She arches one perfect eyebrow, and a glint of a smile etches on her lips. It looks good on her. Too good. I step away, shaking my head from the odd hypnotism. Is that an immortal power? Are they meant to ensnare us, like we ensnare humans?
“What did you say?”
“I said, oh mighty Hades, that while that is all nice and good, you cannot release me.”
“Why not?”
May the gods help me with this one. “Are you master of this realm?”
I scowl. “No.”
“Then, you cannot undo this. Only the master of the realm can. Which, if I’m not mistaken, is Zeus.”
A near-growl slips through my gritted teeth. “You know full well it’s Zeus.”
“I was humoring you.” And trying to get you off the topic before you do something stupid.
Much as I want to dignify the latter with a response, I scoff in anger and move away from the door. Might as well concede I’ve lost control—for now.
Pegasus strides in a few hours later, his eyes wild until they settle on me. He clasps his chest like I’ve just saved him from dying.
“That’s not nice, leaving me alone without even a note!” And with Fenrir on the loose.
I jerk my head toward Ileana. “Wasn’t my decision.”
Pegasus takes her in, unbearably slow. Mm, I can understand how she’d make him follow. Hell, for a taste of that, I’d do anything.
I clear my throat. Last thing I need is my best friend’s salacious thoughts in my head.
“It’s not like you to keep them after the fact,” Pegasus drawls as he sits in a chair opposite me. “Dear, grab us some ambrosia, would you?”
I open my mouth to correct him, but Ileana is already moving. Or, rather, making things move. With one flick of her wrist, an entire decanter of ambrosia floats to us—without glasses. I realize a moment too late her intent when the entire content explodes in our faces.
Spluttering and wiping myself, I scowl at her. “Was that necessary?”
No. But it was satisfying. She only smiles coolly, and I have to admire she’s holding her own against an Olympian, yet again.
The attitude she hides under all that light reminds me of the woman earlier. The one from the party, who’d distracted me. With everything else going on, I should have forgotten her. So why am I thinking of her now, when I’m faced with her exact opposite?
Pegasus stares between us, then gets up and finds some linen to wipe the mess. Since it’s useless with me, I pull off my shirt and exchange it for another. No snarky remarks. Hmm. When I glance at Ileana over my shoulder, she’s looking anywhere but at me.
Doubly intriguing. Perhaps she’s not as immune to my charms as she’d like to pretend.
I toss another shirt to Pegasus, and he takes his time getting changed.
“Zeus seems to think I need a guard,” I try to explain. “He’s assigned this one to me. Her name’s Ileana.”
“Lower deity?”
“Immortal.”
Pegasus’ eyes widen. I should have paid more attention when he was talking about them, but now I can’t pry more information out of him. Not with her here.
“I know you’re a busy man, so we can catch up later.” As I move him to the door, I whisper in his ear, “I need you to find out everything you can about immortals. I’ll figure out a way to get it from you without Ileana knowing.”
“You don’t trust her?”
“Not yet.”
After Pegasus leaves, I roam mindlessly in my room. This would be the time I’d drink myself into oblivion and not care what anyone thinks of me. And… Why the hell not?
Just because Zeus decided to further restrict my freedom with a babysitter doesn’t mean I’m going to change. I’ve already conformed enough to last me an entire lifetime—and not the regular human length.
I stop my pacing and grab another decanter of ambrosia, pouring some in a goblet. I hold it to Ileana, but she shakes her head. With a shrug, I swallow the whole thing, then pour myself another.
Wonderful. A drunkard, too. Only thing missing is him trying to seduce me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I take her in again. She has a radiance about her, a femininity that’s unlike what I would expect from a protector. How is this tiny thing supposed to save my life, if it comes to it?
I swallow more ambrosia and force myself to face her. “When did Zeus ask you? To become my guard.”
She shrugs. “Does it matter?”
“To me, it does.”
How peculiar this one is. Out loud, she says, “The request came through a few days ago.”
So, it had nothing to do with Fenrir. Interesting. Even more so is the fact Zeus must have asked her before my latest outburst.
“Waste of time, if you ask me,” I say.
“You would say that to get rid of me, no?”
I want to glare at her, but the brilliance of her gaze makes it hard to hold it long enough. I turn away, refusing to feel inferior yet again. I’ve had enough of that. Enough of Olympus. Enough of my brother. Enough of prisons.
“I need a walk.”
Ileana follows me, of course. It’s not until I’m on my way to the well-manicured gardens—cup of ambrosia still glued to my hand—that I remember the nymph, and my brother, and everything that supposedly happens in this little labyrinth.
The plan isn’t fully thought of. I figure, since she’s already averse to me, maybe if I push her buttons the only way I know, it will get her to back off. Request a transfer. Or something. Whatever way this all works. Patience isn’t my forte, and who knows when I’ll see Pegasus again to get the information I need?
“So, did you go to school for, ah, guardianship?”
“You could say that.”
I throw her a look. “You could give me more information, you know. Who would I tell?”
She huffs out a breath. “Very well. Da, I went to school for this.”
“Where, exactly?”
“In the midst of the Carpathians.” In a location unknown to mortals and gods alike, and it shall remain so.
I can’t deny the curiosity poking me. “And, what? You’re taught how to fight?”
“In a way, yes. There are rigorous training exercises we must learn, if we are to protect a specific someone. And with gods, there is no room for error.”
“I see. What happens if there is an error?”
I die. She clears her throat. “Not a good outcome.”
“I heard we had zmei for protection, a while back.”
She makes a sound of disgust. “Mindless creatures, ruled by impulse. They can be good in a fight because of their elemental powers and monstrous dragon-like appearance, but useless otherwise.”
“Hmm. I found them quite useful.” A lie. I’ve never seen one in my existence, and the first I heard of them was through Pegasus. But I want to see if she’ll take the bait.
Whether Ileana sees through my bullshit or not, she says nothing. Our walk brings us to the path, the area I’d been waiting for. Narcissus flowers are in full bloom, the air is filled with a heady fragrance, and water runs in sparkling rivers everywhere we turn. It’s a little slice of heaven, one of my own creation.
“This is beautiful.” Though she tries to keep the awe out of her voice, it’s there.
Anyone would be impressed with Olympus, to be fair. Many pantheons have tried to outdo us, but none have quite managed it. Of course, my brother’s crazy ideas of modernization will soon ruin the last of the peace we have here, but that’s beside the point.
I pivot to her, stepping closer. “I could try for something as cliché as ‘so are you’ but somehow I doubt that will make an impact.”
Ileana only stares back, ever the composed one. “Impact on what?”
Let’s see if I can melt some of that iciness.
I take one more step, bringing us within touching distance. At the same time, I toss my goblet to the side and wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her closer against me. Her breathi
ng comes to a full stop, and she stares at me, her sun-filled eyes wide and unreadable. But her lips part—whether to yell at me, or ask for a kiss, I don’t wait to find out.
Instead, I go for a taste of her lips, teasing them with light strokes. Her mouth opens to me, and I don’t hesitate to go in for the kill. Only, the joke’s on me. Because the more I kiss her, the more I find her cinnamon taste appealing, and like the way her body fits mine.
This is bad. So bad. So, so bad.
I don’t know where her thoughts stop and mine begin. There’s too much to distract me, too much to…
Then something zaps me away, and I land a few feet farther. I stare at Ileana, thinking it had been her, but she’s as shocked as I am. And then her training slams in, and she whirls on whoever attacked me, her hands lit with magic.
It’s my first time experiencing why, exactly, immortals make great guards. And the quickness of Ileana’s movements, the power I sense emanating from her hands, plus the barrier she has erected around me, are definitely points in her favor. They also distract me from our attacker, at least at first.
The man there is blond, with blue eyes. His loose black pants and white shirt ensemble is completed by a sword, slung by his hip. His cool gaze assesses me, but the smirk on his lips is all for Ileana. “Did I interrupt something, partneră?”
“Partner?” I ask, automatically translating from the dialect he uses.
Ah nu, nu, nu! Anyone but him. Ileana’s distress doesn’t come through to her expression, but I cannot ignore it. Not after that kiss.
I stand, dusting myself and nearing them both. “So, I’m gifted with not one, but two of you?”
The man mock bows toward me. “Făt-Frumos, at your service.”
I shake my head. “What is it with your names?”
He shrugs. “You may call me Frumos, if the full name itself is too…complicated.”
“Uh-huh.” I ignore the jab and focus on Ileana. Instead of shying away from my gaze, she meets it fully. It’s weird to talk about that in front of an audience but… “About the kiss.”
“Momentary insanity,” she says quickly. “Will not happen again.”
“Damn well, it will not,” Frumos adds. “We are here to protect him, not get in bed with him.”
I scowl at him, unable to hold back the taunt. “You’re not my type.”
“Neither are you, oh mighty Hades.”
It’s my turn to arch an eyebrow. “Do they teach you that in school?”
Frumos glances at Ileana. “Been sharing some secrets?”
I may murder him before this assignment is done. Out loud, she says, “Nu. Only what is public knowledge.”
“Right.” He inspects the surroundings, his thoughts oddly protected. Either that, or he doesn’t have much of them. “Where do we sleep, then?”
With a sigh, I head back to my quarters. I’d been hoping for nothing more than a night of oblivion. Only, that’s to be denied to me, given both of my guards will now shadow my every step. How the hell am I supposed to keep my thoughts to myself? And ignore theirs?
We’re nearing my chambers when I run into none other than Zeus.
“Brother dear,” I drawl. “Care to explain my new babysitters?”
He faces me, ignoring said guardians. “For your protection. I’ve assigned a few all around.”
It takes all my willpower not to punch him. Surely doing so in front of my guards, and anyone else who might notice, will only enlist more people against me. Contrary to belief, Olympians do love him.
“Why?” I settle for asking.
“Preventative measures.”
“For?”
Zeus sighs. “Must you question everything? Take my word for it.” For once, just once, be like all of us and listen to this small thing. Then I won’t have to think of ways to cover your ass when you screw up again. To hide that which sets you apart, makes you so abnormal… Which could be the end of me as a ruler. All because you can’t be bothered to conform.
I ignore his thoughts—they’ve been on repeat for the better part of the last millennia. Instead, I head to my door, pushing past him. He grunts and moves backward, allowing me this small victory. As I open the door, though, I recall my promise to Pegasus. And unlike most Olympians, I stand by my promises.
Biting back a sigh, I turn to him. “All these measures… They wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Norse dog attacking me, would they?”
Zeus blanches. “When did that happen?”
“I would have thought Hermes told you.”
“He did not. Are you all right?”
I shrug off his hand. “Fine. Don’t pretend you care.”
His eyes grow cooler, and he stands straighter. “Very well. Then I trust you’ll have no issues with your new guards.”
“I have issues, and plenty,” I mutter. “But we’ll survive.”
He leaves, and I have no further answers than I did before. Biting back a curse, I open the doors to my rooms and wave Ileana and Frumos in. “All yours.”
I head for the decanter of ambrosia, trying to ignore their thoughts and whispered conversation. Clearly, they know each other. And clearly, there’s no way out of this. What did Zeus do, to provoke the Norse gods? Or, more in particular, Fenrir? He must’ve, since I was the one attacked. That part, I’m sure of. But what the hell does it all mean?
That night, once I pass out from the drink, I dream of the wolf… And then of a female laugh, locks of dark hair, and a fruity scent that’s definitely not cinnamon.
Does he ever get out of bed?
A myriad of confusing thoughts bursts through my subconscious, rightfully waking me up. Ileana’s by my window, glaring outside.
And why, out of all the people in the realms, did it have to be Făt who joins me on this assignment?
Ah, they do have a history. I wonder, based on his reaction yesterday, what it might be. Could be fun playing with my new guards, at least for the time being. If nothing else, it would distract from their annoying thoughts, their constant presence, and the fact I’ve been officially deemed incapable of taking care of myself.
I stretch in bed, and the movement draws Ileana’s attention. The silky sheets drop to my waist, and she spends a moment longer staring, then turns away.
Between Făt and this cocky god, I will lose my mind. Or I may just murder one of them.
That, or end up in my bed. Perhaps. I don’t want to encroach on another man’s territory, and Frumos seems fairly possessive. But it would be extremely fun, especially given Ileana’s prickliness.
Smirking, I get up and move to the bathtub. Similarly to Hera, I rather enjoy a hot bath every once in a while. Especially with a drink or two. A wave of my hand has the tub filling with steamy water. A moment later, I sink in with a satisfied sigh, holding a new cup of ambrosia.
Must he drink all the time?
“You can save your judgment.” I only realize my mistake once heavy silence follows my words.
“I said nothing,” Ileana murmurs.
Fuck. Day two of this, and I’ve already messed up. How much longer until they both figure out my secret?
I doubt Zeus’ intent in getting me two guards was to have me blurt out all my dirty deeds. But how could he not have grasped the dangers involved? At least if I sulk and hide in my chambers most of the time, I’m not seen. Gods and goddesses aren’t around me long enough to understand there’s something actually wrong with me. They just assume I don’t fit into their little team.
Which, I don’t.
Harsh ruminations for early morning… Much as I try to snap out of them, the usual wave of despair has already hit me. My limbs grow heavy and my eyes droop with fatigue. I take a deep swallow of ambrosia and stare at the foamy water. Imagining what it would be like, just once, to have full silence in my head. Perhaps if the water covers me…
Ileana moves into my line of sight, her eyebrows drawn together. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Don’t
be ridiculous, of course I didn’t.” I take a sip of the nectar and sink farther in. The bubbles protect most of my nudity, not that I’m purposefully hiding myself. “The judgment is plain as day on your face, is all.”
“You had your back to me.”
“I saw it when waking up.” Taking another gulp, I keep my gaze on hers. “You know, there are better ways of waking up than that.”
She scoffs, the tension leaving her expression. “You wish.”
“Mm.”
Ileana rolls her eyes and moves away from me, and I let the water restore my senses. My words may have put her off the scent, but I’ll have to be careful. Zeus is already on my case, and he won’t like it if anyone else knows of my…abilities. To be frank, I’m not quite sure he’d let them live to spread the tale. At the end of the day, it’s not like any other gods have manifested with similar deficiencies. Which makes me special, but not in the best of ways.
Between the nectar, Ileana’s silence—including her thoughts, oddly—and the hot water, I soon drift to sleep. But instead of the quietude of my dreams, I’m assailed by a nightmare.
I’m in a crowd, thoughts being thrown at me right and left. No matter how I try to ignore them, to make my way past them, the deities close in on me, surrounding me. Their judging eyes, their hardened stares, their thoughts permeate my mind until they’re all I hear.
And then, when I think I can’t take any more, someone laughs. The crowd parts. And a woman steps between them. At first, I think the deities are being deferential to her. It’s only as she approaches that I notice they’re turning their backs on her. Tears bathe her face, but her features are blurry. All I can see are her raven locks, a curvaceous body, and…a glowing gaze that traps me in its depths.
Hades…
I jerk up, splashing water everywhere. Somewhere behind me, Ileana snorts, but my mind is not on her. Not anymore. That woman…that voice… Why is she so familiar? And why did that nightmare leave me with such a sense of wrongness?
“Harsh wake-up?” Ileana says.
She keeps herself out of my sight. No way I’m giving in to that trap. So instead of answering, I stand from the water, naked, and turn to her. Making sure I see her mouth if she speaks, rather than answer her thoughts. This one’s too perceptive right now.
Secret Shadows: A Greek God Paranormal Romance (Immortal Rogues Book 1) Page 3