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"Fine Just need rest" He cracked his eyes open and atte to be pushed away so easily
"Paden, what happened? Was it healing all of those people?" Ree brushed the hair back from his forehead
"Poison, I think" He tried to move, but Ree pushed him back down "Took a lot to heal Was everywhere Couldn’t let her just die"
"Who?" Ree ran her hands over his shoulders, anxietyher feel jumpy
"Arrows" Paden shook his head a little "Don’t know her naht back to the dock "The lady with the two arrows? They were poisoned?"
"Meant for Guardians" Paden’s eyes closed again and his shoulders sagged "Difficult to heal from"
"But you healed ently When he didn’t respond right away, she looked around the bathroorabbed a towel fro Paden, she pushed him down onto the floor and placed the rolled up towel under his head Rubbing the heel of her hand across her forehead, she shook her head in worry
"Just too much Couldn’t let them hurt" Paden didn’t open his eyes, his words barely a whisper
"Can you heal fro at Paden, Ree’s worry turned to fear
"Yes Need a little tio"
"Da anywhere like this" Ree shook her head
"Ree, you cannot waitthe walls Ree juled to sit up
"We can’t go if he is hurt" Ree looked at the goddess warily
"Ares ed to escape" Aphrodite’s words sent a shiver of fear through Ree "You need to end this now"
"Can’t go without ainst the wall
"What help would you be right now?" Aphrodite tsked She walked toward Paden and knelt down so she could look hioes" Paden stared at the goddess, his words vibrating with certainty
Aphrodite looked back at Ree and s back at Paden "Of course you will"
"Aphrodite, how did Ares oddess where she knelt
"He has exchanged blood with the dark gods" Fire circled in Aphrodite’s eyes "He was able to break the chains used in Hades"
"He had fangs" Ree looked at the goddess "And he knows--"
"Say nothing, Alastriana" Aphrodite’s voice turned sharp "Soht, which is why I aoddess turned back to Paden and pushed his hair away froer si his face in both hands, the goddess leaned forward and very gently placed a kiss on his forehead Sighing softly, she ducked her head and pressed her lips to Paden’s Ree’s i pointy, but she tried to stay calathered around her feet Her agitation only increased when she realized that she couldn’t oddess pulled back and looked down at Paden, a seductive s her lips as she trailed her hand down his chest "I’ve always had a soft spot for heroes" Standing up, the goddess brushed her hands together as if re to hiss at et a little so out of the deal"
Aphrodite smiled at Ree, her amusement aloddess left the room, Ree was free from her restraints
"You bitch" Ree al as herDropping down to her knees, Ree lifted Paden’s chin and looked into his eyes
"Are you okay? Paden?" Ree’s entire body went still as Paden’s eyes met hers
"Come here" Paden lifted one hand and pressed it to the back of her neck Heat seemed to shoot down Ree’s spine and her body i became heavy, her words a whisper His thumb rubbed small circles just over the pulse point below her ear and she found it hard to think coherently
"Ree Do you trust s slid down, to make indents on his botto her forward As if everything else in the world had fallen away and they were the only things left
"I want to taste you" His words sent a shiver over Ree She kneould hurt, that he would never ask, but she couldn’t deny the pull e else, she also kneould help hi even closer, Ree turned her head and brushed the hair from her neck
He leaned forward and trailed his lips slowly over her throat, before opening his s pierced her skin, her back bowed and pleasure ripped through her body Nothing mattered but the feel of his th return Paden’s handsher even closer When he finally pulled back, it was to look at Ree in shock Her body still hu from the pleasure, she was confused at the look on his face
"Oh, God, Ree I’m so sorry" He looked down at her throat and his jaw tensed Gently, he ran his thumb over the punctures and wiped away the blood
She had to bite her lip to keep froht in after-shocks Taking a deep breath, she leaned back and shook her head a little in an atteers work their healing ic while he touched her
"It’s okay You needed it" Ree closed her eyes for athem to look at Paden
"I could’ve hurt you You need your energy just as ainst the wall "Noe have to push the attack back You can’t go if you aren’t one-hundred-percent"
"You didn’t hurtwe have Aphrodite to thank for that"
Paden’s cheeks turned pink "Ree, I didn’t--"
"I’m not mad at you, Pay" Ree leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his "It is what it is And, if this is the trade off, then we didn’t come out too badly"
"How do you feel?" Paden lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes "Be honest You aren’t helping anyone by rushing out of here and not being at your best"
Ree took ato assess how she felt She reached up and touched her neck, but there was no lingering pain She moved off of Paden’s lap and stood up There was no dizziness or exhaustion
"I feel a little tired, but not much" Ree held her hand out to Paden and pulled hi a little food won’t cure How about you?"