by Erin Hayes
Max starts to unbutton my shirt, and I suddenly don’t mind the interruption. “She’s a perfectly fine secretary, Eros.”
“She’s not you.”
Max raises an eyebrow. “That’s a good thing. I don’t think the world could handle two of me.”
“It can barely handle the one. Still though,” I sigh. “I wish Carrie were better at…knowing when not to interrupt us.”
She grins wickedly at me. “But did you notice that she gave us an ETA? And Dad’s at the retirement center right now.”
I raise an eyebrow “Meaning that I have twenty minutes to make you want to fire her so we’re never interrupted again?”
“Nineteen minutes, now.” She’s finished removing my shirt, and I let it fall. “You’d better get to it then.”
Sometimes, I wonder if she’s my boss.
“Yes, ma’am,” I whisper. “Cupid at your service.”
Turn the Page
and get a glimpse of A Fate for Zeus
by Lia Davis
Book 8 in the Gods of Olympus Series.
A Fate for Zeus
She was suffocating. Her lungs burned each time she tried to draw in clean air. And with each breath, she coughed, which only burned more. A voice in her head told her to wake up. Awareness pushed at her subconscious.
Smoke.
Where was she?
Home. She was home. And her house was on fire.
Sitting straight up in bed, Jordan gasped, taking in more of the smoke filling her room, then coughed. She took the pillowcase off her pillow, bunched it in her hand, and then pressed it to her nose and mouth. It didn’t filter out much smoke, but it helped her breathe a little better. Even if it was smoky air.
Glancing at the door, she noted the orange glow coming through the bottom crack. Fuck. Mom! She darted to the window and opened it, then knocked out the screen. Neighbors filled her sidewalk and street. A fire truck and several police cars were parked out front.
How did she not hear any of them? As soon as the question popped into her mind, she knew the answer. The heavy hangover feeling appeared through her shock of waking to a smoke-filled room.
She’d been drugged or placed in a sleep spell. However, there was no time to dwell on it at the moment.
Lowering the pillowcase from her nose, she stuck her head out into the night air and inhaled. The crisp autumn breeze felt amazing.
“Hey, we got a survivor.”
Jordan jerked her gaze to the man who spoke as he rushed toward her. He was a fireman. Then his words sank in. Survivor? Like there was a fatality? No. Her mom was in her room.
Ducking her head back inside, Jordan heard the fireman yelling at her, but she ignored him and ran to the bathroom between the two bedrooms. Jordan stopped at the closed door that led into her mom’s room. Holding a hand inches from the wood, she slowly pressed her palm against it. When she didn’t feel any heat, she tested the doorknob. It was warm, but not overly hot.
That told her the fire hadn’t reached the inside of the room. Before she opened the door, the sound of a man’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t open it.”
Jordan whirled around, narrowing her gaze. Had he climbed in the window after her? “My mom’s room is through there. I’m not leaving her!” She swayed and grabbed the doorknob for balance. Dizziness settled in, and she blinked and shook her head. “Please. I have to save her.”
He cursed and moved into the bathroom, making the large space seem so much smaller. Handing her a mask, he said in a commanding tone, “Put that on and step back.”
She removed the pillowcase from her nose and replaced it with the mask. Fresh oxygen filled her nose. However, she couldn’t take pleasure in the clean breathing when her mom was on the other side of the door.
When she stepped back, the fireman opened the door. Smoke rolled out, filling the bathroom. Mom’s room was dark, and Jordan fought off the tears as she followed the man inside.
He looked at her from over his shoulder. It was too dark for her to see his eyes through his headgear, but she knew he was glaring at her. She glared back. If he thought she’d go wait outside, he was wrong.
After a moment, he advanced to the bed. Her mom was so still. Jordan rushed to her side. “Mom.”
Her mom coughed and turned her gaze slowly to Jordan, then shook her head. She tried to speak, but no sound came when she moved her lips. Jordan’s chest tightened, and her throat felt like a golf ball was stuck in it.
No, she couldn’t lose her mom.
Her mom reached out for her. When Jordan moved closer, her mom took off the moonstone pendant and placed it in Jordan’s hands. It warmed in her palm. Her mom closed her hand around Jordan’s. “It is your turn to keep the stone safe. Don’t ever take it off. Promise me.”
Jordan nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I promise.”
The fireman nudged her to move before lifting her mother in his arms, then carrying her to the window, which was open. Jordan was so focused on her mom she didn’t notice the man opening the window or the other firemen waiting for them to come out.
The man handed Jordan’s mom off to another through the window, then offered his hand to her. Instead of taking it, Jordan climbed out the window.
“Is there anyone else in the house?”
Jordan glanced at him as she started to climb down the ladder. “No. Just us.”
He gave a short nod, then climbed out once she was on the ground.
Jordan darted after the other guy carrying her mom. When he started to run toward the ambulance, Jordan’s heart skipped serval beats. Urgency ran in her blood, hot like lava. Her belly burned with dread.
She knew before she reached her mom this would be the last time she talked to her. Or maybe it was already too late. Why hadn’t she woken up sooner?
All the magic and power within her, and she couldn’t save her own mother. Tears blurred her vision as she climbed into the back of the ambulance. Taking her mom’s hand, she held it to her lips. “Hang in there, Mom.”
Her mother’s voice was soft and raspy. “No. It is my time.” She moved her gaze to the doors.
That was when Jordan noticed the man who came into the house standing there, watching. His helmet was off, and Jordan met the most vivid sky-blue eyes she’d ever seen. His short, light brown hair was damp from sweat.
Her mom offered a weak smile and stared at him like she knew him. “Zeus, I failed you. Keep my baby safe. Drakon has escaped.”
Frowning, Jordan glanced from the man, who said nothing, to her mom. Zeus? The smoke had to be affecting her mom’s brain. She was seeing things? “Mom…”
She trailed off when her mom placed a hand over her cheek. “Remember I did everything to keep you safe. I love you.”
Jordan’s bottom lip trembled. “Love you too, Mom.”
Her mom closed her eyes, and her whole body relaxed. Panic, fear, and sadness whirled inside Jordan. Sobs burst to life, and the ache in her heart grew. “No. Mom!”
Jordan laid her head on her mom’s chest and cried. Her chest tightened, and each shaky breath burned her lungs. Although the smoke from the fire didn’t help her breathing situation.
How did the fire start? More importantly, who started it?
The fireman who helped them out of the house touched her on her shoulder. When she glanced at him, he held a hand out. “Come here so they can work.” He nodded to the EMTs scrambling around her to help her mom.
Jordan frowned. The shock had settled in. She hadn’t noticed them or anyone around her. With a half-nod, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to tug her toward the door. She glanced back at her mother. She was so still, and Jordan already knew it was too late.
Tears rolled down her cheek and she sniffed.
“Is there anyone you can call?” His words drew her attention back to him.
Her aunt, Angie, popped into her mind and Jordan nodded. Just then she heard her name and glanced up to see Angie rushing toward the ambulance.
Jordan climbed out of the ambulance at the same time Angie got there and gathered her in a tight hug. “Where’s Cleo?”
Shaking her head, Jordan broke into sobs again and held Angie tighter. “She’s gone. Everything is gone.”
Angie pulled back, then framed her face with her hands while swiping the wetness from Jordan’s cheeks. Beyond Jordan’s watery vision, Angie’s eyes filled with tears. Her aunt’s sorrow reached out to her own.
Turning to stare at the glow of the house, the reality of the situation settled in Jordan’s mind. Orange and yellow flames crawled over the roof and wound around the sides of the house. Every so often a spark of blueish purple danced in the mix. Jordan studied the fire, no longer feeling the heat rolling off it. Blue and purple weren’t normal for an ordinary house fire.
No, magic was involved. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself feeling an oily, heavy residue on her skin. “Something’s not right.”
“Magic. I feel it too.” Angie hugged her and kissed her temple.
Jordan’s chest tightened, and tears filled her eyes again. The only thing she had left were the pajamas she wore and the moonstone her mother gave her.
The ambulance behind them started up. Emptiness filled her, and a soured, sickening feeling started at the bottom of her stomach. Mom.
“Come on. You need to get out of this cool air.” Angie tugged Jordan through the crowds of people rushing about. “Did you get checked out by EMS?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Numbness was replacing the shock. Or was that part of shock, being numb?
Angie pursed her lips and gave her a side-eye glare. Whatever. Jordan didn’t have anything left. Besides, it wasn’t like she could die from inhaling smoke. Being a half goddess meant she couldn’t die as easily as a human could.
When they reached Angie’s car, someone called out to them. They stopped. A policeman advanced toward them. Angie let out a low curse.
“She can’t leave yet,” the officer shouted.
Angie stiffened and Jordan sensed her aunt’s magic surface. Unlike Jordan’s power, Angie’s was much stronger. When the officer stopped in front of them, Angie turned to Jordan and asked, “Jordan, what happened?”
Huh? Jordan’s mind was still trying to figure that out, but she guessed Angie asked to get rid of the cop. “I was asleep. The smoke woke me.”
“There, she gave you a statement.” Angie pressed a palm to the man’s chest as he stepped closer. “I’m taking her home. I trust you to relay her statement to the others and not bother her again.”
The officer simply nodded and left them without another word. Jordan was grateful. On the other hand, she wondered if she should stay.
As if picking up on Jordan’s thoughts, Angie tugged her to the car. “I’ll send Jeff back here to take care of anything they need. We’re going to the hospital to deal with the humans there. No one can think with this chaos going on.”
“She’s gone.” Jordan was numb all over. She was thankful for Angie because she wasn’t sure she could deal with this on her own. Mom wasn’t supposed to die. “How could this happen? Who is powerful enough to do that?” She pointed to the house, a squeak in her voice.
Hugging her and pressing a kiss to her forehead, Angie frowned. “We have to make sure. Plus, I’m sure there is paperwork or something. I’ll use a little persuasion to speed things along so I can get you home.”
Jordan loved her aunt. Angie always knew what she needed. A nice quiet, private place to break down was it. Not hanging out staring at her burning house or a cold hospital answering questions she couldn’t.
Zeus fisted his hands at his side. Fury boiled in his veins. How was it possible for Drakon to break out of Tartarus? And he killed Cleo. Zeus was certain. If the dragon didn’t do it himself, he was involved somehow.
What surprised him even more was she had a grown daughter—to whom she gave the Stone of Affliction. The moonstone held the power to cause pain and misery to others. For the wearer, it protected them from harm, but not death. It could also alter the mood and judgment of its keeper.
Only a god or goddess was able to control the stone’s influences.
Jordan was a demi-goddess, but she was also mortal. The amount of power Zeus felt from her wasn’t strong enough to keep the stone from falling into Drakon’s hands.
A familiar presence brushed against Zeus’s awareness. He turned as Jeff, Angie’s human husband, got out of the car and locked gazes with him. The mortal raised a brow and one corner of his mouth lifted.
When he reached Zeus, he said, “Never pegged you for a firefighter.”
“Laugh it up. How is Jordan?”
Jeff turned serious and stared at the house, which was no longer burning. “As good as can be expected. Cleo was her life.”
Zeus’s heart hurt for the young woman. Hell, it hurt him to see Cleo die. She was a dear, close friend.
Drakon was going to get what was coming to him.
After a couple of minutes, Jeff asked, “I guess you’ll be sticking around?”
“I have a place on the beach. I need that stone before Drakon and whoever he is working with gets it.” Zeus would have to get Jordan to give the stone freely to him. He had a feeling that was going to be easier said than done.
“Angie and I will try to talk Jordan into taking time off from the store. I mean it’ll have to be closed until the memorial service, but Jordan will want to work to avoid her own emotions.” Jeff turned to him. When Zeus looked at him, he added, “Jordan is a pure soul. Don’t use her in your scheme to get the stone. And keep her off Hera’s radar.”
Zeus flinched at the mention of his ex-wife. Even though they had split, she was still possessive. Something she’d have to get over. Especially since there was no way he would be able to keep his distance from Jordan.
“I’ll deal with Hera when the time comes. I need the stone or the whole human race will be in danger.” He turned and walked away from the human, leaving him to think about what Zeus’s words meant.
Jordan’s energy called out to him. He tried to ignore it. But something in the way Jeff spoke about her triggered the possessive, protective side of Zeus. It wasn’t just the stone he wanted.
It was Jordan.
GRAB YOUR COPY
About the Author
Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books.
She works as an advertising copywriter by day, and she's an award-winning New York Times Bestselling Author by night. She has lived in New Zealand, Hawaii, Texas, Alabama, and now San Francisco with her husband, cat, and a growing collection of geek paraphernalia.
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