“And I am of the dark. That doesn’t mean we can’t fuck,” he mocked.
“It means I will get my heart broken.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Your relationship with Persephone—”
“Our relationship ended not because she craved the light. It ended because she was a slut.”
Zerina turned her eyes away from his angry ones. He still loved his ex-wife. She knew she was right when his next words doused the fire in her loins.
“I’m not offering you a relationship, Zerina. I won’t be at the mercy of another woman who is from the light or dark. I’m too old to play those type of games anymore. You offered me your hand in friendship; who would make a better lover than a friend?”
His words were tempting, her virginity wasn’t the prize she clung to. What she did cling to was her untouched heart.
When she finally found the immortal she wanted to spend eternity with, she wanted to offer a heart that wasn’t affected by past lovers. She wanted to discover that joy that would be her happily ever after.
When she licked her lips again, she tasted the salty tears that were being washed by the waterfall.
Resignedly, she stared at him. It was too late. Whoever she found when Hades was finished wouldn’t be her first love. He had already stolen her heart. The only thing left to decide was if he was going to have her body, too.
“Hades,” she whispered.
Hades answered her call by swimming out to her, raising his arms out to her.
She remained unmoving, indecision tearing her apart.
“Zerina, come to me.” Hades’ desire-filled expression was a lure she didn’t want to resist any longer.
She jumped into his arms, feeling him surround her tightly, as if she would try to slip away. His cock against her belly had her gasping.
She stared at him timidly, raising her lips to his, ready to give him her body and soul. Finally yielding, Zerina then wound her arms around Hades’ thick neck.
His eyes glittered down with triumph. He bent his head to take the lips she was offering.
“Is it me, or is the water hotter than it usual?” Jinx shouted as she jumped off the boulder, splashing her and Hades.
Zerina jerked out of Hades’ arms when she saw the fairy who started swimming as if they hadn’t been about to kiss before her interruption.
Embarrassed, she gave a small laugh. “I thought so, too.”
“Evidently, it’s not hot enough.” Hades stared down at her with a questioning brow.
Zerina knew what he was silently asking.
Swimming back to him, she put her hands on his shoulders, trying to push him under the water.
“What are you doing?”
“I was trying to dunk you.” She laughed, shaking her head.
“Like this?” Before she could react, Hades had pushed her under the clear depths of the underground pool.
Zerina kicked out, rising to the surface and gasping for air.
“It would have been funnier if I had done it, but yes, that was what I wanted to do.”
Amusement lightened his features, replacing the thwarted desire that had appeared on his face when Jinx had interrupted them.
“You want to try again?”
“No, you’re ready for it. I have a sneak attack planned when you least expect it.”
“If you’re warning me, it’s not a sneak attack.”
“It doesn’t have to be today, does it?” Her eyes met his meaningfully.
Hades sighed. “No, it doesn’t have to be today. You can dunk me another time.”
Zerina giggled, wrapping her arm around his waist to give him a tight hug.
He went to wrap his arms around her, but before he could, she slipped to his side, then behind his back, winding her arms around his shoulders to lift herself up.
“Got you!” she whispered flirtatiously in his ear.
Hades laughed, but she only had a second to enjoy the sight before Hades went limp, dunking them both.
She came up, determined to dunk the slippery god. When they dunked Jinx instead, they laughed uproariously when her hair got wet. Her powers wouldn’t come back until it dried.
“He did it!” Zerina pointed at Hades when Jinx turned her wrath-filled gaze on her.
Hades’ eyes widened. “You’re blaming me?”
“You’re bigger, and Jinx won’t pay you back. Too bad,” she corrected herself, seeing Jinx swimming around them, circling like a shark.
When fairies got mad, they were unpredictable. That Jinx was half-magical and half-fairy made her a dangerous combination.
Zerina swam up behind Hades, half-laughing and half-serious. “Protect me!” she screeched when Jinx made her move, disappearing under the water. The next second, Hades disappeared also.
She turned around, looking for them and giving a sigh when they reappeared. Jinx had done what she had wanted to and had dunked Hades.
Zerina’s laughter filled the cavern as Jinx swam to the boulder to climb out.
“I’m king of the mountain!” she yelled out, the shout echoing around the cavern.
Hades swam back to Zerina as Jinx danced a jig on the boulder. “That fairy’s a pain in my ass.”
“It could be worse.”
“How?”
“She could have brought her cat.”
Chapter 14
Destiny paused, listening intently. Did she hear laughter?
She practically ran, trying to follow the sound. She had been searching for Zerina for so long she had lost track of time. Neither her nor Fate could find her in the stars, or the surface of the earth. That left only two options: a magic spell was hiding her, or Hades had her.
The two sisters had decided the best way to find Zerina was to split up. Fate was searching different dimensions, while Destiny was going to find a way inside Hades to see if she was there. She hoped that Fate could find her. It would be easier to save her from another dimension than trying to get her out of Hades.
Hearing the laughter again, she stared out at the calm lake. Could Poseidon have her? The water god usually kept to the oceans, but he could have hidden Zerina in any body of water. Destiny turned her attention from the water, listening carefully. That would have been one Fate would have searched.
Hearing the sound again, she turned her head. Trees and grass on three sides surrounded the small lake. The fourth had a large rock that hung over the water. It was a beautiful, idyllic spot in a world that had become uglier with each rise of the sun.
The only reason this remote spot remained untouched was there wasn’t anything around to draw the looters and gangs who were destroying everything in their path.
Staring intently at the rocks, she narrowed her eyes at the water below. Was she imagining that the water was moving?
She started to kick off her shoes. She had dressed like a human so that, if she was seen, they would take her as one.
The feeling of having eyes on her had her turning to look over her shoulder. The sight of a large wolf running toward her had Destiny waving her hand to transport herself. Before she could complete the motion, though, she found herself pinned underneath the wolf’s large body.
“Get off me, you big mutt!” she snarled at Rocque.
The lord transformed himself from the wolf to the grinning man she despised. “Is that any way to greet me when I just saved your life?”
“You didn’t save my life. Only Mother can end my life.”
“Don’t doubt Hades’ power. You anger Hades, he’ll make you beg to end your immortal life.”
“I’m not afraid of Hades.” She hit him on his shoulder. “Get off me!”
“If you’re not afraid of Hades, you’re an idiot.” Rocque stood up, helping her to feet and keeping a firm grip on her arm. When she tried to shrug his hand away so she could transport, he only tightened his hold.
“You’re really beginning to make me angry. Release me, Rocque, or when I return home, I’ll tell Mother.”
“I expected you to threaten me with m
oredire warnings than Mother. You don’t want to threaten me with a litter of pups?”
“I don’t have time to trade insults with you! I’m trying to find Zerina.” She tried to use her nails to peel his hand away from her.
“I know what you’re doing,” he said, moving her away from the water and toward the trees.
Destiny tried to dig her heels into the grass, not wanting to go with him. He didn’t give her the choice, propelling her forward into the thick forest.
“You mangy mutt!” Her anger switched to desperation when they entered the forest. She was entering familiar territory. It was his domain. Rocque could turn into anything, from the smallest flower to the tallest trees. As lord of his domain, anything alive protected him.
Once they entered the forest, she found herself surrounded by wolves. One particular bitch snapped at her as he forced her deeper into the woods.
“If that bitch snaps at me again, I’m going to knock those teeth out!” she snarled at the bitch who, despite her threats, snapped at her again, nipping her bottom through the thick material of her jeans.
“You fucking bitch!” Destiny managed to catch a handful of fur. Before Rocque could stop her, she yanked a large tuft of hair loose.
When the bitch whined, he reached down to soothe the ruffled fur, giving Destiny a glowering frown.
“She fucking started it—”
Destiny found herself pushed onto a low limb, which a tree helpfully lowered at Rocque’s command.
“You piece of shit!” She tried to right herself, to find the limb above her lowering to pin her in place. She kicked out, trying to get loose. Her dignity forgotten, she then cursed Rocque and the bitch that had started the fight.
“That fucking bitch—”
Her scream filled the forest when Rocque smacked her bottom.
“You son of a bitch! When Mother finds out you hit me, she’s going to turn you into a goat!”
Another hard smack fell on her bottom.
“Don’t you dare—”
Again, her bottom was struck. Every time she opened her mouth to curse at Rocque, it was met with his hand. Stubbornly, she refused to be quieted.
“The only reason you like being a wolf is it gives you a bigger dick! These bitches may think you’re a stud, but you’re nothing but—”
Rapid spanks to her bottom had her sobbing and lying quietly over the limb.
“I’ve had enough of your disdain.” Rocque moved to stand in front of her, motioning his wolves back. “You are fighting the inevitable; why?”
Destiny refused to look up at him, as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.
“You think I don’t know you watch me? That you choose lovers to anger me, and not because you want to be in their bed? I claimed you the first time you stepped into my forest. You transported out before I could take you, but it doesn’t make my claim any less. You’re mine. You were mine when you shared their beds. You are mine despite your denials to Mother that you don’t know who your mate is. More importantly, you’ve denied it to yourself.”
“I’m not!”
“You are, Destiny. You are my mate.” With a wave, the limb on top of her rose. Taking her arm before she could transport, he straightened her before moving them deeper into the woods.
She knew where Rocque was taking her. She wanted to beg him to release her, but she knew he would remain unmoved by her pleas.
She had run from her own destiny for centuries, and now her time had run out, unless she could escape or bargain her way out. Fate had bargained to escape the fate that was in store for her with Odin. Her sister had no intention of sharing Odin’s bed when the last of her daughters returned her home.
She racked her brain, trying to find something, anything to keep her from being Rocque’s mate. However, as the day wore on, she hadn’t come up with anything. Frantically, she tried to think faster when she realized they were almost to Rocque’s home.
When he waved his hands and huge trees moved aside, showing a large cabin in a grassy glen, fear had her nearly managing to get away from him. He grabbed her around the waist, though, carrying her toward the entrance of his secret lair.
“Rocque, if you let me find Zerina, I’ll willingly go with you. Help me, and I swear I’ll do anything you want!”
The lord laughed down at her. “You think to make a fool of me like Odin? I don’t think so, Destiny. Why should I bargain with you when I already have you?”
Rocque turned her around when they were past the trees. Waving his hand, he closed the portal, leaving no chance of escape. When the trees stopped moving, their protection back in place, he released her.
Destiny dropped to her knees, crying. She was trapped until Rocque decided to let her go. Mother wouldn’t help, because she wanted the children that Destiny was destined to have with Rocque. Fate wouldn’t help, or she would lose her powers for interfering. As much as Fate loved her, she needed her powers to find and help Zerina.
“I hate you.” She didn’t yell it out; she just stated the cold, hard truth, seeing Rocque wince as if she had struck him.
“Get up, Destiny. Come and meet your new family.”
“They will never be my family.” She stared up at him coldly.
“You know that’s not true. Give them a chance. Give me a chance. If you want to leave when Zerina returns home, I won’t stop you.”
She looked at him doubtfully.
“I’m telling the truth. I’ll not only let you leave, but I’ll take my claim back.”
“You give me your word?”
Rocque nodded, clenching his hand into a fist and hitting it on his chest over his heart. “You have my word; I will release you when Zerina returns home.”
Destiny got to her feet, ignoring the hand that he held out to her. “Fine, I’ll stay, but I’m not going to like it.”
Rocque clenched his jaw in anger. “Something tells me I’m not going to like it, either.” He arrogantly strode away from her, leaving her to stand alone.
When the wolves around her transformed into humans, their contemptuous looks had her feeling ashamed.
One attractive woman who had long brown hair gave a sniff of disgust as she walked past her, flipping her hair. Destiny had to jerk her face away to keep from getting hit with it.
“Bitch, do that again, and you’ll have another bald spot to match the other one I gave you.”
Destiny watched as the bitch went into the cabin behind Rocque and the rest of his pack.
She looked for a place to sit, tired after the long journey with him holding her every step of the way.
Going to the large porch, she took a seat on the top step, angry at herself for letting Rocque get close enough to catch her. She had dodged him so many times, only to fail when she sensed that she was close to finding Zerina.
Destiny heard them talking inside. The twelve members of his pack were actually Rocque’s private guard. The highly skilled hunters and warriors were deadly to anyone who came too close to their leader. He had chosen the most efficient, fearsome warriors from throughout time, gifting them with immortality in return for their loyalty. He kept the number of his guards to eight just because they were that good.
Rocque commanded legions in his capacity as lord. He could make a tree fall with a single word, then make them grow with another. He could turn himself into an animal as large as an elephant, or as small as a fly. He could control swarms of bees and herds of horses. Anything that was alive was at his command and under his protection, which was why she had no intention of being his mate.
Rocque was always surrounded by his guard. The five men and three women were constantly together. Destiny liked being on her own. She had a small castle that she never visited, content helping others find their destiny, not wanting to find her own.
No one knew their own future, and that included both her and Fate. They were only given glimpses. Fate was the stronger of them, though. Destiny knew she wouldn’t dare sacrifice the things that F
ate had to for Mother.
So far, she wasn’t pleased with Mother’s choice of mate for her. Mother might have pretended not to know who her mate was, but she had. The wily woman knew more than she let on, and she expected Destiny to eventually fall in line with her plans.
Getting to her feet, she looked up at the sky.
“I’m not going to take him as my mate!” she railed. “You can butt into Fate’s life, but stay out of mine!”
When the sun kept smiling down at her, her shoulders drooped. Then she heard the rustling of leaves in the trees and could have sworn she heard Mother’s beautiful voice say, “Be at peace, Destiny. Rocque and I aren’t asking for anything that isn’t willingly given. Choose wisely when you deny him as your mate. Your sister, as well as mankind’s fate, could rest in your hands.”
“Neither you, Fate, nor I can determine man’s fate. Man does,” Destiny whispered, knowing Mother could hear her.
Sorrow filled Mother’s voice. “No, it rests in yours.”
Chapter 15
“Quit fighting,” Jinx scolded her, pulling her hair back tightly to wind in a tight coil that would rest at the nape of her neck.
Zerina picked up one of the increasing number of combs that she would find on her dressing table to pin her hair back with. She saw Jinx admire the sapphire one before putting it in her hair. Her silence was beginning to worry her. It was unusual for the fairy not to be chatting away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jinx shrugged.
She knew something was bothering her. She hadn’t said a word since Hades transported them back to her room for them to get ready for dinner.
“Are you angry that we got your hair wet?”
“No.” Zerina could see her troubled expression. “Just don’t do it again.”
The fairy had dressed herself in a black gown. She normally dressed in bright colors, but tonight everything was muted.
Zerina’s worry deepened. Could her being away from the land where fairies dwelled be taking a toll on her?
Zerina stood up, adjusting her gown until it spread out behind her. Taking the fairy in her arms, she then gave her a tight squeeze. “I feel terrible that you’re missing home and that you’re stuck here because of me. After dinner, I’m going to ask Hades to let you go home.” Releasing her, Zerina gave her an encouraging smile.