I suck in a breath and close my eyes, bracing for impact.
His lips graze mine, gentle—but self-assured. There’s no doubt what he wants from me and he knows I’ll give it to him. In this moment, I’d give him my whole life. I’d lay it all down on the floor at his feet, if I could.
My inhalation catches in the back of my throat and I lean into him, placing my right hand on his chest. His scent permeates my reality and all I want to be consumed by…is him. There’s something so familiar in his touch—in the energy and essence of him, yet it continues to slip through my awareness the way sand slips from open fingers.
Blake leans forward, placing both hands alongside my face as he draws me closer; building an urgency to his kiss. It’s as though his essence and mine are bound somehow and we’re only now beginning to realize it.
Hungrily, his tongue parts my lips, creating the gateway the ancients used to say could merge souls—
Suddenly, my memory cracks open and flashes of times long past—recollections I’ve never had access to begin to flood my awareness.
16
SPLIT APART FROM THE PRESENT MOMENT, I’m suddenly viewing myself from the outside as I walk these same long cavern tunnels. Tears stream down my face, and my heart is shattering into a billion pieces. Clutched in my hand is a small dagger, sharp enough to claim a life—but I sense that’s not my intent. Even then, even in the ancient past, I know I can’t die—even if I’d want to. Instead, I’m painfully aware of my eternal life, but there’s no way I can live with this type of heartache. The pain of this loss is too unbearable.
I try to focus, to see who or what has caused the heartache, but the memory is still clouded—aspects of it shielded from me.
Staying with the vision, I continue to follow myself as I meander the cavern tunnels to the location I’m seeking—the area with the most potent power so it can assist me in what I have planned. Not only is the pathway an energetic vortex, but it’s not easily accessible. This is good—I can’t risk having everything destroyed.
As I reach the tunnel at last, I don’t hesitate. Instead, I immediately begin the chant and start my plea to Mnemosyne. To what purpose, I’m not entirely sure. I only know I have to complete the sacrifice and carve out the sacred symbol before any of Apollo’s servants can stop me.
The fissure in my memory seals back up—closing whatever gateway granted me a glimpse of what was.
I pull back from Blake’s kiss—my eyes wide and heart thrumming loudly in my chest.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Blake says, mirroring my surprise.
What the hell do I tell him? Oh, hey, by the way, I just had a vision from a past I’ve been trying to get access to for as long as I’ve been alive. Oh, yeah, and just so you know, I’m over two millennia old.
Screw that.
“I uh—I just had another vision,” I say, thinking up something fast.
“What was it? What did you see?”
“Blake, you’ll need to make your call to Interpol right away. Get them here and ready, they’re considering making their move sooner. In the meantime, I need to go back in—try to get more info,” I say, hoping it will mean him having to get outside to find cell signal.
“Are you sure? Shouldn’t I wait until we know you’re okay?”
His eyes search mine, concern permeating all of his features.
“I’m sure—I’m okay,” I say, nodding. “I’ll be fast. In and out to get the information I need.”
Blinking wildly, Blake finally nods to himself, letting his hands slide down to my arms. He pauses a moment, tugging his eyebrows in just before he leans forward and places his lips against my cheek.
“Okay, I’ll go make the call. Just—please, be careful. Or better yet—wait for me to come back?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be okay, I promise. I’ve been doing this my whole life.”
Taking a deep breath, he finally nods.
I lean forward, placing my hands alongside his face and pulling him to me. More present and aware this time, I put my own desperate fervor into the kiss. Enjoying the fleshy part of his bottom lip, I tug gently at it with my teeth before parting his mouth and sliding my tongue inside.
He shudders breathlessly but pulls me closer to him and hungrily returns my advances.
I don’t know what it is about him—or why—but for opening my memory, even temporarily, he deserves a kiss and so much more.
Blake groans, his hands sliding to my back as he takes a seat and lifts me onto his lap. My arms wrap around his neck and I press myself into him.
“Get a room, guys. This is a public place,” someone hollers out.
Startled, we both break apart and look around.
A group of three pimply teenage boys stand and gawk from a few feet away. They snicker and point—one with their phone out, no doubt SnapGramming—or whatever the hell it’s called.
My hand flies to my mouth in attempt to keep myself from telling them where to shove it. Instead, absurd giggles erupt from my lips and Blake’s boisterous laugh joins in the chorus.
“Dude, talk about robbing the cradle,” one of the boys says before they all walk out.
Blake snorts, but casts a sideways glance my direction.
I roll my eyes and shake my head.
“Whatever. Ignore them,” I say.
Honestly, they’d probably all be mortified to know they’re right—but not the way they’re thinking now.
The thought makes me laugh again and I climb off of Blakes lap, reaching for his hand to help him to a stand. He reaches for my offering and grabs hold of his
