by Lia Davis
Yet, there was sadness in the child’s depths. Zeus meet Jeff’s grim gaze and the man straightened with the toddler in his arms. There was panic in the man’s eyes. The way he held his son to him as if it may be the last time he would get to told Zeus something had happened. “What did Angie say on the phone?”
Jordan spoke through her teeth. “Apparently what she thought would get me over here without telling me the truth.”
Nodding, Zeus exited the truck. He wasn’t surprised Jordan picked up on the uneasiness of the family. Her intuition was strong. She had opened up her senses more since her mother’s death.
She was the Drakon’s next target, after all.
Jordan was out of the truck before Zeus got to her door. She brushed past him and scooped up Melissa in a tight hug. “How were your Grammy and Papa?”
“Good. I didn’t want to leave, but Daddy said we were going on a trip. It’s a surprise.” Melissa’s tone lacked the excitement that should be there at the idea of going on a mystery trip with her parents.
Jordan forced a smile at the girl as she carried her into the house after Jeff. “Let me see if I can find out for you. Can you take your brother to the playroom?”
Melissa nodded. Once Jordan set her on her feet, the girl grabbed her brother’s hand and led him down the hallway.
Zeus glanced from the kids to Jordan as she crossed her arms and glared at her aunt. Before Jordan could speak, Zeus asked, “What happened?”
Angie wrung her hands and glanced from her husband to Zeus, then to Jordan. Shaking her head, she picked up a piece of paper from the coffee table, then handed it to Jordan. “This was on Melissa’s bed this morning.”
Angie broke into sobs, and Jeff wrapped his arms around his wife. Anger rose up in Zeus, and he stepped closer to Jordan to read the note.
Tell your niece to hand over the stone and the kids will live to see their next birthdays.
Jordan fisted her hands, crumbling the paper into a ball. “Who did this? How dare they place threats on my cousins. As if I’d just freely hand the stone over.”
“Lower your voice,” Zeus whispered to her. He pried the paper from her hands and opened it. At the bottom of the page was a symbol he hadn’t seen in decades: A raven with its wings spread and a scroll in its claws. “Helena.”
Jordan twisted to face him. “What?”
Angie let out another sob. “No, that’s not possible.”
Zeus reached out and took Jordan’s hand. “Helena is the witch I told you about.”
“The one you took the stone from.” When he nodded, she turned to Angie. “Where are you going? Melissa said something about a trip.”
“To Olympus. My mother will take us in until this is over.” Angie pointed at Zeus. “Take care of my niece and finish this once and for all.”
Zeus raised a brow at her demand. He let it go because Angie was frightened for the safety of her family. “It will be done.”
Angie gathered Jordan into a hug. After they said their goodbyes, Zeus motioned toward the door. “We need to prepare. It won’t take long for Helena to find you.”
Jordan hesitated, but when Angie shooed her toward the door, she exited the house. A cocktail of emotions swirled around her, and Zeus wanted to hold her, comfort her. There was no time. Helena or her minions could’ve been lurking nearby, waiting for their chance to strike.
When they were inside the truck and on the road, Jordan asked, “Does she really think I’ll just hand it over?”
“No. She must not be able to track you right now. She wants you to call her out.” Zeus tightened his grip on the stirring wheel.
“Why can’t she track me? Drakon tracked my mom, hadn’t he?”
“Not sure.” He paused. There must be a reason. “Do you think Cleo might have spelled it to cloak you from them?”
“Possibly, if she knew what the future was.” Jordan glanced out the window. “Another mystery to add to the stone.”
Zeus agreed. He wished he’d done more research on the stone, found out where Helena had gotten it from. More like who she killed to get it. “Is there anyone besides Angie your mother trusted? Someone she would give information to?”
Jordan shook her head. “The only people she interacted with were the customers at the store. She did keep a journal. Go to the store. Do you know where it is?”
He covered her hand with his. “Yes. Please, calm down.”
Her anxiety wrapped around him and fueled his rage and need to keep her safe. He relaxed a little when she gently squeezed his hand in response.
“I’m just…worried and angry and scared. What do you know of Helena?”
“She is a powerful witch with dark magic. And she’s cruel. She was banished from her coven, which turned her heart cold.” Zeus fisted his hand on the steering wheel.
Jordan turned to stare out the window. “So a crazy bitch with power. Nice. I hope my mom’s journal can tell us something to help defeat her.”
Shaking his head, Zeus gripped her hand once more. “No, you won’t be defeating anyone.”
Jordan whirled sideways in her seat, the seatbelt locked her in place. “Don’t. My mother is dead because of this stone and Helena. I will avenge my mother’s death.”
Magic flowed under her skin, nipping at Zeus. He glanced at her and noted a spark of power he hadn’t seen in her brown depths before. Something inside her was waking, and he bet she didn’t even realize it.
It could be the stone influencing her. He placed a finger over her lips. “Don’t speak another word. You don’t want to set anything in motion that would add to our fight.”
She may only be half-goddess of fate, but she still had the ability to seal her own fate and those around her.
Closing her eyes, she took a couple of deep breaths, slowly exhaling each time, and nodded.
He pulled into a parking space in front of the store. Jordan gasped, making him jerk his gaze to her, noting she was staring at the building. When he looked, he couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. “The witch and everyone working with her are dead.”
The glass door of the store was shattered. Glass scattered on the sidewalk and inside the store. Beyond the wrecked door was more carnage. Shelves were ripped from the wall. Display cases smashed along with the items they held.
Helena had been there. How long ago, he didn’t know.
Drakon eased back into the shadows, disappearing from view. Zeus thought he could protect his beautiful half-breed. He was nothing compared to Helena, who hovered beside him, watching.
Focusing on Jordan, Drakon couldn’t shake the feeling he knew her. She was Cleo’s daughter. He was certain the moment he saw her in the restaurant. Being so close to her set off something inside him. The dragon recognized her.
But it wasn’t because she was a mate. No, it was something else.
He’d teleported to the gift shop, knowing Cleo kept a journal. It wasn’t in her home. He searched before torching it. So that left the store as the only other hiding place. Yet he still couldn’t find it.
He curled his hands into fists. Apparently, he didn’t look hard enough. He’d have to wait until Jordan retrieved it and take her and the journal.
Right after he took care of Zeus.
“You’re pathetic.” Helena’s half growl, half purr was like icy fingers touching every inch of his skin. “Do you not see what’s in front of you?”
He glared at the witch. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, reaching to her waist. Modest curves gave her a natural beauty of a goddess. Yet, her silver eyes gave away her heritage. Sorceress of black magic. “What are you talking about?”
She stared at him for several moments before laughing. “You truly don’t know. You’ve been so blinded by rage and revenge that you don’t recognize your own daughter?”
He stumbled back a few steps, then glanced at the store. Was Jordan really his? “Cleo hid her from me.”
“Yes,” Helena cooed in his ear. “She is no better t
han her mother. They kept the stone from you. Kept the truth from you.”
He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of anger. How could that be? “I’m not in the mood for your head games, Helena.”
“I don’t play games.” She hissed, then leaned into him. Her magic wrapped around them. “She’s as ungrateful as her mother. In fact, she’s already slept with the god king. I bet she is seducing him to come after you and finish what Cleo couldn’t. To kill you.”
A growl rumbled from Drakon. His dragon paced within, wanting the revenge on Zeus for the betrayal of his mate. Now his daughter was plotting against him too. Helena was right. Jordan was playing him like her mother had.
She will pay with her life. Just like Cleo had.
8
Jordan fought back the tears as she stared, stunned, at the destroyed gift shop her mom worked so hard to build into a successful business. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry or scream. Maybe both, while she drove a dagger through the witch’s heart.
If Helena knew she had the stone, then what could she be searching for?
The journal!
Jordan jumped out of the truck and rushed to the store. Zeus was at the door in a flash, blocking her. “I’ll go first. Stay close.”
Her first impulse was to push him out of the way. After the urge passed, she figured he wouldn’t be moved easily. Instead of arguing, she nodded. “I need to get into the office.”
A short nod was his reply before he took hold of her hand and tugged her into the building. Shock, disbelief stole her words. She didn’t want to acknowledge that the one place she had left was vandalized. Tears blurred her vision as she stood there, staring at the destroyed store. Her heart broke, and chest tightened, making it hard to catch her breath. The glass figurines were smashed on the floor, and the display cases knocked over. Everywhere she looked was like looking at a war zone.
A sob hiccupped from her. She covered her mouth with one hand, unable to move. Zeus moved closer to her, and she reached for him with her other hand.
Closing her eyes, she gathered her strength and pushed away the sorrow of losing another chunk of her mother. Focus on the journal. She needed to get it and get out of there.
“What was she looking for?” Zeus’s tone was soft, and she guessed he was thinking out loud.
She answered anyway. “The only thing I can think of is the journal. Mom didn’t keep anything else of value here. Well, not personal value. It wouldn’t be the stone if Helena knows I have it.”
“Unless it wasn’t Helena who did this.” He glanced back at her and pointed down a hallway that led to the back. “The office is this way?”
Jordan nodded. “At the end of the hall.”
He tugged her along a little faster than when they entered. She wondered if it had anything to do with the creepy feeling she was getting. Did he feel it too?
When they reached the end of the hall, he whirled around and glared at her. “Where?”
The door wasn’t visible until she lowered the illusion spell that cloaked it. It was a security feature her mom placed on it to keep thieves—both humans and non-humans—out. She nudged him aside and pressed her palm to the wall. A moment later the door formed and she opened it.
Relief flooded her. The office was untouched. Thank the gods.
She rushed to the picture of her and her mom on the wall. After removing it, she placed her thumbprint on the pad on the safe. It popped opened. Inside was a leather-bound book. Nothing else.
Clutching the book to her chest, she turned to Zeus. He held up a hand and moved to the door. A crash sounded from the front of the store, making her jump.
“Can you set the cloaking spell from inside?” He crossed the room to her.
“Yes.”
“When I leave, set the spell and don’t open it until I come back.” She frowned, but before she could argue with him, he snapped, “No arguing. You will be safe if he doesn’t know you are here.”
She glanced at the door. “Who?”
Zeus gave her a peck on the lips then stepped toward the door. “Drakon. Now cloak the door and lock yourself in.”
Then he was gone. Her heart thundered in her chest. Fear froze her insides. She did as he commanded. There was no way she could defeat a dragon.
With a heavy sigh, she slammed her palm on the wall next to the door and reset the spell. Then she pressed her back to the door and slid to the floor.
Please, Zeus, come back to me.
Zeus roared as searing pain cut across his back. With his back arched, he willed the gashes from the claw of a dragon to heal. Anger ignited within, more lethal than when he saw the destruction of the small seaside shop bearing Cleo’s name.
He’d known the goddess had made a life for herself while on Earth protecting the Stone of Affliction. The shop was a good cover to help her blend in. Jordan had been a pleasant surprise the night of the fire and the past twenty-four hours.
Hovering in midair, Zeus snarled at the dragon. Drakon. Now Zeus knew how the bastard escaped. “Helena helped you escape. What did you have to promise her in exchange for your short-lived freedom?”
Smoke rolled from the dragon’s nostrils, and a growl rumbled from his throat. “She wants what you stole from her.”
“It was never hers to begin with.” Extending a hand, Zeus conjured a lightning bolt the length of his body. Then threw it at the dragon. Drakon stopped and hovered in the air. His large wings flapped slowly to keep him in place. He drew in a deep breath, then blew out a stream of fire from his mouth and nose. When the fire and lightning collided, an explosion burst in the sky, throwing Zeus to the sandy beach.
Pain ignited in his skull as his head hit the ground. Gritting his teeth and growling, he rolled to his hand and knees, waited for the pain to lessen. For him, it would not take long.
The screech of the dragon overhead pushed Zeus to stand and ignore the pain. Raising his arms straight out to his side, he transformed into a large hawk while conjuring a rope.
He soared up over Drakon’s head, then circled his snout with the rope.
Drakon snapped his teeth, then jerked his head, sending Zeus sailing through the air over the ocean. Shifting back to his human form and conjuring wings, he stopped mid-air, then charged back at the dragon.
The bastard wasn’t getting the stone. Nor was he getting anywhere near Jordan.
Zeus let out another roar, shifted back to his human form, and threw another lightning bolt as a distraction. When the dragon dodged it, Zeus connected his fist with Drakon’s head, putting all of his strength and power behind it. The impact knocked him out of the sky. Drakon howled in pain as he hit the beach.
Zeus didn’t let up. Bolt after bolt hit the dragon, pinning him in the sand. With a wave of the hand, Zeus trapped him in a magical circle. “What does Helena want with the stone?”
It was no secret that Drakon had a vendetta against Zeus. Helena seemed to have one against everyone. She was also crazy and unpredictable. However, it didn’t make sense to Zeus for the witch to go after the stone now. Cleo had been on earth for hundreds of years.
A fierce growl rumbled from the dragon. The ground shook. Zeus was glad he lived on a secluded section of the beach. “To torture you with before I kill you.”
A laugh escaped Zeus. “Try again. Helena doesn’t benefit from killing me.”
Drakon didn’t speak again. He just glared at Zeus and snarled.
“I called my brother to come take you back to Tartarus where you belong.” Zeus had sent a telepathic message to pick up the trash. “You’re lucky I’m taking mercy on you and not killing you. But I need information. There are daemons in Tartarus who could get it for me.”
“The female makes you weak. Showing mercy is not like the Zeus I once knew.” Drakon hissed at Zeus, then breathed fire inside the bubble.
Zeus roared. Power flowed in his veins straight to his palms, forming an energy ball. He threw it at Drakon. The dragon breathed fire at the ball, consuming it.
Then he ripped his wings from the lightning bolts holding him. Right before Zeus’s eyes, the dragon healed himself then, whipped his tail, knocking Zeus on the ground.
Drakon took flight and soared into the air. Escaping.
9
Jordan stretched out on the sofa in the office, reading the journal. She didn’t want to think about what the store looked like. After Zeus locked her in the office, there was a loud crash, like the front of the store was blown off. It’d been quiet since.
That was what? A few hours ago at least.
With nothing else to do, she read the journal. It was more like research notes. About the stone. Wow, she couldn’t believe her mom kept all of this from her.
If only she had told Jordan, maybe she’d still be alive.
A tear rolled down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away. “I will not let your death be in vain.”
A pounding on the wall startled her. She let out a squeak and froze in her spot on the sofa. Several moments went by before she heard Zeus’s voice.
“Open the door, Jordan.”
She scrambled to the door and paused. Even though it sounded like him, it didn’t mean it was. “How do I know it’s not a trick by that witch?”
“Ask me something.”
She smiled, then frowned. What did she ask a god? “What is your least favorite food?”
“Sushi.”
Her heart leapt, and the tension in her muscles eased. She lifted the spell and opened the door. One side of his mouth lifted, and he looped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Hi.”
She hugged him tightly, pressing her ear to his chest. “Hi.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Mom did a lot of research on the stone. She found the original owner.”
He pulled out of the embrace and took her hand. Silently he led her to the front of the store. She could read his emotions, but she picked up on something. Was it nervousness? No. He was Zeus. When they reached the front, he let go of her hand and stepped to the side.
