“It is,” he responded, his irises suddenly reminding her of flint. “However, what’s right isn’t always what’s rational. My resistance to your charms is the only way to prove my intentions. With you, I will never settle for anything less than everything. You are too important to me. In this, you’ll find I have no give.”
The harpy—rendered speechless. The nymph—breathless. Halo might be winning me over.
What if they could make forever work?
Roux appeared near the couch, all pale hair, red eyes, and muscles. “I have news.”
The two Astra engaged in a telepathic conversation. Whatever was said before Roux flashed off infuriated Halo.
“Tell me,” she insisted, stomach already churning.
“Roux visited Nova, our home realm. Each Astra has his own territory and palace, but each palace is connected through a mystical hallway known as the Hall of Secrets. Whispers are collected there. Secrets spoken by immortals are collected there. Five hundred years ago, Erebus whispered a message to me. He said my female is eternally bound to the Bloodmor. Destroying the weapon will destroy her.”
“Wait. How would he even know that back then?”
“He owns the Blade of Destiny. I’m unsure what it does, exactly, or how it works, but it allows him to see multiple futures for multiple decisions.”
“If that’s true, and I’m bound to the Bloodmor...” The ramifications were greater than she’d realized. How had she not comprehended this sooner?
“We will have that dagger in our possession. Nothing will stop us.”
Us. Was there a more beautiful word in any language? Obtaining the weapon would not be easy. Obviously. The god knew they would make a play for it, since he’d oh, so clearly foreseen this.
“I knew I should have done a double major to include Theft as well as Murder. Come on.” Ophelia popped to her feet and tugged Halo to his. “Let’s spar and test out my thieving skills.”
He teleported her to the coliseum, where they worked on her stealth. Halo kept his focus on her improvement, his hands rarely straying—even when hers did. Though her illicit touches ceased when the monsters rattled their cages, aggression mounting.
A cruel mistress, she brandished a mental cattle prod until calm descended. Ophelia poured herself into the training—she trained as if her life and future depended on it, pushing herself until the sun slipped from the sky. A few times, she debated letting a beast slip its cage, just to find out what would happen. Now wasn’t the day to risk it, though.
“Whatever occurs today, we finish our earlier conversation after the labor.” Halo cupped her cheeks. Despite the intensity and longevity of their workout, he showed no signs of fatigue. “Do you agree?”
“Yes,” she rasped, clutching his wrists. “We’ll talk.”
Satisfaction seeped from him. “The freeze comes in three, two, one.”
She held her breath. Would Erebus act as quickly as she suspected?
A trumpet blew, and she sighed.
“Halo Phaninon,” he barked, not removing his gaze from her.
When a second blast came, they both exhaled.
“This isn’t a death match,” she said. Thank goodness!
“No, it isn’t.” Erebus appeared, oozing glee. For once, his army of phantoms wasn’t congregated in the stands or stretched out behind him.
“This is to be a feat of cunning,” the god announced. “Hercules won a girdle from an Amazon queen. You, Halo, must win your female’s heart. Metaphorically or literally, your choice. And there’s no need to thank me. Your expression is thanks enough.”
Rage burned through her, every monster in her internal zoo banging its cages, seeking freedom. Hand over her heart? He had dared to force her hand? “You steaming pile of—argh!”
“I’ll leave you to it.” A grinning Erebus vanished.
Ophelia paced. Either she accepted Halo’s offer of forever, or she forced him to cut out her heart. Both paths sucked for her. Yeah, for him too. Had she verged on accepting his offer before Erebus made his announcement? Yes. But now? Leaning into her foe’s battle plan, as if it were a heavenly gift? Foolish! For her and for Halo. Surely he saw that. He would never know if she’d caved to save herself or because she truly loved him.
She swung her gaze back to him. And oh, wow. Okay. He’d crossed his arms and upped his smolder.
“Well?” he asked.
“You can’t be okay with this,” she screeched. “He wants me to pledge forever, which must mean his next torment hinges on it. Maybe. Probably. That’s why we should...resist?” Argh! She’d reached the state of being she most despised, when she didn’t know anything about anything.
Halo hiked his shoulders. “His goal means nothing to me. My goal means everything. I’ll use every weapon at my disposal.”
Her heart flipped. That was almost sweet.
What was she going to do? “Give me a minute to think,” she mumbled.
His pupils did that pulsing thing, and she pursed her lips.
He was obviously manipulating her and loving it. Was there any worse quality a forever mate could have? No, not really. Also, a winner didn’t let herself be outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted. In fact, a smart girl would force him to cut out her heart rather than admit she had sunk low enough to catch feelings.