Pride of the Lion

Chapter Eight

Araminta drove by rote, paying more attention to the man beside her than to the road in front of her. She’d avoided the highway, not wanting to have to deal with extra traffic. Not that it really mattered. It was a fairly short drive home anyway and traffic was light at this early hour of the morning. She wasn’t looking forward to facing the break-in at her home or whatever Hades was going to throw at them in the next eighteen or so hours.

Dawn would break in the distance soon, golden with promise for most folks. But her own future was looking pretty bleak at the moment. Being attacked by demons had made the entire situation all too real.

Her stomach growled, reminding her that no matter how crazy life got there were still some things that didn’t change—she was hungry and she had to pee. And if there was a chance she might die today she might as well eat everything she wanted.

“I’m going to stop and get something to eat. Do you want anything?”

She sensed his interest pick up. “Can we stop here?” He pointed at a popular fast-food chain just up ahead on the right.

“Sure.” She turned on her signal light, pulled into the parking lot and found an empty spot near the door. “Okay, here are the rules. No swords allowed and you need to put on a shirt, something that covers more of you than that vest does. No bare chests allowed in the restaurant.”

He frowned, but a second later the vest disappeared and his magnificent chest was covered by a sleeveless leather tunic with ties in the front. She swallowed hard at the casual display of power. The guy was magic, in more ways than one.

Don’t think about it, she admonished herself. Yes, he was sex on a stick, but he was also immortal and his time with her was temporary. Plus, he had a mission that was more important to him than anything. If she let herself have feelings for him she’d only be hurt when he left. That’s assuming they both survived the next few hours.

“Will this do?” He frowned at her and she realized she’d been sitting there like an idiot staring at him.

She grabbed her purse and shoved open her door. “That’s fine.”

He was beside her before she reached the door to the restaurant, opening it and holding it for her. Head held high and shoulders back, she started to march up to the counter but suddenly changed directions. “I’m going to the ladies room.”

She was about to push open the door to the bathroom when she realized he was right behind her. She whirled around and slapped her hand on Leander’s chest, stopping him in his tracks. “You can’t come in here.”

“Why not?” His frown got darker and his gaze narrowed.

She pointed to the little sign of the stick-figure woman on the door. “Ladies only. If you need to use the bathroom, you go there.” She pointed at the other door.

“I do not want to leave you alone.” He started to muscle past her, but she planted her feet and refused to budge.

“You can’t go in there. You’re going to get us in trouble if you keep this up.” Already she could see several patrons watching, a couple of them with frowns on their faces. Not good. They were attracting attention, something they didn’t need, not with demons chasing them. “I’ll only be a minute. If it makes you feel any better, stand guard by the door.”

“I will do that.” He crossed his massive arms over his chest and stood with legs braced apart next to the entrance to the ladies’ room. Araminta only hoped that no other woman needed to pee in a hurry. She didn’t think Leander would let them in.

She hurried to the first stall and took care of business. When she was done, she washed her hands and tucked some stray ends of hair behind her ears. She really needed to brush and braid it again but didn’t want to take the time. There was no telling how long Leander’s patience would hold.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, studying it and searching for changes in herself. Surely everything she’d gone through should have left its mark. Her eyes were tired and slightly bloodshot, but she didn’t look bad for a woman who’d been dragged into a war between a god and goddess, slept with an immortal warrior and been attacked by demons. She looked like herself, only exhausted and slightly shell-shocked.

She gripped the edge of the sink and took a deep breath. She could do this. After all, she really didn’t have a choice in the matter.

“Araminta?” The bathroom door was shoved open and Leander loomed large in the doorway.

“I’m coming. Hold onto your horses.”

He frowned at her, his expression becoming even more concerned. “But I have no horses. We drove in your car. Are you sure you are okay? Did you hit your head?”

In spite of her fatigue and fear, she smiled. “It’s just an expression. It means have some patience.”

He grunted and held the door for her but didn’t step back. Her arm grazed his chest as she walked by. It wasn’t fair. The guy had fought yucky demons. He should reek of sweat and demon, whatever the hell they’d smelled like, but instead a hot scent, much like the desert air, seemed to permeate his skin. It was delicious and made her want to rub herself against him.

Shaking off her growing arousal, she stalked to the counter. “Do you know what you want?” There were two young men in the lineup ahead of them so she motioned to the menu suspended from the ceiling behind the counter. “Everything they have is listed.”

Leander tilted back his head and studied the various meal deals and single offerings. It occurred to her that he might not know how to read. She wasn’t even sure what, if any, written language had existed when he’d last walked this world. Hieroglyphics maybe.

She sidled up to him and tugged on his hand. He leaned down so she could discreetly whisper in his ear. “Can you read?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes. Even though we were held in stasis for all those years, we absorbed all the learning and creations of mankind. I can read and speak all languages.” The corners of his lips tilted upward and she found herself holding her breath, hoping he would smile. “But it is much different experiencing it in the flesh.”

Araminta couldn’t begin to imagine how disconcerting it must be for him to be free and in a world that was so different from the one he’d left behind. The fact that he was functioning at all was to be admired. And he could read and speak all languages. That was intimidating as all get out. The guy was not only built like a god and a first-class warrior, but he was smart too. Compared to him, she was ordinary at best.

No, it was just as well that he was leaving once the curse was finally broken. Better to focus on practical matters and put aside all thoughts of him as a sexy, intelligent guy who she really liked in spite of his domineering tendencies.

“Do you even have to eat?” It occurred to her that he might not have to. After all, the guy was immortal. She had no idea what the rules were when it came to Leander.

“Not often. But I am hungry after going without for such a long time.” He pointed to one of the pictures. “What exactly is that?”

“It’s a breakfast sandwich with bacon, cheese and eggs.”

He nodded. “I will have some of those.”

The teenage boy behind the counter stared up at him when Leander stepped forward to place his order. “Can I take your order?”

Leander nodded and began to order. “I will have three of those.” He pointed at the breakfast sandwiches. “A number one, a number two and a number three breakfast.”

Araminta stood beside him, gaping at him as Leander continued to order. The boy behind the counter could barely keep up. She only hoped she had enough cash on her to pay for everything. He finally finished with two orange juices.

Leander turned to her. “What will you have?”

“Ah.” She wanted to say she wasn’t sure she could afford anything now that he’d ordered, but one glance at the excited expectation on his face and she resigned herself to whatever the meal would cost. She could use her bank card if she didn’t have enough cash on her. The guy hadn’t had food in several thousand years. No wonder he wanted to try everything. “I’ll have the number two breakfast with whole-wheat toast. And a coffee.”

He frowned. “That is all?”

“Believe me, that’s more than enough.” She gained weight easily and normally wouldn’t have eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast, but after the night she’d put in she figured she deserved it. “We’ll take it to go,” she told the young man, who was openly staring at Leander.

When he told her the price, she dug into her purse and came up with the money. Luckily, she had enough cash with three bucks to spare. She was happy not to have to use her bank card. She had no idea if Hades had access to such records or not, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Her squeaky-tight budget would take a slight hit but it was worth it. It was definitely the most expensive fast food order she’d ever had.

When the clerk started to bag their meal, it occurred to her that it probably wasn’t wise to let too many people see Leander. She’d gotten used to his odd features, but the clerk couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him and they’d also be on the security feed.

“Damn.” She should have thought of that. This whole cloak-and-dagger running from a vengeful god thing was new for her and she was bound to make mistakes. She only hoped it didn’t cost them their lives.

Beside her, Leander tensed. “What is it?”

She stepped back and snuck a look at the other patrons in the restaurant. There weren’t a lot as most folks were using the drive-thru this time of day, but there were enough. “You probably shouldn’t be in here. You draw too much attention. All we need is for someone to take a picture of you and post it on the Internet. Does Hades even use the Internet?” It felt crazy to even be asking a question like that, but it was necessary.

Leander brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, the light touch sending a quiver of desire pulsing through her. She needed to keep her wits about her and not succumb to his potent allure again. She needed coffee, hot, strong coffee. She was tired and on information overload and it would be all too easy to lean against Leander and let him take care of everything.

But that was only smoke and mirrors. He wasn’t staying, so she couldn’t let herself depend on him.

“Do not worry, my beauty. I will take care of that.”

Fear broke through her fatigue. “Don’t you dare do anything to bring more attention our way,” she commanded.

“Your order is up.” The teenager behind the counter shoved several large bags and a cardboard cup holder toward them. Araminta grabbed the drinks and one of the bags, leaving the rest for Leander.

He stayed behind her until they reached the door, then he moved in front of her. He gazed over the parking lot before herding her back to the car.

“What about the security cameras? And I think one of the other patrons took a picture of you with his cell phone.” Worry gnawed at her gut. She didn’t want the demons to find them again so soon. They probably knew where she lived, but maybe not. Araminta still had hope she could hide Leander there until the time ran out on the curse.

He waited until she was in the car with her door closed before sliding into the passenger seat. He set the bags on the floor at his feet. “I sent out a pulse of energy. All electronic gadgets will have malfunctioned while we were there. There will be nothing but static on the security tapes and the picture will be little more than a blur of color.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” She passed him the drinks. “Handy skill. Hold onto this, I’m going to park at another restaurant down the road and then we’ll eat.

Leander wiped his mouth with the napkin, feeling replete after thousands of years of gnawing hunger. The food seemed strange, but most of it was tasty. He hadn’t particularly enjoyed the hash browns, finding them too heavy and oily, and had left two of the three he’d ordered in the bag. The eggs and bacon were surprisingly good and he’d particularly enjoyed the breakfast sandwiches. The best of all was the orange juice.

“Here.” She held out a paper cup with steaming liquid. “Want to try my coffee?”

He reached over and took the cup from her hands, his fingers grazing hers. She sucked in a breath and quickly began to stuff her garbage into one of the paper bags. It was satisfying to know his touch affected her. Goddess only knew that her mere presence had him continually semi-aroused.

He caught a whiff of her scent—lavender, tinted with light arousal—and he barely swallowed a groan. Now was not the time or place. Araminta had been right about that back at the hotel, and it was even truer now. They were in a vehicle out in the open. They were also among people, which would hopefully temper Hades’ actions. Any kind of public fight would bring unwanted attention and the chance that the other gods and goddesses would discover what he was up to.

Leander canted his head to one side and let that thought simmer. Maybe he should take Araminta to a heavily populated area and keep her there until the time ran out on the curse. Of course, Hades had no scruples and could easily involve innocent people in their fight. What to do?

“Are you okay?” Her voice snapped him back from his thoughts.

“I am fine.”

“You going to try that?” She motioned to the cup in his hand. He brought the cup to his lips and sipped. The brew was bitter. He frowned and tasted it again. It didn’t get any better.

“You enjoy this?” It was foul stuff, not at all how he’d imagined it given Araminta’s obvious enjoyment of the beverage.

She laughed and took the cup from his hands. “It’s an acquired taste.” She took a large mouthful and swallowed before releasing a satisfied sigh.

Leander grunted and decided he did not particularly like coffee. He would like to try tea sometime. Maybe that would be more to his liking. And it was one of the two most common and socially acceptable beverages on the planet. Every culture served a variation of one or both of them. If he was going to live in this strange new world he would have to learn to adapt.

If being the operative word. They had to survive the rest of the day until the clock stuck midnight tonight.

Araminta wiped her hands with a paper napkin and shoved it into the bag with the garbage. “We need to get rid of this and get back on the road.”

“I’ll do it.” He didn’t want her away from the minimal protection the vehicle gave her, not even to walk to the garbage can a few feet away. If they were attacked she could always drive away. Not that she would if previous experience was any indication. He was still angry at how she’d put her life in danger back at the parking garage.

He shot her a glare. “Stay in the car and do not move.”

Rather than be intimidated by him, she shot him a saucy smile and saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

His lips twitched but he refused to smile. She had to take the threat to her personal safety seriously. The worst was yet to come.

He grabbed the bags, opened all his senses and scanned the area before climbing out of the car. The garbage can was clearly marked and only ten feet away from them. He kept his eyes and ears peeled for any sound or movement that didn’t belong. It was more difficult to use his sense of smell as the acrid odor of garbage and gasoline filled the air.

He heard Araminta’s phone ring just as he reached the garbage. He dumped the paper bags and hurried back to the car. She was just answering it as he slid back into his seat and shut the door.

“Where are you?” The voice on the other end was female and extremely agitated. Leander’s ears twitched with curiosity as he used his enhanced hearing to listen to her conversation, experiencing not a twinge of guilt at doing so. Everything in her life for the next eighteen hours or so concerned him.

“I’m about fifteen minutes from home. I got delayed with some minor car trouble.”

Leander muffled a laugh. He guessed bouncing demons off the hood of her vehicle counted as car trouble. She shot him a glare and returned to her call.

Something deep inside him shifted and settled. He didn’t understand what it was at first. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he’d never experienced before in spite of all the years he’d lived. It was contentment.

Araminta soothed the savage beast within him. Both he and the lion were content to simply be in her presence, to watch her graceful movements as she gestured while she talked, to listen to her warm, soothing voice. She truly belonged to them.

“I won’t be much longer. I promise. Are the police still there?”

“Yes,” Mary Jo answered. “They said they’d stay since you were on your way.”

“Tell them we’ll be there shortly.”

“We?” Mary Jo questioned.

Araminta ignored the question. “I meant I’ll be there shortly. See you in a bit.” She disconnected the call and tossed her phone into her purse. “We have to get going.” She started the car and pulled on her seatbelt. “Buckle up.”

Leander didn’t want to put on the safety harness. He felt jammed into the vehicle as it was. But one glance at Araminta’s face told him she was going to be stubborn over this. He heaved a sigh, grabbed the belt and snapped it in place just as she had. The cloth band tightened against his chest.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He growled at her and her eyes widened. She said nothing and quickly pulled out of the lot and onto the road. The next ten minutes passed in silence.

“What are we going to tell the police about you? They’ll ask who you are and they’ll want to see identification.” Araminta chewed on her bottom lip and several of her fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “That’s going to be a problem.” She glanced over at him. “I assume you don’t have any identification handy, certainly not a birth certificate or a driver’s license. You won’t exist in any database.”

He hadn’t considered that. In this world people seemed to need multiple pieces of paper and numbers to prove they existed. It was indeed strange. All they’d have to do is look at him to know he existed. “I will not leave you.” Just the thought made his chest tighten. Leaving her alone would be a clear invitation to Hades and his minions to attack.

“Well, you can’t very well come with me, can you?” Her fingers continued their rhythm. “I can drop you off at the corner of my street. You can wait until you see the police cars go and then join me at the house.”

“No.” When it came to her safety he was unmovable.

Her lips tightened and she frowned. “It’s a good plan.”

“It leaves you vulnerable to attack.”

“I’ll be surrounded by the police,” she pointed out.

Leander snorted. “That will not stop Hades.”

“But if you come with me and have no identification the police might decide to take you in for questioning. What then? I could be alone for hours.”

Leander’s growl filled the car. His lion was furious at the mere thought of Araminta being left alone to fend for herself against Hades. His fingernails elongated and dug into the leather seat, ripping it slightly.

“Hey, watch the claws.”

He opened his mouth, tilted back his head and roared his displeasure. Araminta jerked and the car swerved one way and then another before she righted it. Several vehicles passed them, horns blaring.

“Stop that.” It was the quaver in her voice that shamed him. He hadn’t meant to frighten her.

“I am not angry with you,” he growled, “but at the situation.”

“I understand that.” She glanced around and then veered into the deserted parking lot of a small grocery store. Seconds later, she cut the engine and they sat in thickening silence.

Dawn had arrived while they’d been eating and a splendor of orange, yellow and red tinged the sky. He wished he were standing on a mountaintop with Araminta in his arms so he could really see and enjoy his first sunrise in more than five thousand years. Maybe tomorrow if all went well.

“Leander,” she finally began, pulling his attention from the rising sun. She reached out and touched his arm and her warmth soaked into his skin. “It’s the only way. If the police want to take you in for questioning, I’ll be in even more danger.”

“I will not let them take you from me.” He undid her seatbelt and pulled her onto his lap. It was a tight fit, but he didn’t mind having her plastered against his body.

“Hey.” She threw out her arms to balance herself. “What are you doing?” He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent into his lungs. It helped settle him even as it pushed his arousal to a new level.

She sighed and leaned back so she could see his face. “What am I going to do with you?”

The words love me were on his lips, but he did not speak them. Now was not the time. He’d only met Araminta mere hours ago, but already she was his life. His sole purpose was to keep her safe. He trusted his instincts and they were roaring at him to protect her. She was a gift from the goddess, and one he planned on keeping.

“Leander.” She pressed her hands against his face, her eyes solemn. “You can’t attack the police. That will only bring more of them. And what if they shoot you?”

“I am immortal.” It would take more than bullets to stop him. Only beheading him or tearing out his heart would work. And the second one was iffy. He might be able to regenerate a heart. He wasn’t quite certain.

“But I’m not.” The sadness in her voice threatened to unman him. “If you’re taken by the police or harmed I’ll be all alone to face Hades.”

The fact that she was right didn’t make the situation any easier. He hugged her close to his heart, enjoying the soft press of her breast against his chest and the push of her thigh against his groin. Her sweet essence filled his nostrils and he knew he would be able to find her no matter where she was in the world.

“All right.” He caught the edge of her chin with his thumb and forefinger and tilted her head up. “We do this your way. But if you are harmed I will not be happy.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” Her dry tone once again reminded him of her sense of humor and her boundless courage. She was going into this situation alone. To protect him.

It was almost more than he could bear. It made him feel trapped, much like he’d been for all those centuries. Now that he was free, he wanted to fight, to protect.

He leaned down and captured her tender mouth, savoring its softness and the bitter taste of the coffee she’d had earlier. Maybe he’d acquired the taste after all, for he now found himself enjoying it quite a bit as he nipped playfully at her lips.

He forced himself to break away. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.”

He sighed in resignation. “Then let’s get this over with.” The faster the authorities were dealt with, the quicker he would be back with her.

“Everything will be okay,” she promised. “You’ll see.” She climbed back into the driver’s seat and started the car.

Leander closed his eyes and prayed she was right.

A gentle hand touched the Lady of the Beasts. She opened her eyes and peered up into the face of an elderly Native American man with black hair liberally streaked with gray. “My name is John Running Bear and I am here to help you.”

She smiled up at him, feeling the power that ran through his fragile human form. This was a man of great strength and integrity. “Thank you.”

He shook out a blanket and wrapped it around her naked body. With a show of strength that belied his years, he lifted her easily and carried her though the thick woods. The Lady soaked in the sounds of the forest—the wind in the trees, the hoot of an owl and John’s soft breath against her face. The birds swooped and flew ahead of them, adding their voices to the mix. In the distance, a wolf howled his lonely song.

“How did you find me?” She hadn’t called him to her, hadn’t had the strength to do so.

John smiled, and the lines radiating out from the corners of his eyes deepened. “Ah, the brother bear came to me and would not leave until I followed him.”

The Lady frowned. “Marko is here?” She didn’t sense her warrior in the area.

John shook his head. “No, Lady. Although I have met your Marko, it was the bear of the forest I followed here. In fact, there was a parade of animals heading to the meadow where I found you. It was no hardship to follow them.”

The Lady pulled herself upright and glanced over John’s shoulder. The corners of her mouth turned upward at the sight behind them. Deer and bear, fox and squirrel, animals big and small, enemies and friends all trotted on the path. For the first time in more than five thousand years, she laughed.

John stopped in his tracks and the trees themselves shivered in delight. The air itself wrapped around her in a loving caress and the early morning sunlight fought its way through the thick branches to reach her.

“It is good to be free.”

As if her words released him from his thrall, John began to walk again. “There is a story in my family passed down from generation to generation of a goddess who was beloved by the animals and, indeed, by the very earth itself.”

“Yes.” She sighed and rested her head on John’s shoulder. “I have been gone for far too long.”

“But you are back.”

She nodded. “I am back.”

“Rest. You are safe,” he assured her.

“I am safe, but not all my warriors are. Some are lost to me. Others, their fate undecided.”

“But some have fought and survived,” John reminded her.

“So they have,” she agreed. “So they have.” She closed her eyes and let herself rest, knowing she was finally safe from Hades. But the battle for her warriors was still ongoing, and she would not stop until she’d done all she could to help them win their freedom.