snorted and leaned back against the tree. “We… had words.”
“Ah.” Paden looked down for a minute. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. How is Melanie’s mom?” Ree sat up and looked at Paden. She wasn’t fine, but she didn’t want to talk about herself.
“She’s going to be fine.” Creases deepened near his eyes and mouth for a minute. “They are really upset about Ellie.”
“We all are.” Ree looked back at her feet and fought the sudden onslaught of tears.
“It isn’t your fault, Ree.” Paden’s warm hand cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.
“It definitely feels that way.” Ree shook her hand and stood up, out of Paden’s reach. “I should have left someone to guard the island. It was stupid to put my trust in the gods that keep screwing us over.”
Paden stood up and walked to Ree. He turned her gently so he could see her face. Slowly, he reached up and wiped an escaped tear away. “They should have been paying attention. What did Brigid say?”
“That they had been in a council meeting and by the time she was able to leave, it was too late.” Ree shook her head, but Paden didn’t let her walk away from him again. “A council meeting kept them from protecting the island. Protecting the people that had put their trust in them. Ellie…” Ree choked up and stopped, unable to finish her sentence for a minute. “God, Ellie had already given so much.”
“She saved her daughter. Ellie did some kind of magic that kept the Dark Ones from entering the room, even after they busted down the door.” Paden leaned down and touched his forehead to Ree’s. “She died doing exactly what she wanted to do. Ellie would never have wanted to live if it meant Kay and Mel were hurt instead.”
Ree nodded her head and sniffed. Paden wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Rain began to fall from the sky, but they didn’t move. It matched how Ree felt in her heart, it was right that the sky would cry over the death of Ellie. The world would be a sadder place for the loss.
“Let’s go back to the house.” Paden leaned down and kissed her head.
“Why? We’ll just get rained on there too.” Ree snuggled closer to his chest, wanting to soak up his warmth.
“The gods rebuilt the house. I was just finishing up healing Melanie’s mom when the house righted itself. One minute it was destroyed and the next it was just as we left it.” Paden squeezed her a little tighter. “We need to figure out what to do with the… to make arrangements for the ones that didn’t make it.”
“I don’t want to go to the house. Anywhere but the house.” Ree shook her head against his chest. She didn’t want to face the dead bodies waiting for them. She didn’t want to look at their blank expressions.
“Okay.” Paden let go of her, but slid his hand down her arm and twined his fingers around hers.
Chapter Sixteen
Ree didn’t question him when he started down the path, heading away from the house. She didn’t care where they went as long as she didn’t have to face everyone. She tucked her wet hair behind her ears and blindly followed Paden while tears fell down her face. Had her brother been here? Killed Ellie? Someone who had baked him pies and cookies as a kid? She hadn’t been drained. Ree hadn’t noticed any teeth marks when she had moved Ellie’s body.
Paden pulled her with him down the trail, before veering off the path and heading toward a small pond. Just past the trees were tiny stone houses. He opened the door to the first one and led her inside. They were small, but cozy, and had obviously been used not that long ago.
Paden took her to a chair before going to the fireplace and arranging the logs. She watched him quietly as he built a comfortable fire. When it was blazing nicely, he came back to her and picked her up before sitting back down with her in his lap.
“What are these?” Ree laid her head against his chest.
“Groundskeepers stay here.” Paden’s voice rumbled out of his chest and she nuzzled closer to him.
“It’s funny, you know?”
“What?” Paden moved so he could see her face.
“That there are groundskeepers. Why would the gods need groundskeepers?” Ree shivered and Paden pulled her closer.
“I suppose it was their way of giving victims a place to be productive while they were protected.”
“Huh. I told Brigid she needed to care more about the victims.” Ree stared into the fire, but didn’t really
see the flames.
“What else did you tell her?” Paden’s voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper.
“That someone had made her look like a fool and she needed to step up and prove them wrong.”
Paden’s heart stuttered for a minute against Ree’s back, and his mouth opened in a frustrated groan. He didn’t move though. He kept her firmly pressed against his chest. “Ree. She could’ve killed you.”
“No. She won’t kill me. Not yet, anyway. I pointed out they made me because they needed me. They better start listening to what I have to say or things aren’t going to go the way they want.” Ree sat up so she could look at Paden. “I’m done being their tool. If they want me to do what they couldn’t, then they need to start respecting me.”
Paden’s eyes were bright with something Ree couldn’t quite understand. It was warm, whatever it was; pride and something else. He touched her cheek and pulled her face to his. Very gently he kissed her, his lips a whisper of a touch, before drawing back, just enough to speak.
“You are so incredibly brave. You’re right, they should respect you.” He kissed her before pulling back slightly one more time. “But please, don’t piss off any other gods unless I’m there with you. Promise.”
Ree turned so she was straddling his lap and ran her hands over his chest, before raising them to wrap around the back of his neck. “No more pissing off gods unless you are there with me.” She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his. His warm, soft lips parted immediately and she slid her tongue in to find his. The smell and taste of him were intoxicating. His hands ran down her back to cup her bottom, gently squeezing before shifting her on his lap. She groaned into his mouth, enjoying the warm sensation of him pressed against her body. She shifted gently, moving her hips so she could feel his response, and he groaned deep in his throat.
“Promise me, Ree.” Paden’s voice was a low growl. “I can’t think of you being hurt.” His hands moved to bunch in her shirt and she was overwhelmed by the need to feel his hands on her skin. Ree leaned back and looked into his hooded eyes while she slowly pulled her shirt over her head. Her cheeks burned slightly in excitement; she felt bold and daring, but the look on his face was worth it.
“I promise.”
She threw her top on the floor and leaned forward to kiss him again. Paden’s hands skimmed up from the edge of her jeans to and trailed lightly over her back, finally stopping on her shoulders. Their kiss deepened, and it was as if, suddenly, all the careful barriers they had in place crashed down around them. She couldn’t get enough of him; she wanted all of him.
His mouth trailed hot kisses down her neck and stopped at the hollow of her collar bone, where his tongue flicked out gently to taste her skin. His fangs descended and gently scraped along the skin, but she didn’t care, because everywhere his fangs touched, his mouth did too.
“Sorry.” He pulled back and looked at her sheepishly. She was vaguely aware of her power swirling around them, stirring the material of her shirt on the floor. He couldn’t help his body’s response any more than she could help hers.
“It’s okay.” Ree tilted her head at the spinning power along the floor. Paden chuckled softly before returning his attention to her throat.
She arched her back as his mouth continued its downward trek. When his hot lips moved over the wet material of her bra she sighed in pleasure and tangled her fingers in his hair. He slid his hands back down to cup her bottom, and moved her gently against him before standing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly while he moved across the floor.
Paden set her down carefully before pulling his own shirt off. Ree’s breath quickened and her eyes roamed over his chest, down to the white skin where his jeans hung loosely on his hips. Paden looked down at himself, as if not sure what she was looking at so raptly, which made Ree want to giggle. Shrugging, he crawled onto the bed and slowly covered her body with his.
Ree could feel his desire, his need, and it was overpowering when mixed with her own. She ran her hands over his chest and greedily returned his kisses. When his fingers moved to slide the straps of her bra off her shoulders, she shifted so he could reach the clasp in the back. Paden threw the bra away from the bed and looked down. Intense heat washed over her body everywhere his eyes touched.
He lowered himself so his mouth could touch hers in delicate kisses that made her heart pump harder. When his hand slid between them to undo the button of her jeans, she thought her heart would explode. Her breathing became ragged, and her fingers dug into his shoulders.
“Is this okay?” He pulled back a little, his hand splayed on her bare stomach and looked down at her. His eyes bored into hers, wanting her to be honest, wanting her to want him. She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she only nodded and pulled his head back down to hers. When his fingers slid into her pants to touch her, she gasped loudly.
“I can stop. Just tell me.” His hand stilled, and he kissed her neck gently.
“No. Don’t stop. Please.” Ree shook her head to make her point before turning to kiss him again. Through her eyelids she could see the green current of her power running through the little cottage. The glow seemed to intensify with each stroke of Paden’s hand.
As he explored, Ree let her hands explore his body as well. She traced the contours of his back, before running her hands over his chest. When she hit the edge of his jeans she hesitated for only a moment before cupping him through his clothes. He groaned into her mouth, and that was all the encouragement she needed. She pulled at his pants until she had freed him, and her hands surveyed this new territory. After a moment, he pulled her hands away from him and held them above her head.
“Too much.” He kissed her soundly. “I want you too much for that.”
Slowly, he leaned back and pulled at her jeans until they slid off of her hips. He threw them on the floor next to her bra. He lay back down next to her, kissing her again while his fingers traced the lines of her panties.
“Off,” Ree whispered against his mouth and tugged at his pants.
“Are you sure?” Paden looked at her with serious eyes. The sun from the window glinted along the stubble on his chin, and she wondered why it had taken them so long to get to this point. Her heart swelled with love and the need to be closer to him was unbearable.
“Very.” Ree watched as his mouth turned up in a slow smile. He kissed her gently before standing and shrugging out of his jeans. His boxers landed next to the growing pile of clothing. Paden’s cheeks turned a soft pink as she stared at him, and it was nice to know she had that effect on him as well. She sat up on her knees and held her hand out to him. He slid onto the bed, pulling her to lay down with him. When his mouth covered hers, his fingers pulled at her panties until they were down by her ankles and she was able to kick them off. Their hands slid over each other, touching and stroking places that had always been off-limits. When he rolled over to dig through the clothes on the floor, she kissed along his neck and curved her body to fit against his.
She kissed him while he carefully put on protection, her fingers running up and down his chest. She was grateful he had brought something with him. Now there were no worries to hold them back, no chance of an unplanned family. He rolled her over so he was holding himself above her, his mouth closing on her neck, where his tongue flicked slowly over her pulse point. Her back arched and she pressed against the length of his body.
“Please,” she whispered. She wasn’t really sure what she expected, or just what she was asking for, but he looked at her with heavy eyes.
“I can stop, anytime. Just tell me.” With that, he slowly joined their bodies. There was a sharp jerk of pain, but it didn’t last long. Whether it was her own body healing herself, or Paden working his own healing magic, she would never know. The only important thing was that they were there, together, and she had never been so full of love in her life.
“Ree.Ree.” He whispered her name like a prayer as he moved against her. As their bodies twined
together, her power whipped through the room. She couldn’t control it any more than she could control her response to Paden. As their bodies peaked, she gasped his name, and clutched at his back. He shuddered, his breath washing out of him in hot waves. Carefully, he lay down to the side and cradled her in his arms.
He buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Ree.”
“I love you, Paden.” She snuggled closer to him and turned so her face pressed into the crook of his neck. Her heart felt lighter than it had in a very long time. Even with the world falling apart around them, they had each other.
Paden shifted so he could wrap the blanket from the bed around them both. Ree listened to his heartbeat and felt her own match pace. It wasn’t long before she couldn’t hold her eyes open any longer.
Chapter Seventeen
The cold woke Ree up, and she snuggled closer to Paden’s warmth. He shifted so he could pull her onto his chest and still keep them covered with the blanket. She laid her head on his chest and smiled to herself when he ran his fingers through her hair.
The snap and hiss of the dying fire was the only sound in the room, and Ree felt incredibly relaxed and peaceful. She could tell Paden was happy too. His emotions were calm and joyful.
“Why are you so happy?” Ree tilted her head and smiled up at Paden.
“I just realized I don’t have to worry about homework.” He narrowed his eyes, a small smile playing along his mouth.
Ree sat up, pulling the blanket with her. She punched his arm and mock-glared at him. “Oh, that’s all?”
“Hey! It’s cold! Get back down here.” Paden tugged her back down to his chest and chuckled when she pretended to be upset. “Or maybe it’s just that I really like waking up with you in my arms. Especially when you aren’t wearing anything.”
Heat flooded Ree’s face, but she couldn’t help but grin. He wasn’t the only one happy with this new experience. They grew quiet again, simply enjoying their time together. Paden ran his fingers through her hair while she lay there and listened to his heartbeat and breathing. It wasn’t until Ree noticed that the sun was down that everything came crashing back.
Immortal Grave (The Dark Betrayal Trilogy) Page 11
