by Leia Shaw
“She’s been through here,” Geo said, following his nose through the arena corridor. “And to the food stands.”
Aedan took a big whiff of the air. Geo had forgotten the fae had the same sense of smell as he – though he didn’t like the idea that Aedan was familiar with her scent. He grunted, but reminded himself that any help was good help.
Aedan turned toward the south side of the arena. “She went that way.”
Geo nodded. He not only scented her, but felt her too. Deep down inside, instinct sensed her like a beacon to a lost ship.
He stomped through the corridor, anger rising in his belly. If someone hurt her, there’d be hell to pay. The crowd parted for him, sensing the danger emanating off of him. Aedan followed behind.
The trail ended at the farthest wall. They spun around, sniffing the air, studying the ground. It just disappeared. Fear consumed him. He was no longer convinced she’d been distracted. Something had happened.
Damn it! He was supposed to be protecting her. How had he let this happen? With a growl, he threw his fist into the wall.
“Easy man,” Aedan said. “We’ll find her.”
Yes, he would. And pity the man who dared touch what was his.
***
Something tickled Samantha’s neck where it throbbed. Where was she? Her eyes were too heavy to open. Was that fur against her cheek? She tried to move. Too sleepy. Oh, so sleepy.
She came to with a throaty groan. Something furry shifted under her. Her eyes snapped open. She was horizontal, draped over a soft lump. With a lot of effort she managed to sit upright.
Not a lump. A thin beam of light came through a crack between the door and the wall and shone on Erebus’ large body. A dim memory of him licking her neck wound came back to her. She put her fingers to the aching spot. The blood was dry. How long had she been out?
She peered around her cell. Only slightly larger than a closet, the floor was covered in two inches of dirt and a steel door blocked the only exit. She felt around for her satchel and sword but came up empty. Of course they’d taken it.
Now what? She must’ve been here long enough to worry Geo. Could he find her here?
Cold, alone, and afraid, she clung to Erebus for comfort.
“Hey, boy,” she said, stroking his fur. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever heard of Lassie.”
In answer, he licked her neck.
“Can you go tell Geo, Sammy’s stuck in a well?”
Erebus let out a long sigh then flopped his head onto her lap. Didn’t think so. Though he still smelled like shit, it was good to have him here. An extension of Geo in a way. She patted the giant head in her lap.
This couldn’t be the end. Failing her sister wasn’t an option. Someone would finally open the door. At least to feed her, right? She’d have to improvise, but she was good at that.
And then there was Geo. She could count on him. He would smell her, or follow her trail, or whatever it was demons did to hunt people down. No, this was definitely not the end.
She watched the dust dance in the beam of light until she dozed off again.
A loud bang startled her awake. The door was open and a solid figure stood in the doorway. Erebus flew to his feet and growled.
The guard stumbled back. “What the –” Drawing a sword the sheath at his hip, he regained composure. “You,” he said to Sam. “Call off your dog or I’ll gut it.”
It wasn’t really her dog but she doubted he cared. “Erebus, back down, boy. Come on.” She did her best to sound calm, but her voice trembled. She had to convince Erebus to leave. Her emotions were hanging by a thread. She couldn’t handle him getting hurt again.
She shifted to her knees and patted his head. “Go get Geo,” she whispered. “Please.” Could he understand her? Sometimes he seemed to.
To her surprise, his teeth closed onto the bottom of her pants and he pulled.
“Erebus!” She fell backward. “Stop that!”
The guard stepped forward, pointing his sword at Erebus. With a final tug, a piece of leather ripped off. Then Erebus turned away and disappeared into the shadows.
The guard stood stunned for a moment then, seeing Erebus was truly gone, he looked at her. “Out with you. Let’s go.”
He was taking her out? Good. A chance to improvise an escape. She rose to her feet and followed the guard into the tunnel hallway.
“Where are we going?” she dared to ask.
“The Master wants to see you.” The guard grinned and pointed the sword at her back. “He has special plans for you. Now move.”
Special plans? Great. That was just what all the movie villains said right before they hung the prisoner upside down over a tank of hungry sharks.
***
Geo paced the near-empty hallway upstairs after searching the bedroom for the fifth time. A couple stragglers gave him a wary look and hugged the railing as he passed by. He’d spent the last hours questioning every last spectator in the arena. He would’ve felt if she’d broken the blood oath and left the mountain. There were only so many places she could be. And they’d already searched all of them. He’d faced the most fearsome of enemies in his thousands of years, but never had he been so afraid.
She could be dead. The heart-wrenching thought popped up unbidden. He shook his head. No, she was alive. She was smart and resourceful and strong. And, no matter what, she was a survivor.
“Come on. Give me a hint,” he said to no one in particular.
Erebus flew out of a shadowy crevice just in front of Geo. He traipsed to his side, carrying something in his mouth. Geo’s heart clenched when he saw his fur matted with dried blood, reminding him of his heroics in the last fight.
“Hey, there.” He bent down to pet him. “Whatcha’ got?”
Erebus dropped a black strip of leather into Geo’s hand.
“Where’d you get –” He froze when he recognized Sam’s scent. The leather must’ve been a piece of her clothing. He looked the shadow hound in the eye. “You’ve seen her. Where is she?”
Footsteps pounded down the hallway. Geo looked up. At the end of the corridor, Aedan ran toward him. “Get your arse downstairs! I found your mate.”
The look Aedan gave him was pure panic. And that was saying something for the laidback fae.
Not this way. I can’t lose her this way.
He sprinted after him, Erebus at his side.
Chapter 18
Thick, muggy air clogged Geo’s lungs. He stood in front of another arena. This one was outdoors, on the other side of the mountain and larger than the indoor one. It contained layered stadium seating and a balcony up high above the crowd. The last bits of sun sent red streaks across the darkening sky. The seats were almost full, the crowd already hungry for bloodshed. Erebus had disappeared into the shadows again. Smart dog.
Geo searched for that fiery orange hair, but the sea of excited spectators blocked his view. He looked to Aedan. “You said you found her. Where is she?”
Aedan pointed to the chalkboard on the balcony in front of an elaborate throne. The occupant of the throne – a winged incubus – sat serenely with a grin in place, his hands steepled at his chin. The overseer. Next to him, the board listed one name.
The Red Phoenix.
His chest tightened as he skimmed over the fighting pit below. A pit, because the seating was so much higher, it looked like a hole for tossing innocent victims to vicious opponents. And the incubus prick thought to throw his woman in there? Over my dead body.
“Where the fuck is she?” he yelled.
A savage roar tore through the arena. A gate at the other end of the pit opened and a monster stepped out.
Four powerful legs, scaled and clawed like a dragon, kicked up dirt as it stomped into the ring. A long horned tail swished back and forth as it growled again. Intimidating, yes, but that wasn’t the worst part. It was the head of the beast that was most concerning. Make that heads.
Geo counted – one, two, three, four, five…
; The beast swung them around, snarling and hissing at the crowd.
…six, seven, eight, nine.
Nine heads, each with five spikes protecting it and mouths lined with pointed teeth.
A hydra.
Normally, hydras had a pair of wings too, but this one’s had been cut off. And a thick chain circled its back leg, attached to something behind the gate. It was just as much of a prisoner as Sam’s sister.
Hydras were known for growing back two heads in the place of each one cut off. But it had one immortal head, which, when sliced through, killed the beast. But it was impossible to know which head was the immortal one. You might chop away at eight heads before hitting the immortal one, but to reach it, you’d have to battle sixteen.
Yes, hydras were no walk in the park.
And surely they didn’t mean for Samantha to fight it?
Again, he searched for her, panic making his heart thud like footsteps in a stampede. In the pit, a few men poked and prodded the hydra with spears, angering it.
Then he spotted her. Two men, one holding each arm, pushed her into the ring, threw her sword on the ground then scrambled out of the hydra’s reach. Geo’s blood boiled. His fists were clenched so hard, his nails dug painfully into his palms. A growl that rivaled the hydra’s grew in his chest.
Samantha stood frozen in the center of the ring, staring wide-eyed at the beast towering over her. Geo sprinted down the stadium steps then leapt over the barrier. He landed hard on his feet in the ring.
One of the hydra heads dipped toward Samantha, snapping its teeth. She reached for her sword on the ground. Geo grabbed her and the sword then pushed her behind him.
“I offer myself in her place!” he yelled to the overseer.
The incubus waved a hand and a dozen animated stone statues filed out of the hydra’s cave and marched toward them.
Fear tightened his chest. Must keep Samantha safe. Think! “What sport is there in sending a girl armed with only a small sword into a pit with a hydra?” he said to the crowd. “She won’t last more than a few seconds.”
“Geo, what are you doing?” Samantha hissed from behind him.
Ignoring her, he went on. “I’ll give you a better show. And I have a deal that will make it worth your while.”
“No.” She tugged on his arm. “You’re not taking my place!”
“Hush,” he snapped. Addressing the overseer again, he made his offer. “I will fight the hydra. If I win, you release the witch and the young girl you took from her family.” He ignored Samantha’s protests. “But you keep me. I’ll be your champion. I’ll fight anyone and anything whenever you request it.”
“Stop! This isn’t –”
Geo reached back and squeezed her arm to silence her. “If I lose, you keep the girls.” He gave the overseer a grim look. “And I’ll tell you now, I have no intention of going down easy. You’ll have yourself a good show.”
The whole arena seemed to wait on bated breath for the response. Other than a few hushed murmurs, it was silent. Even the hydra stood frozen in place, a quiet rumbling his only sound.
Samantha gripped the back of his shirt. He wanted to reassure her – to comfort and hold her. But now was not the time to show any weakness.
Finally, the incubus gave his answer. One subtle head nod.
The crowd shouted their approval. Samantha’s hand moved to his arm, where her fingernails dug into his skin.
Before she could get one word out, he called up to the overseer. “I need to see the girl.”
The incubus whispered something to a guard and he disappeared. Moments later, he returned with a pale slip of a thing, not much more than a child.
“Nikki!”
He caught Samantha as she lunged forward.
“Soon, matia mou. Be patient.” Geo nodded to the incubus then turned to face Sam.
“This is insane!” she said, her eyes lit up with anger. “You’re going to die! I can’t lose you that way.”
Nor I you. He walked her to the side of the ring. “I have no intention of dying today.” He looked up in the stands to find Aedan. When their gazes locked, Aedan nodded and made his way down. Geo’s plan depended on him.
“I’m not letting you do this,” she insisted. “This is my fight. It’s my sister.” Tears filled her eyes.
He wiped one with his thumb when it fell. “Silly girl. Do you really think I’d let the mortal I love fight a hydra?”
“But…” The tears fell freely now, each one a painful tug on his heart. “But…I’ll never see you again.”
I know. And it’s killing me inside. “We knew this time would come.” He stroked her cheek, wiping her tears away. “I’ll be at ease knowing you’ve returned home. You’ll find love. You’ll have children and you’ll be happy.”
Her eyes turned to fire. “Well I won’t be at ease! Not knowing you’re stuck fighting in this ring forever. Because of me!” She stomped a foot in anger but descended into sobs. “You’ll never get home. All of this for nothing!”
He took her face in his hands. “Oh, Samantha,” he said. “I would fall a thousand times if it meant the chance to love you.”
***
“I’m not ready to say good-bye,” she whispered, clutching his wrist where he held her face.
“Then don’t. Just say you love me.” Geo closed his eyes as he stroked her cheek. “One more time.”
She wanted the chance to say it for a lifetime! This wasn’t fair. “I love you.” Her chest ached as she choked back more tears.
When Geo opened his eyes, she caught a tiny shimmer of moisture. He gave her a last longing look then moved his gaze to something behind her. “Aedan.”
She hadn’t even noticed him there.
Geo handed Aedan her sword, which he slung over his shoulder. “No matter what happens, make sure she gets to the portal.”
“Aye. You have my word.” Aedan took her arm. “Come, lass.”
Geo put a hand on his shoulder. “I know I can never repay you. But thank you.”
Her vision went blurry with more tears. “Please, no.” She reached out to grasp his arm but he pulled away.
Geo inhaled a deep breath then, when he let it out, his face hardened into that of a cruel warrior. He turned away and a sob escaped her. She didn’t even care enough to be embarrassed.
She scrambled to reach him. One last kiss – or at least a hug – but Aedan forced her away.
“Going up, lass.” He captured her in his arms and crouched to jump.
Gaze on Geo’s back, she whispered, “Don’t leave me.”
Chapter 19
Aedan loosened his grip once he got Samantha up into the stands, but his ominous presence behind her was a clear message – he’d hold her back if he had to.
Sam’s whole body ached with tension as she watched Geo fight the hydra. Every bit the skilled warrior, he managed to slice three heads off the beast. But each one grew back another in its place. This was an impossible task. Despair grew in her chest. She couldn’t bear to watch him die.
The hydra’s shriek echoed across the arena. Geo had cut through another head. The other dozen swung around while two new heads sprouted from the stump.
“Damn it!” she whispered. “Come on you stupid animal.”
“He’s a prisoner too,” Aedan said in her ear. “Just trying to survive, like your mate.”
Her mate. Fresh tears formed but she pushed them back. How she wished that were true.
Geo ducked and dodged each head as it tried to bite at him. He was tiring. She could see it in his body. He wouldn’t last much longer.
“We have to help him,” she told Aedan. Her satchel was gone but she had to try something.
“Oh, no, lass.” He put his arm around her shoulders. By the tight grip he kept on her upper arm, she got the impression this was less of a supportive gesture and more of a restraint. “Do not interfere. It will only make things worse for him.” Aedan gazed down into the pit. “Don’t worry too much. He knows what
he’s doing.”
The hydra’s tail swished and nailed Geo in the gut, sending him soaring across the ring. He hit the concrete wall then fell to the ground.
She gave Aedan a sharp look, which he ignored.
Slowly, Geo rose from the ground. The crowd cheered. She glared at them. Well, they were getting their fucking show.
She already owed that bastard, Shade, a long, painful death. She’d like to extend it to the crowd too. There’d be no Underworld Games if there weren’t people to watch them.
Suddenly, the ground shook. She wobbled on her feet before regaining balance. A few people yelped in surprise. She looked down. A crack split down the center of the ring.
Did she do that?
No, she would’ve felt power that big. “What was that?” She looked at Aedan.
He was focused on something to the far left. She followed his gaze to the balcony. Shade?
“Her,” Aedan said, almost reverently.
There stood Nikki, a fire burning in her eyes as she peered at the crowd below. Her hands shook, and though she looked ready to pass out, Sam couldn’t miss that stubborn Blackthorn expression.
Nikki had just come into her power. And she had a hell of a lot of anger to let loose.
Another rumble shook the stands. Geo swayed but stayed on his feet. The hydra gave a roar when the ground shifted under him.
Was her sister strong enough to make a sinkhole beneath the hydra?
A loud crack answered her question. The ground opened in the center of the pit. Geo stumbled back from the edge. But the hydra had nowhere to go but down. The heads pitched and swayed as it lumbered clumsily off the jagged cliff. The chain around its leg snapped and the hydra’s terrified scream made Sam cover her ears. But Geo was still standing.
He turned and his gaze found hers. He’s alive. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Then his body jerked. A strangled shout escaped him.
What happened?
She looked down and saw it. The hydra had wrapped its tail around his ankle, its spike pierced through his leg. A distant shriek came from the hole in the ground.
