I led her out of the building, glancing over my shoulder again and again to find her watching me. The second the sun was on my face, I lifted her into my arms, spun her and pressed my lips to hers.
I hadn’t known I was going to do it, but the second I touched her, I realized I’d been waiting for it. And that I needed her lips against mine more than I needed to breathe.
The dam behind which I’d hidden for thousands of years broke. Every emotion bubbled to the surface, pulling me under as she opened for me, allowing me to run small strokes over her tongue.
My friends didn’t stop us. I knew they wanted to hold her, run their hands over her and assure themselves she was all right, but they didn’t rush me.
I needed this, and could suddenly imagine what it would be like to love again. If I did, it would feel like this.
“Get it!” someone yelled, so close I spun us around and growled at the skinny young man surrounded by his friends. His face reddened, making an already splotchy face splotchier before he hurried away.
Leo dropped her forehead to my back, one hand moving to rest against my shoulder blade. The trust in the movement nearly brought me to my knees, but I stood even taller.
Because Paris was right. This was being alive. For the first time in my new existence,thiswas hope.
Leo
We drove out of Oxford that night and back to Hector’s home after emptying my apartments and office of my belongings.
I stood, final box of my stuff in my arms, and let out a sigh. Orestes, already balancing two boxes on top of each other, put them gently on the ground before taking mine. He pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek and lifted all three.
He was the only one who hadn’t kissed my lips yet. And while he hadn’t pushed for it, the warmth in his gaze suggested it wasn’t far off. It made a shiver run down my spine in anticipation.
I could wait.
Today, everything in my life had been turned upside down. The position I’d worked so hard for was reduced. I was a glorified lecturer, with no access to the libraries and artifacts that fascinated me.
And my existence? I was something else. Something that frightened a goddess.
And yet…Iwasn’t afraid.
My life wasn’t over just because I wasn’t at Oxford. Everything I’d ever done had been building toward this moment, this future.
“Is there anything else you need?” Orestes asked, his gaze traveling through the apartments before returning to mine.
“Not here,” I answered, and the gold in his eyes seemed to flash as he took in my words.
He smiled, just a small lift of the corners of his lips. “Come on then.” He tipped his head toward the door where his friends and my new…everythingwaited for us.
I didn’t know what the future would bring. Where I could always see my path, now there was just the unknown. But I didn’t hesitate. With a firm nod and smile, I followed him, ready for anything.