by JoAnna Grace
“Lady Avery,” he addressed her with a bow.
“I remember you. You’re a cop. Or at least you pretended to be.” This man had played a part in the last days of Frank’s life and as much as she wanted to dislike him, she couldn’t.
He smiled. “Yes ma’am. Sorry about that. My name is Brenden. Ryse assigned me to watch Frank, knowing the rebels would get to you through him. You mind if I sit with you for a moment? I’d like to talk to ya.” His accent was so familiar it felt like a breeze of pure Texas air had blown past.
“Your accent?”
His grin made his face younger. “Grew up in Dallas. You and I have some things in common.” Her voice gone, she nodded and sat on the bench again. “I have the newspaper from your hometown.” He pulled the folded paper from his jacket. “There’s a nice write-up in here. I suggest you read it somewhere private. It was quite moving.” He handed it to her. “You might frown on this, but I sort of took something from Frank’s house. Thought you might want it.” He handed her a picture. “She was at the memorial service.”
Avery looked at the picture of Frank’s sister smiling as she kissed her brother, who had his arms around Avery. There were never three happier people in that moment. “Heidi took it hard, didn’t she? She loved him, god how she loved her brother.”
“She gave a beautiful eulogy for you. Izzy spoke, too. They had your services together, since no one could track down any family for you and all of your friends were the same. No caskets or anything, obviously. There was a great picture of you and Frank taken at the Officer’s Ball last Christmas. You were wearing the—”
“Black velvet gown.” Avery said, feeling a numbness spreading through her again. “Frank was wearing his uniform. He looked so good in his uniform.”
“He was given a formal send off. The whole town showed up to y’all’s service. Not a business open in town.” Brenden rubbed her back as he spoke. Avery wondered if he even realized he was doing it. Frank had often done the same thing when he comforted her. “Avery,” he said, running his fingers through her hair and cupping her cheek, “I got in a couple weeks with him. Frank was a good man. He was honorable and just.”
“I know,” she said, drinking in those bright blue eyes and short curly blond hair. If Avery had been normal, if she had been human, she might have married Frank. Now she knew why those romantic feelings never took root. Her soul had been waiting on its match.
“He loved you, very much. All he talked about was his Avery. The things you guys did together, the funny things you said, the way you are with people—he adored it all.” Brenden wiped away her tears with his thumb. “You should celebrate that friendship and let it free you from this guilt. Frank willingly gave his life for you because he knew that you were destined to be a Deity. He might not have known the name, but he knew the potential.”
“Why did you do this for me?” she asked, leaning her cheek into his hand.
“Because I can…sense people differently than the others.” His jaw clenched and his next words were stressed. “That’s why I was sent in first. I was supposed to be able to sniff out the bastard who was stalking you. I couldn’t. And because of my inability a good man, a man that loved my Princess, died. His life was sacrificed therefore I owe you a life. Since I cost you Frank, I offer myself.”
“What?”
“Avery, this won’t mean much to you, but you remind me of my sister. She was a beautiful person and—” He paused and rubbed his temples. Avery could tell this was a hard subject for him to talk about. She touched his knee and gave him a comforting smile. Brenden straightened his back and took a deep breath. “I’m giving you my oath, blood oath, as a Thracian warrior that my life will be devoted to your safety and well-being.” He swallowed and those big blue eyes seemed to turn into a child’s gaze. “If you will have me.”
“You should at least let her be informed of what a blood oath means, little brother.” A third voice carrying a heavy New York accent came from behind them. The man they all called Yankee was walking up through the gardens to the other end of the flowery tunnel. He was dressed similarly to Brenden; the only difference was the style of leather jacket. Yankee’s racer jacket had a red band around the shoulders. He was fairly tall, not as attractive as the man beside her, and intimidating as hell. His brown hair was so short it was nothing more than fuzz on his head.
Brenden stood to face this fellow Thracian. “What do you want, Samuel? We were having a private conversation.” There was steel in Brenden’s voice as he called his comrade by his given name. Avery stiffened and she glanced around for Nikki. There was something about Yankee that made her nervous.
“Oh, I can see that,” he said, removing his sunglasses. His eyes were full of something Avery couldn’t name, but felt angry. “But before you go off on a mission of honor and shit, you need to make sure this woman knows that blood oath is a lifelong deal. The Princess might also need to consider that as an Elite, you answer to Master Ryse and his permission to this union is required.”
Something about his tone set Avery off. “Something tells me you’re not giving such helpful advice out of the goodness of your heart,” she said, standing beside Brenden, her shoulder barely touching his.
Yankee looked at her through grayish blue eyes. His expression turned amused. “You’re right. See, little brother here is one of the Elites, one of the five most deadly men on this planet aside from the Master. And if he swears his life to you, that means that our team is down a man.” He played with the sunglasses in his hands. “Just thinking that you should clear this with the boss man first.”
“Brenden,” Avery said, looping her arm through his, “walk me inside please. I’m getting hungry.”
“I need you to stay and chat with me, little brother,” Yankee said. “Princess, your Shadow Lady is right around there.” He pointed over his shoulder. “She can walk you in.” None of it was less than a nicely worded demand.
“Go on, Avery.” Brenden’s eyes were locked with Yankee’s. “I’ll visit you soon.”
“What the hell were you thinking, Brenden?” Yankee said as soon as Avery and her Shadow Lady were out of earshot.
“Screw you. You think because you outrank me that you can run my goddamned life? And you can kiss my ass, pulling that shit in front of Avery.” Brenden’s blood was about to boil. Yankee was an obnoxious prick when he wanted to be. And he always wanted to be when it came to Brenden.
Yankee closed the distance between them and put his hand on the side of Brenden’s neck in an aggressive manner. “Listen to me, little brother, and listen good.” Gray eyes met blue as they stared each other down. “First of all, Ryse is trying to help her get over her recent past and here you go being a fucking boy scout with your souvenirs. What do you think she’s going to be doing all night if not crying over those memories and thinking about the man she was in love with? You think that’s helping her get over him any? It’s not.” He tightened his grip. “Second of all, when I walked up, your hands were all over her. You better count your damn lucky stars that it was me who saw you and not Ryse. I heard he ordered a female doc because he didn’t want another man’s hands on her. Imagine what he would do to you if he caught you with your arms around her. You know how he is about touch.”
He pushed away, causing Brenden to step back. “You are an Elite because the Master sees what you are capable of.” Yankee pointed with his glasses to the training grounds and boarding houses of the Thracians. “There are hundreds of men that would love to take your place. Don’t throw it all away by being fucking idiot.” Yankee slipped on his glasses and walked away calling back over his shoulder, “He’s called a meeting. Now.”
“NIKKI,” AVERY SAID with a determined tone, “I need a kitchen.” She always did her best thinking when she was cooking. Baking, more precisely. At that moment, she had a lot to think about.
“Lucky for you, milady, we have the best kitchen in the Olympian realm,” Nikki smiled at her happily. There was something
too knowing about that smile. “Feel like making a cake? I love cake.”
“Do you like chocolate cake?” Avery raised one brow.
“Is there any other kind?” Nikki was giddy as a child. Her constant good mood was infectious.
“Lucky for you, Nikki, I make a mean dark chocolate cream cake.” Avery and her Shadow Lady linked arms and Nikki murmured something about being in love.
After one look at the Palace kitchen, Avery decided this world wasn’t such a bad place. The octagon was designed for efficiency and productivity. Every surface was shining stainless steel or a chopping block. Even the cabinets had a commercial feel. Opening each cabinet, Avery saw all the tools of the trade: pots, pans, utensils, mixers, and grinders.
Avery listed off to Nikki the various ingredients and tools she required to bake. “I need flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder, salt, butter, white sugar, and vanilla extract. I’ll also need two mixing bowls and a Bundt pan.”
She brought some water to a boil.
Avery could feel Nikki watching. Finally she asked, “Do you wish to talk about it?” She handed Avery the salt. Nikki tilted her head and smiled. How could Avery resist?
“This conversation is confidential, right?” Avery asked. Nikki nodded and crossed her heart. It reinforced how innocent the dear girl was. “Then which part do you want to know about?” Nervous and without anyone else to vent to, Avery rambled off. “The part where I caught some chick named Salina rubbing up on Ryse, or the part where Dyna caught me eavesdropping, or the hour long walk I took with Troy, or the part where Brenden brought me the newspaper with my obituary? Oh, and then there’s the part where he offered to be my warrior before Yankee called him out on it. Did you know his real name is Samuel?”
Wide-eyed and speechless Nikki gawked at her. “Um, yes and how about you start from the beginning.” She laughed.
“Well, let’s see here.” Focusing more on the baking than on the story telling, Avery rattled about her day. Even though she knew Nikki had been around for most of it, her Shadow Lady had given her privacy and had no idea about the details. The courtesy was appreciated.
Nikki’s big brown eyes followed her every move. After Avery covered the encounter with snake-witch Salina, Nikki gasped. “She tried to touch him? As in touch him?” Nikki’s scandalous inflection on the one word nearly made Avery grin. Her little redheaded friend was apparently sheltered. Avery nodded, completely pissed again about the whole ordeal. “But Master Ryse doesn’t tolerate touch from anyone outside of his family. I was shocked to see him so free with you. No offense,” Nikki added.
He doesn’t like to be touched? The statement made Avery think back to all the numerous times Ryse had freely made contact with her. There were a lot of times he had touched her face or back. Her entire naked body had been in contact with him in the bathtub, and he didn’t have any trouble rubbing her down when they kissed.
Waving one whisk-filled hand at her, Avery brushed the situation off and began beating the ingredients to pour into the Bundt pan. After all, he was Thracian, she was a Grace. It was nothing more than biology. “It’s probably for the best he’s put some distance between us today. I seem to have no control of my hormones around him. Is that part of the aura or Grace thing?”
“Sure is. Just wait until your aura is released from the shields. You two might never make it out of the bedroom.” Nikki giggled and blushed an even deeper shade of pink.
“Nikki!” Avery looked around to make sure they were alone. She leaned in to whisper, “How can you say that?” Nikki blanched, her face losing all color when she caught Avery’s disapproval. “I’m supposed to be with some Olympian Prince. Not Ryse. You shouldn’t even joke like that.”
Nikki’s pretty face contorted into a mask of confusion. “Avery, Ryse is an Olympian Prince. He is the eldest son of Troy and Dynasty.” She tilted her head like a curious puppy. “Didn’t you know that?”
The room began to spin. “I thought he was a Thracian?” Avery’s heartbeat sped up and her breath caught. Could this be true? Was all her worry and fear over nothing?
Nikki spoke slowly. Her eyebrows arched high on her head. “Master Ryse is a Thracian. But he was born of both bloodlines. Ares and Zeus blessed him with their gifts. He is both Deity and Master, the first of his kind in all our race’s history. In fact there is a great deal of controversy over his joint heritage and Hayden’s existence—Lady Avery?”
Avery didn’t hear a word she said after ‘he is both Deity.’ She had stumbled back and hit the refrigerator.
“I need a minute.” Avery choked out. Her mind was racing along with her pulse.
Ryse was her Deity.
Ryse was her mate.
It wasn’t only his Thracian blood that attracted him to her. Holy shit, what a revelation. All along the electricity between them was because the gods had created them to be together. Ryse was hers! She didn’t have to leave him to be with someone else. She didn’t have to hide how much she was attracted to him.
It explained why she was so drawn to Ryse, why leaving his side was painful even when she had been angry at him. Dynasty saying both her sons were anomalies, the way Troy’s eyes had seemed so familiar, the surge of jealousy when Avery saw Salina touching Ryse. Every kiss, every touch had been more than just a Thracian’s breeding to protect an unmated Grace. Ryse belonged to her and she belonged to him!
But—
“Why didn’t he tell me?” Avery mumbled. In her mind, it was an obvious answer. He didn’t tell her because he didn’t want her to know he was available.
“Avery? Are you well?”
She looked up. Nikki’s eyebrows were scrunched. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Then tell me what happened next? When did Her Majesty find you?”
Avery picked up the story from Ryse pinning Salina up against the wall by her neck. Asking no questions, Nikki listened intently to every detail of the visit with Dyna. Dyna hadn’t mentioned Ryse at all when she was talking about her sons. Did the whole family not want her with Ryse? It was the same when she had talked with Troy. No one had mentioned Ryse and Avery as a pair. Was it possible he wasn’t a candidate after all?
It wasn’t until Avery mentioned Brenden that Nikki perked up even more.
“So while I cried, Brenden held me and listened.” Avery poured the mixture into the pan and put it in the pre-heated oven while she talked. “That’s when he offered to be my warrior. I don’t even know what that means. Yankee showed up and made it out to be some big deal and made Brenden stay behind to ‘talk’ to him.”
“Oh dear! Brenden held you? How?” Nikki’s excitement deflated. There was no denying that Nikki had feelings for him. Avery had caught the way Nikki kept looking over her shoulder as if Brenden would come in at any moment.
“He put his arm around me. Like this.” Avery walked over to her cooking companion and draped an arm on her shoulders. “It was a side hug. No big deal,” she tried to assure Nikki.
“Avery, that is most certainly a big deal.” Nikki began washing the dishes they had used. “A Grace is like no other being in our world. It’s more complicated than a hug, Avery.”
Nikki then had to explain to Avery about how auras worked. Most Divine Graces are born and raised in a Haven. The main reason is to monitor how others react to their auras. As a Grace, Avery’s aura appeals to every race of Olympian. “You are practically running around a den of hungry lions with steak in your pocket. That’s why Troy was so troubled when we didn’t have a guardian today. The Thracians both wish to protect and mate with you. Some think it is a primal instinct to reproduce with an Olympian of championed blood. There have been Graces in the past who gave up their calling to pursue Thracian soldiers.”
“Ah, hell,” Avery said, wiping off the countertops. “Is there a book on this crap I need to be reading? No one mentioned that. I’m glad I didn’t immediately say yes to Dyna this morning when she offered to set my aura free. I can’t handle more than one crazy mal
e at a time. Now I have to worry about sendin’ mixed messages to Bren. Great!” She scrubbed the countertops with frustration until the metal shined under her hand.
“And let there be no doubt in your mind about this, milady: Thracians are a crazy brood. They are sought out as children and taught from their teenage years in the arts of war and death. Very much like the ancient Spartans, but with the potent blood of Ares running through their veins. Our Master Thracian is the craziest one of them all,” she said in hushed voice. “And yes, there is a book on it.”
Nikki flopped out her hand expecting the book to fall from the sky. That’s close to what happened. The book seemed to materialize right before Avery’s eyes. Nikki grasped it and sat down on one of the bar stools. She opened up the pages and searched for a moment.
“So cool,” Avery said in amazement.
“Books are easy.” Nikki’s eyes searched the pages. “You should see me fabricate a vehicle. That’s tricky.”
“Are there at lot of you in the world? Conjurers?”
Nikki’s shoulders slumped, something she did when she was unhappy. “No. Our numbers dwindle by the decade. We are less than one hundred. My parents were quite disappointed when I enrolled as a Shadow Lady instead of remaining hidden and having a litter of babies.” Avery realized how very valuable Nikki was to the Olympian people. It also made her realize how lucky and privileged she was to have Nikki as a Shadow Lady.
“Ah, here it is.” Nikki began reading from the passage, “‘The origins of the Thracian race can be traced back to the days when Ares, god of war, walked among men. It is said that the god took on the name Thrax during this time. In the early development of the armies, the Thracians were known to be bloodthirsty and predatory. They sought out those who would threaten or reveal the existence of Olympians and destroyed them with ferocity. Their war-like ways and expertise in combat soon earned them the reputation of protectors and guardians of the Olympian people. To cross them was instant death with no questions asked. The Master Thracian passes down and carries out all sentences of traitors—”
