by JoAnna Grace
He took a shaky breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know if I have faith in the gods right now.”
“Then have faith in me.” Piper took his hand and pressed it to her chest, so close to her breast she shivered. “Have faith that a real heart beats outside of these dreams. I love you, put your faith in that, if nothing else.”
He smiled and brought her hand to his lips once more. These little kisses fed her soul. “I love you, too, my night angel. Soon, soon we shall be together.” Even as he began to fade he held her close. His strong arms pressed her against him until she knew their time was over for the night.
“No!” she pleaded to the universe. “Not yet. He needs me. Please, let me stay.”
Piper woke alone in her bed, tears trailing down her cheeks, her heart pounding and aching. She could still feel his hands, his lips, his head resting upon her. But none of it remained in reality. The loss hit her hard and she sobbed.
“Piper?” Her sister flipped on a small lamp. “Piper, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Keona sat beside her and cradled her in her arms. “Were you dreaming of him?”
Piper nodded, unable to find a voice.
“Then what’s wrong? Your dreams usually make you happy.”
“That was his pain I felt today. He needs me, Keona. By the gods, he needs me and I can’t comfort him or hold him. Why do they torture me like this? Why do the gods send him to me each night but give me nothing that I need to find him? I don’t even know his name, yet I love him. I have to do something. It’s time.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll see what I can find out.”
Piper held her sister close. Their twin bond was strong and she knew the conviction in her sister was steadfast. It was time to make a move.
But where did they start?
PIPER WRAPPED A cuff around the man’s wrist, not that she needed it to know his blood pressure was far too high. “Hold your wrist to your chest, please.” She smiled and the man’s pulse stuttered then fell back into its fast rhythm. “You’re going to be fine. Auto accidents can be very scary, but you can relax. You’re in good hands.” Once his stats were entered into her computer, she stuck the stylus back in her scrubs and gave him more words of comfort before leaving the exam room.
Poor humans. They got upset over the slightest things.
It took her one head-to-toe glance at the man to determine he was fine, but distressed. An actual doctor would have the final say. Thankfully, the ER doctor on call knew her word was gold when it came to their patients.
“What do we have, Miss Martinez?” He finished up his notes on his tablet.
“African-American male, forty-five. Auto accident. No sign of external injuries. He’s upset and insisting that his insides are bleeding.”
The doctor glanced over his glasses and raised a bushy brow. “Your opinion?”
“He’s never been in an accident before. He’s fine but panicky.”
“Okay, emotional control it is. Heaven knows I need more practice running basic tests,” he whispered before pushing into the examination room.
“I’m off. See you tomorrow.” Piper waved and giggled at his dramatic look of distress. He was a nice guy, big-hearted and cute. Many of the ER nurses liked him. It was a terrible shame he was happily married with six kids.
Piper clutched her purse to her side and waited for Keona on the first floor of the hospital. Her twin sister trudged up and sighed. “Can we please get home fast? This rent-a-cop costume is killing me.”
Ah, Keona. They might be identical twins, but they were yin and yang, one hot, one cold, one relaxed, one uptight.
“Not tonight. You locked up?” Piper looped her arm through Keona’s and they headed out the front doors. She checked her aura, the energy all Olympians give off, even as she asked her sister. Not that she needed to. Keona was always locked down tight. “If you didn’t want to work security, you should’ve gone with your other alias.”
“No.” Keona shook her head violently. “Working janitorial in a hospital is nasty, for real. I’d rather deal with the crazies than the body parts.” She shuddered then looked both ways before leading them both across the street. “I did get to throw some guy out tonight. It was pretty sweet. He was there with his baby-mama and another screaming kid who was rushed to surgery for his broken arm. In comes the real dad, and next thing you know, they’re duking it out over who gets to go into the room first. Insane.” Keona rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong with these ass—”
Keona stopped. She tilted her head to the side and did a quick survey of the area.
“What’s wrong?” Piper, too, glanced around but saw nothing unusual, nothing besides the slowly moving traffic. There were a few people milling about, all human, no auras in site. It was already after sunset and this time of day always made her jumpy.
“I thought I felt something.” After another minute of inspection, Keona rolled her neck and relaxed. “I’m losing my touch, I swear.”
“The only thing you’re feeling is hunger.” Piper pulled out a sandwich from her purse. “I bought an extra one at lunch.”
Keona wouldn’t have eaten lunch. She never did, and it drove Piper nuts that she didn’t take better care of herself. Her sister inhaled the food before they reached home.
Home.
The very thought of their apartment being home was a joke. They had five locks on the door, bars on the windows, knives stashed in various places where they slept. Keona kept a baseball bat by the front door. There were more rats than tenants in the entire building. No matter how much they cleaned, or opened windows on sunny days, the place always felt like a dungeon. There was one bedroom whose window faced a brick wall, one tiny bathroom that made it possible to sit on the toilet and brush your teeth at the sink at the same time.
The one positive—steaming hot water. Plus, the landlord didn’t check credit, didn’t ask questions, and took cash. Those were the only reasons they stayed.
“I hate this place.” Piper flopped down on the beige couch that might’ve been white at one point in its long life.
“Yeah, me, too.” Keona slapped the remote against the arm of the couch and the television came on. “I miss our old house.”
Recalling the sprawling Seattle mansion made them both frown. Their parents had done favors for important people in Olympian society and they were richly rewarded. Their old family home overlooked Mt. Rainier and there were trees everywhere. They had known luxury and they now knew poverty. Seattle seemed like a long lost dream.
Piper let out a yawn.
“Already?” Keona laughed. “All you want to do is sleep.”
“I’m worried about him. Something horrible happened and this is the only way I can check on him.” Piper prayed her man met her again tonight. He had been in such pain last night that she’d worried about him all day. He was never far from her thoughts and each guy with dark hair who came into the hospital received a second glance. One day. One day she would meet him in person and they would be together without the need for prescription sleeping medication.
“Fine, go. I’m just going to sit here alone and watch reruns.” Keona put her feet up on the couch and pushed Piper out of her seat.
“I love you, too.” Piper winked.
“Whatevs.” Keona tried not to smile, but Piper knew she would crack.
Just before Piper entered the bedroom, Keona stopped her. “I hope he’s okay. Really.”
“Thanks, sis.” Piper closed the door and changed for bed. Keona had taken some sedatives from the hospital, thinking that if Piper slept deeper, she might get more information from her dreams. Tonight, Piper was inclined to take one. She needed to make sure he was okay.
A thrill went through her as she entered the dreaming state. Her rat hole apartment faded to make way for lush gardens of aromatic roses. She picked a perfect bloom and brought it to her nose. Heavenly. She sat down on the lip of the fountain and dipped her feet in the cool water.
He’ll come.
Piper waited patiently, playing with the petals, picking at the grass, tracing the crystals on her gown.
He’ll come.
Minutes felt like hours but still, she waited.
He has to come.
Rustling caught her attention and she turned to see him approach. Air caught in her throat. By all that is worthy of the gods, he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen.
He saw her and his whole body sagged with relief. A perfect smile spread across his handsome face and he held out a hand. “My angel.”
Piper ran to him and jumped into his arms. Happiness filled her and overflowed. “You’re here. I worried about you all day.”
He squeezed tight and buried his face in her neck. “Sweet beauty. I’m happy to be in your arms again. It’s been hell.”
Piper pulled back so she could study his gaunt face, bloodshot eyes, and tense shoulders. “Are you okay? You were so upset last night.”
He ran his hand through her hair to the base of her neck. “I lost people I loved. Family.”
“I’m sorry, my love. I’m so very sorry.” Piper traced his lips with her fingers. Whomever he lost, he was hurting and it broke her heart to see him in such pain. “What can I do?”
“You’re doing it. You’re here.” He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Tell me about your day.”
They sat by the fountain, held hands, and talked as much as they could. When it came to details, the gods muzzled them. Piper didn’t know his real name, didn’t know where he lived, or who he was in Olympian society. Did he live in one of the Havens located around the world? Did he live among humans? Was he even on the same continent?
The biggest, hardest question was the one she tried desperately not to analyze. Was he even real?
Did he exist outside of her hours of sleep? Was he a grand figment of her imagination, an illusion by the gods to trick or punish her for her crimes? Punishment for her mother’s crimes?
“I lost you.” He touched her cheek and made her look him in the eyes. He grinned and butterflies took wing in her stomach. “Where did you go?”
Piper played with a strand of her hair, curling it around her finger. “We’ve been meeting like this for months now. Yet we’re no closer to each other than we were the first time I saw you. How do we change that?”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know, sweet angel. I’ve researched everything I can, talked to oracles and visionaries alike. My own mother has no idea how to connect with you in the light of day, and I’d swear to her being the most brilliant woman on the planet.”
The affection in his voice warmed her heart. “You love your family very much, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “My mother is amazing, so knowledgeable of the gods and their commandments. My brother, well, he’s scary at times.” He huffed a laugh. “I’ve seen him angry recently, and it’s a frightening thing to behold. But when it comes to his wife, he’s different. So different. There’s this whole other side of him I’ve never seen before. The way he loves her, it’s…” He blew a heavy breath out of his mouth and ran his free hand through his hair. “It’s intense, you know?”
“I do know.” Piper dropped her eyes, unable to look him in the face after such a confession. “I just hope one day I can show you how much I love you without the fear of waking up.”
“Hey.” He pulled her head to his chest and hugged her close. “This isn’t an illusion, angel. This isn’t some elaborate dream. I know you’re out there, and you should know I am, too. I go about my daily routine, but I live for these moments, for this time I get to spend with you. You’re the one light in my dark days.”
Piper lifted her head. Their eyes met and the world ceased to turn in those seconds. Never in her life had she desired anyone or anything the way she desired him. The need was rooted so far within her that her bones ached with it.
Every flower in the garden turned their heads toward them as he slowly leaned down and his soft lips brushed over hers. Piper sighed at the contact.
Holy Zeus, he even tastes like a dream. What she wouldn’t give to crawl into his lap and give herself to him in every way. Instead, she let the insecurities lurking in the back of her mind yank her from the sweetness of the moment. What if he wasn’t real? What if she was having lustful thoughts over a figment of her imagination?
Piper pulled back and turned her head away. Heat rose from her chest to her face.
She cleared her throat and pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. “I, um, don’t know a lot about the gods. My parents taught us when we were younger, but I don’t remember a lot of it. One thing I do remember is that Zeus loves us. He created us for a purpose and he cares what happens to us. So I pray.” She lifted one shoulder. “I know when the time is right, Zeus will bring us together and Hera will bless our union.”
He touched her chin, made her face him, and nuzzled his nose to hers. “Start praying they hurry up, will you, angel?”
They held each other, talking and laughing until the haze of their dreams came to an end. She didn’t look as he dissolved into mist and smoke, leaving her alone and missing him like crazy.
Piper sat up in bed and wiped a tear from her eye. Waking was akin to losing him every night. Outside her window the morning sun rose to greet her. You’re the one light in my dark days.
Piper held his words close to heart and prayed fervently to Zeus for the opportunity to meet her love in the daylight.
EVANDER KNOCKED BACK yet another shot of whiskey and gazed out the plane’s window at the tiny world below him. His uncle was dead. Murdered. It seemed impossible. Troy Castille was the picture of vitality and strength, power and knowledge. How did a pillar of their universe just…die? Demigods didn’t get killed, they didn’t get murdered by something as simple and mundane as poison.
Yet Evander had seen the clouds of smoke from the pyre. He’d held his Aunt Dynasty as she cried and told him of the events leading up to his arrival.
Then, amongst all the pain and despair, his dear cousins had showed him a miracle. The gods were listening, all right. And they’d spared a Divine Grace from the grave.
Astonishing.
The phone on his private jet rang. “What do you have for me, Nicholas?” Evander spoke to his tracker over the secure line.
“I found the source, a beacon at the hospital. It pulsated every half hour or so. I didn’t go in, but I stayed in the parking lot. Whoever it was left the building without me sensing them. They didn’t come back until this morning and the pulsing started again.”
“Not a patient. An employee, then?” Hmm. This made him happy. He wouldn’t need Ryse’s tracker after all. Their family had enough on their plate and didn’t need to deal with this little distraction.
“Exactly. I’m assuming a Paean, very powerful, who knows how to shield.” Nicholas coughed on the other end of the line. “Do I need to become ill, sir?” His voice held humor, but he was willing to pretend to be sick just to tag his latest mark. Trackers were all the same at their core, they were hunting dogs who needed to tree their prey.
Evander chuckled. “I’m afraid a man your size would not be trusted with the nurses, Nicholas. Don’t worry. I’ll use other methods of persuasion to find out what I need. Stay there, keep watch. I’m on my way home.” His jet would land in Chicago within the half hour and he could go straight to the hospital. He sure didn’t want to return his house and deal with the loss of his uncle.
Dr. Paul Smith, Evander’s alias, was familiar around the Chicago hospitals. He made it a point to visit as a consulting neurosurgeon, so the staff felt comfortable with him asking questions. It had been at least a few months since his last visit and his favorite administrator, a human woman in her late fifties with a long-standing infatuation, was overjoyed to see him.
“Dr. Smith, it’s so good to see you.” She smiled and stuck her abundant breasts in his direction.
“How many times must I insist that
you call me Paul?” Evander smiled as her energy went off the charts.
“Paul,” she purred. “It’s been too long.” Her fake eyelashes and bright red lipstick were comical, but she had her uses. She was a brain easily manipulated.
“I’ve been far too busy. I must get here to see you more often.” Evander stuck out his hand and she gladly shook it. She was none the wiser to his powers and he knew how to shield better than most in case another Olympian was in the vicinity. “Now, my darling, tell me, are there any interesting staff members that I need to meet since I was last here?”
The blonde tilted her head to the side. “We had a new surgeon come in. He’s very good. You should introduce yourself, or I can take you to meet him.”
Images of a threesome popped up in her head and Evander quickly erased them.
“Wonderful, I’ll do that. Who else?”
Her upper lip curled. “There’s this new nurse.” She leaned in. “Not to gossip, but she’s odd, you know? The doctors in the ER love her, the staff love her, but not me.”
“Not you. You see what the others don’t.”
He used her attraction to his advantage, maybe it was wrong, but his first duty was to the Olympian people, and a new addition to his territory had to be investigated. These were dangerous times and a dirty Olympian among the human population could be devastating.
Her eyes darted to the left and right, then she leaned in so close he could smell her bubblegum and the cigarette she’d smoked earlier. “She’s a psychic or something.”
Oh boy.
“What makes you say that?” He held his breath as long as he could.