“My firelight,” Nyx cooed.
Caris wrapped both her fists in the lapels of Nyx’s jacket and pulled him up so that their noses were nearly touching. Tendrils of smoke curled up from where she touched his clothes. Her eyes glowed brightly with her ire, scaring away the shadows that normally clung to the sharp angles of Nyx’s face. “You knew Tula and Kaes plotted to lock us away in these stones, separating us for centuries.”
“Longing stokes the fires of the heart?” Nyx replied with a wince.
Caelan knew he was standing there with his mouth hanging open, but he couldn’t move. His brain was completely locked up. This was why Nyx was so scared of the Goddess of Fire. They were lovers? Could gods even be lovers?
“Let me show you the fires of a woman scorned,” Caris growled.
“My Phoenix!” Nyx shouted in sudden panic. “Your love burned brightest for me so long as I remained out of your reach. What would happen when you finally caught me and your love burned up? How could I possibly go on if your love for me died?”
Caris froze and Caelan shut his mouth at last with a sharp click of his teeth. It was on the tip of his tongue to warn the Goddess of Fire that the Dead God was a fork-tongued snake, but then he touched her cheek with such gentleness. Something flashed in his eyes like heartache. Was Nyx actually telling the truth? Did the god believe that Caris only loved him as long as she could never have him?
That had to be the worst kind of torturous existence. Always apart. Reaching for each other, but never touching.
Caelan found himself staring at his empty left hand. In the real world, Drayce was still holding that hand. How long had they lived that pained half-life? Together but apart. Now, he had Drayce. They kissed when they wanted and Caelan could touch his cheek at every opportunity. Their love burned brighter together.
“I love you, Cael. No matter what the goddess decides, just come back to me,” Drayce’s words whispered through the room.
“Oh, he’s pretty too,” Caris suddenly purred.
Caelan looked up to see an orange blur as the goddess left Nyx sitting alone on the couch while she rushed to his side, bright yellow and orange flames circled him. He flinched and drew his shoulders in, but the heat of the fire didn’t burn him. The warmth was soothing. Reaching out, Caelan pushed his fingers into the flames, allowing them to curl around him like Tula’s vines. There was heat but no burning, as if he’d plunged his hand into a purring kitten’s silken fur.
Caris placed her hand against Caelan’s cheek and tilted his head up so that he was staring into her burning eyes. Her red lips were tilted up in a smile and her button nose wrinkled with her delight. “Talos and Omari. I might not be pleased with sharing custody of you with Tula, but you are an adorable thing.”
“What—” he started, but the goddess continued.
“The flames have always been friendly with you because you are mine.”
Half yours, Tula grumbled in Caelan’s head. Caris must have heard it, because the goddess rolled her eyes.
“And you’ve found yourself a dragon. How perfect. Just perfect. Let’s take a look at him.” Before Caelan could ask what she was talking about, Caris took a step back and waved her hand toward Caelan.
Fingers suddenly tightened on his left hand and the crackle of the flames in the room were lost to Drayce’s loud gasp.
Drayce was there. In the vision. Or wherever this technically was. She’d brought him here so that he could see both the Goddess of Fire and the God of Time.
His lover’s eyes went wide and he wobbled on unsteady legs. “What?” he croaked.
Caelan pulled his hand free and wrapped both of his arms around Drayce, pulling him in close when he seemed like he was about to fall. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”
Drayce blinked, those wide green eyes focusing on his face. He relaxed, his hands gripping him. “Cael? What happened?”
Leaning in, Caelan brushed his lips lightly across Drayce’s. “I’ve got you. Always.”
Drayce didn’t hesitate to return the kiss. He leaned heavily on him, humming softly.
“Oh, he’s so cute too. Both of you are so pretty. So perfect together,” Caris cooed and giggled. The raging woman of vengeance had disappeared and she now sounded like a smitten teenager.
Drayce pulled away and looked at her, his brow furrowing. “Who are you?”
“Drayce, this is Lady Caris, the Goddess of Fire,” Caelan answered as carefully as possible. He jerked his head to where Nyx was lounging on the sofa, opening and closing his gold pocket watch with a click. “And that’s Lord Nyx, the God of Time.”
“At least you got it right this time. No more of that Dead God bullshit,” Nyx muttered.