Chapter 26 - Divine Deal

Not liking the idea of either the pain or the cost for what he offered, she sighed, "What is it you ask of me, Lord," he growled slightly against her neck and she could feel his disdain for the small disobedience though it hadn't been intentional, just done out of habit. When she continued speaking she didn't try to place his title in front of his name again, feeling the spark of his power already curled around the core of hers, around what she had realized was the connection that led to the broken magic of her proper body in the other world, "Lucrum?"

"Try asking properly," he growled, "And I will not rescind the offer in its entirety. That I like the fact you will call me out for being impertinent doesn't mean I'll allow you to have your way all of the time."

"Name your price, Lucrum," her tone of voice was once more chastising. The use of lord hadn't been meant as a slight, but he wanted familiarity from her.

Had he the power to interfere fully in the other world, there was a particular connection she had that he'd rip apart so she'd have no choice but to bow her head to him. He could fix the problem far easier and far more permanently, was the better choice in his own opinion. She was interesting, one of a very small number of creatures with true divinity that was not granted directly by the god they worshipped. If he played his cards correctly, he could use those creatures to either strengthen himself or make a full pantheon of younger gods. Either outcome was profitable for him and both provided ample means of entertainment, but he leaned towards keeping her at the least because her divinity was already nearly strong enough to shrug him off entirely. Her personality also made her entertaining to him, those that would chastise a god were few, most grovelled.

His grin against her neck returned at the obedience to his orders nonetheless, "In this offer, I am the one on the losing side. That is how much you intrigue me, little unicorn. I want only a chance to kiss you, a small short kiss that I might taste the divinity you've managed to cultivate and see what you could become with the right guidance."

She forced her way out of his grip somewhat, just enough to turn and regard him with her gentle pink eyes. The moment the thought formed in her head of a contract, he shook his own, "You bargain with me by yourself or not at all."

That was a dangerous proposition as there was a reason the god of contracts existed but he didn't want any of the older gods involved unless they absolutely had to be. After all they might object to a new pantheon being formed, seemed already to object to him deeply. She had no problem believing that he was stretching the truth about being on the losing side of his bargain. Perhaps not lying outright but he hoped to gain a lot more in the future by starting the chain of events with the one small act.

"What's to stop me from just training and dealing with things as I am now?"

"Six hours, my dear. That's the window currently between your bouts of agonizing thought destroying pain, that's how broken your magic is. You'll die during your next journey if I don't intervene again and no amount of sleeping will stop it," a knowing smile curved his lips once more, "It will give you more time to try to find the one that can fix you," the smile grew more pronounced, "Or pursue alternate means."

That was the part of the bargain he was banking on, she realized, that she'd grow desperate and bow her head to him in order to save her own life. Having a timeline placed on her death made it so much more real and frightening that she wasn't able to tell herself he was wrong in his thinking, "I accept this bargain, Lucrum," was all she said.

He chuckled slightly, bending down and letting his lips play against hers for just a moment before claiming her. He wasn't gentle with his kiss, demanding her attention and the power she held with an authority she didn't feel like she had the strength to deny. She wasn't enjoying it, nor did she hate it as much as she felt she should have given the circumstances. It was little different than the other brief kisses that would-be suitors snuck upon her when her defenses were down.

As if he had been distracted before and her thought reminded him of his bargain, his power twined around her own curled in to begin repairing the breaks in her magic. The kiss was the only thing left that wasn't agonizing pain and she grasped onto him to keep herself from drowning in agony. What was supposed to be a short kiss, per the bargain made, threatened to extend the full length of the repair.

She felt his power crackling through hers as well, poking and prodding and learning. His magic tugged at hers just a few seconds into the kiss, a chuckle crossing his lips as he seemed to find whatever he'd been looking for. His magic caught hold of hers and twisted, forming a connection that hadn't existed prior and likely wouldn't survive long considering it was far too close to the border of messing with the other world to change part of her nature in any way.

The pain was gone though, not truly gone but morphed into exhilarating pleasure that threatened to drown her as much as the pain had been trying to. She was willing in his arms, body desperate for the pleasure and terrified of the pain that she was certain was still there under the surface.

Eventually she did manage to tear herself away despite her fear and her need, gasping for air to fight the wave of dizziness that rolled over her. He was done with his repairs, the bargain more than paid and just as she'd been warned, he'd gained far more than he'd lost in the exchange.

She turned away and stumbled to her starseeing pond, collapsing beside it and staring at its serene waters, not bothering to pay any mind to whether or not Lucrum lingered. She felt tired and weak. She ached all over with pain and pleasure. She felt ashamed of herself for falling for his offer despite knowing she'd been backed into a corner with no other option.