A Fate for Zeus: Gods of Olympus 8

by Lia Davis

  The sight made her heart swallow and tears form. Everything was fixed. It was like nothing happened.

  She whirled around and threw her arms around him, hugging him close. “Thank you.”

  He lifted her chin with a finger. Swirls of silver danced in his blue eyes. “Let’s go home. I’ll run a hot bath while we go over the notes.”

  A giddy laugh bubbled up inside her. The thought of a relaxing bath sounded like heaven. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure if he meant to be in it with her.

  And why not? They were adults. He was sexy and a…well a god.

  Zeus did intend to be in the bath with her. What a bath it was. The tub was sunken into the floor, or maybe the floor was raised to make it look like it was sunken. It was big enough for six people.

  He wasn’t shy about stripping down. Then again, he had nothing to be ashamed of. Every ripped muscle rolled and flexed as if they were taunting her or daring her to touch.

  Jordan, on the other hand, was not so confident. She gave him her back as she undressed. He moved past her to test the water.

  “Modesty is a human fault.” He stood and faced her, naked as the day he was born...or created? “You shouldn’t hide your beauty.”

  Her cheeks heated, and she sat on the edge of the tub, not bothering to hide her nudity. After all, they had sex. She was also drunk on desire and passion at the time.

  Dipping her toes in, she sighed. The water was warmer than she usually had it but not too hot. She slid into the water.

  Zeus followed suit, then held out a hand to her. “Come here.”

  After a brief hesitation, she scooted closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to sit between his thighs with her back to his chest.

  The moonstone around her neck warmed, bringing her thoughts back to Helena and Drakon and the stone. “Helena stole the stone from a harpy, who was the first guardian according to Mom’s notes, the stone holds the souls of the harpy elders.”

  “Which explains why it’s called the Stone of Affliction. The person who possesses the stone could release the harpy spirits.” Zeus dipped a washcloth into the water, then squeezed it over her shoulder.

  “And direct the spirits to afflict pain and destruction on the world.” Jordan thought about it some more. “That’s why it can’t be destroyed. The spirits would be let out to wreak havoc wherever they please.”

  She couldn’t allow that to happen.

  “The stone needs to be given to the harpies to protect.” Zeus’s tone was low and void of emotion.

  Jordan nodded. “How will we do that? Wouldn’t Helena go after them to get it? Plus aren’t living harpies just as vicious as the ones in the stone?”

  He tilted his head and stared at her as if thinking about her question. Did he not know? After a brief silence, he said, “They are, but my guess is the spirits trapped inside the stone want revenge. The ones alive want to be left alone. I’ll send word to the clan council. They will know what to do.”

  She hoped so. She wanted the whole thing behind her. To get on with life.

  Zeus kissed her shoulder. Warmth traveled through her and a groan escaped from her throat.

  He slid his hand around her waist and further. Desire, mixed with nervousness swirled in her belly. Yet, she trusted him. Somehow, in the short few days she’d known him, he’d wiggled his way into her heart.

  She’d learned not to question things that were fated. This…them felt too good to be anything but fate.

  Pleasure rolled inside her, igniting every inch of her as he rubbed her clit. She rocked her hips in motion with him. When he slipped two fingers inside her, she gasped and dropped her head back on his shoulder. Tingles exploded along her skin, making her sensitive to every touch. Pleasure built and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on.

  “Let go, Jordan.” His husky whisper was her undoing.

  Her orgasm slammed into her, and her body jerked as the pleasure released within.

  Zeus picked her up and turned her so she straddled him. The blue in his eyes darkened, then shimmered. He was beautiful and handsome and all hers. At least for the night. She was going to take advantage of it.

  Leaning in, she kissed him, thrusting her tongue past his lips. He groaned and gripped her hips. Slowly he lowered her onto his cock. Pleasure ignited again the deeper he went. He was killing her with the pace.

  Unable to take it anymore, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, taking him fully inside her. They moaned at the same time as she rode him, intensifying the feeling all the more.

  He broke the kiss and nipped at her throat as he thrust inside her, drawing another gasp from her. She fisted his hair and moved with him. Pleasure raced through her veins and straight to her core, building.

  His body tensed just as she fell over the edge of another release. His orgasm followed.

  After the last shudders left their bodies, Zeus teleported them to his bed, dried and clothed. She gaped at him, not used to the free use of magic. She had concealed hers all her life.

  He cuddled her next to him, so her head rested on his chest. She snuggled into him. Her heart swelled. It was Zeus’s fault. He made it easy to fall in love with him.

  “Go to sleep.” He massaged her scalp and kissed her forehead.

  She nodded and closed her eyes, finally letting the exhaustion she’d felt the past few days take her.

  10

  Jordan stood on the balcony for about ten minutes watching Zeus sitting on the sand. She wasn’t sure why he was there or why she hadn’t joined him. The night before was complete blitz and her body still hummed. His scent clung to her.

  She was falling for the god. What did that mean? Where would they be after Helena and Drakon were taken care of and the stone was returned to the harpies?

  Dread knotted up in her chest. She didn’t want to be left alone and broken-hearted.

  Straightening her spine, she slipped on her flats and made her way down to the beach. When she reached Zeus, she sat beside him and took in the beautiful sight of the ocean.

  “How long have you been awake?” Zeus asked while staring out at the waves crashing on the shore.

  “A little while.”

  “Watching me from the balcony.”

  She faced him and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “If you knew how long why did you ask?”

  He shrugged, and she frowned. Something was wrong. He was being too serious. As if sensing her awareness of his mood, he linked his fingers with hers. “I can’t let you go after this is over. Yet, I can’t stay here either.”

  Oh. An ache formed in her chest and gut. She’d have to go with him. “Is it possible for me to go with you?”

  He swung his head to stare at her. Then his lips lifted in the corners. “You’d come? Leave earth to live in Olympus?”

  “I think so. I mean we could come back to visit Angie, Jeff, and the kids, right?”

  Too fast for her to track, he tackled her to the sand and rolled so she laid on top of him. “Of course. We could keep the beach house. It’ll be our vacation home.”

  She kissed him quick. “I like that idea.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and rolled to hover over her. “Good.”

  His kiss was soft at first, then he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, and she groaned. Need rose up within her. She wanted him like he was her new addiction.

  He broke the kiss and nipped his way down her jaw to her neck. Tingles raced under her skin and desire burned in her belly. Other parts of her pulsed, begging for attention.

  She couldn’t let him go. She was falling in love.

  Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled him closer and cursed the clothes between them.

  “Why are you out here in your nightgown?”

  She laughed at the growl in his tone. “I wanted to see you. Plus, I’m not cold when I’m with you.”

  He slid his hand up her thigh and under her short nightgown. Flutters of a million butt
erflies went off in her belly. She cupped his cheek with one hand and wrapped the other arm around his neck. Their tongues danced, sending wave after wave of pleasure crashing over her.

  She opened her eyes as a shadow fell over them, then Zeus was yanked away from her and thrown in the air. What the hell? Jordan sat up and found herself staring into the eyes of a dragon. A screamed ripped from her, and she tried to crawl away. She didn’t get far before the beast’s large claw encircled her, squeezing.

  He spread his wings and flapped.

  Panic gripped her throat. Her screams got stuck. As the dragon rose in the air, she spotted Zeus. Relief flooded her when he stood. He was okay, pissed but alive. Zeus shouted her name. She tried to pry the claw open, but she wasn’t strong enough.

  She’d die before handing the pendant over to Drakon and the witch. Reality hit her in the gut. That was exactly what she was about to do. And they’d still get the stone.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at Zeus’s form growing smaller.

  “I love you, Zeus.”

  Zeus roared. The earth shook under his feet from his anger.

  Drakon had slipped past Zeus’s senses and wards and stolen Jordan. The dragon would pay.

  He jumped in the air, but before he could shift into a hawk, he was knocked back down. The air whooshed out of his lungs when his back slammed against the ground.

  Helena stood over him. Her long fiery red hair blew in the wind and contrasted against her black floor-length gown and cloak. Her dark crimson eyes glared down at him. “We finally meet again.”

  He started to sit up but she held a hand out, her palm facing him, and his muscles froze. She’s done something to him. Impossible. No one had power over him.

  Then how could this witch?

  Opening her other hand, she revealed a palm-size onyx. “This allows me to control a god. I can will you to do anything, tell me anything. Today, I wish you to sleep.”

  No! That wasn’t possible. He fought dizziness and pushed against the magic holding him in place. No luck. The harder he tried, the more tired he became.

  “It’s worse when you fight.” Helena laughed and dematerialized.

  He fell back against the sand and stared at the sky. The only one he could think to help him was the only one who could hurt him.

  Hera.

  She’d save him. Sure. But would she go after Jordan after learning he loved her?

  11

  Jordan paced the shore of a deserted island, fury and worry building inside her. The dragon who kidnapped her stood a few feet away looming down over her. Every few minutes she glared at the beast, debated on willing him out of existence.

  Her hesitation on using her powers was because she wasn’t sure of the outcome. Sentencing someone to die went against her nature. So, for now, she glared at him.

  The bastard was either a coward or stupid. Probably both.

  He dropped her on the beach and just watched her like he was waiting for someone.

  “Zeus will find me.” She hoped he would, soon.

  She fingered the stone around her neck. It warmed under her touch. The thought of releasing the harpies inside tempted her, although she wasn’t sure how it worked. Did she simply command them to do her bidding? Or was it like opening Pandora’s box and unleashing something no one could control.

  Think, damn it.

  A shimmer from beside her had her whirl around to face the dragon. He transformed into his human self and stalked toward her. Even though she met him at the restaurant, he seemed different. His white-blond hair was longer, reaching his waist. His eyes were that of his dragon—brown with gold flecks.

  He smiled. “Nice to see you again, Jordan. I wouldn’t worry about Zeus. Helena is taking care of him.”

  He’s lying. She shook her head and stepped back. “I won’t give you the stone willingly no matter what you do to me.”

  “I couldn’t hurt my own daughter.” He stopped and studied her.

  “What?” She took another step back. Every part of her shook. He was her father? No. He was lying. He’d say anything to get what he wanted. “I don’t believe you.”

  He circled her with slow, steady steps. She turned with him, not wanting to release him from her sight. “I bet she told you I was dead. That’s what she told me. That she lost the baby. It was why she volunteered to come to Earthside and guard the stone, after all. To hide you from me. She knew I’d break out of Tartarus eventually and come for her.”

  Jordan’s heart hammered, and the pit of her stomach burned with dread. Her intuition told her he spoke the truth. Her heart didn’t want to believe it. “I’m sure she had her reasons. I can’t seem to think of one.”

  She couldn’t keep the sarcastic comment in anymore. The dragon was making her dizzy and pissing her off.

  Where the hell was Zeus?

  Drakon stopped in front of her. Smoke rolled from his nostrils, which was freaky looking considering he was in human form. “I loved Cleo. We could have ruled Olympus and the humans together. But she was too good to steal the stone. Too loyal to Zeus.”

  “If you loved her so much why kill her?” Jordan’s vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.

  “My temper got the better of me.” He began circling again. “I begged her to give it another chance. Tried to make her see what we could have once the gods were taken care of. She refused and told me she had a life. We fought, and my firepower consumed me, and I lashed out. By that time, it was too late. Cleo had transferred her powers to the stone, made herself mortal. By doing so, she made it where only her blood descendant can possess the stone. I could only wait for her to gift it to you.”

  “Someone else was with you.”

  “Helena. She’s the one who kept me from killing you as well. She said the stone would need to bond with you before we could take it back. The stone would be too unstable in the state it was in.” He was standing inches from Jordan then. He glanced at the stone, then reached out.

  As soon as his hand got close to the pendant, magic stirred within her and the stone heated. Suddenly, a dark blue smoky hand reached out of it and slashed at Drakon. Then light exploded between them. Drakon was thrust backward several yards, while Jordan was knocked on her ass.

  Holy fuck. What was that?

  A growl rumbled in the air, and the ground shook. Drakon stood and pierced her with a stare. His upper lip curled right before he charged toward her.

  Out of nowhere a circle formed around her, then a woman dressed in black with hair the color as dark as night materialized inside the circle with her. Around her neck was a pendant with the same symbol on the note the witch left for Angie, threatening Jordan’s family.

  Jordan stepped back from the woman, glaring and wishing she could shoot fire at the witch. “Helena, I guess.”

  “In the flesh.”

  Drakon slammed his fists into circle's outer wall, then yelled at Helena. “Kill the bitch.”

  Helena rolled her eyes. “He’s not very good at controlling his temper. That’s why he was caught and sent to Tartarus to begin with. Now, I’m much more in control over my emotions. However, I’m not very patient.” She held out her hand. “Give me the stone.”

  Jordan stared at her and raised her hand to the clasp on the chain. Wait. What was she doing? Shaking her head, Jordan averted her gaze and moved to the other side of the circle. The witch was trying to trance her. “Oh, no you don’t. I won’t give it to Daddy-o, and I am definitely not giving it to you.”

  Helena’s crimson eyes brightened as she advanced closer. Jordan stood her ground. She was going to die today anyway, and she’d do it protecting the stone.

  “You will give me the stone.” Helena tried again to trance her into doing what she willed.

  Jordan shook it off, laughing because she realized why Helena couldn’t control her. “You can’t will a goddess of fate into doing what you want.” Anger flashed in the witch’s gaze along with a hint of surprise. “Oh, you didn’t know? I was
sure Drakon had told you.”

  “I see there is only one way to finish this.” Helena lifted a hand and curled her fingers, slowly closing her fist.

  Jordan’s throat closed, and the tighter Helena’s fist got, the harder it was for Jordan to breathe. She fell to the ground and clawed at her throat.

  Helena stood over her, a wicked smirk on her face. “Zeus died calling your name. That’s so sweet.”

  No. She was lying. But she had done something to him. Jordan’s brain raced with thoughts of what the witch could do. The one that pissed Jordan off the most was the bitch touched him. Plus, she had threatened her cousins.

  A fierce growl ripped from Jordan’s throat, breaking the hold Helena had on her. She sucked in a breath on a gasp, then coughed. Something unraveled in her soul. A part of her she’d never known uncurled, and woke from its slumber. The part of her she’d gotten from her father.

  She too was a dragon. That must have been what her mother hid from her.

  A smile curved her lips, and she stood. Easy dragon girl, we want to be prepared. The human part of Jordan wanted to tear Helena apart. Or maybe that was the dragon.

  “You will not touch Zeus, again. Nor will you threaten any of my family. You will not harm anyone—god, human, or animal—ever again.” Jordan prowled closer to the witch. Helena widened her gaze as if sensing the power flowing through Jordan. With a finger, Jordan jabbed it into Helena’s chest. “You will spend the rest of your days always hungry but never satisfied, in the fiery pits of Tartarus.”

  Power crackled in the air. The circle around them fell away, and Helena vanished.

  Behind where the witch was, stood Zeus, wide-eyed. Either he was in awe or shock, Jordan couldn’t tell.

  She rushed to him, then skidded to a halt and screamed, “Behind you!”

  He turned at the same time Drakon hit him with a large boulder. Zeus sank to the ground, and Drakon bounced, pinning him to the ground and holding a dagger to his throat.

  The Blade of Ruin.