"I don't even know your name."
She smiled up at him and it lit up her whole face. She really was a beautiful woman, albeit strange. "Sage."
He almost snorted. It even sounded like a witch's name. "I'm Adonis."
"You could pass for the original, I bet."
This time he did snort. "You have no idea." What would she think if she knew he was the Adonis from the myth, renown for perfection he'd never truly possessed? And he couldn't even give her what she craved from him. So much for the supposed paragon of masculinity. He was a mess. Broken. Incapable of the most primitive of functions.
"How did you know I'd be here?" Maybe Hermes had sent her but was too busy to make a phone call or shoot him a text.
Sage ran her hands through his long blond hair that was in dire need of a cut; it reached the middle of his back. "I didn't. Since discovering I was a witch a few weeks ago, I began exploring these new powers and I kept being drawn out here."
He narrowed his eyes, suspicion hovering in the back of his mind. Something he should have considered from the start. Witches did exist, but they rarely traveled alone without a coven or attempted summoning spells without practice. "What deity were you communing with?"
She waved a hand dismissively, and Adonis caught it in his, bringing it up to catch the light. A small cut on her thumb held a smear of blood. "Gaia," she said, seeming nonplused as though this was nothing out of the ordinary.
The primordial goddess…of the earth. His gut knotted. Had the bloodletting caught the ancient deity's attention? And what's more, why would she listen to Sage if there wasn't a bigger reason. If she wasn't of her bloodline…
"What are your powers?"
"Oh, nothing too fancy," she said airily and grinned. "I can disappear sometimes. If I'm near trees or flowers."
Adonis sucked in a breath and retreated from her as though he'd been burned. "Fuck. You're not a witch. You're a nymph."
She cocked her head and pursed her lips, considering it. "Actually, that would make more sense than a witch, but when you get powers you don't think dainty forest sprite so much as you do Harry Potter or The Craft."
What in the name of Hades? He'd run smack into a nymph at the very time he needed to find one. Yet, something was considerably wrong. Had his body gone on shutdown because the Satyr Moon was close? No, that couldn't be right. Ariston hadn't had that happen. He'd been drawn to Lily so strongly that Pegasus was sent to chaperone them. So why now, when it mattered most, did his body decide to close off desire and arousal?
Words spoken in anger flooded his memories. A thyrsus breaking. Edicts and curses and yelling. Pan's glowing red eyes. Dread swept through his veins like ice.
That motherfucker.
Adonis released a string of expletives that actually gave the thus-far-unflinching Sage pause. Good, then she wasn't completely immune to shock and danger. "What's going on?" he asked though he had a really good freaking idea, and if it were true, it made this whole situation almost tragic. Part of him was ashamed he'd ruined whatever attraction had Sage drawn to him, but if he was right, there couldn't ever be anything between them. Not after what Pan had done to him. He turned away, unable to look her in the eye. Might as well tell her the truth. "I'm damaged." Cringing, he continued, "Satyrs were cursed a long time ago, and only nymphs can break the spell…so to speak. If we had sex, it would have to wait until the Satyr Moon—a lunar eclipse."
Sage didn't respond immediately, but she surprised him when she touched his shoulder; it was almost comforting. "There's a lunar eclipse the night of November first. Would that work? Maybe that's why I've been drawn to this spot, to you. Let me help."
When he could do no more than stare at her like she was crazy, she added excitedly, "If I were granted abilities, I should use them to help others. Like a superhero."
He had…no words. "A superhero?" He shook his head. "How old are you?"
She winced at his harsh tone but didn't break eye contact. "Twenty-two."
"Gods. You're practically still a child." He took several steps away. She fantasized about satyrs and superheroes and witchcraft. He should be shoving that dress back over her head and sending her home to her parents. Or straight into a church to confess.
"I'm an adult. I'm in college, living on my own—well, with a roommate. I'm not a novice at sex, and you don't have to be a jerk about it. If you don't want me to help you, say so."
His eyelids slammed shut and he turned away. Breaking his curse was everything, but being around him wasn't good for her. He would only corrupt her, bring her down. She'd grow to hate him like everyone else did. For some reason, the thought of Sage hating him was more than he could bear—this gorgeous girl who sought to help him, no questions asked. She was too trusting, too good, and the world would chew her up and spit her out for it. He wanted to protect her, but couldn't. She wasn't for him. Couldn't be with him, couldn't save him, and she damn sure wouldn't be ruined by him.
Then again, he couldn't touch her in the way she wanted, so maybe she was safer than he gave her credit for in his presence. And wasn't that the kicker? Finally, something had gone right for him, and he couldn't even have it. He would have to watch his freedom from this hell he'd been trapped in for centuries pass him by.
"You can't help me.
