He gave her a long hard look, and a sound of splintering wood told her he’d gripped the door frame a tad too hard, though she didn’t check to confirm. Her stomach tightened when his gaze dropped to her lips, which tingled in response to the heat shimmering in his blue eyes.
But then he stepped back. “You’re right.”
Disappointment mingled with relief as she released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “It won’t happen again.”
“Who were you trying to avoid?”
She tipped her chin. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Too bad.”
She knew the stubborn light in his eyes, his jaw clenched with determination. He’d get it out of her by hook or by crook. “The werewolf responsible for losing me my spring.”
Rather than act triumphant that she’d given in, he narrowed his eyes. “You told me Poseidon was responsible.”
“Yes, but it started with Kaios. He wanted me. I rejected him. To get even, he made a bet with Poseidon that the god would also fail with me. If he lost, Kaios was supposed to bring the god something. I never did find out what. If Kaios won, Poseidon would punish me much more than Kaios ever could.”
She gazed out the window at the lights of the shopping center below the hotel and the cars driving to and from the downtown area. “I should’ve guessed he’d be here. A mating pair like this one doesn’t ever happen according to Marrok and Tala. Having elders like Kaios here to bless the mating with their presence is desired by the weres. Except…I wasn’t aware he was still alive.” They tended to die faster than other immortals given their proclivity toward fighting each other and the world, and she’d avoided everything werewolf since the day her spring had been destroyed. Besides, Kaios was too much of a self-centered megalomaniac to bless a wedding involving two alphas. Not enough focus on him at an event like that.
Castor was silent for so long, she glanced back. Her eyes widened at the expression on his face, a mixture of guilt and tender protectiveness. But that couldn’t be right.
Before she could say anything, he took her face in his hands. “Don’t go.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Don’t go to the mating ceremony. Go home. I’ll deal with things here.”
“That’s silly. What would Marrok and Tala say?”
“When I explain things to them, they’ll understand.”
“No. They need Kaios’s presence as a blessing. As old as he is, that’s a big deal. Don’t tell them. I’m fine.”
“Then I’ll tell them you’re sick or something. I’m not going to put you through facing your own personal demon. Not for me.”
This was why she loved him. Castor Dioskouri was an intrinsically good man, despite being a demigod.
She covered his hands with her own, leaning into the heat of him—a comforting warmth now, like a cozy fire. “I want to help them. I have an idea.”
With a groan he released her face only to pull her into this body and wrap his arms around her. He settled his chin on the top of her head. Leia closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation of being surrounded by him. “You have a good heart, Lyleia Naiad. Why help people you’ve only just met?”
Because they were Castor’s friends, only she couldn’t tell him that. “Because you think they are good people, and their goal of bringing peace to their people is a worthy one.”
He grunted. “What’s your plan?”
She scrunched up her face. “If I told you, you wouldn’t let me do it.”
He moved his hands to her shoulders to lean back and look her in the eyes, frowning. “Which means it’s dangerous.”
“Not necessarily dangerous. More like…”
“Stupid?”
Usually a term like that would earn him a verbal smack down, but he was worried about her, so she’d let it pass. “I’ve been called worse. I’ll be fine.”
Her dry tone usually made him laugh, but not this time. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”
“No. It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to use my powers at all, let alone for the forces of good. I’m not asking you, Cas. I’m telling you. I want to do this.”
“Do you need to be at the mating ceremony for it to work?”
“Maybe not, but it’s better if I am. I need to be close by.”
“Which means you’ll have to come face to face with Kaios.” His lips flattened in a grim line her fingers itched to smooth over.
She resisted. “I’m not worried about him.”
Cas raised a single eyebrow. “That kiss downstairs tells me you’re terrified of him.”
She shifted on her feet. “I just didn’t expect to see him. Now that I know, I’ll be fine.”
He scowled. “There’s that word again. Fine isn’t good enough.”
Castor released her, stalked to the wet bar and got out strong whiskey. If she didn’t know him better, she would say he was furious. No. That idea was ridiculous.
“Are you afraid of him?” He poured a couple of fingers in two glasses, picked them up and crossed the room to her.
She took the glass he offered, took a sip and made a face as the sharp taste of alcohol hit her tongue. “Not really. There’s nothing Kaios can take away from me now. And with my own personal superhero around as a bodyguard, he can’t hurt me.” She tipped back the rest, coughing at the sensation of the fumes burning the hairs out of her nose.
“I’m hardly a superhero.” He muttered the words before he tossed back his own whiskey.
She wondered if he was thinking of his wife’s demise and how he’d been unable to save her. Regardless, he was Leia’s hero. Not that she’d ever tell him. Instead she waved a hand. “I can handle a werewolf. Besides, demigod trumps were every time.”
He choked out a laugh. “Don’t let them hear you say that.”
She dredged up a smile and handed him her glass. “I think I’ll take a nice long bath if you don’t mind.”
As she turned away, he called her name. She looked over her shoulder, eyebrows raised in question. “I won’t let him hurt you tomorrow.”
The unmistakable sincerity in his voice was almost her undoing. “Thanks,” she said around the lump in her throat. She made her escape to the bathroom with more haste than grace. Whiskey was her kryptonite and, after the kiss Castor laid on her downstairs combined with the obvious affection in his gaze just now, she was fighting the urge to wrap her body around his. If she could get through the next few days without making a total idiot of herself—or dying—they’d be home free and could return to normal.
Chapter Eight
Castor stood at the front of the chapel beside Marrok, who appeared as cool as ever while he waited for his bride.
Like the exterior, built in natural stone, the interior of the building was simple, constructed of thick pine logs. Pews carved from matching pine wood stood in rows with a single aisle down the center, a deep red velvet carpet leading up to the altar and pulpit. Floor to ceiling windows at the front revealed an incredible view of the lake, which glittered under the brilliant light of the full moon.
Marrok suddenly gave a low whistle.
“What?”
“Did you see Lyleia before coming here?”
“Yes.”
“Was she dressed for the wedding yet?”
“No.” She’d preferred to come to the ceremony without him, a decision which had bothered him more than it should. She’d muttered something about needing to sit near the back. Whatever that meant. Best guess, she was avoiding the werewolf who’d ruined her identity as a nymph. The only thing keeping him from ripping out the bastard’s neck when they’d been introduced ten minutes earlier was not wanting to ruin his friend’s important day. That, and Leia had warned him not to before he’d left the hotel.
“Let’s just say you’re going to need a very large stick.” Dark laughter lurked in Marrok’s voice.
“Why?”
“To beat off the wolves.”
His frie
nd was obviously enjoying the hilarity of the situation but had to be mistaken. Leia was gorgeous, but she didn’t flaunt her beauty, tending to dress on the conservative side. Besides, he doubted she wanted to call attention to herself with Kaios here.
He scanned the crowds filing in at the back of the chapel. “I don’t see her.”
“Navy dress. Her hair is up.”
Navy sounded right. Conservative. The way his nymph liked to dress.
He caught a flash of blue and the top of her blond hair piled high on her head. Then the tuxedoed man blocking most of her from view stepped aside. What was Marrok talking about? While she looked incredible to him—his body started to heat up at the sight of her like it always did—he harbored feelings for her. Given the way the other ladies were dressed, he doubted Leia had anything to worry about with the wolves.
The dress was long, draping to the floor, the top gathered over her right shoulder. No cleavage showed. A thin slit at her hip showed a sliver of flat belly. Sexy as all hell. But still covered up compared to the skin on display from the lady wolves. Leia appeared classy in a room full of overdone.
She caught his eye and waved. Her lips, painted bright pink, stretched wide in a smile. Castor caught his breath as his stomach clenched in response. Her smile was for him alone. How he knew, he wasn’t entirely sure. His heart hadn’t tripped over itself like this since he’d met his wife. Only this was different, not stronger exactly, but…different. Leia pointed at the back pew, indicating where she intended to sit.
Someone he couldn’t see snagged her attention, though she seemed reluctant to turn away from him, but she did.
Castor inhaled sharply.
The back to the dress was…there was no damn back to the dress. The garment was held in place by a thin strap or two across her shoulders, dipping low to a point above her curvy derriere. Barely above.
“Holy hell.” His body, already charged by the intimate smile she’d graced him with, responded rapidly. He shifted his stance, trying to ease his discomfort. In the meantime, every man around her did a double take. What was she thinking? Luckily, Kaios was already seated up front.
Cas gritted his teeth. “I see what you mean.”
Marrok had the temerity to chuckle. “You’re a lucky man.”
“She’s my assistant.”
“Right.”
Yeah. He didn’t believe it either. Not with how much he wanted her—a desire that went way beyond the physical, he’d realized recently. Her humor, her prickliness, her intelligence all combined to make her the woman she was. A woman he craved with a fierce need.
Unable to leave the front where he stood with Marrok, Castor kept a close eye on Kaios, in case the werewolf discovered Leia’s presence and decided to make trouble. Meanwhile, he gritted his teeth as one after another, men introduced themselves to Leia.
Mine. He had the strangest urge to hurl the claim at them, but she wasn’t his. Yet. Besides, he didn’t behave like an uncouth youth. Ever. This woman was driving him out-of-his-mind crazy.
Leia politely conversed with each potential suitor, sending them away in short order. Eventually she sat, her gaze seeking him again. He chuckled when she rolled her eyes. Those other men had zero chance.
Twenty minutes later, the double doors to the church opened to admit the bride. Beside him, Marrok stilled as the entire church hushed.
Tala was radiant in a form fitting dress that hugged her lithe body to her knees where it flared out. She’d left her chin-length dark blond hair down, her veil framing her lovely face. Every man in the place had to reel their tongues back in.
“You’re a lucky man,” Castor murmured, happily throwing Marrok’s words back in his face.
“I hope so.”
Castor didn’t comment, too busy observing Leia.
Rather than watch the bride, she’d turned, he guessed, to see Marrok’s reaction. Her expression softened, and her gaze slipped to him. Finding Cas staring at her, she yanked her gaze back to the bride, a soft blush lighting her cheeks. She wasn’t indifferent. She couldn’t be.
As Tala neared the front of the chapel, Leia’s gaze once again moved to him, skittered away, returned and stayed. Her aquamarine eyes reeled him, like the moon holding the ocean in its sway.
With a reluctance that surprised him, he shifted to face the front of the chapel, breaking the searing moment of intimacy when he’d rather it go on and on. Thankfully, the ceremony was over in short order—the wedding portion of werewolf matings tended to be brief as everyone wanted to get to the actual mating ceremony. Especially the bride and groom. He sought out Leia, only to find she’d disappeared. Unable to go after her, he kept his expression neutral, searching discretely for a flash of navy. Someone, a woman he assumed, pinched his butt as he followed Marrok and Tala down the aisle. He didn’t bother to discover who. It wasn’t Leia.
Yearning and anticipation hung heavy in the air as the gathering made their way out of the chapel, along the river, and over a wooden bridge that led them into the woods. The pheromones were flying. A werewolf mating was heady stuff. As their lives were linked in the church, in the mating ceremony, so too were their bodies.
The pull of the alphas, the lust, dragged on Castor, but he forced the sensation to the back of his mind, his attention squarely on finding Leia. Perhaps she was afraid of stirring up the nymphs again or getting into it with her nemesis and ruining the mating? A quick check showed him Kaios was still with the group. She couldn’t be in danger off by herself.
Castor might need saving, however, having already refused three women and peeled one off his right side to plaster her against another man more appreciative of her attentions.
Once deep in the woods, the wedding guests stopped, allowing the bride and groom to continue on into the trees alone, to a secret spot Marrok would have prepared ahead of time. There they would mate in private…though rumor had it some couples didn’t wait to be secluded before having their fun.
As the guests stood, the need ramped higher. By now he was hard as a rock, aching in a way he’d never experienced before. Couples paired up and wandered off, a handful not moving far away at all before giving in, unable to resist the need to claim each other that the mating ceremony stirred in their bodies. Not everyone gave into temptation, but many did.
“Are you here with someone?”
Cas glanced down at a hot brunette who’d been poured into her slinky red dress. “Yes. Sorry.”
She gave him a disappointed pout. “I don’t see anyone here.”
“She gets nervous around nature. Don’t worry, we’ll make up for it later.”
She sighed, managing to squeeze her breasts together at the same time, which did nothing for him. “Nature isn’t a thing to fear. It’s a thing to revel in.” She trailed a hand down his arm.
He plucked her hand away. “I’ll be reveling with my date.”
She tossed her hair. “My loss. If you change your mind…”
He wouldn’t be changing his mind. Only one woman would satisfy him.
A rushing noise, similar to the sound of ocean waves, pulled his attention to the river off to his left. He froze when he discovered a wall of water bursting up from the bed of the river below.
“What the—” someone exclaimed behind him.
The forest exploded around them. All of the guests dropped to the ground as the wind whipped the trees into a frenzy. Pine needles rained down, filling the air with their zesty scent. Birds screeched their protest as they abandoned their nests and perches. One of the largest trees groaned a horrible protest as it appeared to uproot, only to be righted by a blast of water.
Several of the guests around him screamed, but none of the chaos approached them, as though they were cocooned in a bubble of protection. Castor got to his feet, and gaped at the awesome display with wonder. Had the prophecy come true?
Then he found her. Leia stood on dry ground at the bottom of the lake near the chapel, though the water didn’t touch her, pushed outward
from her body by an invisible force. He doubted anyone else could see her. Although werewolves had excellent vision at night, Demigods had better, and he’d been searching for her. Eyes glowing an eerie blue, arms raised above her head, she pushed the wall of water higher. A cool mist brushed his face and dampened the fine cloth of his tux.
He knew exactly what she was doing—using her brethren’s fear of her to manifest the signs of the prophecy. If the nymphs wouldn’t help her, she’d force their wrath, which would, in turn, result in a display of nature run amok.
Fear punched through his chest. Surrounding Leia on all sides were ten or twelve nymphs who were clearly furious if their scowls and glowing eyes were anything to go by.
“Leia.” He barely breathed the word, but she turned her attention in his direction, as though called. He started toward her, compelled to help, but halted when she shook her head. Her pale hair swirled around her face, whipped by the winds assailing her.
Nymphs of various kinds—water, air, fire, earth, electricity—pummeled her with the elements they controlled, but none of their efforts touched her. In fact, she pushed away everything they aimed at her, redirecting it over the forest. How she held them off while controlling the water at the same time, he had no idea. She was magnificent in her effortless use of her power.
A glance around him showed he was correct— none of the other guests had discovered her. All were too focused on the forest going wild around them. Kaios was across the field from where Castor stood, which meant the wall of water should block Leia from the werewolf’s view. But the were stood strangely still with an expression akin to fury tightening his features, his lips drawn back in a sneer. Why was he angry though? Castor split his attention between Leia and Kaios, but the man stayed where he was.
The culmination of the mating was nearing. The urge to relieve the need pulsing through him grew to an unbearable ache. He needed to bury himself in the sweet softness of a woman. For hours. His body told him only Leia could assuage the desire riding him hard. Her display of power had him even more turned on. His fear for her safety, and his demigod instinct to protect her, heightened his need even more.
My Paranormal Valentine: A Paranormal Romance Box Set Page 85
