by Lia Davis
Glancing from Zeus to her aunt, Jordan waited for them to finish the conversation. Instead, Zeus held his hand out. “Come.”
Did she even have a choice? But there were too many unanswered questions for her just to walk away. With a heavy sigh, she placed her hand in his. “I have nothing else better to do.”
One corner of his sensual mouth lifted as Angie’s living room faded away and she was sucked into a black void, moving at what felt like warp speed. Good gods, she was going to be sick.
5
Zeus told himself he held onto Jordan after materializing in his living room so she could catch her balance. It wasn’t because she smelled like honey and sunshine and tucked perfectly into his side.
Not at all.
“Are you alright?”
She nodded and flattened her hands against his chest, the warmth from her palms burned through the cotton T-shirt he wore. When she pushed, he slowly released her. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she scanned the room.
He watched her take in his home and wondered what she thought about it. He tried to tell himself to keep his distance, that he brought her here—under his wards of protection—to keep her safe from Drakon. However, after last night, Zeus couldn’t walk away from her.
Jordan drifted to the oversized French doors that opened to the pool and a path that led out to the beach. “The view was pretty last night with the moon, but in the daylight, it’s beautiful.”
Yes, it was. He snapped himself out of staring at her ass, then spun to his left, toward the kitchen. “Are you hungry?”
He hadn’t a clue how to cook but watched enough cooking shows to pick up on a few things. How hard could it be? Of course, he could use magic to prepare a meal. Yet, Jordan was raised as a human and not used to the powers of the gods. Or was she?
That last thought sparked his curiosity toward her even more. He wondered how much she knew of his world.
He hovered in the doorway of the kitchen and glanced at her. Her shoulders were stiff, and she continuously picked at her fingers. He bet she wasn’t watching the waves.
“Jordan.”
She turned and met his gaze. Her large brown eyes held fear and sorrow.
He sighed. “Would you help me with dinner? I really can’t cook.”
A ghost of a smile formed on her lips as she crossed the room. “What are we having?”
“You pick.”
She briefly frowned as she passed him on the way to the refrigerator. “What do you like?”
It was his turn to frown. “I haven’t found anything I don’t like. Well, except for raw fish and something called sushi.”
“I love sushi.” She opened the fridge and started pulling items out.
“I’ll take you out to get some, and you can have all of mine.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wondered why he said them. Was he considering dating her while he figured out how to ask her to turn over the stone to him?
She laughed. The sound had a slight husk to it but also a soft song-like tone. “Deal.”
A comfortable silence fell between them as she cut veggies. “How come you don’t use your powers to create a meal? I mean, you could do that, right?”
He nodded. “I can. However, I sensed you needed something to do.”
She gave a sideways frown. “I do.”
“Cleo never told you about the gods.”
Jordan shrugged. “I think she told me enough so I don’t question my own abilities and my intuition. Like the facts we are descendants from the Fates and I’m only half goddess.”
“Your mother must have known her killer was coming. She might have thought the less you knew, the safer.” He stood and started pacing in front of the kitchen island that separated it from the living room. “That’s why she did it. It made sense.”
“What made sense?”
He stopped pacing and glanced up to see the concern in her brown eyes. “The transfer of power to the stone and not to you, her descendant. Giving you the stone, with the power locked inside.” There must be a bigger reason for Cleo to do those things. “Cleo wouldn’t raise you in this world without teaching you everything you needed to know. I think she may have erased some of your memories or hidden the truth deep in your mind. When the time is right, you’d know what to do. It would keep other gods and daemons from finding you. Or using the information against you.”
“Oh. There is so much I don’t understand.”
He walked around the island and cupped her cheek. “I’ll tell you all I know. Why are you not freaking out?”
Jordan shrugged. “Not sure. I could still break down at any moment.”
He chuckled. “Do you know who your father is?”
“No.” Sadness rolled off her. “Mom refused to talk about him.”
“It doesn’t matter right now.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. It took all his self-control not to claim her mouth like he had at Angie’s. He’d done that to enter her mind and show her the answer to her question.
He couldn’t read her like he could others. It could be because of the stone or the memory spell.
She stepped back and continued to cut the vegetables. “What is the stone and where did it come from?”
This was going to be a long night. She deserved to know since her mother threw her in the middle of it. “It is the Stone of Affliction. It can cause pain and misery to others. It also influences other’s actions. In the wrong hands, it can bring destruction to the world.”
He paused to allow her to absorb the information. “It once belonged to a sorceress more battle-hungry than my son Ares. She had planned to use the stone to kill the gods and take over Olympus.”
“What happened?”
“We went to war with the witches and won. I kept the stone in a secure location.”
Jordan opened and closed cabinets until she found a large pot. “So why give it to my mother?”
“Drakon killed two of my guards trying to steal it. I had just arrived when he found it. Only he couldn’t steal it because it was in my possession.” Zeus grunted. The dragon should have known better.
“Again, why give it to Mom?”
One corner of his mouth twisted at her annoyance. “After I sent Drakon to Tartarus, I caught others snooping around my home. It was like the power of the stone called out to others. I decided it needed to be hidden among humans.”
“I guess as long as Mom cloaked the magic, no one knew where it was. Yet, Drakon found her. Or whoever found her.” She stilled with her back to him and then sniffed.
His heart ached as her grief drifted on the air toward him. He closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll find who killed her and keep you safe.”
“Was that him at the restaurant?”
“Yes. I believe he has someone pulling his strings.” Zeus released her and moved back a step.
After adding water and the veggies to the pot, she placed it on the stove while asking, “Do you know who?”
Zeus sighed and shook his head. “There was no way he could escape Tartarus without help.”
“Did you kill the witch who had the stone?”
They locked gazes. He didn’t kill her, just assumed someone else had. “I didn’t.”
“Then it is possible she used the war to escape.”
He had thought about that, many times over the centuries. “I don’t doubt she did. That’s why I sent warriors out to search for her. Each one returned with nothing. She’d vanished.”
“Hmm.” Was her reply as she salted the water in the pot, then searched the cabinets again until she found the spices.
“What does that mean?”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, her brows dipping. “Just thinking. Why haven’t you destroyed the stone? If it is so dangerous, then why keep it?”
“I tried. It cannot be destroyed.” He’d struck the thing with his lightning bolts over and over. Not even a scratch.
“What are we going to do?”
Zeus let out a grunt. “You aren’t doing anything but staying here. I need to find out more about the stone, mainly how Cleo was able to transfer her power to it and discover who Drakon is working for.”
He left out the part that she’d need to hand the stone over to him eventually. She would have to make that decision on her own because the stone could only be given freely to another without being prompted by suggestions or other means.
The fact that it was the only thing left of her mother told Zeus it was going to be a long wait.
Unless he could seduce her and gain her trust.
“Can I open this?” Jordan’s voice brought him from his thoughts.
She held up a bottle of wine. He nodded and rose to his feet. “Yes. I’ll grab some glasses.” When he passed the pot on the stove, he glanced inside.
“It’s soup and will need to simmer for an hour.”
He glanced at her and realized they were inches apart. Her honey and sunshine scent lured him in, making him crave things he shouldn’t. A yearning like he’d never felt for another stirred deep within him.
Lowering his gaze, he studied the stone. When he raised his hand to touch it, Jordan tensed. He hovered his fingers over the stone, feeling the low current of power from it.
Instead of touching the stone, he traced his finger up her collarbone. A soft sigh escaped her and she leaned into him slightly. In that moment, he wondered if she would be the one to seduce him.
Maybe she already had.
6
Jordan woke to the roar of the ocean and crashing waves. She rolled to her side and noted the doors to the balcony were open. The sea breeze filled the room with the scents of fresh salty air and sand.
There was also a bite of cold drifting into the room.
She slid from under the covers and shivered while reaching for the robe laying on the chair nearby. It was five times bigger than her but smelled like Zeus. It was like being wrapped in his scent.
Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes for a brief moment and released a sigh.
Stepping out onto the balcony, she pulled the robe tighter and admired Zeus’s bare back. Perfectly sculptured. Her hands itched to touch him.
He turned his head to look at her from over his shoulder. A flash of silver rippled in his blue depths, then he frowned. Pivoting around to face her fully, he shooed her back inside. “You’re cold.”
She shook her head but knew there was no arguing with him. Her stomach decided it was the perfect opportunity to let them know it needed food.
Closing the balcony door, he studied her with an intense stare. “Come, breakfast is ready.”
Without another word, he left the room.
Bossy pants. He was lucky he was hot and possessed the power to end the world. She followed him through the living room to the dining room. The sight made her heart melt.
Candles were lit in the center of the table, and the plates were perfectly placed. However, there was enough food to feed ten of them.
“I didn’t know what you liked.” He hung his head slightly. Was he embarrassed?
There were so many layers to the man, and she was going to enjoy exploring all of them. She crossed the room, rose on her toes, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
He rushed to pulled out her chair before she could do it herself. She warmed all over. It was sweet that he wanted to do things for her. Or did he? She watched him take his seat next to her. “Are you seducing me to get the stone?”
He froze and didn’t meet her stare. “I will need the stone, eventually.”
No denial, yet he didn’t confirm her suspicions either. “All you have to do is ask. I’m not naïve.”
He looked at her then. Most likely because her tone held a hint of anger and hurt despite her trying to mask the feelings. “You are very intuitive, smart, and beautiful.”
She averted her gaze to focus on her plate. He thought she was beautiful? Whatever. He was way out of her league. He was the king of gods!
He twisted his chair so he faced her, then lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I’m debating my next move. I can ask you for the stone. But you have to give it freely to me. I’m not sure that would keep Drakon from going after you.”
“Why not?”
He traced his thumb over her bottom lip. Tingles of pleasure raced under her skin. “Because I can’t let you go. The more I think that the best thing for you is to get the stone, erase your memories, and leave you alone, the more I hate the fucking idea. I want to know everything about you. I want to wake up every morning with you in my bed.”
Breathing became harder as she processed what he was saying. The idea was better than being whisked away by a prince. Still, she couldn’t see how life with him was possible.
Wait? Was she considering a long-term thing? “We just met. I could be a very difficult person to live with.”
His lips twitched. “I’m a very good judge of character. It comes with the job of being the king of gods.”
A laugh escaped her. It amazed her how he made her laugh and feel safe when her world had been stripped away from her. Guilt nagged at her for enjoying his company. Yet, there was no use fighting it. Her mom wouldn’t want her to grieve for her. And Jordan wouldn’t. She’d direct her feelings into finding the killer and helping Zeus secure the stone. “What are we going to do today?”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “What are you thinking?”
“Well, I’m not sitting around with a babysitter while you look for Drakon or whoever. I want to help. Besides, if you want to get to know me, you have to spend time with me.”
He pressed his lips together before saying, “You think you’re smart.”
“You said I was smart.” She smiled sweetly.
“A smart ass,” he muttered and reached for the stack of pancakes.
“I’m not sure if I’m ready to hand over the stone. I still don’t know how it was possible for my immortal mother to die in a house fire. Angie said something about a weapon that could kill a goddess. Yet there were no marks on Mom’s body to indicate she was injured.” She thought about it for a moment. “Why were you there?”
He placed a couple pancakes on her plate. “I got word that Drakon had escaped Tartarus.”
“So, Mom’s warning was too late?”
“No. I got her warning. It’s what she didn’t say that gave me what I needed for now. That Drakon was there and not alone.” He handed her a fork in a silent command to eat. “As for how she died, I believe she must have transferred her power to the stone before he got there, or she managed it right after. It’s hard to tell. But one thing was for sure. She was powerless when I got there. The weapon Angie mentioned might be the Blade of Ruin. It’s one of the few relics that can kill a god.”
That made sense. It also saddened Jordan more to know her mom left herself defenseless against a dragon. She picked at her food, suddenly no longer hungry. “If Drakon has the dagger, then he could kill you.”
As if sensing her shift in mood, Zeus stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “If he has it. He’d have to steal it from Hera and is not likely to succeed. My ex is not a merciful type.”
She winced. The few stories she’d heard about the Queen of the Gods, the more she didn’t want to cross her. Zeus and Hera may be separated, but Jordan wouldn’t put it past her to… “Would Hera help Drakon escape?”
“No.” He met Jordan’s gaze then covered her hand with his. “We have an understanding. You do not need to worry about her.”
Silence settled in between them. Jordan wasn’t sure what else to say or where to start. “What are we going to do? Sit around until he and whoever he is working with come after us?”
Instead of answering her, he asked, “What would you like to do for fun today?”
Jordan shrugged. “We could see if Angie and Jeff want to go out on the boat.”
“Isn’t it a little cool?”
“It’ll warm up some.”
He stared at he
r and worked his jaw. She stared back, not about to let him think he can intimidate her into staying in a bubble. After a few minutes, he let out a growl. “Fine. But you need warm clothes. There are things for you in the bedroom closet.”
Curious, she jumped up and rushed to the bedroom. She opened the closet and gasped. “Some things” was a closet full of clothes, for every occasion. She sensed him entering the room. “This is a little creepy but thank you.”
She was rewarded with a smile before he said, “You needed things of your own. And don’t argue. I’ll be waiting in the study when you are ready.”
When he left her alone, she grabbed her replacement phone, thanks to Angie, off the dresser and dialed her aunt. Angie answered on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Want to go out on the boat?”
“It’s cool today.”
Jordan rolled her eyes. “That’s what Zeus said.”
“Jeff just left to get the kids. Meet us here, and we’ll all go for a hike. I need the fresh air, and the kids will most likely need to run off the sugar from whatever their grandma fed them for breakfast.” Angie laughed then added, “Is he treating you good?”
A smile spread across Jordan’s lips as she glanced at the closet full of clothes. “He got me clothes. More like conjured me a closet full of clothes, shoes, bags, and I don’t know what else. I think he’s moved me in.”
She meant it as a joke, but as soon as she spoke the words, she realized that might be truer than she was ready to admit.
Angie laughed. “I wouldn’t doubt it. We’ll see you in a few.”
The call ended before Jordan could comment. Yeah, she and Zeus needed to clear the air on a few things. One, she didn’t jump in the sack with just anyone, god or not. Two, her heart was hers until she decided to share it.
7
Zeus parked his truck in Angie and Jeff’s driveway just as Jeff took his three-year-old son out of the car seat. The older child, Melissa, shut her door and stared at the truck. She must have recognized Jordan because her face brightened into a big smile.
