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“Don’t you trust me?”
Dolus shrugged. “Sometimes, the facts speak for themselves. You show me how serious you are by tying up the loose ends in your life, and I’ll know if you’re sure.”
Damn the fucking bond I’d forged with Lorraine! I hadn’t kept my cock in my pants, and now I was stuck in this life, stuck with her, until All Hallows’ Eve, when the magic came to a point. Only then could I sever the bond and move on with my life.
I should have thought harder before sleeping with her.
The problem was that when I was around her, I stopped thinking altogether and just did. I did what felt good. I did what felt right.
“I’ll be ready,” I grumbled.
Dolus nodded.
Warmth and light moved through the trees, and a deer appeared. It nibbled on the grass. Magic shivered over my skin.
Dolus glanced at me once before he vanished into thin air.
A moment later, Artemis appeared through the trees. She smiled at me. “I was hoping I would run into you tonight,” she said.
I stifled a groan. Was every fucking god and goddess going to look me up tonight? All I wanted was to go to my tree and be alone, relishing the aftermath of the most incredible sex I’d ever had—and with the gift of seduction, that was a feat—but everyone had to come bother me.
“How are you, Ash?” Artemis asked. “You look… better.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m fine.”
Artemis tilted her head. “What has you so riled up?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what it is…” She frowned and studied me. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something about you is different.”
“Must be the way the light falls on my skin,” I said sarcastically.
Artemis chuckled softly, humor in her eyes. “You have such a funny sense of humor.”
I wasn’t trying to be funny.
“Come, let’s walk together. Tell me how things have been for you the past couple of days. Philotes tells me that the human is still around, and you’re looking after her.”
“I have to,” I said.
“You know you don’t have to do it,” Artemis said.
I wasn’t going to tell her about the bond I’d forged by sleeping with Lorraine. That would just open a whole new can of worms, and I wasn’t in the mood for another lecture from Artemis.
“She can’t fend for herself if they come after her, and the magic in the vale will keep her safe.”
Not to mention that because of our bond, she couldn’t leave the vale even if she wanted to. Dammit, it would have been better if she did so I could move on with my life and stop going back to her. I was drawn to her, and as long as she was here, she was bound to me, but I couldn’t seem to get away from her, either.
I had to cut her out of my life if I wanted things with Dolus to work out.
“What else have you been up to?” Artemis asked. “Rowan says you’re really busy.”
“Does everyone talk about everyone around here?” I asked. “Or is it just me you’re all gossiping about?”
“Come now, Ash. You know we’re all worried about you.”
I sighed. “It would be nice if you all could just mind your own business once in a while, instead of sticking your noses into mine.”
