Her butt and legs hit the dry earth. He stepped away from her, back into the trees, then drew to a stop.
Three daemons emerged from the brush, each at least seven feet tall and as muscular as Zagreus. Monsters from the Underworld, commanded by Hades, with the bodies of men, hands full of razorlike claws, teeth something off a shark, their heads a grotesque mix of cat and goat and dog.
“That’s far enough,” Zagreus announced.
The daemon on the left chuckled. “Well, well. The Prince of Darkness. We’ve been looking for you, Zagreus.”
“That’s not a surprise.”
“Daddy dearest wants a few words.”
“That’s not a surprise, either,” Zagreus answered in a bored tone. “Too bad I’m not interested. You boys wandered into the wrong forest.”
A rustle of leaves above was the only sound. All three daemons leveled glowing green eyes on Zagreus. Then the daemon on the left growled low in his throat.
Talisa tensed against the tree, unsure what was going on here. Hades was Zagreus’s father, and though she knew they had a tumultuous relationship, they often worked together. They’d combined forces and invaded Argolea with Zagreus’s satyrs and Hades’s daemons just before she’d been born. The only reason one or both weren’t ruling her world now was because the Argonauts had stopped them.
Zagreus held his arms loosely at his sides. “I suggest you three turn around and leave. And quickly forget you ever saw me.”
No one moved.
Realizing she was holding her breath, Talisa slowly exhaled. The daemon on the left—the one who had growled—shifted his glowing green eyes her way, making her heartbeat kick up even faster.
“What have you got there?” the daemon asked, his eyes narrowing on Talisa, glowing even brighter. “Oh, you dirty devil. Why, she’s one of the—”
Zagreus lifted a hand and blasted the beast with a stream of electricity, just like the electricity he’d hit Max with. The daemon flew backward and slammed into the base of a tree. The other two grabbed blades from their backs and charged.
Talisa scrambled to her feet, but by the time she was upright, it was over. All three daemons were writhing on the ground, just like Max.
Wide-eyed, she watched as Zagreus stepped up to the first, held his hand over the squirming body, and muttered ancient words. The daemon erupted in flames, his scream echoing through the steadily darkening forest.
Talisa’s heart rate jackknifed. Hands shaking, she shuffled back, but as the ghastly screech died out, she quickly realized this was her chance. With Zagreus distracted, she could get the hell out of here.
She shifted her hands in the bindings until her pinkies touched. Nothing happened. The portal didn’t open. It didn’t even hiss.
Dammit, he’d bound all of her gifts.
Pulse thundering, she looked back at the flames and watched as Zagreus moved up to the second sputtering daemon, held his hand out over the body, and ignited that one in flames as well. It’s gruesome shriek rang in her ears.
She had seconds before he torched the third and turned his attention back to her. Seconds to make a break for it.
Slipping quietly around the other side of the thick fir tree, she moved away from the wide trunk and pushed her legs into a run. She was taking a wild chance—no powers, no idea where she was, no ability to open the portal on her own—but it was the only choice she had left.
Because she knew any beast she encountered out here in the dark would pale in comparison to the fury of the monster she’d just left behind.
Elysia rushed up the main staircase in the Argolean Castle in Tiyrns. By the time she reached the third floor, she was sweaty and out of breath, but she didn’t slow her steps.
Voices echoed from the open doorway that led to her mother’s office midway down the corridor. Marble floors gleamed in the low light from sconces on the walls, and tall columns reached to the high ceiling, but tonight she couldn’t see any of it. Tonight all she could think about were Talisa and Max and what they both might be enduring right this very second.
Casey stepped out of her mother’s office just before Elysia reached the open doorway. Elysia’s feet faltered, and she sucked in a breath as she drew to a stop.
One look at Elysia’s face, and Casey’s features tightened. She reached for Elysia’s hand. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Casey jolted as soon as their fingers touched, and her eyes flew wide. And too late, Elysia remembered that her aunt had the gift of hindsight and could see into a person’s past when she touched them, especially if that person was thinking about that past, as Elysia had just been doing.
Casey immediately released Elysia and covered her mouth with her hand, her violet eyes—the same color and shape as her daughter Talisa’s—shocked and horrified.
Guilt slammed into Elysia. Guilt for trying to cover for Talisa. Guilt for thinking she and Max could handle things on their own. Guilt for everything.
“I’m sorry,” Elysia said, her throat thick. “I’m so sorry.”
“I...” Casey looked past Elysia, toward the stairs, as if in a daze. “I have to go find Callia.”
Callia was also her aunt, and Max’s mother. Elysia’s chest ached as Casey rushed off, leaving her standing alone outside her mother’s open office door.
Voices continued to echo from inside—her mother’s, her father’s, Theron’s—but she couldn’t focus on their words. Swiping at her eyes, she pushed her feet forward and stepped into the room.
The queen was sitting behind her desk, her long blonde hair catching the lights from the chandelier above. Elysia’s father Demetrius, and Talisa’s father Theron both stood to her left, Demetrius’s thick arms crossed over his chest, Theron’s hanging loosely at his sides. Across the room, Max’s father Zander sat perched on the arm of the leather couch, while Elysia’s mate Cerek leaned back against the cushions, looking relaxed and at ease with one ankle propped on his opposite knee.
All four Argonauts were still dressed in their warrior gear—long-sleeved thick black shirts, fitted leather pants, and heavy boots that kept them warm and dry in any weather. They’d obviously been out on patrol in the human realm, hunting Hades’s daemons, and had just crossed back into Argolea to give the queen her daily report.
Cerek spotted Elysia first, and a warm smile slid across his face. But the second he read the emotions in her eyes, he shot out of his seat and crossed toward her.
“Emmoní?” He reached for her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I...” Tears filled her eyes, the words like sandpaper in her throat.
He captured her face in both hands and tipped her eyes up toward his, his warm chocolate gaze growing instantly worried. “What? Tell me. What’s happened?”
“I...” Those tears spilled over her lashes.
“Elysia?” Footsteps sounded. Through blurry vision, she spotted her father at Cerek’s side. “Are you hurt?”
Cerek let go when Demetrius reached for her and tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes, too.
Part of her was thankful because she didn’t want to see the disappointment in her mate’s face when she told him what she’d let happen, while another part just wanted him to wrap his arms around her so she could pretend everything was fine.
“I... I’m all right. It’s not me. It’s...” Her stomach pitched. “It’s Max. And Talisa.”
Footsteps sounded again, then Theron was suddenly pushing his way past her father, grasping Elysia’s arm and turning her to face him.
Theron’s chiseled features were as hard as she’d ever seen them, his dark eyes intently focused on her face as he searched for answers to questions he’d yet to ask. Zander was already at his side, staring at her with silvery eyes she knew could shift to a legendary rage at any moment, light where Theron was dark, but every bit as formidable and intimidating.
Though neither was as big as her father, and she’d never been afraid of either as they were family, she didn’t want to say the
words. Didn’t want to be the one to tell them the future of the Argonauts—their children—might already be dead.
“What about Talisa and Max?” Theron asked.
“I...” She looked toward her mate, who was still at her side. Confusion marred his familiar eyes, but he reached for her hand and squeezed, encouraging her in a way she needed.
Wrapping her fingers around Cerek’s, she looked back at Theron and gathered her courage. “I ran into Max in the library. He told me about the Argonauts’ decision. That Talisa wasn’t going to be allowed to begin her training. He said when he saw her, she was visibly upset. He... We were worried about her being reckless.”
Theron’s brow dropped. “What do you mean by reckless?”
“I...”
Cerek squeezed her hand again, and she took a deep breath. He knew what was coming. They’d talked about Talisa’s rebellious streak. She squeezed back once more, though she knew in a second he wouldn’t be quite so supportive.
“She crossed into the human realm.”
Theron dropped his arms from her shoulders. “She what?”
“There’s a club there. One that caters to otherworldly clientele. Max and I both knew she’d gone there before. She’d made us promise not to tell anyone.”
Theron’s jaw clenched so hard, Elysia was suddenly worried it might shatter.
“I... I know we should have come and told all of you then, but...” She glanced toward Max’s father.
“But what?” Zander asked.
“But we didn’t want her to get into trouble. So...” She looked once at her own father then at Cerek. “So we went after her.”
Cerek immediately tensed and released her hand. And behind Zander, Demetrius said, “Hold on. Let me get this straight. All three of you crossed into the human realm, unprotected and without approval?”
Yeah, this is what she’d been afraid of. They were all in deep shit now, though at the moment that was the least of her worries.
She twisted her hands together and forced herself to go on, that sickness rising in her throat. “The plan was just to go there, get her, and come right back. When we got to the club, I waited near the doors while Max went inside. He was only gone a few minutes before the music died down and everything got quiet. I rushed inside and arrived just in time to see...”
“See what?” Zander asked.
The words felt like ash in her mouth, but she pushed them out. “See Max get hit. By some kind of energy blast. It picked him up and blew him back at least ten feet.”
Zander’s eyes turned to swirling hurricanes she knew were about to completely consume him.
“From what?” Theron demanded.
“Not from what,” she answered, looking toward the leader of the Argonauts. “From whom. He was using some kind of glamour. I think Max must have seen through it right away, which is why everything got quiet.”
“Who?” Theron asked.
She pursed her lips, then said, “Zagreus.”
No one spoke. But Theron tensed everywhere, and in a very low voice said, “And where was Talisa during all of this?”
Elysia’s stomach dropped. “Standing next to him. She didn’t know who he was until the glamour faded.”
“Then what happened?” Elysia’s father asked, looking toward Theron warily then back to her. He was thankful she was unharmed. She could see it in his eyes. But worried for the other two.
She turned to look for Cerek, but he wasn’t anywhere near her anymore. Her mate was pacing several steps away, unable to look at her anymore.
She’d been so stupid to think she could play hero. She knew that now. But the only thing that mattered was helping Max and Talisa.
She drew up her courage and faced the Argonauts once more, determined to get the rest of it out. “Talisa threw him into the wall. It crumbled. I went to Max to try to help him up. He was disoriented and injured, and his powers weren’t working. Talisa put herself between us and Zagreus, but he easily overpowered her and put some kind of spell on her that blocked her from using her strength. I-I think he recognized who Max was—or he recognized the Argonaut markings on his arms—because he acted as if he was going to take Max with him, but then... Then a group of satyrs spilled into the bar, and all hell broke loose.”
Zander stepped back and rubbed a hand over his mouth, tense as shit and ready to explode. One glance at Theron told Elysia he was on the edge as well and that she needed to hurry this along.
“Zagreus poofed out of the club with Talisa in a plume of smoke. I don’t know where he took her. I tried to get Max on his feet, but he wouldn’t let me. He told me to go back and get help. He opened a portal and pushed me through. I came right here to find you all.”
“Her coordinates will be logged at the portal in the Gatehouse where she came back,” Zander said to Theron.
The two were out the door faster than Elysia could draw a breath.
When she glanced up, Elysia saw the horrified look on her mother’s face, where she must have been standing the entire time, listening. Elysia had completely forgotten the queen was still in the room. Guilt swamped her all over again.
Her father turned toward her mother, and the two spoke quietly. Looking back at Elysia, he frowned. “We’ll definitely be talking about how reckless and dangerous this was when I get back.” But instead of rushing out the door after the others, he pulled her in and hugged her tight. And very quietly, he said, “Right now, I’m just relieved you’re all right.”
When he kissed the top of her head, she no longer cared if the tears spilled down her cheeks.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not angry, though.”
He released her, and she swiped at her cheeks. “I know. And I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am.”
He lifted a hand to her cheek and brushed a tear away then looked over her head. “I’m getting the others. Meet me at the Gatehouse.”
Cerek didn’t answer, but Elysia knew he was still behind her. She could all but feel his anger crackling in the air between them.
Her father released her then glanced once more at her mother before leaving.
In the silence, her mother looked between Cerek and Elysia, then stepped close and hugged Elysia, too. “Your father’s right. We’re both thankful you’re okay. But we’ll discuss the rest of it later. I need to find my sisters.”
Her sisters. Callia, Max’s mother, and Casey, Talisa’s mother.
Elysia’s stomach pitched all over again.
Isadora released Elysia and rushed out of the room.
Knowing she was out of options, Elysia turned and faced her mate.
She’d been right. He was standing at least ten feet away, no longer looking at her with warmth and adoration, but staring at the couch where he’d been sitting earlier. Unable to meet her gaze, a bundle of coiled strength and steaming fury she knew he was barely holding back.
Disappointing her father was one thing—he might get angry with her from time to time, but he always forgave her. Disappointing her mate was an altogether different matter because she never wanted to hurt him.
And she had hurt him. She’d hurt him by being stupid. By thinking she was invincible. And by not telling him where she was going.
“I-I know you’re mad. I was stupid and careless, and...”
He stopped pacing but didn’t turn to look at her.
Her stomach pitched. “And I shouldn’t have crossed into the human realm without telling you. I just... I couldn’t let Max go alone, and he wouldn’t wait. He was too worried Talisa was going to do something stupid. You know how she can be. She doesn’t listen to anyone. You and my father weren’t back from your patrol yet, and Max wouldn’t go find any of the other Argonauts because he didn’t want to get Talisa in trouble, so I had to make a decision.”
He turned and stalked toward her, and she tensed because with one look she knew she’d been wrong. He wasn’t just mad, he was livid.
“Cerek, I-I know now it wasn’t the right decision, bu
t I wasn’t trying to cause problems. I was trying to help. I was—”
“Shut up.” He wrapped one big hand around her nape and pulled her into him.
She bumped into his broad, muscular chest and had just enough time to lift her hands and press her palms against his shirt as his arms closed around her. Then all she felt was heat as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her in a way that was both punishing and possessive.
She was lightheaded when he finally broke the kiss and let her breathe. His lips moved from her cheek to her jaw and blew warmth over her ear and down her neck. She slid her hands up his back and just held on.
“I swear to all that’s holy,” he whispered, “I’m gonna lock you in a freakin’ tower.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. He threatened that all the time—usually when she got into trouble with her cousins. Which wasn’t really a threat because they lived in a tower in this very castle.
“I wouldn’t let you. Not unless you locked yourself in there with me.”
He sighed and held her tighter. “I’m not joking this time, emmoní. If Zagreus had realized who you were, he would have taken you instead of Talisa.”
“I don’t think so.”
He drew back and looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
“I think he did know who I was. Max said my name, and Zagreus reacted to it. Talisa and I are both linked to the Horae, which makes us valuable to any of the gods, but he knew I was the heir to the throne of Argolea as well. Yet when those satyrs burst into the club, he didn’t reach for me. He didn’t even look at me. He poofed out of there with Talisa without a second thought.”
“But... The satyrs are his. They’re his army.”
“Not these ones. These satyrs were definitely not on his side.”
“Then I don’t get it.” Cerek’s brow wrinkled. “Why take Talisa over you if he knew you were the more valuable hostage? Zagreus never does anything unless it helps him gain power.”
“Because I wasn’t the one he wanted. Cerek”—she tightened her grip on his forearms—“Zagreus acted as if he knew Talisa. Personally. I don’t know how to explain it except that he somehow recognized her. And he called her mono mia.”
Wicked Page 4
