Greed: Goddess of Delphi (Goddesses of Delphi Book 3)

by Gemma Brocato

  As she solidified, his ears popped.

  Her grin was a thing of beauty. “Hiya.”

  She lowered the last six inches to the grown, the heels of her shoes sinking into the soft earth to the side of the nature trail. The corporation had installed the track for the exercise needs of employees, back when they cared about such things.

  “Hi.” Ian strode to her side and wrapped his arms around her. Her body pressed against his helped to ease some of his anxiety over the course of action he’d plotted. When he buried his face against her neck, her delicate apple and almond scent filled his senses.

  Polly fitted her hands to his cheeks and lifted his head. Her gaze trapped his and a smile transformed her eyes to blue flame. He leaned in, holding her gaze, and greeted her with a kiss. Slanting his mouth, he relished the smooth satin of her lips. Wrapped together like this, he felt like he lived in a safe cocoon.

  A dream that, at the moment, was at risk of becoming his worst nightmare.

  “Did you find what you needed to expose Argran?” he asked, unable to mask the tremor in his voice.

  “Yep. We were able to confirm their monopoly in one industry.” She stroked her fingers along his jaw. “And from what I can tell, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

  “Will any charges stick?”

  Polly nodded her head vigorously. “Like glue. Pierus and his cohorts are dabbling in mortal run businesses. The government has jurisdiction on cases like that.”

  “So if he’d stuck to immortal run companies, there’d be no recourse?” he asked. She nodded her head. Relief swam through him like a lazy stream. “It’s a good thing for us that he’s an idiot.”

  Her sparkling laughter danced in the air around him. “What about you? Any progress?”

  He tightened his grip around her briefly. “We had a mishap this morning as we worked on the formula the company insists will work. It created a dangerous vapor cloud in the lab.”

  Polly’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Are you okay? Is your staff?”

  “Fortunately, the cloud happened under a fume hood, so damage was minimal. One of my staff went to the infirmary, but she’s fine. We used the opportunity to clear out our work files for other projects we’ve begun. My techs are all resigning right now. And when they’re done, I’ll go in and quit as well.”

  “I’m so sorry, Ian.” Polly bit her lip.

  Ian wanted to lick the spot where her teeth had left a white line, to soothe away the sting. “I’m not. My only regret is that my resignation will cause only a brief delay. I’m sure Pierus will find an unscrupulous scientist to carry on the work.”

  “We can hope the government moves swiftly to stop any production.”

  “And that another company steps in to provide the right solution.” He took a small step away from her. Grasping her hands, he sucked in a deep breath and plunged forward. “I’m going to write up a proposal for a new business venture. Are you willing to help me pitch it to Zeus?”

  The light of Polly’s smile dazzled him. “The second half of my dream about Leo. I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner.”

  “We’ve had other things on our plates.” Excitement fizzed under his skin. “I think I can promise Zeus a return on his investment in a reasonably short time. Of course, it depends on the outcome of any investigation into Argran’s dirty business practices.”

  “Exposure based on my report might help stop them in their tracks.” Polly’s smile evaporated. Her eyes darted from side to side.

  “What’s wrong?” Ian demanded. Heavy weight balanced around his chest and in his ears.

  “Someone’s coming. And I don’t think it’s anyone we really want to see.” Polly’s brows drew together and she pointed over his shoulder.

  Ian spun around. Charcoal mist roiled and seethed between the oversize trees. Pinpricks of angry red flashed on the edges of the cloud. When the red dots began to dart toward the center, he shoved Polly, moving her behind him. The light coalesced into one solid, seething ball of scarlet.

  Polly stepped back around him, a scowl needling her brows together. “Really? Ian, this is supernatural, I think I have a better chance at defending us than you do.”

  “Right, sorry. Stupid protective instinct.” A form took shape in the mist, a body. A woman. “Can’t escape my inner caveman’s need to save someone I love.”

  Polly spared him a glance and a smirk. “We’re going to have to talk about your timing when you make these statements.”

  Cronin’s face snapped into focus near the top of the cloud. It freaked him out a little. “Okay, but later, right?”

  “Sure. Later.” Polly slid her feet apart, as though bracing for an attack. She lifted her hands, palms out.

  Cronin’s voice drifted out of the mist. “Dr. Sommers.”

  Lack of ability to protect be damned. He moved alongside Polly, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. “You’re not welcome here, Cronin. This is a private meeting.”

  “You have no idea who you are dealing with.” The mist solidified and Cronin dropped to the ground. She crossed her arms over her chest and pinned an angry gaze on Polly as she spoke to him. “Your puny Muse can’t defeat this challenge. She’s already lost it.”

  Polly stiffened next to him. He darted a glance between the two women. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize surprise on Polly’s face.

  “You know she’s a Muse?” Ian laid his hand on Polly’s waist. What a dope. The bitch had just materialized from a vapor cloud right in front of him. Of course she knew.

  Polly settled into a rigid stance. “Apate?”

  Cronin’s smile bordered on maniacal as her visage morphed to a different shape and her body grew by six inches and widened through the shoulders. Now, she resembled a fearsome statue Ian had seen at a museum once.

  Her laughter boomed. Ian flinched but didn’t shrink away as she addressed Polly. “You guessed my secret.” Even her voice was bigger, deeper.

  “Disguising yourself as a mortal helped guard your identity. The first time we met, I had a nagging sense that I knew you. I recognized your walk.”

  Apate raised her brow, the dusky skin on her forehead remaining as smooth as marble. “My walk?”

  “Yeah. You walk like a jock, lumbering from side to side like you own the freaking world.”

  “That’s not very nice, considering I can direct your fate.” Apate pursed her lips in a pout. She raised her hand, displaying a glowing blue orb.

  Energy crackled and sparked from the bitch’s palm. Ian gasped. “What the actual fuck?”

  Polly gripped his wrist and calm flooded his body, settling nerves that had blared to life. She addressed Apate. “Who are you protecting? We know you’re helping Pierus, but who are you actually working for?”

  The energy ball grew larger. “I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out yet.” Apate shrugged. “It can’t hurt to tell you the name of the god who arranged your defeat. Argos allied himself with Pierus after Zeus denied his last patent application. You know the god of greed has a long memory and holds a grudge. Zeus’s rejection cost Argos billions of dollars. He was still angry that Zeus turned Argos’s consort into a magpie. He doesn’t take that shit laying down.”

  To his left, Ian noted a blur of black hopping along the path. The magpie’s eyes glowed the same shade of blue as the energy ball in Cronin…Apate’s hand. The bird left a trail of white-tipped feathers in its wake.

  It darted swiftly toward Polly’s ankle, and pecked twice before she kicked it. “Bitch!”

  The bird squawked and scurried away to hide behind Apate. With wildly flapping wings, the flying rodent launched herself onto Apate’s shoulder.

  “And another country heard from. The party just wouldn’t be complete without Greed making an appearance. Who’s next? Is Pierus going to jump out of a cake?” Polly harassed the two supernatural beings.

  “Polly, I don’t think you should provoke her,” Ian chided, his voice tense.

  “He
’s right. I hold all the power here.” Apate curled her fingers around the orb and lifted her arm, as if planning to throw it their direction.

  Greed danced on her shoulder, chittering rapidly.

  “Stop!” Ian took a step toward Apate. “I won’t approve the formula. So you lose.”

  Apate threw her head back and laughed. The crazed sound echoed off the pond. The energy ball in her hand diminished as the shape of her face morphed into…his. “I am the goddess of deception, tiny mortal. Everyone will believe it is Dr. Ian Sommers’ signature on the production order. Your name will go down in history.”

  Heart thudding, he stared—himself—in the face. Fear snaked up his spine and curled around his lungs. He forced it into the corner of his mind. He couldn’t let this happen. Taking a rapid step toward the bitch, his momentum was halted when Polly grabbed his bicep.

  Polly nudged him away. “Step aside, Ian.”

  “Not likely, Polly.”

  Polly dragged her eyes from the monstrous deity in front of them, and pinned her gaze on him, her eyes beseeching. “I need you to let Zeus and Sybil know what happened to me.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to you.” Ian resisted the prod he felt against his brain. No way in hell would he let Polly face her fate alone.

  A cruel smile transformed Apate’s features to damn near demonic. The energy orb doubled in size. “You’d be wrong about that, mortal. You should do as Polyhymnia requests.”

  When Ian shook his head, Polly shifted her hand his direction. Light flashed from her palms, jamming against his chest. The force shoved him back three feet, leaving Polly completely unprotected.

  Apate flung the orb forward.

  Ian’s fight or flight instinct took over and he leaped in front of Polly, intent on tackling her to the ground to remove her from the path of the fiery globe. Wrapping his arms around her waist a second before impact, his shoulder took the brunt of the searing heat. Pain blasted into him as his world suddenly lost substance.

  “Ian!” Polly screamed as the solid ground disappeared under him. Her body gave up its earthly shell and she transformed into rose mist. He did his best to hug the mist to his chest, but the incorporeal form made it difficult. He visualized himself holding a pillow to his body and it helped hold her in place.

  She gripped his shoulders. He groaned as pain roared higher, but she didn’t loosen her grip. He tumbled, arms tight around her, shifting and rolling as energy waves blasted him from right and left. The more he jerked about in the dim light, the looser his grip on Polly’s waist became.

  “Don’t let go, Ian. Hold on!” her voice echoed in his mind.

  The lavender pulse at her center thrummed like a strobe light. He sensed her fear, but could do nothing to assuage it.

  They crashed out of the Hollow and splashed down into a pool of water. Cold wet waves doused him and filled his mouth and sinuses. Polly’s body solidified as they plunged beneath the surface. The impact tore her from his grasp and she tumbled away from him.

  He kicked, arms flailing wildly as he surged upward. At least he prayed it was up. The world was pitch black. He finally broke the surface and sucked in a lungful of air. Somewhere near him, Polly sputtered and gasped as she emerged.

  “Polly!”

  Water doused him again from the right. Polly’s voice echoed loudly as she coughed and splashed him. “You asshole!”

  Chapter 21

  Polly pedaled her legs, treading water furiously to keep her head above the surface. Ian joined her and his knees kept bumping into her thighs. Splotches of dull phosphorescent light winked overhead, casting shadows and flickering on the dome above them. It took a moment for her vision to adjust, but eventually the area came into focus.

  She lifted her hand and summoned energy from deep within. A tiny orb burst forth on her palm, further illuminating their prison.

  Overhead, the ceiling was solid rock without a single break or crack. Stalactites hung at various points, dripping moisture as they had for eons. Warm jets of water brushed past her legs. The small subterranean lake was spring fed, but mostly frigid.

  Polly’s teeth chattered as she twisted around to examine the space. Smooth, solid walls surrounded them, making it obvious there was no way out. The light on her hand bounced off a narrow lip around the base of the walls.

  “What the fuck? I saved your life and you just called me an ass?” Ian’s words reverberated off the ceiling.

  Facing him, Polly tried to explain. “I knew what she was doing. You were supposed to stay back and call for help.”

  “No way in hell that bitch was going to let me live long enough to tell them.” Ian grabbed her wrist, grimaced, and kicked his legs, dragging her toward the side. “This way, at least we’re together.”

  “In a sealed cavern, with no hope of getting free.” Polly jerked her arm free of his grasp, pushed her panic aside, and she side-stroked to the ledge she’d spied earlier.

  After tossing the orb high into the air, she braced her hands on the rock ledge, and then boosted out of the water. Her butt slammed onto the hard surface. Her back teeth clacked harshly together. The orb descended until it rested over her head. When she pulled her legs free, she discovered she’d lost a shoe. “Dammit, those were my favorites.” Ripping the other off, she gave into anger and hurled it away. It clattered against the far wall then splashed into the pond.

  Ian joined her on the ledge. He rubbed his shoulder, a deep frown on his face. At least he had both shoes on, although the brackish water had surely ruined the fine leather. His white shirt stood out in the dim lighting. A black streak stained the spot where Apate’s energy had hit.

  “Let me look.” Polly eased her hand beneath his collar, pulling the soaked fabric away. Angry red covered a baseball sized area, but the skin was unblistered and unbroken. “You’ll live but I bet it hurts.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.” He pointed to the glowing ball suspended above them. “That’s a cool trick.”

  Polly already felt the sucking drain on her resources as she siphoned her life force to keep it illuminated. “Takes a shitload of concentration to maintain, though.”

  “I might have something that can help.” He dug in his pocket. When he pulled his hand out, a quiet click preceded a flare of light from his fingertips. The powerful penlight looked miniscule in his large hand.

  Polly absorbed the energy orb back into her body. “You’re a freaking Boy Scout.”

  “Beg your pardon. I’m a freaking Eagle Scout,” he retorted with a soft laugh.

  “I stand corrected.” Polly’s gaze followed the path of the flashlight beam as Ian bounced it around the cave.

  “Damn, there’s no exit.” Ian slicked his hair back, the beam waving wildly overhead. “What are the chances we can get out by diving under?”

  She could hold her breath for a long time, but she had no defense against the frigid temperature of the water. “Lower than a snake’s belly, I’m sure.” She leaned her head back and gazed at the ceiling of the cave, thinking hard.

  She squinted at the roof and gathered into herself, attempting to shift into the Hollow. Her form held solid. The normal physical weight and pressure of a shift was curiously absent. “Okay, shifting out isn’t an option. Don’t suppose your cell phone survived the dunking?” Her purse, with her phone in it, had disappeared during the tumble through the Hollow.

  He shook his head. After a pause, he said, “I was only trying to keep you safe.”

  Goddess, she’d made him feel bad. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that. I love that you tried.”

  “I’d try anything for you, Polly. Now probably isn’t the best time, but I don’t want to miss what could be my last chance to tell you I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Even if it ends in this shitty cave.” He cupped her cheek and searched her eyes.

  Heart full, she laid her hand over his. “Now is a perfect time and place. I love you, too. And you are going to get more chances to tel
l me. And not a single one will be in this shitty cave.”

  Ian smiled right before he pressed his mouth to hers. Warmth blossomed where their lips met. Goosebumps rose on her flesh as heat seeped into part of her, while the rest remained deathly cold.

  Ian drew back, and wrapped her in a tight embrace. He rubbed his hands briskly on her back. “We can’t walk or swim out of here for sure.”

  “I’d say no shit, Sherlock, but it would just be a waste of breath.” She had to keep a sense of humor about her, or she’d give in to the tears of frustration and anger.

  He skimmed the light across the ceiling, then along the walls, even into the murky water. “It isn’t looking good for us at the moment.”

  “No kidding.” Polly’s laugh lacked its usual mirth. In her mind, she imagined opening a window. She called out for Mars. “Godfather, I’m in trouble.”

  As she jabbed the words away from her, the ceiling glowed with evenly spaced gridlines of rosy color. When her thoughts died away, so did the glow.

  “Dammit!”

  Ian dragged his eyes away from the roof. “What was that?”

  “The cavern is warded specifically for me.” There’d be no escape. A despair-filled boulder sat on her chest, making it hard to breathe. “This took time. If Pierus already had this set up, he is very confident I’d lose.”

  “I’m going to check underwater and see if there’s an opening or tunnel or something.” Ian slipped off the ledge. Frigid waves of displaced water washed over her legs. Ian shouted. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! This is cold!”

  After adjusting his grip on the flashlight, he sucked in a deep breath and dove under the surface. The light in the cavern dimmed. Polly tracked his progress as he explored the wall below her. She’d sucked her breath when he had, and held it for as long as she could, her gaze trained on Ian. Her lungs ached as she finally had to breathe again. Air whooshed out and she gasped, but still Ian moved under water. He was about twenty feet from his starting point before he surfaced in a froth of bubbles. His inhalation was harsh as he refilled his lungs.