by Lia Davis
Something different reached out to her senses. It wasn’t fear or anger. Acceptance? No, it was stronger. Almost like affection. “What do you mean?”
“You are my one true mate.”
Chapter Eighteen
Gwen opened her mouth, then closed it, unable to form the words swirling around in her mind.
His mate? It wasn’t the first time he’d told her, but the way he said the single word held a lot more meaning than just a wife or a partner. Gods, she couldn’t mate with him. Not with his evil brother hunting her down, and not even if Garrick wasn’t.
Yet, it was exactly what she wanted deep down.
Shaking all over, she turned and ran from the room.
When she reached the third floor of the mansion, she dropped down into the reading chair next to the large bay windows and watched the ocean in the distance. So much had happened in such a short time that she needed to think, away from Markus. His scent, hell, his whole presence, confused her.
A shift of power in the air warned that Aphrodite had materialized behind her. Gwen recognized the goddess’s magical signature. It was warm, loving, and so much like her father’s that it brought tears to her eyes. She took a deep breath and waited for her grandmother to sit next to her.
Aphrodite took her hand and linked their fingers together. “The ocean is beautiful.”
Gwen just nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment. So they sat for the longest time, not speaking. After a while Aphrodite opened the widows by using her mind, which drew Gwen’s attention to her.
Turning to face her grandmother, Gwen offered a weak smile. She had Aphrodite’s blue eyes and blond hair. Gwen could see where her father got his looks from. “I can’t mate with Markus.”
Aphrodite smiled and cupped her cheek. “Sure you can, but it is your choice.”
Gwen searched her blue gaze in confusion. “I guess I don’t understand what he meant by his ‘one true mate.’”
The goddess shook her head. “I think you do, but you’re too scared to admit it.”
Looking away, Gwen shrugged. “I know what the phrase means by definition. I don’t know what it involves. The rules? Is the myth true—the Sons of War couldn’t mate with the descendants?”
Aphrodite sighed and stared out the open windows. “The mythology is true. Yet, like all laws, the wording is what is important.”
Gwen glanced over at her profile and thought about it. The Sons weren’t allowed to mate with the descendants. Markus said she was his one true mate. Didn’t it mean the same thing?
Damn, she was too tired and sore from the training session with Markus to think.
After a few moments, Aphrodite let out a breath. “As much as he would like to, Zeus can’t control free will. If the Fates deemed you two are mates…”
Of course! “Then the curse is canceled out.”
Aphrodite smiled, wide. “Now you’re catching on. All you have to do is search in your heart and accept the mating.”
Accept the mating?
Before Gwen could ask another question, her grandmother was gone, dematerialized to wherever she went after leaving her side.
Gwen sighed, stood and walked to the windows. The roar of the ocean filled the air like nature’s song. All she had to do was accept the mating, huh?
How could she commit to someone who didn’t love her?
****
Markus entered his study and growled at the sight of his brothers. Seth and Ty were lounging on the sofa. Well, Ty lounged. Seth was playing a video game with the sound up loud enough to give Markus a headache.
Zavier and Drake sat at the small round table to the right of Markus’s desk. Each of them had their laptops opened and it appeared they were collaborating about something.
“Out of all the rooms in this house, you have to be in my study?” Markus grumbled as he made his way to his desk and sat down.
Ty spoke, but didn’t look in Markus’s direction. “I called a meeting and figured it’d be more private in here considering we have a guest.”
Markus settled back into his chair and studied his brother. There was something bothering Ty. Markus guessed it had something to do with Ashlynn. If so, then Ty wouldn’t be sharing with the group anytime soon.
“What is this about?”
Ty glanced over at Markus. “I followed the female like you asked. She said she was meeting her mother, but Garrick showed up instead.”
“Do you think she lied?”
Ty shook his head. “No. She spoke the truth.” One side of his mouth lifted. “I got a good hit on the bastard before he flashed out of there.”
Seth turned off the game and faced everyone. “Gary’s a chicken-shit. We need to get a big net for the next time he shows up.”
Markus’s stomach soured at Seth’s words. “What makes you think he’ll be back?”
Seth shrugged and stood, then stretched. “It’s just a hunch, but he may have come in search of Ash. Why else would he show up in the forest while she was out there?”
Ty nodded. “He did come for her and might have taken her if I wasn’t there.” His eyes glowed behind his shades and he set his jaw, making the muscle in his temples flex. “Gary knew I was there and claimed Ash belongs to him.”
Markus narrowed his gaze on Ty. It was the first time the male called the huntress by her nickname. “He could have been taunting you.”
Ty’s gaze snapped to Markus’s. “I don’t give a shit either way, but I’d be damned if the son of a bitch will come to my home and think he can just take whomever he pleases. He won’t get any of the females inside these walls.”
Markus stared at Ty, wondering what wound his brother up so tight. Usually he didn’t care much about females. His behavior seemed almost protective. It was a little out of character for Ty, especially since he returned to them from his captivity with the Imperials.
Before Markus could call him on the personality shift, the door to the study opened and Gwen rushed in, tablet in hand, and skidded to halt in the middle of the room and scanned her surroundings. “Oh. I’m sorry.” She turned to leave, but Markus teleported to stand in the open door.
“What is it?”
Gwen took a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I…”
Markus cut her off by closing in the gap between them, wrapping an arm around her, and kissing her. Instantly, she melted into him and fisted a hand into his hair. The gentle tugs on his hair sent sparks of desire through him and straight to his dick, which had went impossibly hard the moment she walked into the room.
One of his brothers cleared his throat, reminding Markus they had an audience. Breaking the kiss, he held Gwen’s desire filled gaze.
“What did you find?” He pointed to the tablet, obviously the reason behind her rushed entrance.
Embarrassment colored her cheeks as she looked around the room and ducked her head. With shaky hands, she sat on one of the chairs in front of his desk. “The passage I’m about to read is why Garrick killed my father.”
Gwen ignored the muttered curses and started reading from her father’s journal.
November 10, 1978
It’s been hard to stay away from home ever since Gwendolyn arrived in June. She’s perfect and has her grandmother’s nose and bright blue eyes, but her mother’s chin and fingers. Alexia and I are so blessed to have such a healthy and happy baby girl.
Each day, I spend a little longer leaving the house to go to work. Garrick grumbled about it a few times, but never threatened me with the loss of a job because of it.
Today was especially hard. Last night I had the most disturbing dream about a war. This war was not on Earth, not that I could tell anyway. The land seemed ancient and otherworldly. My gut told me it was Olympus. Aphrodite was there. As were Ares, Zeus, and even Hades. The gods had an army of warriors who could shift into dragons. They fought against humans with godly powers, much like the ones I and the other Imperials have.
That’s what Garrick calls us. The Im
perials—blessed mortals who pledge to watch over the rest of the humans. I’ve always thought Garrick had a strange way about him, but he was smart and shared my views on finding the descendants.
At least I believed that up until a few days ago when I unlocked a file on Garrick’s computer. I found lists of names, birthdays, locations, and the name of a god next to each name. I recognized most of the names as members of the Imperials, since I work beside them every day.
Then the dream last night caused more suspicion because the last face I saw before waking was Garrick’s.
I rushed to the office and was relieved when no one else was there. I quickly brought up the file from the other day and searched through others. The more I dug, the sicker I felt. Garrick wasn’t searching for the descendants to keep them safe and inform them of their heritages, he was gathering an army to wage a war against the gods.
Gwen stopped reading and pressed the screen with her finger then turned the tablet around for them to see.
Markus’s heart dropped to the floor. Dread burned through him as he stared at the photo of the female storm daemon dressed in a flowing black gown with dark storm clouds rolling in the background.
It was so close to the unfinished painting Elle showed him that morning that Markus was betting it was the same. Only in this colored photo, Markus could see clearly enough to recognize the daemon.
Sophia, the daughter of Typhon—storm daemon and guardian of Tartarus—and the female Garrick killed over a thousand years ago. It was why they were banished from the Heavens and cursed.
Markus meet Gwen’s gaze. “Has Elle seen this?”
She shook her head. “This is a digital drawing from a seer within the Imperials. Father’s notes go on to say that Sophia was Garrick’s mate and the seer confirmed she was still alive and living as a human on earth.”
Seth stepped closer, shaking his head. “This is impossible. We saw her decapitated body. Typhon almost broke out of Tartarus to wipe us all out because of it.”
Gwen handed the tablet to Zavier as he came to study the device. “There’s a hidden file I opened when I accessed this journal entry. It has a lot of information about Sophia and Garrick, their relationship, her death, and a prophecy of her rebirth as a human.”
Zavier took the tablet and scanned through the information. “Can I take this and read through the entries?”
Gwen nodded. “What does it mean if he finds her? Would she know who she was if she was reborn?”
Markus raked a hand through his hair. “Typically, in theory no. When a god is killed and reborn as a mortal, they have no memory of their past life.” Fuck. He turned toward the door and walked out into the foyer and called out, “Ashlynn!”
A moment later the redhead descended the stairs. “Why must you yell? My hearing is as good as yours.”
When he narrowed his eyes at her, she raised a brow and confirmed his suspicions that she was a full goddess. Knowing Ty, the male had already called her out on the lie. That could be the only reason she let her shields down now. “What do you know of Sophia?”
Ash drew her brows together. “Sophia who?”
“Storm daemon.”
“She’s dead.”
“Not according to two seers.” Elle wasn’t a gifted seer, but Ash didn’t need to know Elle was the second to visualize the daemon alive.
Ashlynn descended the last step and motioned toward the study. “I hate repeating myself, so we might as well make a party of it.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ash walk through the door and leaned against the wall, arms folded. The glares she kept sending Ty told Gwen she wasn’t happy to be there. At least not happy to be in the same room as Ty.
“I heard that Sophia had been reborn as a mortal. Most believe she has no memories of her life as a storm daemon. I’ve heard Artemis say that it was all a part of the ‘banish the dragons and please her father by bringing her back to life’ curse.” Ash glanced to Markus and rolled her eyes.
Markus crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that it?”
Ash let out a breath. “I was a little girl at the time. They didn’t exactly speak about that kind of stuff directly to me.”
Seth whistled. “Man, that would make you…”
“Old,” Ash said sternly, cutting him off. “But not as old as you guys.”
Seth laughed. “Aged to perfection, baby.”
Ash rolled her eyes again.
Markus said, “She’s Garrick’s mate, or at least she used to be.”
Sagging against the wall, Ash shook her head. “He only talked about her when he was mad at me and thought he was making me jealous. I don’t think he knows where she is. Besides, Zeus would make sure she was well hidden.”
“Meaning she doesn’t know who she is,” Markus said.
“And she may not have her powers,” Ty added.
Drake spoke for the first time since Gwen came to the study. “Sophia is a pretty common name and, knowing the God King, he’d give her a last name just as common.”
Markus paced the floor. “So she’s not a threat, not yet. Zavier, go ahead and search for her, but don’t make it a priority. We have to find the two women on that list and keep Gwen and Elle off Garrick’s radar.”
“I could go back in,” Ash said.
Ty snorted. “Yeah, like he’d believe you. You told him you were a spy.”
Ash smiled, but it held no humor. “I told him I was a servant of the gods, but he doesn’t believe that shit.”
Markus shook his head. “No, we’ll find another way.”
Gwen stood, drawing everyone’s attention. “Then she’ll take me as her prisoner.”
“Absolutely not.”
Markus’s sharp tone made Gwen shrink back a little. Then it pissed her off. Where did he get off, telling her no? “You didn’t even hear me out. Do you always say no before hearing the whole plan?”
Unfolding his arms, he closed the distance between them. “I don’t care what the plan is. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
Gwen placed her hands on her hips and stood on her toes to try to be at his level. “If my powers were unlocked, I could fight him.”
The muscles in his cheeks tightened, making his features more defined. “The answer is no.”
Ty cleared his throat. “She may be our chance to grab some valuable information and files.”
Markus whirled around and let out a growl. Out of instinct, Gwen gripped his arm. When he turned back to her, his dragon peeked through. A hint of fear spiked, she but didn’t release him or back down. “I can help. With both Ash and me in there, we could even booby-trap the place and set him back a little.”
“You know she has a point.” Ash pushed off the wall. “I can call Garrick and grovel a little, feed him bullshit, and tell him I could deliver Gwen to him. I know he’ll fall for it. He’s so hard up to get his hands on her, he’ll be even more so when I tell him she belongs to you.”
Gwen gaped at Ash. Did everyone know she and Markus were mates?
Markus stalked toward Ash. Ty was right beside him in a flash with his hand on his brother’s arm. Markus rolled his shoulder, breaking Ty’s hold. “Only one problem.”
“What’s that?”
Markus growled out, “I don’t know how to unlock her powers.”
“I do.” Ash smiled like a cat that locked the dog out of the house.
“Care to share?” Markus raised a brow
“With your blood.”
Markus jerked back. “That’ll bind her to me for the rest of her life.”
“Then you two have much to discuss.” Ash shrugged. “If you don’t mind, I’m going back to my room. While I’m there, I’ll try to summon Artemis. She may be able to give me some advice or just tell me I’m crazy. Hell, maybe she’ll feel sorry for me and take me home.”
On the heels of her words, she turned and left the study.
Markus turned to Gwen and she was glad to see that his eyes were human again. “Everyo
ne out.”
His brothers left without another word. Seth shut the door with a wink and a big grin. Gwen, on the other hand, shook all over. She didn’t want to make this choice now. But she would if it meant it brought them one step closer to bringing Garrick down for his crimes.
****
Markus watched Gwen fidget with a loose string on the hem of her thigh length sweater. Her confusion and desire reached out to him like a sensually sweet cocktail. When he stepped closer, her fingers stilled.
With a sigh, he dropped to his knees in front of her and covered her hand with his. “I’ll answer all your questions.”
She lifted her lashes to meet his gaze. “I’m not sure where to begin. So much has happened in a very short amount of time.”
A tiny spark of hope lit up within him and he clung onto it. “I’m immortal and very old. Time means very little to me, but I’m also unsure about the future. I’d never considered taking a mate.”
Her shoulders dropped a little as she seemed to relax, but she still held him at a distance he and his dragon didn’t care for. “Me either. I mean who would want to commit to a woman afraid of her own shadow? Most people think I’m crazy.”
A playful growl rumbled from him. “You are not crazy. You’re beautiful, smart, and sexy.”
Her cheeks turned pink and she averted her gaze. “The only thing I’m sure about is that I want Garrick to pay for taking my parents from me.”
Her blue eyes had darkened and he could see determination in the depths. “Unlocking your powers with my blood will link us together.”
She tilted her head. “But it’s different than a mating bond?”
“Yes. It won’t be as strong, but you can still be sensitive to me. You may even be able to send me telepathic messages, not just hear mine.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad. I mean, I’m not sure I’m ready to be your mate. It’s just…I can’t commit to a loveless relationship.”