Page 21 of The Death God
“Why can’t you go on your own? Having me there won’t help anything.” It would make things harder. Thanatos was a fragile human in a world of near-immortal creatures, and he knew nothing about parties. He might have been able to stumble through a kids’ party, but he’d never get through a black-tie event without committing some faux pas or other.
“It’s to make me look civil. A lone vampire at a werewolf gathering doesn’t look good. I need some arm candy.” He clucked and gave Thanatos a look with sparkling eyes. Damn him.
“Out of the two of us, you’re better suited for the role of arm candy. I’m not pretty enough.”
“Ah, thank you, darling. I do like a compliment now and then.” Gregory grinned at him, which had Thanatos rolling his eyes. Then he wiped all the amusement from his face. “So some sleep, some food, then we’re hitting the closest store with decent tuxedos.”
Nerves gripped Thanatos’ heart. He still hadn’t left the castle. Minerva often went with Gregory to the grocery store, and Jaki had gone with Rufus a few times, but Thanatos hadn’t left the premises. “I’ve never been in a store.”
Gregory’s lips twisted into a mix of pity and annoyance. “I’ve got you, sweetness. All you have to do is stay close to me.”
Thanatos nodded.
“Good, now try to get some rest. We have a few days to try to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes.”
Snorting, Thanatos rested his head on Gregory’s shoulder again. He couldn’t sleep, but he closed his eyes anyway.
Chapter 8
Gregory startled as the alarm on his phone went off. He reached over to the bedside table and turned it off, only to realize the bed was empty. For fuck’s sake. He rolled over and put his feet on the floor.
A few seconds later, he was fully dressed and headed for the door. He’d hunt his little runaway down and let him know it was rude to leave him alone in bed.
He entered the kitchen and glared at Thanatos who was stirring something on the stove. “You left me.”
“You were sleeping.” He didn’t look up from the pot. The smell of chocolate was strong, and Gregory stepped closer to see what he was making. When a bubble rose to the surface of the thick chocolate mass, Thanatos made a sound and pulled the pot off the heat. He then added vanilla and stirred a few more times before reaching for a bowl on the counter and pouring the chocolate batter into it.
Gregory studied him. For someone who hadn’t been in a kitchen until two months ago, he looked sure of what he was doing. “What are you making?”
“Chocolate pudding. Though looking at it now, I don’t know if anyone wants to eat it.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” It smelled delicious.
“We got dessert once a week. It was often chocolate pudding.”
Fuck. Instead of trying to come up with something to say, Gregory changed the topic. “Did you get any sleep at all?”
“With a man in my bed?” Thanatos snorted.
He had nothing to say to that either. “Eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Gregory grabbed him and, judging by the startled yelp, Thanatos hadn’t seen him move. “Listen here, sweetheart. You’re gonna eat, you’re gonna sleep, and we’re gonna touch. We only have a few days to make this believable.”
He guided Thanatos toward the table.
“Maybe it would be better if you took Prophecy.”
Gregory hadn’t meant to scrunch his nose, but he couldn’t take Prophecy. At Thanatos’ widened eyes, he scowled, and to his surprise, Thanatos started laughing. He’d never heard him laugh before, and a shiver danced along his spine.
Then between one breath and another, he stopped. His irises and pupils disappeared, and his white eyes looked at him. Or they weren’t looking, there was nothing that could look. He let go of Thanatos so fast he might as well have been burned. Ice spread in his veins, and he wanted to run.
“Maybe you should take Prophecy instead?” Thanatos’ voice was wrong. It was monotone and hollow, similar to how Minerva’s voice got when she spoke a prophecy, but he appeared to be in control of what he was saying and doing because there was a mocking grin on his lips, cruel almost.
Then he blinked, and his eyes went back to normal. Gregory couldn’t move.
“What the fuck did you do that for?”
