Marked by Hades (3 page)

Chapter Five

“Justin. Come home,” Theo said. “We have a lead.”

Justin switched the phone to his other side and propped it between his ear and his shoulder as he locked the hotel door. “Can’t leave yet. Need to check out what I saw the other night.”

“She wasn’t demon? You’re positive?” Theo asked.

“No, actually, in over nine centuries of demon fighting, I’m still not sure how to tell demons from humans.” After replaying the scene in his mind nonstop, he hadn’t misunderstood what he’d seen. That chick dusted a human by touching him. And even worse, she’d given Justin the slip for
three
days.

And for those days, he’d been consumed with finding her. Hell, he’d dreamed of nibbling on that lip ring she mercilessly toyed with as she’d stared him down the other night. Even now he ventured out into the darkness hoping to track down this mysterious woman.

He had to know what she was, and it had
nothing
to do with the fact that he was attracted to her, or that the leather hugging her kick-ass body completely turned him on.

Nothing at all.

The Great One had many creatures roaming the earth for various reasons, but Justin had never seen anything like this woman. From what he could tell, she wasn’t vampire, and he was sure she wasn’t a demon. She didn’t have wings or Hunter markings—

“Justin!” Theo’s voice rattled the phone.

“Yeah. Here.” He stomped down the sidewalk to the bar where he’d first seen the girl. Maybe she’d return there, not that she had the previous nights he’d been staking the place out. “What’s your lead?”

“Sadie and I grabbed a demon last night and prodded him for info on the so-called cave that’s holding the Artifacts.”

“What’d he say?”

“That it was in France, near Rouen.”

“Halena’s territory.”
Great.
While Justin respected Halena as a Gatekeeper, her personality left plenty to be desired.

“But that coincides with what the demon you and I hammered said, since there’s a gate to Hades in Rouen.”

So the bastard wasn’t lying after all.

“Sadie and I are splicing there immediately to start investigating. I wanted you along, but it seems a female has caught your attention.”

“Suck it,
Theophilus
.”

Theo growled.

“I just need to know what she is and how she did what she did.”

“And it has
nothing
to do with your Mate or anything.”

“Don’t start that shit again. I’m
not
taking a Mate.” Although he had said the same words thousands of times over the centuries, they didn’t feel so true this time, and that scared the shit out of him. No way did he want the emotional baggage of a Mate or the idea of being tied to
one
woman.

“You don’t have a choice about taking a Mate, Justin. One’s been chosen for you already; The Great One just needs to awaken the Mark. The sooner you get that through your thick skull, the better.”

“Just because your pants were busting at the zipper for nine centuries until you found your Mate, doesn’t mean I’m going to give in to the notion.”

Theo laughed. “We’re heading out in a few hours.”

“Be careful and stay in touch.” Justin ended the call and dropped the phone into his pocket as he reached for the bar door.

Damn Theo for bringing up the Mate thing again.

Justin trudged into the tiny establishment and scanned the room. It took all of ten seconds to check out the patrons and notice that none were his mystery woman.

But what he did notice was a woman at the bar regarding him with an intense stare. Her full breasts tested the limits of a low-cut red shirt, teasing him—and every man in the place—with a peek of what lay beneath the thin fabric.

Dipping his head toward her, he sat at the first open table, pulling out his chair and the one next to it, hoping she’d take his invite.

He’d show Theo what he thought of the Mate thing. There wasn’t one woman enough for Justin. Hadn’t been in over nine centuries of trying, either. Just because Theo had found his Mate didn’t mean he was next. No way.

The waitress sashayed by. “Usual?”

“And whatever she’s drinking.” He pointed to the woman who was now making her way toward him.

The waitress smiled and hurried away.

“Hi.” The woman pointed to the chair. “This for me?”

Standing, he reached for her free hand. “Please.” He guided her down and inched his chair closer. Above the stale-beer stench hanging heavy in the air, a subtle scent of jasmine wrapped around him as she crossed her legs.

“I was hoping.” A light blush dusted her high cheekbones as she smiled.

Blond hair, brown eyes, and perfect cocoa skin—exactly what he needed to get lost in right now. Sexual prowess rolled off the woman, promising she’d be intense in bed, and hopefully he’d get to find out.

“You were in here the other night.” She sipped her martini.

Strange that he’d missed this stunner; then again, he’d been focused on the other—
No
, he would not think about her right now.

“Glad you noticed me tonight, though.” She slid her hand onto his knee.

The waitress returned with Justin’s beer and his new friend’s martini. She gripped his thigh as a half smile curved her full lips.

His pulse jumped a few notches as his spine tightened.

“The name’s Anna.” Her gaze shifted down, and Justin noticed her chest heaving more than before.

Another wave of jasmine wound its way through his senses as she leaned forward. “Want to get out of here?”

Nothing like a forward woman. He could handle that. Standing, he tossed a couple of twenties on the table and led Anna out the front door.

“My car’s around the corner.” She pointed. “Hotel just down the street.”

Seemed she knew her way around just fine. He’d gotten the sense she’d done this once or twice. A wave of desire pulsed through him. Delicate fingers wove through his and tugged him around the corner to a shiny red Mercedes parked in one of the three stalls behind the bar. She clicked the doors unlocked, and he reached for the driver’s side to let her in.

Spinning him around, she pinned him to the car with her soft body. “Need a little taste to tide me over.”

Soft lips met his, and she let out a moan. “Yum,” she whispered into his mouth, her tongue flicking his bottom lip. “I knew you’d taste good.”

Justin wove his arms around her waist and pulled her tight, seeking some pressure to help alleviate this want, this deep need roaring for fulfillment after three days of nothing.

Her tongue swept into his mouth, claiming it with an expertise that nearly matched his own. Oh yes, she’d be a wildcat in bed. The mere thought kicked his heart rate up to record pace.

“I might not be able to wait for it all. God, you’re sexy.” She sucked his bottom lip, and that tripped a trigger deep down inside him. He spun her around and leaned into her, burying his face in her neck.

Able fingers groped for the zipper of his jeans.
Yes.
They wouldn’t make it to the hotel. He was too far-gone already.

A blinding white light flashed before his closed eyes. His body tensed, and his heart stopped with such a force it knocked the breath out of him.

He pushed away from the woman. She continued to work his jeans apart, not even noticing he’d pulled away.

An ache deep in his chest ignited, followed by a sizzling hot line roping around his heart. It tightened like a vise. Thunder clapped in his mind, and like a switch flipped, his body shut off.

All the lust storming through him vaporized.

His breathing calmed. His pulse slowed.

Anna looked up, eyebrows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

Justin stayed her hand. “Wait.”

She slouched. “You lost it. What—I—”

He stepped away and reassembled his jeans. Wiping Anna’s essence from his mouth, he trained his focus on her again. She was beautiful. Perfect. Everything he’d wanted—and
had
countless times over the centuries—yet he felt nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Oh, shit.
He clutched his chest. His Ahavah—
no!

Shaking his head, he reached for Anna. “Sorry, thought…I heard something.”

She launched herself at him again, but her body did nothing for him. More so, she tasted off, as if she were a smoker who’d tried to cover it with a chemical mouthwash.

He dislodged himself and stepped back. This was
not
happening.

Looking around the dark parking lot, he didn’t see—or feel—any demons. Didn’t feel any danger, and there weren’t any humans around.

Shit.

His Ahavah just received her Mark.

Chapter Six

Yvonne scratched at her shoulder as she hurried toward her room. She must have brushed up against some thorny bushes during her day-labor job today. But she didn’t care, because her efforts had earned her enough money for a warm bed.

The hotel demanded cash in advance, which left none for food, but at least she wasn’t on the park bench again. It was cold out.

She jammed the key into the lock and cranked. The door squeaked open, and she stepped into the dark, quiet room.

Always dark. Always quiet. Always alone.

She flicked on the light, and four steps brought her to the bathroom on the other side of the small room. The thick, stale air held a scent of old food and some other things that were better left unnamed.

Leaning toward the mirror to see her shoulder, she found an intricate bundle of black lines forming some type of shape etched into her skin. The symbols were connected, inverted or something. It resembled an ancient glyph she’d seen in the library while paging through some book, trying to figure out what she was.

She grabbed a cloth from the towel rack and turned on the water. Once the cloth was damp, she dabbed at the mark.

It didn’t wash off. Nothing changed.

Fear and confusion lumped in her stomach like a lead weight. And then her gut churned. Her head spun. She turned and lost everything in her stomach. Sweat beaded along her neck, and gooseflesh prickled her arms. Even beneath the leather gloves.

She ripped them off and cupped her face. It steamed, her cheeks flushed. What was happening?

Easing down the wall beside the tub, she closed her eyes.
Help me
.

Images of a body moving with hers flashed. Tender kisses along her neck and nibbles on her ear flash-heated her core.

She rested her head against the tile wall as if to expose more of her neck for the imaginary man to graze on. Gentle pressure along the curve of her shoulder trailed up to behind her ear. It was like a sizzling whisper along her skin. What was happening?

Didn’t matter. She closed her eyes and fell into the dream. Even if it wasn’t reality, she dived in, needing the connection.

On her back now, lying on a beautiful bed, surrounded by red silk sheets, she tried to see the man’s face. He didn’t look up from her neck, but she saw hair so black it held a subtle hint of blue. Reaching out for him, needing to caress his smooth skin, her hand went right through.

How could she feel him on her yet not touch him?

She lay back and opened herself to him, needing his touch almost as much as her next breath.

He tugged the zipper of her black leather pants down and burrowed his hand around to her butt. She didn’t fight the moan. Anticipation tingled through her blood, edging her toward bliss at his tender touch.

Soft but firm lips sucked and tugged at her lip ring. His free hand traced the curve of her hip and lifted, cupping the back of her thigh, opening her to him.

“Oh, God.” She thought she’d spoken it but wasn’t sure. Her mind swam, and she desperately wanted to embrace the imaginary man but couldn’t.

His movements picked up momentum as his kisses intensified. Though his face was still a blur, she caught a glimpse of his eyes. They might have been blue with amber wisps swirling, but as quickly as she’d seen them, they faded again.

Oh how she wanted to see them…to see him.

White lights blinked in her vision as she neared the edge. She arched her back, needing more contact. If only their skin were bare. What she wouldn’t give to touch him. “Yes. Please.”

As if knowing exactly what she needed, he shifted, hitting precisely the right spot, and the lights blinking in her vision exploded. He kept her there for who knew how long, but finally, her body floated down from bliss. Her breath caught in her throat.

The man leaned back. She wanted to see his face clearly, to touch him, but then he vaporized into white sand.

A pure soul had given her such pleasure, but, of course, it ended in his death.

The hum of her sated body lulled her into darkness. She wasn’t sure it was sleep, but she let it take her. Finally, even if in a dream, she’d been touched, felt warm skin.

It was okay if she never woke up again.

Chapter Seven

Two days had passed since Justin had felt the Ahavah Mark brand his Mate’s flesh. He sensed she was nearby, but he couldn’t zero in on her.

Unwilling to bear the I-told-you-so remark, he refused to call Theo for advice. And if Theo had read Justin’s mind, he’d kept his mouth shut. Sometimes it sucked being the Companion to a Gatekeeper to Hades. The telepathic connection didn’t allow much privacy.

“Damn it.” Justin stepped into his room and slapped the door shut.

Pacing the already-worn-thin carpet in front of the TV stand, he shoved his hands in his hair and gave it a tug. A little sting wouldn’t hurt.

Be calm
.

The sound of The Great One’s voice in his ears sent him to a grinding halt. Holding his breath, he listened. Only muffled voices through the walls to his left greeted him. Had he seriously heard The Great One?

Be calm? For what? “Tell me, Great One.”

Justin’s stomach roared with hunger, breaking through the thick silence that had settled along his brain. So like The Great One to drop a word, then vanish.

Shaking his head, he went to the door and stomped outside. Eating something would get his mind off things. Maybe even fuel him enough to think straight. If he were lucky, while he was out, he’d run into a demon. A battle would take off the edge.

His phone rang, and he dug it out from his pocket as he made his way down the sidewalk to the convenience store. Theo’s name scrolled across the screen.

Great. He was going to rub it in.

“Hello?”

“How’s the Mate hunting going?” Theo laughed.

“Where’s your man card?” Justin turned at the corner, and the lit-up convenience store came into sight.

“Halena says
bonjour
.” Theo snickered. “We got our hands on a map.”

“You’re a treasure hunter now?”

“No,
we
are. I’m coming to get you.”

“Where’s this treasure, anyway? France?”

“Still working on interpreting the map.”

“Just have your red-eyed, multilinguist Mate read it.”

“She is, that’s what I meant by
we’re
working on it.” Theo grunted. “That’s why I need to come get you.”

“Negatory.”

“Why?” Theo’s voice intensified.

“Got some loose ends to tie up here. When you heading in?”

“As soon as we know enough to move.”

“Call me then. I might be done soon.”
Total lie.

Silence hung heavy, and Justin could picture Theo’s jaw twitching as he clenched his teeth. “Fine.” The line went dead.

Justin needed to hurry up and find this Mate of his and figure out how to get out of it. The way Theo had gotten so consumed with finding his Mate, pursuing her, then finally mating her, Justin had seen all facets of emotions, and he wanted nothing to do with it.

Then again, if Justin ever wanted to have sex again, he’d have to find his Mate. He’d tried to be with two more women after he’d sensed the Marking, but not one female captured his attention.

At all.

Not even enough to kiss them.

He was so screwed.

The convenience store was empty besides the pimple-faced teenager working the cash register and the older gentleman paying for his goods. Justin moved toward the pizza counter, hoping a few thousand calories and a lump of grease in his stomach would make things look entirely different.

A burning sensation ignited in his chest, bringing him to a halt. His heart palpitated and his pulse spiked. Turning to find the source of the vitals jump, he didn’t see anyone other than the two at the counter.

But something had triggered it. In the mirror propped at the rear corner of the store, he saw a small figure crouched in the last aisle.

Another heart palpitation.
Shit
. Was his Mate in this store? Theo’d said he’d sensed Sadie, then confirmed it was her by seeing the Ahavah Mark on her shoulder.

Pulling in a deep breath, he steeled himself against the onslaught of emotions triggered by this supposed Mate. A Mate he didn’t want. Gatekeepers needed Mates to get their full power so they could better guard the gates of Hades, but a Companion? Why would they ever need Mates? They were second in command and didn’t need to be superstrong or have extra powers. They couldn’t banish a demon to Hades for good as a Gatekeeper could.

Companions, too, must be strong.

He stopped.

To aid your Gatekeeper.

No. No. No. He pushed The Great One’s voice from his head. There had to be a way out of this. He was strong enough without a Mate!

Finally at the end of the aisle, he let out his breath and turned the corner, bracing to see his alleged Mate.

The dark-haired leather-clad girl he’d seen rush out of the bar the other night stood, fishing through the bags of chips. She hadn’t noticed him yet, but he took in the sight of her.

Jet-black hair flowed down to the middle of her back, the color continuing on with her black leather tank top, pants, and boots. The only skin that showed was on her shoulders, since her black leather gloves went only a few inches past her elbows.

Wait, there wasn’t an Ahavah Mark on her shoulder. He didn’t see anyone else in the store, so how could he be sensing his Mate nearby if it wasn’t this woman?

Training his focus on the girl before him, he drew in a deep breath, and his heart calmed. Despite the sugar from the flavored shaved-ice machine across the store, he caught the distinct fragrance of lavender.

And what an intoxicating scent it was.

She had her hand out before her, counting change. Her shoulders slouched forward, and she put the bag of chips back.

She couldn’t afford food?

…

Movement caught the corner of Yvonne’s eye and sent her whirling. Towering over her was the guy from the bar.

She backed away.

“Well…if it isn’t the girl with a wicked touch,” he said.

His voice sounded the way chocolate tasted. It slid all the way down her throat and to her belly in one warm swoop. Hugging her stomach, she looked around. It was just them and the cashier in the store.
Great
.

Her stomach rumbled.

How embarrassing.

He leaned to the side, looking at her, more at her arms. His intense stare triggered gooseflesh on all of her skin, exposed or not.

Another stomach rumble.

His jaw clenched, and he said, “Let me get you some food.”

“I’m fine.” She stepped back, nearly to the frozen foods now. Looked as though she was going to the homeless shelter for another meal, considering she didn’t even have enough for a bag of chips.

“Tell that to your growling stomach.” He grabbed the bag of chips she’d been eyeing.

His thigh muscles bulged beneath tight jeans as he stepped forward. Strength, mystery, and intensity oozed from his strong, dominating gait. All of which made her stomach clench, but not in fear. It was desire.

She must be delirious from lack of food.

“Energy bars. Those are good.” He stepped to the other aisle, and all she could do was watch as he moved with the grace of a cat but the lethality of a mountain lion. But he still glowed.

Like an angel.

She wanted that peace. Even with all the emotions flashing through her body and soul, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, and at least that provided some comfort.

A tingle bloomed on her shoulder, and she went to scratch it but resisted. It’d taken nearly an hour to cover that mark up, but she didn’t dare go out with it exposed, worried it would mark her as a target somehow.

Hell, she had no clue what she was doing, and the mark had made everything worse. Today was the first day she’d even felt hungry, after being sick and unable to sleep the last two days.

Her stomach rumbled again. The man hesitated, but only for a second, then went back to grabbing items off the shelves.

“Do you like root beer?”

How’d he know that was her favorite? “No.”

He grabbed a two-liter of the treasured drink as if she hadn’t spoken.

“No. I don’t.”

He grinned and worked his way down the aisle, toward the cash register.

It took all her willpower to stay put. She couldn’t let a total stranger, no matter how sexy or angelic he was, buy her food. Evidently self-preservation took over, because she moved toward him as if on autopilot.

He stood at the register, his back mostly to her, and dug out his wallet. Thumbing through a wad of cash, he pulled out a hundred-dollar bill to pay.

Maybe she could play him for some of those bills.

The thought tasted like bitter bile in her mouth, and she hadn’t even said it aloud.

She hated the confusion roaring through her, the not knowing what or who she was. And right when she needed to be strong to resist touching this tall, generous, glowing stranger, all the angst of her situation pummeled into her.

She wanted to touch him
very
badly.

“Come on.” He held out his hand.

She waved it off and moved forward. “You lead.”

He paused for a breath, eyeing her shoulders again, then abruptly strode through the doors. The cool November air met her exposed skin with a slap, sending a chill rattling through her.

“You do realize it’s winter, right?” He glanced over his shoulder as he led onward.

“I’m fine.”

“Fond of that phrase, aren’t you?” He stopped, then handed her the bag of goodies and shrugged out of his jacket. “I won’t have you freezing.” He clamped his jaw down and shook his head. It looked to be more out of frustration than worry.

She’d had a vivid imagination of what might be beneath that jacket of his, and he didn’t disappoint. He wore long sleeves, but his muscles pulled the fabric tight across the chest and biceps, promising hours of excitement if she could touch his body.

The shirt tucked into a narrow waist, and a black belt held up the faded jeans. Combat boots again.

Damn, he was sexy. Dangerous, too.

She shook her head free of the thoughts. Before she’d noticed, he reached for her arm. She jerked back, narrowly avoiding contact.

“I won’t hurt you. Put this on.”

She handed him the grocery bag and took the coat. It carried a hint of spice…bergamot. Yes, that fresh, rejuvenating smell infused her senses as she put on the jacket. She swam in it but reveled in the warmth still clinging to the fabric. “Thanks.”

Pointing to a bench ahead, he said, “Let’s sit. I’m hungry.”

She wrestled back a small smile. He was bossy, yet she couldn’t find a reason to get angry with him. His actions seemed so genuine despite the commanding tone clinging to his words.

His tense jaw twitched as he lowered himself to the bench. “Sit.”

“No need to bark orders at me.” She moved to the end farthest from him, hugging his warm jacket.

He dug into the bag and pulled out a root beer and an energy bar. “Start with this.”

Too hungry to yell at him for bossing her around again, she snatched the goodies from his hand. He was silent the entire time she scarfed down two bars and her root beer.

“Knew you were hungry.” He grinned as he finished eating a slice of pizza. She hadn’t even seen him grab one. Probably too busy daydreaming about touching his smooth, pale skin.

She shifted away. The intensity of his stare burned a hole right through the jacket and leather she was wearing. It made a beeline for her heart and sent it strumming.

“What’s your name?” he asked, then took a bite of a candy bar.

“Yvonne.” She eyed the bag, salivating for the salt and vinegar chips.

He nudged it toward her. “You have a last name?”

She shook her head, knowing she probably did, but she just had no idea what it was.

“Where are you from?”

“Look. Thanks for the food. I better go.” She pushed up from the seat.

Dumping his food on the bench, he hopped to his feet. “Don’t.”

She should go—absolutely needed to keep walking and not stop. Never mind she had no idea where to go. Never mind she didn’t have a dime to her name. Never mind she had no extra clothes or anything…

“Do you have somewhere to stay?”

She’d actually staked claim to the bench she’d landed on in Riley Park all those days ago. It was so cold, though. He quirked his eyebrow up and tilted his head to the side as if trying to hack into her mind and read her thoughts.

“You’re coming with me.” He reached down and gathered the bag, then faced her.

“And why would I go with a complete stranger?” She tried to keep her voice from cracking, but she didn’t quite make it. Damn, she hated sounding weak.

Firm fingers curled around her hand, and she jerked away. With reflexes every bit as quick as she’d thought they’d be, he caught her gloved fingers before she could move out of his reach.

“I’m Justin.” He grinned. “There, we’re not strangers.”

She opened her mouth to protest but couldn’t snatch a thought from her brain with him holding her hand so tightly. Sure, she couldn’t feel his skin through the leather, but still.

“I’m two blocks from here. I won’t hurt you, Yvonne. I vow it.”

The instant the words left his mouth, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He was too pure. His glow sent waves of peace through her, warming her. Calming her.

But if she went with him, she’d either have the best night’s sleep ever or wind up accidentally killing him.