Until Darkness Ascends

CHAPTER NINETEEN

If he hadn't been holding her, she would have thought he was a fabrication of her mind. Her hands clung to his shoulders as she looked up to him, her eyes slightly blurred. "Altair? I-I thought-"

He shook his head. "I couldn't. Not without knowing. Not without being certain."

"Certain? Of what?"

He looked at her, torn between two desires. "I want you in my bed, I want to be sure...because no woman has ever made me feel like you have, not in such a short period of time. I'd die for you. Nay, I'd live for you. And I want to see if you're mine, but the idea that I'd hurt you..."

"If we do lay with each other and I am not your mate, will you leave?"

He looked at her with focused eyes and furrowed brows. "No, of course not. I am here with you until you meet Hades."

"I want to see," she affirmed. "Don't worry about hurting me." She cupped his sharp jaw. "Even if I am not your truemate, it would be an honor that you'd consider me to be."

"You'll get third-degree burns, Cordelia. You do not understand the pain-"

"Do not tell me what I can or cannot handle. I understand the ramifications. I am asking you to trust me."

It seemed to take him a moment to contemplate his decision. It wasn't exactly that he didn't trust her, it was that he knew she would downplay her pain to make him feel better. But he nodded because the want he had for her almost eclipsed his care for her.

"If I am going to take you," he began, "we are going it do it the right way."

"Well," she grinned, "I would hope so."

With a grin himself, his eyes wandered behind her before coming back to her eyes. "Not what I am saying. Do you remember reading that book in Geldrid?"

Her eyebrows furrowed, but she nodded. It was probably the book she remembered the most.

"What did it say about mating? Do you remember?"

"That archangels mate for life, their mates are the catalyst for happiness," she listed off, but that didn't seem to be what he wanted. "They build nests to mate, which are rooms meant to appease their females."

"Yes, and this room is supposed to be completely planned by the males, and I think I have the perfect place."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

"Do you think Zeus is angry? You-"

"No."

She jumped from the other male's voice who stood at the door. The God looked between the two with a clear look of acceptance. The two parted, Altair taking a small step in front of her.

"But there are many Gods here who are wondering what happened. In fact, all the Gods are here."

"All?" Cordelia echoed. "Is Hades here?"

The two males stiffened. Something about her question made them uncomfortable, but Zeus nodded. "May I see him? I met him once, on his throne, when I was in Voltulora. He sent me back."

"He sent you back?"

Both of them spoke at once and as she looked between them, she nodded. "He's said an archangel had given me his essence and to keep myself alive."