by Lila Jean
“I already am happy, Zane.” She pulled off his baseball cap and ran her hands tenderly through his wild hair. “I have you.”
24
Tina
Tomorrow, Tina and her men would leave Greece. She sat on the living room floor, legs crossed, and stared through the sliding glass door at the stunning summer sky, with the barest hint of the beautiful blue ocean visible above the short brick wall on the deck outside.
Zane was pulling together a few safehouse options, and she had given him guidelines to follow when picking them out, like beachfront if possible and large enough for each of her princes to have his own room, but if she were being honest, Tina was absolutely sick of running. It was getting old, a tired exercise of disguises and midnight arrivals that was wearing on her nerves.
A goddess didn’t run, at least not for this long. A goddess didn’t hide. A goddess stood her ground, fought, and won.
Damn it all, Tina would win against the gods, the kings, and whomever was trying to frame her for kidnapping and murdering dignitaries.
Seriously, how fucked up does someone have to be to frame me for murder? The utter assholes. She snorted in annoyance, staring out at the beautiful blue water, and even the cool summer breeze couldn’t soothe her anger.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she tapped into her magic. She could hear the thundering heartbeats of her beautiful men as they raced around the house and perimeter of their little stronghold, preparing for the move. Tina had to focus, had to find out more about the gods who were here, and what Venus, Ares, and Odin all wanted from her.
In an effort to draw up Damara’s still-buried memories, Tina took a deep breath and connected to her goddess, the burning white energy deep in her core.
“Tell me about Venus,” she said softly, all of her intention and focus directed at her inner goddess.
Fragments of memory sped through her mind, like golden threads to a tattered blanket. Images blurred by, too out of focus to make sense of, and emotions burned rapidly through her chest.
Sisterhood.
Sadness.
Loss.
Tina focused more intently, desperate for a real memory, something concrete that she could sink her teeth into, and a surge of loneliness blistered through her. Her heart ached, and the sensation of someone pulling her into a tight hug ignited a deep surge of isolation in her core. For a brief moment, she was totally immersed in the memory, a woman beside her as they ran from something, always together, always knowing they would have each other’s backs. A sconce flickered overhead, illuminating the scene around while shadows danced along the wall, and she yelped as something sharp embedded itself in her back.
Tina’s face drained, the sense of pain overwhelming her as she pulled away from the memory, and the woman’s face came into view. It was a different woman, another host from another era, but Tina could see the burning light within her and recognized it immediately as Venus, a look of worry and concern on her face as she screamed Damara’s name.
The memory shifted, and suddenly Tina was in another body, at another time, in another land, with Venus once more standing beside her. This time, however, sunshine broke through the windows as an ocean breeze rolled over Tina, and in the memory, Venus turned and scowled at her.
“You’re taking everything,” Venus sneered. “People don’t even remember me, they think I’m just you reincarnated, nothing more than another one of your short lives on Earth. These humans ignore me, Damara, and it’s all your fault!”
“Venus, please,” Tina said, her voice light and airy, sultry and foreign as the memory took over, playing out another lifetime. “We can fix this. We can make it right. It’s a simple matter of teaching those who misunderstand—”
“This has been going on forever,” Venus interrupted. “You don’t care, Damara, and I won’t live in your shadow a moment longer!”
Instantly, Tina was pulled from the memory, as roughly as if a hand had grabbed the back of her neck, and anger snaked through her like a serpent about to strike. Bit by bit, however, the anger faded away into disappointment that was not her own, and she figured Damara was as disgusted with Venus’ betrayal as Tina was.
“We’ll show her she can’t mess with us,” Tina said softly, trying to soothe the goddess sharing her body. “One day, she’ll beg for your forgiveness.”
For a moment, Tina just waited for Damara to respond, and the silence unnerved her. Then, almost quietly, a surge of sadness rippled through her. No, she won’t, it said. She can’t have another chance. We can’t let her live.
Tina sighed, disappointed and sorry it had to end this way, sorry that someone who was once such a great friend had betrayed her.
Tina took a moment to breathe and disconnect from the fragmented memories, trying her best to get her bearings. Digging through Damara’s subconscious drained her, left her exhausted and wishing for a bed and ten hours of dreamless sleep, but she had to press on.
Tina wouldn’t stop until she had answers and a solid plan. This running and hiding would end, damn it, and she would turn the tides. Somewhere, buried deep in Damara’s locked memories, there was an answer to every problem she and her stunning princes faced.
With another long, deep breath and fingers crossed for good luck, Tina settled in once more and connected to Damara’s energy. “Tell me about Ares,” she said softly to her goddess. “He was your lover once.” Tina sighed, wondering what the relationship must have been like between Damara and the god of war. “Tell me what he’s done, if he’s as bad as legend says he is.”
Instantly, a golden memory pulled Tina in. Fires blazed on torches, and she lay on a bed of furs, the warm fire of the lights around her flickering and casting long shadows over her smooth skin. A man leaned his forehead against hers, his hand behind her head, thrusting wildly into her. He was covered in blood, in bruises and sweat, and he bucked into her as though he were claiming her as a spoil of war. Every thrust felt like victory, every moan like triumph, and she gave herself freely to him, lost in her bliss, dominated by a man who was so much more than human.
In the memory, her eyes flickered open, and she recognized him instantly from the burning red energy radiating from his body.
Ares.
The fragment faded away like dust, leaving her adrift in the darkness once more, the lust still warming her thighs and making her slick with need. She wanted nothing more than to hunt down Draven and jump his bones, to have her dragon dominate her and drive her to the edge just as Ares had in this memory, but she had to remain centered and focused. She still needed to find answers.
“Is he dangerous?” Tina asked her goddess. “Is Ares trying to kill you and me?” She squeezed her eyes shut, opening her heart to her goddess, trying with all her might to make it as easy as possible for Damara to answer. “What does he want from me?”
With a sudden rush, Tina was pulled into yet another golden memory, though the edges were frayed and blurry. Tina paced a room, though she couldn’t make out any more details about the space she was in, one hand on her temple. She yelled at a man standing nearby, and for the life of her, Tina could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation. He had gone too far, done something truly horrible, something that had cost tens of thousands of human lives. He was bleeding them dry, breaking their bones, destroying their minds until they begged for death.
He was a horrible, evil, vile man, and she wouldn’t put up with it anymore.
Finally, he stepped fully into focus, and even though his was a face Tina didn’t recognize, she saw the god within his body. The pulsing red light, the hatred, the bloodlust was all so familiar by now, even after just a handful of memories.
Though Ares had started out as nothing more than a warrior, his time on Earth had warped him into something dark, something cruel. This was an evil god, one who burned homes with children inside and watched women bleed to death while he laughed at their misfortune. He was a god driven to the brink of insanity and maybe beyond by the foul deed
s of war, lost in his need to kill, and there was nothing left in him to redeem or save.
“We are through, Ares!” she screamed, her voice hazy and echoing in the fragmented memory of a past lifetime. “It’s over in this life and every life to come.” Her skin glowed with power and majesty to emphasize her point, to finalize her words as a decree, something that could never be broken. “I will warn every one of my hosts about you, make her distrust you in any future life, and your vile hands will never touch me again!” Her wrath burned within her, raging with all the fury of a bear ready to maul a trespasser. “I’m done with you!”
In that moment, Ares’ human host stilled, and his eyes burned suddenly white, just as Venus’ had glowed white when Tina had met her. In the memory, the god took over the host, and she was suddenly speaking to the god himself.
Quick as a shot, he grabbed her arms and pinned her against a wall. “You’re done when I say you’re done,” he seethed, his hot breath rolling over her face as she struggled.
Furious, she kicked him backward with all of her strength, calling on her own magic to put him in his place.
The memory twisted and blurred, fraying as they fought, and the last thing Tina felt was his hand around her throat, closing off her airway.
She gasped suddenly, violently snapping back into the Greek villa with her hand on her neck, unconsciously prying away the god’s hands that weren’t really there. She sucked in breath after breath, trying to calm herself after the intense memory.
Tina couldn’t help but wonder how the memory had ended, whether her world had gone dark because the fragment was too rough around the edges to fully recall, or if perhaps Ares had killed Damara in another life as well. It was a risk she wouldn’t take.
“Tina?” Anthony rushed in, a worried look on his face as he knelt beside her, searching her eyes as he no doubt tried to figure out what had happened.
“I’m fine,” she said with a thin smile. “Get the guys.” She took a few steadying breaths, her fingers still pressed against her neck, where the memory of Ares’ powerful hand still lingered. “There’s been a change of plans.”
25
Tina
Tina took a deep breath as she sat on the living room floor in the same spot she’d used for meditating, for reaching into Damara’s memories and learning hard truths about the gods who had come over into this world. Her princes surrounded her, and she felt safe in their presence.
Zane sat on the floor beside her to her left, and Anthony sat to her right. Both had their hands on her knee or shoulder, a steady and reassuring reminder that she was protected, that nothing could harm her with them there. Flynn stood by the hallway, his gaze occasionally darting to the windows as he kept a calm and quiet watch, while Killian and Draven sat on the edge of the sofa, both shifters leaning toward her as they waited for her to speak.
She had called them here to make a change of plans, but she hadn’t yet told them why. Part of her didn’t want to, wanted to shield them from the truth because of the dangerous implications, but it wouldn’t do any good to hide it from them.
“Ares is a murderer,” she said softly, head thumping a little from the exhaustion of reaching deep into Damara’s memories. “He’s a cold-blooded killer who I think murdered Damara in one of their shared past lives here on Earth.” Tina sighed, her eyes scanning the men around her as she gauged their reactions, and though no one spoke, each of her men’s jaws tensed in anger. “They were lovers once.” Tina shuddered at the memory of his cock inside her. “After she realized how cruel he is, how twisted he had become, Damara rejected Ares, told him they were through in this and every life to follow, and he attacked her.”
“The human did?” Zane asked, a look of horror on his face.
“No.” Tina shook her head, disgust and hatred boiling in her very soul. “Ares took over his human, went full burn, and attacked her.” Tina’s jaw tensed, and she swallowed to keep her hatred at bay long enough to talk. “The memory is fuzzy, but I have a feeling he killed her.”
“That rat bastard.” Flynn’s face went dark, a mask of anger and revulsion, and his hands constricted into fists so tight the knuckles cracked. “I’ll destroy him.”
“Unless I get to him first,” Tina said, sneering as she stared at the carpet, imagining her hands around the asshole’s neck, furious that anyone would hurt the goddess she so loved. “Suffice to say, we won’t be going to scout his temple.” Tina stood, dusting off her shirt as she scanned each of her princes’ faces. “I won’t put you in harm’s way, especially after everything went south with Venus.”
“What are we going to do, Tina?” Killian leaned his elbows on his knees, a pleading expression on his face. “We’re out of ideas. Out of options. Trying to sway Ares was our last plan.”
“We run,” Anthony said. “We lay low until something better comes along.” He caught Zane’s eye, and the two shared a meaningful glance. “We have to be patient.”
“I don’t do patient,” Draven said with a low and guttural growl. “I kick ass, and I’m sick of running.”
“I agree with Draven,” Tina said, pacing along the sliding glass door as the sun set behind her. “Well, kind of. I can be patient, but that won’t help us right now.”
“Of course, you agree with me.” Draven said with a cocky little smirk. “I’m always right.”
Flynn and Anthony snorted in unison, and Killian rolled his eyes while Zane stifled a laugh.
Tina chuckled, patting her dragon lovingly on the shoulder as she walked behind his couch. “I don’t know about that, babe, but we can’t hide forever.” She sighed deeply, running a hand through her long hair. “We have too many enemies, and I’m sick of running, too. We need to act and quickly, before our enemies can attack us again.”
“I agree,” Draven said with a decisive nod.
“As do I, Killian added, leaning back against the sofa, his eyes trained on her as she passed.
“But how?” Flynn leaned against the doorframe. “Powerful people are after us, each with more resources than the next.” He crossed his arms, his massive pecs and shoulders flexing. “Hiding is the only safe option until we have a solid idea of how to handle the gods, our fathers, and the missing dignitaries.” He spoke as if his words were final, and Tina bristled at the subtle command in his voice.
“I won’t run forever, Flynn,” she said, her tone sharp with warning. “And you won’t ever be able to hide me away if it’s not what I think is best.” She narrowed her eyes, daring him to challenge her. “Is that clear?”
He opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it, looking at the floor as he nodded. “Of course, Tina.” His jaw tensed. “I just don’t want you hurt. I need to know my mate is safe.”
“I know.” She kissed him on the cheek and patted his arm as she walked by, circling the room as she and her men worked through their options.
“We’re running out of ideas, Tina.” Zane ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “No leads on the gods, and we’ve already intercepted several kidnapping attempts by the kingdoms. It seems like everyone is after you.”
Tina quirked her eyebrow in mild surprise at the news about the kidnapping attempts. It didn’t shock her that the kings were still coming after her, but she was more caught off guard that this was the first she’d heard about it. “You need to tell me about these things when they happen, Zane,” she said, a bit of chiding to her voice. “Don’t hide them from me.”
“Sorry.” He looked at her apologetically. “We were trying to keep you happy.” He offered a thin smile. “You have enough on your plate as it is.”
Tina chose not to answer, and as she continued to pace, she once more reached the sliding glass door as the final orange rays of the day burned along the clear water. “I have a plan.” Tina turned her back to the window and crossed her arms. “It’s a long shot, but it’s all we have.”
“What is it?” Killian asked, his eyebrows lifting in hope.
“Well, I need to kn
ow one more thing before I share it.” Tina took a steadying breath, bracing herself in case she got an answer she didn’t like. “Zane, do you have any more leads on Odin’s intentions?”
“I don’t have anything.” Zane shook his head. “Odin is dangerously good at going undetected. As far as I can tell, he’ll make himself known when he wants to, and by then, it will be too late.”
“Damn,” Tina said with a sigh. She rubbed her jaw, but she could still make her plan work.
“There’s one more concern I have,” Zane said with a nervous glance toward Flynn.
“And that is?” Flynn lifted a wary eyebrow in curiosity, his gaze raking over the tiger shifter, as if daring him to speak. Tina briefly looked between the two men, wondering if this was a continuation of a conversation they’d had in private and if things were about to get ugly.
“I’ve been thinking about your ties with Odin, Flynn.” The tiger shifter frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in concern. “You’re descended from him, and by all intents and purposes that makes him your master.” Zane stood, his courage apparently building as he confronted the demigod. “You idolize him, revere him, and all but worship him. If this is Odin, and he’s here to kill Tina, what would you do, Flynn? Whose side would you be on?”
Tina took a slow and steadying breath, turning her gaze toward her demigod prince as she waited for his answer. In her heart, she already knew what he would say, but she needed to hear it all the same.
“Tina,” Flynn said, eyebrows twisting with genuine concern. “Always Tina.”
She smiled warmly, and their eyes met as he once more leaned into the doorframe, apparently emotionally exhausted by the news.
“It will be difficult for you, though.” Zane scratched the back of his head absently as he spoke. “From my research, it’s hard for a demigod to deny their god anything. You’ll feel constantly compelled to obey him.”
