He realised it wasn’t just the fact she played cello, and played it damned well. It was the fact that Esher loved classical music like this, but would never endure being surrounded by mortals in order to hear it played in person.
This was probably a dream come true to Esher.
That became evident when Valen appeared near the door, muttering, “Bloody Marek is a right bossy shit tonight.”
Marinda’s bow skidded across the strings as she tensed and jerked her head up.
Esher snarled and launched at Valen, grabbed him by his throat and growled in his face.
Marinda was swift to rise to her feet, holding her cello by the neck in one hand and her bow up in the other. “I’m sketchy on the rest anyway. I’m still mastering it and without the music—”
Esher’s head whipped around, his gaze landing on her. “If I got the music, could you play more? Other pieces?”
Cal couldn’t remember the last time he had seen his brother so eager about something that didn’t involve hunting and killing daemons. It was like looking at a different person.
Valen finally noticed her, and the cello she tightly gripped.
“Shit. You play?” Valen looked between her and Esher. “Explains his outburst. I fucked things up, didn’t I? Don’t let me stop you. I mean, I’d love to hear you play. If you’re taking requests—”
“She’s not a DJ.” Cal moved to stand beside her and wanted to growl as she looked at him. Fatigue shone in her eyes. He levelled a glare on his brothers, one designed to make them take him seriously when he said, “Give her some room to breathe. If you’re nice, maybe Marinda will play for you both some time.”
Esher looked as if he wanted to press her.
Valen shrugged it off, but Cal could see he had really wanted to hear her play.
“Got a meeting soon anyway apparently,” he grumbled. “Marek says Keras wants to discuss everything. Something about a witch?”
Cal nodded as he stooped and picked up Marinda’s backpack for her. “It turns out Marinda’s guardian is a witch… with a bad attitude.”
He muttered the last four words under his breath, not wanting to offend Marinda but unable to hold them back. She didn’t look upset by his opinion of her friend. In fact, she looked a lot like she was irritated by Cassandra’s behaviour too, a twist to her lips as she glanced into the garden.
She kneeled and carefully put her cello back in the case, her fingers ghosted over it and the bow, and then she closed the lid and locked it. She picked it up and turned to him.
“This way.” He led her to his room and stepped aside to let her pass. “You can sleep here. If you want, you can hang out here and play some more, be by yourself for a while.”
She surprised him by setting down her cello case and coming to face him, determination shining in her eyes.
“I don’t want that. I want to be there. Whatever you have to discuss, I want to hear it and be part of it.”
Violet emerged in her irises.
“I’m part of this fight now.”
Chapter 26
“What are you doing?” Cass came up behind Daimon where he crouched in the corner of the garden beneath an ancient twisted cherry tree.
His shoulders tensed beneath his dark navy roll-neck long-sleeved top and he tilted his head and glowered over his left one at her.
She had that effect on people.
“Nothing,” he muttered and was swift to stand and keep moving.
Cass canted her head, casually brushed the inky waves of her hair over her shoulder and frowned at the spot where he had been. She took a few steps towards it, eased down and held her hand out, hovering it above the ground. There was power there, deep in the earth.
The same kind of dark power she had felt in London, at the townhouse that belonged to the no-good god Marinda seemed rather infatuated with.
“What are you doing?” Daimon’s brusque voice invaded her perusal of the intricate web of the enchantment.
His heavy black boots appeared in the corner of her vision to her left, and the sense of power he emanated wrapped around her, pulling her own to the fore as instinct demanded she protect herself. There was no need to fear him. He wasn’t a threat to her.
She looked at his boots and slowly lifted her gaze, meant to do it swiftly but it became a leisurely glide up his black-jeans-clad long legs, over his narrow hips, to the teasing tightness of his top as it hugged his chest and stomach.
When she finally reached his face, she amended her thoughts about him.
Perhaps he was a threat to her.
His pale blue eyes had turned glacial, narrowed beneath the hard line of his white eyebrows, and the downward tilt of his compressed lips warned she was pushing her luck.
“Inspecting the ward, as you were.” She rose to her feet as casually as she could manage, pretending that glare he had turned on her and the shift in his powers didn’t frighten her in the slightest.
He huffed, pivoted on his heel and walked away from her.
Cass didn’t give him a chance to escape.
“Did you make all of these wards?” She mentally cursed him as he picked up pace, his long legs easily carrying him away from her.
“No,” he bit out.
He wasn’t a very talkative fellow, seemed rather determined to ignore her and was clearly having as much difficulty trusting her as his brothers were, especially the black-haired one with a bad attitude.
She shrugged at that, unsure which of the two with black hair was worst. Keras, who looked as if he wanted to knock her down a few pegs to make sure she knew who was the boss of this troupe, or Esher, who just looked as if he wanted her six feet under his boots and pushing up daisies.
“Did you make some of them?” She tugged her black dress up, hoisting it high enough that the split hit her waist and she could move easily.
Daimon remained silent. She took that as a yes.
“It is rather impressive work for a god.” She halted when he suddenly stopped dead and the air chilled a few degrees, enough that her breath fogged in front of her face.
“For a god,” he muttered, his tone telling her he had taken her choice of words as an insult. “Like we’re dirt beneath the feet of a witch, creatures that shouldn’t be capable of such a feat. You need a reminder that you’re at the mercy of gods?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” She took a step towards him, the stepping stones that formed the path freezing cold beneath her bare feet.
She risked a glance at his boots. Frost glittered on them, spreading to form delicate and beautiful patterns on the black leather and across the stones beneath them. Frustration rolled through her and not for the first time since she had been teleported to this place. Marinda’s words echoed in her head, her darling ward’s warning that she had to play nice at the forefront of her mind.
She didn’t want Marinda, or these gods, to be angry with her.
“So, you meant it like what?” He turned on her and froze, his black-rimmed white eyes locked on her hips as they slowly widened. “What—”
She looked down at herself as he abruptly cut himself off. The slit in her black dress reached her waist, revealing her entire leg and her hip on that side. Perhaps she was flashing a little too much information at him, like the fact she wasn’t wearing any panties.
She casually lowered it, covering her hip, but it didn’t stop him from staring. “You walk too fast. I had to keep up.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Or maybe you could’ve taken the hint.”
Cass shrugged that one off. “Taking hints is not my style.”
“I’m getting that impression. How about I make it blindingly clear for you?” He took a hard step towards her and glared down at her. Attempting to use his height to his advantage. Or perhaps the cold that pulsed off him in chilling waves. Goosebumps erupted over her chest and down her arms as a particularly frigid blast hit her. Daimon gritted his teeth and snarled, “Stop. Fucking. Stalking. Me.”
He twisted away from her and stomped down the path, leaving frosty footprints in his wake.
What a curious little creature.
His display of aggression had quite the opposite effect to what he probably wanted. Rather than scaring her into submission so she left him alone, it only made her want to pursue him and come to understand him better.
He ruined all chances of that by making a beeline for the covered walkway that ran around the mansion, kicking his boots off and stalking along it, swiftly heading for the huge stone bath that overlooked the zen garden.
Spoilsport.
She casually followed the path, taking her time about it, her gaze drifting over the flowers and the mossy boulders. It was tranquil, but a little dull without him. A sigh escaped her as her gaze tracked him. What was she doing? She was here for Marinda, to keep her safe and ensure these gods could protect her, just as Eric had seen. She wasn’t here to get to know them.
She wasn’t here to make friends.
Daimon’s step slowed as he reached the tiled area between the bath and the showers, and his head turned to his left, revealing his profile to her. She had the oddest sensation he was looking at her, and then his shoulders shifted in a sigh and he disappeared from view down the corridor that would take him back to the main room of the house.
She bit back a shriek when Daimon suddenly appeared right in front of her, black smoke clinging to his wide shoulders.
“Your highness is wanted in the house,” he growled. “I suggest you don’t keep Keras waiting.”
Before she could ask for a lift, he teleported again. She amended her earlier observation. He wasn’t curious. He was irksome. Rubbed her entirely the wrong way.
Gods, she hated him.
She huffed and stormed towards the house, ignoring how cold the stepping stones still were. When she reached his boots, she stopped. Stared at them. Told herself not to do it.
She stooped, grabbed them and carried them with her.
Smiled as she dropped them in the bath on her way past.
Cass fixed her appearance, smoothing her dress over her curves and running her fingers through her hair, ensuring each wave was perfect. She cupped her breasts and jimmied them, making her cleavage appear fantastic. Satisfied she would make the right impression, that of sorceress not to be messed with meets every man’s wet dream come true, she sashayed along the corridor between the kitchen and one wing of the house.
Power flowed and ebbed, hummed in the air around her as she entered the long living room and seven gods turned to glare at her.
What to say?
She regally waved her hand. “You may begin.”
Keras’s green eyes narrowed, the black slashes of his eyebrows drawing down above them as his lips thinned. He was handsome, beautiful almost, but she preferred her men a little more hot-blooded.
She slid a look at Daimon where he leaned against the white wall to her right, close to the front door.
Or perhaps a little more cold-blooded.
His pale blue eyes met hers and then he lowered them to his feet and folded his arms across his chest.
Marinda bustled towards her, Calistos hot on her heels. She expected the blond god to stop her ward, but rather than intervening, he kept pace with her and simply took up position beside her when she stopped next to Cass.
“Play nice,” Marinda whispered in French. If she thought it would keep what she had said secret, she was sorely mistaken.
The amused twist to Ares’s lips said he understood her.
Cal muttered, “Doubt she could manage that.”
Cass was tempted to utter a spell to make him a eunuch for a few hours, but doing so would only upset Marinda, so she behaved herself.
“You guys can handle this?” Ares looked to Keras.
Keras nodded.
Ares stomped towards her, looking every bit the warrior as he closed the distance between them. She kept her posture relaxed but her guard went up, anticipation running through her to crank her tight inside and ready for anything.
Rather than laying a hand on her, he merely gave her a black look as he stormed past her. She let the breath she had been holding slowly leak from between her lips. She had forgotten he had a female, a pretty little thing who was carrying his child, which was apparently a source of concern for him.
Understandably.
“I want to know everything. Starting with your intentions.” Keras stood in the middle of the room, flanked by four of his brothers, including the beast.
Esher looked ready to rip her apart with his claws. She offered him a smile that went down about as well as a glass of acid.
“My only intention is to ensure Marinda is safe. Protected.” She had figured an honest answer would at least curry her a little favour with the gods.
Calistos made sure it didn’t. “Already told you that I can protect her. We don’t need you. We don’t even know if you’re working for the enemy or not.”
“Well, that’s charming.” She turned a frown on him. “I seem to recall saving your life. Who was it who made three daemons drop dead?”
Marinda stepped forwards, placing herself between them, and raised her hands as she faced Cass. “You can’t blame them for being cautious.”
“I recall you blowing up three daemons… and then my reputation,” Cal muttered the last four words, earning curious looks from three of his brothers.
So he was bitter about the fact she had filled Marinda in on a few key facts about him and now he wanted to turn Marinda and his brothers against her. Well, it wasn’t going to happen. She gathered her thoughts, seeking the perfect retort.
He sighed. “But, I suppose you did save us. Much as I hate to admit that. Mari vouches for you too, which means if it comes down to it, I won’t vote to kick you out.”
Damn him. She had just found an amazing comeback too.
Cass preened her hair. “Perhaps you could convince your brothers I could be an asset?”
He jammed his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “That’s your job.”
“I vote we kick her out.”
Those words coming from her right had her head whipping that way.
She stared at Daimon, shock rippling through her to steal her voice, although she wasn’t sure why it surprised her.
Or why the thought that he didn’t want her here, working with them, had a cold sharp feeling going through her chest.
“Seconded.” Esher raised his hand, the sleeve of his dove-grey shirt falling back to reveal a trident on the inside of his wrist that was as black as night. Someone was still grumpy about her presence in his home.
Marek looked her over, his earthy eyes sharp and calculating. “She could prove useful, provided she’s as powerful as Cal believes.”
“More powerful,” she put in.
Daimon scoffed.
She tossed daggers at him that hit their mark judging by how he looked away from her. “Is it just beast and the one lacking a heart that wish me gone, or do either of you two value my presence and what I can bring to this fight? If you would like, I can give you an example of my abilities. I just need a volunteer, an opponent. Say… him.”
She pointed at Daimon.
He pushed away from the wall, unfurling to his full height as his arms dropped to his sides. “You want a fight?”
Cass tipped her chin up and turned her cheek to him. “It wouldn’t even be a fight. Five seconds and you’ll be in the dirt, begging me for mercy.”
The air in the room turned frigid.
Cass braced herself for an attack.
“Daimon.” Keras’s deep voice rolled through the room and the air warmed again as the white-haired brute huffed and glared at him. “Perhaps you could finish your work checking the wards?”
“She tries to start shit and I get kicked out. Nice.” Daimon stormed towards her and she couldn’t stop herself from tensing this time. The bastard noticed it. Grinned at her. He stopped close to her and hissed, “I might not be here, but my vote s
till counts. I want you out.”
“Daimon,” Keras said, a note of warning in his voice.
Daimon sneered at her and pushed past her, and she sucked in a breath as her shoulder burned, the instant cold like a fiery brand as it seared her. She rubbed her bare arm and scowled over her shoulder at his back.
He reached the bathing area.
Cass sidled closer to Marinda and put on a casual air.
“What the—!” An icy wave of air rolled over her and she kept her eyes on Marinda, ignoring the god who was now closing the distance between them again. “My boots? Really? My boots!?”
He shoved the soggy articles in her face, splashing her with the bizarre combination of warm water and chunks of ice.
Cass looked at them, her eyebrows pinned high on her forehead. “Why yes. They are your boots. Very observant of you.”
She flinched when he growled right in her face.
“Just you wait. The second you leave anything in this house, it’s going in the pond.” His eyes gained a wicked glimmer she told herself she didn’t like. “In fact…”
She screamed as he grabbed her wrist and darkness engulfed her, and then she hit water. It crashed over her, filled her mouth and had her choking as she breached the surface.
“Not the fish!” Esher appeared above her as she spluttered and floundered, kicking her legs and flapping her arms. He snarled, “Watch the fish!”
Cass gasped for air, sucking down another mouthful of pond water that had her retching as she came up again. She managed to roll onto her front and cursed when her hand and knees easily touched the bottom of the pond.
“Cass.” Marinda’s worried voice carried across the garden.
At least someone gave a damn that she had been unceremoniously dunked in the pond.
All Esher cared about was his fish.
He glared at her, as if this whole ruckus was her fault.
Cass laboured onto her feet, water streaming down her, the weight of it threatening to pull her dress down. She struggled to hold it up and keep herself covered as she narrowed her eyes on Esher.
“Perhaps you should try blaming the one who tossed me in here like he was testing to see whether I would sink or float!” She waded towards the edge of the pool, where Marinda was now waiting, her blue eyes verging on violet as she held a hand out to her.
Calistos: Guardians of Hades Series Book 5 Page 26
