Even in Death (The Fragile Divine, #2)

by Randi Garner

“We loathe each other. You raise the dead and I despise you for it.”

“You also cannot curse me. You’ve chased me, yes, but you always help me. You sent your god of death to check up on me regularly, prior to creating my city. Say whatever you wish out of your conflicted feelings, but you came here today for the same reason I crafted a spell to keep every deity out of my home but you.”

“I should not have come, but I ache when I am not in your presence,”

“And do you think I do not share the same feeling?”

Cassian’s mouth went dry, the breath in his lungs swiftly draining the longer he held Finnian’s gaze. “You cannot care about me.” Finnian took a daring step closer. “Oh, it is far too late for that.” Cassian’s pulse flickered, and he backed away, his tailbone meeting the edge of the cabinet. “I will hurt you if I let you in,” he said, breathless against his own desire. “I do not break as easily as you’d think.” Finnian closed in and propped his hands up on the surface of the counter behind Cassian, pinning both arms around him. The tips of their noses grazed. Cassian’s jaw set. He turned his head away, internally scolding his willpower. “Cassian.” His name left Finnian’s lips, a whisper, pleading. The sound of it slowly spread through him like spilled honey, weakening his resolve.