“Hurt me, ligos Vesuvius. I want you to.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re playing with fire, Argonaut.”
Warmth flooded every single vein in his body. This was about to get a whole lot more interesting. “I can’t wait to get burned.”
* * *
Natasa’s adrenaline surged as they neared the compound. She was walking a fine line here. She didn’t want to do anything to piss off Ilithyia any more than she already had. The Amazon already didn’t like her. And being caught with an Argonaut wasn’t improving her situation.
Stay focused. Remember why you’re here. Remember what’s at stake.
Behind her, Titus shuffled over a rock, and his shoulder bumped hers. Awareness trickled through, reminding her of that moment with him in the trees. When he’d looked at her as if he’d wanted to kiss her. When she’d considered—for one insanely stupid moment—rising on her toes and kissing him back.
Kissing him? Kissing him? She was seriously losing it if she was considering getting more involved with the hero.
Damn him for following her. Damn her for being so enticed by him. If she hadn’t flirted with him on that stupid castle wall—if she hadn’t saved his life then—they wouldn’t be in this mess right now. Marching toward something that could end very badly for both of them if she didn’t keep her wits about her.
Son of a bitch, she should be going after Epimetheus, not screwing around with an Argonaut.
“You’re being cryptically quiet, ligos Vesuvius.”
Ligos Vesuvius… Did she look like a little volcano? Her irritation jumped another notch. “And you would be wise to take a cue from my silence.”
That irritating, alluring smile spread across his lips again. “You want me. I know you do.”
It was all she could do to keep from stopping, whipping around and telling him just what kind of trouble wanting him had gotten her into. What it was getting him into. But knowing eyes were watching, and if she had any chance of getting out of this mess, she couldn’t draw any more attention. She settled for jerking hard on the rope and smiling at the sound of him grunting at her back.
A whistle echoed through the trees. Ahead, Ilithyia held up her forearm again, bringing the group to a halt. The Amazons lifted their weapons, their gazes scanning the forest. Titus’s gaze darted up, and hers followed. Nothing but tree trunks and canopy as far as the eye could see.
She hated this damn forest. She always got turned around in here. If it weren’t for the sentries who guarded the compound and sent scouts into the old-growth trees, she’d never find her way back.
Ilithyia whistled an answering tune. Silence descended; then an echoing song came from the branches ahead.
“Come,” Ilithyia announced.
“Let me guess,” Titus muttered. “‘It’s A Small World.’”
Natasa had no idea what he was rambling about, but her irritation kicked up again. She jerked on the rope and whispered, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“That depends,” he said close to her ear. Closer than she liked. His breath, like a whisper of fresh air, ran over her nape, under the collar of her shirt, sending a shiver down her spine. “On what you’ll do to save me next time.”
She swallowed hard. Fought back the arousal just being close to him fired off deep inside. “Don’t be so confident I can. Knowing my luck, I’ll probably be strung up with you.”
The humor fled from his features. He shot a look at the Amazons ahead, then chanced a glance at those behind. “Where are they taking us?”
“Someplace hostile. Whatever you do, try to stay close to me. Go along with what I say. And for gods’ sake, don’t be funny. They don’t do funny. Especially not from men.”
“You think I’m funny?”
Good gods, he was…frustrating and arousing and sexy as hell, all at the same time.
She was in big trouble.
Two ropes dropped from the canopy with a thud that echoed through the forest. Their group came to a halt. Ilithyia grasped the ropes and turned, holding them out to Natasa with a smug expression. “Guests first.”
The two-by-four tied to the end of each rope formed a plank wide enough for both her and Titus to stand side by side. But it wasn’t the wood that concerned her. It was what waited above.
She tugged Titus up next to her. “Here. And hold on.”
His gloved fingers closed around the rope to his left. Natasa did the same to the one on the right. The ropes tightened against her palm, and then the plank lifted, drawing them toward the canopy like birds in flight.
Her stomach lurched. She clenched her teeth and tried not to look at the ground disappearing below, the foliage rushing by way too fast. She hated heights. Hated that her life had been reduced to this. To relying on others. To making deals with people she should leave well enough alone. To siding with Amazons, of all people.
The foliage separated, and the hidden tree city of Antiope came into view. At her side, Titus muttered, “Holy Hades.”
“Not quite,” she said under her breath. “And don’t mention him here either. His son is sort of a sore subject. In fact, don’t mention anything. It’ll be better for both of us if you just keep your mouth shut.”
“What the hell are you doing with a bunch of Amazons?”
Natasa had asked herself that numerous times. But thankfully, she didn’t have a chance to answer. Two sentries standing on the platform reached for the swing and pulled it forward.
Natasa jumped off the plank. Titus did the same. His hands were still bound in front of him, but there was no reason to lead him by the rope anymore. She let it fall to her feet. While he turned a slow circle and took in the city for the first time, she tried to see it from his point of view.
The Amazons were impressive with their hands. She had to give them that. Decks ran around tree trunks. Canvas tents formed houses. Rope ladders connected structure to structure, and everywhere you looked, the workings of a well-disciplined race could be seen as they went about their daily duties caring for both young and old, cooking food, sharpening weapons, living far above those who had no idea they were even there.
“Nymphs.” Awe reverberated through Titus’s voice. Several close by turned and stared his way. “Not just Amazons. Where are the men?”
“We don’t need men,” the guard to his left said, shoving him forward. He stumbled but caught his balance. She was Titus’s height, dressed in the same camo gear as Ilithyia’s squad, but Natasa knew from personal experience that Smyrna could be malicious. To the other guard, Smyrna barked, “Take him to the cage.”
Oh, I don’t think so. Natasa stepped in their way. “He’s my prisoner. Not yours, and not Aella’s.”
Smyrna turned her venomous stare Natasa’s way, but Natasa held her ground. She and Aella had worked out a deal. And she wasn’t about to be intimidated by this brute. She lifted her chin and looked toward the other guard. “Take him to my tent.”
The second guard glanced from Smyrna to Natasa and back again, as if unsure what to do. Long seconds passed in silence. Thankfully, this time, Titus kept his mouth shut.
Smyrna finally gave a curt nod to the other guard.
The guard grasped Titus at the arm and tugged. He looked back at Natasa with a what the hell? expression. Natasa’s adrenaline peaked while he was led away. She just hoped to gods he didn’t say anything that would make the situation worse.
When he was gone, Smyrna used her height advantage and leaned over Natasa, a move clearly designed to intimidate. “Aella will hear about this.”
Natasa’s back tightened. She had no doubt the queen of the Amazons would hear about it from Smyrna, from Ilithyia, from every single Amazon they’d come across. The question was, what the hell was Natasa going to tell her?
“I’m the only one who can grant you extra time.”
The words—the deal she’d agreed to—echoed through Natasa’s mind as she made her way toward her tent on the far side of the city. Perspiration for
med on her forehead, and she swiped it away with her hand. Even with the Amazons’ cooperation, she was running out of that extra time.
She pulled back her tent flap and stepped inside. A large redwood trunk took up the middle of the room. Decking ran all around it. Her pallet of blankets and pillows lay on the floor to the left. To her right were books and maps she’d acquired during her months of research. Two guards stood in the middle of the room tying Titus’s wrists to D-rings bolted to the tree trunk above his head. Natasa tried not to watch—tried not to focus too much on why those rings were there…in every tent—and instead lit a lantern on a box by her bed.
Light illuminated the dark space. The guards stepped back. Natasa looked toward Titus. But unlike the cocky, almost teasing expression he’d sported all through their journey, now his features were tight, his lips compressed, and he seemed to be holding his breath, as if…as if he were in pain.
She glanced toward his arms, covered in the long shirt, but didn’t see any marks or tearing of his clothes. The guards had removed his gloves but nothing else. Her brow lowered. “Leave us.”
“That is not advised,” the guard on the right answered.
Natasa had reached her patience limit about four hours ago. She couldn’t remember the guard’s name and seriously didn’t care to. “Your advice has no bearing on me. And this does not concern the Amazons.”
“Everything in our city concerns us.”
“Not him, and not me. Now go.”
The guard cast Titus a scathing look. One that screamed of malice and distrust—and—Natasa narrowed her eyes—heat?
Oh…shit. This was so not what she needed right now.
Reluctantly, the guard dragged her attention from Titus and glared Natasa’s way. Then turned for the door. “We’ll be right outside.”
Yeah, Natasa knew they would. This was getting better by the minute. And would make getting Titus out of here so much easier.
The tent flap closed in the guards’ wake. Natasa blew out a breath equal parts relief and frustration.
“Is this how all men are treated in your village?”
Titus’s deep voice brought the fine hairs along Natasa’s nape to attention. In addition to a chiseled body and gorgeous face, he had a great voice, deep with just a hint of rasp. And at the moment, it was even raspier than normal.
She turned away so she wouldn’t be tempted by him. Yeah right. She was always tempted by him. “It’s not my village. And yes, this is how all men are treated here. Amazons do not like men. Which is why your being here is a really bad idea. I told you not to get involved with me.”
“You’re not an Amazon.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement, and she didn’t feel like being vague right now. She unhooked the small pack from her waist and dropped it on the floor. After sliding her remaining dagger from the sheath at her lower back, she set it them on the small table. “No.”
From the corner of her eye, she watched him look up at his arms, bound to the tree above his head. Then back at her. But when she caught the gleam in his eyes, she no longer saw pain. She saw heat. A heat as hot as the one she’d seen blazing in his eyes when he’d looked at her in the safety of those trees.
“I could snap these ropes at any moment. I let you bring me here, ligos Vesuvius. Admit it, you wanted to get me alone so you could have your way with me.”
Yes…
No!
Her frustration bubbled up, and she faced him. A frustration that grew to bursting with each miniscule curve of his lips. “I don’t think you get what’s happening here. These are Amazons, not children.”
“They’re still girls.” He nodded toward the door. “Those two are no threat.”
“Those two are the least of your worries. How many Amazons do you think live in this city? No idea? I’ll tell you. At least eighty. And that’s not counting the nymphs they protect who’d turn you over to the guards faster than you could cry foul should you so much as look at them wrong. Two Amazons wielding swords are nothing? Try the entire city bearing down on you because they not only hate men, they see you as a threat. You’re only alive right now because I convinced them you were my prisoner. As soon as you challenge that, you’ll be dead. I’m the only thing standing between you and the afterlife, buddy.”
She turned for the door. She had to get away from him. There was something about him that riled her up. Distracted her. Made her want. And she didn’t have the patience for that right now. Not when she was running out of time.
“Why are you?”
She stopped a foot from the door. Why was she? Good question.
A memory hit before she could answer. The gentle way he’d taken care of her at the half-breed colony after her panic attack. How he’d seemed as astonished by that fact as was she was. How dangerous it had felt to be comforted by him. How right.
She might not have time to want. She might be dangerously close to an end she couldn’t even think about. But she was cognizant of the difference between right and wrong. And though she knew she probably couldn’t save the world, she wasn’t about to turn her back on it either. Not the way her father had.
“Because you once helped me.” She didn’t face him. Couldn’t. Because she was dangerously close to needing that comfort once more. And she, better than anyone, knew there was no such thing as comfort for her.
“Stay here and don’t do anything to antagonize the guards,” she said before he could answer. Reaching for the tent flap, she added, “I don’t have to tell you the one asset Amazons see in men. Their last queen ordered all male prisoners be bound and crippled. I’ll let you ponder why while I go meet with the Aella and try to save your life. Again.”
Chapter Six
Nick’s skin itched to the point he could barely stand still.
He shifted his boots against the gleaming floor, scanned the ballroom of the Argolean castle from the shadows, and wished like hell he was anywhere but here. Fighting daemons was more enjoyable than this form of personal torture. Even being sliced and diced by the fuckers was a step up from pretending he was having a good time.
A shadow moved to his left, and the scars on his back tingled. Without even looking, he knew it was Demetrius moving up next to him.
“Thought you’d left already.”
Nick’s spine stiffened. They rarely talked. For years they hadn’t even acknowledged each other’s existence. While Demetrius had been chosen to serve with the Argonauts, Nick had been banished to the human realm. Those who’d exiled him as a child had expected him to perish, but he’d survived. In fact, he’d thrived. And now not only was he the leader of the Misos, he was also the Council’s biggest fear because he was something not even the Argonauts could lay claim to. He was a true demigod.
“I was just about to.” Nick pushed away from the wall, intent on getting away from this farce of a celebration and his long-lost brother with whom he had nothing in common, when a swish of pink to his right drew his attention.
His breath caught, his feet stilled, and for a heartbeat, it was as if time and place and fate had no bearing. Isadora moved down the ornate steps on the far side of the room with all the splendor and regality she’d been born into. Her pale gown was open at the shoulders, dipped into her cleavage and fell all the way to her feet. Her short blonde hair had been pinned up, and the golden wreath of her crown sparkled under the chandelier lights and drew his gaze to the small gold drops at her ears.
But it was the smile on her face that increased the beat of his heart. The way she greeted each of her subjects, introduced them to Maelea and owned the room bursting with Argoleans and Misos and Council members dressed to the nines. And the way she looked his direction and that smile grew to a full-blown grin.
His soul mate.
“She doesn’t show it,” Demetrius said at Nick’s side, “but she’s nervous as shit about this celebration.”
His brother’s wife.
The air leaked out of Nick’s lungs like a balloon pricked
with a needle, leaving behind an emptiness that consumed him from the inside out. Reality settled in hard, and sound returned—the instrumental notes of the four-piece orchestra in the corner, the voices chatting around them, the clink of glasses and the scuff of shoes across the marble floor. As did the tightness in his skin that reminded him this was not his place. This was nowhere he’d ever wanted to be.
His gaze settled on the roundness of her belly. To what should be holding his child but wasn’t. Awe turned to anger. And a bitter frustration he’d been living with for months, all because of the Argonaut at his side.
“She should be nervous. She’s not a leader. She’s a target.”
Demetrius shot him a look. “What does that mean?”
Darkness bubbled up inside Nick. A darkness he fought every moment of every day. A darkness that preoccupied him with the reality that if his brother were dead, he could have the one thing he wanted most.
He ground his teeth, tried to hold back the words lingering on his tongue, but today the darkness was too strong. And part of him was sick and tired of holding back. “It means you’re a bigger ass than I thought if you think she’s safe now that our mother is dead.”
Demetrius turned fully his way. “Do you have a problem with me?”
Nick met his brother’s stare head-on. He didn’t give a fuck who overheard them. He’d had it with this celebration and the in-your-face reminder of what should be his but never would be. “I’ve always had a problem with you. But today it’s more than just the fact that your kind left me to die in the human realm. Look around you, brother. Look at the faces of your Council.”
He waited while Demetrius scanned the crowd, and knew the moment Demetrius’s gaze fixed and darkened on Lucian, the Council leader, who’d been staring at Isadora with malice and disgust all afternoon. He knew the exact second Demetrius finally cued in to a bitter truth Nick had figured out hours ago.
“Pat yourself on the back, brother. You and your Argonauts got your wish. You finally got rid of our mother. And in the process, you probably killed our soul mate too.”
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