by S. A. Gibbs
I swallowed, trying to push down the lump in my throat, to hold back tears that were rapidly forming, but my efforts were useless, and they trickled down my cheeks anyway.
COMFORTABLY WRAPPED in a blanket, keeping my damp clothes from damaging the plush leather sofa, Ryle handed me a coffee. I croaked my thanks and then cleared my throat. Above the fireplace’s mantle, mounted to one side in a glass case, was an ornate-handled sai. It seemed strange that its partner was missing. After taking a sip of the hot, creamy brew, I put the cup on the side table and pulled the edges of the blanket back over my lap. “I’m sorry I took your wallet.”
Lucas shrugged. “No harm, no foul.” His easygoing words taunted me.
I should’ve thought myself lucky and left it at that, but I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut. And why the hell did he keep watching me? “Really, is that all you’re going to say?” The ache in my wrist wouldn’t let up.
“All’s fair in love and thievery.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
Soft footsteps caught my attention. I looked up and cringed. Mr. Ooh La La stood there smiling. Jesus. Did they all live here? I hadn’t heard the front door open. Maybe he’d already been in the house.
“Hi, Amberleigh.”
How did he know my name? My stomach swirled with unease. How stupid could I have been to end up in a strange house with three men?
Lucas cleared his throat. “Amberleigh, this is Mitch.”
My mind was abuzz and my voice trembled. “What’s going on?” The quick glances they exchanged made my anxiety soar.
Ryle must have noticed because he leaned forward. “It’s okay. You’re safe here, Amberleigh.”
His words didn’t make me feel any safer. I stood, prepared to barge my way past them and head for the door, when Lucas jumped to his feet. I bit my bottom lip, my eyes darting to the door. But what would he do if I ran?
Ryle leaped from his chair. “You’re scaring the shit out of her, Lucas. Sit down.” Wide-eyed and trembling, I stepped back. Ryle’s voice had changed from soft and soothing to a low growl. The pain throbbing in my wrist wouldn’t stop. I squeezed it, more to calm my shaking than to ease the ache.
Lucas sighed and flopped back in his seat. “I’m sorry, Amberleigh. That wasn’t my intent.”
The tension in the room seemed to fizzle out, but the warm safe feeling I’d felt upon entering the house was gone.
“What’s going on?” I looked at Lucas. “Why did you take my phone?”
He looked away, staring into the fire.
I waited.
Ryle raked a hand through his surfy-blond locks. “He didn’t—”
Lucas held up a hand. “You may as well tell her, Ryle, and be done with this charade. She’s been rubbing her wrist since she arrived. It’s already begun.”
I let go of my arm like a child who’d been caught doing something naughty. My head snapped up. “What?”
“Sit down, Amberleigh.” Mitch’s voice held a soothing tone. “There’s something we need to tell you.”
“No. I want to leave.”
“We need to talk to you first.”
“And then you’ll let me go?”
“We’re not holding you hostage, Amberleigh.” Ryle sighed. “Please, we just need to speak with you.”
Was he almost begging me to stay? “Lucas lured me here by stealing my phone. How do you expect me to react?” An energy surged inside me. A feeling of strength I’d never felt before.
Lucas waggled a finger. “Correction: you lifted my wallet and I stole your phone.”
I faced him. “And how could you know I was going to lift your wallet?”
He flashed me a grin. “I dressed for it.”
“You’re crazy.” I pushed past Mitch and headed for the door.
“Please, Amberleigh. There’s something you need to know.”
I snatched my coat off the rack and spun back to face Ryle. “What!”
“The pain in your wrist is the mark rising. It’s the sign you’re an heir to the underworld. Once it surfaces, your presence will be revealed to Esme, the ruling queen, and she will send her guardians to slaughter you.”
“You’re fucking nuts! I sprained my wrist; that’s why it hurts.” Much to my surprise, none of the guys made a move to stop me. Relieved, I pulled the front door open and stormed out, slamming it behind me.
How the hell did I end up in a house with three psychos?
Chapter 6
Mitch
“What the fuck, Ryle. She thinks you’re a raving lunatic,” I hissed. How could they do this to her?
I glared at Lucas. “After what Ryle did last week, I thought you had more sense. You’ve ruined any chance we had to convince her of the truth.”
I couldn’t stand it. I had to get out of the house. Stripping on the spot, I opened the front door. I morphed into a hound and ran outside. An icy breeze buffeted my thin coat. At least the rain had stopped, and Amberleigh wouldn’t get soaked again.
I didn’t know how we could fix this mess. All I knew was the mark hidden beneath her skin was surfacing, and she would need our protection when Esme sent her thugs.
Keeping to the shadows, I raced down the street to catch up with her. I needed to make sure she arrived home safely. What was Lucas thinking, or even Ryle? She had no knowledge of the place we’d come from. They may as well have slapped her in the face and told her she was Hades’s daughter.
I ducked into a bush when she stopped to rest at a bus stop. The streetlights illuminated her face. Her hair was still damp from the rain earlier that evening, but to me, she was the most desirable woman ever born. Before I’d been changed, there’d been many other women in my life. It’d been the same for Lucas and Ryle, but Hades had bonded her with us; just one drop of her blood placed under each of our tongues had fused our connection, so there was no other woman who could compare to Amberleigh.
I panted, holding back the heat rising inside me.
I hadn’t always longed for her. In the beginning, our reason for existing had been to protect her. She was our glimmer of hope, the chance to return home and set things right, but only she could make the choice. She had to want to be Queen of the Underworld.
I crawled beneath a bush and rested my head on my paws. Now that day might never come, and the thought unnerved me. If she refused her right to the throne, our collar and chain would never return to the underworld. We needed her to place it around our necks so that we could morph into Cerberus, or the three of us might never become one again.
Chapter 7
Amberleigh
Woken by the bright sunlight streaming through my window, I pulled the covers over my head, desperate for some restful sleep. I’d managed to slip into the house late last night without Mrs. Evans spotting me. After a steaming-hot shower, I’d climbed into bed. I couldn’t remember injuring my wrist; all I knew was that it hurt. I’d woken several times during the night. My dreams were tormented by my fantasy psychos, and in each one, I hadn’t fared well.
How could three hot guys be so crazy?
My wrist ached, and I rotated my hand to ease the pain. I flipped back the covers and examined it. What did you expect? A faint yellow bruise marred the inside of my wrist, and I smiled. Finally, a reason for the pain. I snorted a laugh and dragged myself out of bed. I really had to see Jed. Firstly, though, I needed to tell Mrs. Evans why I couldn’t pay the rent.
Dressing in a hurry, I shoved my hair up in a ponytail. I rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a treat for Rumple, then headed for the door. My coat had dried overnight, thanks to the central heating, and I slung it over my arm and headed downstairs. After knocking on Mrs. Evans’s apartment door, I waited a while. Great. I sighed. She wasn’t home. I’d just have to face her later.
The late-morning sunshine warmed my face as I stepped outside. It was heavenly after yesterday’s rain. Twenty minutes later, Rumple was thumping the asphalt with his tail.
I apologized to Je
d for not coming by all week. He took it in his stride, just like everything else.
“I can’t believe they let you go.” Jed shook his head.
“I’m sure Mr. Camden didn’t want to, but under the circumstances, I don’t think he had much choice.”
Jed nodded. “So what ya gonna do now?”
“I’ve an interview Monday, over at Browning and Co. It’s a similar type of job. Hopefully I get it.” I’d have to call them first thing in the morning and check what time. I remembered how Lucas had gently touched my hand, but I shook the thought away.
“Um, could you do me a favor, Amberleigh?”
“Sure.” I was taken aback. Jed had never asked me for anything before.
“Can you take Rumple for a few days?”
“What? What’s wrong? Are you sick?” He didn’t seem sick, but now that I looked more closely, I could tell something was bothering him.
“There’s been a couple of fellas hanging around here the past few nights, and now Hilda’s gone.”
“Do you think something happened to her?”
“I’m not rightly sure.”
Had somebody taken Jed’s friend? “You need to report her missing.”
“It’s probably too soon. I think you have to be missing a good day or so before you can do that.”
Jesus, anything could happen to her in that amount of time. “Jed, come and stay with me.”
“You know I can’t do that. Someone might take our stuff and I’ll lose me spot.”
“Your life is more important than stuff or a spot. Please, come and stay with me. Even if it’s just for a few days.”
He shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
No amount of pleading could change his mind. I glanced back as I led Rumple away. God, I hoped Hilda came back soon.
Chapter 8
Amberleigh
Jed had been right. I left the police station with a list of the city’s shelters and a suggestion to call the hospital. Fat lot of good that would do when you could stay at any shelter anonymously. At least the officer agreed to get the night shift to do extra patrols in the area.
There was nothing else I could do. Rumple and I headed home. He trotted by my side as I briskly walked along. What would Mrs. Evans say when she saw him? She did have a “no pets” policy.
I hoped I could convince her to let him stay for a few days. I really had nowhere else to take him.
When I opened the front gate, the curtain in the ground-floor window moved. Mrs. Evans had probably already seen Rumple. I took a deep breath. Not only could I not pay my rent, but I now had a dog too.
The front door swung inward. My landlady stood there with a frown on her face. Her eyebrows were drawn on a little crooked today. “You know my rules about having pets.”
Jesus. “I know, Mrs. Evans, but there’s no one else who can take him. Please, it’ll only be for a few days.”
The lines on her forehead deepened. She pulled a mint from her pocket and popped it in her mouth. Rumple’s butt hit the ground, and he lifted a paw.
“What’s he doing?”
“He wants to shake hands in exchange for a treat.”
“So he’s trained?” She peered down her nose at Rumple.
“Oh yes, Mrs. Evans.”
“Is he clean?”
Was she coming around? “He doesn’t have fleas. Jed takes good care of him.”
“Your friend on the street?”
I nodded.
She cocked an eyebrow. “It’s only for a few days. Right?”
“Yes, Mrs. Evans. Thank you.” I had to let her know about the rent. “There’s something else I need to talk with you about? Can we go in?”
She walked back inside, and I followed her into her apartment.
Sitting on the couch, she patted the seat next to her. “What’s the problem, dear?”
I couldn’t quite tell if she was just being nosy or if she was genuinely interested. I had no other choice. I had to tell her.
“I’m so sorry that I don’t have all the rent for you yet this month,” I said and explained what happened.
“Dear, sweet girl. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
I shook my head. “No, he just took my money. I was hoping I’d find another job straight away.”
“Well, you have that interview on Monday. So let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
I couldn’t believe she took it so well. I pulled out my phone. Opening the case, I took out the two hundred I’d borrowed from Tracey. Her eyes darted to the money. I knew she needed it. “I can give you this, and I’ll make up the rest as soon as I can.”
“Are you sure?”
I wasn’t sure of anything anymore, but I’d survive. I had before.
She tilted her head at me. “I thought you weren’t hurt?”
“I’m not.”
“That bruise on your arm looks rather painful.”
“It’s nothing.” My sleeve had ridden up, and the green-yellow tinge on my skin was now a dark purple half circle. What the? “It’s nothing.” I jerked my jumper back down.
She frowned at me, her brows locking tight.
“It’s nothing. I must have knocked it.” But I really couldn’t remember.
“If you’re certain, dear.”
I nodded. “I’m sure.” I flashed her a reassuring smile, and I remembered Ryle’s words about the mark.
“Oh, and by the way.” Mrs. Evans picked up an envelope with my name scrawled on the front. “A gentleman caller stopped by and left you this. He was quite dashing. Maybe a new boyfriend?” She waggled her drawn-on eyebrows. Oh my God. She wanted to know about my love life.
I shrugged. “I have no idea, Mrs. Evans.” She passed the letter to me, and I shoved it in my pocket. “Thank you, but I really must be going. Rumple needs feeding, and I have to sort out a bed for him.” I had to get out of there.
“No problems, love. Just remember—it’s only for a few days.”
“I’ll remember, Mrs. Evans, and thank you again.” I stood and Rumple rose, trotting behind me. Closing her door behind us, I leaned against it. A good-looking man. I pulled the envelope out and tore it open.
An apology note from Lucas with his number. How the fuck did he know where I lived? Then I remembered: he would’ve seen my address on my ID card. Damn it!
ONCE I WAS IN MY APARTMENT, I pulled up my sleeve and inspected the purple bruise. It had been a faint yellow mark that morning, but now it was bigger. And it definitely had a half-circle shape to it. Had Ryle been telling the truth? Amberleigh Shade, have you lost your mind? I knew it was ludicrous to even consider his tale, but I couldn’t explain the purple bruising.
Rumple poked me with his wet nose, and I looked down at him. Was he asking me to take him back home? He wasn’t whining. Maybe he was just hungry. I know I was. I didn’t have any dog food, as such. I ruffled the fur on top of his head. “What do you think about spaghetti?”
He sat in the kitchen, wagging his tail while I cooked. The aroma of spicy ragu made my stomach groan. I dished up a plate of pasta and slathered it with sauce. Rumple licked his lips and was obviously hungry. “It’ll be ready once it cools.” I reached down and patted him, and he licked my wrist. Maybe my hands smelled as good as the food. I ran the tap, ready to wash off his slobber. Pulling up my sleeve, I froze. The bruise was now a perfectly shaped black circle with a line crossing the center. My heart pounded. Horrified, I watched the narrow line spread. It inched up my arm. I ripped my sleeve down.
What the fuck was I going to do?
Rumple whined. I grabbed his plate and put it on the floor. Had the guys been telling the truth? I couldn’t afford a cab, and it’d take ages to walk to their house. The letter. I grabbed my phone and rushed to the front door. Pulling it from my coat pocket, I then dialed Lucas’s number.
It chirped twice before he answered. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Lucas. Please, please help me. It’s spreading up my arm.�
��
After reassuring me I wouldn’t die and that he’d be right over, he hung up. How long would it take him to get here? Maybe twenty minutes or so. I didn’t want to look at my arm again. I was terrified enough as it was. I took a deep breath and released it slowly. It’s not going to kill you, Amberleigh. Calm down. I couldn’t stop my heart racing, and taking deep breaths wasn’t working. There was nothing I could do but wait.
Time seemed to drag on forever as I paced back and forth across the lounge room, waiting for Lucas to arrive. Rumple had made himself comfortable on the couch. Jesus, he didn’t have a care in the world. I knew some stuff about the gods from Greek mythology, but weren’t they just a myth? Could the underworld be a real place?
Rumple’s head jerked up, and a deep growl rumbled in his throat. He jumped off the couch and ran up the hall. A rapid knock echoed on my front door, and I hurried to answer it. Yanking open the door, Lucas, Ryle, and Mitch stood there.
“It’s spreading. I don’t what to do.” Rumple snapped at the three men who stood there. “Rumple, stop it!” I hadn’t thought he would be protective.
Lucas held up his hand, and I stopped yelling at the dog. He crouched and then held out his hand to Rumple. His voice came out low and hushed. “It’s okay, boy. We’re not here to fight.” Rumple inched forward, and Lucas continued in the same soothing tone. Rumple licked his hand. Lucas scratched him behind his ears. “Good boy.”
He stood and gently grasped me by the shoulders. “You’re going to be fine, Amberleigh, but we really need to have that talk.” He stepped past me, and I watched Ryle and Mitch do the exact same thing with Rumple. Once he’d licked them, they, too, entered. What was it about Jed’s dog that made them act that way?
Lucas steered me toward the lounge room and sat me on the couch, taking the seat directly next to me.
“What’s happening?” The fear in my voice made him smile.
