Goddess Bound: Goddess Series Book 6 (Young Adult / New Adult)

by Muse, M. W.

  Greek mythology, the goddess Persephone came from Demeter and Zeus. She married Hades, who presided over the underworld, making her the queen of the underworld. And from Seth’s actions today, it’s obvious to me now that he is Hades’ likeness.”

  Kate frowned at her. “Let me get this straight. You’re a goddess. Seth, my boyfriend, is a god. Seth, my boyfriend, wants to marry you, which is why he brought you here. That’s freaking ridiculous, but whatever. We’re here. If you want the lying bastard, you can have him.” Her lip quivered, belying her words. “I don’t know what else to believe. But if what you’re saying is true, why am I here?”

  No way was she touching the boyfriend comments. “I don’t know. The dog called you Hecate. I didn’t research other gods and goddess, so I don’t know what role you play within the hierarchy. I just know about me, Adin, and River.” Kate blanched and Legacy winced. “Um yeah, they’re gods too.” And then Legacy started an hour-long conversation about lineage, gods, monsters, ascension, and everything else she’d spent months learning. By the time she’d finished, Kate vacillated between nervous fidgeting—which Legacy could only assume was the result of fighting her fleeing urges—and calm acceptance. All things considered, the conversation that was essentially changing Kate’s life forever had gone better than she could’ve expected.

  “Sooo River’s dad is Poseidon who shares powers of the world with your dad, Zeus, and our captor, Hades, who now believes what you’ve been told, which is that you’ll be more powerful than Zeus when you ascend. Before he’d just wanted you, but now that he knows you’re going to be more powerful than your predecessor, you’re an even hotter commodity. He could kill you and take your powers or keep you here and control you. Everything boils down to a power struggle.”

  “Technically, yes.” Then Legacy gasped. “When do you turn eighteen?” Maybe Hades was going to kill them both. Legacy was going to be more powerful than Kate, but if Seth was power hungry, he might not care. If her birthday was coming up soon, time was of the essence. Legacy’s birthday was still a couple of months or so away.

  “I’m eighteen. My birthday was in January, which sucked by the way. You were…” Kate trailed off, staring at Legacy. “I don’t know what I was going to say about you. My mind just totally went blank. But Seth and I were broken up. It wasn’t much of a birthday celebration regardless.”

  “Oh.” That was good, but it didn’t explain why Seth had taken Kate too. “Um, you were probably going to say that I was depressed. You just don’t remember.”

  Kate’s gaze shot to her. “Why would you be depressed? And why wouldn’t I remember? What do you mean by that? If you’d said I didn’t know you’d been depressed, then that’d be different. But you said I don’t remember.”

  “I just told you about Adin being a life-death-rebirth deity. I was in mourning. You don’t remember because River did some godish voodoo to make you all forget that Adin had died so you wouldn’t freak when you saw him walking around.”

  Kate licked her lips as she nodded. “I see. Any other mind violation I should know about?”

  Legacy grimaced. “Well, I don’t know. Who the hell knows what Seth has been up to?” Then Legacy shot up and faced Kate. “Oh gods, you said you and Seth were broken up when you turned eighteen. Why would he allow that? I would think he’d want to be around you so he could kill you and get your powers. Not stay away from you.”

  “Hey!” Kate stood up and pointed at Legacy. “I know we were never really close friends, but I’d never wish you’d been killed before!”

  Legacy shook her head. “No, I don’t mean that. Jeez. Get a grip. I’m just trying to figure out Seth’s motives. I have to look at everything.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, though. That did come out wrong.” When Kate nodded and sat back down, Legacy tapped her chin as she contemplated the last several months. But she soon realized she’d been so wrapped up in her own change and River’s change, and Adin’s death and rebirth, that she hadn’t paid hardly any attention to Seth. She leaned against one of the thick iron bedposts and looked at Kate. “Tell me about Seth.”

  Kate slumped back, her head hitting the pillow at the head of the bed. “What do you want to know?” she barely asked.

  “Everything. His likes. Dislikes. Moods. Anything you can think of. Just start talking.” Legacy perched on the edge of the mattress and patted Kate’s knee. “Pretend it’s a girls’ night and we’re gabbing about our guys. No matter how small you might think something is, I want to hear it. It could be a clue or a sign or something useful.”

  When Kate shrugged, Legacy scooted toward the middle of the bed and crossed her legs. After several seconds, she realized the chick needed a little help starting. “When did you first start going out?”

  A ghost of a smile appeared on Kate’s face before it vanished. “Eleventh grade. Right before Christmas vacation, I was carrying some boxes of unused decorations to my car from the drama club’s meeting. I stumbled and he caught the top box just as it started to slide off the one I was holding onto. He put it in my car for me and we talked some before I left. He messaged me on Facebook that night.”

  Legacy glanced down at her watch and stroked it. Seth had started showing interest in Kate before Adin’s eighteenth birthday, and while he’d been secretly having this gift made for her. She wasn’t sure if Seth’s timing meant anything in regards to Adin, but it was interesting. She looked back at Kate. “And it was love at first sight?”

  “Hardly.” Kate chuckled. “I always thought he was cute, but never really paid too much attention to him. I liked this guy who lived down the street from me who went to Catholic High.” Kate wrinkled her nose. “Until one day he was doing some charity food drive, which he’d easily conned me into helping with, and he’d mentioned to his friends that he was entering the priesthood after graduating high school. Said he got accepted into some Catholic philosophy program and would be working toward earning his master of divinity degree. I was crushed, but I figured I’d be barking up the wrong tree if I continued with my innocent obsession. You know, since he planned on being married to the Lord and all.” She shrugged.

  Legacy gaped at her. “So you liked a guy who had planned on living his life to serve the Lord, but you ended up dating the Devil?” She couldn’t make up stuff like this even if she’d tried. Kate sat up. “That’s all kinds of messed up!”

  “Well, when you say it like that, it does sound weird, but yeah, I guess. Though in my defense, I had no idea Seth was…is evil.” Her shoulders slumped and she looked to the side, becoming a little too interested in details of the ironwork. Legacy studied her for several seconds. She needed to understand how attached Kate was to Seth. If she had any loyalties with their abductor, Legacy needed to address them like right now.

  “Do you love him?”

  “What?” Kate’s head whipped around, and she glared at her. “How can you ask me that? He’s kidnapped me. He’s probably been playing me for a really long time.”

  Legacy sat in silence while she contemplated how to gently nudge Kate to confront and confess her feelings. But she knew how to help her…with her own experience. “I didn’t know about Adin being Adonis’s likeness when we first started dating. When I found out the truth, I was hurt that he hadn’t been totally honest with me about his family, and I did have to forgive him of that. But there was a moment…no matter how brief it was…that I thought Adin was Hades.”

  Kate gasped. “Why? Did he lead you to believe that?”

  “No. I jumped to that conclusion myself. The point is I told him that it didn’t matter to me if he was Hades because I loved him. If he’d been Hades, I would’ve gladly come to the underworld with him to spend eternity. The fact that I’d been mistaken doesn’t change anything. My feelings for him were real.” Legacy reached over and stroked Kate’s trembling hand. “Do you love him?” she asked again, this time with an eyebrow raised and keeping her hand on top of Kate’s.

  “I-I don’t know. I mean,
I’m so confused. I’m pissed. I’m hurt. I’m trapped. I just can’t think about that right now.”

  “So if I figure a way for us to get out of here, are you going to let me do that or are you going to protect him?”

  “W-What do you mean? Are you planning on attacking him? He’s very strong. I do know that.”

  “No.” Not exactly. “Attacking him would only piss him off. I need to know if you’ll do something to save him…when I try to kill him.”

  The slight shake of Kate’s head could have been an answer to her question, but the quivering lip made the headshake feel more like a refusal to accept what was to come. Saving Kate if she wanted to save Seth in the process was going to be very difficult. Because there was no doubt about it…Seth was going to have to die.

  And soon.

  Chapter Three

  “Oh look, my lovely bride and her maid of honor have finally decided to join us for dinner,” Seth said as he leaned back in his chair. “How are you doing, my fairest wench?”

  Legacy grumbled under her breath. Seth was a real prick. But it wouldn’t do for her to take his bait, so she decided not respond to his antics as she took her seat. Kate sat next to her and looked down at her clasped hands. She looked miserable, but at least she wasn’t running to tell Seth he was destined to be fish food. That was a plus.

  “I told Casey when he came to Kate’s room earlier that it was pointless. We are not eating anything.”

  He narrowed his eyes and propped his elbows on the table. “And why is that? You think I’d go through all the trouble of bringing you here just to poison your food?”

  Was he for real? He must think her a total idiot. “Umm, let me guess what’s on the menu. How about, pomegranate bisque for starters, then a salad with pomegranate dressing, a main course with grilled pomegranate seeds and for dessert—pomegranate ice cream.” She cocked her head to the side and smirked. “I think we’ll pass.”

  He slammed his fist onto the table. “Who told you?” he roared, and the girls both jumped in their seats.

  “The Internet. Months and months ago. I’ve known for a while that Hades was after me, Seth. Give me some credit.” She’d been diligent with the research about her ascension. Well with that and River’s help, she’d discovered quite a lot. She’d learned that anybody who consumed pomegranate seeds while in the underworld would never be allowed to leave. That little tidbit was totally needed now. No way was she going to make this easy on Seth.

  “You’ll starve.”

  Legacy pretended to ponder that. “And die sooner rather than later? Hmmm… Is there any waterfront property in the Elysian Fields?”

  Seth stood so fast that the chair fell back behind him. “I would never allow you to have a peaceful afterlife. You will stay here and be my queen, or I will kill you before you ascend. It’s your choice. The only reason I haven’t killed you is because you are worth more to me alive than dead. But if you don’t cooperate, that’ll change in a heartbeat. Don’t push me, Legacy. You haven’t seen me angry yet.”

  The cold stare he gave her confirmed that she didn’t want any part of his angry side to show up and play. But she couldn’t exactly back down either. “We’re not eating.”

  He crossed his arms and glared at her. Then his shoulders relaxed and he shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He looked at Kate with tender eyes. Legacy stiffened. Kate was a loose cannon right now and Seth knew it. “What about you, love? Aren’t you hungry? We didn’t eat breakfast and you hardly ate any lunch. You must be starving.”

  She cleared her throat as she looked at him. “Um, I don’t want to eat…yet.”

  Legacy gritted her teeth. Kate was implying she might eat later. She didn’t need Kate working against her too.

  “Okay. You can eat later, love. I’m sure you have a lot of questions right now. Come.” He started walking down the table, and Kate slowly stood. Legacy grabbed her hand and held her back. Seth turned and smiled at their joined hands. “Legacy, I’m not going to off her. You might want to see this too.” When he turned and continued walking to the side as if there was no argument to be made, Legacy moved, dragging Kate behind her, wary of what scheme Seth was brewing. He turned when he reached a chair by what looked to be a fire pit in the middle of a sitting area beside the dining room. He took his seat and waved his hands at the other chairs for the girls to sit. These chairs were awfully close to the fire within a small stone enclosure. She’d get really hot after just a couple of minutes sitting here. Then her errant brain wondered if Seth enjoyed the heat because it made him feel like he really was in Hell.

  Gods, she needed to stay focused.

  “What all do you know about Greek mythology, love?” Seth asked Kate once they were all seated.

  “I told her earlier. You can skip the history-slash-genealogy lesson.”

  Seth glared at Legacy. “You’re going to be a real bitch, aren’t you?”

  “And this is news…why?” She looked at him in challenge. He shook his head at her and then looked at Kate again.

  “So you understand somewhat. You don’t know everything because I’m pretty sure your informant over here doesn’t know it all…although she acts like it.” Legacy gave him a fake grin, but inside she was wondering just how much Seth knew that she didn’t. How could she believe anything that came out of that lying mouth of his?

  “What does this have to do with me?” Kate asked. “I mean, from the sound of things, I’m not supposed to be here.” She shrugged and looked away from him, obviously still hurt at the thought of Seth’s intentions of making Legacy his wife.

  Seth sighed. “Baby,” he said softly, and Kate’s gaze flew back to his. “This isn’t how I want things. I wish I had a choice.” Then his eyes glazed over right before he shut them tightly. He shook his head several times and looked at Kate again. The glare he gave her sent chills down Legacy’s spine. His eyes looked emotionless. “You’re supposed to be here so I can make sure you don’t fuck this up,” he barked, and both Legacy and Kate jumped at the sudden change of his tone.

  “What the hell’s your problem?” Legacy said before she could instruct her mouth to stay shut and not make him mad. Yeah, that hadn’t worked out so well.

  Seth slowly looked at her. “You. Only you. But not for long.” He gritted his teeth, his jaw ticking with each passing second. One minute Seth was somewhat tolerable, the next he was terrifyingly different. Legacy didn’t understand why his moods could change so quickly, but she had an idea it wasn’t completely of his own making. She needed to remember that maybe Seth wasn’t in completely control of himself. Not that she’d voice that concern out loud. He finally took a deep breath and looked at the fire blazing between them. “Everybody has a role to play.” Then he sneered, looking at Legacy. “And you don’t even know. That’s what’s so priceless here. Oh sure, you know about River and Adin. And my little pooch clued you in to Kate’s identity. But what about Ellen? Thad? Your precious bestie, Calli? Olive, who has been living under your nose? Hell, even Alex and Laos. They all share the same heritage as us.” Legacy gaped at him. This couldn’t be right, could it? “Do you honestly think we were all born in the same little Arkansas town with only a few of us being destined for greater things while the rest are completely mortal? No. the mythological descendents far outnumber the mortals.”

  “Let’s say I believe you for just a minute. Who are they? I was created in the likeness of Persephone, you in the likeness of Hades. Who are they similar to?” And why was she just now finding out about this? When she got free…definitely when and not if…she was going to have a talk with Lissa about this!

  “So now you want the ‘history-slash-genealogy lesson,’ is that it?”

  Legacy bit her tongue so hard she was surprised it wasn’t bleeding, but that beat letting the retort she’d had on the tip of it from being freed. She swallowed. “Yes.”

  “Calli is Callirrhoe, a nymph. Thad is Theseus. Olive is Athena. Laos is Menelaus. Alex is Paris. Um, River’s cousin,
Paul, is Apollo. Oh and you’ll love this—Ellen is Helen, a daughter to Zeus.”

  Legacy gasped. “Ellen is my sister?” she screeched. That was just all kinds of messed up. No way did she want to be related to that biotch!

  “Oh gods, Legacy, you can’t be that naïve. Just because you share the same parents as another doesn’t mean you’re physically related. We are not bound by the same laws as mortals.”

  Legacy relaxed. She knew that already, but with the news of Ellen, she’d panicked. “Why should I believe any of this?”

  Seth waved his hand through the fire and the flame turned clear. Smoke still drifted from the tops of the transparent flames, but it no longer looked like a fire. “See for yourself.”

  Legacy leaned forward and gazed into the flames. Within seconds, a form appeared. Then another. She gasped as the images came into view.

  “Don’t get your hopes up, cupcake. It’s just Thad’s house.”

  Thad and his brother—what was his name? Ric?—both came into view. She hardly ever saw his brother anymore. He was a year younger and used to tag along everywhere Thad went until he and Ellen started dating seriously. Truth be told, he kinda creeped her out a little. She’d caught him staring at her a time or two in a way that left her a little unsettled. It wasn’t a stalkerish stare, but definitely odd.

  “She’s been gone twenty-four hours. We can’t let him keep her,” Ric said.

  “Dude, I know. Ellen has been acting weird since yesterday. She knows something’s up, but she doesn’t know what, ya feel me? Since River did some mind cleansing at the picnic, she’s been confused. She’s tried calling Kate once, but I distracted her long enough not to do it again. I can’t keep tickling her or hiding her phone. She’s going to try to call Kate again and will get pissed when she doesn’t answer. I don’t need that crap right now.”

  “Who cares about Kate? You know I’m talking about Legacy.”