Page 50 of Until Death
"Are you alright?" he asks softly, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. I nod, unable to trust my voice. "Good.”
Before I can say anything, his lips meet mine and all words are lost to me in the heady rush of emotions that hits me, draining me of myself. What little energy I have is nearly washed away as my knees buckle beneath me.
His arms tighten, keeping me upright and anchored to him as he deepens our kiss, and I find myself struggling not to get lost in him. Vaguely, I’m aware of Eros walking me backward, the back of my legs hitting the edge of the bed.
His weight covers me as we collapse onto the bed, his hands moving along my curves. Eros’ desire for me suddenly deepens, his touch igniting a fire so hot within me I almost cry out in pain, as he pulls at my nightgown … and I’m abruptly brought back to my senses.
My body freezes, and it takes him a moment to realize before he pulls back. My cheeks burn with shame as I find myself unable to look him in the face.
“I can’t,” I whisper.
“I apologize. I should not have started anything,” Eros says, pulling back as he runs a hand through his hair. “Least of all when you are in so much danger.”
“How did you find me?”
“Cerberus.”
I stare at him dumbfounded for a long moment. “Then he is helping us?”
“I would not go so far as to say that. Not just yet, anyway.”
“Of course. Well, what are we waiting for?” I ask. “You are here to take me away, right?”
“No, not yet,” he says, his voice hesitant.
My heart sinks at his words. “Why not?”
Eros doesn’t answer immediately, instead choosing to move to sit on the edge of the bed.
“It is quite impossible, at the moment. At least until we can find a way to convince Hades to release you, or escape through the palace itself.”
“Can’t you fly me out of here?”
“No, Persephone and Cerberus are among the only beings aside from Hades who retain their powers within these walls,” Eros says before practically spitting, “and Deimos.”
“But the sparrow …”
“Minute magic, as is allowed within a certain range of the palace,” he explains. “And, as you saw, I was unable to keep that form as soon as you pulled me into the room.”
Frowning, I can’t help but ask, “Then why are you here?”
“To give you hope,” Eros answers. “To let you know that we have not given up, and to remind you that you are not alone. We are working on a plan to get you out of here.”
“Who do you mean bywe?”
Eros pauses at this before carefully saying, “Death, myself, and now, to a much lesser extent, Cerberus.”
“So, Death is here? In Aglaia?”
“Yes.”
“Then why hasn’t he come for me?”
“I convinced him to wait until we can come up with a decent plan.”
“But he is Death—” I start.
“Exactly. He isdeath. He cannot simply barge in without putting the entire kingdom, and your very life in danger. It would be a bloodbath unlike anything ever seen, and it is unlikely that anyone would survi—” Eros begins to explain, but he gets no further as the sound of a key scraping in the lock fills the room.
