by Lila Jean
The moment she was outside, she felt free, like a weight had been lifted from her, and as she looked up at the sky, something about being outside felt right in a way she couldn’t explain.
“Guess we both needed some fresh air after all, eh, Damara?” Tina said, sucking in one more lungful as she stole through the paths, doing her best to keep to the trails hidden by the tall ferns. The soothing bubbling of the streams calmed her, but try as she might, she couldn’t find Anthony.
Worse, after a few minutes of empty paths, Tina got the feeling someone was watching her. Taking a deep breath, she spun around to find Anthony standing behind her, silent as a predator in the grass.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Anthony said with a chuckle as he eyed Tina’s clenched fists.
She let out a slow breath as her heart settled and she slowly dropped her hands to her sides. “Then why did you sneak up on me?”
“I didn’t mean to actually. I just move silently. Force of habit.” He grinned, the soft tilt of his lips charming as ever. “It’s a wolf thing. Surely, Amy has done the same from time to time.”
“She has,” Tina admitted as Anthony took a step toward her, and she couldn’t help but let her eyes roam over his broad shoulders.
His suit fitted him perfectly and made her wonder what lay beneath.
She wanted to yank off the tie and run her hands under the jacket to explore the hard lines of his chest, and as she took an unconscious step toward him, hands rising to do just that, a sudden burst of energy and fire, of lust and tenderness, of sheer unrelenting need slammed into her.
I want him, something within her said. She couldn’t tell if it was her or the goddess. Hell, it was probably both, but either way, this was going to happen. Right here, right now.
“You’re staring,” he said with an inviting smirk, and the sound of his voice brought her back to the moment.
Heat soared up her neck and into her cheeks, and her gaze darted away as she fought to keep control. “Sorry.”
Ray had said the goddess would give Tina uncharacteristic urges and desires that would be difficult for her to control. Was that what had happened?
Keep it in your pants, you horny fertility goddess. I mean, jeez, I don’t even know his last name.
“What are you sorry for?” he asked, seeming genuinely confused. “For sneaking out?”
“No, I, erm …” She cleared her throat, searching for something to talk about. “What I meant was that I, uh, wanted to thank you again for bringing me here. Now that I know a little more about the situation, I realize you would have benefited from keeping me in Wolfcrest, but you didn’t. You kept Amy and me safe. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Tina,” he said, and the worst part was she believed him. Okay, that wasn’t exactly bad, but damn did it make her want him more. Nice and hot? That was hardly fair.
“I only wish I’d gotten there sooner,” he added with a frown. “I could have saved you a lot of pain and trouble.”
Tina shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. Maybe Amy would be stuck here instead of me.”
“You seem awfully calm about all this.”
She laughed. “Not at all. I’m good at hiding it, I guess, but deep down I’m anxious as hell. Still, what’s the use in obsessing over what we could have done differently? It won’t change anything.” Tina put her hands on her hips and smiled. “I’m a goddess now. I’ve got to own it, right?”
“You have a point, but I still think I would be breaking things out of anger and resentment if I were in your shoes.”
“Hey, you haven’t seen the bedroom recently. You don’t know.” Tina shot him a sly smile.
Oh my god, I’m flirting with him.
“Is that an invitation? Because if you’d like some company…”
Oh my god, he’s flirting back.
Her cheeks flushed again, and even though she laughed, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
Anthony began to say something but cut himself off abruptly as he spun on his heel.
Tina’s eyes flicked past him to settle on a muscular man standing in the path behind them. He was at least six and a half feet tall and had the body of those bodybuilders Amy had once dragged her to see perform. Only those guys had mostly been clean shaven, and this guy had a full head of brown hair and a beard thick enough to make a Viking jealous.
“We’re supposed to give the goddess space,” the stranger said, stroking his thick beard.
“It’s been awhile, Flynn,” Anthony said with a cool and disinterested air, ignoring the massive man’s comment as he took a possessive step in front of Tina.
“Is this wolf bothering you, Damara?” Flynn asked, closing the gap between them. As he caught Tina’s eye, he offered a genuine and apologetic smile.
Tina tried to speak, to tell him everything was fine, but she lost herself in his every movement. The confident strut. The way his tailored suit betrayed the hard lines of muscles beneath the fabric. Her mind wandered, and she imagined him pressing her against a wall, one hand lifting her skirt.
Longing unlike anything she’d ever felt swept over her. It sparked and rattled in her chest, sinking down her torso and warming the space between her thighs. The tingling desire came again, making her vibrate with a powerful need. I want him, too.
“Tina?” Anthony asked softly.
And him. Both of them. At once.
“I’m fine,” she lied. She crossed her arms as she tried to rein in the surge of desire.
Flynn offered her a massive hand, and his large palm dwarfed her tiny fingers as she took it. “Forgive me for not introducing myself. I’m Flynn Astor.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, trying her best to suppress the goddess’s sexual impulses as her eyes returned to his handsome face.
His expression softened, and for a moment it seemed as though he had all but forgotten that Anthony was standing nearby. “I would understand if you’re nervous about this new life, Tina. Fusing with a goddess is challenging, and I’m sure you have a million questions.”
“I have a few,” she said with a wry laugh.
“I’ll do my best to get you the resources you need to answer them. You’re welcome in Olympus any time. We even have Damara’s second temple near the city center. She’s a celebrated goddess in my home, and we can explain everything you encounter.”
Tina lifted a curious eyebrow. “You’re a demigod?”
Flynn nodded. “Only gods and demigods are allowed in Olympus, Tina. You would be safe there.”
“I don’t recommend it.” Anthony took another possessive step between her and Flynn, and Flynn’s glare returned as he stared at the wolf shifter.
“She’ll be safer with us than the likes of you,” Flynn snapped.
Tina took a nervous step back at the sudden crackle of tension. “Hey, whoa. Calm down, boys.”
“Tina, any time you go to another kingdom, you risk never being allowed to leave.” Though Anthony had directed his words at Tina, he never once looked away from Flynn. A low growl rumbled in Anthony’s throat. They glared at each other, silently challenging the other to strike first.
“Right, well, this got a whole lot less fun,” Tina said, looking between the two men. If this first confrontation was any indicator, the meeting with the kings would not go well. “I’m going to go over there.” She pointed toward a nearby pond. “Come find me when you’re both ready to play nice.”
8
Tina
Tina trailed her finger through a small pond in the garden, and ribbons of light trailed behind her as she drew figure eights in the water. She smiled. She had magic. This was amazing. Sure, she couldn’t control it, and yeah, it didn’t make sense. It seemed to come and go as it pleased, but still, she had magic.
As Tina dragged her finger through the water again, a koi swam from the murky depths of the pond and hovered just out of reach of her fingertip. The little fish nibbled at the magical ribbon of light that trailed through the pool.
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She smiled. “Want to hear a secret?”
The koi tilted its head toward her briefly before swimming after the white light again.
She took that as a yes. “My secret is I have no idea what I’m doing.”
The fish hesitated, head tilting side to side as it followed her finger. She didn’t know what she had been expecting. Maybe that fusing with a goddess would turn her into a fairytale princess that got along with animals. Then again, maybe she just needed more practice.
“I mean, the whole instant-sexual-attraction thing to Flynn and Anthony scared me at first, but it’s not like I want to have sex with every guy I see. Plenty of men have walked by since I got here, but only a handful have sparked that kind of reaction.” She pressed on in her one-sided conversation with the koi, eager to make some sense of her tumultuous thoughts, especially since neither Flynn nor Anthony had come to find her just yet.
* * *
A few bubbles escaped the koi’s mouth as it chased after her finger.
She nodded to herself, piecing it together. “Any sane straight woman would want those two. Flynn and Anthony are gorgeous. Maybe Amy’s right. Maybe I just need to cut loose?”
“Are you having a nice conversation?” Ray asked from behind her.
Tina glanced over her shoulder to find the high priestess standing there with pursed lips and crossed arms. Damn. No wonder neither of the boys had come to find her. The old bat had probably scared them off.
Tina scowled. “I’m having a lovely little talk, thank you.”
“You left the safety of your room,” Ray said with an annoyed tinge in her voice.
“I did, yes. You’re very observant.”
The high priestess let out an uncharacteristic groan. “I cannot protect you if I don’t know where you are.”
Said the woman who told me death was my only way out. Tina returned her attention to the water, but the koi and the brilliant ribbon of light had disappeared into the murky depths. With an eye roll and a frustrated sigh, she pushed herself to her feet. If she allowed Ray to control her every movement, Tina would be in for one hell of a boring life.
“We need to get you into a new dress,” Ray said when Tina didn’t answer.
“Why?”
Ray gestured toward the temple. “The last royal party has arrived. They’re ready to see you.”
To Tina’s surprise, she didn’t feel fear. Sure, these were powerful men, and they probably all wanted something from her. But she was a freaking goddess, and no one would push her around. She lifted her chin defiantly and nodded. “Let’s see what they have to say.”
It took roughly an hour to get ready. By the time Ray was done with her mini-makeover, Tina had to admit she felt like a queen.
She tugged on the sheer golden sleeve of her gown, resisting the urge to hike up the plunging neckline that exposed a bit more cleavage than she was comfortable showing. The slinky dress hugged her waist and hips, the fabric cascading over her like water. Maybe she would get used to Damara’s style eventually, but for now, she felt like she was walking into a life-changing meeting dressed in a nightgown.
Still, the magnificent dress had jewel-incrusted embroidery that probably cost more than a month’s rent, and Ray had wrangled Tina’s wayward curls into a glamorous up-do fit for the red carpet.
She strode down an ornately decorated hallway in slippered feet, passing row after row of open windows that revealed new views of the temple. Statues. Waterfalls. Walkways. Curved towers. This place had so much for her to explore, and with each step, she began to feel more and more at home, both in the temple and in her own body.
The trickle of water caught Tina’s attention as Ray led her to an open set of double doors leading further into the temple. The doorway led to a throne room with waterfalls along two of the walls and a raised platform at the far end. On the stage sat a solid gold chair with thick, curved armrests and no back support. Ray gestured to the red cushion lying on the bench, and Tina sat.
Her throne.
Weird.
Ray brushed off her skirts as she paced the platform. “We will only speak with the kings and their one guest, Tina. I do not know who the kings chose to join them, but I can guarantee they will be important. When you speak, be careful about what you say so as not to offend any of them. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be, I guess.”
As Tina settled into her chair, a slender blonde woman with bright blue eyes peeked in the front door. As she caught Tina’s eyes, she smiled warmly.
“Bring them in,” Ray ordered.
The young woman’s smile faded at the command, but she nodded once and disappeared into the hallway.
“Was that one of the priestesses?” Tina asked.
Ray nodded.
“When do I get to meet all of them?”
“Don’t concern yourself with them. They’re here to serve you, not bother you.”
“They wouldn’t be—”
“Ah, gentlemen,” Ray interrupted, her gaze shifting to the doors.
Tina returned her attention to the throne room as ten men wearing expensive fitted suits entered the room. While five had graying hair, the other five were significantly younger, likely mid-twenties. All princes, she supposed.
Her eyes roamed the crowd as tension crackled around them like a brewing storm. Anthony stood beside the older man she had seen earlier, and now that she saw them together, she realized it must be his father since they had similar noses and jawlines. Though his father crossed his arms and scowled at the other men in the room, Anthony smiled warmly at her. She let out a small sigh of relief. She had at least one ally in the room. Maybe two if Ray could be trusted, but somehow Tina doubted it.
Then again, there was Flynn. He stood beside a distinguished gentleman who reminded Tina of a CEO with the way he stood, shoulders squared as he surveyed the competition. Flynn, however, nodded gently to her as their eyes met. Though his expression didn’t soften like it had back in the gardens, she could tell he was still interested in her. Was he putting on a show for the others?
As the ten men separated into five distinct groups, each representing one of the kingdoms, each gave the others a wide berth. No one here intended to mingle, and that worried her. A lot.
Once they had assembled accordingly, the room went silent, and nearly every head turned toward her as if waiting for her to speak. Her mouth went dry, and she scrambled to think of something to say.
“Welcome, honored guests,” Ray said with uncharacteristic warmth and a gentle nod of her head.
Tina nearly sighed with relief.
Ray set a hand on Tina’s shoulder as if they were longtime friends. “This is Christina Andrews, newly merged with the goddess Damara. For her sake, I will introduce everyone, as she knows little about shifter and demigod culture.”
Tina couldn’t suppress an annoyed frown at her high priestess. Sure, it was true, but she didn’t have to say it like that.
“This is King William Tudor and Crown Prince Anthony Tudor, of Wolfcrest,” Ray said with a gesture toward the wolf shifters. They nodded their heads in unison. King William’s angled features gave him an air of authority, but strangely, he stiffened as their eyes met. Interesting.
Next, Ray gestured toward Flynn’s party. “King Frederick Astor of the demigods in Olympus and Crown Prince Flynn Astor.”
Tina couldn’t resist raising one eyebrow in surprise. She hadn’t realized he was the crown prince. He hadn’t even introduced himself as royalty. At least he didn’t have a runaway ego. And damn, as she stared at him, it was hard to resist thinking about his massive hands exploring her body. She blushed at the goddess’s urges, but she couldn’t lie to herself any longer. Let’s be honest. That’s not all you, Damara.
As Tina shut her eyes so she could stem her rampant imagination, Ray continued. “These are the dragons of Mersarth, King Edward Zaffiro and his son, Crown Prince Draven Zaffiro.”
Draven. As Tina looked at him, he shot her
a mischievous smile. His ear-length black hair nearly fell into his hazel eyes. He exuded sex and power with the way his stance and demeanor dared her to come over and join him. The untamed, careless part of her wanted to indulge him. And that had nothing to do with the goddess.
Ray gestured to the next clump of men, interrupting Tina’s thoughts. “King James Blackwood, of the eagle nation Aurous. With him is the Crown Prince Killian Blackwood.”
Though his father frowned deeply, Killian watched Tina with a compassionate expression, as though he wanted nothing more than to hold her and tell her it would be all right. His square jaw and the stubble along his face reminded her of a white knight, and the side part in his blond hair made her think of the boys milling about in the country clubs Amy had dragged her to on more than one occasion.
Ray gestured to the final clump of shifters in the throne room. “And finally, King Alexander Sambridge of the Cimarron, home to the cat shifters. And of course, his son, Crown Prince Zane Sambridge.”
Zane smiled broadly. He was the only one thus far who actually looked happy, and as he smiled at her, Tina couldn’t resist smiling back.
His father, however, shot a quick glare down at him, and Zane adjusted the thin glasses resting on his nose before looking away. His dirty blond hair had been carefully combed, but he ran a hand through it and ruffled the part as if he wasn’t used to it being carefully tucked away.
“Fine, you’ve introduced us all,” King William snapped, drawing Tina’s attention back toward the leader of the wolf shifters.
“Yes.” King Frederick of the demigods agreed. “Let us get to the heart of the matter, High Priestess. The goddess cannot remain here. It’s unsafe.”
Ray scoffed. “What goddess is unsafe in her own temple?”
Tina didn’t point out all the times Ray herself had said those very words. Instead, she eyed the high priestess thoughtfully.
King James of the eagles huffed. “And let me guess, Olympus is the safest place for her, Frederick?”
The king of the demigods bristled. “Of course. She’s one of us.”