Page 64 of Guided by the Stars (Creating Destiny #1)

Alexius

When the Sun Rises

“Finally. Took you two long enough!” Daemyn strolls into the kitchen, clapping his hands together like I won one of the damn chariot races we used to compete in. “Those screams...that shit sounded fucking hot. Surprised you didn’t keep going.”

“Daemyn!” I caution, holding back the temptation to rip that smug smile off his face. We’ve shared a lot of crap in the past, including women. Nora, though, she’s different. She won’t be one of them.

“Got it, man.” He nods towards me, recognizing my warning. “We never had the chance to talk last night. You looked like shit.” He takes a seat, pouring himself a cup of wine. “What happened this time?”

What didn’t happen, is the easier question.

An assignment with Aphrodite is like playing Russian roulette, you never know what she’ll drag you into.

I guess that’s why Zeus makes us babysit her.

She’s sexy, cunning, and lethal. Most of all, she’s reckless and impulsive.

Last night’s shit-show was no different .

She ordered us to a peninsula close to one of my brother’s islands.

It’s on the western side, owned by nymphs who forced us to wait hours before they allowed us past the barriers.

Aphrodite didn’t care, she wouldn’t give up.

She had a debt to collect and was getting pissed the longer she had to wait.

By the time they showed us the way through, Aphrodite walked in, took the crystal goblet owed to her, and stole the entire bag of treasure from the leader.

Bearing jewels, rubies, and a fucking mirror, Aphrodite came out running and yelling for a portal, with an army of nymphs chasing behind her. She’s quick, I’m just faster. I had no other choice than to go in for her, dodging the water attacks so I could get Zeus’ prized goddess to safety.

We’d almost made it to the end of the barrier, close enough to the threshold to cast a portal, when they sent waves of raging water crashing over us.

They froze the area around us, keeping us captive in the undertow.

I was blocking each hit until one nymph formed a blade of ice and launched it towards Aphrodite.

I reacted as I was trained to do, protecting her, and the ice pulled me under and trapped me with rocks deep beneath us.

I vaguely remember her scream. It all blurred as I watched in amazement at the power seeping out of her, stilling every single nymph. Her illusion washed over them, distracting them enough to let me manipulate the ice and get us the fuck out of there.

“So, she stopped all of them?’’ Judging by Daemyn’s face, he is as shocked as I was.

She uses her voice often to manipulate you, drawing you into her, enticing you to whatever fantasy she has created.

This was not like that. It was bigger, making all the nymphs turn on one another. A sight I’m not sure I’ll ever forget .

He eyes me, knowing full well that I was gone for longer than necessary.

After the shit with Aphrodite, I was forced into a meeting with Zeus and his elite guards.

Not only are we elite, but now I’m part of a damn search team assigned to nothing other than finding the very thing I’m hiding.

The asshole is desperate. He walked us through every place he has searched in the Mortal World, instructing us to not leave any corner unsearched, expecting us to travel to the Mortal World at his demand.

He’s going to be watching us closely. It’s going to be a fucking bitch of a time going on daily runs with eyes always on me and more time spent away from Nora.

Guess the good news is, he’s still in the dark, unaware of what he’s even looking for.

“Did you get another message?” I finish another glass of ambrosia, switching our focus to Adriane.

We’ve had zero luck finding anything useful, and if Hades is ready to tie her to his world, then time is slipping away.

I’ll be damned before I let that happen, even if it means following Orpheus’ scrolls and finding a way into the Underworld.

He detailed every move when he risked his life to find his wife.

More barriers have been put in place since, but no matter the sacrifice, I’ll do it for Nora.

Daemyn shakes his head, reaching past me to steal the bottle of ambrosia.

“Nope, nothing yet,” he says, that same smug face from earlier returning.

“I would have told you last night, but I didn’t think Nora could handle both of us at once.

Speaking of which, where’s our girl? I need to congratulate her for cracking you. ”

“Shut up.” He stops mid-drink, his carefree attitude leaving.

Everything about last night was incredible.

Except there is no way she deserves congratulations for some asshole god fucking the virginity out of her.

If only I would have known. I knew she was innocent, just not that innocent.

“I messed up. She has to live with this mistake,” I admit with defeat.

My head jerks and shooting pain radiates from my left temple as Daemyn pulls his hand back from the punch he just delivered.

“Bullshit!” he spits out, squaring his stance, pushing his head inches from mine, pitch black eyes staring me down.

“You hurt that girl, I’ll make you pay,” he threatens and spit flies in my face with his sneer of disgust. “She deserves more. Man the fuck up!”

Thunder booms, my veins ignite, and all I see is blinding rage. My hand rams forward, locking around Daemyn’s neck, pinning him to the fridge. His pulse is beating hard as I squeeze tighter, sending flares of electricity into him.

The burning red circles in a thin line around his pitch-black eyes warn me that his fury is building. Before I can react, his hands ignite with flames, and the heat of the burn digs deep into my flesh as his hands crash against me, his power searing into my heated veins.

“Calm…down,” he chokes out, pushing his power through, battling against my wrath.

It takes seconds until I let his calm seep in, coating my pulsing temper. I grunt, loosening my grip and unclench my hands, letting him go.

“Shit! Sorry, man! I didn’t mean it like that.”

Daemyn hunches over, grabbing his neck and coughing.

“Fuck...you...Alexius, control yourself,” his words come out broken, trying to regain his breath, and I step back, giving him space as guilt builds.

He knows I need to let some electricity loose, but I have never lashed out at him this intensely before.

With a deep sigh, I shake my head at the building frustration in my chest. “This shit, it’s fucked up, Daemyn. That girl sleeping in my bed, I wanted it. Except, me falling for her doesn’t give her shit, besides heartache.”

“Falling for her? So, who are we worried for, you or her?” That smug smirk reappears as his eyes return to his regular brown color. Thank fuck for fast healing.

I’ve thought about losing her for a while now, it’s half the reason I pushed her away.

I wanted to stay focused. Each moment together with her strengthens my will to protect her, yet weakens my ability to do so.

I’m slipping, missing the warning signs, not sensing where all the players are.

What happened at Crystal Waters was proof enough.

Now if we get caught, I need to plan for her safety over mine.

With a heavy sigh, I decide it’s time to ask, “You love her, right?” We both know the answer, yet the question still surprises him, and I wait for his nod to continue, “Would you agree to become her guard?”

Daemyn’s jaw tenses, his eyes narrowing in concentration, reminding me of his father’s. He’s studying me, analyzing every word. It’s one of the best skills he got from Odysseus. It’s why his calming is so effective, it’s the ability to rationalize.

Once done processing, he firmly states the obvious, “I would still be loyal to you and even to Zeus.” He would. I cannot undo the marks Zeus has given, but what I can do, is add my own.

The other day when Aphrodite appeared, I realized how one mistake can turn our situation into a fight.

We’re always in battle, and if our safety is on the line, Daemyn is bound to come to my aid first. It’s in his blood, regardless of how he feels.

It’s an obligation he cannot control, one I can’t risk.

“Yes, but it will allow you to have the choice to give your loyalty to her instead of us. It ensures her protection over mine. ”

He remains dead still, dissecting every part of this request. Guard branding is painful, requiring his blood to be infused with hers while I push my power deep into his veins.

It’s a tremendous sacrifice, offering a part of himself to keep her safe.

I’m aware of how immense this request is, it’s why I’ve been hesitant to ask.

“Alexius, there are a lot of factors, and tying myself to her isn’t what I am afraid of.” Worry lines his face as his brows dip. “I’ll do it. That’s not the issue. It’s the idea of having to choose between you and her that bothers me.”

We both remain silent with the thoughts of inevitable doom circling our heads until Daemyn jumps off the counter and opens the back door.

“Okay, enough with the serious. I know we’re running out of time, but I trust in the visions.

I’ll send Jax another message. In the meantime, why don’t you go outside before Baby Girl wakes up.

Release some of that pent-up electricity? ”

In agreement, I take his advice, stepping outside to the smell of rain in the air.

I haven’t created a rapid storm in a long time.

I’m caged with longing, hiding my powers from Zeus.

The longer I go without using, the deeper the tension burns within.

I wouldn’t know what to do without Daemyn.

With his shield, I can let the energy of the storm refuel me.