"Don't blame yourself," he said. "That's what he would've wanted to say."

???

THE FULL MOON RETURNS TO the sky along with its constellation companions. I was instantly pulled back to the night Alex and I slept in an inflatable swimming pool in the pool at his backyard, stargazing. It almost feels like a Déjà vu, except now, I'm not floating on water.

Nature's orchestra complimented the soft waves swaying on the shores. I could the pebbles being dragged by the currents, back and forth. Owls hoot in the distance, creatures of the night dart in the darkness, and thousands of fireflies surround the environment.

Perseus gathered wood and dried leaves, and with my powers, we set up a campfire to chase the chilly temperature that was devouring us. Or maybe it's just me.

I'm sitting by the lake dock, with my left leg snuggled against my chest and the other dunked in the water. The lake glows in bioluminescence blue and green, which means it is safe as the nymphs are protecting it with their magic. The moon radiates its light upon Perseus, swimming in the water. He swam with elegance, and when he reached the surface to catch his breath, he retained his godly allure. If it were me, I'd look like Ursula from the Little Mermaid, having a bad hair day.

"Care to join me?" his head pops out of the surface as he floats in my direction. "You could use a bath yourself."

"I'm not that dirty," I lied.

I haven't bathed for three days, the longest I've gone without soap and water. I can smell myself without trying, which is already bad. Though, I have no intention of showering in an iced cold lake.

He made a face that said, you-sure-about-that?

"If that were to be true, why do I see twigs tangled in your hair? As well as mud patches on your feathers and clothes?" He gives me a smug look, approaching closer and grabbing my feet. "Oh, and your feet too."

He laughs, now floating with his stomach up and hands behind his head.

"If I had known any better... and I do," his arms gesture at me. "This isn't clean, my angel."

"Still, there's no way I'm getting in that," I said. "I'll freeze to death."

"It's not that bad."

"For you," Perseus always showers with cold water. Even when the servants had prepared pots of hot water for him, he'd always choose cold. And I'd end up using the hot ones, which I'm not complaining about.

"Fair enough," he reaches an arm to me. "Could you at least give me a hand up?"

"Can't you swim back to the shore?"

"Since you're here, it saves me time and effort," he wriggled his fingers, and I couldn't turn away from that smile.

I got to my knees and took his hand, using my strength to pull him up.

He's heavier than I thought.

"Thank you," he released my hand. "LET'S GO!"

And before I could blink, he circled his arms around my chest and dragged us both into the water. My nose burns, and my ears are clogged. I froze to the chilly temperature of the water, and then he appeared in front of me.

"What the fuck!" I yell, attempting to fly out of the water, but my wings are soaked. "It's so fucking cold!"

"That's one way to get you in," he laughs, reaching for my hair and gently scrubbing my scalp. "Now, let's get you cleaned up, my angel."

"Hands off," I shove him back, or at least, I tried to. "I can do it myself now that you've given me no choice."

"Alright," he floats back, hands up in surrender.

My body began adjusting to the temperature as I removed my clothes, tossing them onto the dock. Soon, I found myself basking in my surrounding, for it felt good to be clean.

I forgot Perseus was behind me until his arms circled my waist. His body is oddly warm as he leans in. Temptation builds up in my chest, and I let him remain where he is. Goosebumps form as his lips traces my shoulder, neck, and ear. At this point, my pulse is beating faster than it should.

I turn to face him.

He had on my favorite soft smile; his wet hair ever so slightly fell perfectly around his eyes. They shine as bright as the moon as he stares into mine with so much love. His palms warmed my cheeks. I held on to his wrists and pressed my lips against his hand.

"You have no idea how grateful I am that you're here," he said. "Thank you, my angel."

I couldn't find the words to return. Instead, I leaned in and kissed him. He didn't pull back but kissed me more passionately. He tastes like apples from the fruits he had eaten before swimming. My hands ran down his back and his found its way into my hair. I pulled our bodies closer, legs tangled, chest against chest, and his tongue in my mouth.

My mind goes more, more, more.

"Wait," I pull back, catching my breath, and laughing because I can feel that we're both hard now.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" He asks, concern in his eyes.

"No," I took his hand, and we walked out of the lake.

Jesus, my wings felt as though I'm carrying wet laundry on my back. We headed back towards the camping spot where the fire had died out. I ignited it once again with a fireball of my own. I thrust him onto the blanket the nymphs had provided for the night. I got on top of him and crossed his arms over his head, pressing our mouths deeply against each other.

"You can't hurt me," he said after a brief pullback.

"That's my job, my prince."

...

Dear bucket list..., here's something I never thought you'd ever include. Having sex with a demigod, also known as Perseus, the world's famous ancient Greek hero. Well, the twenty-first-century hero, that is.

Whatever the time is right now, I'm sure Zeus can wait because I don't know when I'll ever get another chance to lie naked next to Perseus... so close that I could hear every breath he takes. My fingertips caress his jawline as I look into his eyes.

God, he's beautiful.

"What do you see when you look at me?" He asks, smiling. Another Déjà vu.

"A second chance, perhaps?" I spoke. "Redemption could be another?"

"Have you had a lover before me?"

I nod.

"What happened to her?"

"I like how you assumed it's a her," I scoff in humor.

"It wasn't?" He had an eyebrow raised, surprised. "My apologies. I was raised to believe that men only fall in love with women. That's just how it is. Unfortunately, I was born differently, not just in blood aspect."

"The way I see it," I take his hand, holding it close to my lips. "Love is love, regardless of what the gender is."

I kiss his knuckles and then his lips.

"And to answer your question, he... passed," I continue. "Murdered."

"I'm sorry," he said after a while of processing my answer. "Do you know who did it?"

I nod.

"I was powerless back then. I could only do so much," I paused, the memory of Alex dying in my arms enveloping my mind. "His last words were, don't blame. I never understood what he meant by that... until recently."

"Don't blame yourself," he said. "That's what he would've wanted to say."

"I did what he told me not to do."

"Maybe you'll have a chance to meet him again someday," his bulky hand gently caresses my cheek before kissing the tip of my nose.

"We already have," I said to myself in my mind, smiling to myself on the outside.

"What?" He's noticed my smile.

"I don't need to," I kiss him again. "That was a long time ago. Now, I have you. And you'll have me. If you want."

He laughs, pulling me over to his body and kissing me again and again.

"I had always wanted you. And I still do. Now, and forever."