by Lia Davis
Ash’s eyes grew huge as if she figured out what Gwen had done. Yeah, so her secret was out. The only thing to do now was pray to the gods that Ash didn’t betray them.
The man did exactly what Gwen told him. Shock and confusion whirled over his features as he plunged the dagger deep into his chest and fell to the ground.
A moment later a loud crash sounded behind her and the ground shook under her feet. Turning, Gwen saw the cyclops face down on the pavement. Ash glanced at Gwen and gave her a satisfied smirk.
“Good thinking on the persuasion thing.”
Gwen nodded, she shook so bad she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold it together. Dragons were one thing, but one-eyed, man-eating giants were another.
The air around her energized like an electronic charge went off. She twisted around, ready to take on whatever the hell it was. Relief washed through her as she looked into Markus’s midnight blue eyes.
When he reached out to her, she jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing. “Where’s Seth?” Fear crept in at the idea of the cyclops killing Seth.
“He’s fine. He and Ty are leading another cyclops out of town.” Markus paused, making Gwen look up to see him glare at Ash. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Ash nodded. “I know. Let’s get her back to the mansion. I’ll explain when everyone gets there.”
Markus gripped Ash by the upper arm and teleported them back to the house.
Chapter Fourteen
Markus materialized inside the foyer with Gwen and Ashlynn. His blood boiled at the fact that Gwen had gotten hurt. He’d smelled her blood the moment he took form beside them in the village.
Releasing Ashlynn, he motioned to the great room. “Have a seat.”
She rolled her eyes, but obeyed. Smart female.
Carrying Gwen to the sofa, he sat her down gently, then ripped the leg of her jeans from the bottom up to her knee. “Thea!”
The dark haired nymph appeared in the archway between the rooms. When she saw Gwen, she rushed forward and shooed Markus out of the way while she worked to heal her wound.
“Do you know what caused this?” Markus asked no one in particular, but Thea answered.
“A god bolt.”
His blood went cold while his temper heated. “When in Hades did cyclopes start using god bolts?”
Ash clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “They don’t. They’re not smart enough.”
The front door blew open and Ty and Seth stormed in, their dragons still in their eyes. At least Seth’s was. Markus knew by the way Ty strode across the room that his was very close to the surface.
“Stupid ass giants weren’t alone. There was a demi-god with them.” Seth walked past Ty to stop in front of Gwen, a frown on his face.
Gwen glanced up and drew her brows together. “This is not your fault.”
Thea stood and addressed Gwen. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No. Thanks.”
Markus nodded his thanks to Thea and she left. Glancing back at Ash, he didn’t bother to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “Someone needs to start talking.”
Ty dropped into the armchair opposite Ashlynn. “Where are Drake and Z?”
Drake walked in with a beer in one hand and a sandwich in the other. “Z is on his way. He went to get Elle.”
Seth let out a sigh and sat on the couch next to Gwen. “I didn’t sense the cyclopes. I didn’t even see them until Ash yelled my name.”
Markus turned to the redheaded goddess. “Why don’t you share how you knew they were there?”
Ash drummed her fingers on the chair arm. “I’m Artemis’s daughter and I was born on Olympus.”
“Tells us something we don’t know, goddess.” Ty grinned and leaned forward in his seat.
Mimicking his movement, Ash raised a brow in challenge. “I’m a spy for the gods.”
Ty started to stand, but stopped when Markus held up a hand. “Ashlynn, we don’t have time for games.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Gwen said as she stared at the other woman. “I knew there was something you were leaving out when we talked in the village.”
Markus studied Gwen. “Are you sure?”
Gwen nodded. “I’m not sure how I know. I just do. I’ve always been able to tell if someone was being truthful with me or not.”
A short laugh burst from Ashlynn, drawing his attention to her. “A daughter of the Fates. Of course. That’s way Garrick is so hard up to have her.”
Stepping between the females, Markus growled, “What do you know about Garrick?”
Ashlynn sat back in the chair and picked at the edge of the arm. “I’ve spent the last two years with him, working with him. I know his routines, but he never fully trusted me to share the details.”
Zavier and Elle came into the room. Elle saw Gwen and rushed over to take the empty seat next to her. When she did, Gwen leaned into her. “I’m fine.”
“And we have Night.” Ashlynn laughed.
Ty growled. Markus cut a glance at his brother. “Silence.” Then he turned back to Ashlynn. “Go on. Speak your mind.”
“With Nyx’s daughter under his control, Garrick could control most of the night crawlers and some Underworld demons. With Gwen, I’m guessing he could use her gift of persuasion and unlock her full powers to change the fate of everyone around him.” Ashlynn stood and began to pace. “But that would only be the start. Diversions for the grand master plan. Damn, I should have stuck around longer.”
Gwen shook her head. “He would have grown more suspicious. What if he isn’t sure about his own plan?”
Markus meet Gwen’s gaze. “What do you mean?”
“Like if he had several different plans. Like, backups in case…”
“In case something went wrong.” Ashlynn snapped her fingers then pointed at Gwen. “You’re right. Come to think of it, he had scouts out looking for you and Elle because you were always together. Meanwhile, he has two more groups out looking for two other descendants.”
Markus asked, even though he knew the answer. “What are their names?”
“Rayna and Faith. I’m not sure of their last names. I only know that much because I saw the names in his notes.” Ashlynn sat back down on the chair and dropped her shoulders. “I failed. The whole mission. I didn’t learn a damn thing about his plan to bring war against the gods.”
Drake broke his silence. “Why did you leave and how?”
“I wanted to see which side of the war you’re playing for.” She lifted her gaze to look at Ty. “Plus, I got tired of being his personal outlet when something went wrong.”
Markus saw Ty’s hands ball up into fists as if trying to control his dragon. The subject of Garrick, his betrayal to them and the gods, and his grand plan to take over the Heavens always raised the tension in the mansion.
“So how did you leave?”
“I told him I would track down Gwen myself.”
Markus took a step toward her, but Seth stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We all have to calm down. Don’t forget, she saved Gwen’s life today. She could have let the cyclops take them.”
Ashlynn shrugged. “It was Gwen who saved us both. She ‘persuaded’ the descendant to kill himself instead of me.”
Gwen ducked her head. “Yeah, but you shot the arrow into the beast’s eye.”
Markus glanced from one female to the other and realized that they’d formed a silent alliance. He, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure Artemis’s daughter could be trusted just yet. “Ashlynn, what else can you tell us about Garrick?”
“Desperation is setting in. I could only imagine the kind of tantrum he’s throwing right now.”
Seth snorted. “Ty sent the descendant who was meant as my distraction back to Gary with the cyclops’s ear.”
Ashlynn pressed her lips together as if hiding a smile. “Well, if that doesn’t successfully piss him off, I have a better way.”
Mar
kus studied her for a moment before asking, “What would that be?”
She hesitated. “Garrick mentioned once that he believed his mate was still alive.”
Warning bells sounded off in Markus’s mind, but it was Ty who spoke. “Why would he tell you something that personal?”
Ashlynn’s gaze locked with Ty’s and for a moment Markus thought he’d have demand his brother to leave the room. However, she dropped her shoulders and sat back in the chair. “My orders were to get as close to him as I could.”
Ty let out a low growl and Markus swung his head around. What the fuck is wrong with you? He thought to his brother.
Meeting his gaze, Ty stood and stared for a few moments before he turned and left the room. Markus blew out a breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. “How much information do you have about Garrick?”
Ash shrugged. “Not much more than you, really. He’d ramble about things when we were alone, saying things like my hair reminded him of hers. Also, he was set up for her death and that was why he seeks revenge on the gods.”
Seth grunted. “I bet his vengeance against us is because we’re trying to stop him.”
“That and he believes Ty killed her.”
Drake set his beer on the bar countertop, hard. “The fuck he did. They were mated. He knew none of us would hurt his mate.”
Gwen shifted slowly on the sofa next to where Markus stood. “So why does he believe she’s still alive?”
Markus answered. “Because he’s mad. We all saw the body and we were all there when Zeus came in and issued his curse, banning us from the Heavens.”
Ashlynn sighed. “I asked my mother the same question. She said that when a dragon loses a mate, sometimes they go insane.”
Out of reflex, Markus glanced at Gwen, who stared back at him as if she knew his train of thought. Shaking his head, he turned away from the group.
Ashlynn cleared her throat. “We should keep a watch on all the elements. I wouldn’t put it past him to conjure up a natural disaster or something.”
Markus nodded, but his mind was on others things. Things like mating and Gwen. When he turned back to her, he let a soft growl as he caught her sneaking out of the living room.
Without another word, he set his jaw and followed her, leaving everyone else behind. As far as he was concerned, the meeting was over. There was nothing they could do at the moment, but wait. Markus on the other hand was going to stalk his mate down and have the conversation she’d tried to avoid.
****
Gwen entered the bedroom she shared with Markus and sat down on the bed. Gods, she was tired. It was like all the energy had been drained from her. Maybe it had something to do with the amount of power it took to bend the will of the man who held Ash at knifepoint.
She curled up on the bed and closed her eyes, her whole body relaxing against the soft comforter. A moment later she heard the door open, then close with a soft click. Markus’s earthy scent filled the room in a soft and soothing wave.
“Gwen?”
The concern in his hushed tone made her open her eyes and meet his gaze. “I’m fine, just tired.”
Her eyes drifted shut again, finding it hard to keep them open. Never had she been so tired before. Rustling of clothes made her open them to see Markus taking his shoes off, then his shirt, revealing a naturally tanned chest and washboard abs. A surge of energy shot through her as her mouth went dry and she had the strange urge to kiss every inch of his exposed skin.
Easing down on the bed beside her, he rested his back against the headboard, then gathered her in his arms. Almost instantly her muscles relaxed. When she cuddled into him and rested her head on his warm chest, a sense of belonging filled her. Like they belonged together.
He kissed the top of her head. “Tell me about what happened in the village.”
Her brows bunched together. “What do you mean? Ash already told you and the others what happened.”
Absently he rubbed her back in soothing, circular motions. “I want to hear it from you.”
The spark of energy was gone and she was now annoyed and tired. “You don’t trust her.”
“Why should I?”
“Like I said earlier, I can sense a lie. I asked her questions while we were shopping around and before we were attacked. Although at the time she didn’t tell me the whole truth, she didn’t lie to me either.”
“You questioned her?”
There was a smile in his voice and it made her relax further. “Yes. I learned pretty much what she revealed to everyone here without so much detail. I don’t think she is here to do harm.”
“Why do you think she is here?”
“Because she’s curious about you and your brothers. I think she’s been told terrible things about the Sons of War and wants to know the truth for herself.”
Markus grunted and shifted as if getting comfortable. “Maybe. I don’t think she’s playing on our side. She’s a hunter sent down from the gods. For what, I’m not sure.”
“Could be for insurance, like she’s to stop the war before it begins, no matter what the cost.”
With his index finger, he lifted her chin so she met his gaze. “How do you know?”
Gwen smiled. “I studied the myths alongside my father for as long as I can remember. Plus, my ability to decipher lies allows me to weed out the false myths or the half-truths written in many literatures to keep humans from the truth of the Heavens and the gods.”
He smiled, but there was a hint of worry she was sure he tried to hide from her. “Garrick would use your gifts to break the barriers between the Heavens and the earth.”
“I know.” She laid her head back on his chest.
“What happened when you killed the Imperial?”
A sick feeling churned in her belly. “It was self-defense.”
Drawing her closer, he kissed her forehead. “You did what you had to. Plus, he would have killed you without a thought.”
He was right. The hatred in the man’s features as he held Ash at knifepoint said there was no pure bone left in his body. “I felt helpless while Ash was being threatened. I did the only thing I knew I could. As soon as I got in the position to make skin contact with him, I poured everything into him and told him to let us go and stab his own heart.”
Relief flooded her when Markus didn’t move away. Instead he continued the slow, calming circles on her back with his fingers. “That’s why you are tired. Well, that and your body is healing itself.”
Nodding, she yawned and let her eyes drift close. She’d guessed the same thing. The ability to heal three times faster than a normal human had always made her a little low on energy. With the extent of the injury from the god bolt and the amount of power she used on the Imperial male, she wasn’t surprised she was so tired.
Even with Thea’s help healing.
“Sleep. You’ll need your strength for training tomorrow.”
A smiled tugged at her lips. “I’ll kick your butt all over the gym this time.”
He chuckled and eased down so he laid flat on the mattress. “That sounds like a challenge, Ms. Preston.”
“You betcha…” she said as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
June 29, 1977
It’s been about nine months since I met my friend, Garrick, and about six months since I started working in his research division. The amount of reference material that I have at my disposal is overwhelming and exciting. I wish I could call on my mother to verify the authenticity of it all. Then again, if she was permitted to talk with me, I could ask her directly what I desired to know. Like, how many others like me are out there? I know there are others. I just haven’t found them.
Yet, Aphrodite is bound by the curse placed on them all by Zeus after the war between the gods and humans thousands of years ago. She, like all the other gods, is not allowed direct contact with her earth borne children.
I understand the whys, but I don’t understand the logic. My powers are bound
. I’m no threat to the gods, nor do I have any desire to overtake the Heavens.
I want to keep the balance between the worlds and find others like me to help keep that balance. That’s what I’m hoping Garrick will be able to help me with and the reason why I told him about my heritage today. I was pleased to learn that he, too, is a demi-god. He shares my vision of meeting others like us.
He even told me he’s working on a way to unlock our powers to aid in finding the others. I’m excited to finally be able to give back to the gods who watch over us.
Gwen stopped reading and glanced around the too quiet room. She, Markus, and Zavier came to the study after she’d showed Markus the journal entry. “It’s not much, but it’s a start, right?”
Markus nodded, but it was Zavier who spat out, “Gary is no more a demi-god than I can transform into Pegasus.”
Gwen laughed, but pressed her lips together when she met Markus’s unamused gaze. His was mouth set in a harsh line. Amused, she bit back a giggle, because his lips twitched as if withholding his smile. It was in the way his eyes shimmered from the black of the dragon to the dark blue that was his natural eye color.
“My father always had a good, caring heart. He saw the positive in everything.” A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed it, not allowing the pain to rise and overtake her. It was time to move past the pain and seek the justice that would make Tom Preston proud.
Zavier sat next to her. “You mentioned research division. That almost confirms my theory that Garrick has a home base somewhere.”
“He has to sleep somewhere,” Gwen said.
Markus tapped his finger on the dark, cherry-colored oak desk. “Not necessarily. We don’t need a lot of sleep. Maybe a few hours a day. Sometimes, if needed, we can go for days without sleep.”
