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

“Then we’ll rest,” Mal said. “And we’ll sleep. And we’ll figure this out. I do have a diamond to reclaim, after all.”


Danny laughed, a sudden eruption that was sad and broken but grateful. “Whatever you say, Cho.”


Mal didn’t know whatto say, but he didn’t think more words would be enough, not now. Coaxing Danny to lean toward him, even though it strained his sore ribs, Mal arched up to meet the kid halfway for a soft kiss. His lip stung, but he didn’t care. “It’s Mal.”


“Right,” Danny puffed a breath. “Mal.”


Their loss tonight didn’t feel like a loss with Danny next to him.


Mal couldn’t have said when they fell asleep after that, right there on the sofa in the same positions they’d started in. He only knew that when he roused, it was to the sound of clattering and vibrations. He’d always been a light sleeper.


Chapter 105