Lethal Blow: (Succubus Hitwoman Book 2) by Eliza Hendrix (best motivational books to read TXT) 📗

He sighs. “You were supposed to figure this out on your own, Alexis.”

I’m taken aback by his use of my first name.

“But, you know”—he twirls a finger in the air—“with the end of the world approaching and all, I’d say we’re running out of time for you to figure it out.”

“What are you talking about?”

His eyes linger on me longer than necessary. “What do you know of your birth parents, Alexis?”

Turning away, I shrug. In my eyes, my biological parents, whoever they were, were cowards. Why else abandon me at the edge of a forest with a doll to protect me? Don’t get me wrong—I’m glad they did. Otherwise, I would have never been raised by the man and woman who found me.

To me, they are my true parents, and I couldn’t have asked for better ones.

He must sense my resentment and moves toward me, exuding nothing but confidence.

“I knew your real father,” he says.

I’m not sure whether to believe him or punch him in the face for making such a bold statement.

“His name was Eros.”

He pauses, almost as if for effect. Is this supposed to mean something to me? Elevating my chin, I cross my arms and stare back. Am I getting defensive? Maybe. This guy, who I’ve known for all of a few hours, is telling me he knew my biological father.

No one’s ever spoken about my biological parents. It’s as if they disappeared after handing me over to the village.

I hope they did. Anyone who abandons a child like that—

“You have no idea,” Ace says.

No shit.

If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here letting him waste my time like this.

“Eros was the son of Ares and Aphrodite. He was the Greek god of love and sex.”

My jaw twitches.

I’m too stunned to say anything, so instead, I burst out laughing. “Fuck off. You can’t stand there and tell me that my father’s a god. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” My laughter subsides and I glower at him, raising a stiff finger. “And if you think I’m dumb enough to believe—”

“What reason would I have to lie to you?” he cuts me off.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “To boost my self-esteem? To get even more intense sex out of me?”

I feel like a psycho as the words come out of my mouth. I’m not making much sense, but nothing makes sense to me anymore.

“He and your mother, a succubus demon like you, procreated out of pure sexual desire for one another.”

“Procreated,” I repeat. “So I’m a procreation.”

I’m stalling. This is way too much for me to take in.

“Eros returned to Mount Olympus and couldn’t care for you. And your mother, well, everyone knows what happens to children born as demigods. They’re hunted and killed for their power.”

My head spins, making me feel like I ate shrooms.

His lips move slowly as he speaks, and I wonder if maybe I died seconds ago. Maybe he sucked me dry and none of this is real.

“Your parents didn’t want to abandon you, Alexis.”

An indescribable rage boils my insides. “How would you even know all of this? Why would a god entrust a demon as filthy as an incubus to carry this secret?”

I hate how calm he is. He acts as if nothing in the world bothers him. Either that, or he truly is that understanding, which makes him a stand-up guy.

“I was there that day… when they carried you to the edge of the forest.”

Although I don’t want to believe a word he’s saying, I can’t help but want to hear all about it.

“I was foolish back then… running from a mob of angry husbands whose wives I’d deflowered.”

“Deflowered,” I repeat. “Are you always so poetic?”

“I’m trying to be respectful,” he says. “I can say fuck if you prefer.”

My eyes dart toward the bulge in his pants. “Yeah, I’d prefer that.”

Fuck. Stay focused, Alexis. Don’t let this asshole brainwash you.

“I was near the edge of the forest when I saw them saying goodbye to you. Your mother kissed your forehead, wrapped you up in a beige hemp sheet, and placed a strange-looking doll in your arms. She said something about Alice keeping you safe.”

I gape at him. No one else in the world, other than the family who raised me, knows about Alice. Nor about the hemp sheet. Papa gave this blanket to me when I was old enough to understand the significance of it. Instead of interrogating him on how he could have possibly known about any of this, I open my mind and listen, something that doesn’t come easily to me.

“I stepped on a branch, inadvertently capturing their attention. Your father turned to me, his eyes filled with tears, and he raised a hand like he was about to make me vanish with a click of his fingers. Your mother stopped him, saving my life, and asked if I could keep an eye on you to ensure that one day, when you were ready and powerful enough to defend yourself from the world, you’d know who your real parents were.”

I blink, unable to speak.

“How do you think it is that I can teleport?” he asks.

With tight lips, I shrug.

“Your father gave me the gift in exchange for my loyalty. He said he needed me to be able to follow you anywhere you went.”

He pauses, a heavy silence weighing down on us.

Could this be true?

Am I, in fact, a demigod?

The thought sounds preposterous.

“If you were so keen on protecting me,” I say, “then why’d you try to steal the Book of Origin from me in Adam’s house? Loyalty to my father and theft don’t exactly mesh well.”

“I was trying to protect you from yourself,” he says.

Humming,