War's Passion (Sons of War) (13 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Gwen woke stiff and sore in all the right places. Smiling, she drew in a deep breath and stretched. A dull ache in her muscles was just a
reminder of the wonderful lover Markus was. Flinging her arm to the other side of the mattress, she frowned.

Sitting up, she
scanned the room. He wasn’t there. The bathroom door was open and the light off, so the idea of sneaking into the shower with him was out.
Damn
.

She flung back the sheet and blanket and shivered. The fire had gone out, leaving the room cooler than she remembered
when she fell asleep. Then again they hadn’t needed the fireplace lit last night, had they?

The smile returned and she eased off the bed and
paced to the walk-in closet to dress. Once dressed, she went to the bedroom door and froze. Something was…different.

Annoyed, she
marched into the bathroom and flipped on the light. When she faced the mirror, she gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. “Fuck. Oh gods.”

A light knock on the door told her it was Elle and she rushed to open it and pull her sister inside the room before anyone else walked by.

Elle’s eyes grew round, then she started laughing.

“Elle! It’s not funny. I’m glowing.”

“I can see that, but why?”

Gwen
shook her head and ran back into the bathroom. “I don’t know. Last night after Markus and I…” Her gaze darted to Elle when she leaned against the doorframe, “…anyway, after I took his blood. The mating bond snapped in place, but my magic didn’t. I wake up and I’m glowing!”

Elle sighed. “I don’t think it’s anything to freak over. You’re not really that bright.”

“You’re not funny.”

“Call your grandmother.”

Yes, she could call Aphrodite. Why hadn’t Gwen thought of that? Oh yes, she was busy freaking out over her skin. “Aphrodite, I need your assistance.”

She hoped that was the correct way to summon the
goddess. It wasn’t like she’d ever done it before, plus no one had ever told her how. Markus just yelled his father’s name, but somehow Gwen knew that wasn’t the proper way to call the gods.

A cloud of white and silver smoke formed next to her, then vanished, leaving Aphrodite in
its place. As soon as the goddess saw her, she smiled, wide. “I see he figured out how to unlock your powers.”

Gwen held her arms out to her side. “They’re not unlocked. My skin is glowing. What did that dragon do to me?”

Aphrodite laughed, grabbed her hand, and tugged her to the door. “Let’s go find that dragon and get you outside.”

Gwen’s stomach churned and her heart started to beat so fast she could feel it in her throat. “Why? What’s wrong?”

The goddess stopped and faced her. “Nothing’s wrong, dear. You just have a lot of built up energy that needs to be dealt with.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ll explain. But I only want to do it once.”

Gwen nodded and allowed her grandmother to pull her down the stairs and into living room. Gwen
could hear the soft sounds of a piano. Curious, she followed Aphrodite to the baby grand on the other side of the bar.

Aphrodite stopped and motioned for her and Elle to do the same. “I love to listen to him play.”

Soothing, classical music filled the room, soft and beautiful. Markus’s long fingers gliding over the keys like he was born to play. “I didn’t know he played.”

“Markus is not use
d to sharing such things.” The goddess turned to look at her. “You must be patient with him about that characteristic.”

Gwen nodded and continued to watch. Suddenly, he slammed down the cover over the keys and stood.
Moving too fast for her to track, he was in front of her in less than a second, touching her arms, her face, and started to lift her shirt.

“Hey. Stop.”

He met her gaze, a frown forming and making his forehead wrinkle. “What the hell happened?”

Aphrodite waved off his harsh tone. “The mating is what happened. She needs to release some of this power soon.”

Markus scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the back doors, ignoring her protests. Gwen glanced to Elle and scowled. Her best friend tried to keep from falling on the floor in laughter.

Gwen was not amused. She was scared.

Markus set her down in middle of the backyard and cupped her face so she’d look at him. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I don’t feel different. Shouldn’t I feel…something?”

They looked at Aphrodite. The goddess rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. Okay. Gwen, do you feel anything that wasn’t there yesterday?”

Gwen thought about it. “Markus. I feel him and the bond and his dragon.”

Aphrodite nodded. “Of course. It’s Markus.”

Gwen scuffed at the
goddess’s “simple” answer. “What is Markus? Please, Grandma, just tell me.”

The
goddess blinked, then her eyes watered. Shit, what had Gwen said to upset her? She was about to apologize when Aphrodite pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ve waited for so long to be able to hear you call me that.”

Gwen relaxed in her arms. “I’m sorry for blaming you.”

Aphrodite pulled back and wiped under her eyes. “Don’t be, dear. Okay. You are glowing because your body and mind don’t know what to do with the excess power running through you. It’s not able to get through the mating bond with Markus or exit another way, so it just builds and you start to glow.”

Gwen stared, not really knowing what else to do. “Make it stop.”

Aphrodite turned around as if searching for something or someone. Then she dropped her shoulders and walked back to the back door. Gwen looked at the doorway and saw Elle standing in the shaded area of the porch. When the goddess approached Elle, she conjured a white cloak and handed it to Elle.

Smiling, Elle put it on. The garment covered her whole body. The two of them came back over
to Gwen and Markus and Elle said, “This is great. Can I keep it?”

Aphrodite nodded. “Of course.” Turning back to Gwen, she said, “Now I want
you to stand with your feet slightly apart and your arms straight out to your sides, palms down. Everyone else move back a few steps.”

Gwen
did as she was instructed. Her skin warmed, almost like she was running a fever. Then a burst of energy shot through her, making her feel jittery. It was like the time she drank a pot of coffee during finals in college, only worse. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to stand there.

Aphrodite stepped into her line of sight. “Gwen
, look at me and breathe.”

Gwen met her gaze. “I feel like I need to go for a run.”

“It’s the built up power. Okay, focus inward and find the source of your powers. You’ll know when you find it. It’ll be a white, bright ball of energy. It usually gathers in your chest area.”

Gwen nodded and closed her eyes.
Using what she’d learned from years of yoga, she entered a meditative state and searched for the inner light. It didn’t take her long to find the source of her “inner glow.”

“Found it,” she said.

Aphrodite spoke softly. “Try to push that energy out to your hands and feet and allow it flow into the earth.”

Gwen willed the light to move to her hands and feet, then pushed it out, into the earth. When she was done, she took a deep, cleansing breathe, drawing in the salty ocean air. She opened her eyes and met her grandmother’s gaze. “I feel so much better.”

Aphrodite smiled and took her hands in hers. Markus stepped up behind her, amazing her on how sensitive she’d become to his presence. Leaning back against his warm chest, she sighed. His warmth surrounded her, soothing and erotic.

Markus
placed his arms on her shoulders and kissed her head before speaking. “Why did it take so long for her powers to surface?”

The
goddess dropped her shoulders and let go of Gwen’s hands. “Her powers were never locked, not really.”

A growl rumbled in Markus’s chest, vibrating Gwen’s back. “Explain,
goddess.”

Aphrodite
glared at him sharply. “Don’t get that growly tone with me. Because she is half goddess of fate, I can’t bind her powers. The Fates are off Zeus’s radar for the most part, and they never spoke of Alexia’s fall to earth to be with a demi-god.”

Markus growled again. “Would he know that Gwen’s mother was a
goddess?”

Aphrodite shook her head. “
Zeus never paid close attention to the descendants. That’s what you and your brothers are here for.”

His irritation shot through the mate bond, shocking Gwen. She reached up and squeezed his hands. “So why haven’t I felt my powers before now?”

The goddess shrugged. “I’m not sure. It could be the protective spell I cast over you when you were born. Your father could have tried to bind your powers.” She paused to walk toward the gardens as if in thought.

Gwen
wiggled out of Markus’s arms and followed her. When they reached the roses, Aphrodite turned. “The powers you would have inherited from me aren’t the type you feel like most of the other gods. Mine come from the heart and from what’s inside. As for the Fates, it’s in the words and the will. So you’ve had the power all along, you just didn’t know how to use it.”

Now Gwen was growing impatient. She had three days to learn how to kick ass
, magic style, and her grandmother wasn’t being very helpful. “So how do I use these powers I never knew I had?”

Aphrodite glance
d at her over her shoulder and smiled. “You must trust in yourself and open your mind to all possibilities. Your greatest power is your will to survive and protect those you love.”

Without another word, Aphrodite dematerialized. Gwen gaped at the empty space in front her, then turned to Markus. “That is so annoying.”

Laughing, he grabbed her arm and tugged her to him. “Believe me, I know.”

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Gwen formed an energy ball between her hands, lifted her lashes to
focus on her target and, with a smirk, threw it. A flash of bright, white light went off as the god bolt nailed its target. Seth roared and his dragon flashed in his eyes right before he dropped to his knees.

“Damn, female. That fucking hurts.”

Markus laughed from where he leaned against the wall. “You volunteered. Suck it up.”

Seth rose to feet, holding his hands up in surrender. “That was two days ago when she was learning to control her powers. The hits of energies didn’t hurt then.”

Gwen folded her arms over her chest and cocked a brow. “Do you want to go another round on the mats?”

Seth shook his head. “Nope. I’ve been embarrassed enough for the century.”
Glancing over to Markus, he added, “I thinks it’s time for Ash to make that call.”

Markus growled, but Gwen could feel the dragon’s pride and acceptance of the strength she gained over the last two days. The man might not want her to face Garrick, but she needed to face the monster
that killed her parents.

And she was ready.

Markus pushed off the wall and prowled toward her, heat in his stare. When he was inches from her, he scooped her up and walked to the door. “Seth, tell Ash to make the call and that she’ll meet him tomorrow afternoon.”

Gwen meet his gaze. “Why the afternoon?”

“Because if she tells him to meet her at night, he’d know we set her up to it.”

“What if he suspects anyway?”

A wicked and cool smile appeared. “That’s why Ty and I will be there.”

Gwen’s heart dropped. “What? He’ll sense you as soon as you get to
o close.”

“He’ll sense me on you and know we’re bo
und together the moment you are in the same room. He’ll expect us to crash his party.”

Not liking his plan, she
wiggled until he lowered her to her feet. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “You need to work on your communication skills. What do you have planned?”

That
lazy smile that annoyed her and turned her on at the same time lifted his lips. “We plan to be close enough to get you out of there, but we will attack if it is necessary.”

Gwen studied him for a moment. She should
n’t be surprised that he’d follow them. Damn stubborn man. A part of her was happy to have the backup, because she was scared out of her mind about that mission. Yet, she couldn’t back out. She needed to try to bring Garrick down a few notches.

A
bout to turn away from him to head to the study where Ash was going to make the call when a thought came to mind. “Shouldn’t I have the ability to teleport? I mean with my powers unlocked, I should be able to, right?”

Markus’s dark brows dipped as if considering the question. “Yes, I believe so.”

“Why haven’t you showed me how?”

“Because it’d take longer than three days for you to master it. Teleporting takes concentration and a great deal of focus.
We can’t teleport to just anywhere. It has to be a place you’ve been before and it takes a lot of energy to do so.”

“I’m stronger now. It’s important that I at least know how to do it. Plus you could help me in case something went wrong and I
needed
to teleport out of there.”

Satisfaction sparked inside her at the narrow-eyed expression Markus gave her.
Ha, she bet he hadn’t thought about that, she was sure. Lifting her brows at him and waiting for a response, he let out a low, irritated growl. “Fine. Close your eyes and visualize the inside of my study.”

Obeying, she
brought up the image of his study, the furniture, bookcases, and even the security cameras mounted in the corners of the room. “Okay, now what?”

“
Imagine that you are standing inside the room and wish it so.”

She imagined herself standing in the middle of the room.  Focusing on being in the study, she silently wished she was there. Nothing happen
ed, so she opened her eyes. “What did I do wrong?”

He smiled as if
he’d known she wouldn’t be able to do it. “You have to desire it with all your will.”

Now he
told her. Closing her eyes again, she repeated the act, but this time she put her heart into it like her life depended on it. A moment later she felt a pull, then she was surrounded by darkness and the feeling of being dragged through a thick watery substance very fast. The next instant light flashed and she was standing in the study.

Gwen started laughing as she turned around to see everyone in the room. Ash sat on the sofa with a cell phone in hand.
Elle sat in an armchair to her right, smiling. Ty, Seth, Zavier and Drake stood close by, staring at Gwen in disbelief. Markus materialized beside her a moment later.

Looking at him, Gwen said, “That was great.”

Markus grunted and reached out to touch her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel good.
A little dizzy, but good.”

He shook his head and she saw a slight smile form before he turned to his brothers. “
That was her first time, so no one get any ideas of encouraging her do it during the mission.”

Gwen frowned and pinched his arm, making him jerk and glare down at her. “I will if my life
is in danger.”

He lowered his head so they were nose-to-nose. “That would be the
only
time you try.”

Rolling her eyes, she
walked over to the sofa and sat between Elle and Ash. Both women tried to hide their smiles, which did nothing to help Gwen appear mad at her dragon.

I’ll deal with you later. In my bed.

Gwen met Markus’s gaze as he spoke those words telepathically. Heat spread through her like wildfire. Biting her lower lip, she thought back to him,
I look forward to it.

His
eyes flashed light blue, but it was gone before the others took notice. “Ashlynn, make the call.”

Everyone fell silent as Ash dialed and pressed the phone to her ear. Sitting as close to Ash as she was, and the fact that her hearing was as good as her dragon mate’s, Gwen heard when Garrick answered the phone.

“Well, to what do I owe this honor?”

Ash rolled her eyes. “I hope you’re happy for ruining my plan.”

He growled. “I did no such thing. As far as I know, you’ve betrayed me and moved in with my brothers.”

Ash ignored his statement. “I told you I’d get that female for you and that’s what I was doing.”

Garrick paused briefly before speaking. “What was I supposed to think when you killed four of my best scouts? Then I track you down at the dragon’s mansion. I can’t read your mind.”

Ash glanced at Gwen the
n Markus. “I figured you trusted your best hunter to do what was needed to bring back Gwen.”

“What about the other female? I want both of them.”

“Danielle isn’t with your brothers.”

Another growl sound from the phone that made Gwen’s skin prickle. “Where is she?”

Ash fisted her hand in her lap as if trying to rein in some control. “I don’t know. She wasn’t at the castle when I got there. They must have hidden her.”

“Find out where.”

“She’s fourth generation and no use to us.”

“No, Tom was sure she was
a first generation descendant.”

Gwen stiffened at the mention of her father’s name and locked gazes with Markus.
Slowly, he shook his head, reminding her to stay quiet. Ash reached over and took her hand. Shocked at the friendly contact, Gwen gently squeezed, then reach over and linked her fingers with Elle.

Ash let out a dramatic sigh. “Danielle is use
less to us,” she repeated, then added, “I have a very reliable resource. Gwen is the one we need.”

There was a long silence before he spoke again. “
Bring the female to me now. You know where. Don’t disappoint me.”

He hung up and Ash did the same, then dropped her head back on the sofa. “It’s done.
There was still a lot suspicion in his tone, though.”

Markus grinned. “Let him be.
He makes mistakes when he’s on edge.”

****

Gwen zipped and unzipped her jacket nervously as she waited for Ash to meet her in the foyer. She’d spent the last three days training, building her physical and magical strengths. It paid off big time. Both she and Markus were surprised at how fast she’d learned to balance her power after she and her dragon completed the mating bond.

Just the thought of the mating ritual, along with every night since, made her skin tighten and grow warm.

Awareness rose inside her, hot and erotic. Whirling around, she smiled at the sight of Markus in all black. Damn, he looked good enough to lick.

Ty stepped up next to him dressed the same way. Gwen saw one dark brow rise over the shades Ty never took off.

Ash walked in from the great room, shaking her head as she studied the men. “Are we robbing a bank along the way?”

Ty
took a step, but Markus stopped him by slamming a palm against his chest. “You two can duke it out later, but now we have to go fuck up Gary’s day.”

Gwen giggled,
and Markus glared at her. Waving him off, she said, “I’m fine. But you said Gary. It sounded funny coming from you.”

Ash touched her forearm. Gwen met the other woman’s gaze, she saw the humor there along with sorrow and dread. Sobering, Gwen nodded and covered Ash’s hand. “I understand that you must do whatever you have to.”

Ash extracted her hand and walked out the front door.

Markus stepped up beside Gwen and laced his fingers with hers. “You need to be care
ful. Keep an eye out for every possibility.”

“I will.
It’s Ash that I’m worried about.”

“What do you mean?”

Gwen raised one shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just too wired.”

Taking
a deep breath, she released Markus’s hand and followed Ash out of the house. Outside she spotted Ash at the edge of the cliff, staring over it. “Ash?”

She turned to face her and gave a short nod. Together they followed the narrow path down the mountain toward the beach.
The pickup location was a small rundown beach house several miles west of Serenity Cove, but they never made it that far. Imperials materialized in front of them.

Show time,
Gwen said telepathically to Markus somewhere nearby, but she couldn’t see him.

Ash spoke to a black hair
ed man, the apparent leader of this group. “It’s about damn time. I thought I’d have to go to the beach house and call Garrick.”

The man narrowed his eyes for a brief moment before he motioned to a man on his left and grabbed Ash’s upper arm at the same time.
Gwen spared a look at Ash, sure this wasn’t part of the plan, but used the surprise to her advantage. “I can’t believe you set me up!”

Ash tried to jerk away from the descendant. “What are you doing, idiot? I was bringing the love
goddess in.”

“We have our orders.”

Then the men teleported away with them. A moment later Gwen and Ash were thrown in separate cells. Fear flared to life, consuming her. Markus couldn’t follow them if they’d been teleported. Or could he?

Shit
. This was bad.

Think
, Gwen
.

Panic start to make its ugly appearance and her chest tightened.
Breathe and think
. She would not have a panic attack.
Damn it.

“Gwen.”

Hearing her name, she turned and met Ash’s pissed off glare. “How do we get out of here?”

Ash green eyes darkened, her lip
s pursed as she held up a fisted hand to show Gwen the thick metal cuff around her wrist. “This dampens my powers. Bastard thinks he’s so smart.” She smiled, cruel and vindictive.

Gwen shivered, glad that Ash was on her side. The Imperials didn’t
put a cuff on her. That told her they didn’t know her powers were unlocked and couldn’t sense them. Then again, Aphrodite said Gwen’s powers were never fully bound.

Meeting Ash’s gaze again, Gwen
studied her. Ash appeared more like the goddess she was than she did before. Gwen wondered just how powerful she was. “You have a plan, right?”

Ash nodded once. “The cells are rigged to alert Garrick once they are open. So we wait for his royal ass to come and gloat over his capture.”

Gwen’s stomach soured. Ash’s words were filled with so much venom that Gwen had to suppress another shiver. Footsteps sounded from her right, making her blood freeze in her veins.