Mark of the Bear

Chapter Thirteen

Marko wanted to take Kellsie and run away from here as fast and hard as he could. He wanted her safe, far away from the coming fight. He also knew that was impossible. No matter how fast or far they ran, Hades would find them. With his ability to open portals anywhere on the planet, there was nowhere they could hide.

But they only had to stay hidden until midnight, a voice inside reminded him. It was tempting, but not truly an option. If he was going to run he should have already done so and not returned here.

Of course, Hades might be expecting them to run. Maybe by coming back here they would confuse the god and his minions. But a niggling thought remained in Marko’s brain. Why had they ended up so far away from the carnival after Kellsie set him free? Was that part of the curse? A gift from the Lady? He honestly wasn’t sure. And why hadn’t Hades found them yet? He’d found Kellsie, after all. But Marko had no idea how long it had taken Hades to find her—days, weeks, months?

None of it mattered. It was all speculation. They had to deal with the situation at hand. If they survived the coming hours there would be plenty of time to contemplate answers to his questions.

Marko was very aware of Kellsie following behind him, putting her feet where he stepped, trying her best to move as quickly and quietly as possible. There didn’t seem to be many people around, but they were being very careful to stay out of sight as they moved stealthily toward the cluster of tents near the back of the carnival. He wanted to see if the carousel was still there.

He couldn’t think about the possibility of her being hurt. The mere idea almost paralyzed him with fear. He’d never worried about his own safety before. He was a warrior. A protector. As were his fellow warriors. Nor had he truly feared for the Lady of the Beasts, his goddess. She was, after all, a very powerful entity in her own right. It would be nearly impossible for Hades to kill her, which was why he’d imprisoned her all these years.

But Kellsie was different. She was human. Fragile. Easily broken beyond repair. Her life force could be snuffed out in a moment.

He shouldn’t worry about Kellsie. After all, he had more than enough to concern him. Rescuing his fellow warriors and his goddess should have been his primary concern. But that was now secondary to protecting Kellsie.

When he’d crept into the trailer and taken her in his arms, he’d known he’d die to protect her. She felt so right in his embrace, as though she’d been made just for him. And he supposed in some ways she had been. If she hadn’t, she’d never have been able to free him from his prison.

She was one of the truly bright lights in the world. Special. He’d lived thousands upon thousands of years before he was ever imprisoned. Her time in this world was so short, a mere heartbeat in comparison. She deserved whatever time she had left in her mortal life.

She tugged on his hand and he realized they were almost at the tents. Time to get his head back into the game before he got them both killed.

“I think this is the one.” She kept her voice to barely a whisper and pointed to one of the long line of joined tents. “If I’m remembering correctly, that is.”

Marko concentrated and could feel the slight hum of power coming from behind the canvas wall. It was muted, but it was there—the carousel with Arand and Leander.

He curled his hand and concentrated, allowing his fingernails to morph into long, lethal claws. Beside him, Kellsie gasped. He ignored the fact he was probably frightening her. She’d have to get used to it. This was nothing compared to what Hades and his demons would throw at her when they were attacked. And it wasn’t if but when. The demons would find them at some point. It was inevitable. The fact they hadn’t been attacked up to now was highly suspicious.

Again, he wondered if Kellsie wasn’t part of Hades’ plans. After all, she was an actress. Maybe everything that had happened between them was a lie. Maybe every soft moan of pleasure, every cry of completion had been manufactured.

He growled low, both he and his bear displeased by the mere thought. He shook his head. He’d smelled her arousal, seen the rosy flush on her skin. There was no way she’d faked her orgasm. Her sheath had gripped his cock so tightly and hotly, pulsing rhythmically as she’d found release. That had been very real.

“You okay?” she whispered. Her hand was resting on his arm and concern filled her beautiful blue eyes.

“Yes.” He had to believe in her honesty, in her passion. If it wasn’t genuine, he was lost, because there was no way he could ever harm her. If she was playing on Hades’ team she was the perfect secret weapon. She could slay Marko easily. He would never raise a hand to defend himself against her. He’d rather be dead, his soul lost, than to believe Kellsie would betray him in such a fashion.

He knew Roric would have fought to the bitter end. So would his still-trapped companions, Arand and Leander—the wolf and the lion. Mordecai would laugh at him. After all, the serpent had killed the woman who’d freed him as a gesture of good faith to Hades when he’d joined with the god. Fury boiled deep inside Marko to think that one of them could so easily betray their honor and the Lady.

Marko would retain his honor. He would fight to the end and would not betray the woman who’d set him free. No matter where her allegiance lay.

He raised his arm and let his claws rake over the canvas. The cloth ripped easily, opening a small window for him to peer through. It was light outside but the inside of the tent was filled with shadows.

Thankful for his preternatural vision, Marko scanned the confines. A small security light shone on the center of the room. And there in all its splendor sat the carousel. “It’s here.”

He made the hole larger and angled his body in through the opening. Kellsie followed quietly behind him. He could hear her breathing, feel the heat from her body and smell her fear.

He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine. But that was a lie. He had no idea what would become of either of them. He glanced around the confines of the tent and took a cautious step forward.

Kellsie blinked to help her vision adjust. Going from the bright morning sun to the gloom of the tent was making it difficult to focus. She didn’t think Marko was having the same problem she was. He seemed to know exactly where he was going as he moved toward the carousel.

The first thing she did was look at the animals still on the carousel. There were only two—the lion and the wolf. The bear was missing. She glanced at Marko and back at the empty space. There was no longer even a shred of doubt in her mind about his true identity. He was an immortal warrior, the bear.

She bit her bottom lip and huddled deeper into her jacket. In spite of the warmth of the morning, she was cold, the kind of chill that went right to the bone. Marko had been acting weird ever since they’d left her trailer. Okay, weirder. This entire situation was off the charts, totally bizarre. But this was different. He felt aloof, apart from her.

Well, what had she truly expected? Their bodies had joined, their lips had touched, but they hadn’t been making love. They’d had sex. That didn’t mean they had a life-long commitment, especially since her lifespan was considerably shorter than his. Assuming, of course, they both didn’t die in a fiery, gruesome death in the next few hours.

The problem with being an actress in horror films was that her mind could easily conjure a hundred horrible ways to die. She’d gone through a lot of them, but only make-believe. Heck, she’d even been in a couple of episodes of a television show that was based on that premise—strange and wacky ways to die. The movies and television weren’t real, this situation was. There was no coming back from death this time if something happened, but she shoved those thoughts away and concentrated on something more positive.

Like Marko. Or rather the way he looked as he prowled around the room. He still wasn’t wearing a shirt and she had an excellent view of his back now that her eyes had adjusted. The hole he’d clawed in the back of the tent was letting in light and driving back some of the shadows.

She blinked, not quite certain she was seeing what she thought she was. This was the first time she’d gotten a look at his back in the light. She froze in place when she caught a glimpse of the magnificent tattoo that covered the entire span.

Her fingers itched to touch it. The tattoo was him, the bear part of him, every detail perfect. She swallowed, unable to believe her eyes. The tattoo was so real she wanted to reach out and touch it, certain she’d feel fur and not skin when she did. The fierce creature was watching her, mouth open on a growl, front paws raised to fight. It was so realistic she expected to hear him roar any second.

Marko continued to prowl across the floor of the tent. He moved like some great beast, which was apt, all things considered. Bears seemed slow, but could be quite quick when they wanted to be. She’d already had firsthand proof of that when he’d come racing down the hillside after her. He’d caught her easily and she knew she wasn’t exactly a slow runner. She worked out all the time and running was one of the ways she kept in shape.

His shoulders were wide, his arms roped with muscle. He raised one hand and the muscles in his back rippled and flexed, emphasizing the deep furrow of his spine. His butt was mouthwatering in those tight leather pants. His thighs and calves were solid and leather boots covered his large feet.

His hair was loose and brushed his shoulders. He had the best hair, soft and streaked with color. He was the most compelling man she’d ever met and that was just from behind. From the front side, he was even more striking.

As if he could hear her thoughts, he turned and silently moved back to her side. His face was like a block of stone, his features carved and set. Determination radiated from him. Strength. There was no sign of the indulgent lover.

If he could be cold and professional about this situation, so could she. She was an actress and a damn good one. She pursed her lips and slid into the role. She was a survivor. She’d read the script. Her job was to help him, not to be a clinging ninny.

“What do we do next?” She was proud of the even tone of her voice, the slightest bit of force that said she was in charge of herself and the situation. If her heart ached, well, that was her problem and one she’d deal with later.

He frowned and tilted his head to one side, watching her intently. “If you’re up for it, we’ll see if you can free the others.”

Even though the last thing she wanted to do was climb onto the two remaining animals, she nodded. As silly as it sounded, trying to free them felt like a betrayal to Marko. Not that he seemed to have any problem with her climbing on the backs of the wolf or the lion. He was simply standing there, watching and waiting for her to do her thing. So be it.

Adjusting her tote bag so it rode on her hip, she strode to the carousel and went right to the wolf, who still looked as intimidating as he had before with his snarling mouth and sharp teeth.

She reached out her hand and touched his back. Instead of fur, she felt wood. The sensation of him being alive wasn’t there. Still, she had to try. Both these warriors had been trapped for longer than she could even begin to imagine. If there was even the remotest chance she could help, she had to try.

“Okay, buddy, I’m going to give this a go.” She started to hoist herself onto the wolf’s back when strong hands wrapped around her waist and lifted her. Kellsie closed her eyes for a brief moment and simply enjoyed Marko’s touch, soaking up the heat from his skin.

She made herself focus on the job at hand and pushed aside all softer emotions. She could do this. Although with Marko still touching her, it was really impossible for her to concentrate with any degree of success. He was too big, too powerful, too…everything.

“You’re going to have to release me if this is going to have even the remotest chance of working.”

His fingers flexed against her sides and tightened briefly before slowly releasing her. He stepped back and she missed him immediately. Angry with herself, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the wolf. Marko growled. Why would this bother him? She was only doing what he’d asked her to.

Was it possible he was jealous? As soon as she asked the question, she dismissed it. Of course he wasn’t jealous. Why would he be? She was just a woman he’d met less than a day ago. More likely, he was angry because it didn’t seem to be working.

Kellsie dug her fingers into the wooden figure beneath her. “Come on, damn it, work.” For a second, she thought she felt fur. Then the sensation was gone.

She sat back, defeated. “I’m sor—” Before she could finish saying she was sorry, she was plucked off the back of the wolf and gathered into a warm, familiar embrace.

“It’s not your fault,” he assured her. “It’s mine. I didn’t want it to work, not really.” He tightened his hold on her, burying his face in the curve of her neck. “It’s selfish of me, but you’re mine. I won’t share you, not with anyone.”

Kellsie clung to Marko, feeling his desperation and his shame. She couldn’t help but be thrilled by the fact he didn’t want his fellow warriors to have the same bond that they shared. It had to mean he cared, right? Even if only a bit.

But she knew he’d regret it if they didn’t really give it a go. “Let me try again, okay?” She knew how much it would mean to him if his fellow warriors were freed.

Marko nodded. “Try Leander this time.”

He didn’t give her a chance to climb onto the animal, but lifted her and placed her on the back of the magnificent lion. He stepped back, took a deep breath and gave her an encouraging nod. She offered him a reassuring smile, closed her eyes and put all her focus on the lion.

Marko was perfectly still beside her. She could feel him willing his friend to come to life, sense his hope and his fear. The lion’s back shifted slightly beneath her, muscle rippling. Then nothing. Finally, after several minutes passed, she opened her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

He raised his head and gave her a sad smile. “Thank you for trying.”

She slid off the animal’s back and Marko was there to help steady her. His dark eyes were filled with sadness. She was sorry she’d been unable to help the remaining trapped warriors, but the connection just wasn’t there. She placed her hand over Marko’s heart, feeling the strong, steady beat against her palm. He was so vibrant and alive. So real. “I wish I could do more.”

He shook his head and his hair brushed against the side of her face. “No. You’ve done enough. I should have sent you on your way to safety hours ago.”

“But if everything you said is true, then there is nowhere I can go that’s safe.” The thought of being away from Marko made her stomach roil. She wasn’t sure she liked how he affected her. She was used to being alone, yet the thought of being without Marko left her reeling.

“It’s too late now.” He caught her shoulders in his hands, digging his fingers into her skin. “Promise me you’ll run if I tell you to.” His eyes were so intense it was almost hard to look at them. They blazed like dark topaz in the light. He shook her lightly. “Promise me.”

She wouldn’t lie to him. “I can’t.” As much as a part of her wanted to run away and hide, she knew she couldn’t leave Marko to face his enemies alone.

“Well, this is all fine and touching, but we have business to attend to.” The voice came from out of the dark corner behind her. Marko spun her around, putting her behind him. She reached out and steadied herself against the carousel, her hand brushing over the body of the wolf. Fur bristled beneath her fingers before turning to wood again. She jerked her hand away, startled by the sensation.

A light clicked on, spotlighting the corner where the voice emanated. She blinked as the light temporarily blinded her. Not that she needed her vision to know who was there. She easily recognized him.

As her eyes adjusted, she could see Mordecai standing in the middle of the circle of light, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He was wearing black combat boots, khaki pants and a black T-shirt. A knife sheath sat on his left hip. His dark eyes blazed with power.

Shit. This wasn’t the same man who’d tried to seduce her. Well, it was, but it wasn’t. She could feel the dark power flowing off him now, and it scared the crap out of her.

“Mordecai.” There was pure steel in Marko’s voice as he greeted his former brother-in-arms.

“Marko,” he returned. “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get down to business.”

“I have no business with you, traitor.”

“No, you don’t. Your business is with me.” The deep, seductive voice seemed to come from everywhere. Kellsie jerked her head right and left, searching for the owner. She knew it could only be one person—Hades.

She recognized this cultured, sardonic tone from her dream. Now she wondered if maybe it had been real after all. Just the thought of Hades invading her sleep made her queasy. She shivered, wishing she had some kind of a weapon. But what did one use to slay a god?

He coalesced from the darkness, seemingly stepping out of a black hole. Great special effect, but this wasn’t a movie. She clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. How had she gotten herself into such a situation? She wasn’t special. She was simply a woman trying to make a decent life for herself as an actress.

“Oh, but you’re very special, my dear.” A tall man in a designer suit stepped forward. He was too good looking to be real. His features were carved to perfection. His skin swarthy, his eyes coal-black. His lips were thin and managed to look both cruel and sensual at the same time.

Pure power and danger surrounded him, and Kellsie shifted a bit closer to Marko. Crap, he could read her thoughts. She desperately tried to throw up a mental block to keep him out. She concentrated on building high, thick walls in her mind.

Hades threw back his head and laughed. His black hair brushed against his shoulders. It wasn’t too long or too short. It was fashionable, as was the rest of him. He wore a ring on one finger and a diamond stud in one ear.

“You are amusing,” he continued. “In case you don’t know it by now, I’m Hades, Lord of the Underworld.” He inclined his head slightly in greeting.

Okay, so the guy seemed to think a lot of himself. I mean, who gave themselves that long a title? Of course, he was the god of Hell, so she guessed he could afford to be vain.

She mentally slapped herself before she descended into hysteria. She practically held her breath, not daring to move, not knowing what might set him off.

“You’ve performed well, given me exactly what I wanted.” He gestured to Marko before greeting him. “It’s nice to see you up and around again.”

Marko growled but didn’t say anything.

“Ah, the bear was always stoic. Not like the white tiger who roared at everyone and everything, or dramatic like Phoenix who just went up in a flash of light and flame, or that annoying jaguar.” Hades shook his head. “So predictable. All of you.” He nodded at Mordecai who was standing still and silent as a stone. “I knew the serpent would come over to my side in order to save himself, and I was right.” He turned his back on his second in command, dismissing him for the moment.

Kellsie was watching both men. Not by a twitch or a flicker of a gesture did Mordecai reveal what he was truly thinking. How did it feel to have his less-than-honorable actions paraded before others? Perhaps he didn’t care.

Hades snapped his fingers, bringing her attention back to him. A thick scroll appeared in his left hand. He shook it out and the parchment unrolled and fell to the floor.

“Let’s get down to business. I have a proposition for you.”