Gods & Monsters: The Gods & Monsters Trilogy Book 1

by Janie Marie

  She had, indeed, spread her legs for David and Death. She’d done it all while Jason believed she was dead.

  Jane let out a frustrated growl and walked faster.

  Death eyed David as neither of them moved to follow Jane. “David, go with her. She’s angry, but she needs you.”

  David glared at him, but threw a more violent look at Jason before he left to find Jane.

  Death chuckled and looked back to see Gawain also standing there, glaring at Jason. He shook his head. I must do everything around here.

  “Come,” Death held out his arms for Natalie, who was looking between everyone confused. Just like Jane had always been, she eagerly went to him, blushing also like her mother. “Let’s go help your sexy mom pack your things and put a smile back on her face.”

  Jason opened his mouth likely to say something, but Death grinned in a way he knew terrified everyone. Jason shut his mouth.

  Death snickered and muttered to himself as he situated Natalie better. “Pussy. No idea why I thought I could leave her in your hands.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jason asked.

  Death made his eyes glow brighter and smiled when Natalie touched his cheek, not afraid of the violent stare he gave her father. Just like Jane, he mused.

  He decided since Jason had hurt Jane, which he had more than she let on to everyone here, he’d return the favor. It seemed only fair for Jason to realize he’s not as great as he thought himself to be.

  “Tell me, Jason, do you ever wonder why you believed Jane when her classmates called her a liar?” Death’s lips pulled back, revealing a more frightening smile. “Ever think about your confrontation with her uncle—the threats you made to him? Not something you would normally do, am I right? Do you reflect on your earliest memories with her and realize it was all one big blur?”

  Jason’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “How do you—”

  He cut him off. “It’s a shame the only moments she admires about you are not really your own doing.” Death smirked at Jason’s shocked face. “Don’t worry, she’s clueless. You can go on holding how you saved her as a pass for what you have done to her, but you know the truth. Don’t you? One day, though, all secrets will come to light. One day, she will stop trying to please you no matter how much it hurts her. I suggest you use the time given to you to become a real man in her eyes. It would be far better if she could hold on to something truly worthy of you instead of realizing it was all a lie.” Death glanced at Arthur, not reacting to the faint smile the legendary king wore, then left to find Jane.

  The cold leather under Jane’s cheek normally brought her so much peace; it meant Death was with her. Only, this time, it meant goodbye.

  She hugged him tighter where they stood alone in the master bedroom of the base camp. David had gone to occupy her kids so she could say her goodbyes.

  “I don’t want you to go,” she whispered.

  “I have to. I’ll meet you soon, though. You won’t even miss me.”

  She looked up at him, trying to soak up his beautiful smile and touch as he rubbed her cheek. “Will you tell me what you’ve been doing and what happened with the demons when you come back?”

  He grinned, a bit of a menacing glee lighting in his emerald eyes as he spoke. “Yes, if you promise to stay strong, and stay with David. No running off, and you must enjoy being reunited with your family. I did not behave myself just so you could feel like shit the entire time you’re back with that dick.”

  “Death.” She huffed as she played with his leather jacket. “Please be nicer about Jason. It’s because you left that I even looked at him.”

  He shrugged. “That may be, but he is a dick all on his own.”

  “Whatever,” she said, chuckling. “Thanks for behaving. And I promise to stay close to David while I enjoy my family.”

  “And no running off,” he restated.

  She smiled. “I won’t run away again. But please come back to me quickly. You don’t understand how I feel without you.”

  “I’ll do my best, and I do understand.” He caressed her cheek.

  “You do?”

  He nodded. “Incomplete. I feel it, too.”

  She nodded as her eyes watered. “It hurts.”

  “I know, angel,” he murmured but suddenly grinned and grabbed her butt. “Back to serious business, though. If you run off, I’m smacking this mouthwatering ass until it’s as red as your face when I turn you on.” He squeezed, and she yelped, feeling her face burn. “Hm…” He squeezed again. “I never knew you were into that. Good to know.”

  “Death.” She leveled him with a serious look. “Let go.”

  He didn’t. “Are you running off again? I can take your sweet ass with me. Fuck David and Jason. You were mine first.”

  She laughed. She loved that he always tried to put her in a better mood. “Would you really take me if I asked?”

  He stared at her for a few seconds. “Maybe. Do you want to come with me?”

  Her mouth hung open, and she realized maybe that meant going with him forever. “Do you mean like for the bet?”

  “If you want it to be.” His face showed no sign of hope, but she could see the desire in his eyes.

  “I can’t leave my children, Death,” she said quickly. She wanted to go with him so badly, but she couldn’t.

  “Then stay.” He didn’t say it coldly, but it stung her heart nonetheless.

  “I’ll stay.”

  “And?” He tapped her ass, making her laugh even though she wanted to cry.

  “And I will not run off.”

  “That’s my girl.” He sighed, squeezing her butt once more before sliding his hand up to the small of her back, under her shirt.

  She tried not to moan but still let out a small noise of approval. “But we should talk about the bet when you come back. And about David.” She bit her lip, nervous about how much closer she’d become with the knight. It was impossible to not feel guilty about David and even Jason when she was with Death.

  He nodded as his gaze swept over her face until it settled on her lips. “As long as you stay away from Luc, there is nothing to worry about. And I know your feelings for David have grown.”

  She waited for him to say more, but he only continued to stare at her mouth.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Jane.”

  Her pulse sped up. This was wrong. Jason was very much back in her life, and there was still David. All she had to do was tell him no.

  “I’m not asking.” Barely brushing them together, he whispered, “My Sweet Jane. These lips will always be mine. You know they are mine. Don’t you?”

  She needed this. So she smiled and closed her eyes as she felt his lips turn up as well.

  Softly, he pressed their lips together. The tingles made her lips feel fuzzy, and she loved it.

  She sighed and gripped his shoulders while Death let out a deep purring noise and pulled her closer, molding their bodies together. He was so tall, but he always made their kiss and closeness seem effortless.

  He swept his tongue over the seam of her lips, prompting her to open her mouth. She did quickly, moaning as he nipped them once before slipping his tongue inside, sending warmth throughout her body.

  Without realizing it, her hands came around the back of his neck and slid up into his hair. She whimpered and pressed her body closer to his. He liked that, apparently, and deepened his kiss until her lungs began to burn.

  Our goodbye kiss.

  He finally let her breathe but sucked her lip gently, humming as they both enjoyed the sweetness of each other’s taste. Releasing her lip, he then pressed one more brief kiss to her tender lips and pulled away. They both smiled sadly at each other.

  She hated this. Her eyes and inside of her nose stung while she tried to keep her tears at bay. Her panic rose, and she gripped him tighter.

  Death sighed and rested his forehead against hers, putting off his inevitable departure.

  She struggled to form wor
ds. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. I will never stop.” He kissed her nose. “Be happy, baby girl. I will see you again.” He kissed her lips softly and then let his gaze drift toward the window where they could see the moon glowing in the dark sky.

  She saw it and whined before looking back at him.

  “Good night, Sweet Jane. My moon.”

  Gone.

  She sobbed, finally letting her tears free, and stared at the empty space in front of her. Hugging herself tightly, she prayed the torn sensation her body instantly suffered would let up.

  David called from the doorway. “Jane.”

  She looked over and couldn’t contain her sadness as she cried. “He left again.”

  “I know, baby.” He held out his arms. She ran into them and let him hold her together. “He’ll be back, but we have to go now. Everyone is waiting.” He kissed her forehead. “Be brave, Jane. No more tears.”

  She nodded and smiled as he wiped away the rest of her tears.

  “Good girl,” he said, dropping his hand to take hers. He looked around the room and smiled. “Let’s go.”

  Jane smiled and looked back at the room, her eyes catching sight of the moon. “Good night,” she whispered and let David pull her away.

  JANE DIDN’T STOP WALKING as she glanced at the SUV driving behind her. It was her car, and it was carrying her family as it slowly wove between stalled vehicles and corpses littering the roads.

  Lucan, the guard she’d not met, had hot-wired another vehicle and taken her pets, along with most of her family’s belongings, to the plane waiting for them.

  Dagonet waved to her from the driver’s seat of her car. She smiled but quickly turned forward when Gawain and Gareth, who were flanking the SUV, motioned for her to turn around.

  “Are you sure you do not want to ride with them?” David asked. He was walking beside her.

  She shook her head and kept her eyes on the van in front of them. Tristan was driving this one since his leg was still injured. Arthur, Bedivere, and Kay, were walking in front of it. The other knights were behind her family’s vehicle.

  David nudged her shoulder with his elbow, and she finally responded to him. “I’m sure. I can’t be around him right now. I think he’s afraid of me, and the kids are asleep anyway.”

  David lifted his rifle and released a shot. “He’s afraid of me, not you.” He casually shot another zombie and smirked back at her. “I can smell his fear. He only emits it when he looks at me.”

  She chuckled because he seemed very pleased with himself. “I was the one who almost killed him, not you.”

  David grinned. “As dangerous and angry as you were, baby, you are always a beautiful sight. I’m certain I was not the only man captivated by your fury.”

  She tried not to smile but failed. “Is that your way of saying I’m cute when I’m angry?”

  “You blushing right now is cute.” He gave her a sexy smile. “Watching the woman I love defend me while proving she would kill for me is definitely one of the sexiest moments I have ever witnessed. So, no, I am not saying you are cute when you are angry. You are breathtakingly beautiful when you are angry.”

  Jane’s face was on fire as she listened to the group of knights laughing around them.

  “In other words, Jane,” Gareth said, chuckling. “You turn our big boy David on when you’re angry.”

  The group laughed louder while David simply smiled at her before he glanced away. The others followed his lead and raised their rifles, firing shots. Jane shot her own target and tried to stop thinking about David so much. Jason was right behind them, and she’d just said a very passionate goodbye to Death. She didn’t know how she was supposed to act around anyone now.

  After eliminating the zombies, they all hesitated moving forward and sniffed the air.

  “David,” Arthur called but said nothing else.

  “I’m not sure what they are yet,” David said, scanning the perimeter. “They’re blocking their scents somehow, but I hear them. There are too many to count. Hundreds.”

  Arthur walked to Tristan’s window and spoke to him quickly as David jogged to Dagonet’s door and spoke to him.

  Jane’s breathing sped up as she glanced at the others. No more smiles, no more vibrant green or blue eyes. Their beautiful eyes were replaced with frightening pale glares while their fangs pressed against their lips.

  David ran back to her side and began adjusting her belts, adding more clips. “We have to move faster, Jane.”

  “What’s happening?” She kept her eyes on the perimeter as the men began tossing extra ammo around.

  “These are silver.” David showed her one magazine for her rifle. “It won’t work like the nitrate the rogues used, but it will burn and prevent them from healing.”

  “Who, David?”

  He stood up and cupped her face. “I cannot tell what they are. It might be Lance or Ares and Hermes with other rogues. They’re hunting us.”

  “I thought Hades left to go after them with his niece,” she whispered, leaning into his palm.

  “He did, baby. They are using methods I’m not familiar with to hide themselves. They might have been waiting for them and Death to leave before attacking. I need you to concentrate, okay? We will get your family on the plane.”

  Arthur walked up beside her and patted her back. “The small airstrip we found is only two miles away; we will get them there. We’re almost ready to move out.” She looked toward her family as Arthur addressed where her thoughts were about to head. “Jason has still not grasped what we are, Jane, but if we are attacked, there is no more hiding.”

  “I know.” She didn’t look away from Jason after she locked eyes with him. He was sitting in the passenger seat next to Dagonet.

  Arthur nodded and spoke into his communication piece, “Lucan, we’re surrounded. Have the plane prepped for departure and get Tor and Jasper armed at the door. Order them not to leave the plane, though. Once the family is secure, you are clear to leave if we cannot make it.”

  “Affirmative,” was the muffled reply.

  “Arthur,” she whispered, awed by the sacrifice he was willing to make for her family.

  He smiled. “Your children will not fall into evil hands. If we must, we will hold them off until the plane can leave with them.”

  “Jane as well,” David said quickly. He still held her face and gently guided her to look at him again. “Get on the plane, baby. You leave with them if you have to. I’ll find you. I’m sure Death will come for you.”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

  “Jane.” David’s warning tone did not sway her.

  “Don’t argue with me, David.” She placed one hand over his. “I’m not leaving you.”

  He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “I will not leave you either.”

  “If you cannot make it,” Arthur addressed everyone as David removed his hands from her face. “Proceed to one of the other designated LZs. Our communications have been cut off with the other teams, but we will reach out every fifteen minutes. After twenty-four hours, if you do not make contact, we will return home.”

  The knights nodded and moved back into position around the two vehicles.

  Jason watched David take Jane’s hand as the others moved away, then he leaned down and whispered in her ear. There was no way to tell what exchanged between them, but Jason clearly saw the love in David’s eyes whenever he looked at her, and he’d seen a similar look in Jane’s eyes when she received that look from the soldier.

  He had watched her blush and laugh with David every chance she got. Earlier, Jason had assumed Ryder was the one his wife was cozier with, but he must have been mistaken because there was no denying Jane had feelings for David as well. Her eyes sparkled with something he’d never seen in her before when she looked at both men, but David was the one with her now.

  Dagonet snapped his fingers in front of Jason’s face, which s
topped him from brooding at the pair for the moment. “If something happens, you get out and run. I will carry Nathan while one of the others will carry Natalie for you. My only goal is to get the children on the plane. If you fall, I will not hesitate to leave you behind.”

  His words were honest, not malicious in any way, and Jason could respect that. “That’s all I want. Thank you.”

  Jason glanced back at his sleeping children but met Dagonet’s stare when he turned forward. The others seemed to be preparing to start moving again.

  “He loves her more than you can imagine,” Dagonet said abruptly. “It is neither of their faults what they feel for one another. They were destined to meet, and they are destined to love one another.”

  Jason was surprised by the bold statements and looked back to see David shaking his head at Jane as he flipped the safety on her rifle. She pouted and received a kiss on the temple as David gently pushed her back to her spot.

  Jason ground his teeth together. “I don’t believe in destiny.”

  Dagonet chuckled and put the car in gear. “Whether or not you believe in destiny, it exists, and they share one of the most important fates of our world.”

  Jason scoffed, and the car began to move. “You believe what you like, but Jane is my wife. Our marriage is important to her; she won’t walk away from me.”

  “She is loyal and takes her commitment in marriage to you seriously,” Dagonet said, turning the wheel but not looking at him. “So my question to you is, did you honor her when she was at her lowest—when she needed you most?” Jason stared at the side of Dagonet’s face in shock. “Have you loved and cherished every moment with her? Have you proven your love to her or taken her presence for granted?” Dagonet chuckled. “A good and loving husband would not feel the way you are feeling at this moment, and she would not crave his affection if she had been given it in the first place. You see her happy—something I have gathered she has not been in some time—but you are angry to see her that way.”

  “Because she shouldn’t be that way with another man!”

  Dagonet nodded. “True. She should not, and I have a feeling she feels tremendous guilt—”