“Gryphon,” she whispered against his lips.
The sound of her voice drew him back. He stared down at her swollen lips, at her wide and aroused eyes, at that tangle of damp, dark hair around her face. Did it matter why he was attracted to her? Did it matter if it was the darkness of the Underworld pushing him? If he’d met her in his old life, would he have wanted her as much as he did right this second?
She brushed her thumb against his bottom lip. And everything inside him tightened as her eyes hovered on his mouth. Gods, she was beautiful, with her pale skin, the mole near her eye, that small button nose. His cock swelled against his zipper as he gazed at her, as her small breasts pressed into his chest. Desire stoked the roaring need already building to explosive levels.
Yes, he realized as she skimmed her mouth against his again, as she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him with more urgency, more intensity. He’d have wanted her. He fisted the fabric of her shirt at the base of her spine and opened to her, drawing her wet, tempting tongue into his mouth and kissing her the way she was kissing him. He’d noticed her months ago in the courtyard of the colony. From the confines of his room, staring out at her through the window, he hadn’t been able to feel the light inside her. He’d been attracted to her simply because of her beauty, her secrets, and the way she’d looked up at him with the same longing he felt deep in his soul.
He turned her, slid his hands over the soft globes of her ass, lowered her to the bed. The mattress dipped. She gasped, then moaned and opened her legs, making room for him, drawing him even closer to her heat. He slanted his mouth over hers and stroked his tongue across hers, found the hem of her shirt, and ran his fingers along her smooth, enticing skin. And when he trailed his fingers up her rib cage and finally found her breast, he groaned all over again.
No bra. She was naked beneath the thin cotton. She must have taken off her undergarments when she got out of the shower. The thought of her wearing nothing beneath those pants made him kiss her even harder.
He squeezed her breast, then pinched her nipple with his fingers. She shivered and moaned against his mouth, lifted her hips, ground against his throbbing erection. “Yes, gods, yes, Gryphon. I want you.” Her hands shifted down his back to his ass. She gripped and pulled, grinding his cock against the heat between her legs, making him that much harder. “I need you.”
Her last three words filtered through his mind. They were the same ones he’d said to her numerous times. As she continued to kiss him, awareness trickled in. She was Persephone’s daughter, the offspring of the Queen of the Underworld, which meant she had the same darkness inside her that he did. The same darkness that had been gifted to him by Krónos, that son of a bitch. She likely felt the same draw toward him that he felt toward her. The same pull. And that meant her reaction to him now was likely a result of that darkness and not her attraction to him, the person.
She knew how crazy he was. Everyone at the colony did. He’d seen the stark fear in her eyes when he captured her in that orchard, when he dragged her into the tunnels, when they were trapped near that river. And he’d seen the anger erupt inside her when they escaped those tunnels and he told her he wasn’t letting her go.
Her mother was a manipulator, her father a righteous prick. She’d lived over three thousand years, no doubt knew exactly how to get what she wanted. And up until just a few minutes ago, what she wanted was to get away from him.
I kidnapped Zeus and Persephone’s daughter. If they find out—
They won’t. Not if you let me go tonight.
I can’t.
Can’t or won’t?
She was playing him. Reality settled in hard, latched on tight. This wasn’t about her wanting him. This was about her distracting him. Did she have a weapon on her? Was she planning to strike out when he was so overcome with lust, he dropped his defenses? Or was she going to take things all the way, fuck him until he passed out, then run when he was sound asleep?
Anger replaced desire. Disgust rolled through his stomach instead of heat. As she continued to kiss him like a lust-driven slut, he pulled the cuffs from his pocket. Slowly, he slid his hand from under her shirt, grasped her wrist, and pushed it over her head. She lifted her hips again, tilted her head and licked into his mouth. And before she could work the fingers of her other hand beneath the waistband of his pants, he slapped the cold metal over her wrist.
She pulled back from his lips. “What the…?”
He climbed off her, slapped the other cuff around the metal railing of the headboard, and snapped it closed.
“Gryphon!” She jerked upright. Pulled hard on her arm. Metal jangled against metal. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Wising up, she-devil.”
She yanked on the cuffs. The headboard rattled against the wall. “Let me go.”
“So you can run? Or murder me in my sleep? I don’t think so. You’re good, female, but you’re not irresistible. Should have asked Mommy Dearest for more pointers.”
“You asshole.” Fiery, jet-black eyes shot to his. “I’ll scream.”
“Go ahead. I’ll just kill any human who tries to rescue you.” He leaned close to her ear, so close he could feel the heat still radiating from her skin. “Get used to the fact that you’re mine. I’m the one calling the shots here, not you.”
“You bastard.” The nails of her left hand caught him across the cheek before he moved out of her reach.
A burn rushed over his skin as he straightened. He dabbed at his cheek, looked down at the blood on his knuckles. “Maybe you did learn something from that bitch of a mother.”
He glanced at her on the bed, her black hair a wild tangle around her face, her lips still swollen from his mouth. But the lust was gone from her black-as-sin eyes, replaced with a fury that made those obsidian irises blaze, made her chest heave, made her look every bit the daughter of the Queen of the Underworld.
Needed her? He only needed her for one thing—to calm the voice. The sooner he realized that, the better off he’d be.
“Get some rest,” he said as he headed for the door. “We’ve a long trip in the morning.”
Chapter Twelve
Maelea jerked on the handcuff for the umpteenth time. All her efforts did were rattle the headboard against the wall and send pain lancing through her wrist.
Anger rolled through her, followed by a hum that echoed all the way to her toes. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought the bed was vibrating, but that was ludicrous. As ludicrous as what she’d just let happen in this dive of a motel room.
She glared toward the door. Gryphon had been gone at least ten minutes. She wanted to scream, but didn’t dare. His mood changed so drastically from one minute to the next, she didn’t trust him not to follow through on his threat to kill anyone who tried to help her. And whether he was bluffing or not, she didn’t want to be responsible for an innocent’s death. Even if it might be her only chance at freedom.
She yanked on the cuff one more time. Clenched her jaw. She’d kissed him? She’d felt something for him? She’d obviously been out of her fucking mind. What the hell had she been thinking?
Bitterness brewed in her chest and hummed through her legs as she remembered the way she’d offered herself to him like a meal. But before she could get all the way worked up, a sliver of guilt crept in. One that took hold and grew little by little until it lodged in the center of her chest and wouldn’t let go.
Okay, so maybe he had a valid reason to be pissed. Maybe she had set out to seduce him. And maybe distracting him had been her original plan. But that wasn’t what had pushed her to kiss him, dammit. Something had changed during their conversation. Something even she didn’t totally understand.
Whatever. It didn’t matter. The bottom line was simple: no more kissing. None. Obviously, whatever humanity she thought she’d seen i
n him was long gone, if he could so easily turn on her. The first chance she had, she was out of here.
Olympus. That was what she needed to stay focused on. That was all that mattered anymore.
Plans she’d made back at the colony reformed in her mind. The only way for her to be granted access to Olympus, a home that would forever be safe from Hades’s wrath, was to prove her allegiance to the gods. To turn her back on the Underworld for good.
And she would. But first she had to break free. Everything hinged on that. She jerked on the chain again, grasped the metal with her free hand, and tried to pry the cuff off. Pain shot up her arm, and a burn ignited all around her wrist.
“Padded handcuffs are nicer. There’s nothing better than being strapped down and used by a male when you can’t fight back.”
Maelea jerked around at the sound of the voice so close, then froze. Her mother sat in the chair beside her bed, wearing a black gown cinched at the waist with a red belt. Her long legs were crossed at the knees. A red sandal dangled from her toes.
“I—”
“Speechless? You wouldn’t be the first, my child.” Persephone shrugged her straight black hair over her shoulder. Hair that was just like Maelea’s. “Now, I don’t have a lot of time, daughter, so I need you to focus. My husband doesn’t know I’m here, and if he did, we’d both be in deep shit. Plus my mother’s going to be looking for me soon. She’s always worried I’m ditching her to find Hades when I’m spending my allotted time of the year with her.”
Maelea’s eyes grew wide. Her mother was sitting next to her, for the first time in hundreds—no, thousands—of years. Her mother, Queen of the Underworld. Wife to Hades, the one god who couldn’t wait to see Maelea ground to dust.
“You look pale, child.” Persephone’s dark eyebrows drew low. “Are you all right?”
“No. I…” She swallowed hard. “What…? You…?”
“I wish I had more time, but I don’t, so I’ll make this quick. I know you’re searching for a way to Olympus. For a way to prove your allegiance to Zeus. I can make that happen.”
“You can?”
“I can,” Persephone said with a grin. “And trust me, it’s much better than what you’ve been planning. The guardian who has kidnapped you has given us the perfect opportunity. Convince him to take you to Argolea. The Argolean queen has something that I want. A small orb with four chambers. When you have it, bring it to me, and I will make sure the gates of Olympus are finally opened to you.”
Maelea’s skin chilled. Her mother wanted her to steal the Orb of Krónos for her. The relic that held the power to release the Titans from Tartarus and bring about the war to end all wars. The talisman every god was searching for, including her father, Zeus, and her mother’s sadistic husband.
No…way.
“Why…why me? Why can’t you get it yourself? You’re not technically an Olympian. You can cross into Argolea.”
“True, but I cannot get into the castle, which is undoubtedly where the queen has hidden my gem. But she will let your guardian in. In fact, her Argonauts are searching for him now, trying to bring him back. He has ulterior motives, child. Motives that will lead to your demise, if you are not careful. Convince him to go back to Argolea and get help. Then when you’re there, find the Orb and bring it to me. Once you do, Olympus will be yours.”
Wariness crept through Maelea. “Why are you offering me this deal now? Why did you never offer it before?”
“Because I couldn’t when I was in the Underworld. Hades would have known what I was up to. And before that…the Orb had not been located.”
“You’re not planning to give it to Hades?”
A wicked smile spread across Persephone’s ruby red lips. “Of course not. Do I look stupid? I may love the son of a bitch, but I will not let him control something that should be mine.”
Persephone wanted power. All the gods did. The fact Maelea thought her mother would be different just because she was her mother proved just what a fantasy she’d been living all these years.
“I don’t need your help,” she said. “I found Hades’s therillium mines. Once I tell Zeus where they are, he’ll grant me access to Olympus.”
“You found the mines?” Interest sparked in Persephone’s eyes. And too late, Maelea realized she should have held her tongue. Even if her mother plotted against Hades, she was ultimately loyal to him, and there was no guarantee the secret Maelea had just revealed wouldn’t make its way back to his ears. A secret that would only inflame his hatred for her. “Oh, now that is an interesting turn of events. One that might yet become useful to me.”
A smile slinked across Persephone’s face while Maelea cursed her quick tongue and held her breath, waiting…for what, she didn’t know.
“It is of no matter to you, though,” Persephone finally said. “The therillium mines will not be enough to prove your allegiance to the gods. A good start, but not enough. The gods require sacrifice. One made in blood. Proving the risk you take is worthy of the reward.” Her smile grew wider. “Which is why you need me. With me, there is no risk. No blood. Get me the Orb and I will grant you the freedom from this world you have long sought.”
Persephone pushed to her feet, crossed the space between them, and slid a small vial filled with clear liquid into Maelea’s pocket. “This will help you lure the Argonaut to your way of thinking.”
Maelea knew her mother was right. The location of the mines wouldn’t be enough. Disappointment flowed even as she looked down at the vial disappearing into her pocket. “What is it?”
“A concoction of ancient herbs guaranteed to grant you control. Seduction is a powerful aphrodisiac, and no male can resist a woman’s wants when he’s under her spell. If you play him right, he’ll take you to Argolea. Then it’s up to you.”
She stepped back. Began to fade.
“Wait!” Maelea jerked on the cuffs. The headboard rattled again. “Release me first!”
Persephone’s lips turned up at the corners. “You have to continue to let him think he holds power over you, even if he doesn’t. Only then will he be unguarded long enough for you to get what I need. Don’t forget our deal, child.”
She left as quickly as she’d arrived. Maelea stared at the empty chair as the room swirled around her. Her mother wanted her to steal the Orb of Krónos? Dread filled Maelea’s chest as she thought of the consequences. If she did that—even if Persephone did grant her access to Olympus—Zeus would be pissed. All the gods would be pissed. Life there would be no better than it was here. Worse, in fact. And if Hades ever found out…
She shuddered at the thought. No, that was most definitely not an option. No matter how much she wanted to get to Olympus, even that wasn’t a risk she was willing to—
A growl echoed near the door. Maelea jerked around, listened. A clicking sound echoed, followed by the door handle rattling.
Her heart rate skyrocketed.
“I smell her,” a voice echoed from the other side of the door. A nonhuman voice. A monster voice. “And she’s alone.”
***
Titus’s brain was running a mile a minute trying to figure out who the redhead with the emerald eyes could possibly be, and how the hell she was messing with his gift—and curse.
As she stood rooted in place in Nick’s office, staring wide-eyed at Theron and Nick engaged in a heated argument about Gryphon, he tried again to tap into her thoughts. But just the same as in Maelea’s room and again in the elevator, he wasn’t getting enough to read her.
Who the hell is this?
I don’t remember seeing her around here before.
Wow, she is hot.
Thoughts from his Argonaut kin swirled in the room, several of whom had finally noticed he’d dragged some unknown female into the office. The last came from Cerek, which not only shocked the hell out of Titu
s, because Cerek never paid females any kind of attention, but set off some protective instinct inside him he didn’t know was there. He stepped in front of her and shot Cerek a warning look.
Then realized, belatedly, that he could hear his kin clear as day, but still not her.
Okay, freakin’ weird. She was definitely screwing with his powers. And yeah, it was juvenile and totally not like him, but he didn’t want anyone else touching her until he figured out just what was going on.
Nick finally looked past Theron and caught sight of her, then narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Silence settled over the room. Theron turned, noticed her standing behind and to the right of Titus, and narrowed his own eyes. “Who is this?”
“I found her snooping in Maelea’s room,” Titus said. “I don’t know who she is, but she says she’s a friend of Maelea’s.”
“What do you want with Maelea?” Theron asked her.
She moved back a step until she bumped into the windows that looked down over the lake. “N-nothing.”
“She had this.” Titus held out the book she’d been holding. The one that he’d taken from her in the elevator. The one she’d found in Maelea’s room. The one that was a diary of sorts, giving a detailed listing of the gods and their offspring.
Theron took the book and flipped it open. The redhead drew in a sharp breath and held it as he scanned pages. And even though Titus couldn’t read her mind, he knew panic when he saw it. Something important was in that book. Something she didn’t want them to see.
Theron lifted his head, focused on her eyes. But only one thought reached Titus’s mind: This is all we fucking need.
Before he could read more, footsteps echoed near the door, drawing Theron’s attention. Noticing the queen and her sisters, Titus reached for the sleeve of the redhead’s sweater to tug her out of the way. She stumbled, reached out to steady herself. Her fingers landed against his bare forearm, and just as before when he’d touched her bare skin, the room spun, and warm tingles rushed all over his skin.