Chapter 22

I was home, on the beach at midnight, and there was lightning dancing on the waves.
I loved storms and the sight of all that power spread out before me was both humbling and intoxicating. I wasn't even cold; thick arms held me to a chest radiating heat. Long hair trailed down from above and hung around me like a comforting cloak. I sighed and snuggled deeper into the embrace.
"Vervain,"a voice tickled my ear. "I need you to listen and remember what I say."
I knew that voice, but I couldn't place it. I turned my head to look up at the speaker, but all I could make out was the flash of lightning in his eyes. The darkness swallowed everything else.
"I'll remember,"I said and reached out to touch his face. Maybe if I could feel him, I'd figure out who he was.
He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. "You're trapped, Vervain. There's only one place to trace in and out of Huitzilopochtli's home without his help. You must leave where you came in. Do you understand me?"
"Leave where I came in."My fingers moved against the softness of his lips. "Yes, I understand."
"I can't get to you; this was the only way, through our blood link."Emotion fought with the lightning in his eyes… fear... sadness? I wasn't sure.
"You don't have to be sad."I stroked the hair back from his face and heard the breath catch in his throat.
"Vervain,"my name was a groan on his lips before they descended. I felt a spark leap between us and heat crept through me on questing tendrils. His tongue tingled in my mouth; stroking against mine and thrusting until I was dizzy with electric wanting. I pulled at his clothes, but he stopped me with another groan. "We can't do this here."
"Why not?"I looked across the deserted beach and then back at him.
"We're not actually here, darling."My heart fluttered with the endearment, but I calmed it; maybe I'd misheard him. "You have to listen and remember."
"Right, I got that; listen and remember,"my voice came out a little sharp in my frustration, but his sudden laughter chased away my irritation.
"Only you could make me laugh in a dreaming."He shook his head, and I strained to see his face, but the shadows followed him. "You know the chant to take you home, right?"
"Yes, yes, of course."What did it matter now? Why wouldn't he just kiss me again?
"You need to get out of there, Vervain."His arms tightened around me. "I promised to protect you, but he's taken you to a place I can't go, and he's dangerous. Don't believe what he tells you."
I felt him kiss the top of my head, and I sighed. I'd always loved it when a man did that.
"I can protect myself."I smiled up at him and then turned away.
"Please, Vervain."He turned my face back to his again. "Remember. Don't trust the Aztec. Promise me you won't fall for his lies."
"I promise."I met his gaze with my own solemn one, and he nodded.
His arms twitched as he looked around us quickly. "He's here; I have to go."
His lips brushed mine, and he started to pull away, but I deepened the kiss. I slid my hands around his neck and hauled him against me. I felt that electricity ignite again, vibrating through his deep groan, but then it was suddenly gone. His lips changed; becoming more demanding and losing their softness.
I tried to pull back, but I wasn't supported in his arms anymore; I was lying in a bed, and he was above me, pushing me down. I opened my eyes and the beach was gone. The man above me was dark instead of pale, his eyes glowing red instead of flashing with lightning, and I suddenly knew where I was, where I'd been, and who I'd been with. I pulled away from Huitzilopochtli with a strength I didn't know I had, the name I'd been trying to recall falling from my lips.
"Thor."
Huitzilopochtli hissed and pushed away from me. "You kiss me like that and then dare to speak another god's name? Do not think to play with me, witch!"
I closed my eyes and shook my head. I was so confused that I couldn't even form an answer. He left the bed with a growl and went into the bathroom. I heard water running and sighed, my head spinning a little in relief. Maybe now I could think.
Thor was in my dream. What had he said? It had felt important; something about the Aether. I could only leave in the same place I'd come in. That was the stone room so I had to make my way back to the stone room… without Huitzilopochtli noticing. I got up and padded over to the door which led out to the hallway. The rush of water from the bathroom was reassuring, but I took a quick look over my shoulder anyway before trying the handle. When I pushed against it, I felt the power immediately pushing back. It was still warded. Damn.
Seconds after I let go, a wet, iron grip circled my wrist and spun me around. Huitzilopochtli glowered and dripped all over the carpet while he stood there in breathtaking nudity. To say he had a fine form would not only be an understatement but a crime. He shimmered in the adoring moonlight like a merman given legs. The sheen of water emphasized every hard curve, every dimple and flat plane. There wasn't a single hair to mar the perfection of his chest, and he had a sexy dip on each side of his hips where the bones protruded. Water collected in the small indentations; clinging to him desperately. I was weak and allowed my gaze to wander lower. What a stupid mistake. I almost groaned aloud. He was perfect and growing more so as I watched. I tore my eyes away with supreme effort and looked back at his face.
His initial anger had melted under my hot stare. He looked at me with hard, intense eyes that glittered like rubies in the soft light and my heart thudded in my throat. His hand loosened slightly to stroke my skin before pulling me forward. I hit his chest; the water on his skin soaking into my clothes and sending a shiver through me.
"What's your game, little witch?"His palm cupped my face as he stared at me intently. "You kiss me and then reject me, you try to escape and then look at me with open lust. These are dangerous tactics, and I've ceased being amused by them. Do you want the Viking or me?"
"I don't know what I want."I pushed as far away from him as I could. "But it's not you."
A drop of water fell slowly down the side of his face; rippling over his clenched jaw as his eyes narrowed. My own eyes widened as I realized my mistake. I should have played along. He might have lowered his guard if I'd pretended to want him. Instead, he backhanded me; dropping me to the thick carpet in a second. I ran my tongue along the cut inside my mouth; swallowing blood as I twisted to look up at him.
"You will,"he vowed viciously; towering over me like an angel of vengeance. "You'll learn to trust me. You'll learn to love me."
"Trust my jailer? Love a monster?"I sat up and rubbed my jaw. "Yeah, you're doing a phenomenal job of convincing me. You're a fucking lunatic."
Huitzilopochtli's eyes hardened a little, but he didn't say anything. He just bent down and lifted me into his arms as if I were a child. I felt my muscles tighten angrily, but I tamped down the feeling. The last thing I needed to do was push him when he was barely containing his rage. He walked over to the bed and laid me back down. I laid perfectly still as he crawled in, still damp, and pulled the covers over us before curling his body around mine. As if we were a normal, happy couple. Yep, he was totally insane. I felt the heavy weight of his leg fall over mine and his breath tickle along my neck. The sound of his even breathing surrounded me as I clenched my teeth and tried to hold back my tears.
Welcome to my world, where the monsters don't hide under your bed, they sleep in it beside you.