by Nina Bangs
“He’s going to annoy Zendig to death.” Sparkle widened her eyes and clapped her hand over her mouth in mock horror. “Oops. I probably should’ve worded that in more warlike terms.”
“What?” Estan looked up at Mede.
Mede glared at her. “You still don’t think I can pull it off.”
She shrugged. “Well, it does seem a little simplistic.” A tsunami of an understatement.
For the first time, Estan raised his voice. “Someone explain the damn plan.”
Mede shot her another glare before focusing on his father. “Look, Zendig has a massive ego. So we’re going to keep punching him in his overstuffed self-importance until he can’t stand it anymore. Once that happens, he’ll finally come here to wipe us out. And we’ll be waiting. We’ve sent for as many troublemakers as we can round up to come here to fight him. We’re calling in all kinds of favors. We’ll be ready.”
You’ll be ready. Sparkle was still afraid Mede intended to fight Zendig alone. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
Estan nodded. “It could work. I’ll help from my end. The two working with me drove to Houston after dinner. The assassin was the only one who saw us together, and he’s dead. As far as they know, I’m still one of them.”
Mede shifted his gaze to somewhere above Estan’s head. “Just be careful…,”
Long, long, long, pause. Long enough for Sparkle to knit an afghan if she rolled that way.
“Dad.” Mede’s voice was almost a whisper.
Sparkle was proud of him. And Estan practically glowed. At least some good had come from this awful day.
The kids had remained silent through all of this. Sparkle didn’t think it was so much a case of giving the adults respect as it was not wanting to miss any of the drama.
Finally, Blue spoke. “So now what?”
Sparkle answered. “Now, you check the rooms facing the courtyard to make sure no one saw this. We might’ve lucked out. Lots of guests aren’t in their rooms this time of night. And even if they were there, they might’ve missed seeing the assassin fall. If you find any witnesses, change their memories.” Jill had a very useful gift. The girl would make a valuable employee if she chose to stay.
Mede helped his father up, and then they all trooped toward the great hall. He smiled at the gargoyles guarding the door. “Get ready to kick some major ass.”
26
A month of baiting Zendig was wearing on Ganymede’s patience. He was tired of talking smack about his maker day after boring day. Tonight, he sat next to Eric at the bar nursing a whiskey in the dimly lit Wicked Fantasy. The club wasn’t crowded. Perfect. A low murmur of voices, but not loud enough to drown out his conversation. He faced Eric, but he was aware of Zendig’s spy to his right. This performance was for him.
“Yeah, Bourne explained how he created all the cosmic troublemakers. It was a snap for a guy with his power. Oh, damn. I called him a guy. Do you think he heard? He’s everywhere, you know.” Ganymede hoped he sounded scared—not something he got to practice a lot, okay never.
Eric played along by gazing around before hunching over to speak. “He’s a god, so sure he hears everything. You have to be more careful. You know he wants you to address him as Bourne the Bountiful.”
Ganymede nodded. “Anyway, Bourne the Bountiful said as soon as all the cosmic troublemakers are here, he’ll be ready to lead us through the portal so we can wipe that coward Zendig off the face of his planet. Then we can take over.”
Eric spoke a little louder so the spy wouldn’t miss a word. “Can’t happen soon enough. Too bad everyone isn’t here yet. No way could we take him on now. But it won’t be long. Where is Bourne the Bountiful anyway?”
“Meditating at a secret location. But he isn’t far away.”
Eric’s lips twitched. “Meditating?”
Ganymede nodded. “He has to be one with the universe when he faces Zendig.”
“If you say so.” Eric slugged his drink then stood. “I’m out of here.”
Ganymede finished his whiskey. He glanced to the right. The spy had abandoned his drink and was already halfway across the room. Ganymede met his father’s gaze. Estan had been sitting beside the spy. His father mouthed, “Meditating?” and grinned.
Ganymede looked away, but he was smiling as he followed Eric from the club. Eric waited for him out in the hotel lobby. The vampire checked to make sure no one was listening before he said, “Meditating?”
“That was sort of dumb.” Ganymede laughed. “What about Bourne the Bountiful? When he gets back he’ll knock you on your ass for that one.”
“It flowed. What can I say?” Eric glanced at the registration desk where people were still signing up for the fantasies. “Sparkle will have to do something about clearing the Castle and the rest of the park fast. Things are getting too tense. She needs to make sure the humans don’t get caught in the crossfire.”
“Worrying about humans, vampire? You’re going soft.” Ganymede agreed with him, though.
“Not soft. Remember, Estan said Zendig and his army will come through as naked as the newbie troublemakers did. No bringing any high tech weapons with them. Sure they might steal a few guns once here, but none of them will have the kind of firepower the human military can muster. Neither do we. If we call too much attention to ourselves, the humans can blow us out of existence.”
“Not so sure about that.” Ganymede smiled. “You haven’t seen me in action when I’m seriously pissed.” His smile faded. “I don’t want to start a war with the humans, though. I like things the way they are now.”
Eric nodded, but his thoughts seemed elsewhere. “Do you think Zendig is buying the stuff we’re putting out there? He has to be a little suspicious.”
“My father says he’s unhinged. Zendig’s convinced himself over thousands of years that Bourne is sitting down here plotting his overthrow. Besides, he’s fanatical about being the biggest and baddest dude out there. He obsesses over all the times Bourne beat him at whatever they did together way back when. Let’s face it, Zendig is batshit crazy. He has to be if he keeps sending troublemakers here in the hopes they’ll take out Bourne or at least destroy Earth. So, yes, I bet everything we’re sending his way makes perfect sense to him.”
They stood silent for a moment. Ganymede wondered what the Big Boss was doing in Ky’s world. They needed him here. Not for a minute did he believe Bourne wouldn’t pop out of that portal one day. But still…
“Look, I have to run.” Eric started to turn away.
“Wait up, vampire.” For the last month, everyone had concentrated on passing along info guaranteed to drive Zendig into a foaming-at-the-mouth frenzy. Sparkle, Eric, Brynn, and Ganymede had set themselves up within hearing distance of the spies so they could insult Zendig and discuss what Bourne was going to do to him. Conall and his team had made up stuff to feed the spies. His dad had also done his part. According to Estan, everything was working. It was getting close to the end. His father said Zendig was gathering his forces. Ganymede had one thing to do before the showdown. “We have to talk about Sparkle’s fantasy. It was supposed to happen a freaking month ago.”
Eric exhaled wearily. “Yeah, yeah, I know. There just hasn’t been any time.”
“We’re going to make time. Tomorrow night. I don’t care if Zendig is hammering on the damn door.”
Eric nodded. “I’m on it.”
Ganymede watched the vampire walk away. He might not be sure what would happen in the coming battle, but he was damn sure about the fantasy Eric was planning. It would be epic. And no matter what happened when Zendig showed up, Sparkle would have tomorrow night to remember. Of course, he intended to be with her in that future remembering-time.
As though she’d materialized out of his thoughts, Sparkle strode toward him. What a walk. It was one of the hottest things he’d ever seen. And over the course of so many centuries, that was saying a lot. He didn’t know how many of those short sexy dresses she had, but he hoped she’d keep them co
ming. Ganymede wanted to grab all that long red hair and drag her off to their suite where he’d… He shook his head. Get a grip. Tomorrow night they’d live Eric’s fantasy. Then they’d take care of Zendig. Afterwards? They’d have forever.
She stopped in front of him. “So how did things go at your end?”
“Great. Our spy ran off to spread the word of Bourne’s invasion plans.” He wouldn’t tell her about their moments of silliness. Hey, they’d spent so many hours spinning lies it was no wonder they were getting a little slaphappy. “How about you?”
“The same.” She frowned. “From what Estan’s saying, it won’t be long now before Zendig makes his move.” She studied her nails. “I want this over with. Another one of those creepy assassins showed up today. Ky took care of him.” She looked up. “But it’s getting too dangerous for the public. I’m closing the park after tonight’s fantasies.”
He nodded. It was time. “We won’t have access to the spies anymore.”
She shrugged. “We’ve done what needed doing already. Conall and his team will still be able to pass misinformation to them if needed. And your father will be in touch to tell us if there’s any news from the inside.”
Ganymede glanced around the lobby and chose a circle of four empty leather chairs surrounding a low table. A grouping of tall plants partially hid the chairs. He led Sparkle to them.
She frowned at the pitcher of water and two empty glasses on the table. “Someone should’ve cleared this away before now.”
“Relax. A pitcher and a few glasses don’t matter.” He dropped onto one of the chairs.
“We still have a bunch of problems.”
“No kidding.” She crossed her legs.
Ganymede allowed himself to be in the moment. He could almost feel those long smooth legs wrapped around him. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
“First, there are vortices all over the world. Zendig won’t send his forces through just one. They’d be too easy to pick off. So where will they mass before attacking us? I hope your father can help us with that.” She took a deep breath.
Ganymede lost his train of thought in the lift and thrust of her breasts. He remembered how they felt cupped… He blinked. Tomorrow. “An even bigger problem will be luring Zendig into our trap. He won’t enter the Castle personally unless we have a Bourne to tempt him. He’ll just send in his army to flush us outside where he can destroy us.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “And we don’t have a damn Bourne.”
“I haven’t given up on that.” She turned to glance at the entrance doors then waved. “Here he is now.”
Mistral paused just inside the door and looked around.
“Do we have to?” Ganymede knew he sounded whiney.
“Yes. We need him.” She took out her phone to shut it off.
Reluctantly, Ganymede followed her example. Didn’t want anyone interrupting the negotiations. Not that he thought they’d make a damn bit of difference.
A few seconds later, Mistral dropped onto one of the remaining seats. “This better be good.” He glanced at Ganymede. “Does he have to be here?”
Sparkle sighed. “Yes. It won’t hurt you to spend a few minutes with him. I promise he’ll keep his mouth shut.” She speared Ganymede with her icepick glare.
Ganymede raised one brow, but remained silent.
“Great.” She turned her attention to Mistral. “Now here’s the deal. Zendig will be on his way soon. We’ve called in every troublemaker we have contact info for, but it won’t be enough if Zendig comes with a bunch of talented people. Yes, he’ll have to take a physical form. That might weaken him a little, but he’s probably built up a huge amount of power from his years as pure energy. So he’ll still be formidable.”
“And you’re telling me this why?”
Ganymede wanted to smack that disinterested smirk from his face. He forced himself to unclench his fists and keep quiet.
“If Zendig wins, he’ll wipe all of us out.”
Mistral shrugged. “Not me. Amaya and I will be half a world away from here when that happens.”
Sparkle uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. “All those years of pretending you were my brother mean nothing when I really need the support of family?”
“So now you’re playing the sister card, Sparkle?” He curled his lip. Contempt bled from him.
“You don’t have loyalty to anyone, do you?” She stood. “Well, if we come through this alive and free of Zendig, I don’t want you to ever claim a relationship to me again.”
Ganymede thought about interjecting a few threats of his own, but Sparkle wouldn’t thank him for sticking his nose into the middle of this. He glanced around. She was getting a little loud.
Mistral stood too. “Doesn’t matter much to me what you want or don’t want. You’ve spent our entire lifetimes denying any relationship existed, so nothing new there. And I don’t work for free. So I suppose you’ll have to pull your own butt out of the fire.” He glared at Ganymede. “Oh, wait. You have the chaos bringer to save you, sister.”
Ganymede winced. The shifter had shouted the last word. People were beginning to stare. He sighed as he stood. Looked as though he might have to punch Mistral in his big mouth and then sling Sparkle over his shoulder to get her out of here. The thought sort of appealed to him.
“Coward.” Sparkle leaned across the table to hiss the word at Mistral.
“Manipulative little user.”
Uh-oh. Tiny flames erupted from Mistral’s fingertips. They rapidly spread up his arms and curled into his hair. Shit. Ganymede had to stop this. He needn’t have worried, though. Sparkle was on it.
With an angry shriek, she scooped up the pitcher, leaned across the table, and flung the water into Mistral’s face. “You don’t light your fire in my house, jerk.”
She left him standing there sputtering as she marched across the lobby and out the front door. He wiped the water from his face. His flames had disappeared.
Ganymede tried not to grin, he really did, but it was impossible. He waved away some of the hotel employees who had rushed to help their boss. “I guess hot tempers run in the family, shifter.”
Mistral swept strands of dripping hair from his face. “Oh, shut up.”
“Does that mean we can’t count on your help?”
Mistral called him a name Ganymede hadn’t heard for a few centuries before striding out the front door himself.
Ganymede looked around at the gaping guests. He gave them a thumbs-up. “Just a magician we’re thinking of hiring. Pretty impressive.” Then he followed Sparkle and Mistral out the door. He needed to find Sparkle and soothe her sexy feathers.
He found her on the beach gazing up at the full moon. She had slipped off her shoes and was standing at the water’s edge. The water lapped at her toes before receding. How many centuries had he watched her standing exactly like that in so many different places, the moon and water her only constants? And him. Sure, he’d wandered off for a few years now and then to do his own things. But he’d always come back to her. Always would. He knew that now.
He moved up to stand at her side. “Great night tonight.”
She cast him a glance that said, “You have to be crazy.”
“Okay, so Mistral is a bit of a hard sell, but he’ll come around.”
“And you believe that?” She tipped her head back to catch the light breeze blowing off the Gulf.
“Absolutely.” Not. Mistral was stubborn. He wouldn’t back away from his decision. “Anyway, we won’t need him. I’m calling in favors from a bunch of nonhumans. The troublemakers won’t be fighting alone. Maybe we can’t lure Zendig into the Castle to ambush him without Bourne, but we can be like that spider.”
“Spider?” She smiled.
He loved her smile. It was all humor, sex, and guile. Perfect. “Sure. I don’t remember its name, but it hides in its hole and then pops out when a juicy bug passes by.” Why the hell was he talking about spiders?
“A hole?” Sp
arkle laughed. “I just hope when we pop out we don’t come face to face with the sole of Zendig’s giant shoe.”
“Not funny, sweetheart.” Ganymede didn’t get a chance to say anything else. The sound of footsteps swung him around. Holgarth ran toward them across the sand.
Sparkle turned to follow his gaze. “Is that…?”
“Whoa! Holgarth. Running.” Something he’d never expected to experience in this lifetime or the next.
The wizard hurried toward them, his blue robe hiked up so he could go faster, skinny legs pumping for all he was worth. He held his pointed hat in place as he ran to keep it from flying away. When he finally stopped in front of them he was gasping for breath.
Ganymede wanted to give himself some time to take in the total awesomeness of what he’d just witnessed, but he couldn’t. Anything that caused Holgarth to abandon his dignity like that had to be serious. He could only think of one comment. “Why didn’t you call?”
In between huffs, the wizard glared at him. Finally, he was able to get out one word. “Tried.”
“What?” Ganymede started to pull out his phone.
Beside him, Sparkle muttered an, “Oops.”
Then Ganymede remembered. “Sorry. We turned off our phones for our meeting with Mistral. Then when everything went south, we forgot to turn them back on.”
Holgarth had recovered his breath and his sarcasm. “Perhaps after your faithful servant keels over in the sand at your feet you’ll remember.”
“Too much drama,” Sparkle muttered.
“Faithful servant?” Ganymede would’ve laughed, but the expression on Holgarth’s face stopped him. “What happened?”
“Zendig’s forces have started arriving on Earth.”
“Where?”
“Marfa and Enchanted Rock in Texas, Sedona in Arizona, and Eureka Springs in Arkansas. Those are only the ones we know about. We don’t have enough watchers to cover every spot. They’re trickling through slowly, though. Two or three from each vortex.”
“I guess we need to be thankful he can’t open his portals wherever he wants like Ky’s dad did.” Ganymede was ready to grab at every advantage he could over their creator.