Page 43 of Thanatos' Craving

I didn’t want her to like him more than me. I wanted her to seek comfort in me.

From now on, she could never be near him alone.Only with me.

Consumed by my insatiable obsession, my yearning intensified with each passing moment. Determination surged through me as I commanded my left hand to transform, envisioning sinewy muscles, taut ligaments, and coursing blood within it. Then I visioned the sight of my hand metamorphosing until it finally appeared.

I held Juniper in one arm and flexed my hand.

“Wow, an entire hand.” Hypnos joked. He pulled on my robe and saw the rest of my arm is still nothing but bone. “How does that work exactly? The blood just stays right there in your hand?”

“We are gods. Does it matter?” I growled.

I took my hand and for the first time in centuries, the first thing I wanted to feel was Juniper’s skin.

I reached out and saw her exposed arm. She showered last night, put on in the clothes that I had provided for her. A sense of pride rose within me. She was allowing herself to become comfortable in my home, taking things I was giving her.

I extended my arm, gently grasping her elbow, and in an instant, a surge of electricity coursed through me. The crackling sound filled the air as a dazzling burst of light emanated from her skin. The sheer force of it propelled my body backward, yet I refused to release my grip on her arm.

The euphoria was overwhelming, an undeniable pleasure coursing through me as my hand grazed her soft, velvety skin. I felt it deep within my bones, which caused them to quiver with an insatiable desire. If only the rest of my body was adorned with flesh and muscle, I would yearn for her in ways beyond her intellect alone. I would crave her in a primal, animalisticmanner, akin to those devilish beings I encountered at the strip club.

And for some inexplicable reason, it felt as though I alone possessed the privilege of experiencing her body. I was the sole individual permitted to embrace her body, to sense its warmth, to caress its every contour, and to explore the depths of her being.

Images of her coming on my hand flickered in my mind, her delicate figure wilting beneath me, her lips parting, uttering my name as her body shuddered and trembled around my touch.

I wanted her more than I wanted anything else, and my craving for her intensified.

By the Fates.

I had denied it. I never thought it to be possible. The God of Death to be given such a gift of a mate? More popular gods were receiving their mates. Why would a lesser be gifted? My hold tightened on Juniper, a gentle moan leaving her lips, and a humble growl left my throat.

I was gifted with a human. A perfectly beautiful human with a soul so perfect for me, and I had been too blind to see it from the beginning.

Her Majesty knew exactly what she was doing—that she-devil.

Juniper’s head rolled from side to side. She was awakening. Just a touch woke her and not a kiss.

Slightly disappointing, but also happy it was not the cliche Sleeping Beauty kiss. I needed her awake for when I did finally take what was mine.

My anticipation grew to see her eyes open. Wanting her to see me holding her excited me.What would she think? Would she like it? Loath it?

Either possibility would be a great scenario to play upon.

“Brother?” Hypnos broke my thoughts.

I darted my head to him and Fluffy, who stared at me, questioning me. I glared at them and held my female—my mate tighter.

“Leave.” I commanded. “Both of you, get out of my domain.”

Hypnos smirked and crossed his arms. “Ah, now you see it.”

As my wings unfurled behind me, they stretched out like ebony feathers, casting a looming shadow over the room. With purposeful steps, I advanced, my dark presence enveloping both individuals, urging them to depart. The flickering flame of the candle abruptly extinguished, leaving the air crackling with the electric scent, reminiscent of burnt cobwebs.

“Leave now and do not return unless invited,” I snapped.

Fluffy whined and slinked around Hypnos. He petted Fluffy and cooed at him. “It's alright my friend. He’s found his mate. Gods are a little more protective than a dragon shifter. Once he claims her, he will let you back home and spend time with Juniper.”

Fluffy tilted his head back at me and I nodded my head. “Give me time, my friend. I don’t want to hurt you accidentally. You have my shadows that will keep your form, this I promise you.”

Fluffy rubbed his body against my leg and Hypnos touched Fluffy and they vanished into the air.

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