“I’ll sleep when this is over,” she answered tiredly, pushing her hair from her eyes. I had to admit, it was the first time in a very, very long time that she didn’t look absolutely perfect. “You are what is important to me now, Em. I wish I could help you more, but my hands are tied. It is not something I’m accustomed to. Zeus is going to give you challenges and you will have to overcome them yourself- without my help. It’s maddening.”
I wrapped my arms around her slender shoulders and laid my head against her arm. “Mother, you will help me. Everything you’ve ever taught me will be of help. And you’ve taught me so much. Please don’t worry. I will keep your wisdom close to my heart and I will come through this. I promise that.”
A single tear slipped from my mother’s eye and down her smooth cheek, causing a rivulet in the dirt that smudged her skin. “You do have my strength,” she admitted, brushing impatiently at her tears. “I have faith that you will win. I just don’t want you to lose focus, daughter. Think of your own well-being first, please. I beg of you. Think of anyone else second.”
I drew in a sharp breath.
“You mean Brennan,” I said slowly. “You want me to think of myself before Brennan.”
She nodded. “You have to, Empusa. The only person that one can ever truly count on is their self. You must have learned that by now.”
I backed away from her slightly.
“Mother, what you haven’t learned yet is that I can count on Brennan. He’s a part of me. Just as Mormo is of you. Surely you understand.”
“What I understand is that Mormo would kill me in a moment if he had to,” she answered. Before she could continue, I cut her off.
“Brennan is not Mormo,” I said firmly. “That is something that should be apparent to everyone. He is kind and good and he loves me like no other.”
“I know,” my mother answered softly. “But he has no experience with the gods, with his father. It is something that takes practice to withstand unscathed. He doesn’t have that practice yet.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I dismissed her concern. “I will always be the most important thing to him. And he is the same to me.”
“Very well,” mother answered. “I can see that I will not change your mind on this. Just assure me that you will pay attention. I am not certain, but Zeus may very well send you surprise challenges. He may not announce them ahead of time. Be on your guard.”
“I’m always on my guard,” I murmured. “My father taught me that lesson long ago.”
She nodded. “I know,” she answered softly. Leaning forward, she kissed me lightly on the cheek and hugged me hard. She smelled like lavender and dust. “I love you, Empusa. Remember that.”
“I love you, too,” I told her. And she was gone. I stood alone in my dream and the dark shadows swirled from the edges of my consciousness and I drifted back into sleep.
Chapter Six
I woke to someone staring at me.
Brennan was propped up on one elbow, running one finger slowly along my exposed thigh. Glancing around, I found that it was still dark outside and the fire in our hut had died down into embers. There was a chilly feel of dew forming in the air. It must be near dawn.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Brennan answered my unspoken question. “I’m sorry that I disturbed you, though.”
“You touching me is never a disturbance,” I assured him. Grasping his moving hand, I clutched it to my heart. His fingers were warm and strong. “You can touch me whenever you’d like.”
“Is that an open invitation?” he asked, one golden eyebrow raised. I gulped at his suggestive tone.
“Perhaps,” I whispered, snuggling closer. Brennan’s body was warm and hard, his muscles perfectly formed, his jaw chiseled, his eyes a liquid topaz. I had never in my life seen a more breathtaking man, mortal or god.
“Thank you,” he murmured into my ear. I had forgotten he could read my thoughts and I felt my cheeks get hot as I blushed.
“It’s true. You’re beautiful,” I whispered, swallowing my embarrassment.
I felt him grin against my neck. “And so are you,” he said as he ran his nose along my skin, inhaling. “And you smell nice.”
“Thank you,” I answered, taking a sharp breath as he ran his palms along my hips, pulling me even closer. His body was so hard next to mine that I gasped. He covered my mouth with his and kissed me in a way I’d never been kissed before.
My heart raced and I clutched at his back, feeling the strong muscles beneath my fingers contract as he moved. I slipped my foot along his calf as I returned his kiss, licking his lower lip lightly. He groaned and plunged his tongue into my mouth and I arched against him.
“Sweet heavens,” I gasped, trying to breathe. Electricity sparked in the air, crackling around us. It caused my hair to stand on end.
“I want you,” Brennan said softly, nipping at my lip lightly. “You’re all I think about, Em. Every minute, every day.”
“I know,” I answered. “We’re going to have to focus, though, Brennan. We have to concentrate on the matters at hand.”
“This is the matter at hand,” he growled lightly against my mouth. “You’re in my hands right now, Em. We’ll think about the rest later.”
“Alright,” I panted, trying to catch my breath as Brennan ran his hands everywhere on my body. Everywhere he touched felt like it ignited into flames and it was growing more and more difficult to catch my breath and focus. Colors from around the room swirled together in the corners of my eyes and Brennan’s aura appeared to me, bright golds and yellows outlining his body as bright as the sun. I blinked hard and struggled to focus.
I could feel the essence of his soul pulsing in his chest along with his heart. It was pounding hard and I could hear each individual beat. I unconsciously moved toward him, an automatic response to his aura. I struggled to move backward but the urge to be near him, to inhale him, was very, very strong.
“I can’t do this,” I gasped, pushing at him. “I can’t. I’m going to kill you by accident.”