Warrior Blind (18 page)

But this virgin goddess would make the strongest babes, the most powerful, and if the babes were to restore balance to the world, that strength and power would be required.

Nelciana was the most enigmatic of the other deities. She showed so little of herself to anyone save for Kennera, the girl goddess. She intrigued him, and this would be a good time for him to learn of her what he wanted. Then once the deed was completed and the babes were growing within her they could return to their homes and live in peace and harmony.

He stepped up behind her and wrapped his hands around her arms. She felt narrow, almost fragile, beneath his hands. He was not the largest of the male deities—Eiophon, Erasomophus, and Domustri were all larger. But he was still a formidable male by anyone’s standards. The goddess next to him was delicate and feminine. He had never noticed that about her; her strength overshadowed her physical attributes. He used his hold on her to turn her to face him. “Nelciana, you know it must be you. This is but a fragment of a moment in our lives. Once it is done we can go back to the lives we had before.”

“With two big changes, Lotho. Or have you forgotten these hypothetical babes already?” Her mouth trembled and his attention focused on her lips exclusively. They were full and pink and he could not wait to taste them. So he did.

She allowed the embrace for several moments, then pulled away. “You don’t need to pretend or to force your will upon me.”

“That was not what I was doing. I was trying to show you that we can both enjoy each other. I know you know little of the physical arts between male and female but it is not unpleasant. I promise you will enjoy it.”

“You sound just like your cousin.”

He felt his brows raise. “What do you mean? Which cousin?”

“Domustri. He believes every female, goddess or Kind, will enjoy being with him. And he thinks protests are foreplay.” She shivered and Lothonos’s suspicions grew. Real fear was suddenly clear in amethyst eyes. “And he takes
no
little better than you do.”

Irrational fury began to fill him. “Has he tried…”

“Three times in the last one hundred years. Before that he barely noticed my existence.” Nelci stepped away from him. “I need to think, Lothonos. It is a mammoth request you’ve made. Babes are not something to take lightly. At least not for me.”

“I know.” He would think on Domustri later. His cousin was the god of three things—pain, trouble, and criminality. If he was persistent in this, there was probably a reason behind it. “But time is of the essence. We have less than two weeks…”