“Thanks.” Kaye stood in shock. What had gotten into her? She’d always run away from the ball, and here she was like some all-star volleyball she-devil. It didn’t even feel like her own body hitting the ball, almost as if she surrendered to a higher power and let nature take over. It must have been her desire to win, because she’d never played so hard in her life.
She brushed the sand off her bikini and stomach.
Ares watched her, his gaze lingering a little longer than usual on her body.
Across the court, Bradley glowered as Frank handed over the ball.
“Your serve.” Her cousin narrowed his eyes as if she’d concealed something from him. “Tell Fabio he can’t do the same trick twice. This time we’ll be ready.”
Kaye took the ball. Confidence surged inside her. “His name’s Armin. And we’ll see about that.”
“Who is this Fabio?” Ares whispered in her ear as she got ready to serve.
“Just another handsome hunk with long hair.” She added a wink when she saw his shocked expression.
Kaye counted to three, then tossed the ball in the air, and hit it underhand with her fists. The ball sprang up, heading straight toward Mr. College Champion. Oh great. Here we go.
She braced herself.
Frank hit the ball, and it came zinging through the air in the space between her and Ares. Normally, she’d let the other player handle it, because anyone would be better than her. But today she didn’t feel normal, she felt heroic.
Everything moved in slow motion. Bradley yelled as the ball crossed the net. Then Ares shot her a questioning glance. All at once, she saw the trajectory of the ball and a perpendicular line intercepting it, with exactly how far to jump to spike the ball to the left, where Bradley left a gaping hole in their defense.
“I got it!” Kaye shouted then threw herself into the air. She raised her arm as the ball came at her face and brought her palm down. The feeling of the ball under her skin was so satisfying, she couldn’t understand why she’d hated sports all her life.
The ball rammed down into the ground on the other side of the net.
“Score! Kaye and Armin two, Bradley and Frank zero.” Her mother came over to her, studying her as if she had chickenpox all over her face. “What’s gotten into you, sweetheart? Are you all right?”
“I don’t know.” It wasn’t a lie. Kaye really had no flipping idea why she reigned Queen of Volleyball of all crazy things. “I’m just having a good day.”
“I’ll say.” Her mom squeezed her arm in a rare moment of pride. “You get ’em.”
Her mother’s encouragement emboldened her even more. She served again, sending the ball toward Bradley.
Bradley jumped and hit the ball right back over the net. The ball soared over Ares’ head.
Ares was the closer of the two, so Kaye let him have it. He ran like a gladiator on the battlefield, stretching his toned muscles. Everything was going so well until he tripped on his own feet and took himself down. The ball bounced in the sand a foot away from his head.
“Score! One for Bradly and Frank, two for Kaye and Armin.”
Kaye’s stomach dropped to her feet. She ran over to Ares. “Are you okay?”
Ares blinked, dazed. “What happened?”
“You fell.” She helped him up, brushing sand off his face. Maybe he wasn’t used to beach terrain. Warriors usually fought battles in fields, right?
He shook his head and gritted his teeth. “I failed you.”
“No, you didn’t.” Kaye walked with him back to their positions. “We’re still winning.”
She glanced at her family. Everyone was watching to see how Ares would react.
Anger, embarrassment, frustration crossed his eyes. She had to calm him down fast, before he knocked Bradley out. Kaye ignored everyone and turned to Ares. She placed both hands on either side of his face and kissed him tenderly. He closed his eyes and gave in to the kiss. The tension in his jaw calmed. His lips were hot as fire and hungry for more.
She pulled back before the moment got too awkward.
Ares studied her in confusion. “What was that for?”
“Good luck.” She squeezed his arm, then walked to the net to hand Bradley the ball.
“All those muscles are good for nothing when you can’t run for beans.” Bradley took the ball with a smirk.
Kaye ignored him. Any response would only make him worse. She only hoped, for his sake, Ares hadn’t heard him.
Wait a sec. An idea brightened in her mind. She turned to Ares. “Let me do the running. I’ll send the ball to you, and you pound it as hard as you can.”
He nodded once. “Agreed.”
Bradley and Frank got in two more points, putting them in the winning position before Kaye and Ares won back the serve. They accumulated points quickly with their new tactic. No matter how far the other team hit the ball, Kaye reached it with enough time to plan the trajectory and hit it just right. When she was too far from the net, she hit the ball to Ares, who spiked it so hard and fast, they didn’t have a chance.
It took less than an hour to reach fifteen points and have her mother declare them the winners. Ares picked Kaye up and swung her around as she laughed, the thrill of the win washing over her.
Grammy hooted and hollered. Kaye had a hunch she’d been on their side all along. Her mother ran over and gave her a big hug. Her father held up his can of beer in tribute. Frank rubbed his temples as if he didn’t know what hit him. Bradley sulked beside his wife, who tried to cheer him up. Her kisses fell unnoticed on his cheek.
Ares took Kaye’s arm and brought her close. The intensity in his gaze made her heart quicken. He whispered in her ear, “Tonight we celebrate.”
Kaye froze in shock. What exactly did that mean?
Chapter Eleven
Messenger
“So, what do you think of our new title?” Kaye lounged on a towel spread across the beach and sipped a beer. She glowed positively radiant. Ares had never seen her so happy, and that made him feel more triumphant than any battlefield victory.
“Underhill Volleyball Champions of the Reunion.” He shrugged. “It should be your title alone. You did all the hard work.”
“But you were the strength behind my speed.” Kaye traced a circle on the back of his hand with her fingertip, sending shocks of sensation up his arm. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
In a way, she was right. She’d won her victory with his powers. But, he was glad to have her use them. In fact, it was getting progressively more difficult to think about taking them back. She’d developed the confidence she’d needed all along to face her family. To take away her powers—his powers—would pull the ground out from under her.
How was he going to steal his powers back and live with himself?
Ares sipped his own beer and frowned. Such thoughts needed something much stronger. Budweiser didn’t compare to the hard ale they brewed on Mount Olympus, but his other choice was fruit juice. This imitation would have to do.
People walked by them, strolling on the beach—couples holding hands, young kids with red buckets filled with crabs, a single woman looking for shells. Ares squinted his eyes. Normally his eyesight stretched for miles, but it must have failed him. In the distance, a man wore a helmet with red feathers sprouting from the top. Did mortals wear battle armor on the beach?
He jolted upright. Alarm coursed through his veins along with guilt from a sense of abandoned responsibility. If this had been a dream, he had awakened.
Kaye touched his arm. “Ares, what’s wrong?”
“I must leave you.” He gestured down the beach to where the figure grew ever bigger. “My brother, Apollo, has come.”
“Apollo? What does he want?”
“I am not certain.” Ares stood.
Kaye took his hand. Her joy had turned into worry, and it broke his heart. “Wait a sec. What if something’s wrong? What if he asks you to go home?”
Ares kissed the back of her hand. “I
promise I will return.”
As Ares walked toward his brother, apprehension mounted. Apollo would not visit the mortal world unless something was amiss. His prophetic and healing powers rivaled Ares’ skill with a sword.
As Ares approached him, confusion and denial registered on his brother’s face. He glanced at Ares’ swim trunks with disapproval. “Ares?”
“Yes, brother.” Ares realized he was still holding the beer and placed the can in the sand. “Why have you come?”
“You have been absent of late.” It sounded like an accusation.
Ares glanced back to Kaye. “I’ve been occupied.”
“I see that.” Apollo took his helmet off and held it in the crook of his arm. “Many wonder what has kept you for so long in this…mortal world.” His last two words rang sour, as if this paradise beach was some manner of hell.
Ares shifted on his feet. Could he trust his brother with the news of the curse? “There have been complications.”
Apollo glanced back at Kaye with annoyance. “In the form of a mortal woman?”
The urge to protect her rose within him. Kaye was a beautiful, intelligent, exhilarating woman. Why should he be ashamed of spending time with her? “She has a part in it, yes.”
Apollo put his arm around Ares and turned him away. “This does not sound like you, brother. What happened to your sense of honor, of duty?”
Frustration rose inside him. How dare Apollo question his honor? “You do not understand. I do have a fondness for her, yes, but there is witchery at work. I am not bound to this woman of my own accord.”
Shock crossed his brother’s face. “You mean to tell me you are ruled by love of all things?”
“Not love.” Although Ares wondered if their relationship was the start of it. Would he, could he, fall in love with this woman if he stayed long enough?
“What then, brother?”
Ares sighed, reluctant to seem vulnerable in his brother’s eyes. He’d always been the stronger of the two, even if Apollo was more arrogant. “Brother, I am cursed.”
Disgust and worry crossed Apollo’s face. “Cursed?”
“By Hekate, as revenge for beheading Hectade. That mortal woman has my powers. The only way to reclaim them is for her to fall in love with me.”
“By the gods. How are you going to break this vile curse?”
“I am searching for other means around this…declaration of love. But, I’ve had no progress.”
“You must act quickly.” Apollo’s voice fell to a whisper. “There have been murmurings you will not return. Our father has temporarily appointed me in charge of the army under Athena’s council. Although it is a great promotion, my powers lie in prediction and healing, not warfare.”
Ares ran his hands through his hair. “Hades’ Underworld! I leave for a few days, and everything crumbles around me.”
Apollo glanced at the ocean roaring at their back with suspicion. “That is not all. Poseidon’s waters have been turbulent as of late. Sailors have spotted large shadows in the deep. I believe he plans another attack. I fear, without your leadership…”
Ares placed a hand on his shoulder. “You must remain strong and lead the army in my stead. I will break this curse and return home.”
“What if you fail?”
“I have never failed.” Reality hit Ares like a sword in the gut. He could not fail, even if it meant breaking Kaye’s heart. Too much depended on him. “I will do whatever it takes.”
Apollo nodded as if satisfied. His body became transparent. “Use your time wisely.” A second later, he disappeared.
Ares fell to his knees as the waves lapped around him. Never had he felt more helpless or vulnerable. His kingdom lay threatened, and his arrogant, inexperienced brother was in charge of the army—his army. He could not let Poseidon take advantage of this curse. He knew what he had to do. Kaye’s heart was already in the palm of his hands.
Could he bring himself to break it?
“Hey, you okay?”
Ares glanced up. Kaye had walked over from her place on the beach. She’d wrapped the towel around her waist, leaving the soft skin above her navel bare. He wanted to tell her everything, but his sense of duty held him back. “I am fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” Kaye sat next to him. “Let me guess, he doesn’t like me.”
Ares laughed despite the dire turn of events. “That’s not the problem.”
“But, he doesn’t like me, right?”
She looked so vulnerable, he wanted to scoop her up in his arms. “Apollo doesn’t know you. But that is not his reason for visiting.”
She tossed a rock in the water. The wave covered it, then receded, leaving the rock exactly where it had fallen. “So what’s the bad news, then?”
“My people need me.”
“That’s what I thought.” Kaye played with a string from the towel. “You certainly shouldn’t stay because of me. You’ve already done so much. My family finally thinks I’m capable, and I showed my bratty brother I could do something right.”
“They should see you for who you are.” He reached out and touched a strand of her hair, wishing he could pull her against him on the beach. “A beautiful, intelligent, and passionate woman. You don’t need me to prove that.”
She rolled her eyes. “If only that were the case.”
If only she had more confidence in herself and cared less about what her family thought. Her insecurities made it that much harder to take away his powers and break her heart.
Kaye waved him off. “You’ve done your job and fulfilled your debt. I can tell my family you had to leave for business. If your people need you, go back to them.”
He had not expected such selflessness. He shouldn’t have told her about his brother’s request. Now, she expected him to leave when he could go nowhere. “You are so quick to get rid of me.”
She laughed and brought her hand to her heart, grazing the breasts surging underneath her tight swimsuit “Believe me, I’d like nothing more than for you to stay. But, I refuse to get you in trouble or hold you back for something as silly as this reunion.”
“The reunion is not the reason why I’m here.” He wished he could separate the true reason from his developing feelings. His motives for being there had blurred into an amalgam of desire, duty, and desperation. He certainly would not have gone with her if not for the curse, but now, even if there were no threat to the throne nor any curse, he would have stayed. For her.
Kaye’s mood suddenly grew serious. “Why are you here?”
Ares paused. He would not lie to her. He had to find a way to convince her he wanted to stay for the right reasons. “Because you asked me to come.” There. That was the partial truth.
She glanced down as if she’d wanted a different answer, and he wished he could give her more. She deserved a man who pursued her for her, not because of some ulterior motive. He reminded himself of the threat to the throne. His first duty was to his people and his legion. The only way back to them was through Kaye.
Ares stood and offered his hand. “Come, let’s return to the hotel. We have some celebrating to do, remember?”
Chapter Twelve
Tables Turned
Kaye’s imagination ran wild as she followed Ares back to the hotel. She could think of a few of her own ways to celebrate, and she had even less willpower to resist him than the previous night. He’d helped her win the game of her life and stayed despite his family’s requests. He was doing so much for her; his sacrifices had to be because he wanted to pursue a relationship. What other reason could he possibly have?
So what was holding her back?
They went straight to their room. Kaye’s fingers shook as she swiped the security card through the door. Could she go through with this?
Ares sat on the couch and took off his sandals. He wore the blue Nike t-shirt and orange shorts she’d found at Goodwill. He looked even better in them than she thought he would, his broad biceps pulling against the shirt as th
ough they’d tear the fabric if he flexed.
So manly. So hot.
“Come, sit beside me.” He patted the couch.
Kaye wore her bikini underneath a throw-over beach dress made of fish netting. It was a little skimpier than her normal outfits, but she was feeling more confident and bold than she’d ever felt in her life. She sat beside him, leaving a few inches in between.
He took both her hands in his, and her pulse quickened. “I want to teach you how we celebrate a victory on Mount Olympus.”
Kaye nodded, her interest piqued. “I’d like to learn.”
“Good.” He squeezed her hands. “There’s a song of glory we sing after battles. I’ll sing the first verse, and then we’ll sing it together.”
Kaye’s stomach went from eager anticipation to disbelief along with a tinge of disappointment. Sing? Really? That was it?
He took a deep breath.
“Fortune graces us this night
As the fires of war burn gold and bright
We wash the blood from muddied hands
And celebrate our triumph in these lands.”
His voice was silky and deep, resonating in her gut. Naked sincerity and piety rang in his tone. This was something sacred to him, and he shared the tradition with her. As much as she thought “celebrating” would entail something a little steamier, she had to give this her full effort. He’d done something important for her today, and now it was time for her to do something for him.
Kaye memorized the words then began the song, her voice an octave higher than his. She’d never been a great singer, but she could hold the pitch. His voice complemented hers. With his bass providing support, her high voice sounded sweeter than it ever had before.
She learned the entire song, and they sang it once all together. Singing the words of each verse along with the melancholy cadence in the music summoned a calming tranquility which rolled over her. She thought of all the victories shared by warriors, by soldiers, and even by teammates.
As they sang, they bonded on a different plane than if they’d done anything physical. This went beyond their bodies, to their souls.
The song ended, and their voices tapered away.
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