Bound

Chapter Fifteen

Natasa turned a slow circle and took in the large room with the curved floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out at the black lake and the sun moving higher in the sky. A long table surrounded by chairs filled the space. Against the far wall sat a sidebar. It was some kind of formal dining room built to seat at least thirty. Or an interrogation room designed to intimidate.

The door closed with a snap, and she turned to face the leader of the Argonauts. The same man—hero—who’d kicked her out of the colony weeks ago when she’d come looking for Maelea. Her body temperature rose with every second that passed, but unlike the last time they’d faced off, now the fire inside was stronger, and a sense of purpose pulsed through her.

His face was hard, his jaw tight. He was as big and muscular as Titus, but his hair wasn’t as long, and there was no humor or kindness swirling in his eyes.

He didn’t step farther into the room, just crossed his arms over his broad chest and widened his stance while he stared at her.

“You’re the unquenchable fire all the ancient texts talk about, aren’t you?”

She lifted her chin. Refused to back down. She’d been imprisoned, tortured, burned. She wasn’t afraid of one measly hero. “My father’s lasting gift.”

“Why were you in Argolea?”

No sympathy from the hero. Well, that would make this easier, she supposed. “For the same reason I came here originally. To find Maelea.”

“To destroy her with your fire?”

“Why would I want to do that?”

He shrugged. “The gods don’t care for her.”

“I hold no ill will against Maelea. I went looking for her to see if she knew anything about where my father is being held.”

Doubt darkened his eyes. “Why?”

“So I could find him. Contrary to what you might believe, being the destined destruction of the world isn’t a hell of a lot of fun.”

“Are you saying you’re not working for Hades and Zagreus?”

“I’d have to be mental to work for the God-King of the Underworld, or his son.”

“That remains to be seen. Answer the question.”

No humor either. This guy had to be a real joy at parties. “No, I’m not working for Hades or Zagreus.”

“Who are you working for?”

“Myself.”

Silence spread across the room like a vast ocean. He was debating whether or not she was telling the truth. She didn’t care. She only cared about keeping Titus safe.

His eyes finally narrowed. “How can the fire inside you be stopped?”

It can’t. But Titus can slow it.

The thought registered immediately, followed by a shot of fear that speared straight to her heart. She didn’t want this Argonaut knowing anything about her relationship with Titus. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she had the feeling he’d use it against her. Or Titus.

She fixed an impassive look on her face and crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking his stance. If he wanted to play the part of a bully, so could she. She was, after all, flame and destruction. “I suppose you could wish to stop it. Though that hasn’t worked well for me. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”

His tensing jaw told her he didn’t appreciate sarcasm. Tough shit. She didn’t appreciate being treated like an object.

His palms landed against the sleek table’s surface with a slap, and he leaned forward, his eyes full of distrust. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but you’ll not do it with one of my Argonauts.”

The heat inside her intensified. “I’m not playing any game. And your Argonaut is a thousand times the hero you are. Let’s stop dancing around. We both know what you plan to do with me. I’m not about to let that happen.”

Theron drew back. He continued to stare, but this time with surprise in his eyes. “Titus is Odysseus’s descendent. He’s the most logical of any of the guardians. He never leaps without thinking through every possible scenario, and he’s the last one of us to be ruled by his emotions. But that fire inside you is fucking with his mind. And every hour he spends with you not only turns him into something he’s not, it jeopardizes his future.”

For the first time since their conversation began, Natasa didn’t have a smart comment to toss back.

The thought that the fire element somehow affected Titus’s thought process hit hard. His inability to walk away from her, his need to help her slowly lit off a whole new set of worries.

“You can threaten all you want,” Theron went on, “but know this. If Titus tries to help you escape, then he’s the one who will suffer. There are consequences to betraying our order. If you care about him at all, you’ll think long and hard about what happens next.”

Natasa’s skin grew hot. Her heart picked up speed. Perspiration formed along her forehead.

Theron moved for the door and pushed it open. The blond guardian who’d touched Titus earlier stepped toward him from the hall.

“I want her placed in a holding cell,” Theron said to him. “Until we can move her to a secure location away from the colony, I don’t want anyone near her. Especially Titus.”

Footsteps sounded from the hall, cutting through Natasa’s frantic thoughts.

A dozen men in armor rushed by. Theron drew one soldier to a halt. “What’s happened?”

The man’s face was taut, his features grim. He was a half-breed. Not nearly as big as the Argonauts, but strong. Natasa remembered his light green eyes, and realized he must have been one of the men who’d brought her and Titus to the colony. “We’re under attack. Satyrs have been seen moving up from the south. And word is there’s a horde of daemons not far behind them.”

Oh, shit…

“Skata,” Theron muttered. “Where’s Nick?”

The half-breed’s features twisted into a scowl “No one knows. We can’t find him.”

“Perfect.” Theron looked toward the blond. “Zander, get her secured, then find Demetrius and start the evacuation process. We need to get the colonists moved over to Argolea in case this goes bad. Then find your mate and the queen and make sure they get the hell out of here. Gods know those females do what the hell they want, when they want.” To the half-breed, he said, “I’ll gather the Argonauts.”

The half-breed nodded. Footsteps pounded in the hall again as he and Theron left, and then Natasa was alone, staring into the face of the blond, strikingly handsome Argonaut who’d brought her man to his knees only minutes ago.

Her man?

Her skin grew even warmer. Yes, Titus was her man, and her heart and head were suddenly in a fierce battle over what to do. Something that only kicked up her fear and agitation more.

She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t like being manhandled.”

“So I hear.” The blond’s silver eyes sparked. “Right now, though, girlie, you’re not the one I’m worried about. Let’s go.”

Satyrs? And Daemons? Fuck…

Titus tugged on his shirt and shoved his feet into the boots he’d kicked off only hours ago. His strength had returned, and now he had only one thought: to get to Natasa before his worst fears came true.

The bed in the room they’d shared was a mess of blankets and sheets, and he could still smell that unique lemony scent he now associated with her. As if she were still here.

He dropped onto the side of the bed, leaned over, and laced his boots, ignoring Callia standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, a pitying look in her violet eyes.

He didn’t need pity right now; he needed action.

Footsteps echoed from the hall. He lifted his head.

Zander stepped into the room, tugging—oh, shit—Natasa in after him. “Close the door, thea.”

Callia quickly shut the door and locked it. Confused, Titus pushed to his feet and looked from face to face. “What’s going on?”

Natasa turned toward Zander. “I thought you were supposed to lock me up.”

“I probably should. But something tells me he’ll”—he nodded toward Titus—“figure a way to break you out no matter where I put you. You can both thank me for saving you a step.”

Shock rippled through Titus, followed by bone-melting relief. He reached for Natasa’s waist, wrapped one hand into her hair, and pulled her into his arms. A muttered “Thank you,” slid from his mouth just before he kissed her sweet, tempting lips.

“I was right.”

The thought came from Callia, followed by a whispered, “See?” But Titus barely cared. All he could focus on was the silky soft skin beneath his hands and the warm lips pressing against his own.

Relief slid to concern. Her skin was hot. Too hot. But he could cool her. He was confident now he was the only one who could.

“Titus, wait.” He drew back at Natasa’s worried voice. “I don’t want to be the reason—”

He looked over her head toward Zander. “Why?”

The Argonaut flashed a lopsided grin and tossed his arm over Callia’s shoulder. He angled his head toward his mate.

“A hunch,” Callia said. “One doesn’t have to read minds to see the obvious.”

“Titus,” Natasa said again. “I’m not going to get between you and your or—”

Titus leaned down and kissed her once more, cutting off her words. In the few seconds he’d held the Orb, everything had become clear, including what they needed to do next. “Theron’s an ass. Forget about him.”

She huffed. “No argument there, but—”

“I know how to get to your father.”

She froze. “You do?”

He nodded. Gods, he loved when she looked at him like that, like he was the only thing she needed. “Call it ancient intervention. I’ll explain it all later. We need to make tracks before Hades and Zagreus catch wind you were here.”

Fear washed over her features. A fear that heated her skin another degree and amped his urgency. He let go of her waist, grasped her hand, and looked toward Zander. “What will you tell the others?”

Zander shrugged. “I’ll think of something.”

He tightened his fingers around Natasa’s. “Theron will be pissed.”

Zander’s eyes sharpened. “Theron’s wrong on this one. A guardian’s soul mate”—he looked toward Callia—“isn’t something you mess with.”

Kinship reverberated in Titus.

“Soul mate?” Natasa asked, her brow drawn low.

“Theron’s distracted right now,” Callia said. “If you’re leaving, you need to go soon.”

“Hold on.” Natasa pulled her hand from Titus’s and pressed her fingers against her temple. “Everything’s happening so fast. I need to th—”

From her pocket, Callia pulled out the Orb. The circular disk sat in the palm of her hand, the chain hanging between her fingers. Natasa jerked that direction. Froze.

The same buzz Titus had felt before in the presence of the Orb lit off in his head, but now he knew why. “You’re giving this to us?”

“No.” Callia grinned. “Isadora would kill me if I lost the Orb. But there’s no reason you can’t use it while you’re here, right?”

It took only a split second for her thought—and meaning—to reach Titus. And he was suddenly thankful not only for Zander, but for Callia too. He owed them both, big-time. Expectantly, he looked toward Natasa.

“Between your power and the Orb’s,” Callia said to her, “you should be able to open a portal. It’ll save travel time.”

Natasa glanced warily from Callia to Titus, then back to the Orb. Cautiously, she stepped forward, then carefully ran her finger down the edge of the circular metal. “I…I wouldn’t know how.”

“The same way you fried that guard’s armor and threw that fireball at Zagreus’s army,” Titus told her. “Center yourself.”

“You charbroiled Zagreus’s satyrs?” A wide smile cut across Zander’s face. “Sweet.”

Callia nudged the guardian in the ribs. Zander twisted out of her reach and muttered, “What? That’s more than any of us can do, thea. Even Phin.”

“You…” Slowly, Natasa turned to face Titus. “…trust me.”

Surprise echoed in her voice, but there was something in her eyes… A feeling, an emotion he couldn’t quite read. Something that made him wonder what the hell Theron had said to her. “You already know the answer to that question.”

“I know you did, I just…”

Tears filled her eyes. She wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him down for a hard, swift kiss.

A happiness Titus had never known washed through him. And his knees nearly buckled from the strength of the emotion.

Across the room, Zander laughed. “Payback is a total bitch. And this is gonna be fucking fun to watch.”

His head felt light as a feather by the time Natasa let him go. She blinked several times and hugged him tight. Dazed, Titus couldn’t stop the smile creeping over his face.

Natasa let go. “Okay.” She faced the Orb in Callia’s hands again. “Let’s do this. Where are we going?”

“Ogygia.”

She glanced over her shoulder with wide eyes. “Calypso’s island?”

He nodded.

“Wow. Okay. You know where that is? Because that’s not exactly on my map of frequently traveled destinations.”

He tapped his temple with his index finger. “Thanks to the Orb, baby, I know a lot of shit I didn’t before. You open the portal, and I’ll take us there.”

Natasa drew in a breath and placed her hand over the metal disk in Callia’s hand. “Here goes nothing.”

“Stay together. Single file. Don’t push. Everyone will make it through.”

Isadora pressed a hand against her lower back and drew in a breath as colonists filed past her toward the portal Zander had opened. They’d rounded up most of the people they could find and corralled them in the ballroom, the biggest room in the castle. Chandeliers sparkled above. Light pouring from the open portal bounced off intricately carved dark wood beams high overhead, the arched windows looking out at the lake below and the fancy long tables and chairs. But all Isadora could focus on was what was happening outside the castle, beyond the safety of the lake, where Hades and his son Zagreus were either lying in wait or already battling the colony’s soldiers and her Argonauts.

She looked around the busy room, searching for Demetrius. He and Callia had gone to check the other floors for lingering colonists. And dammit, where was Nick? That low ache she’d been dealing with the last few hours flared again, and she pressed harder against the spot, wishing she’d held her tongue and hadn’t said those things to Nick in the tunnels below.

Of all the times for her to get pissy with him. But it wasn’t like she’d known Hades and Zagreus were about to attack, right? She drew in another breath that didn’t completely fill her lungs because the kid was taking up so much space, blew it out, twisted to the right and left, hoping to ease the pain. Demetrius she would deal with later. But Nick had a responsibility to his people. He should be here right now. Where the hell was he?

“My lady.”

The small voice drew Isadora’s attention. She looked down at the cherub face. A girl, about five, with curly dark hair cut short, smiled up at her. The right side of her face—from cheekbone to forehead—was puckered and scarred from what looked like some kind of recent burn.

These colonists had already been through so much. Isadora’s frustration with Nick and Demetrius slid to the wayside. She knelt in front of the girl as best she could with her large belly, bringing them to eye level. “Hi there.”

The girl lifted a doll. Her right arm and hand were also puckered and scarred. “Minnie said to tell you it’s coming soon.”

A woman placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Marissa, now isn’t the time.” Then to Isadora with pink-tinged cheeks, “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I tried to tell her no. She doesn’t understand royal etiquette yet.”

“It’s okay.” Isadora glanced toward the girl’s mother. “This isn’t exactly a time for etiquette, either.” She looked back at the girl. And the name and description—and especially the doll—finally clicked. “Marissa… I think you might know my sister, Casey.”

Marissa’s eyes lit up. “Is she here? I haven’t seen her in so long.”

Casey had saved the child from a daemon attack months ago, when the colony had been housed in Oregon. “No, she’s across the portal, in Argolea, where you’re going with your mother. You’ll see her soon.”

The girl clutched her doll and jumped up and down in excitement. “Minnie will be so happy.”

Isadora smiled, then remembered what else Casey had said about the child. She was a soothsayer, like Isadora, and she used her doll as her medium. But whereas Isadora couldn’t see into her own future, this child might be able to.

Suddenly, the girl’s words took on new meaning.

“Marissa,” Isadora said calmly, trying to get the child’s attention once more as people passed. “You said Minnie wanted to tell me it’s coming. What’s coming, honey?”

“It” could be anything. War, death, Hades himself. Isadora’s nerves hummed as a hundred different options raced through her mind.

“It,” Marissa said as if it were common knowledge. “That which will change your life forever.” She pointed to Isadora’s belly. “The future.”

The baby? Oh, good Lord. Of course it was coming soon. Anyone with eyes could see Isadora was as big as a house and would deliver sooner rather than later.

Feeling foolish for getting so worked up, Isadora pushed to her feet with a grunt. So as not to make the child feel unappreciated, she placed a hand on her belly and smiled down at the girl. “You’re right. Soon. But thankfully, not today.”

Marissa smiled. “Soon. Do not be afraid. Everything happens for a reason. Even pain and death.”

Isadora’s heart stuttered. Horrified, the mother hushed the girl and whisked her away.

Pain and death? What did that mean? Those nerves that had settled just moments before came raging back.

Loud footfalls echoed from the hall, but Isadora was too wrapped up in her neurosis to turn and look.

A hand on her shoulder dragged her around. “Isa? Are you okay?”

Isadora forced down the foreboding threatening to overwhelm her. “Fine. I’m fine. Did you find anyone else?”

Callia shifted to the side so the crowd could move past. “No one. It looks like we’ve got everyone.” Her brows drew together. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re pale.”

No, she wasn’t okay. She was freaking the hell out. Pain and death were not things she wanted to contemplate right now, especially with regard to her baby. She looked past her sister and spotted Demetrius heading her way.

Her heart took a hard, slow tumble. His hair was messed, his features set and tense, but his eyes warmed just a touch when they met hers from across the room. And though she wanted nothing more than to remain mad at him, she couldn’t. She needed him. Now more than ever. And, dammit, she understood what he’d been trying to do even if she didn’t agree with it.

That didn’t mean she was going to let him totally off the hook, though.

He stopped in front of her, searching her features, she knew, for a clue as to her mood. And this close, she could feel his heat and smell that musky scent she always associated with him. The babe in her belly kicked out, and she winced.

Concern tightened his features. “Kardia?”

Isadora rubbed at the tender spot where she’d been round-housed then moved her hand to the pressure intensifying against her lower back. “Dumbass?”

Callia chuckled and covered her mouth with her hand.

Demetrius scowled. “I see you’re still pissed.”

“Your powers of deduction are stunning.”

He perched his hands on his hips and glared down at her. He was twice her size, but she knew he’d never hurt her. At least not intentionally. “You should go back to Argolea.”

“Telling me what to do again? It didn’t work last time.”

“It never works with you, kardia.”

“And yet you keep pushing.”

“I keep hoping you’ll wise up and listen.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared hard into his. At her side, Callia muttered, “Um, I’m gonna go see if Zander needs any help.”

Callia’s footsteps faded in the distance. The crowd was thinning, only a few dozen colonists waiting to cross into Argolea, but all she could focus on was her mate, the ándras she loved above all else and whom she wanted most in the world to be happy.

“Are you ready to admit I won’t be safer here?” she asked.

“On a good day, you would be. This just doesn’t happen to be a good day.”

Gods, he was stubborn. And though she hated that about him, she also loved it. “I’m not afraid of the Council.”

“You should be. They don’t want you to rule.”

“You didn’t either for quite some time.”

He sighed. “Isadora—”

“Look. The Council is just going to have to get used to the fact I’m not backing down, and I’m sure as hell not going anywhere. Just like you’re going to have to get used to the fact I don’t want Nick. I don’t want anyone but you. And if you keep trying to push me away like you’ve been doing, all it’s going to do is make me dig my heels in deeper. You are mine, and that’s the end of the story. I love you, and I’m not giving you up, no matter how much you piss me off. Got it?”

Ever so slowly, his eyes softened, enough to push aside what was left of her anger. “I don’t know what the hell you see in me.”

“Sometimes I wonder the same thing, and then all I have to do is look at you, and I know. You’re my hero, Demetrius. All mine. I have no reason to live without you.”

“Kardia…” He wrapped one arm around her waist and drew her against him, then leaned down and tipped her face up to kiss her. The tug was gentle because of the baby, but his kiss was filled with need and desperation.

Home.

It was the only thought she had. The only one that mattered. His lips were soft, his body warm and so very muscular. And held tight in his embrace, she didn’t even care that people were looking or that danger lurked outside. When they were together like this, anything…everything was possible.

He eased back, gazed down into her eyes, and brushed a hand against her lower spine, as if she were the most precious thing in the world to him. Which, she knew, she was. “Will you please go back to Argolea now?”

“Not until the battle’s over and I know you’re safe.”

He breathed out a sigh of frustration. “Isadora—”

“Speaking of which.” She grinned because she knew she’d won, then eased out of his arms. “Theron and the others could probably use your help.”

The intense light from the portal dimmed, and Isadora turned toward Zander and Callia, both of whom were heading her way.

“Everyone’s across?” she asked.

“Safe and sound,” Zander answered, rubbing his hands together.

“Kardia, don’t fight with me on this one.”

She didn’t plan to. No way she was leaving him here with Hades right outside. “Callia and I will stay unless it becomes necessary for us to go. In which case, we’ll contact Casey and have her open the portal for us. That decision is nonnegotiable.”

At her back, Demetrius blew out a hard breath.

Callia’s features morphed from amused to concerned. “Isa?”

“What?”

Her gaze shot to the floor where Callia was looking, and the puddle of blood forming between her feet.