She rolled her eyes. “While you’re at it, try some pop culture on for size. If you want to lead your people, Theron, you need to be able to connect with them. You’ll find most Argoleans are as hungry for human culture as you are for that woman of yours.”
She sat up straighter. “And speaking of that woman…you might want to go stop her. She’s just reached the tunnel now.”
He glanced to the door. “She’s my curse.” And my life. Why hadn’t he realized that sooner?
“Of course she is. Why would you think otherwise?”
Why would he indeed?
A smile split his face, and he turned for the door.
“Wait,” Lachesis called. “Don’t you want to hear about—?”
He didn’t wait. Not for anything else. Urgency overwhelmed him, and he tore out of the kitchen and ran through the lodge, skipping down the front steps and sailing across the courtyard past the waterfall and the sea of colonists suddenly turning and staring at him as if he’d lost his mind.
He hadn’t. He’d finally found it. And his heart. And the courage to do what he’d been born to do. “Acacia!”
She was standing near one of the tunnel openings with Nick and Isadora, saying good-bye to Marissa. All of them looked up when he came running at them, but he didn’t care. All he saw was the Misos he’d fallen in love with.
He pushed through the group, gathered her into his arms and kissed her hard and hot with everything he had in him.
When he pulled back, she looked dazed. And so damn sexy, he knew the choice he made now could never be a mistake.
Choice? Who was he kidding? There was never a choice where she was concerned. And thank Hera for that.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Keeping my promise.” He looked up at Nick, standing behind and just to the right of her, eyeing Isadora on Acacia’s other side as if the princess might just jump out and bite him. “We’re going to need your help. Someone on the inside who knows what the Misos need and how best to protect them.”
Nick’s eyes flashed. “Who’s we?”
“The Argonauts.”
Those eyes widened. “I don’t think so.”
Theron glanced down at Acacia, who was smiling at him as though she’d just hit the jackpot and couldn’t believe it. “He’ll do it. You were right. They need me more there than they do here.”
“Listen up, hero—”
But Theron didn’t hear what Nick said. Acacia’s arms were twining around his neck and she was pulling his mouth back to hers. “I love you,” he whispered. “You’re right. I’d have to be a fool to turn away from my destiny.”
She was smiling when her lips met his. “My hero, the fool,” she mouthed against him. “All mine. Four hundred and fifty years. How will I ever survive?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
“We’ll protect each other.”
“Damn right.”
Eternal Guardians Lexicon
ándras; pl. ándres—male Argolean
Argolea—realm established by Zeus for the blessed heroes and their descendants
Argonauts—Eternal guardian warriors who protect Argolea. In every generation, one from the original seven bloodlines (Heracles, Achilles, Jason, Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, and Bellerophon) is chosen to continue the guardian tradition.
daemons—beasts who were once human, recruited from the Fields of Asphodel (Purgatory) by Atalanta to join her army.
élencho—mind-control technique Argonauts use on humans
Fields of Asphodel—Purgatory
gigia—grandmother
gynaíka; pl. gynaíkes—female Argolean
Isles of the Blessed—Heaven
matéras—mother
meli—term of endearment; beloved.
Misos—half-human/half-Argolean race that lives hidden among humans
ochi—no
oraios—beautiful
patéras—father
skata—swearword
Tartarus—realm of the Underworld similar to Hell
yios—son
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As with every project, I could not have gotten through this book without the help of my friends, family and colleagues. Special thanks go to Lisa Catto, my expert in all things Greek mythology related; my fabulous critique partner, Joan Swan, for keeping me on track every step of the way; my pals Becky Hakes and Kendra Elliot for praising me when I got it right and never pulling punches when I got it wrong. To Nicholas Roussos for his help translating at the last minute; and my wonderful agent, Laura Bradford, who read this manuscript so many times I’m pretty sure she could have written it herself. Big thanks also to my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt and the entire staff at Dorchester for all their hard work on my behalf.
And finally, to my husband Dan and our three kids, thanks for giving me the opportunity—and encouragement—to be the writer I always wanted to be. I love you all.
RAVE REVIEWS FOR ELISABETH NAUGHTON!
“Gripping, dangerous, and sinfully sexy, Marked is a top-notch read! Elisabeth Naughton combines dynamic dialogue and sizzling romance with a wicked cool world. Do NOT miss this series!”
—New York Times Bestselling Author Larissa Ione
“The sensuality of Sherrilyn Kenyon and the intensity of Patricia Briggs. Naughton’s foray into paranormals is deep, dark and sexy as hell.”
—New York Times Bestselling Author Angie Fox
STOLEN FURY
“A rock-solid debut…Naughton’s intelligent adventure plot is intensified by the blazing heat that builds from Lisa and Rafe’s first erotic encounter.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Naughton deftly distills deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion into a perfectly constructed novel of romantic suspense.”
—Chicago Tribune
“When a tough-as-nails and slightly repressed archaeologist meets a charming bad-boy thief, they test each other’s limits, narrowly escape danger, and fall in love…Naughton creates an action-packed and satisfying story line. She also delivers one very charming and sexy hero—with a heart of gold.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Stolen Fury puts an intelligent, spirited heroine together with a mischievous hot-blooded rogue. The sparks fly! Danger threatens at every corner as these two race around the globe and delve into the secrets each keeps from the other.”
—Merrimon Book Reviews
“This is an exciting romantic suspense thriller that starts off hot and…turns up the heat and action.”
—Midwest Book Review
STOLEN HEAT
“Stolen Heat is an awesome combination of deadly suspense, edgy action and a wonderful romance with characters that you’ll laugh, cry and yell with.”
—Night Owl Romance
“Ms. Naughton offers readers an intense read with nonstop action, suspense, and sizzling chemistry.”
—Darque Reviews
“This book has got it all: an adventure that keeps you turning the pages, an irresistable hero, and a smoking romance.”
—All About Romance
“Stolen Heat is a very well-written romantic suspense with excitement and intrigue on every page. I fell in love with the characters and their witty personalities. A great read!”
—Fresh Fiction
“The action, danger, suspense, and romance haven’t slowed down one bit in this second book in Ms. Naughton’s series…a well-thought-out concept and wonderfully written…The mysteries are complex but the love is simple, a balance achieved with characters you can’t help but like.”
—The Good, The Bad and The Unread
“This book started out with a bang and didn’t stop the entire book through! Often when reading RS it’s not equally balanced, but not so in this one. If you like romantic suspense, if you’ve never tried it before but are curious and looking for a good one—Stolen Heat is a book to put on the Be On The Lookout For.”
—Ram
blings on Romance
“Ms. Naughton hooks you with characters way too human to be perfect, and plotlines that are delivered with laserlike precision.”
—Coffee Time Romance
Other Love Spell books by Elisabeth Naughton:
STOLEN SEDUCTION
STOLEN HEAT
STOLEN FURY
Copyright
LOVE SPELL®
May 2010
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2010 by Elisabeth Naughton
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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0859-0
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