“I know you care about me, Katie.”
Her shoulders slump, then straighten before she faces me again. “Yeah, I do. And this hurts, Ace. It hurts so fucking bad I can barely breathe. Which is why I also hate you a little bit right now. Goddammit, you promised not to fall in love with me.”
The tears sparkling in her eyes make my throat burn so that I have to force the words out. “I guess I lied about that, too.”
She backs away as the first tear slips free. “Yeah. I guess you did.”
I don’t reach for her this time. I just watch as she gets into another cab and disappears down into the city.
Chapter Ten
It’s been a week. A week of nothing. First I hung outside the bar, until I finally said fuck it and went inside. But she wasn’t working. When I came back the next day and asked for the owner, he said she quit. Took a pharmacy job, but he wouldn’t tell me where. I’ve lurked outside her apartment, too, but I can never quite make myself approach her, even though I’ve seen her once or twice.
I haven’t seen Lo.
But I know he’s around. I can feel it. Like the thunderstorm hanging above the city right now, the smell of ozone and sage heavy in the air. Something is coming.
Or someone.
Two days later when I walk inside my house, Mom is there. For some it may be disconcerting to have a mother that looks like mine, but I don’t think I see her the way others do. She’s not particularly tall, just hitting my shoulder, but she’s imposing, with long, golden hair currently caught in a sleek, high bun. Her suit is power red and her heels are lethal. She doesn’t look like a Greek goddess, she looks like a high-powered trial lawyer.
“I brought you something.” From behind her back, she pulls something almost as tall as she is. It gleams softly in the dim room, incongruous with the getup she’s wearing.
The sight of my bow has me reaching out against my will, running a finger down the suede-soft wood of the upper nock. It glows under my touch. The light spreads through the bow like fire licking though a piece of paper before fading as I pull my hand away.
“Well, it was nice of you to fix it and all, considering you’re the one who broke it.” I know I sound petulant and that just pisses me off more.
“I didn’t break your bow, Cue honey, you did,” she says softly. “And you’re the one that fixed it in the end.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The bow broke when the magic gave out. And the magic gave out because you didn’t believe in it anymore. You gave up on love.”
“There you go again with that love crap. I am not the god of—”
“Love is the fulfillment of desire,” Mom cuts me off with an impatient look. “I think you’ve always known that, but if you didn’t before, you certainly do now. Don’t you?”
There is a knowing look in her eye, one that gives me an uneasy feeling low down in my gut. I can’t help my glance at the mantelpiece and the box there. Hephaestus’s box. I haven’t touched it since I pulled it from my pocket and set it there after that disastrous dinner with Katie. I remember his warning and sigh. For a guy who doesn’t get out much, he sure knows a lot about life.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I finally answer Mom.
“Lie to me, if you like.” She shrugs, her full lips pulling briefly downward. “But you can’t lie to yourself or the magic. You believe again, sweetheart, and the bow comes with that belief, the manifestation of your power.”
“I don’t want it back.”
But she’s already gone, the bow leaning against the wall, mocking me. I can dispense my version of “love” on anyone I like, but I can’t make the woman I care about most accept mine.
I wrap my fingers around the belly of the bow, intending to tuck it somewhere out of sight, when there is a knock on the door.
It’s Artie. She looks from me to the bow and back again. Her face goes rigid and pale.
“Shit, he was telling the truth,” she mutters under her breath.
I frown. “Who?”
“Lo. Remember that vow you made?”
“What vow?”
“Valentine’s Day,” she snaps impatiently. “You and me and tequila.” I blink at her and slowly it comes back to me.
It’s only a myth until you fall in love again.
I slump against the doorframe and stare at my sister, the unease in my stomach turning a heavy leaden weight.
“I told you it was stupid,” she says softly. “Now that you have your bow back, Lo’s calling you on it.”
“How the hell did he overhear us?” But I know. Fucker’s been watching me, hasn’t he? He even told me so himself.
“He’s threatening to go to Zeus.” She shakes her head. “I tried to talk some sense into him, but he’s off the rails entirely. He’ll do it, Cue. He’s got you right where he wants you. I thought what happened to Psyche taught him a lesson, but . . .” Her voice grows soft. “I know he’s my twin and all, but sometimes I swear I want to put an arrow right between his legs.”
I agree with the sentiment, but I’m not really listening anymore. I’m a god. There’s not much we answer to in this world, except the magic that makes us who we are. And that magic, that power that allows us to stay here, is a fickle thing.
You break a sworn vow and it’s like dissing that connection, that magic. Just like with my bow.
Belief made us gods, and belief is what Zeus guards so jealously now as it drains away with every year that passes. If he finds out I broke a vow . . .
At the very least, he’ll sever my ties with Olympus and I’ll become mortal. Which, since I am around three thousand years old, give or take a few centuries, means that without interference, I’ll instantly turn to dust.
Meaning no one will be around to protect Katie from Lo.
Which means I can’t break my vow.
Which means I have to shoot the woman I love.
I look up at Artie. “Lo’s right, I am fucked.”
“That you are,” she agrees as she pushes her way inside my house. “But lucky for you, Brother dear, I have a plan.”
Chapter Eleven
I’m taking the steps to Katie’s apartment two at a time less than an hour later. Artie’s idea was a good one. Get Katie the hell out of Vegas, somewhere neither Lo nor I can reach her.
Delos.
Only women can step foot on Artie’s floating island. If I can’t get to her, I can’t fulfill my vow, but I’m not refusing to fulfill it. Clever little loophole and one that will work until we think of a more permanent solution.
Which we will.
I hope.
As soon as she answers my banging knock, I shove my way into her apartment.
“Hey, where’s the fire, Ace?” She steps aside, folding her arms.
“We need to get you the hell out of here. Right now. Artie is trying to slow them down, but they’ll be on their way soon.” They probably are already. I’ve already called Merc, twice. He didn’t answer, but I know when he gets my messages, he’ll come. He has to come.
“Artie?”
“My sister, Artemis.” I grab her arm. “We really gotta go, Katie. I’ll explain on the way.”
She pulls away, shaking her head. “Your parents were whacked. Artemis and Q. What the—”
“My name isn’t Q,” I snap, out of time, out of options and out of patience for deception. Katie is about to be introduced to our world for better or worse. I’m not holding back anymore. “It’s Cue. C-U-E. As in Cupid. And I’m a god, Katie.”
She shakes her head harder, those rose-gold curls turning pure gold in the light. “I know you think a lot of yourself,” she says slowly, her delicate brows coming together. “But that’s a little—”
“Goddammit, this is serious!” I need belief and as much as I know that is unfair, I need it now.
“Is it?” Katie huffs, giving me an impatient look. “So you’re Cupid, as in . . .” She mimes shooting a bow and arrow.
&nbs
p; “Yes.”
“I sure hope this isn’t your way of telling me you have a diaper fetish. Because I have to draw the line—”
I yank her up against me, fisting her hair. “Woman, you are going to drive me fucking crazy.”
“Hate to break it to you, big guy, but it sounds like you’re already there.” Her eyes are still amused, but they’re also hurt and confused. Maybe even a little scared.
No, a lot scared.
I close my eyes, my breathing fast and shallow. I have to convince her. Before they make me do what I know they’re going to make me do. Where the fuck is Mercury?
With a sigh, I drop my head to hers. “Please listen to me, Katie. I’m not screwing around.” My arms tighten until she wriggles in protest. Reluctantly, I let her go. “I’m telling the truth.”
She takes a step back, then another before crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes wide and suddenly far too bright.
“Telling the truth doesn’t work so well for us, remember?” Her voice is quiet, but firm. “We’re over, Q. Please don’t do—”
“Just trust me here. We need to go. You’re in danger.”
She closes her eyes, opens them again. “Fine, I’m listening.”
“My brother, the guy in the bar that I had the fight with?”
“Him again?”
“Yeah. I told you, we have issues.”
“Ah. Wait. I remember this.” She unfolds her arms, frowning. “You said you ruined his life.”
“I did. And now Apollo wants to ruin mine.” I look at her. “By hurting you.”
She backs away, a shadow of real concern flitting through her eyes. “Apollo. Artemis. Oh, Q, you really are nuts.”
“It sounds a little out there, I get it, but . . .”
“There ain’t nothing little about these nuts.” Then her temper sparks. “I can’t believe you would stoop to something like this. Or think I would actually buy it.”
“All right, you know what, we haven’t got time for this shit.” I grab her arm and start pulling her toward the door. “You’re just going to have to trust me. Once we get you to Delos, Artie can explain everything.”
She digs her heels in. With a curse, I simply scoop her into my arms and out the door. As I kick it closed, she stares up at me like I’ve grown a third eye, but at least she’s not fighting. Yet. She takes a deep breath, lets it out as I make my way for the stairs. “You’re telling me your sister is Artemis and you’re Cupid?”
“Yes.”
Her jaw tightens. “I’m no Greek scholar, but even I know when someone is mixing up their mythologies.”
“What the hell are you on about?”
She folds her arms over her chest just as I hit the bottom of the stairs. “Artemis is the Greek name for the moon god. The Roman name would be Diana. But Cupid is the Roman name for the god of love, so you’re . . .”
“Like I’m letting anyone call me Eros. Fucking Cupid is bad enough. And I’ve not the god of love, dammit,” I mutter. “I’m the god of desire. Of lust. There’s a difference.”
She stares at me, as if finally realizing I might not be yanking her chain. Then she lifts an eyebrow.
“So, have you met Zeus?”
“Katie . . .”
“Seriously. You want me to listen, talk first. Have you met ol’ thunder and lightning?”
I wince, thinking of my step-grandfather. Otherwise known as the scariest asshole in creation. “You probably shouldn’t call him that. He doesn’t share our appreciation for nicknames.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” But her tone is growing a bit faint. “So Apollo is really your brother? That asshole from the bar?”
“That’s him. And he’s my half brother. Artie’s twin.” Speaking of Artie, she should be here already and so should Merc. I cross the foyer in a rush, my arms tightening around Katie. She feels so good, so warm and perfect and soft. I can’t let her go. I won’t let my brother take her from me.
But she’s shaking her head now, pushing against my chest as I walk out the front doors. The late afternoon desert air is hot and dry, but I’m cold all over. There is no one in sight.
Katie starts to struggle for real, squirming and scratching until I’m forced to put her down on the wide, shallow steps or drop her. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she slaps me. Straight across the face.
It stings, too.
But the tears in her eyes hurt a lot more.
“I missed you this past week, you know? Like bad.” Her voice is going higher, losing that husky purr. “I swore I would never miss anyone like that again. You get me?”
She sounds furious.
“I kept wanting to talk to you when I got home. Little things, you know? Stupid things at work. Nicknames I thought of. I’d open the door, and then I’d remember how you messed everything up. Then at night?” She swallows hard. “Nighttime really sucked. I guess I got used to sleeping next to you. Your furry legs and you stealing my pillow and me waking up to a boner pressed against my ass every morning. I missed it. I missed you.”
Blinking fast, she dodges my hand when I reach for her again.
“And nobody else calls me Pearl. Just plain ol’ Katie. You got me hating the sound of my own goddamn name!” When I step forward, trapping her against the wall, she lifts a hand. “I missed you,” she says again, the accusation and disbelief in her voice clear.
“I missed you, too.” I lean in close, trying to keep my voice low and calm, but I’m shaking, too. Deep inside. Shaking because maybe there is hope. Even if Merc doesn’t show. Maybe she . . .
“Yeah, but now, you’ve gone fucking crazy,” she snaps, glaring at me, her eyes wet with tears. “And not even normal crazy, but like serious men-in-white-coats crazy. What the hell, Ace?”
I shake my head, pulling her close, breathing a sigh of relief when she lets me. “I’m not crazy, I promise you.” I rub a hand up and down her back, feeling her tremble. “It’s all true and I got to get you out of here right now, before my brother shows up.”
“Too late for that, Ace.”
I close my eyes at the sound of Apollo’s voice. Fucking hell. Straightening my shoulders, I turn, pulling Katie with me.
The lowering sun is at my brother’s back, turning his godlike features twisted and dark. “You don’t want to do this, Lo.”
“Ah, but I do. I really fucking do, baby bro.” He steps forward with a smile and behind him is Mom, stricken. Artie is next to her. I give her a sharp look, but she just shakes her head. No Merc. Delos is out. There will be no sanctuary for Katie.
No respite for me. My bow is in my brother’s hand. I stare at it like some people would a snake. I can’t do this. Then I look up and meet Lo’s eyes. They’re like hammered gold, bright with malice. I have to do this.
I set Katie aside, my arms immediately missing the feel of her, and reach for the bow. He tosses it to me with a laugh that has me gritting my teeth. Between frowns at Lo, Mom steals looks at Katie, her lips pursed.
“What?” I snap. “Why do you keep looking at her like that?”
She shrugs, looking Katie up and down one more time, openly this time. “She’s just . . . not what I expected.”
“You and me both,” I mutter under my breath.
Frowning, Katie leans closer to me. “What does that mean?”
Lo grins at her. “That the legendary Cupid isn’t supposed to fall for some plain Jane bartender.”
“Plain Jane?” Katie’s frown deepens at she regards my brother. She tilts her head toward me, one hand going to her hip. “He really is an asshole, isn’t he? Maybe I should have let you stab him with that table leg. Just a little.”
Mom sighs, touching her perfectly upswept hair. She’s still in the red power-suit. “You’re quite pretty, mortal. Just a bit . . . average.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re just saying that since most people thought Psyche was more beautiful than you.”
Mom’s lips twist. “I wouldn’t say most.”
<
br /> “Oh, that’s right. Psyche would be your ex.” Frowning, Katie looks from me to Mom when I nod once, then her eyes go wide. And her sweet little freckled face falls, just a fraction, but enough that I notice it. One of the things I adore about Katie is her confidence, that brash and happy self-assurance that shines so brightly. Five minutes in my family’s presence and they’re already trying to dim her shine. Enough.
“Psyche was shallow and vain. I was a fool to love her, even for the short time that I did.” Admitting it out loud is a relief. It wasn’t her fault she was pulled into our world, which is why I’ve let the guilt for Psyche’s death overwhelm me for so many eons. But it was her choice to betray me. Her choice to end her life rather than face the consequences of what she’d done. And I can’t change any of it. I turn to face Katie. “Which is why I promised myself I’d never make the same mistake again. But—”
“But you have.” Lo laughs again. “Which is why we’re all here.” He pulls an arrow from under his jacket, twirling it between his fingers so that the Harpy feathers gleam in the dying sunlight. “Recognize this, Brother?”
I swallow hard. It’s the arrow I shot Daphne with. He’s kept it all these years.
“I said I was sorry, so many fucking times,” I breathe, unable to take my eyes off of it.
“And you could say it a million times more and not change a thing. I lost the woman I loved. It’s only fair I get to watch you destroy yours.”
“Love?” Katie laughs, the sound a little hysterical as I step forward to take the arrow from my brother’s hand. “Oh. Wow. Not this again.”
“Do it before the sun goes down, Brother dear,” Lo hisses, flashing his teeth. “Or Zeus will hear of your disrespect.”
I lift my bow, fitting the arrow against the rest before I turn to face her. Katie sucks in a breath before going absolutely still. Her eyes flick from me, to Artie and Lo, to Mom, then back to me. “Is this for real?” she breathes.
“Afraid so, Pearl.” I take a deep breath, drawing back the string, nocking the arrow, willing my hands not to shake. “We don’t have much time. What I really need to know is, do you trust me?”
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