Hades hadn't bothered to establish a treaty with the old King's son in New Atlantis. Forging a new treaty bond was on a very long list of things he needed to get done. If he were honest with himself, Hades might acknowledge that he'd put the treaty off. Not because he intended to start a war with the Atlanteans, far from it, but because he didn't like how the Atlantean people treated him when he began his reign.
His mixed blood had caused more than a few whispers among the royal lines. None attributed directly to King Eros, but dissension was dissension. Whether the Atlanteans and the Phantoms liked it or not, he was his parents' only child, only heir. That meant Half-being or not, sooner or later everyone had to deal with the Dark King.
The severed bond with the Atlanteans was the main reason Hades was having so much trouble now, but it wasn't the only reason. There was the little matter of him having no mate. Phantoms didn't trust mateless leaders. He understood that better than most, but he wasn't going to change his mind. Taylor was right about that, too. He was stubborn.
Hades was determined to remain unattached. He didn't want any child to have to go through what he'd gone through growing up. The constant ridicule and fights had nearly destroyed him. Any child of his would be subjected to the same things or worse. He would not, could not in good conscience do that to his heir, to his child.
Despite his perceived 'handicaps', Hades was a capable Phantom Warrior. Only two things betrayed him from passing for anything other than a Phantom: The fact that he didn't heal as quickly and his mother's blue eyes. That same Atlantean blue stared back at him every time he looked into the image reflector.
Hades walked back into his chamber and pressed a button on the wall. His wardrobe shot opened. He gazed at his clothing, trying to decide what to wear. Normally on Pit nights, he dressed for combat, but for some reason tonight was different.
His mind wandered to Taylor. Had she bathed yet? The thought of her naked body, splashing in the water caused him to tense. Had she danced that way? Dripping, gliding through the water like a Zaronian Goddess. Or had she always performed on dry land? Both would be stunning to see.
He'd had a very special wardrobe put in her room after they'd been introduced. Would she wear the revealing outfit tonight? Or would she balk at the Phantom attire? Given what she did for a living, he hoped she would think nothing of the choice of clothing.
Hades could almost picture Taylor's soft curves filling out the layers of silk to overflowing. She's under your protection. You told her that you took your vow seriously. Hades swallowed hard and grabbed the nearest outfit to him. He tossed the clothes onto the bed, then undressed. His claws ripped through his uniform as he tore it off his body. His hard shaft sprung free from the confines. Hades stroked it once, then released his cock. Tonight he'd either fight in the Pit or he'd find someone willing to fuck.
***
CHAPTER FIVE
Taylor couldn't get over the outfit that Hades had picked out for her. The dark green gauze material barely covered her large breasts and the slits in the skirt stretched all the way up to her hipbone.
She looked as if she'd stepped out of the Arabian Nights' stories. Not that she had anything morally against the clothing. Compared to what she used to wear onstage, the dress was positively demure. But it did seem a little revealing for attending a royal function.
She'd decided that must be what Hades meant by the Pit. It was probably another dining hall of some kind or a gathering place. The name was off-putting, but Taylor knew names could be deceiving.
She stared at her reflection and readjusted the material over her breasts, when she noticed that her nipples were clearly visible through the sheer fabric. She'd pulled her long hair back in a loose braid to avoid accidentally sitting on it.
The swept back style made her normal features appear almost exotic, but now she was second-guessing her choice. If she let her long hair hang loose, she’d be able to maintain a modicum of modesty. The King already thought she was a whore. She didn't want to arrive dressed like one.
Taylor glanced longingly at her jeans and T-shirt lying on the bed, then at her reflection. She barely recognized herself in the gorgeous gown.
She should just change back into her own clothes. She'd be more comfortable that way, but Taylor didn't want to offend her host or his people. The tension between she and Hades was already thicker than it needed to be. One of them had to be the bigger person and given Hades' behavior thus far, Taylor knew it had to be her.
She stared wistfully at her jeans. She'd feel so much better if she had them on. Taylor had taken one step toward the bed, when a knock sounded on the door. Too late to change now. She took a deep breath and studied her appearance one last time, then answered the door.
***
Hades' hand hung in mid-air as the door opened. The breath seemed to rush from his lungs as his gaze landed on the vision in green standing before him. He'd thought Taylor was appealing before, but now she was extraordinary.
The soft fabric cupped her full breasts, before gently curving in at her trim waist. The slits in the skirt played peek-a-boo with her long legs, leaving his mouth dry. She'd put on the matching slippers and pulled her long red hair back, twisting the length into a stylish knot. Hades forgot to move, forgot to breathe—forgot to think.
"I can change." Taylor crossed her arms over her chest, her fingers fluttering nervously over her skin, but not before he caught a glance of her luscious nipples brushing the front of the silky gauze.
Hades swallowed hard. The beast inside of him perked its head up to get a look at her. When he inhaled, Taylor's sweet scent filled his lungs, leaving him winded. A growl rumbled from his chest. Hades clamped down on the noise, wrestling his beast into a stranglehold. He didn't trust it or himself enough to let it go. He was afraid of what might happen if he did.
You're supposed to protect her, remember? He chastised.
"I think I should change clothes." Taylor shifted under his regard and glanced back at the clothing she'd brought from Earth.
"That won't be necessary." Hades' voice croaked as he spoke. "You look stunning."
She gave him a small smile for the compliment, then swallowed hard as her nerves returned.
Drums pounded. The thick base beat vibrated his chest as he stepped aside, so she could leave her room.
"You didn't tell me there would be music." Joy filled her face. Taylor's hips swayed as she shut the door behind her.
Did she even realize what she was doing? Hades didn't think so. He followed the sensual side-to-side movement, mesmerized by the gentle swoosh of fabric and the slight jiggle of the round globes.
Taylor cleared her throat.
Hades tore his gaze away from her lush ass to find her staring at him. "We'd better hurry." It was either that or push her back into her room and ravish her. "We don't want to be late." In truth, the Pit wouldn't start its festivities until he got there. One of the many perks of being King. And at the moment, also one of the disadvantages.
***
He'd bathed since he had left her. Moisture still clung to his damp hair, making it appear darker. Hades had also changed clothes. He was still in black, but his pants were tighter and the collar of his shirt hung loose, giving her tantalizing glimpses of his impressive chest. Taylor hated that every time she looked at him, she had the overwhelming urge to lick him from head to shaft. He was like candy and she'd always had a sweet tooth.
Hades tripped beside her and a slash of red shadowed his cheeks.
Taylor automatically moved to steady him, but he stepped easily out of her reach. She shrugged the odd behavior off as a 'guy thing'. If he was too proud to accept her help, then so be it. Hades might act aloof, but he wasn't totally immune to her charms. She'd busted him staring at her ass. He didn't try to cover what he'd been doing, but he had quickly changed the subject.
The sound of the drums grew louder. The steady boom, boom vibrated her chest and made her want to dance. Not strip, but dance. How long had
it been since she'd gone out dancing for fun? Taylor couldn't remember and that made her sad. She loved music. Loved to dance.
"I didn't realize that there'd be a band," she said. "How long will they play?"
"Not a band." Hades shook his head. "It's the call that summons everyone to the Pit."
"Oh." She heard the disappointment in her voice, but she hoped that Hades hadn't.
A different set of stone doors rose before them. Red gems twinkled from the door handles. Rubies, maybe? Taylor wasn't sure. The only real jewels she'd ever had were diamond earrings and she'd left them when she had fled Sergei. She tried to get a better look at the gems, but the doors swung open, revealing a regiment of towering Phantom guards.
"All hail the Dark King!" one of the guards shouted.
The men responded with, “Hail the Dark King!”
Taylor jumped at the thunderous sound. Rows of carved seats, resembling an amphitheater, fanned out around a caged arena with mud floors. Two men stood nose to nose in the arena dressed in loose black loincloths and leggings. Their chests were bare and their long hair had been tied back away from their faces. Growling, hissing, and snarls emanated from them as they tried to stare each other down.
Taylor tugged on Hades' arm. "This may be a stupid question, but what is going on? I thought the Pit was another place where you dined."
Hades stared at her hand until she slowly released him. Taylor flushed. Did you need permission to touch a King? She hadn't meant to offend him. She took a step back, not that the distance would do her much good if he became Monster Kitty again.
Amusement lit Hades’ eyes, but did not fill his voice when he spoke. "Food will be served, but the Pit is where disagreements are settled."
Taylor's eyes widened. "You mean they're going to fight?" She hoped she was wrong. She'd always hated fighting, whether it was in MMA or boxing. To her the idea of a couple of guys beating the crap out of each other was frankly stupid. Most men in her opinion didn't have the brain cells to spare.
Hades looked at her like she was a child, who’d just been caught running with sharp scissors. "Come." He held out his hand for her to take and led her up several rows to a spot in the middle. Not exactly box seats, but they did give them a good view of everything in the arena.
Yippee! Lucky me.
Once they'd settled into their seats, the stadium filled up around them. It was as if everyone had been waiting for Hades to arrive. He's the King, dummy. Of course they were waiting. She sighed and tugged at her dress.
Taylor didn't think she was fit to be in the company of a royal, not even an unconventional royal. Her whole life had been built around survival. There'd been no time for afternoon teas, etiquette classes, or high society parties. Strippers didn't tend to be invited to the latter. And she couldn't afford the prior, not when her budget meant the difference between rent and buying noodles.
She would never admit it to her sister, but Taylor sometimes wished she'd gone to college like Tabby. Trouble was after their parents died, there'd only been money for one of them to go to school and given Tabby's grades, the choice was obvious.
She leaned over to Hades and whispered, "I think I should go back to my room. I don't really fit in here."
Something dark crossed his face. "Nonsense. You belong here as much as anyone else."
Taylor opened her mouth to protest, but took one look at Hades' expression and changed her mind. She crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to ignore all the curious glances she was receiving from the men around her. A dark-haired beauty stepped into the room. She was the first woman Taylor had seen, though she knew there had to be others, unless breeding on this planet was very different from Earth.
The woman's gaze slid from hers to the King and back again, then she slowly made her way through the crowd. Taylor noticed the men gave the woman a wide berth. She wondered if it had anything to do with the wicked sword strapped to the woman's side. The woman stopped before the King.
"You're Highness." She gave him a slight bow, then took a seat on his right side.
Hades inclined his head in return, then fixed his gaze on the arena below.
"Hi! I'm Taylor." Taylor held out her hand.
The woman stared at Taylor's extended hand. She glanced at Hades, who gave her an almost imperceptible shrug.
"Opal," she said. "I am the King's Righthand." The woman reached out and took Taylor's hand in a punishing grip that made her knuckles crack.
Taylor winced and forced a smile. "Nice to meet you."
The woman didn't respond, instead, she stared at the two men in the arena. "Pitticus is finally going to do it?"
"Looks like," Hades said.
"I didn't think he'd ever make a move," Opal said.
"I, neither." Hades sat back and draped his arms on the ledge behind them.
"This should be good," Opal said.
"Or at least interesting," Hades murmured.
"Fifty credits says Cornelius takes him," Opal said.
Hades arched his brow and smiled. "You underestimate the Blood Clan or perhaps you're overestimating the Claw Clan. Either way, I'll take your bet and your credits when you lose."
Opal's expression spoke of victory, but Hades' face harbored no doubts. If they were going by size alone, the men were fairly evenly matched from what Taylor could see. Each stood a little over six and a half feet like most of the Phantom Warriors. She wasn't sure what Blood Clan and Claw Clan meant, but if it was anything like Scotland, Taylor figured it had to do with family bloodlines.
The warmth of Hades' hand near her back distracted Taylor, though he hadn't actually touched her. She rolled her shoulders and sat forward, but not before catching Hades' mischievous grin. His was playing with her like a cat pawing a terrified mouse. Considering what normally happened to the mouse afterwards, that didn't bode well for her.
Taylor scooted toward the empty seat beside her, but it wasn't nearly far enough. That fact was driven home, when a dark-haired warrior that she recognized instantly approached.
"Hello again," Perseus said.
"Hi." She beamed.
“I believe you’re in my seat,” he said.
“Sorry.” She moved over just enough to allow him to sit down.
Hades frowned at them, then slowly stood. He raised his hands to quiet the crowd. The cacophonous volume dropped to silence. "Let the games begin," he shouted.
The men roared, some quite literally. Perseus louder than most, as his eyes bled red and fur sprouted on his face.
Despite her need for space, Taylor found herself scooting closer to Hades. She was pretty sure that he wouldn't let anything happen to her, since he'd sworn to Linx that he’d protect her. He also seemed to have better control over his Other half. And in a room full of shifters, that counted for a lot.
What was that old saying about the devil you know?
***
Hades didn't think Taylor's brownish-green eyes could get any wider. As it was, they'd almost swallowed her pretty face. So confused, so frightened. She trembled as she took in the crowd around her. Sensing her discomfort, Perseus squeezed her hand and engaged her in conversation. She seemed to relax a little after that and even laughed a couple of times.
Hades didn't blame Taylor for being scared. He blamed himself. He'd done nothing to alleviate her fears. If anything, he'd fanned them so she'd want to keep her distance. He just hadn't anticipated his response to her turning to another warrior for reassurance and protection. The swift gut check was most unwelcome.
If he were being honest with himself, Hades would admit that he still wanted her. Wanted to fuck her so bad that he could almost taste it, but he'd resigned himself to the fact that it wasn't going to happen. That didn't mean he'd allow another warrior to experience what he chose to deny himself.
He glared at Perseus, who was now back in his humanoid form. The warrior seemed oblivious to the threat. He continued flirting with Taylor, trying to distract her from what was happening around
them.
Had Hades not read Taylor's thoughts before she asked to return to her room, he might have taken pity on her and allowed the request. If only to get her away from Perseus. But he had read them, and her thoughts had infuriated him. Even now the beast clawed at Hades' insides. How could she think that she wasn't good enough to sit by his side? Him of all people.
Looking at her, it seemed unfathomable given her full lips, stubborn chin, and lush body. Her long, silky hair alone was a cat’s wet dream. How could she be so insecure? What in Zaron had happened to her on Earth to make her think such a thing? He made a mental note to send Linx a message. Hades needed answers...wanted answers, which was odd in and of itself.
Had she been anyone else, Hades might've worried about deception, but since Taylor had no idea that he could read her thoughts, he'd quickly ruled manipulation out. She truly believed herself to be unworthy. It was a feeling he could relate to. Was that why she'd turned to Perseus?
Perseus leaned over and whispered something in Taylor's ear. She giggled and playfully swatted his arm.
Hades forced his attention back to the Pit, while he fought to get his considerable temper under control. He kept Taylor in his peripheral vision, making sure that Perseus didn't get out of line. At least that's the lie he told himself as jealousy threatened to consume him.
***
The men in the Pit glared at each other one last time, then stepped apart. One stood on one side of the oval cage, while the other stood across from him. The fight started the second they shifted into their Other forms.
The man Opal had called Pitticus sprouted fangs and his skin took on a scaly, silver reptilian sheen. His eyes glowed red and his pupils elongated to narrow slits as he launched himself at Cornelius, landing on his fur-covered back.
Atlantean's Quest 5: The Dark King Page 5
