“Mia! I can hear you in there, you fucking cunt!” screamed Hagne. “Get out here!”
Jesus. Hagne. Now she worked for Talia and there would be nothing to hold her back from hurting me in the worst way possible.
“We need more time,” Teddi whispered, trying to calm Arch.
I looked at Teddi and my baby cradled in her arms. I had to do something. But what? The ink drying on that paper was our only hope, but it had taken King twenty minutes or more to die.
I slid the paper into my safe and locked it. At least it couldn’t be destroyed.
“Mia, hurry. Think of something. Do you have a gun or—or anything?”
“No.” I hadn’t wanted them around the house. Only the Spiros were allowed to carry weapons. King’s insistence.
My mind spun faster and faster.
Then the doorjamb splintered as they rammed inside.
Time’s up.
“Who’s the little bitch now, huh, Mia?” Hagne watched with a wide smile in her hateful blue eyes from the corner of my bedroom as a group of armed men dragged us out. There were no words when I had to step over Ypirétria’s body lying facedown in a pool of blood in the hallway. They’d shot her in the back.
I couldn’t bear to look. I’m going to lose it. Just…fucking lose it. Ypirétria hadn’t been a threat to anyone. She was an old woman who loved children and cooking. Motherfuckers.
Fearing for Arch’s, my, and Teddi’s lives, I had to keep my mouth shut and say nothing to provoke Hagne.
The men took us outside, where Arno and two other Spiros men lay dead in the driveway next to a black van. They died trying to protect us, and it wrenched my heart.
Twenty minutes for the ink to work. That’s all we need. And this island, likely unbeknownst to 10 Club, was filled with Spiros. All loyal to me. They would be coming after them.
Once inside the van, seated on the floor in the back with one of the men pointing a gun at us, I began counting in my head as the minutes passed. It would take us ten or fifteen minutes to get to King’s house. Then I would need to stall for time. If it came down to it, I would run or make a scene or do anything I could to drag out the minutes and allow Arch and Teddi to live.
I looked at Teddi’s puffy eyes. She still held a screaming Arch, who was not at all happy.
From the passenger seat, Hagne turned around. “Shut that little fucker up, Mia. Or I’ll have them put a bullet in his head.”
White-hot rage dotted my vision. Yes, I doubted she’d kill Arch—he was too valuable—but the threat was enough to set me off. Still, I had to stay calm.
I cleared my throat. “He’s King’s son. He’s not a fan of following instructions.”
Hagne cackled. “Yes. Well, I’m sure it will only add to his value when we auction him off tonight.”
“You can’t do that, Hagne,” I growled.
“If you haven’t noticed, I can do anything I like. King is no longer in charge, Mia.”
“He might come back. And then what happens?” I asked.
She laughed toward the ceiling of the van and the lights of a passing car caught the highlights of her golden hair. Hair so much like mine. It fucking chaffed me that he’d chosen a body that looked like mine. Like some evil twin.
“King is not coming back. Not this time. Talia is delusional,” she scoffed.
“Don’t be so sure. He’s returned from worse.”
She turned and looked at me again. “Really? Then why have his wards weakened? It’s because he’s gone. Gone gone. Whatever was left of that soul of his crossed over.” She turned back around and faced the road. “Evil bastard. Good riddance.”
I wanted to tell her to shut the hell up, that all this was her fault. She’d been the one who started the issues with King and the Seers so many thousands of years ago. It had been her greedy, selfish black heart.
I hope you rot in fucking hell, Hagne.
When we pulled up to King’s historic hillside home, there was in fact a very large party in full swing. People in expensive evening wear—ball gowns, tuxedos, and expensive-looking jewelry—congregated outside. Great. It’s the evil Oscars.
The men escorted Teddi and me inside. We still wore our pajamas and looked like hell from grieving all day. The people smirked and laughed as they made way to let us inside.
“Take them out back. I’ll go get Talia.” Hagne disappeared into the gawking crowd. So many faces seemed familiar, but my mind stayed focused on counting down the minutes.
“Fourteen,” I said to Teddi, who walked slowly, her face lacking any emotion.
She handed me Arch. “It will work. It has to.”
The men took us outside to a large terrace with tables, white linens, and candles. It looked like a goddamned wedding. Only it was three in the morning and we were about to be sold off or tortured or something. Not very wedding-like entertainment.
The men walked us over to an elevated arbor and made us stand facing the guests, who now congregated around us.
“My dear guests! Can I get everyone’s attention, please?” Talia strolled outside wearing a tight green dress. She wore her brown hair in a twist and had on a ton of makeup. She looked like a hooker.
She stood in front of the crowd with her back to us. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, as new president of 10 Club, it is my honor to present to you the two individuals responsible for the death of King, a beloved member of our esteemed group.”
What a sham. They loved no one. They cared for no one. And he’d been way more than a simple member.
I glanced at Teddi nervously. We had to be coming up on twenty minutes, but everyone looked fine. Better than fine.
Talia continued, “So in accordance with the rules of 10 Club, King’s possessions now belong to his wife.”
The crowd booed and gave the thumbs-down.
Where the hell is she going with this?
“Now, now,” Talia laughed, “but we all know that it does not end there. As his wife, Mia here is responsible for his debts.” She turned to me. “So, Mia, are you prepared to settle King’s unpaid debts?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well,” she smiled, “King has to pay his dues like anyone else and I’m afraid his membership came up for renewal last week.”
This is ridiculous.
“Oh no,” she said, “from the look on your face, I’m guessing you don’t have a billion dollars handy.” She made a pouty face. “Such a shame because that means you and your possessions, including your little baby, are now property of 10 Club.” She turned back to the crowd. “Looks like we’ll be having an auction tonight, people!”
The crowd applauded.
Hagne’s face, toward the front of the crowd, beamed with joy. “I offer two million for the baby!”
“What?” I stepped back, only to feel the cold barrel of a gun pointed at my back. “No. You can’t fucking have him.” I looked at Teddi.
“It’s been twenty minutes, Mia. Why hasn’t it worked?” she said.
“I don’t know!”
Talia raised her voice over the rumble of the excited guests. “We have two million! Do we have three? I understand the child has Seer blood.”
“Five million!” another man barked out.
No. No. Fuck no. I would not let them auction off my son like a goddamned mystical cow. I would not let this happen.
“Five million going once. Going twice.”
“Ten million!” Hagne barked out. Where the hell did she get that kind of money? Probably evil King gave it to her.
“Ten. We have ten. Anyone else?”
The crowd remained silent.
“Sold!” Talia screamed and pointed at Hagne.
The man behind me came around and started trying to pry Arch from my arms. “Get the fuck away from me.”
Arch cried hysterically and Teddi jumped in, trying to help.
Just then, we heard a scream off in the distance. Then another.
I didn’t know if by some mir
acle the ink had worked or the Spiros had come to help us, but I took Teddi’s hand. “Run!”
We darted through the worried-looking crowd, who paid us no attention. We were nothing to them and certainly no threat. But people like these had tons of enemies, though most were each other.
We pushed past more party guests and made our way into King’s study. I locked the door behind us.
“Fuck, Mia! What’s happening?” Teddi panted.
More screams echoed through the home and outside toward the front. “It could be the Spiros or the ink or…someone attacking the guests. I don’t know.”
We suddenly heard a grunt and thud against the wall, like two people fighting just outside the door.
“Get the fuck off me!” we heard Hagne roar.
“Where are they?” a man grumbled.
“Dead. Like you,” Hagne barked.
A crunching sound, followed by a low gurgle, made my skin crawl. Whoever he’d been, Hagne had just taken him out. At least, that was my best guess.
“Is it the Spiros? It has to be, right?” Teddi whispered frantically.
“I’m not sure, but yes. Yes, it’s probably them.” Still, it didn’t sound like they were winning. “And I don’t think the ink worked.” Hagne would be dead by now.
“They won, Mia. They won.” Teddi placed her hands over her stomach protectively. “People like us can’t stop them. We’re too weak.”
“We’ll find another way.” Because giving up wasn’t an option.
I squinted, my eyes tearing like hell and my body shaking like an adrenaline-pumped leaf. We had to get somewhere safe. Safe and away from 10 Club. Somewhere they couldn’t find us. Because they would never stop hunting us. We’d never be safe as long as they were alive.
“Mia!” Teddi barked.
I opened my eyes. Teddi stared at my stomach. I glanced down and saw a light. Instinctually, I reached out and grabbed Teddi’s hand.
“Mia? Mia? Wake up, Mia. Where the fuck are we?” Teddi’s sweet voice echoed in the back of my mind, but felt unreachable.
I cracked open my lids to find her green eyes hovering over me. The sound of crashing waves and men’s voices yelling off in the distance sieved into my ears.
“Mia?” She slapped my cheek hard.
“Ow.” I groaned, putting my hand over the stinging skin. “Teddi?”
“Mia.” Her nostrils flared. “Please tell me you know what the hell is going on.”
Slowly, I sat up, feeling the gritty sand sticking to my arms. I had Arch clutched to my chest, wailing. I looked around at the pristine white sand, the hot sun above, and the shirtless men with swords drawn and charging toward us.
I let out something that was between a sigh of relief and nervous sobs.
“Mia?” Teddi shrieked.
“It’s okay, Teddi. Just stay calm. We’ll be okay.”
She stared at me like I’d lost my fucking marbles as the men came up on us.
I kissed the top of Arch’s head and closed my eyes. “We’re safe now,” I whispered. “I promise. We’re safe.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The men, who’d never seen a woman with blonde hair, pajama bottoms, T-shirts, or Arch’s diapers and onesie, led us toward the temples I’d seen only a few times but dreamt of on a hundred occasions. They were rectangular with high ceilings and stone pillars, painted in elaborate blue and red murals depicting people fishing or offering grains and fruit to the gods.
“Just stay calm,” I assured Teddi, whose sheet-white face was covered in sweat. Her brown hair had sand stuck to it, and her clothes were wet with salt water on one side. She must’ve “landed” in the water. I was sure I didn’t look so hot either in my pink PJs.
“What’s happening?” she hissed.
“I think it was the baby.” I pressed my hand to my stomach. “She helped us.” Or something like that. I didn’t really know much other than she was powerful and her blood ran through mine.
“Move it.” A man with a sword pushed me up the stone steps of the temple, through the main doorway, and placed us behind a crowd of people dressed in everything from rags to neatly pleated gowns or skirts for the men.
“Mia,” Teddi whispered, staring at the stunning, shirtless figure with long black hair and a short dark beard seated on a low platform ahead of us, “please tell me we’re dreaming.”
“We’re not.”
Being taller than the people in front of us, our voices caught his attention immediately.
Blue, blue eyes locked onto my face.
“Dear God. That’s King, isn’t it?” Teddi mumbled.
I nodded, soaking him in. King. Alive. My heart accelerated to hummingbird speed. “Just stay calm.”
“For fuck’s sake, Mia, what have you done?”
I turned to Teddi, trying to calm poor little Arch, who now roared and hiccupped, snot and tears flying everywhere. “Mack is here, too, Teddi. They both are.”
She covered her mouth and then dropped to her hands and knees and threw up. From the corner of my eye, I saw King storming toward us, pushing the crowd to the sides. I watched with bated breath as he stopped just a few feet away. I never thought I’d see him again, and it took everything I had not to throw my arms around him and weep. Or drop to my knees and barf in hysterics like Teddi.
“Who are you? And what in the gods’ names are you doing on our island?”
I took a deep breath and stared up at him. Oh, hell. I threw my arm around him, sandwiching Arch between us. He smelled so good—sweet and citrusy mixed with exotic herbs. “I missed you so much.”
King pushed us away and stared into my eyes with confusion. He then looked at the screaming baby in my arms and at me again. “Who are you?”
I composed myself as best as I could. “My name is Mia, and this is Archon.” I placed my hand on my stomach. “And she is Ariadna. We’ve come a long, long way to see you again.”
He scratched the back of his head, frowning at my face like he knew us but wasn’t sure from where.
“Get that one off the floor,” he commanded me, and then addressed the guard standing behind us. “Take them to my private chamber. Don’t let them go anywhere or speak to anyone.”
I tried to help a hysterical Teddi from the stone floor while keeping a firm grip on Arch. It wasn’t easy. She’d reached her breaking point. I was pretty darn close myself.
“We need Mack to come, too,” I said.
King gave me a look.
“I meant Callias. We have to see him. Ask him to come, too.”
“Why would I do that, woman?”
“Because you’re both the reason we’re here, and we can’t fuck it up this time.”
The shirtless guards with braided dark hair, wearing pleated blue skirts, escorted us to a ten-by-ten room that I knew wasn’t King’s private chamber. In our modern terms, it was more like his office, with a small table, a few wooden stools, and a few rolled-up animal hides sitting on stone shelves. No door. I didn’t think they’d been invented here yet, though they did use cloth during the colder days, according to King. Off in the distance, beyond the courtyard, seagulls circled above and the sound of waves roared. This spot wasn’t very far from the location of our modern-day palace.
Before the guards exited the room, I asked their names. Spiros. Both of them.
Thank God. “Can you please bring us boiled water, some boiled goat milk, and one of those leather bags you use to carry water?”
The two men stared like I’d lost my ever-loving marbles, but were they compelled to help me?
“I insist,” I said.
The taller man jerked his head, indicating the other one should do as I asked. “I’ll stay here.”
“Thank you.” It seemed that whatever spell or magic King had used to make the Spiros bloodline loyal to me had remained intact. Or maybe they were simply being nice. Either way, we were grateful. Especially Arch. I hadn’t been breast-feeding him regularly since King died—hadn’t had the strength—so I
gave him what I had and then used the leather pouch to feed him the warm goat milk. It went everywhere, but enough got inside his belly to put him to sleep.
“That’s not going to cut it, Mia.”
“I know. I’ll have to figure out something better later.” After all, I wasn’t the only woman with a baby in these times. They had to do something for diapers, cribs, and baby food.
“This can’t be happening,” Teddi said, pacing the short distance of the room, alternating between tears and mild hysterics.
“I don’t get it. You’re a three-thousand-year-old Seer. You lived in the times of the Mayans and died and came back to life and died again. Why is this so hard for you to accept?”
She snapped her head in my direction. “I don’t remember my past lives. And for fuck’s sake! I never moved backwards in time, Mia. We can’t be here. It’s impossible. And then what happens if Mack’s life turns out differently and our paths don’t cross again? What happens to my baby? What about you, Mia? What happens to Arch and your baby if you change everything?”
“I don’t know, Teddi. But what did you want me to do? Let Hagne break into the room and slit our throats? I didn’t have a choice. The ink didn’t work. So now we’re here. Now we live another day and we figure it the fuck out.” Personally, as scared as I felt, knowing King was here—alive and good—gave me a sort of peace I hadn’t known since this all started. I’d completely given up all hope. But he’s alive.
She clenched her eyes shut. “Okay. Okay. You’re right.”
A slender young woman with dark skin and long black hair appeared in the doorway. “The king will see you now.”
Teddi and I exchanged nervous glances.
“I don’t know what I’ll do when I see Mack,” Teddi said.
I understood. I really did. These were the men we loved, but we were strangers to them.
I gently repositioned Arch on my chest. “Just take it slow. Give them time to digest it all.”
“What if they think we’re just two crazy women from another country or tribe or whatever?”
“They’re not like that in these times. They believe in the impossible.”
We followed the woman outside, where two shirtless guards in blue skirts showed us through a courtyard with potted flowers. They led us into a large banquet room with arched doorways and murals of fruit trees covering the walls. Six women with dark features and long hair sat around the table lit with oil bowls in the middle. One more woman with silver hair, who looked to be very old, sat at the end of the table.