She shivered.
Something about them made it seem like he could see straight through her. Like he could hear every thought she possessed.
She dropped her backpack beside the couch and watched him walk a circle around her loft, as if making sure no one was in here, and yet she sensed it was more habit than a real need he had to verify that they were alone.
He had such a deadly, graceful swagger. A predator's lope. There was something intrinsically sexual about Acheron. Something compelling, seductive. Just being near him made her want to reach out and touch him.
It was as if he were putting off powerful pheromones, and at the same time, she was scared of him. He was like a lethal, beautiful animal in the wild that part of you wanted to cuddle, even while the other part of you knew he was just as likely to rip your arm off as he was to cuddle back.
He was magnetic and fierce and he made her want to run for the door.
When he spoke, the powerful sound of his voice made her jump, but what struck her most was how erotic his voice was. It was so deep that it rumbled and every syllable he spoke went down her spine like a seductive caress. She'd never been around anyone whose entire body and character appeared to have been made for no other purpose than to entice women sexually.
Boy, did it ever work.
"Your brother, Storm, is below, cleaning up. You might want to have him spend the night with you."
"How do you know Storm is below?"
"I just do."
She frowned-he was even more eerie than her grandmother. "Why aren't you staying?"
"Do you want me to?"
No, not really. But she didn't want to offend him. "You probably have things you need to do."
He gave her a tight-lipped smile that seemed to indicate that he had heard her real response. "Then, good night, Sunshine."
He started for the door.
"Acheron, wait."
He paused and looked at her.
"Am I doing the right thing by letting Talon go?" she asked. "You need him, right?"
His mercury eyes seared her. "I think you need to listen to what your grandmother told you, Sunshine. Follow your heart."
"How did you know about that?"
He gave her a hint of a smile. "I know lots of things."
This was a very spooky man. She wondered if he was a missing member of the Addams family.
Acheron turned on his heel and walked out her door.
Sunshine stood there for several minutes, debating what she should do about Talon.
But in the end, she knew what her heart demanded she do...
She'd asked Psyche if it were possible to summon a goddess. She wasn't sure if Psyche had been honest, but there was only one way to find out.
"Artemis," she said out loud. "I summon you to human form."
Nothing happened.
There was no sound, no great flash of light.