Heroes aren't meant to act like their villains -- or fall in love with them. The elements touch everyone on Earth -- Fire, Water, even Light -- but every so often someone becomes more attuned to their elemental leaning and develops true power. When an evil Elemental known as Thanatos arrived in Olympus City, it saw the rise of its first hero -- Zeus. But the death toll caused by defeating Thanatos changed Zeus, who by day is young detective Danny Grant. It's been six months since Thanatos terrorized the city at the start of Lovesick Gods. Danny should be used to his duty behind the mask, but the recent past haunts him. His girlfriend left him, he snaps at the barest provocation, his life feels empty -- he needs an outlet, any outlet to pull him out of his depression. Enter notorious thief Malcolm Cho, the Ice Elemental Prometheus. There was a time when Danny welcomed a fight with Cho, filled with colorful banter and casual flirtations that were a relief compared to Thanatos. Even as a criminal, Cho had recognized the threat Thanatos posed and promised to help Danny stop him, but the day Danny needed Cho, he never showed. Cho was the reason so many people died that day -- including Danny's mother. Danny decides to teach the man a lesson and fan the fire of their attraction into something more. At worst, he'll get some no-strings-attached sex out of the deal and finally blow off steam; at best, he'll get Cho to fall in love with him and then break his heart to spite him. Danny doesn't expect to fall for Cho in the process, and he certainly can't predict the much darker threat on the horizon.

Lovesick Gods

“Thanks,” Danny said, digging in as Cho came around to sit beside him. There was still a bit of dampness on the other man’s brow and color in his cheeks from his run. The scent of sweat about him was subtle, almost intoxicating.


They chatted as they ate, and all the while Danny waited for Cho to ask—why had he come over last night? Why had he waited so long even after Cho didn’t show up? But Cho never broached the subject. He teased Danny and flirted and gave him that alluring side-eyed glance down his body as if contemplating all the ways he could make Danny squirm, but he didn’t pry. Danny found himself leaning into Cho, closer and closer as they ate. 


Cho still warned Danny to take it easy with zapping into his apartment and dropping by unannounced. “I don’t tend to bring illegal activities into my home, but if you ever walk in on something incriminating…”


Chapter 68