Pride of the Lion

Chapter Eleven

Araminta pressed her fingers against her tingling lips and stared at the back door. The sound of it slamming still rang in the air. The man was driving her crazy with his mixed signals. One minute it seemed as though he didn’t want to be anywhere near her, and the next he was all over her.

Her nipples tightened and she swallowed a moan as her pussy clenched. The man was so damn sexy all he had to do was walk in a room and she wanted him. Which was crazy given the situation they were in.

She admired the fact he was trying to remain in control and not give in to the sexual urges they both had. He was staying focused on the task at hand—survival. She should follow his lead and do the same.

She took a deep breath and slowly released it. Her body was still hyperaware but slightly more under control. She headed back to the bedroom, grabbed the garbage bag and carried it into the smaller bedroom, which acted as her office. Papers were strewn everywhere. Most of them were of no importance to anyone but her. There were contracts and manuscripts and reams of research.

The mess was quite daunting.

Even if her manuscripts had been taken, she still had all of them on a flash drive that was attached to her key chain tucked away safely in her purse, plus they were all on her laptop as well. Her laptop case now sat just inside the office door where she’d stored it earlier. Against Leander’s protests, she’d gotten her suitcase and computer out of the car, figuring her belongings would be safer in the house. Now she wasn’t sure, but it was too late to do anything about it.

She thought about taking out her laptop and trying to do some work. Anything to take her mind off the mess her life had become. But the jumble of papers wasn’t going to go away unless she took care of it, and only she could sort out the paper explosion on the floor.

She gingerly walked across the floor to her desk. Her favorite paperweight, a rock from the coast of Maine, sat unmoved and undamaged. She and her grandmother had taken the trip the year before her grandmother had passed away. They’d rented a cabin on the beach and had spent five glorious days there. She ran her finger over the memento.

Family pictures and several award certificates still hung on the wall, their glass frames intact. There was no quick way to deal with this mess. She’d have to sort through it one piece of paper at a time.

That called for coffee and maybe a piece of the coffee cake that Mary Jo had brought over. She could practically hear it calling to her from the kitchen counter. Maybe she should have some cake first. After all, if she didn’t make it through today she wouldn’t need to worry about her weight any longer. And if she did make it through today she’d probably need the extra calories to fight demons. Made perfect sense to her. Cake first, clean later.

“I thought he’d never leave.” The feminine voice was laced with boredom and a hint of malice.

Araminta whirled around, kicking up several pieces of paper in her wake. Heart pounding in her chest, she faced the intruder.

Luna Starquest was leaning against the doorjamb with her arms crossed under her ample breasts. As always, her outfit was stylish and form fitting. The dark-blue low-cut dress clung to her curves and stopped barely south of her crotch. She was wearing matching shoes with heels that had to be at least six inches.

“What are you doing here?” Araminta couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that Luna was standing in the middle of her home. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. Besides, the front door was locked and Leander was out back. Could she have slipped past Leander?

Luna laughed. “Haven’t you put it all together yet?” Luna straightened away from the door and gave a mock sigh. “Really. Do you think I’d bother with a little nobody like yourself if you didn’t have something I wanted?”

That hit her where it hurt the most. Araminta was very insecure about her ability as a writer. No one, not even her beloved grandmother, had thought she could make her living selling her stories. Her last serious boyfriend had informed her it was time to grow up and put childish dreams aside and concentrate on her real job. That’s when she’d shown him the door. Even her recent success hadn’t put a dent in her self-doubt.

Luna’s gaze tracked over the mess on the floor. “Had a slight problem, have you? You poor dear.” Her mocking tone shook Araminta out of her funk and stiffened her spine.

“What do you want?” Several memories tumbled across her brain. Luna had been there. She suddenly remembered how Luna had encouraged her to ride the lion on the carousel, had been there when everything went strange. Her memories of exactly what had happened were vague, but Luna had been there, of that she was certain. “You’re part of this, aren’t you?”

Luna touched the tip of her nose and laughed. “Smart girl. Took you long enough to figure it out.” She shook her head, her smile slightly cruel and the pity in her gaze more mocking than real. “Why Hades even wants to bother with you, I don’t know. But he does, so that’s that.”

“What do you mean?” Adrenaline pumped through her veins, swallowing the fear that threatened to swamp her. Luna was one of Hades’ minions. She didn’t look evil, but then evil seldom did, which is why it was so effective. She’d do well to remember that.

Luna reached into her deep cleavage and pulled out a rolled document about eight inches wide. It seemed to Araminta that it appeared out of nowhere, because no way had it been there before. Luna’s dress was so tight it wasn’t possible Araminta could have missed the bulge it would have made.

The other woman flicked her wrist and the document unrolled. It appeared to be parchment paper with fancy calligraphy covering it. “Hades has a proposition for you.”

Her knees grew weak at Luna’s pronouncement, and Araminta leaned against the desk. The scene was unfolding exactly like it had in the books she’d written. Hades offered a deal to one or both of the people involved. This situation was totally surreal, but it was also all too real. It was hard for her to wrap her head around it.

Even though she knew what her answer would be, she had to kill time. Leander would be back soon. Or at least she hoped he would. She had no idea what might have happened to him, but she hadn’t expected him to stay outside for so long. Something must have happened to him. Worry ate at her, but she shoved aside her darker emotions and strove for calm.

Struggling for nonchalance she didn’t feel, Araminta put her palms on the desk behind her to support her quivering body and summoned up a strained smile. “Well, I’m waiting.”

Luna smirked, her ruby-red lips curving upward in a smile that was more cruel than friendly. “Look at you, all brave. We’ll see how long that lasts.”

Araminta’s hand inched back toward the rock paperweight. As weapons went, it wasn’t much, but it was something. “I’m waiting.” It might not be smart to taunt Luna, but Araminta was tired of being bullied by the woman or demon or whatever she was.

“Hades, Lord of the Underworld, sends his greetings. He’s offering you fame and fortune beyond your wildest dreams. What have you always wanted?” Luna’s voice deepened and seemed to fade into the background as she continued. The more Luna spoke, the easier Araminta could see the world the other woman described unfolding in front of her. “Best-selling novels, awards, your books being made into movies, crowds of people who love you. It’s all yours. But there’s more.” Luna paused and her words seemed to permeate Araminta’s very soul. “A family. A handsome husband. Someone to love you forever.”

“Yes,” Araminta whispered. She could see it all so easily in her mind’s eye. She was happy and actually skinny in the vision of her new life. Awards lined the shelves of the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in her new office/library. The room was larger than the home she’d grown up in.

Outside the window was a garden in full bloom. Lilac blossoms scented the air along with the sweet smell of freshly cut grass. It was one of her most favorite smells in the world.

“Hey, beautiful.” She turned away from the window and watched as a tall, handsome man joined her. His hair was dark and fell to his broad shoulders. His eyes were a vivid green. A faint scar bisected his right cheek. He was the spitting image of the hero from the first book she’d ever written.

Araminta frowned. There was something wrong with this picture. Before she could clear the fog from her brain and figure out what was bothering her, the man put his arms around her waist, leaned in and kissed her. This was no first kiss, but one of longtime lovers. His lips were cold against hers, and she had the urge to shove him away and run just as fast as she could.

She put her hands against his broad chest and pushed. He released her and smiled as though he sensed nothing wrong between them.

“You’re looking beautiful as always, my sweet.” He picked up a file from the desk to his right. “Just a small piece of business to take care of today. You need to sign this contract, babe. Nothing is final until you sign.”

Araminta blinked. Her mind was fuzzy and something wasn’t right. “I don’t know.”

“What’s to know?” the man said. “You know you want me. You want all of this. And it can be yours.” He shifted behind her and kissed her neck. A shiver raced down her spine. Her blood ran cold. “We were meant to be together, you and I. Our life will be perfect.” He nibbled on her lobe and whispered in her ear. “All you have to do is sign.”

It suddenly occurred to her that she didn’t know the name of the man kissing her. Nor did she recognize the home she was standing in. Nothing about this place was familiar.

The walls seemed to shiver around her, fading in and out of focus, revealing darkness beyond. She shook her head and pulled away from the man. “No. This isn’t right. You’re not right.” She’d created him for a book. He didn’t truly exist. “None of this is real. You’re not real.”

In the distance, a lion roared. The loud, tortured sound snapped Araminta out of the fog that enveloped her like a thick blanket. She blinked, mentally fighting her way out of the stupor that held her captive. It wasn’t easy. A part of her wanted to stay, wanted to sink into the vision and bask in the attention of the handsome man, to curl up in the corner of that magnificent library, to read the engravings on the awards on the shelves.

Still, a part of her knew it wasn’t real, didn’t really exist anywhere other than in her mind. Leander was real. Hades’ curse was real. She closed the fingers of one hand around something slender and hard, digging her fingernails into her palm. She tightened her other hand around the rock she held. That was reality, not the pretty, cold picture Luna had painted for her.

The man and the beautiful home slowly began to fade, gradually disappearing into the shadows until she was back in her office with Luna standing next to her, contract on the desk in front of them. Araminta had a pen clenched in her right hand. Horror filled her at the thought of what she’d almost done. She threw the pen across the room where it bounced off the wall, cracked and landed on the floor. Ink seeped out onto the carpet.

“No! You can’t trick me like that. I won’t sign.” She felt the rock paperweight beneath her other hand and squeezed it. Her stomach was queasy from whatever Luna had done to her. It had been like being trapped in a waking dream where you knew something was wrong but you couldn’t escape. It was pure evil.

Luna shook her head in obvious disgust. “You stupid females are all the same. You could have everything you’ve ever wanted and you turn it down. And what does that get you.” She shook her finger at Araminta. “I’ll tell you what. Nothing.”

Bosom heaving and nostrils flaring, Luna gestured to the contract still sitting on the desk. “All the warriors have their own agenda, and they don’t care if you have to die in order for them to succeed. Don’t expect Leander to protect you when the chips are down.”

“Several of the women have survived.” She’d written about it in her books. She knew there was a chance.

“Are you sure?” Luna taunted. “Do you know what parts of your book are real and what parts are just you making up your sickly sweet happy endings?”

Araminta’s chest tightened. No, she didn’t know for certain. All she had was hope. A thought hit her from out of nowhere and she suddenly knew what Hades’ minions had been searching for. But she had to get rid of Luna and find Leander before she went for it.

“Why don’t you go back to wherever you came from? We’re done here.”

Luna’s laughter was like nails down a chalkboard. “I may be done with you, but I’m not done yet.” She turned and glanced over her shoulder and crooked a finger toward the doorway. “Here kitty, kitty.”

Leander sauntered into the room, trying to appear as detached as possible, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Araminta standing there safe and sound. The contract on the desk in front of her was a stark reminder of how close he’d come to losing her to the dark side.

Seeing Araminta with the pen in her hand poised over the contract had given him a shock. Then he’d noticed her eyes. They were glazed over like she was drugged or something. He knew then that she was trapped in some sort of waking dream much like the one that had temporarily snared him in the garden.

The devil was cunning. Instead of fighting Leander, he’d slowly captured him in a web of pleasant dreams, one where Leander and his fellow warriors were sitting around a campfire swapping stories of past glories. It had been so real he could still smell the wood smoke on his skin.

He’d missed those times and his friends. They’d been trapped together, but communication had dwindled over the long years to the occasional thought or passing of information. He hadn’t heard any of them speak aloud in thousands of years.

The cool air, the campfire and the companionship had all dulled his senses. It was only the lion pacing within him and the nagging feeling something was wrong that had roused him from the web of deceit surrounding him. Once he’d broken the pretext of the vision, it had shattered into a thousand pieces, leaving him alone, cold and empty inside.

He’d raced to the back door, fear striking his heart when he realized it was wide open. Control was key, so he’d forced himself to go slowly, give away his presence to whoever was inside.

He’d heard Araminta’s voice first, sounding slightly slurred and weak. Then he’d heard the other voice and his blood ran cold. Now he faced the woman who called herself Luna. She’d had many names over the years, but he easily recognized the stench rolling off of her. She belonged to Hades.

He didn’t dare do more than glance at Araminta, needing to keep all his attention on Luna. He wished the demon weren’t quite so close to Araminta. He needed to get Luna away from her.

He leaned against the wall and crossed his ankles, appearing like a man with nothing much on his mind. “What’s on your mind, demon?”

Luna laughed and came toward him, her movements slow and sensual. “Now there’s no need for name calling, kitty.”

He cocked a brow at her and folded his arms over his massive chest. Araminta straightened behind Luna. She appeared unharmed and he gave thanks to the Lady for that.

Luna stopped in front of him and walked her fingers up his chest, the dark-red tips of her fingernails looking more like blood against his leather tunic. He captured her hand and thrust her back. She teetered on her high heels but quickly regained her balance. “You warriors are all the same. You never want to have any fun.”

“I don’t mind fun,” he began. Luna licked her lips and blatantly stared at his crotch. “But I’m particular about who I have it with.”

Luna jerked back as though he’d struck her, and her eyes began to glow a hellish shade of red. Some of the glamour slipped from her façade and he caught a glimpse of the demon beneath. Leathery skin in a dark shade of brown, fingers like talons and razor-sharp teeth. But in the blink of an eye, Luna, in all her sexual glory, was back.

“Your loss.” She shrugged and sauntered back to the desk, lifting the parchment in her left hand. “I guess that means it’s time to get back to business.” She tossed a glance over her shoulder at Araminta. “But really, you’d rather fuck that plump little mouse than have some of this?” Luna ran her free hand over her breast and down between her thighs.

Totally disgusted by the display, Leander gave a curt nod. Inside him, his lion paced, wanting to leap and take the demon down and tear out her throat for the insult to his mate. He restrained the beast, but he felt his nails growing into claws and knew his facial features had shifted somewhat, leaving him looking more like an animal than ever.

“There’s no accounting for taste, is there?” Luna carried on, totally unconcerned by how close she was to losing her head. But Leander wanted to hear what Hades had to say before he dispatched her. As Roric had always said, knowledge was power.

Behind Luna, Araminta started to move. He didn’t dare look at her and alert the demon. He willed her to stay where she was, but knew she wouldn’t. Araminta was stubborn to a fault. It was one of the things he adored about her even as it made him want to shake her. He gave a sigh of relief when Luna moved back closer to him.

“Hades, Lord of the Underworld, blah, blah, blah,” Luna began.

One corner of Leander’s mouth kicked up. “I don’t think Hades would appreciate his words being described as blah, blah, blah. You wouldn’t want me to misunderstand the message, would you?”

Luna heaved a sigh. “You warriors are definitely more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Hades doesn’t think so,” he reminded her.

Striking a pose with one hip cocked, Luna began reading every word on the parchment. Leander ignored most of the rhetoric, keeping one eye on the demon and the other one on Araminta. His lion was pacing, insisting something wasn’t right. Would Hades send more demons to attack? Likely, but when?

Leander pulled his attention back to Luna when she reached the part about Hades’ offer. “I will free the Lady of the Beasts from Hell if you join me in my quest to secure my dominance over the world.”

In the distance, almost as though it was in his heart and not his ears, Leander swore he could hear chanting of some kind. Over the deep male voices, he could hear one feminine one, and it made him smile. A surge of power shot through him and in his heart he knew the truth.

“Hades can’t offer what he doesn’t have. The Lady is free from his domain.” She was still incredibly weak, but somehow he knew she’d made it out of Hell on her own. His Lady was nothing if not resilient.

The Lady of the Beasts soaked up the power of the group who sat around the campfire chanting. She was perched in the center of the circle near the blaze, enjoying the heat on her flesh. It was so different from the dry, fetid air in Hades’ domain.

She watched John, the elderly shaman, dance around the outside of the group, his voice strong and sure above all the rest. They hadn’t forgotten her. The centuries might have left her name in dust on the earth, but there were pockets of people who still worshiped her, still respected her. It was from them she drew power.

John had told her of the green movement, those who wanted to protect the land and the animals. That was her domain and thus she drew power from it. There was still plenty of greed and corruption and fear and anger to feed Hades, but she was no longer as weak as she’d been.

The delicious vegetable soup she’d eaten earlier had nourished her body and now the chanting was renewing her soul. Her limbs were no longer skinny and fragile, but firm and strong. She could feel the years of her captivity falling away.

Laughing, she rose to her feet, let the blanket fall away and began to dance, her naked body moving to the rhythms of the chant. The very earth itself seemed to embrace her, as though welcoming her back. Tears came to her eyes as she absorbed pure power from the soil through the soles of her feet.

She raised her arms and cried out to her warriors, praying they would hear her and would feel her power. They would know Hades no longer held her captive.

Deep in the hills of North Carolina, a large man walked across his yard, basking in a moment of utter contentment as he pictured the woman waiting inside the house. His life had changed much in the past months and, although his life was blessed, he could not forget his fellow warriors, his friends who were still in jeopardy.

Suddenly, he froze in mid-stride. A heavy weight lifted from his soul and it sang with unfettered joy. The tiger within him roared with pleasure.

The back door slammed open and Aimee, his mate and the very reason he was alive, rushed toward him. “What is it? I can feel some sort of energy swirling in my chest.” Worry filled her face and he knew it would take long years before the fear of Hades truly left her.

He grabbed her in his arms and swung her around in a circle. “The Lady. She has escaped from Hell. I can sense her in my heart.”

Aimee wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on. “That’s what that is?” She twined her legs around his waist and immediately he wanted her.

“Yes. You can sense her now because you share my essence, my life’s energy.”

“Wow. It feels warm and kinda nice.” She nibbled on her bottom lip and he immediately wanted to taste her mouth. “What should we do? Should we go find her?”

Roric cocked his head to one side and concentrated. “I can feel her, but I don’t know where she is. We will listen with our hearts and wait. We will find her or she will find us.”

Aimee’s cell phone rang and she yanked it out of the back pocket of her jeans. “It’s Kellsie.” She answered the phone. “Hey, Kellsie.”

“Did you feel that?”

Aimee laughed. “We certainly did.” She could hear a male voice in the background urging Kellsie to give him the phone.

“Marko wants to speak with Roric.”

“I figured as much.” She held out the phone to Roric. “Marko wants to talk to you.”

“I’d rather talk to you.” Roric buried his face in her neck and nuzzled her.

She laughed and shoved the phone against his mouth. “Talk.”

He growled at the man on the other end of the line. “I’ll call you later, Marko.” He could hear the bear laughing as Aimee clicked off the phone. “We need to celebrate this momentous occasion. Then we’ll make plans.”

“I’m all for celebrating,” Aimee agreed. Roric held her close to his body and carried her into the house and up to their room so they could celebrate in the most elemental way possible. And if he knew Marko, his fellow warrior and Kellsie were about to celebrate too.

As he set Aimee on the bed, he wondered if this meant another warrior had been released from the curse and was now fighting for his freedom. Aimee pulled him down to her and the thought was lost. If the battle had already begun, there was little they could do to help unless they were contacted. He hated feeling so helpless, wondering if his fellow warrior would last the night.

But his sadness and anger were tempered by his joy, and his heart was filled with a warm light, as though the Lady was trying to soothe his soul. He inhaled her power, her magic, and turned to the miracle he’d been given by the goddess he served. Sensing what he needed from her, Aimee opened her arms to him and, when he eagerly went into them, she kissed him.