Uninvited (Etudes in C# Book 3)

by Jamie Wyman

  I caught sight of a long white caftan moving among the trunks of the trees across the pond. Stalking from tree to tree, her stare cold, was the Lady of Olympus. She stopped her movements and fixed me with those hard, sour eyes.

  I moved up beside Marius and glared at Hera. I wasn’t sure what she wanted of me—or him—but I’d gone through Hell to protect Marius. I’d give the queen a run for her money, too, if she wanted a fight.

  But that didn’t seem to be the case. She stared at us, eyes flickering back and forth between me and the satyr. At first, her expression offered nothing but malice. But soon, her features softened to confusion. Brow furrowed with consternation, she slunk behind a tree.

  Only then did I notice Marius had stopped playing. He stood beside me, stare resting on the shifting waters.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  “It’s…breathtaking.”

  “I’ve missed this place. Didn’t think I’d ever see it again. Or you,” he added. Finally, he took his eyes off the water and looked at me. No Sileni. No deified brother. No gods or monsters bidding on his soul. Just me. Marius’s attention swept down on me with heavy focus that made my knees quake and my body crave his touch.

  “That makes two of us,” I said dumbly.

  We gazed into each other’s eyes. What’s next? his expression asked. There was so much to explain. There were so many words to stumble over and choose and worry about getting wrong. Words I didn’t remember how to say with perfect trust and without fear.

  “I…” The syllable trembled in my throat. “I’m sor—”

  He didn’t let me finish my apology. “You came to Hades looking for me, Catherine. You tried to barter with the Lord of the Dead. You never need to apologize to me again, do you understand?”

  I flushed, my cheeks burning. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, though.

  “You’re practically glowing,” he said, stroking my hair. “What has gotten into you?”

  “Oh,” I said flippantly. “Dahlia. She… We just… I mean, she stopped me to talk.”

  “Did she? And did she have anything of interest to say?”

  “She gave me…what she had offered to Hades.”

  “Really?” Marius asked. “Well, it certainly suits you.”

  With the awkwardness of two nerds at a junior prom, we danced around the real conversation, keeping each other at an uncomfortably vast distance. I was supposed to say something here. I was supposed to tell him all those things that had me running right across the River Styx, right? But my throat went dry, and my brain wouldn’t do that thing that makes words possible. I’d kept my cool in a room full of deities while holding the goddamn Apple of Discord, but standing next to Marius by this beautiful pond, I went dumb. Completely and utterly devoid of thought.

  “Christ, you make me stupid,” I breathed.

  “What was that?”

  Say it, a part of me prodded. Instead, I reached out and touched the silver robe. “Some threads you’ve got there.”

  “It’s that or go starkers.”

  Heat flared in my cheeks. Just a thin wisp of fabric between me and his naked body. With all the excitement and craziness inside the Temple, it hadn’t occurred to me to ogle him. Now I lamented that damn robe.

  A bird called into the night, and Marius looked off to the sky. “Somewhere out there, Eris is screaming for mercy.”

  “Do you care?”

  “Not a damn bit. I’m no saint, but that woman deserves a taste of Hell for all she’s done.”

  I shifted from foot to foot and cleared my throat. “So, now that this is all over, what’s going to happen?”

  Marius drew in a breath. “Well, Malcolm is going to need some help adjusting, that’s for sure. I figure he and I should go home and see Father. Explain to him what happened. Mal has a lot to learn after a lifetime of shirking the history of his heritage.”

  Disappointment and fear writhed in my stomach. “So you’re staying here.”

  “Oh gods, no. I’ll be going back to Vegas soon enough. Maybe a week or two with Mal before heading back to Sin City.”

  “Really?” I said, perhaps a little too excitedly. “I mean, um…really? Why Vegas? I thought this was your home.”

  The shadows obscured his face, but the smile there was plain to see. “Sometimes home is more than a place. Besides, all my stuff’s there.”

  I smiled. “Good. You know, I was thinking. I know someone who’s been out of the loop for a while and needs some help navigating the twisty landscape of deities and such.”

  “Oh really? Do tell.”

  “Flynn would never ask you outright, but he’s on the radar now. In a big way. He’s going to need a trained professional.”

  “A friendly native guide, perhaps?”

  “Something like that.”

  Marius stroked his beard. “Hmm, well, the idea has some merits to it, I suppose. When I get back into town, I’ll pay Flynn a visit. And you. Assuming you’re available,” he added.

  “You know how to find me,” I said, grinning like an idiot. This wouldn’t be so hard. I could just tell him now. “Do you think— I mean, well…” And then my words locked up again. Stupid brain! “Maybe we could try that date thing again. Sometime. If you’re interested.”

  “No gods or monsters?”

  “No foul beasties. And no running away. Promise.”

  “I’d enjoy that,” he whispered.

  My heart swelled in my chest, hope turning into a blazing bonfire. Maybe we could do this after all. “I would, too.”

  Marius brought his pipes back to his lips and blew an airy glissando. “I don’t know what the hell Mal was thinking, offering these to Hades for my stupid life.”

  I chewed my lip. “Yeah. Dumb idea. But hey, he missed you and wanted to do anything to get you back.”

  “Did he?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Well, now he’s going to see plenty of me.”

  Frogs began to croak, their songs a counterpoint to the gurgling of the lagoon and the soft drone of the waterfall. Marius lifted his pipes to his mouth and started playing. This tune carried a complex depth. The high notes were cheerful and brimming with vitality, but the lower register sang with just a hint of mourning. Of loss. As he played, I sat down on a stone and enjoyed this private concert. Listening, I found the unconsummated tension, the longing in each phrase, resonated with me.

  Say it, I urged myself. Tell him now.

  The melody wound around me like a cat between my ankles, all purrs and adoration. And I thought of Linux at home, probably very cross with me by now. He’d always approved of Marius, regardless of my ideas on the matter. Maybe that was a sign. Maybe Karma was right, too. I’d never be happy with someone I had to protect from this odd little life of mine. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what life with Marius would be like. Not one where we went on these sadistic missions for Eris, or where we ran for our lives. But going for coffee. Having a drink. Dinner at the little shawarma joint down the street from my apartment. Giggling as we passed Mrs. M’s apartment at oh-god-thirty. Sharing passion and getting to know each other, bodies and minds.

  What would that be like with Marius?

  I could find out. I wanted to.

  I drew in a long breath and practiced the words in my mind, those three syllables that seemed to catch in my throat and trigger my gag reflex. I could say it. Here in his sacred place. Now, after all we’d been through.

  I opened my mouth. “I love you.”

  The music stopped.

  I opened my eyes, nearly blinded by afternoon sun pouring into my apartment. Linux’s mew was pitiful and full of disdain as he stepped around my ankles. It took me too many seconds to realize that Marius had sent me home with his own brand of magic. But where was he? Still with Mal, just as he’d said. And soon the two would go back to Glastonbury to be with Llyr.

  But Marius said he’d be back.

  Anticipation of that moment already had me on e
dge. As I padded into the kitchen to feed Linux and get him fresh water, I glanced at the calendar. A week or two seemed like eternity. Had he heard my confession before I’d faded away from Greece and back to Vegas? What did he think? If he didn’t, could I say it again?

  A week or two. They’d be a new kind of hell without him, just this empty ache in my heart at his absence.

  But he’d be back. I trusted his word on that.

  You do that when you love someone.

  Acknowledgments

  Here we are again, my loves, and I’m thrilled. Seriously, you don’t even know. I wrote the rough draft of this book before the Unveiled (Book 2) Kickstarter in 2014. Even then I was vibrating with excitement to share this story with you because I’m incredibly proud of it. Being able to finally get this book into your hands and the story into your brain? Epic. So, above all else, thank you, dear reader, for slaking this thirst of mine.

  As always, tremendous thanks go to my editor, Danielle Poiesz, and my fantastic cover artist, Nathalia Suellen. Special thanks also to Zach Reddy and Emma Lysyk for their artwork for merchandise; to Beverly Bambury, my publicist; to Mandy Nelson, who voices Cat on the audiobooks; to Lejon Johnson, whose council helped these first three books not suck; and to my glorious Attack Fish. Your screams and tears are sustenance upon which I gladly feast.

  I also have to thank my dear family for all their support and love. My daughter, my husband, Sean, and our cats have dealt with all manner of hell just by living with a writer.

  Like its predecessor, Uninvited was brought to you by viewers like you. Thanks to Open Beta (www.openbetamusic.com) and Gotham City Comics in Mesa, AZ, for hosting Satyrthon, our small fundraiser concert and auction in September 2015. And eternal gratitude to the many backers of the Uninvited Kickstarter. Those kind souls are:

  L. Laufeyson, Nacole Vickery, Nedra Wilson, Jim Wyman, Ethan and Kaitlyn Kincaid, Kristin D., T. Costa, Kitty Spaven, Tiffany Meuret, Delilah S. Dawson, Jonni Greenburg, Tex Thompson, Michael R. Underwood, Head Knacker MGL, Axex Dental, summervillain, Rene Sears, Philda Todzaniso, Cyrano Jones, Eric Lloyd, Beth Cato, Pim and Carin Klabers, Craig Coxon, Tracy Canfield, Michelle Welch, Sandra Roberts, John Idor, Lorena Dinger, Dr. DeAnna Woeller, Joe O’Toole, FrozenFoxy, Rylee Keys, Matthew Kinney, Brian McDonald, Eric May, Florian Schock, Tara Zuber, Krysi, Tibicina, Sam Slessor, Jessica Meade, Karen Lindsay, Melissa Tabon, Lord Fancypants, Bob Mungovan, Bob Jackson of the Spongeworks Clan, Gordon Tyus, Neliza Drew, Christopher “Titan” James, Ken Bowley, Emma Maree (@emaree), Max Kaehn, Sara Wilmber, Nathan Duby, Andrea Feeney, Cliff Winnig, Lisa McCurrach, Sarah Mack, Zen Dog, Stephanie Cranford, Justin Greenburg, Angie Kones, M.E. Gibbs, Janet Armentani, Veranica and James Stephan, Andrew Barton, Sally Novak Janin, Cat Faber, Kathleen O’Connell, Bry Hitchcock, Eleri & Scott Hamilton, Thom Slattery, Rachel M. Thompson, Knat, Rhys Edan McNamee, Yeti, Paulie, Elfling, Cindy Durand, Jenybeth Durand, Ashley Dryer, Ryan Dalton, Inger Burnicle, Stephen Makofske: Spawn of Awesome, The Bald Pirate, Mandy Nelson, Doty, Sarah Lynn, Amie Deichert, Alyssa Marie Bethancourt, Tracy Richardson, Sara Fleishman Nelson, Ivy Faulkner, Nicola Chick, Brady Barnett, Cathy Corman, Rachel Sharp, Jamie Rapose, Jaileigh McIntyre, Lorri Angus, Sara Rebennack, Stefanie Muniz, Vicki Riddick Nelson, Michelle R. Lyon, TS, Ambrosia Rose: Queen of the Color Pixies, Pam Greenway, Andrew Gilbert, Alison M Diem, Paul Krueger, Jason Boudon, Sabrina Poulsen, Heather Bragg, Cat Magic, Cheryl Doebler, Leigh Flynn, John Groseclose, Emma Lysyk & Guillermo Hernandez, Julia M., Heather Wilson, Isaac “Will It Work” Dansicker, David Gates, Mel, Rosanne Girton, Sheila, Tina Beychok, Gunnar Högberg, Sage Christofferson, Andreas Gustafsson, Allison Pang, MC, Cheryl Busfield, Stephanie B., Clare A. Bohn, Jennifer McCormick, Crowfae, Sam-ish, Caitlyn DeAmbra, Vicki Colbert, Krista Long & Chris Seggerman, Tim Stapleton, Melissa Lotspeich, Alma E Heinrichs, Christine Jackson, Kristin Gwinn, Angela Melton, Loralei Riney, Steven Cowles, Rachel Caine, Melissa Crandall, the other Catherine Sharp, Erin Paxton, Gabi & Dave Burtless, Betty Campbell, Mrs. McIntyre, The Legion of Leaches, Jeff Carlson, Jane Hanmer, Zach Reddy, beckymmoe, Jeremy McCliment, anon, Joseph M Benzer, Ariel Byrne, Jarred Harris, Aa, Chris Hartwig, Elizabeth Davis, Brian Abernethy, Phil & Gabby, MOM, Melissa McCollum, Susana La Luz-Hawkins, @stevedave47, Judy Little, Wanda Baum, Jennie Goloboy, Gabrielle Davis, Lejon A Johnson, Brian McGuire, Jessie Le Fey, Govneh, Rissa, Andrew Terranova, Inge Atkinson, Jim Barrows.

  Thank you all for your enthusiasm. Thank you all for believing in me.

  Can’t wait to show you what comes next.

  With love and chai,

  J.