She moved away from the bed, into the center of the room, and reached for something from the couch.
As Talisa watched her, she had another memory flash. Of her yelling at Zagreus that she didn’t need him, and him grabbing her and saying, “You do. You’re just too stubborn to admit it…”
Her heart raced all over again. He was right. She was stubborn. She’d always been stubborn. She’d fought so long and so hard for respect, for independence, for a place with the Argonauts, she’d convinced herself she didn’t need anyone. Not family, not a mate, not even a lover. She had herself and that was enough.
One other female in her realm had thought that way. One other warrior who’d been controlled by her emotions. By hate and revenge.
Her throat closed. Atalanta had felt that way. The female who’d kidnapped and raised Max. The female who’d thought she deserved a place with the Argonauts and who’d been so driven by vengeance when they’d shunned her, she’d traded her soul for a shot at immortality. She’d let that hate rule her until she’d become as powerful as a god. Until she’d turned into a monster.
Hate was a choice. One Talisa had flirted with all her life. One she knew now would only lead her along the same doomed path as Atalanta.
She didn’t want to end up like that. What she wanted was this, what she had here in this place. A real home where people respected her, where they needed her. With someone who didn’t judge her. Who challenged her and made her feel alive. With a god who filled her with so much light, she knew she was finally complete. Not broken and empty and alone, as she’d been for so very long.
All her life, Talisa had felt a kinship with Atalanta because of her situation, because of the markings she’d been born with, because the Argonauts had never taken her seriously. But now…
Now, part of her couldn’t help but think…
Maybe she was never supposed to join them. Maybe the markings on her arms, her gifts, even the Argonauts—though they didn’t realize it—had been leading her here the entire time.
To Ehrendia.
To Zagreus.
To this future, with him.
Nysa moved back to the bed with a stack of clothing. “The nymphs made these for you. They thought you’d be more comfortable in pants, and since the weather’s turning, you need something a bit warmer. Plus, this will be easier for you to wear under the armor.”
Still in a daze, Talisa looked up as Nysa handed her the clothing. “Armor?”
“The strongest leather in the kingdom.” Nysa moved back to the couch and returned with the green leather surcoat, which she laid on the bed.
It was sleeveless, with laces up the front for a tight fit and an attached hood. The hem hit just below the hips, but tapered to the lower back, which would protect the wearer as they moved in battle. There were also matching bracers for the arms, and greaves for the legs.
“Charmed, of course,” Nysa said, “for extra protection.”
Talisa ran her hand over the leather, awed by the workmanship. “They made this? For me?”
Taking the clothing from Talisa’s hands once more, Nysa said, “Come on, let’s see if these fit.”
In a daze, Talisa tugged off the nightgown. The pants were made from some kind of thick dark brown fabric she couldn’t name—tight but easy to move in. The tunic was a lightweight green garment with long sleeves that hit at her hips, laced up the front so it could be closed to her throat or open at her chest, and was decorated with intricate trim and stitch work that resembled the lines and swirls in ivy and grape garlands. There were even new knee-high boots with small heels that were the perfect size.
The outfit was warm and functional, yet luxurious, and as soon as she pulled it on, she felt like royalty. Warrior royalty. The only kind of royalty she’d ever wanted to be.
She left the top open so it showed just a hint of cleavage, then held out her hands and turned to face Nysa. “What do you think?”
“I think it fits you in every way. What do you think?”
Talisa looked down and ran her hands over the rich fabric. “I love it. I can’t believe someone made this.”
A wide smile spread across Nysa’s face. “I’ll be sure to tell the mages you approve.”
Of course the mages had made this. They were the only ones who probably could. She made a mental note to thank them herself.
She looked up, that urgency pushing her all over again. “Where is Zagreus? I really need to talk to him.”
“I’m not sure.”
“But—”
“He left last night after he brought you back here. He hasn’t returned yet.”
That urgency shifted to full on panic. Talisa immediately thought of the lookout he’d taken her to yesterday, the place she instinctively knew was where he went to get away from everyone.
“He’s not up there,” Nysa said.
She turned toward the nymph, who’d already gathered her nightgown for the laundry. “How do you know?”
“Because it’s dark.”
Talisa’s brow wrinkled.
“Another thing you haven’t figured out yet, huh?” Nysa smirked. “It was built for him. It lights up whenever he’s there. Though since you came into his life, it’s been a whole lot brighter than it ever was before.”
Talisa stepped to the window and looked up at the waterfall and the lookout above, dark against the rocks. She had no idea what the nymph meant. Then she thought of what Nysa had told her before. And what she’d learned since.
Ehrendia…
Light…
It wasn’t possible. He was the Prince of Darkness. Though even as she told herself no, she remembered that his mother—Persephone—spent several months of the year on Olympus.
Could he actually be—?
“If I were you,” Nysa said across the room, pulling the heavy wood door open, “I’d check with Rhen. He may know when the prince is due back.”
“Um, yeah... Okay,” she managed, reeling from the possibility. “Thanks.”
Nysa left the door open, her footsteps disappearing down the corridor. Lowering herself to the bed, Talisa pulled on the boots, determined to find Rhen.
Now that she wasn’t being ruled by her emotions, she knew Zagreus had been right yesterday. She couldn’t put this kingdom at risk all because of her singular need to help Max. They could come up with another plan. They had time. She needed to learn patience, and Zagreus could help her with that. If he would just come back…
That panic reformed beneath her chest when she thought of where he could be. She hoped to hell he hadn’t done something stupid, like gone to free Max all on his own because he was worried she’d try to do it when she awoke. If Pandora and her box were as strong as he claimed, even he didn’t stand a chance against them.
Voices echoed from the grand hall below, interrupting her thoughts. Several.
Something was happening. Something that sounded like chaos.
Drawn toward the sound, she pushed to her feet and headed in that direction.
She moved down the wide curved staircase, glancing over the room. Tables had been pushed together to form one long one in the center of the space. The nymphs and silens who normally lounged around the fire had scattered, and someone had turned the lights up so the room was bright rather than its normally comfortable dim. There was also a flurry of activity in the adjoining kitchen—nymphs coming and going, and pots and pans clanking—as if the kitchen staff were preparing for a feast.
She had no idea what was going on, but as she reached the bottom step and gripped the newel post, the wide doors at the end of the hall opened. Zagreus swept into the room with Rhen at his side, the two deep in conversation about something Talisa couldn’t hear.
Her pulse shot up. Her heart fluttered beneath her ribs. Still speaking to Rhen, Zagreus lifted his head and glanced her direction. And as their eyes met across the space, heat and need and the same feeling of completeness churned inside, telling her everything was right. He was back. He was here
. He was safe.
Except…
Something wasn’t right. He was still dressed in the same boots, dark pants, and matching long-sleeved shirt he’d worn yesterday, only now the shirt was torn in several places, his pants ripped along one knee, and his boots were covered in mud.
She was just about to go to him, to ask what had happened, when Rhen reached the end of the long table and drew to a stop. Then bodies behind them filed into the room. Big bodies. Familiar bodies. Holy hell…
Argonaut bodies.
Her eyes flew wide when she spotted Orpheus, Gryphon, Titus, Phineus, Ari, Cerek, Zander, Demetrius, along with Skyla, Orpheus’s mate who’d once been a Siren, and Callia, Talisa’s aunt. Even Nick was here.
Several of the Argonauts nodded her way, but no one approached. They were all busy talking amongst themselves. And none of them—not a single one—were treating Zagreus as if he were a threat. In fact, the way Zagreus was standing off to the side and they’d barged in and taken over the space, it almost seemed as if…
As if he’d surrendered the castle to the Argonauts.
Talisa stood cemented in her spot, sure she was hallucinating. She was desperate to talk to Zagreus, to find out what the fuck was going on, but he wasn’t looking at her anymore, he was giving directions to two of Rhen’s guards. Then the last two bodies moved through the double doors and into the room, and Talisa lost all ability to speak or even think.
Her parents—both of them—strode across the hall and headed right toward her while the Argonauts continued to talk about she didn’t know what at their backs.
She glanced from face to face as they stopped in front of her. Her mother, who didn’t look a day past thirty thanks to her Argolean genes, smiled in her red sweater and slim black pants, her chocolate hair falling to her shoulders. Her father, every bit the warrior she remembered in his traditional dark fighting gear and boots, seemed a bit more stoic and eyed her a little more carefully.
Neither spoke right away. Then before she could even think of anything to say, her father’s features softened, he whispered, “Thisavrós,” and pulled her into his arms.
Warmth encircled her. Warmth and safety and the familiar scents of home. The term of endearment echoed in her head, the one he’d called her since she was a child and meant my treasure, and she clung to him, blinking back tears she didn’t even know had been lurking inside her.
“We were so worried,” her father whispered in her ear. He drew back and swiped at the tears on her cheeks with a tender smile. “Are you all right?”
She nodded and swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I’m fine, pampas. I…”
She glanced toward her mother, saw the tears in her eyes, and immediately moved to hug her. “Matéras… I’m sorry.”
Her mother hugged her tight. Talisa was taller than her mom, but if there was one thing she’d learned early on, it was that her mother was stronger—emotionally—than both her and her father put together. She was the glue that held their family together. She always had been.
“There’s no need for apologies,” Casey said in her ear. “All that matters to us is that you’re safe. And you are. That’s all we care about.”
Talisa swallowed and nodded, knowing her mother was just trying to make her feel better.
Drawing back, she swiped at her eyes again, looking from one parent to the other. “I-I don’t understand, though. How did you get here?”
“Zagreus brought us here,” her mother answered.
Talisa’s heart stuttered, and she looked between her parents toward the table where Rhen was rolling out a long map on the surface for everyone to see, and Zagreus was giving directions and pointing out locations.
Confused—no, shocked—she looked back at her mother. “Why? That doesn’t make sense. I mean, I’m happy to see you but—”
“He didn’t have any other choice,” her father cut in, drawing her attention his way. “He obviously knows you’re as stubborn as your mother.”
“As if.” Casey glanced at her mate, but there was no heat in the look. It was more playful than irritated. “Everyone knows the stubborn gene comes from your side of the family tree.” She waved her hand. “All those super-human abilities clearly interfere with common sense.”
“They do not,” Theron replied innocently.
“Where should I start?” Casey held up a hand and started ticking off fingers. “Your whole silly feud with Nick when we first met. All that time you thought Demetrius was a traitor. The tiff you got into with Titus when he was just trying to help Natasa. And I won’t even go into the grudge you had against Orpheus for, like, ever…”
“Okay, okay.” Theron frowned and held up his own hand, blocking Casey from going on. “We get it, meli. No one likes me.”
“Well, no one but me.” Casey smirked, then inched closer so she could slide her arm around his waist. Her other hand landed against his chest as she peered up at him. “But then, I’m stubborn that way.”
“Yes, you are, meli, which I adore.” Theron’s voice softened as he closed his arm around Casey’s shoulder and tugged her in close. Angling his chin down toward her, he added, “You also happen to be very forgiving, something I’m eternally thankful for.”
She smiled, and the two exchanged quiet words and kissed.
It was a familiar show of affection, one Talisa was used to from her parents, but it seemed totally foreign here in this place. As she looked past her parents back toward the table, where Zagreus was still pointing things out and the Argonauts were all listening intently, her skin grew hot, and everything that had once made sense in her muddled head suddenly didn’t.
“Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”
Her parents both looked her way. She knew she sounded panicked, a little crazed, but she didn’t care. She glanced from face to face again. “Zagreus has no reason to bring you here. Why would you listen to him? Why would you trust him?”
“Don’t you trust him?” her mother asked. “Isn’t that why you’re still here?”
Talisa’s mouth snapped closed. That was exactly why she was still here, but her parents and the Argonauts were a completely different story.
“He brought us here because the two of you and few soldiers don’t stand a chance against Pandora and three thousand satyrs,” her father said.
They knew about the satyrs and Pandora. The blood drained from her face. She had to tell them the rest. “Max—”
“We know about Max, too.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “It’s not your fault. No one blames you. But that’s the other reason everyone’s here. To get Max back. We’ve been frantically searching for both of you. Now we know why we couldn’t find either one of you.”
Because of Pandora’s box and Zagreus’s protective barrier around this kingdom.
Talisa glanced past her parents once more, this time focusing on Zander and Callia, her aunt and uncle and Max’s parents, both listening intently to whatever Zagreus was describing.
Guilt hit her hard, right beneath the solar plexus. She should have rushed home to tell them where Max was as soon as she saw him at that fortress. She shouldn’t have waited. She shouldn’t have—
Her mother squeezed her hand again, interrupting her thoughts. “He also brought us here because of you. Whichever side of the family tree your stubbornness comes from—”
“Yours,” Theron muttered to his mate.
Casey smirked his way then looked back at Talisa. “It was obviously evident enough for Zagreus to know you wouldn’t leave. Not when Max was in jeopardy. So he came and got help. Because, as your father said, you clearly need it.”
Talisa’s pulse was a whir in her ears. She knew Zagreus wanted her gone—he’d said so too many times to count—but if he was so sure about an imminent attack, he could have forced her to leave. The way he’d forced her to leave that club when they’d first met. The way he’d forced her back to this castle after she’d freaked out just yesterday. Except…
H
e hadn’t forced her to go. He’d gone and gotten help. He’d gone and gotten the Argonauts for help—the one group she never expected him to turn to in need.
“If you go off, trying to rescue your cousin who clearly doesn’t want to be rescued… you’ll get all of us—including all the nymphs back in Ehrendia—killed.”
His words in those trees ran back through her mind. Words he’d said but she hadn’t really heard until now.
She glanced past her parents once more and focused on Zagreus. On his chiseled profile and the flex beneath his scruffy jaw as he spoke. On the way he moved his big hands and pointed out places on the map. On the way he warily glanced her way as if he felt her eyes on him, then quickly looked back at the map and shifted his weight.
Her chest warmed. She’d been wrong—so wrong. He did care about more than himself. He cared about this kingdom. He cared about the nymphs and silens. He even cared about Max because her cousin’s safety mattered to her. But mostly, he cared about her. In a way no evil being should ever care about anyone. In a way that electrified her body and made the blood hum in her veins.
“I don’t suppose there’s any way I can talk you into going home with your mother,” her father said in a low voice.
Slowly, she looked back at her parents, any animosity she’d had toward them regarding the Argonauts and her role in their land quickly dissipating. “I’m not leaving.”
Her father frowned.
Her mother tipped her head and smirked her father’s way. “Told ya.”
Sighing, her father rested his hands on his hips. “In that case, you’d better be involved in the planning so we all know how best to defend this place.”
Shock rippled through Talisa all over again. Not just that her father, Nick, and the Argonauts were here, but that they were including her. Something she’d yearned for longer than she could remember.
When her father turned and held out his hand toward the table, she looked to her mother, who shot her a reassuring smile.
Head light, she walked up to the group and listened to Zagreus’s deep voice as he described the terrain along the perimeter of the kingdom.
Wicked Page 30
