Page 5

Psyche

Psyche shivered despite the heater blowing hot air against her face and the seat warmer working overtime beneath her. Her fingers still tingled from the cold, and she adjusted the vents again as if one perfect angle would finally dispel the chill that clung to her.

The flight had been…something. Less than an hour, but long enough to freeze her to her core. As a shifter, hypothermia was no issue as her body could withstand freezing temperatures. In her wolf form, she actually enjoyed swimming in the frigid waters off Vancouver Island.

However, in her human form, she just despised the sensation of being too cold. Besides, with all the modern conveniences available, why should she suffer?

She stole a glance at Eros, regretting it immediately when she caught the faintest curve of amusement on his lips. Of course, he’d noticed her discomfort. She avoided his gaze and focused on adjusting the vents again.

“What did I get myself into?” she muttered under her breath, half hoping he wouldn’t hear.

“Cold?”

“No,” she shot back, but her teeth chattered, betraying her. “I’m perfectly warm.”

Eros’s smirk deepened as he leaned back in his seat, utterly unaffected by the icy flight they’d just endured. “You should’ve mentioned you get cold easily. I could’ve brought an extra layer.”

Psyche rolled her eyes and turned the heater up another notch. “I don’t think another jacket would’ve helped much at the altitude we were at. You could’ve mentioned it was going to be freezing up there.”

“I thought it was obvious.”

“Not everyone assumes their travel plans will involve becoming a human icicle,” she snapped, glaring at him briefly before returning her attention to the dashboard.

She couldn’t deny that the flight had been incredible. When they’d taken off, she’d been too preoccupied with how strange it felt to be in his arms to notice much else. But once they were in the air, soaring over the vast Alaskan wilderness, it had been hard not to be awestruck.

And then they’d climbed higher, cutting through the atmosphere to avoid being spotted, and the biting cold had set in. The wind had howled around them, piercing her jacket, and stealing the breath from her lungs. She’d instinctively pressed closer to Eros’s chest, his naked chest, since he had to take off his shirt before unfurling his wings, burying her face against him to escape the freezing gusts. He hadn’t said anything, but she could feel the warmth of his body radiating against hers, a small mercy in the bitter chill.

Now, as they pulled out of the rental car lot in Healy, Psyche couldn’t have been more relieved to feel her toes again. They had needed to get a car since Eros didn’t have the power to glamor. And how would she be able to explain that her mode of transportation was a former god with beautiful white wings?

The heater in the truck was finally working its magic, and the thought of being in a car—a warm car—for the next leg of their journey was enough to lift her spirits.

“We’re almost there,” Eros said as he drove. “Another hour or less, and you’ll be at your precious dig site.”

“Good,” she replied, trying to sound cool and composed despite her lingering frustration. “I could use a little less altitude and a lot more heat.”

Eros chuckled. “Noted. Next time, I’ll bring blankets.”

“There’s not going to be a next time,” she muttered.

The hum of the SUV filled the space as Psyche stared out the window, watching the landscape blur past. She checked in with herself, breathing deeply and assessing how she felt. Not too off, not too overwhelmed. That was good. A meltdown was not part of her list today, not when she was so close to starting her work at the dig site.

Eros had one hand on the wheel, his other arm resting casually on the center console. His profile was sharp and striking—the strong line of his jaw, the faint scruff that added an edge of ruggedness, the annoyingly perfect sweep of his hair. She mentally cataloged his features, one by one, her mind slipping into its usual habit of listing and organizing.

“Hadrosaurs,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Eros glanced at her briefly. “What?”

“They’re one of my favorite dinosaurs,” she explained, her voice picking up speed. “The site in Denali has Hadrosaur tracks, which is fascinating because their tracks show herd behavior. You can see how they moved together, maybe how they protected the young. There’s also evidence of other species at the site, too. We’re hoping to uncover more of that.”

“Right,” Eros said, his eyes still on the road but his tone filled with mild amusement. “That’s…a lot of information.”

“I like listing things,” Psyche replied matter-of-factly. “It helps me organize my thoughts.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She ignored the smirk, focusing instead on the next question. “Do you want to know why I like dinosaurs?”

“Sure,” Eros said, sounding genuinely curious despite his usual aloofness.

“When I was little, I always preferred dinosaur toys to dolls,” she began. “Dolls were too much work. They had clothes you had to change, hair that got messy. Dinosaurs were…easier. They were fascinating, like these ancient creatures that roamed the earth before people. They were huge, powerful, and they were real. Not imaginary like fairy tales or superheroes. Real.”

Eros nodded, still listening as she continued.

“My parents noticed how obsessed I was with dinosaurs, so they took me to natural history museums. They even enrolled me in all kinds of programs—summer camps, science workshops, anything that had to do with paleontology. I loved it. It stuck with me.”

“Huh,” Eros said, his tone contemplative. “So, this is, what, your lifelong dream?”

“Exactly,” Psyche said, feeling a spark of excitement light in her chest. “I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember. Being here, working at this site—it’s like finally getting to step into the world I’ve imagined since I was a kid.”

Eros glanced at her again. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m your transportation, then.”

Psyche gave him a look, unsure if he was teasing or being sincere. “I suppose so.”

The SUV rumbled along the road, and Psyche felt a strange sense of contentment settle over her. Even with Eros’s unpredictable personality, she was exactly where she wanted to be.

Psyche shifted in her seat, turning to glance at Eros. “Why do you even know how to drive? You’re a god. You have wings, for goodness’ sake.”

Eros smirked, keeping his eyes on the road. “When you’ve been alive as long as I have, you get bored. Humans are creative little things, always inventing something new. I’ve been driving since Ford rolled out the Model T. It was revolutionary back then.”

She blinked, her curiosity piqued despite herself. “How old are you, exactly?”

He chuckled. “Don’t you know it’s rude to ask someone’s age?”

She crossed her arms. “You don’t seem the type to care about manners.”

“Touché.” He gave her a sidelong glance, then shrugged. “Around twenty thousand years old. Give or take.”

Her jaw dropped slightly. “Twenty thousand? Artemis is older than you, though, right?”

“Much older,” he admitted with a grin. “She’s ancient, even by our standards. Don’t tell her I said that.”

Psyche laughed at the way he said it, but her curiosity didn’t waver. “Why’d you lose your power? You don’t exactly seem like the self-sacrificing type.”

His grin faded slightly. “Ever hear of the Winged app?”

“Oh, yeah. That thing caused so much drama. Wait— you were behind it?”

The dating app had caused its users to instantly fall in love and the world came to a standstill as society rushed to be with their lovers, getting married, and basically love to love.

“Guilty.” His tone was unapologetic, but there was a flicker of something behind his eyes. “My ‘punishment’ was to stick around the Upperworld until I learned how to be more empathetic and all that nonsense. Spoiler: I haven’t.”

Psyche tilted her head, her curiosity growing. “Winged was actually a really good app. My classmates loved it. I minored in computer science during undergrad, and I analyzed it for fun. The algorithm was impressive.”

“Of course you did,” he quipped, his smirk returning.

She ignored his teasing. “Algorithms and coding are easy for me, but my first love will always be dinosaurs.”

Eros let out a whistle, shaking his head. “Dinosaurs. What a thing to love.”

The casual dismissal hit a nerve. Psyche felt her chest tighten, anger flaring. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped.

“Nothing,” he replied with a shrug. “Just…they’re extinct. You couldn’t have picked something more alive to obsess over?”

Her hands clenched into fists as she glared at him. “They’re not just an obsession. Dinosaurs shaped the world we live in today. Their fossils hold answers to questions we’re still asking. They’re a window into the past, into evolution, into?—”

“Okay, okay,” Eros interrupted, holding up a hand. “Relax. I didn’t mean to insult your beloved dinos. They’re cool, I get it.”

Psyche exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the lingering irritation. “You don’t get it.”

“Maybe not. But I guess you’re going to educate me whether I like it or not.”

Psyche folded her arms tightly across her chest, and turned away to stare out the window at the dense trees of Denali National Forest. “You’re impossible,” she huffed.

“I hear that a lot,” he chuckled.

She let out a long sigh, her annoyance simmering just under the surface. But as the dig site came into view—a small cluster of tents and equipment spread out against the rugged backdrop of the forest—her irritation began to dissipate. Her heart leapt with excitement, and she leaned closer to the window for a better look.

Eros parked the SUV, shutting off the engine but making no move to say anything. Psyche finally turned to look at him, her gaze settling on his infuriatingly smug face. Her fingers twitched with the temptation to punch him, but she quickly dismissed the thought. He’s my ride home, she reminded herself sternly.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said stiffly, forcing herself to smile. “The orientation should take about an hour.”

Eros nodded, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel. “Text me if you finish early, but I’ll be here in an hour either way.”

She nodded back, reminding herself to be civil. “Right. Thanks again.”

A grin spread across his face. “You’re welcome. Always happy to help.”

There was something in his tone that pricked at her nerves, but she bit her tongue. She pushed open the door, eager to escape his presence, but her foot caught on the edge of the step. She stumbled, barely catching herself before face-planting into the dirt.

“I’ve never seen a woman try to get away from me so fast.” Behind her, Eros let out a bark of laughter.

Psyche growled under her breath, slamming the door shut with more force than necessary. His laughter followed her, and her cheeks burned with frustration. She straightened her shoulders and walked toward the buildings, refusing to let him see how much he was getting under her skin.

“You know,” he called out behind her, “I’ll still be here when you’re done.”

She didn’t respond, choosing instead to lift her chin and march on. This was her day, her dream, and she wasn’t about to let him ruin it.

The site manager clapped her hands once. “That’s the end of the site tour. After you get your assignments, we can get to work,” Rebecca announced.

Psyche stood among the group outside the barracks, observing as her fellow cohort members muttered their thanks. Some lingered, asking Rebecca if they could explore the site further.

“That’s fine,” Rebecca said curtly, “but stay away from the dig site itself.”

Psyche waited until the crowd thinned before approaching Rebecca. “Hi, Rebecca,” she said, reintroducing herself. “I just wanted to say the orientation was great. I’m really excited to start.”

Rebecca gave a small nod. “Ah, yes. Psyche. What did you think of the tour?” She was a tall woman with sharp features, her dark brown hair pulled back into a no-nonsense bun that matched her crisp, utilitarian clothing.

“It was fantastic. I wanted to let you know about my disability. I figured it’s better to be upfront.”

Rebecca’s expression didn’t shift, remaining strictly professional. “Yes, I’ve been briefed. We’ve worked with students and employees with disabilities before, so we’re prepared. If you have specific needs, let me know.”

Psyche appreciated Rebecca’s matter-of-fact tone. There was no pity, just professionalism. It made her feel at ease.

Rebecca crossed her arms. “Would you like to start earlier than the rest of the cohort? Since you have specific goals tied to your PhD, we could accommodate that.”

“Yes, absolutely!” Psyche snapped her fingers. “That would be incredible.”

Rebecca allowed a small smile. “Good. One issue, though. We don’t have a solo room available just yet.”

Psyche didn’t miss a beat. “That’s not a problem! I’ve talked to people who’ve camped around Denali. It’s still not that cold, and I love camping. It’s one of the few outdoor activities I actually enjoy.”

Rebecca nodded. “It would only be for the week. If you’re willing to start tomorrow, we can get you settled.”

“Perfect. I’ll get my things and figure out the camping situation.”

“There are a couple of camping sites nearby,” Rebecca said. “I’ll email you the options, and you can reserve one online.”

“That works perfectly,” Psyche said, snapping her fingers once more. “Thank you! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She walked away, barely able to contain her elation. She hoped her snapping her fingers wasn’t annoying. It was just how her body reacted when she was excited. Then she remembered to check her phone and winced—it was way past the hour she had promised Eros. She hurried to the meeting spot.

Eros was leaning casually against the SUV, chatting with two women. The conversation seemed light, their body language relaxed. As Psyche approached, the women glanced her way, said their goodbyes to Eros, and walked off.

Eros turned to her as she approached. “Took your sweet time,” he remarked, though she could detect that his tone was teasing rather than annoyed.

“Sorry, I lost track,” she admitted. “The orientation ran long.”

“Clearly. But you look…happy. Care to share?”

Psyche smiled brightly. “I get to start work tomorrow!” She snapped her fingers.

“That’s great. What does that mean exactly?”

“It means I’ll start the dig early, but I’ll have to camp for a week until they can give me a room.”

Eros straightened. “Wait. What? Why would you agree to that? They should have a room ready for you.”

“I love camping,” Psyche said, brushing off his concern. “I just need to pick up the essentials in town.”

Eros frowned. “Are you sure? And what about your…you know…Your condition. You’ll be okay out there?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine,” she assured him. Then she added, “Now, let’s go shopping. I need to get everything and get settled!”

Without waiting for his response, she spun toward the car. Eros sighed before getting into the car.

Once they were on the road, Psyche leaned back in her seat and quipped, “I told you I wasn’t going to go flying again.”

Eros glanced at her with a smirk. “Jeez, was it really that bad?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “Freezing doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

He chuckled. “What about bears? Don’t they love raiding campsites for snacks?”

“Uh, shifter,” she replied, raising an eyebrow. “I can hold my own against bears if needed.”

Eros shook his head but didn’t say anything.

The rest of the day was spent gathering all the things and camping gear she needed before heading back to the camp site. By evening, Psyche had set up her tent and completed her meticulous evening routine, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Eros was somewhere in Healy. To her surprise, he didn’t go back home. “I’ll stick around,” he had said casually before he left when she asked about his plans. “Not much to do back in Anchorage anyway. I might as well take advantage of the Alpha expanding my boundary.”

Sure enough, the next morning, Eros was waiting when she emerged from her tent.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

He straightened when he saw her. “How about breakfast before you head to the site?”

Psyche blinked at him. “Breakfast? With you?”

He shrugged. “Why not?”

She hesitated, still surprised by the suggestion. Then she nodded. “Fine. Give me an hour to get ready, and I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

Psyche moved through her morning routine, even in the wilderness. She made her sleeping bag as neatly as if it were a proper bed, took a brisk camp shower, dressed in layers suitable for the chilly morning, and checked off her to-do list. Despite being away from her pack, she felt lighter, freer. There was something comforting about the independence of her new surroundings.

When she met Eros by the car, he looked up from his phone and gestured for her to hop in. “I found a cafe nearby. It was recommended—good reviews.”

The drive was short, and when they stepped inside the small cafe, Psyche was delighted to see a menu filled with wholesome options. Fresh fruits, hearty oatmeal, and organic teas dominated the offerings, a refreshing change from the heavy diner fare she’d expected.

“This place is great,” she said as she scanned the menu.

“Told you.”

She rolled her eyes at him, unable to hide her amused smile. After grabbing their food from the counter, they found a table by the window and dug into their breakfast.

“So.” He leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee as Psyche savored her avocado toast and herbal tea. “How are you feeling? First day jitters, or are you ready to go?”

“Really good. I don’t know. I just have a good feeling about today. Like, everything’s falling into place.”

“That’s great to hear.”

“Thank you, by the way. For helping me with all this. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Eros gave her a wry smile. “It’s good to feel useful for a change.”

That earned a laugh from Psyche. “Useful? You? The god of love? I thought you were always useful.”

He shrugged. “Not always, and definitely not now. But hey, I’m glad to help. And…I think you’re going to do great.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the usual sharpness in their banter faded. Things felt different—more relaxed, even warm. Psyche caught herself smiling back at him, a genuine, easy smile she hadn’t expected to offer.

“Well,” she said, glancing at her watch, “I should probably get going soon. Don’t want to be late on my first day.”

Eros grinned. “Yeah, can’t have that. Let’s finish up and get you there.”

“So, are you really planning to stick around here instead of going back to Anchorage?”

“Yeah, I figured I’d hang out. You know, enjoy the scenery, annoy you when I get bored.”

“You could at least try to be helpful instead of annoying.”

“Helpful? Oh, I’m plenty helpful in…certain areas,” Eros replied with a grin.

Psyche tilted her head. “Well, that’s good. I mean, helping people is important.”

Eros shook his head and laughed under his breath. “You’re something else, Psyche.”