Page 54 of Touch of Death
“Good, this way.”
He pulls me through a heavy curtain of vines to one side, revealing a bright patch of soft grass where a picnic has been laid out on a yellow blanket. My eyes dance over the food spread out on it as my stomach lets out a growl that colors my cheeks.
“How is this a lesson—” I start.
“You are to ignore Death,” Eros whispers in my ear, leading me toward the blanket. “Lie down, and place your head on my lap.”
“I don’t—”
“Hush, mortal, and do as you have been told.”
I frown at him, but his tone reminds me that the time for questions has passed. Eros settles on the blanket, and I reluctantly do as I’ve been told just as Death pushes through the vines and into the clearing.
I can feel his gaze harden on us, and I have to fight the urge to remove myself from Eros’ and run to him. To assure him that this is nothing more than a means to an end.
Even as I think this, I wonder what kind of end this is truly leading to.
“Join us,” Eros says, plucking a grape and placing it between my lips before absentmindedly tracing the line of my jaw with his fingertip. I shudder at his touch, but I force myself not to move. “Tell me, Death, how does it feel?”
“How does what feel, Eros?” Death asks coldly, still standing in the clearing.
“To watch me touch her when you do not know her touch yourself? Eros asks, running a tender hand over my cheek before glancing up at Death.
Death bristles at his question, and I can see the fight gathering in his eyes. If Eros intends to continue pushing his buttons, I fear we will never make any progress. Unable to stop myself, I sit up and glare at the god.
“Death knows my touch, and I don’t see how that is relevant to what you’re supposed to be teaching me.”
A strange look passes over Eros’ face at my words. For just a moment, as his gaze moves over me, I swear he can truly see me despite his supposed blindness.
“How?” Eros asks, and I feel a blush creeping into my cheeks at his question.
“I had to end up here somehow, didn’t I?” I answer quietly, my eyes dropping to my hands as they worry the sheer fabric of my dress.
“So, it was a lie then, when you told me you’d never taken anyone to bed?” Eros says, his eyes narrowing on me.
“No. I mean, we shared a moment. Together. But it … we… I …” my words tumble together, but I can’t seem to close my mouth, let alone make sense of what I’m trying to tell him. Thankfully, Death clears his throat, drawing Eros’ attention away from me.
“I kissed her,” he says. “That is all.”
Eros watches him for a long moment before turning back to me, a slow smile spreading across his face.
“Death can touch you?”
“No, the kiss is what killed me.”
Eros cocks his head for a moment as he continues to study me. Then he glances across to where Death stands, warily watching him.
“Have you touched her since coming here?”
“Of course not.”
“Why? It would be the first thing I tried if I were you.”
Death opens his mouth before pausing and closing it. I find myself glancing up at him, suddenly just as curious. If I am already dead, could his touch really bring me any further harm?
“Because even I do not know what would happen,” Death finally admits. “I cannot risk causing her even greater harm than I already have. I swore to protect her at all costs.”
“Sometimes we must risk what we fear most in order to truly protect those we care about,” Eros says, taking me by surprise. “At least, so my brother likes to often remind me.”
