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More Apollo.
More of this.
I'll never tire from his touch.
As he dragged my skirt up to my waist, he drew what felt like constellations up along my thighs.
Pulling at his tunic ties at his shoulders, I wanted to feel more of his skin against me. When one was finally released, I worked at the other, he muttered into my ear with a dark husky voice, "So impatient, my sweet." Smiling with pure satisfaction, I drag my nails softly up his sides, feeling his muscles tensing underneath my touch. Even through his shirt, he is sensitive to my touch.
“Nephew.” The low rumble of Uncle Ov reaches my ears. Apollo and I jump, righting ourselves. Ov eyes look lazily over in our direction. Blood rushes to my face to which Apollo matches me. “It is time for you and Lady Pandora to return to the city.”
Apollo growls, “Uncle! Not right now. I'll come back when I'm ready to return.”
“I know that you’re… preoccupied. But I wouldn’t be pulling you away from Lady Pandora without superb reasoning,” scolds Uncle. Dropping his voice low, Uncle continues, “The shadowy one has returned to the capital. We need you back immediately.”
Apollo tenses at the mention of the shadow one.
Swearing under his breath, he replies, “I'll be right there.” His brow knits apologetically to me. “Time to go, my little sunflower.”
Apollo and I could hardly look at each other. Ever since hunting lodge, every time we bump into each other, an odd tension spreads between us.
Equally cautious.
But also addictive.
… And I craved more.
But the only guaranteed time that I see Apollo right now is when we sat across from each other at meals. Meals which we shared with others.
Since the picnic, I have missed beyond what I thought was possible. But for days he has been preoccupied hunting this shadowy figure within his borders.
Though no one has found a trace from the intruder. Other than the whispering rumor of his presence.
Apollo knows this so called stranger.
But I think he is trying to protect me, shelter me from the evils lurking in Olympus.
Each mealtime, Apollo escorts me down to the dining room. Often, we animatedly chattered. He’d give me flowers for my room, and I tuck the long stems in my hair. After dinner, I place the flowers in my now vibrantly packed vase.
Finally, the small garden has had a facelift. Hours upon hours of work have gone into it. But even after the years of detritus and neglect, flowers were finally taking root.
Roses flow up and down the trellises. Some old, original to the garden, others new. Nearly all the roses were red. Other flowers like snapdragons, also known as linaria, dotted the gardens too. The tall vibrant slipper-like blossoms of foxglove sway in the wind.
I wonder what it must have looked like in its prime. It must have been a sight to see.
Sighing, I wish I could’ve seen it. Instead of the well taught hands of the previous gardener employed by the royal family, the garden has a somewhat experienced rookie tending to it. A rookie who only has experience with plants in the human realm, plants meant to provide food instead of beauty. I sure hope that flowers behave the same in both worlds.
Since coming here, I could feel the magic in the air. It danced and tickled my skin. Honestly, the sensation drove me more than a bit nuts when I first got here and didn’t understand what was happening. It was almost lively with goosebumps perpetually on your skin. Now, it appears to have calmed down. I'm not sure if it’s because I'm used to magic or if the magic comes and goes.
I wonder if the plants absorb the magic too. Would it make them grow stronger, more vivid and last longer?
Well, maybe not based on the state of the garden when I first came across it.
Just me and Arista surrounded by the garden.
Shuddering, I jump at the sound of the creaking door behind me. Becoming rigid, it was like I had grown roots and become one with the garden.
Apollo stands leaning against the doorway to the main garden with his usually stony demeanor. His face was completely unreadable. Cocking my head to the side, I ask, “What’re you doing here?”
