Enslaved (36 page)

Orcus bowed and backed out of the room. “Yes, my lord.”

Things were finally starting to go his way. As he rocked back on his heels and enjoyed the view, Hades clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. He couldn’t wait until his wife returned from Olympus. Couldn’t wait to tell her he’d finally killed that fucking stain of hers and that he had the Orb.

Couldn’t wait to enjoy her reaction.

***

Morning light streamed over Gryphon where he lay with his head propped against the headboard, one leg kicked out of the covers, the other pinned to the mattress. He hadn’t slept. His chest still vibrated with too many emotions, his head with a thousand thoughts and memories. Some he didn’t want to remember. Some he wanted to experience all over again.

He glanced down at Maelea tucked tight to his side, sound asleep, her legs intertwined with his under the blanket. Her head lay pillowed on his chest, her warm breath heating his skin. Her features were relaxed, her dark hair a fall of black silk around her face. In the hazy light, her skin all but glowed, so soft, so perfect, like the smoothest porcelain. Every time he looked at her, he remembered the way she’d held him yesterday. The things she’d said. He still couldn’t believe, after everything he’d told her, that she wanted to be with him.

He wanted to roll her over, wake her up with his mouth, with his hands, with his body. Knew he wouldn’t, because he’d worn her out last night making love to her and she needed to rest. But it didn’t stop him from wanting, from needing, from dreaming about forever with her.

All
I
want
is
you, Gryphon. For a few years, for as long as we’ve got together.

He intended to give her more than a few years. He planned to give her at least five hundred. He’d leave the Argonauts. They could settle anywhere. As long as they were together, that was all that mattered. But first he had to deal with Atalanta.

He tipped his head back against the headboard, closed his eyes. His heart pinched at the thought of leaving her so soon after this bond they’d created had solidified. But he didn’t have another option. He was running out of time. He’d already wasted two months at the colony trying to get his head to work right, a week and a half tucked away in this house here with her. He’d never wanted the Argonauts to know his shame, which is why he’d never told any of them—even Orpheus—about his tie to Atalanta. But now that he was stronger, now that he knew he could fight her voice, he was confident he could find the demigod and destroy her before Krónos’s allotted six months were up. And when he had, when that tie between them was severed for good, then he could come back here. He and Maelea could pick up where they left off. His life could finally start.

He ignored the tingle of doubt that rushed over his spine. Told himself he could handle it. That he’d win. There wasn’t another option. Not when he finally had something to live for.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, slipped out from under her, and made his way to the shower. Floorboards creaked under his feet. He flipped on the water to heat, then looked in the mirror.

For months he’d avoided his reflection. Couldn’t stand to see that dead look in his eyes. But this morning…it was like looking at the old him. Before the Underworld. Before all the pain and suffering and hopelessness. This morning, he looked like himself again. All thanks to Maelea.

The water was warm and invigorating. And strength seeped back into his bones. A strength he’d lacked these last few months. He showered, dressed, and was surprised when he stepped into the bedroom to see the bed empty.

He moved to the curtains, pulled them back, and looked out over the beach. Maelea stood ankle deep in the surf, wearing a thin white robe, staring out at the water while her hair floated behind her in the gentle breeze. And watching her in the early morning sunlight, that heart she’d resurrected warmed in his chest, sending tendrils of energy all through his body.

He jogged down the stairs, caught the scent of coffee brewing. When he reached the kitchen, he saw the coffee was only half-done, which meant she hadn’t been up that long. He decided not to wait for it, bypassed the therillium glowing orange under the heat lamp in the corner of the kitchen, and pushed the screen door open.

Night and water. Those were two things he’d learned she loved. Wherever they ended up, it had to be on a beach like this. So she could have the water. So she could spend time out here at night. So they could make love under the stars with the waves rolling gently against the shore.

Cool water brushed over his bare feet as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Good morning.”

She reached for his arms at her waist, tipped her head to give him more room. “Mmm…good morning to you.”

He kissed her cheek, then her mouth when she turned. He loved the way she tasted, loved the way she smelled, loved that she didn’t shy away from him. She shifted in his arms, ran her hands up around his neck. Opened to him when the tip of his tongue slid along her bottom lip. Moaned just the slightest bit as he dipped inside for a taste.

When he eased back, her eyes had that sleepy, dreamy look to them. The one he loved to see.

“You’re up early this morning,” she said as she rested her cheek against his chest and he tightened his arms around her back. “I heard the shower running.”

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay.” Her lips curled against him. “As long as you let me sleep at least a little later.”

His chest tightened. “Maelea, I need to talk to you about later.”

She eased back and looked up with a furrow between her perfect eyebrows. “Why doesn’t that sound all sweet and sexy like I want it to sound?”

Because she was smart. He let go of her when she stepped back. “I told you yesterday that I only have six months to find Atalanta.”

“I remember.”

“I’m running out of time. If I don’t go now I could find myself in trouble.”

Understanding dawned immediately in her eyes. “I’ll go pack.” She took a step around him. “How long should I—?”

He snagged her arm, turned her back to him, awed by the fact she didn’t even hesitate. “No.”

“What?”

He reached for her other hand, laced his fingers with hers. Tried like hell to find the right words and knew he never could, so he just said what he’d already decided. “I don’t want you to come with me.”

Confusion crossed her face. “Why not? I thought you needed me? I thought last night we decided—”

He tightened his grip on her hands. “I do need you. More than you will ever know. Which is why you have to stay here.”

“Gryphon—”

“Just listen to me. I used you. At first it was to get out of the colony. And then when I realized how you calmed me, I used you so I could think clearly. I was even willing to use you in spite of what might happen to you along the way, but not anymore. All that time at the colony, after Orpheus brought me back, when he’d lost Skyla…I didn’t understand what he was going through, how he could hurt so bad after just finding her. But now I do. I can’t lose you like that, Maelea. I won’t put you at risk.”

“But you need me if you’re—”

“I need you alive. I need to know you’re safe. If Atalanta has any idea what you mean to me, she’ll use you against me. She’ll hurt you, and I can’t—won’t—let that happen.”

Worry filled her eyes. “But—”

“This is not about you not being strong,
sotiria
. You’re the strongest woman I know. The bravest too, to face down not only me, but daemons and hellhounds and,
skata
, my brother.” He tried to smile, knew from her worried expression it didn’t help. “This is about knowing that when I’m finally free, I have you to come back to.”

“But how will you be able to focus without me there to block the darkness?”

“Look in my eyes, Maelea. They’re clear. For the first time in months. I’m not going to lose that when I’m gone. Not if I know I’ve got you to come back to. If I’m going to find Atalanta, I have to let the darkness pull me toward her.” He brushed his thumb across her smooth cheek. “But I’m not afraid of it anymore. I know I can fight it now. Thanks to you.”

She stared at his T-shirt, her expression so filled with worry and dread, he let go of her hand, threaded his fingers in her hair, stepped close, and tipped her face up to his. “I’m coming back. I promise you that. This is real. This is everything to me. Now that I know what I have to live for, I’m not about to lose it.”

Her eyes slid closed. And when he brushed his lips over hers, she gripped his elbows and kissed him back, telling him with her mouth what he already knew in his heart.

She was his. For better or worse, for however long they had together. She was his alone.

He wrapped his arms around her, held her tight. Her hands slid up his back. Her fingers gripped his shoulder blades as she turned her head against his chest and he rested his cheek on her hair.

“Will you wait for me?” he asked.

“That depends,” she said with a hitch to her voice. “How long do you plan to be gone?”

He smiled and hugged her closer because he recognized the teasing in her words. And the heartache. “As short as possible.”

She pushed back again. “How will you get to her? She has daemons all around her. What will you—?”

He placed his fingers over her lips. “Don’t think about it. I don’t want you to worry.”

“But—”

“I know how she thinks. I spent three months with her. I’ll find a way.”

Her gaze raked his face. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Only feeling. She hated this. She was scared. She didn’t want him to go.

“I’m coming back, Maelea. I promise. My heart beats because of you. It will always find its way back to you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She pulled him close again, held on tight. So tight, he felt her everywhere. And as the waves washed against their feet, he knew no matter what happened, this was the best moment of his life. He was loved. Not because of his title. Not because of what he could do. Even in spite of everything he’d done in the Underworld. He was loved simply for who he was.

“Come inside and help me gather my things?”

She eased out of his arms when he let go, swiped at her cheeks. “You go ahead. I need a minute.”

She was hurting. He knew he’d sprung this on her without warning. He could give her a few minutes. He kissed her cheek, knowing he was going to remember that jasmine scent of hers wherever he went. That just the memory would give him strength. “Don’t be long.”

The weight of what lay ahead hung heavy on his shoulders, but for the first time in months—ever, really—his heart felt light. Alive. As if it had wings. It felt…right.

The screen slapped behind him when he stepped into the house. He wiped the sand from his feet on the rug, then crossed to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. As he headed up the stairs, he tried to remember where he’d put the sword he’d picked up in that cave. He’d have to get new weapons, knew Maelea would have money for him to buy more. Calculated—

His feet stilled halfway up the steps when he realized the therillium hadn’t been glowing orange under the heat lamp the way it had the whole time they’d been here.

He headed back into the kitchen, set his cup on the counter, wound around the island to look at the ore. The heat lamp was still on, but the ore definitely wasn’t glowing. It was nothing but a hard, solid, greenish-black glob. It wasn’t even glowing green, as it had been in the water of that underground river.

Tendrils of unease rushed over his spine, and his pulse picked up speed. Carefully, he touched it. The rock was cold and hard, and not an inkling of energy or power radiated from its surface.

A growl echoed from outside.

His head darted up. And his heart lurched into his throat just before Maelea screamed.

Chapter Nineteen

Gryphon grabbed a butcher knife from the block on the counter and tore the screen door open.

Maelea was climbing up on an outcropping of rock to the left of the bay in an attempt to escape. Across the sand, five snarling hellhounds were advancing on her.

Gryphon screamed to get their attention. Waved his arms above his head, tore off the deck, and raced toward the water to put himself between them and Maelea.

They had to have been waiting for the therillium to lose its power. He was so stupid. Stupid to think she would be safe here alone. That Hades wouldn’t continue to track her. That no one had noticed he’d taken that therillium in the first place.

He charged the closest beast, already at the rocks, ready to lurch toward Maelea with snapping jaws. Sand and water flicked up from Gryphon’s feet. He hurled himself at the beast. They rolled across the sand, a tumble of arms and legs and teeth. Gryphon scrambled to his feet before the beast could pin him down and arced out with the knife in his hand. He caught the beast across the foreleg. It howled and dropped back. Then snapped its massive jaws and charged.

Maelea screamed again. Gryphon looked over just as she reached the top of the five-foot-high boulder. She twisted around, threw mussel shells and pebbles, whatever she could find, at another hound trying to reach her.