(Caelum Ashborne)
Apollo had decided to keep him close.
Put him at the edge of the flame he was starting to suspect could undo more than just their enemies.
Guard her. Watch her. Don’t touch.
Punishment disguised as duty. Or duty disguised as punishment. Or a test so layered even Caelum’s pattern-trained mind couldn’t see all the way through.
You will not touch her. Not as I do. Not with curiosity.
Caelum’s lips twitched into something that might have been a humourless smile if there were any humour left in him.
To touch her as he does. Even gods grew jealous.
His gut twisted. He’d seen more of how Apollo touched her than any demon had a right to. His mind tried not to replay it. It did anyway.
Her voice cracked around her gasps. The way her legs had trembled, straining to hold he
