Hades saw him coming and snickered. “It’s too late. You can’t stop me now.”
Arand threw himself at the god, not caring that the action would probably result in his death. Without Sabrina to bring him hope and fill his heart, he no longer cared. All he wanted was Hades’ death. And if he couldn’t kill him, he wanted the god to at least hurt.
Hades flung his hands outward and discharged two more bolts. They hit him like lightning and flung him back. They should have killed him, but for some unknown reason, he was still alive. He shook them off and charged again. He knew he couldn’t keep this up for long. One or two more strikes would probably incapacitate him enough for the god to finish him off.
Around him, his friends were still fighting. Would they win this time or would it be like last time? Arand couldn’t bear the thought of his comrades, even the traitorous Mordecai, being imprisoned or worse, tortured by Hades.
The god walked toward him, confidence in his every step. Several members of his elite guard, headed by Agmar, followed him. “When will you warriors learn you can’t beat me? Better if you’d joined me.”
Arand growled. He’d never join Hades.
“Hades.” The Lady’s voice carried easily, the purity of it causing even the Dark Lord to pause. “You can walk away now and still save yourself.”
Hades threw back his head, his sinister laughter spilling around them all. Arand shivered with dread and wondered if he had enough strength left to protect the Lady. He struggled to his feet and loped slowly toward her.
“You are nothing.” Hades faced the Lady, scorn in every word. “Weak.”
She tilted her head to one side. “Am I? Your demons are dying while my warriors all live.” Her entire body was glowing as bright as the sun, making it difficult to look at her. “The world has changed, Hades. Yes, there is greed and dark deeds in the world, but it is also filled with groups of people who want to save the planet and the animals. They have made me strong once again.”
Hades scoffed. “You were never as strong as you thought you were.” He ambled toward Arand. “You imprisoned your own warriors.”
“I protected them,” she countered.
Around them, the fighting continued unabated and some of the demons were getting much too close to Sabrina and Tilly. Arand wanted to run back to Sabrina, was torn between being with her and protecting his goddess. The longer the Lady distracted Hades, the more of Arand’s strength was returning to him as he healed.
“Weak,” Hades mocked. “You should destroy your enemy rather than trying to reason with them.”
The Lady inclined her head. “As you wish.”
Thunder shook the ground with the power of an earthquake. It was quickly followed by a flash as bright and powerful as an atomic bomb. Arand closed his eyes and was still blinded by the light. The fighting stopped as everyone paused to assess the latest threat. What had the Lady done?
When Arand opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Zeus, the King of the gods. He seemed larger than life, standing about six and a half feet tall, as he stepped into the clearing like he owned it.
Zeus was followed by his brother Poseidon and about a dozen more of the Greek gods. Arand shifted back to his human form and stood in front of the Lady. He felt more than saw the other warriors surrounding her. He glanced toward Sabrina and frowned when he saw Tilly pumping Sabrina’s chest with her hands. Did that mean she was still alive?
The urge to run to her was great, but if there was a chance Sabrina was alive, Hades had to be dealt with. Otherwise, he would only attack her again. Arand felt as though he was being torn asunder, pulled apart by his love for Sabrina and his love and duty for his Lady.
“What are you doing here?” Hades blustered, obviously shocked by the appearance of his brothers and the other gods.
Zeus ambled forward, radiating sheer power with each step he took. His fingertips brushed against Hades’ demons as he went, and every creature he touched disintegrated, crumbling to dust. “You’ve been busy.” The King of the gods of Olympus inclined his head toward the Lady and the warriors.
Hades shrugged. “Just a little project to keep myself amused.”
“Hmm.” Zeus continued toward his brother. “Is that what this is?” The god’s tone was conversational, but Arand wasn’t fooled by it. “What is this I hear about a plan to take over the world and steal our power?”
The god might seem like he was calm and in control, but Arand could sense the pulsing anger below the surface. Zeus wasn’t exactly known for his compassion and understanding. The god was brutal and swift when meting out justice.
“Imagine my surprise when the Lady of the Beasts, a goddess I thought to be imprisoned in your realm, came to me with an interesting story.” Zeus touched another demon and it crumbled. All the demons took a step back. Some of them even jumped back through the portal to Hell.
“Lies. All lies.” Hades appeared totally relaxed even though many of his demons were dust at his feet. The black portal suddenly snapped shut, cutting off the supply of his demons and the escape route. Hades frowned. “She’s just a little put out with me because I kept her captive for so many years.”
“Truthfully, I’d forgotten all about her until she showed up on my doorstep.” Zeus stood before his brother now, both of them tall and handsome and strong. “But her words disturbed me. I was further disturbed when I visited you.” He shook his head, causing his mane of white hair to shimmer around his shoulders. “You cannot hide your intentions from me. From us.” Zeus raised his arms to encompass all those who had come with him. “You would destroy all of us and strengthen yourself.”
“Not all of you.” Hades smirked at his brother. “You don’t have enough strength to defeat me. You’ve all withdrawn from the world for several thousand years, letting the humans do as they will. Now they worship me.”
“No.” Poseidon stepped forward. “Alone we cannot defeat you, but together…” He let his threat trail off.
Hades frowned. “I am your brother.”
Zeus nodded. “Yes, you are. For that reason alone we won’t kill you, but we will be taking some of your power.”
He raised his arm until his palm was facing Hades. Hades shot up his hands to deflect his brother’s attempt to take what was his.
Arand could have told Zeus it wouldn’t be that easy. A shower of gold sparks shot twelve feet in the air as the two balls of energy met. The two strained against one another, their power building between them. It was as though two walls of energy had slammed together, neither able to budge the other.
The two gods renewed their efforts, sending another burst of sparks showering over them. The demons closest to Hades, including Agmar, were engulfed in the gold energy. They screamed and burst into flames, the flesh melting from their leathery bodies. It was a horrific sight to behold. Still, the two gods battled for supremacy. The other gods began to grumble, getting restless as Zeus was not able to defeat Hades.
Mordecai sidled up to stand beside him. “Go to your woman.”
Arand risked taking his gaze off the battling gods and stared at his former friend, torn between attacking him and embracing him.
As if he knew what Arand was thinking, Mordecai shook his head. “There is little time left, but you can save your woman. Give her your life force. Share your immortality with her. It’s not too late for you.”
Dare he believe Mordecai?
The serpent sneered at him. “Maybe you don’t want her to live. Maybe she was nothing more than a means to an end, someone to fuck after being held prisoner for so many years.”
Arand snarled and shot his arm out. His fist caught the serpent square in the jaw and Mordecai staggered back several steps. His friend rubbed the side of his face and shrugged. “Up to you.”
Breaking formation, Arand raced toward Sabrina, praying he wasn’t making a mistake. He fell to his knees beside Tilly. “Is she still alive?”
Tilly shook her head. “No, but I’m not giving up.” She co
ntinued chest compressions.
Arand’s heart almost shattered, but he took hope from what Mordecai had told him. He was immortal, his body able to repair itself. Could he bring Sabrina back?
“Let me.” He pushed Tilly’s hands aside and placed his own on Sabrina’s chest. He could feel no beat from her heart, no air going into her lungs. He closed his eyes and shut out the rest of the world. The gods could fight among themselves. His only concern now was Sabrina.
She was cold and unresponsive, but that didn’t stop him. He pushed his life force into her, willing her to take it, pleading with her to live.
Sabrina floated just above the clearing, watching the bizarre scene unfold below. She felt light but disoriented. Why was she floating? And why was she no longer in pain?
Zeus and other Greek gods had appeared out of nowhere. The King of the gods and the Lord of the Underworld were currently locked in battle while the other gods and the Lady looked on. Why couldn’t they all go back where they belonged and stop plaguing the world?
She could see everything so clearly from here—the other warriors, all strong and determined, three women she didn’t know. No, that wasn’t quite right. She knew one of them. Kellsie, she’d said her name was Kellsie and that she was with Marko, the bear. She could see Jessica hiding in a tree, peeking through the branches, and gave a snort of laughter. Now her friend really did look like a woodland sprite.
Where was Tilly? As though simply speaking her friend’s name was enough, Sabrina’s awareness was spun around and she could see her friend. Tilly was crying. Bent over Sabrina’s body, she was doing CPR. It was weird to watch her friend work on her unresponsive body.
She was dead. But if she was dead why was she still here? Why was she aware?
Because it’s not your time yet. The soft feminine voice surrounded Sabrina like a warm blanket.
“I don’t understand.”
Your warrior will save you. Will you save him?
As Sabrina watched, Mordecai spoke to Arand. Her wolf punched the other warrior in the jaw and then broke from the crowd and raced toward her, falling on his knees beside her lifeless body.
Will you save him? the voice asked again.
“Yes.” Sabrina spoke aloud even though no one else could hear her. “I’ll save him.”
Arand placed his hands over her chest, just above her heart. What felt like about a thousand volts of energy shot through her, making her entire body jerk. Abruptly, she was yanked from the ether and viciously shoved back into her body. Pain enveloped her and she opened her mouth to scream, but no sound emerged.
Her eyes popped open to see a determined Arand bent over her. “Come back to me,” he commanded.
She heard a male voice yell, “No.” She recognized it as Hades and wondered what was happening. Then something hit Arand hard. His entire body jerked, suspended in midair for what seemed like forever before falling on top of her. Whatever Arand had been doing to her stopped, and Sabrina felt her life draining away from her again.
This wasn’t right, wasn’t fair. Arand deserved to live. She used the last of her strength to wrap her arms around him and hold him to her heart. At least they were together.
“Enough.” The purity and sheer power of the Lady’s voice froze all of them, including the other gods, in their tracks. She raised her hands, palms facing away from her, and aimed them toward Hades. His eyes widened and his lips parted on a silent scream.
Zeus dropped his hands and whirled toward the Lady, arms raised, ready to attack. The warriors moved into position to protect her.
“What are you doing?” the god demanded.
“What you could not.” She slowly lowered her hands. “I have drained much of Hades power. He is still a god, but he is weak. I would not do to him what he did to me. It is up to all of you to keep him contained from now on.”
Zeus squared his shoulders and looked down his nose at her. “You do not tell me what to do.” He looked ready to fight, and all her warriors tensed in anticipation.
“It was merely a suggestion.” The Lady glided forward, flowers and soft grass pushing up through the ground to cushion her every step. “Take your brother and go home, Zeus.”
Poseidon came up behind her, but she ignored him as she continued speaking to the King of the gods. “The world has changed and so have we. There is no need to battle and fight one another.”
Zeus glanced at the warriors and back at the Lady. “You have grown more powerful.” She could see his mind working to find a way to steal her power from her. Would these Greek gods never learn?
“I am no threat to you, as I was no threat to you five thousand years ago. Nature and the animals are my domain, and I am content to be among them. If they die so do the humans and any chance they might worship you again,” she pointed out. Zeus was nothing if not practical. “If Hades had his way, the sons and daughters of man would worship only him until all of you are nothing more than a faint footnote in history, totally defenseless against him.”
Zeus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You speak the truth. You are no threat to me. To us.” He raised his arms to encompass his fellow gods and they all inclined their heads in agreement. The Lady didn’t mind. She understood Zeus needed to save face if he was to leave in peace. She inclined her head slightly in deference.
“Come. Let us take our brother home.” Zeus motioned to two of the other gods.
The Lady thought one of them might have been Ares and the other Apollo. It had been so long and she’d never really paid much attention to them. And she should have. Her warriors were right about that, and they’d paid the price of her arrogance.
She watched and waited as Zeus opened a golden portal of light and stepped through it. The two dragging Hades by his arms entered behind Zeus. She could almost pity Hades. Almost. She hoped he learned from this defeat, but she doubted he would. He would regain power and begin plotting once again. But that would be decades, centuries in the future.
As the last of Hades’ power faded from this realm, the last remaining demon body turned to ash and was swept up by the wind. The demon remains formed a cloud and followed the last of the Greeks through the portal. It closed behind them, leaving her alone in the clearing with her warriors, their women and friends.
“Help me.” The woman’s sorrowful cry reminded the Lady there was yet another chore to take care of. Sabrina’s friend was kneeling beside Arand and his woman, tears rolling down her face.
The Lady hurried to the side of her downed warrior. Arand was draped across Sabrina and she had her arms wrapped around him. Even in death their connection was deep.
“Save them. Please save them.” The plea came not from the woman’s friend, but from Mordecai. Her serpent went down on his knees before her. “Take me if you must, but save Arand.”
She placed her hands on Mordecai’s head, letting her fingers sift through his long, black hair. “Do you still doubt me so much, my warrior?”
His entire body shuddered and he lowered his head, speaking no more.
Sighing, she released him and turned to face all her warriors. The three women who had freed her tiger, bear and wolf from the curse stood beside their mates. “Do the rest of you doubt me?”
Silence greeted her. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there was no blame either, only a sense of anticipation. They were all loyal, her warriors, and she wanted only the best for them.
The Lady moved until she was standing over Arand and Sabrina. She held out her hands and felt immense power shift through her. After so many centuries of being weak, it was an odd but joyous sensation to feel like herself again.
Life-giving energy shifted through her. She was a goddess of creation, able to give life to the animals and the plants. But this was different. She had no dominion in the realm of humans. They had free will. The Lady only prayed that Sabrina would want to come back to be with Arand.
Her wolf stirred. His large body shuddered as the Lady’s life force healed him. He raised his hea
d and stared up at her with tears in his dark eyes. “Save her.”
Although it broke her heart, she shook her head. “I cannot. Only you can save her. Share your life force with her and make her immortal as your brethren have done with their ladies.”
The Lady’s words beat in his brain and fired his heart. “Come back to me, Sabrina,” he whispered. He ruthlessly drove his healing power into her lifeless body. How much could a human body take? He didn’t know and prayed he wasn’t too late. He’d gotten one miracle when she’d revived the first time. Was it too much to expect a second one?
Sabrina had rescued him from his prison, saved him and brought him to life. She’d given freely of her body and her love, standing beside him, protecting him from a vengeful Hades.
She couldn’t be gone. She couldn’t.
Arand howled his sorrow when her body remained unresponsive. It wasn’t working. He was failing her once again.
“Give her a reason to come back,” the Lady instructed.
Arand could sense his fellow warriors around him, encouraging him. He was still shocked by the appearance of Stavros and Phoenix as well as the others. They were a miracle. And Arand needed another.
He leaned down and pressed his lips against Sabrina’s, ignoring how cool they were. He would warm her for the rest of their days if she came back to him. “I love you,” he whispered. Nothing. “I love you.” Louder this time. Still nothing.
Arand grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “I love you,” he yelled. “Come back to me. You must live. I don’t want to live without you.” He choked back the tears that threatened to unman him. “I can’t live without you.”
He heard several women sobbing and felt their despair crushing him. “No. It can’t end like this.” He shook Sabrina again. “I love you.”
Tilly sat across from him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He felt Jessica slide in beside him and gently touch his arm. “It’s too late, Arand. You must let her go.”
He turned on her, bared his teeth and snarled. “Never.”
He lifted Sabrina and held her to his chest, rocking her back and forth. “I need you. You must save me. I am in danger.” He leaned back and her head lolled against his left arm. “Do you hear me,” he yelled. “I am in danger. I need you.” He poured more of his essence into her and felt himself weakening. He didn’t care if it took every last drop of his power to save her.
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