by Lila Jean
“Don’t you dare touch them!” Tina snapped, leaning forward on a protective impulse, but the guard to her left grabbed her shoulder, keeping her in place.
“I’d hate to have to kill them,” Cora continued as if Tina hadn’t spoken. “What a waste of handsome faces, but I can’t have them disobeying me.” She shrugged. “I guess I’ll see what happens once you’re dead. I think I’ll start with Draven.” She winked playfully. “I’ve always had a bit of a crush on him, I confess.”
Tina tried to wriggle out of the guard’s grip, to punch this woman in the face, just once, but he wouldn’t let go.
“I think I’ve ridiculed you enough,” Cora said with a bored sigh. “It’s not fun anymore. You’re too easy.” Cora’s gaze roamed once up and down Tina’s body. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
The vile woman picked up what looked like the head of a trident without the handle, and she draped her fingers between the base where the three blades met. The smooth metal didn’t cut her skin but rather started to glow at her touch, the sharp tips sparking with light as a ruby in its base started to shimmer and glow.
“I’d say draining you will be painless,” Cora added, “but I’d be lying.”
Now for the moment of truth. Time to see if her plan paid off.
Tina eyed the device in Cora’s hand, curious more than afraid, and breathed out a sigh of relief at the wonderful confession Cora had given. No matter what happened next, Tina had won, and she couldn’t wait to shove it all in Cora’s face. She started chuckling and then burst into laughter while Cora watched, confused, from the opposite side of the room.
“I think we’re done,” Tina said, gesturing to the necklace.
Without so much as a word, the guard on her left lifted his gun and shot the second one. Though the sound was painfully loud in the small space, Tina just covered her ears and never took her eyes off Cora. In Tina’s periphery, the guard took off his helmet and sunglasses, and Tina peeked over to see Killian standing next to her.
“I was a little worried there for a minute,” Tina confessed with a smirk as she looked at Cora’s horrified face. “That had been my biggest concern, whether or not Killian would be able to infiltrate the guards fast enough and maneuver himself beside me.” Killian unclasped the necklace, and Tina sighed with relief as it clattered to the floor. “It was a long shot, I won’t lie, but it was a little too easy for Zane to hack your security once he realized where you were taking us. After setting up a few recording devices, our trap was set.”
Tina winked as Killian lifted a still blinking audio recorder, knowing full well there was a second video recorder embedded somewhere on his uniform. “Thanks for the confession, by the way. You did beautifully, Cora.”
“What? No, that’s impossible.” Cora backed up, bumping into the mantle as she looked from Killian to Tina and back. After a moment of shock, she seemed to come to her senses and lifted a bust on the mantle, pressing a large red button that was hidden in the hollowed space beneath it.
Enjoying herself perhaps a little too much, Tina rocked back and forth on her toes, sarcastically waiting for the alarm that wouldn’t sound. “Yeah, we disabled that. Like you said, Zane’s the best.” She grinned. “You’re trapped, Cora. You can come with me now and have a trial, or you can attack us and die here.” Tina’s smile faded, and she glared at the evil woman. “You’re lucky I’m giving you that option, considering the threats you made against my men.”
In a swift movement, Cora reached into the folds of her dress and withdrew a small black gun, aimed it at Tina, and fired. It all happened in the blink of an eye, but Killian must have seen it coming and stepped in front of Tina at the last possible minute.
He winced a little as the bullet deflected off of his indestructible body, and as he held her close, Tina peeked around him in time to see Cora disappear through a secret door in a bookshelf. It slammed behind her, and Tina ran for it, accessing her magic, reaching out, listening for Cora’s heartbeat, desperate to stop it herself. It thudded, growing more and more distant as Tina fought with the door, searching for the trigger to open it, but Cora was too fast. In seconds, she was out of reach.
“We have to find her!” Tina smacked the door, furious. “Damn it all!”
“Wait, it’s Anthony,” Killian pressed a finger into his ear, no doubt listening to the earpiece as Tina paced like a tiger by the door. “He’s at the perimeter, house secured. She won’t get far.”
As Killian updated Anthony on Cora’s escape, Tina nearly growled with frustration and paced by the bookshelf, glaring at the books, tearing all of them off and having no luck in her hunt for the secret handle. Zane was at a command center a few miles from the house, but too far away to break down the door in time with his enhanced strength.
“She’s gone,” Tina said under her breath, her intuition speaking for her as she ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
“We can’t give up, though.” Killian kicked the bookshelf. “Maybe we should get Draven in here and have him burn down the door.”
“No.” Tina shook her head and sank into a nearby chair. “We shouldn’t risk burning down the house since there might be evidence here.” Tina groaned, pissed as all hell that the evil bitch had gotten away, but in the end, they had won the truly important battle and gotten what they needed.
A confession, filmed and recorded, revealing to the world the truth of not only the diplomats but also the truth behind Cora Stratford’s wealth and power.
Today, they had cut off the hydra’s head, so to speak, but Tina had a nagging feeling that even with her reputation destroyed, Cora would be back with a vengeance.
23
Anthony
Back in Olympus, the closest safe kingdom to Cora’s estate, Anthony set his hand on the door to his room, pausing when he smelled a familiar perfume wafting under the door from inside. He smiled, wondering what Tina was doing in his room, and quietly opened the entrance to find the balcony doors open, the curtains fluttering on a breeze, Tina standing outside and leaning on the railing. Her dark hair danced around her head as she stared off toward the ocean, her strapless white dress a beautiful contrast to the rich blue ocean, elbows leaning on the railing.
He shut the door, silent as a ghost, and walked toward her without making a sound. Smiling gratefully to have his woman near, he wrapped his arms around her and burrowed his face into her neck, smothering her with kisses in lieu of a welcome.
“Hey stranger,” she said softly, eyes fluttering closed at his touch. “Missed you.” She leaned her back against his chest, her touch driving him wild, his need to have her close overpowering him as he held her tightly.
“I can’t believe you talked me into that plan,” Anthony said, holding her a little tighter as he spoke, the pent-up worry from their brush with Cora still hammering in his chest. “Don’t you ever do something like that again.”
“I don’t have a death wish.” She chuckled as his hand explored her warm body, teasing the fabric of her gown up toward her thighs as he drank her in, just happy to be near her again. “Besides,” Tina added breathily, “isn’t that our life now? Danger? Intrigue? We didn’t have a lot of options.”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “You still don’t have to run into danger headfirst.”
She laughed, the sound light and airy, almost carefree, but he knew her better than that. Based on the way she tensed her shoulders, the stiff tilt to her chin, the tensed arms, he could tell she was wary, probably nervous about the powerful and truly evil enemy that had escaped them.
“We’ll find Cora,” he promised. “I’ll never let anyone touch you, I swear it.” He cradled her, wrapping his arm around her chest and holding her shoulder, winding his other hand around her waist to keep her as close to him as possible while he kissed her head. Her soft hair smelled like roses, and he closed his eyes to simply enjoy her scent, her presence, and the joy he felt from having her close.
Gently, she tilted her head toward him, an
d he simply lost himself momentarily in the flecks of green and brown in her hazel eyes. She was stunning, too perfect for him, and yet now he couldn’t imagine life without her. Without pausing, without thinking, he pressed his mouth against hers, drunk on his need for her, knowing his life was a small price to pay to keep her happy and alive. Warmth blistered through his chest, the soft brush of her fingertips over his arms shooting desire through him, like fireworks going off in his body with her touch as the trigger.
The fact was Tina controlled so much of his happiness, just with her presence, and he would never let a soul harm her. He would never allow a plan like today’s to happen again. Watching her walk into that mansion, watching her walk into a trap, knowing their plan hinged on a few terrifying what-ifs, he couldn’t do it. Not again.
Slowly, he spun her toward him, his strong arms orchestrating her every move as he led her back into the room, to where he could be alone with her, to love on her the way she deserved. The back of his knees hit the bed, and he let himself fall on the mattress, gently tugging her with him as they tumbled into the sheets together.
In the tangle of blankets, clothes, and bodies, Anthony ended up on top of her, his knees between hers as he kissed her deeply, his hand behind her head as he tenderly held her. He rained kisses down her neck, across her chest, and pulled the bodice on her strapless white gown until he finally revealed her gorgeous breasts. She chuckled playfully, eyes fluttering closed as his kisses continued, her warm skin sparking tendrils of need every time his lips brushed her beautiful body.
“I need you safe,” he confessed between kisses, pouring himself into every touch, every embrace, hoping he could finally express just how much she meant to him, even if he wasn’t the most poetic man in the world. “Losing you would break me, Tina, body and soul.” He hesitated, his heart cracking at even the thought. “It would destroy me.”
Her soft hand cradled his jaw, and he closed his eyes, leaning into the touch as his hands tightened possessively around her waist. Her thumb brushed his cheek, and he bent toward it, kissing her wrist and the tattoo that had appeared the day he’d saved her and Amy from the werewolf strip club. Her veins briefly glowed as he touched it, a reminder of her power not just literally, but also her power over him. He hadn’t realized it, but that was the day he’d fallen for her, hook line and sinker, and he would never look back.
Anthony ran a hand up her leg, under the thick fabric of her dress, his fingers tracing slowly along the inner thigh as he delighted in her presence. He leaned against her until her breasts pressed against his chest, and he longed to be closer, to have more of her, to lose himself entirely in his love for her.
With a gentle flick of his finger, he pulled aside her panties and drove two fingers into her slick entrance, eager to see the tantalizing faces she made when in the throes of pleasure. Her eyes fluttered, and her delicate lips formed a soft “O” as she moaned. He rubbed his thumb against her clit, curling his fingers in a come hither motion, only interested in pleasing her. He could do this all day, his needs be damned, as long as she was happy.
“Tease,” she said softly, breathlessly. “So mean.”
“Mean?” Anthony raised an eyebrow in surprise, laughing at the accusation. “What would you prefer I do?”
“You know what I want, Anthony Tudor,” she said softly, peering through half-shut eyes as she rode his fingers. “Don’t you dare make me beg.”
He chuckled at his charming mate, captivated by her adorable expressions as he played with her, but it was his duty to make her happy, and he would always deliver. In moments, he kicked off his clothes and tossed them out of the tangle of blankets, his cock already throbbing for her as he gently pulled aside her panties. She smiled eagerly, tilting her hips toward him, ready for him, and he simply paused to admire her. Here was a powerful, beautiful, brilliant woman, and she wanted him. It was an honor, one he would always afford the utmost respect.
Anthony pressed his tip against her entrance, this time slowly sliding into her, inch by inch, filling her slowly. He wanted her to feel every glorious second, to stretch it out and make it last because that was how he felt about her. Every moment was a blessing, and sex should be no different.
When he was halfway inside of her, she wrapped her legs around him, her dress sliding up to her waist, the cool silk piling on his hands as he held her hips in place. Bit by bit, he entered her, watching her as she shivered with pleasure and spread her legs wider for him.
It wasn’t until the base of his cock reached her hips that she let out a loud moan, and he paused, waiting, closing his eyes to savor the warmth of her pussy as she tightened around his dick. He rubbed her clit as he held himself inside of her, teasing the little bud while he began to slowly rock his hips against her, building up the pleasure and sensation as she surrendered to him.
When it was clear she could take no more, he pulled out and thrust himself into her again, each time deliberately timed to elicit the greatest moan from her. With perfectly timed strokes, he bucked into her, tugging on her hips each time to ensure he went as deep into her as possible, always careful to rub her clit as he brought her closer and closer to the edge.
Her entrance quickly tightened around him, and before long, she let out a powerful moan, arching her back as she grabbed the sheets, pressing her hips against his as she orgasmed. He waited, continuing to thrust into her, careful to ride her orgasm until the last wave of pleasure passed. When she relaxed, he let his own climax come, and he sighed happily as he released himself into her and collapsed against the bed beside her.
As they laid together, tangled in the sheets and each other, Anthony pulled her toward him until her head laid on his chest. He held her tightly, as though she were the most precious thing in the world because, to him, she absolutely was.
24
Zane
Zane sat on one of the half-dozen leather couches in the small private cinema in Olympus’s palace, his arm around Tina as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Tenderly, he ran his fingers up and down her arm, loving the way her warm skin ignited small sparks of joy and comfort in him every time he touched it. He kissed her on the top of the head, just enjoying her company. The other princes sat on the various sofas around them, the seats all turned toward the massive projector as it played the news broadcast they had been waiting all day to see.
“This just in,” the newscaster said, her serious expression and stereotypical newscaster voice droning on as the words Breaking News flashed on the screen beneath her. “It seems the now-famous confession tape recorded by Tina Andrews, the only goddess alive on Earth today, has claimed its first victim. We’re going live to Dave out in New York City for more. Dave?”
Zane inched forward, and Tina readjusted until the two of them were on the edges of their seats, hands intertwined as they waited breathlessly to hear what their tape could do.
The screen flashed to a picture of a man in a blazer, talking into a microphone as he gestured behind him at a row of police cars lining the street. “Thanks, Linda,” he said as a gust of wind ran through his hair. “Behind me, New York City police have begun to execute warrants for the arrest of several high-ranking officials at Noxxom Corporation.” He wiped his brow as the sun beat down on him, never taking his eyes off the camera. “In a surprising turn of events, it seems the confession tape from Cora Stratford corroborated with their own internal investigation into possible criminal activity, giving them the last bit of proof they needed to take these suspects into custody.”
“Suck it!” Tina pumped her fist into the air victoriously.
Zane laughed and rubbed her back, relaxing somewhat and sinking back into the sofa. Anthony and Draven chuckled, the two of them seated next to each other, Draven stealing an appreciative look over his shoulder at Tina as she celebrated. Flynn and Killian sat on separate sofas, the demigod chugging down popcorn as he watched the circus unfold.
“You were right, Zane,” Draven admitted with an eye roll. “The FBI wa
s a better choice to receive the tape than any of the kingdoms.”
“What was that?” Zane pretended to rub his ears as if he hadn’t heard. “I was what now? I believe you just admitted you were wrong, but I want to be sure.”
“Ass.” Draven chuckled and chucked a pillow at him.
Zane laughed and caught it, using it as a headrest. “Thanks, buddy. This is comfy.”
Laughter bubbled through the room as they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. With the recording in the right hands, justice would be served, and since Noxxom Corporation and Cora were humans, none of the kingdoms would have jurisdiction to prosecute. It made the most sense to turn them over to their own kind and watch the figurative bloodbath unfold.
Justice was sweet.
Linda, the primary newscaster, appeared again on the screen. “Unfortunately, there’s still no word on the whereabouts of Miss Cora Stratford, the alleged mastermind behind the orchestrated coup against Tina Andrews and the five kingdoms.” A small smile tugged at Linda’s lips. “However, it seems Earth’s only goddess has been at least somewhat vindicated after the recent smear campaign against her. Take a look at just a few clips of the marches happening here in Washington D. C.”
The screen flashed again to a panning view of hundreds of people in the street, many of them holding signs as they played music and waved colorful banners. A few signs said things like Sorry, Tina, and My bad. Several smiling faces huddled around the news cameras, the strangers apologizing to Tina in one way or another.
Beside him, Tina smiled. She leaned her back against the sofa and closed her eyes, a look of clear relief on her face as she took in a deep and steady breath. “Fucking finally.”
