Knowing her, it was highly unlikely.

Now that they were alone, she unfolded herself from her cushioned ivory throne and approached him. She wore a sheer, white peplos that hugged the curves of her voluptuous body and her dark auburn curls glistened in the light.

Her green eyes glowed warmly in welcome.

The look went through him like a lance. Hot. Piercing. Painful.

He’d known seeing her again would be hard on him— it was one of the reasons why he’d always ignored her summons.

But knowing something and experiencing it were two entirely different things.

He’d been unprepared for the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him now that he saw her again.

The hatred. The betrayal.

Worst of all was the need.

The hunger.

The desire.

There was still a part of him that loved her. A part of him that was willing to forgive her anything.

Even his death…

“You look good, Acheron. Every bit as handsome as you were the last time I saw you.” She reached to touch him.

He stepped back, out of her reach. “I didn’t come here to chat, Artemis, I—”

“You used to call me Artie.”

“I used to do a lot of things I can’t do anymore.” He gave her a hard stare to remind her of everything she had taken from him.

“You’re still angry at me.”

“You think so?”

Her eyes snapped emerald fire, reminding him of the demon who resided in her divine body. “I could have forced you to come to me, you know. I’ve been very tolerant of your defiance. More than I should have been.”

He looked away, knowing she was right. She, alone, held possession of the food source he needed to function.

When he went too long without food, he became an uncontrollable killer. A danger to anyone who came near him.