Carter POV.Her pupils are blown wide, only seeing a slight violet around the edges. I smile at her as I kiss her again. She moans into it, arching up off the bed.My hands roam over her exposed skin, down her stomach, stopping on the still healing wound. I pull back and look down at it and then up at her.“I don’t want to hurt you.” I say and she pulls me back down, kissing me slower this time.“You won’t.” She whimpers. Her legs wrap around me again as they tighten around my waist. I cage her in so I’m not causing her pain.I kiss down her chin to the column of her throat and she moans as my tongue moves to the place that will once more hold my mark; I nibble and suck hard and she moans louder, arching up off the bed once more. My hand reaches for her breast and I squeeze it over the fabric of her bra. I lift off her completely as she pants her raven hair sprayed out around her as she sits forward and unclips the bar and I gently yet teasingly pull the straps down slowly from her sh
Asteria POV.I wake with a smile as I remember what we did. I don’t regret it one bit. I feel completely relaxed yet a little bit sore. Shifters heal instantly but I’m human, so I don’t know how long it will take for me to heal from the mating. Either way, the ache between my legs is a dull ache, and it’s nice.I shift slightly, but the arm that is wrapped around me tightens as I turn to face him. Carter is beautiful. He sleeps peacefully and I fight the urge to trace his features with my fingers.I smile to myself and blush at what we did. I lean forward and kiss his lips and he kisses me back before he rolls so I’m under him and I giggle at this. He kisses my face and leans up. His eyes open lazily, still filled with sleep. He smiles at me with a sly grin.“Hey, how you feeling?” he asks as he takes me in and I bite my bottom lip.“Aching, but in a good way, if that is even a thing.” I say, and he chuckles as he kisses my nose.“Yes, my love, it is a thing. Are you sore anywhere?” h
Asteria POV.I reach for her to make sure she is real. I touch her face and I gasp. This is real. My mother and brother are alive and are really here.“Mamma. Oh Gods. Why didn’t he tell me?” I sob as I hug her to me. I break in my mother’s arms as she rocks us back and forth as she hums the song.“I told him not to tell you. I was wrong my little sea flower. I was so very wrong. Can you forgive me?” I pull back and she wipes my tears. I nod my head at her.“Yes, I can forgive you, but I can’t forgive him for this. All these years I have mourned you all. Lived with the nightmares and the guilt, and he kept this from me. What else has he kept from me?” I say as I stand and back away.“Asteria. I asked him to keep us secret from you until the time was right. The time is right.” I shake my head at this new betrayal from my father. I turn and storm out of the room and run.I run through the hotel, ignoring the calls from Carter and my mother as I run through the doors of the hotel and loo
Asteria POV.I have been at the temple every day for the past week, pleading with my father to come to me and every day he ignores me, the stubborn bastard.Some days I just sit here and wait. I learnt that the sirens are the ones who take care of the temple and that the town is actually run by sirens. That’s why no-one looked shocked to see me.For the time being, the temple has been closed to the public so that I can stay here and wait for the stubborn arsehole to show himself. So far zip, nada, nothing.I’m in two minds to go to Athena, but then again, if my own father won’t speak to me, then it is highly doubtful she will. After all, I am his daughter.Another day of sitting and waiting comes and goes. I stand and go to leave when I hear the rumble of thunder and look over the Aegean Sea and shake my head.“Asteria.” I stop and turn to see him standing there as he looks at me with the same violet eyes that I see every morning staring back at me.“Father.” I say, my voice devoid of
Carter POV.The past week, being with Asteria’s mother and brother has been nice. I know Asteria is worried that she will wake up and all of this would have been a dream and who could blame her? She has spent the last 5,000 years believing they all died.Even though she has spent every day at the temple, I did want to go with her, but I knew this is what she needed to do on her own. Now she has her answers, but I know she is concerned about something else.“Whatever it is, we will deal with it together.” I tell her as I hug her from behind and I know she is uneasy because of how she tenses. She turns in my arms and faces me. The full moon offering its silvery light into the room.“I can’t help but think of the worst-case scenarios. I need you to stay safe when the time comes. I can’t be worrying about you whilst trying to stop the attack.” She says as she cups my cheek and I kiss her forehead.“I promise. Besides, Lykos and I will be fine, you know this. I’m sure Gaia and Fenrir will
Asteria POV.That sneaky, sly little whore. I storm through the hotel and many sirens look up and follow behind me as I head towards the beach.The morning sun warms as it rises. Its glow makes the surface of the water a golden orange colour as I move closer to the shoreline.“Fan out and find her.” I say when sirens enter the water and disappear under the waves. My mother and brother run towards me on the beach.“What’s happened?” she asks me and I feel bad for not spending a lot of time with them since being here, but I wasn’t expecting to find them alive.“Sephone. She was in Carter’s head. Which means.”“She is here somewhere.” My brother finishes my sentence, and he hisses as he removes his shirt and enters the water.“Asteria, let them do their job. If she is or has been in the area, they will know. Come.” My mother takes my hand and I stop and look around for Carter, but I don’t see him. Where is he?“Mamma, can it wait? I need to find Carter. He was right behind me.” I say to
Asteria POV.Sitting in the hotel suite, I am watching him. I know she is in his head. But this is not the song that all sirens use. This isn’t compulsion, this is something else.“How long would it take for a siren to swim here?” I ask as I watch Carter as he stares off into space. I know she is calling to him, but the question is why and for what purpose?“Not long, maybe a couple of days, give or take.” I nod at her words. We have been here over a week now so it is possible, but why do this to Carter? Well, of course it is to get to me, but how did she do this with the song?I sit lost in thought, trying to think of how. I stand and walk to the balcony, leaning against it, looking at the Aegean.“Unless.” I mutter as I turn and look at Carter, whose eyes now look clear again and not foggy or glassy.“Asteria?” I smile as I walk to him, but still being cautious. Could she be using Carter to kill me? Wouldn’t that just be a cliché? Using my mate to kill me.“Carter. What do you remem
Asteria POV.The flight back is different from the one on the way here. He is sitting nowhere near me. He won’t even look at me or even speak to me. He is flirting with the flight attendant, but I ignore it, as I know this isn’t him.He stands and walks past me, heading towards the bedroom, and I grab his wrist.“Where are you going?” I ask him when he looks down at me. His gaze makes me wince. There is no love in his eyes, only disgust.“Away from you.” I hold his gaze and feel like I’ve been burnt from the look in his eyes and I gasp, not at his words but the way he is looking at me.“What have I done to you?” I ask when he scoffs and walks away. I lean back and look out of the window. This isn’t him.“Can I get you something to drink, miss?” I look at her and nod my head.“A bottle of water please and do me a favour and stay the fuck away from him or you and I will have a problem. I wonder if you know how to fly.” I grin at her and she steps back before she turns and walks quickly