Free Cursing Athena (Order Of Seven) by Lisa Sanchez

lingered at death’s door. This angered the Goddess.”
    “Love of…bloodshed?” She paled even further and began inching toward the edge of the bed. “What…what exactly did you do?”
    Ty hesitated for a brief moment before sharing the bloody truth of his past. If they were to be together, united in every way, she needed to hear the truth from him—the whole truth. “I tore my enemy apart.” He paused for a brief moment, hesitant. “Literally.”
    “Okay, then…” Danika jumped off the bed, fear and uncertainty rolling off her in waves. She kicked off her heels, and clutching a shoe in each hand, slowly backed away from him toward the bedroom door.
    It was just as he’d feared. The truth of his bloody past was too much for her to accept.
    She held her arms out in front of her as if to ward him off. “I’m, uh…sorry to run out on you since I’m your—” she swallowed back a groan, “—since I’m your mate and all. It’s just…well…this has all been a bit too weird for me. I mean…seriously? Monsters? Greek goddesses? I think…” She quickly glanced over her shoulder, no doubt judging the distance between her and the door. “I think I’ll just be going now.”
    “Danika, wait!” Gripping a fistful of sheet, Ty shot forward off the bed and placed himself between her and the door. The idea she might walk out of his life, never to be seen again, sent him reeling. He couldn’t let her go. He had to help her understand what they were to each other. He had to make her see. They were fated lovers, destined for one another.
    After hastily wrapping the bedding around his waist, he held up both hands and eased forward slowly. “Please. Please, Danika. Do not fear me. I’m not going to hurt you. I could never hurt you.”
    The sight of her trembling body tore at his gut, eviscerated his heart. The last thing he wanted was for her to fear him, though he understood why she did. If he were mortal and had witnessed the strange happenings she did this evening, he’d be freaked out as well. Somehow, some way, he needed to put her at ease, help her see she was safe with him.
    “Please believe me when I tell you, I’m not the man I used to be. Athena has seen to that, I promise you.”
    Danika stared up at him, a tremor of fear rippling through her body, confusion twisting her features. “I don’t know what to believe. I…” She paused, regarding him with uncertainty. “I can’t help thinking my mind is playing tricks on me. That maybe James finally got his way and I’m lying unconscious somewhere back at the club.”
    Ty wanted to strip away her fears, to comfort and ease her with his body. But first, he needed her to trust him.
    He shifted, holding his hands palms up, willing her to relax, and wanting desperately to devour every inch of her delicate skin with his mouth. Gods, she was beautiful—wholesome and good. She was everything he wasn’t, everything he craved in a woman, in a mate. Dammit! He didn’t want her to leave, but he wouldn’t force her to stay either. If she were truly afraid of him, if she truly wanted to leave, he’d let her go, no matter how much it pained him to do so.
    His beast roared, the animal in him desperate to claim its mate, to sate its need.
    Ty groaned. He wanted her to stay as much as his beast did. Maybe if he tried a new tack.
    Ty dropped to one knee, releasing his position of power in the situation. He hoped this new stance would assure her he meant her no harm, and that she could once again trust him.
    He placed one hand over his heart, the other he lifted toward her. “The curse. Because of my disobedience and bloodlust, Athena saw fit to saddle me with an inner beast and a life-long mission. I’ve spent the last few millennia hunting down bloodthirsty predators, doling out the justice of the Gods.”
    When he saw that she hadn’t bolted, he continued. “The punishment for my rampage was harsh, but fitting. I’ll spend the rest of eternity morphing