Apollo's Gift (The Greek Gods Series)

by Sandy Rowland

  “Let’s go.” Cassie hefted her suitcase, but Apollo took it from her.

  “Allow me.” He wouldn’t have her carrying for herself when he could without any effort.

  “Thanks.” She smiled. Her lips curved in a perfect temptation and he took the opportunity to kiss her.

  She didn’t argue, but slid her arms around his neck and leaned in.

  He dropped the bag, rested his hands over her round hindquarters and delved into her mouth with his tongue. She moaned. The aroma of her hair like almonds infused with woman spurred him on. He wanted to indulge himself with more of her, and caress her soft skin hidden beneath her jeans, and taste from her lips, down to her navel and beyond. He squeezed the softness beneath his hands.

  She pulled back. “I um, guess we should be going.”

  They arrived moments before take-off. General Hector shook Cassie’s hand and smiled, though the shadows in his dark eyes told her something else occupied his mind. “Glad to have you aboard.”

  “Thanks for including us,” she said.

  “Including you?” The general wrinkled his brow as if confused. His military cut displayed the full concern on his weathered face. “Just following orders.”

  She glanced to Apollo. He shrugged. “Orders.” He couldn’t explain surrounded by people, but she seemed to accept well enough.

  Cassie and Apollo sat together near the front of the plane. She slipped on her safety belt and he almost laughed at how ridiculous it was. As if that little strip of fabric could keep her from falling out of the heavens. Mortals were beyond gullible. The rest of the people on board did the same.

  She stared at him and nodded to the scrap of cloth in his lap. “Well?” she said. "Aren’t you going to buckle up?”

  He still thought the exercise was pointless, but he clipped the buckle ends together around his hips and did his best to appear satisfied that this made all the difference in his safety. He would have laughed had he not been concerned about the metal tube’s ability to lift from the ground, loaded with the weight of men and women and a few thousand pounds of equipment.

  The engines roared and Apollo clutched the arms of his seat. He forced himself to talk with Cassie to distract from the creaking plane as it rumbled over the tarmac.

  Her mouth twitched before a wide grin took over her features. “It’s your first time flying, isn't it?”

  He grinned with false confidence. “No. I’ve flown many times, just not using a metal box with wings pasted on.” Sweat trickled down his back and under his arms. He hadn’t felt this nervous awaiting his father’s decree of punishment.

  Cassie reached over and covered his hand with hers. “It’s not bad. After we’re in the air, it’s smooth. You’ll forget that we’re flying ten thousand feet above Earth."

  “This isn’t helping,” he said.

  She snickered. “Sorry, but it really is the safest form of transportation there is.”

  “Not for me.” His hands were moist and cool. He tightened his grip on the arms of his seat as the contraption picked up speed. The metal tube shook. Apollo trembled along with the plane. They lifted into the air and the shaking ended. The quiver and squeak ceased. The only sound was the hum of the engines. Apollo’s fingers ached from tension. The knots in his shoulders relaxed and he exhaled with relief.

  “See it’s fine,” said Cassie, patting his hand. “You’ll learn to like it. You can read or take a nap, and you don’t have to think about anything.”

  “Not quite. We have plenty to think about.”

  Her violet gaze turned purple and her smile faded. “I’ll do my best to convince my dad. Now that he’s seen the destruction firsthand, maybe he’ll believe me.”

  A confused look must have covered his face, “Your father? But he’s not in Greece.”

  She stared at him and blinked. “He’s there now. A series of bombs hit Rome, destroyed the train station, and killed hundreds of people.” Her lips parted. “You didn’t know. How is it that you didn’t know about this?” Her olive skin paled to a lighter tint and the vibrant rose of her mouth along with it.

  “I...” What could he say? The truth would be best. “Zeus has taken my gift of prophecy in punishment for manipulating your life, among other offenses. We must act without it.”

  She sat back with her head against the seat and her eyes trained on the ceiling. “Great. As if this wasn’t going to be difficult enough, now we can’t stay one step ahead of the enemy. Hydra is very bad news.” She leaned toward him and focused on his face. “Didn’t you hear about any of this? Ugh, of course you wouldn’t. Well, they’re monsters as dangerous as the mythological creature. And they mean to destroy what ever they can. They haven’t given a reason for their actions and no demands have been made.” She twisted the end of her seat belt with her fingers. “How in this world are we supposed to stop them now?”

  Cassie was obviously upset with the current situation. In truth, so was he, but he wouldn’t admit it. “We will succeed. I know Athens and the embassy intimately. We will stop them.”

  She scowled and yanked on the end of her braid. “How can you be so sure? We don’t even know what they want.”

  Apollo did know. Hydra wanted what every despotic, dictatorial faction had wanted since the beginning of time. He leveled his gaze on Cassie and hated sharing what he knew to be fact. “They desire one thing. Power. And they will pay any price to get it.”

  “Any price?” Cassie’s mouth trembled. “So there will be no negotiating with them. You’re sure about this?”

  “I’m positive. There may be a show of working something out, but it’s only to purchase time until they put their plans into action. Hydra wants to make a statement. Striking fear into the hearts of men is only the beginning.”

  * * *

  Cassie closed her eyes as the plane rumbled on to Greece. Talking to her dad had to work. Maybe Apollo could convince him. He must have done a miraculous job of it to get them on this military flight—faster than domestic and no stops.

  They hit rough air and the plane bounded up and down, jerked and fell until her stomach rested in her throat before leveling off again. Apollo had a stranglehold on the armrests. With his strength, he might crush them or rip them free from the seat. That would be tough to explain. Perspiration dotted his upper lip. She’d never thought that a god might be afraid of anything. He looked on the edge of being sick. She dug in the seat back in front of her and handed him a barf bag. “Here. Just in case.”

  Apollo pried one hand loose and took the sack. He snarled as he read the instructions printed on the outside. “I have no need of this.” He gave it back to her.

  She hoped he was right. Maybe all he needed was distraction. “Do you want to play cards?”

  He turned his head in a stiff but quick motion. His skin held an unhealthy pallor—not quite green, but on the way there. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ll feel better if you can take your mind off the flight.”

  Apollo peeled his finger from the armrests. “What game do you suggest?”

  “Poker might be good, but the stakes have to be high enough to keep you engaged. What should we play for?”

  His mouth twisted and then formed a weak smile. “Not coin. I have no need for it.”

  “I thought as much. How about playing for something that’s important to you. Is there anything like that, something you’d hate to lose?”

  He stared down at her and gave a slight nod. “Yes, I can wager my lyre.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really? The lyre you gained from Hermes? Wow. I'll take that bet.” She thought about what she owned for exchange. Whatever she had couldn’t be of value to a god. There was one thing. “Okay, I put on the table a night together. If I win, I get your lyre. If you win, you get a night with me.”

  His eyes brightened. “Agreed.”

  She’d toyed with the fantasy of sleeping with him ever since Delphi. His invasion into her dreams had made her comfortable with the idea and now the thought brough
t longing and warmth low in her belly. Having sex with a god was the stuff of legend, but it was Apollo’s explanation of how he’d suffered for her that clinched it. If she were to have sex only once in her life, which seemed likely considering their situation, then she wanted it to be memorable.

  Cassie pulled her purse onto her lap and rummaged for her deck of cards. “What do you want to play, straight-up poker or something wild?”

  He licked his lips. “If I'm playing for a night with you, beloved, something wild, absolutely.”

  Her cheeks must have turned bright red gauging from their sudden heat and Apollo’s grin. Would he notice if she cheated to lose? Because no matter what else happened, she refused to die before knowing the joys of making love with Apollo.

  They played a hand. She won the first, he the next, and before the third, she yawned. Exhaustion bore into her eyes. “How about we take a break? I need to catch some sleep before we arrive or I won’t be worth anything when we get there.”

  “I think you’re afraid you’ll lose and are avoiding it.” His mouth turned up at the edges, and he looked in much better spirits than when they’d left.

  “I’m not running out on you. I finish what I start.” She yawned and her jaw popped. “Ouch. Seriously, I’ll be brain dead if I don'’ get some sleep.” Cassie leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes. “You could play a tune on that harp of yours.”

  “It's not a harp, it’s a lyre,” he grumbled.

  She knew the difference between a harp and a lyre. She’d messed with him in an effort to distract from his fear of flying. “You could play something restful for the troops.” She stole a look from a slit eye. He already had the lyre in his hands and tuned it. Cassie chuckled to herself. That should keep him busy for hours.

  * * *

  Apollo played to the backdrop of snores, the rumble of engines and the occasional soft sigh from Cassie as she slept. The woman captivated him. She toyed with him. He’d missed her humor and playfulness. It’s what had originally drawn him to her when she served at Delphi.

  The gods believed it was Cassandra’s virtue or her beauty that enticed him. While those reasons were compelling, they didn’t call his heart to entwine about hers. Their souls had united through millennia, like trees planted beside one another, and grown together over time into one trunk. The roots entangled so that to remove one meant the death of the other. This was how it was meant to be between men and women. Separate yet one, acting as each other’s shade, protection and strength.

  Cassie was all of that to him, and this incarnation of the woman with her wit, compassion and humor had bound his heart to hers. And he wanted this tethering to her soul. She’d done all she could to understand her gift, but she’d also grown to understand herself. Her courage surfaced. Cassie had fought the rodent and argued with Apollo. She gave no thought to her own safety, but raced to aid her father and stop Athens’ destruction.

  He’d loved this woman for ages. His heart ached for her and because of her. He adored her above all others. And he’d tasted enough fruit to speak with certainty. After three thousand years of waiting for his Cassandra, he refused to let her go. He couldn’t lose her again.

  If mighty Zeus could decree and all creation bowed, then Apollo, as a son of Zeus could also decree in this one thing: No matter what, his soul would remain with Cassie through eternity.

  She had slept for hours. He could’ve woken her, but couldn’t resist gazing on her beauty as she slept, knowing that she needed rest. He’d ceased serenading the group hours ago and rested himself. He considered the strategy he’d employ. It would be easy enough to gain access to her father, but thwarting Hydra would require effort. Hydra. The name gnawed at him. He’d heard something about the creature recently before they’d attacked the train. What had he heard or had he seen something? The answer ran from him on swift feet. He couldn’t waste time on it. He needed a plan.

  He glanced at the deck of cards resting in Cassie’s lap. He’d let her win the next hand. When she gave herself to him. It wouldn’t be over a lost wager. Love would place her in his bed.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Apollo had changed out of the camo and into a linen jacket and slacks to be less conspicuous. He and Cassie waited on a bench outside her father’s hotel in Athens. Cassie fidgeted with her braid, her irritation palpable in the humid Mediterranean air. “What a frustrating call. If only my dad would listen to me, but no. I’m just his ‘princess.’ I’ll need proof. Are you sure you can’t tell my dad who you are? It shouldn’t take much to convince him after the attack on Rome. Leave someone hanging from the ceiling or burn something with your vision. That was a nice trick when you singed off John’s hair. How about doing any of that?”

  He sighed. “I dare not.”

  “You did it before.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I stretched the truth and told my dad I had great news and had to see him. Okay, it was a lie, but I had to gain face time. I thought you could convince him.” She glanced over her shoulder and then focused on Apollo.

  “Zeus punished me for just such acts. He was lenient last time and warned me against defying him again.” Apollo cringed to think how Zeus might afflict him.

  “What does that even mean?” Cassie scanned to her left, shrugged and then jumped to her feet. “I can’t sit here anymore. I know Zeus is a cruel SOB., but you’re his son. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, not like the myth of Prometheus. Zeus would never chain you to a mountain and let birds peck at your liver. Would he?”

  Apollo’s stomach twisted from the truth of his father’s violence. How could he make her understand that the gods were ruthless? They might be difficult to kill, but it was possible. And because they possessed a long life, they valued living not more, but less. Replacing Apollo would be as easy for Zeus as lying with another beautiful woman. And someone always caught his father’s roving eye. “The gods exist under a different set of laws from men. Zeus rules. No matter our connection or how much we may disagree with him, we’re commanded to follow or suffer the consequences.” He let out a frustrated breath. “Zeus is guilty of more savagery than you can comprehend.”

  “Those horrible stories are true?” Cassie’s face paled and she regained her seat. “Even the tale of Medusa with her head covered in snakes?”

  “The story varies some, but yes, the Gorgon was cursed with unsightly serpents. It’s just one example of punishments decreed on gods and men.”

  “Men?” Her eyes widened. “But the gods don’t involve themselves on earth anymore.”

  “Not that you’d be able to tell.”

  “Then they do intervene on occasion?” A twinkle lit Cassie’s eyes and Apollo didn’t like the look of it.

  “If Zeus commands it.”

  “Then you could visit your father and ask him to intervene with Hydra. It‘s possible he’d agree and keep this horror from happening,” Cassie pleaded.

  Apollo’s shoulders tensed. “You don’t know what you’re asking. Zeus hasn’t forgotten my last offense. If I ask so soon, he might make things worse.” Something was wrong with the situation beyond the obvious threat. His gut gnawed at him. “An immortal is involved. I’m sure of it. It might be that half brother of mine, Hermes. He’s been a trickster since birth and I’ve never trusted Hades.” Apollo’s inner fire smoldered at the mention of his uncle.

  Cassie’s gaze narrowed. “You’re punished for a little light show while the other gods get away with murder. That’s just sick and wrong. You have to go to Zeus and stop them from interfering. If they are working against us, they should be punished.”

  “They will be if Zeus sees fit to act. I’m in no position to demand anything and Zeus doesn’t always see things the way we do. Nothing gets past my father, believe me. He knows everything.”

  She jumped up and stomped her foot. The soft sole made little sound, muffling the effect. “That’s just great. And there’s nothing to be done about it?”

  “About Zeus? No.”

/>   “Ugh!” She threw her hands into the air. “There must be something?”

  He understood her frustration, but raging wouldn’t help. “We’re on our own.” Apollo feared using godly persuasion on her father. He’d bent mortal will gaining the flight to Greece and dared not do it again. Zeus had warned him.

  Cassie glanced to her right.

  “What are you doing? You look like a creature being stalked.”

  She rubbed at the base of her skull. “I feel someone watching me.”

  He shook his head. “Not someone, men. Haven’t you noticed how you look in those jeans?”

  Cassie’s cell phone pinged and she pulled it from her purse. “Dad’s ready to meet us.”

  She showed her identification when the agents stopped her in the hotel. Two burly men narrowed their eyes on Apollo. “Your ID, and we’ll need to check you for weapons.”

  “No,” said Apollo glaring at them. The indignity brought him close to leaving the men prostrate. He chose a simpler course and walked right by them.

  The agents returned her ID. “This way.” They escorted her down the hall. Cassie glanced at Apollo as they walked together, confusion furrowing her brow. “What happened?” she whispered.

  One stocky older agent glanced at her. “You’ll need to ask the secretary.”

  Apollo smiled. “They can’t see or hear me.”

  The younger agent knocked on a door and it opened.

  “Nice trick,” said Cassie.

  The agent glanced at her and shrugged.

  Secretary Priam smiled when he saw Cassie and hugged her. The aging diplomat’s demeanor changed when he noticed Apollo, his mouth puckered as if tasting bad wine. “And this is?”

  Cassie forced a too-tight grin. “Dad, this is my, um…friend, Apollo. We have something important to discuss with you and the sooner the better.”

  “What’s all of this about? I can think of only one reason my daughter would fly halfway around the world with a young man and tell me it’s urgent. Are you thinking of getting married?” Secretary Priam stared hard at Apollo. “What is your name, what do you do, and why should I let you marry my daughter?”