The tension rippling off Maximus would be palpable even if I wasn’t so wired into him.
“If she wanted me away from you, she must have had good reasons.”
Z’s expression remains unaffected. “I’m sure she had reasons. I can’t say they were good.”
“Don’t talk about my mother—”
“Do you want my help or not?” Again, Z looks more determined than amused. Another sign that there’s a god under that suit used to getting his way. The confirmation should comfort me but doesn’t. Somehow I already know he’ll want more than a casual reunion with his long-lost son. He can’t have traveled this far and searched for so long to settle for that. There’s much more to the story here. Still, I can’t bring myself to challenge him and risk the help he’s offering.
Maximus wraps his arm around me and holds me against him protectively. The act is equal parts tender and possessive, and I hope it means he’ll do anything to keep me there. Even if it means letting this stranger into his life long enough to save mine.
“What’s it going to be?” Z taps his foot a few times.
Maximus squares his jaw. “If that’s your condition, then make your calls.”
Z simply nods. “Very well. Until I know more, she’s under your protection. I’m not responsible for anything that happens on your watch.”
Maximus strengthens his hold on me infinitesimally.
“She’ll be safe with me.”
I press closer to his side, conveying how much I believe his every word. How thoroughly I believe in him. In us. In return, I receive an influx of his energy, warm and strong and full of purpose. It’s all I need right now. It’s what I’ve defied my family for. For this man—this demigod—who has every part of my heart, inch of my soul, and minute of my life in his hands.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my beta readers, Jonathan, Lauren, Jennifer, Martha, and Mindy, for your early insights and excitement for this story. It meant so much to get your stamp of approval when the story was so fresh.
Thank you, Scott Saunders, for your eagle eye and your thoughtful red pen. To know my words are always in such good hands means more than you know!
Angel, I’m so grateful for your enthusiasm and all the heart you brought to the page for this. I’m so proud of our book baby, and I can’t wait to create more magic with you!
Thank you, Victoria, for the sprints and the check-ins, but most of all, for your friendship. I’m holding you in my heart through every word. We’re going to get through this!
Lastly, this book is dedicated to my wonderful, beautiful friend, Mindy Moniz. Thank you for always being there for me and for the constant stream of memes that keep me sane. Love you.
— Meredith
There’s no better place to start than the pinnacle of the blessings tower, where goddess Meredith Wild resides. What do I say here? How do I express this fullness of my heart and joy of my storyteller’s soul? Impossible. I can only tell you that birthing a world like this has been so epic with a friend and guide like you. Thank you for teaching me with the words and inspiring me with your heart. You are such a beautiful blessing in my world.
Scott Saunders: The words sing with you to help refine, smooth, comment, and galvanize them. My gratitude to you continues to be boundless and bountiful. Thank you for caring so deeply and working so hard. We are so blessed with your editorial expertise!
Jonathan Mac, Robyn Lee, Amber Maxwell, Haley Boudreaux, Keli Jo Chen, and Dana Bridges: the best marketing and PR team a gal could ask for. You are my most steadfast pit crew. My heart’s worth of thankfulness for everything you do on a daily basis. #WaterhouseKicksAss
Victoria Blue: You are my hero, in so many ways, each and every day. Thank you so much for all the things—and for knowing where the bodies are buried but loving me anyway.
Carey Sabala: How your deep heart, fathomless loyalty, and endless smiles have lent me strength on the days I need it most. If there’s an Excelsior Award for girlfriends (and booth biatches!), I’m going to stamp that medallion into the middle of your gorgeous forehead. Excelsior, baby!
Martha Frantz: Thank you for keeping the wheels turning and the gears going. You are amazing!
Regina Wamba: WHAT A RIDE, woman! And the adventure has only begun. I believe in you so much. I love you so much. So many good, great things ahead on your journey—and I am so honored to be here to see it.
Writing is an impossible profession without goddesses to help one see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The lights in my world are without compare. Jenna Jacob, Shayla Black, Rebekah Ganiere, Sierra Cartwright, Jodi Drake, Red Phoenix, Nelle L’Amour, and Helen Hardt: you women are pure magic, and such amazing vessels of support. Thank you.
The Payne Passion Army: you remarkable human beings are the fiber of my fortitude, and—many, many times!—the gas in my engine. Thank you for all of your encouragement, love, memes, madness, and support. I love you all so hard!
Brock O’Hurn and Jade McKenzee: Thank you for pouring yourselves into embodying Maximus and Kara. You both make me swoon, forever and ever and EVER!
The Waterhouse Crew of Tireless Ops Support: I love you epic people with a passion I cannot put into words. You are all so special to me! Thank you to Jennifer Becker, Kurt Vachon, and Jesse Kench for handling the details when we need them the most! You are ROCK STARS.
Stephanie Arrache: You are one of the most badass women I know—a real Olympian!—and I'm so honored for your presence in my world. Thank you for the super-uber beta read, and making sure we got everything right about Jesse. You are very much appreciated!
Last yet NEVER least: Mom, you are my rock, my friend, my inspiration—and the woman who showed me the meaning of the best motto on earth. Work hard, be kind. I admire and love you so much.
— Angel
Continue the Blood of Zeus Series
Coming December 22, 2020
Pre-Order Now
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Also by Meredith Wild & Angel Payne
Blood of Zeus Series
Blood of Zeus
Heart of Fire
Fate of Storms
More Information on Blood of Zeus
Also by Meredith Wild
The Red Ledger
Reborn
Recall
Revenge
More Information on The Red Ledger
The Hacker Series
Hardwired
Hardpressed
Hardline
Hard Limit
Hard Love
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The Bridge Series
On My Knees
Into The Fire
Over the Edge
About Meredith Wild
Meredith Wild is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. After publishing her debut novel, Hardwired, in September 2013, Wild used her ten years of experience as a tech entrepreneur to push the boundaries of her “self-published” status, becoming stocked in brick-and-mortar bookstore chains nationwide and forging relationships with major retailers.
In 2014, Wild founded her own imprint, Waterhouse Press, under which she hit #1 on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She has been featured on CBS This Morning and the Today Show, and in the New York Times, the Hollywood Reporter, Publishers Weekly, and the Examiner. Her foreign rights have been sold in twenty-three languages.
For more information, please follow Meredith Wild at:
MeredithWild.com
Also by Angel Payne
Shark’s Edge Series:
Shark’s Edge
Shark’s Pride
Shark’s Rise
Grant’s Heat
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Secrets of Stone Series:
No Prince Charming
No More Masquerade
No Perfect Princess
No Magic Moment
No Lucky Number
No Simple Sacrifice
No Broken Bond
No White Knight
No Longer Lost
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The Bolt Saga:
Bolt
Ignite
Pulse
Fuse
Surge
Light
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Honor Bound:
Saved
Cuffed
Seduced
Wild
Wet
Hot
Masked
Mastered
Conquered
Ruled
* * *
Misadventures:
Misadventures with a Time Traveler
* * *
Cimarron Series:
Into His Dark
Into His Command
Into Her Fantasies
* * *
Temptation Court:
Naughty Little Gift
Pretty Perfect Toy
Bold Beautiful Love
* * *
Suited for Sin:
Sing
Sigh
Submit
* * *
Lords of Sin:
Trade Winds
Promised Touch
Redemption
A Fire in Heaven
Surrender to the Dawn
* * *
For a full list of Angel’s other titles,
visit her at
AngelPayne.com
About Angel Payne
USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne loves to focus on high-heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them. She has numerous book series to her credit, including the action-packed Bolt Saga and Honor Bound series, Secrets of Stone series (with Victoria Blue), the intertwined Cimarron and Temptation Court series, the Suited for Sin series, and the Lords of Sin historicals, as well as several standalone titles.
Angel is a native Southern Californian, leading to her love of being in the outdoors, where she often reads and writes.
She still lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter, to whom she is a proud cosplay/culture con mom. Her passions also include whisky tasting, shoe shopping, and travel.
For more information, please follow Angel Payne at:
AngelPayne.com
Blood of Zeus: Book One Page 23