Where a Goddess Belongs

by Stephanie Julian

  “No idea.”

  “Well, you better figure it out fast ’cause I just heard from Johnson. They’re sending in another pair of guards Monday.”

  Holy fuck. “Did they say why?”

  Jacoby shook his head. “Just got the call to let me know.”

  Well, shit. That meant they had three days to kidnap a goddess from the people who’d kidnapped her first.

  “Maybe we should tell her what’s going on.”

  Because Jacoby’s statement skated dangerously close to speaking about their plan out loud, Den shook his head. “I don’t think that’s smart.”

  “And I’m really close to not giving a fuck.” Jacoby turned back to the front door but didn’t open it right away. “Sunday, Den. Gotta have our shit packed by then.”

  Shaking his head, Den followed Jacoby back into the cabin, where Jacoby disappeared into the basement without saying another word.

  Kari stood in the opening to the kitchen, watching him intently, a slight smile on her face.

  “It’s such a nice night I thought maybe we could go for a walk. I’d love to stretch my legs.”

  Because she’d asked the same thing several times before, Den had an answer ready to go.

  “I’m sorry, Lady—”

  “Kari.” Her smile made every muscle in his body tense. “Just Kari. Why is it so difficult for you and Jacoby to use my name?”

  “Because you’re a goddess.”

  Her laughter rang out, making every hair on his body stand on end. And made his cock harder than it already was. Now, it was stiff as a board and throbbing against the zipper of his pants, demanding he take her.

  “I’m still a woman, Den. A woman with desires and needs.”

  Holy fuck. He could barely breathe. Was she seriously coming on to him? Could she really want him?

  Or was she just using him? Did she think he’d release her if she let him fuck her?

  What would she say if he told her exactly what he and Jacoby planned to do with her?

  She took a step closer and he almost took a step back. Which was stupid. He wasn’t afraid of her. The exact opposite, actually.

  But if he took what he wanted...

  Vaffanculo, he could screw up everything.

  “Den?”

  His gaze sharpened on hers. What did she want?

  She took another step closer and reached out to put her hand on his arm.

  “What do you want, Den?”

  Her slight emphasis on that one word hit him low in the gut. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked him that.

  “I’m not sure I should tell you.”

  “You can tell me anything. I’m a really good listener.”

  He wanted to tell her everything. Knew, instinctively, that he could trust her.

  His gaze slipped to the camera again and, in that split second, she raised her hand and cupped his jaw.

  “Trust me. They can’t see a thing.”

  His gaze locked with hers and he sucked in much-needed air. And when he released it, he released his self-imposed restraints along with it.

  He did trust her. He just wasn’t sure it would’ve mattered to him if the fucking head of the Malandante was behind that camera. In a split-second, he wrapped one hand around her neck, dragged her forward and slammed his mouth down on hers. Three months of leashed desire spilled out as heat seared through him like a blowtorch flame. Her lips softened against his and every muscle in his body tightened into a steel band, every nerve ending sizzling with the contact. His mouth devoured hers, her sweet taste exploding on his tongue and flooding him with adrenaline. Vaffanculo, why the fuck had he waited so damn long to taste her? He wanted to inhale her but didn’t want to rush. Wanted to kiss her until she went boneless against him. His fingers itched to slide down her body, mold her curves, rub his thumb over her nipples. He’d been dying to touch her for weeks and not just the accidental, or not so accidental, brushes they’d had until now. No, he wanted to shove his hands under her shirt and hold the weight of her breasts in his hands. Kari never wore a bra and the woman didn’t need one. She was perfect from head to toe. And holy fuck, the way she kissed... He didn’t think he’d ever get enough. Especially not now that he’d tasted her. And if she’s only using you, hoping you’ll let her leave? Right now, he didn’t give a fuck about that. He only wanted to continue to devour her. Sliding his hands down to her shoulders, he drew her closer, kissing her harder and slanting his mouth to get an even better angle. She accommodated his every move, opening her mouth to him even more. She felt delicate under his hands but he knew she wasn’t. She wasn’t one of those tiny Barbie-doll women who looked like they’d snap if you touched them. No, Kari was curved and lush and built exactly the way a woman should be. And made for his hands, which slipped from her shoulders to her back and pressed her forward. She came willingly, her arms sliding around his waist. She wasn’t tall enough to put them around his shoulders. Instead, she let her hands rest on his hips, just above the waistband of his pants. If she moved her hands under his t-shirt, she could slide her fingers beneath his pants and pet his ass. Gods be damned, he really wanted her hands on his ass. Right now, though, he’d take what he could get. His hands slid even lower to cup her ass. She made a soft sound low in her throat and he answered with a groan he couldn’t contain. Which only seemed to make her soften more. When her tongue flicked against his lips, he let her in, let her slide inside and control the pace for several seconds before he couldn’t help himself. He needed more. With his hands on her ass, he lifted her off her feet and brought her lips on a level with his. Now her arms rose to wind around his shoulders and he chased her tongue back into her mouth. She opened to him, her lips parting so he could take her mouth more completely as her legs wrapped around his waist. Her sleek thighs tightened and the knowledge that her pussy was so damn close to his cock nearly made his head explode. If they were naked, he’d be able to sink deep inside her right now. Just the thought made his dick throb, pressing against his zipper and demanding freedom. He wanted to take her here and now and consequences be damned. But he had more to consider than just slaking his hunger for her. With a sigh, he let himself kiss her for another two heartbeats before he reluctantly pulled away. The soft sound of protest she made and the way she clung to him made him want to flatten her against the nearest wall. But he had to be smart about this if he and Jacoby were going to be able to complete their plan. He pulled away, drawing his head back far enough that she couldn’t reach him. As her eyes opened, he saw no anger in expression, just curiosity. His gut clenched as another wave of lust swept through him.

  Gods be damned, she is so fucking sexy. His jaw clenched against the urge to take her mouth again but he was pretty sure if he didn’t stop now, he wouldn’t stop at all. He’d strip her naked and pound her against the wall until neither of them could walk. “Why did you stop?” Her voice held lazy interest, as if she knew she could have him back where she wanted him with a snap of her fingers. Which was absolutely true. His gaze flicked to the camera and her lips curved in one of those sweet-sexy smiles again. “Don’t you trust me, Den?” He did. But they’d spent the last three months stuck in this cabin alone with Jacoby and an everincreasing level of lust and that was surely fucking with his head. So she’d have to excuse him if he didn’t trust himself. And for all he knew, she could simply be using him to gain her release. “I don’t trust myself.” Her head cocked to the side and her expression softened. “Why is that?” “You shouldn’t trust me either.” Because he wanted—no, he needed something from her and he’d do anything to ensure his mother was safe. Her eyes narrowed and she lost the slight smile. Then she lifted one hand to his cheek and let her fingers trail along his jaw. “What’s put that look on your face?” He thought about his response for almost a full minute. She waited quietly, her touch making him hyper-aware of her. “We should wait for Jacoby.” Her eyebrows rose and that slight smile returned. “I’m more than happy to wait for Jacoby to return if
that means I get to have you both.” His mouth dropped open before he could catch it and, as her smile widened, his gaze narrowed. “Oh, don’t look so surprised.” Her laughter echoed through the room. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.” Shit, yeah, he’d thought about it. but it wasn’t something he and Jacoby had discussed. It’d just never come up, even though they’d been friends since childhood and had the same taste in women. Maybe it had something to do with the way they’d been brought up. Plural relationships weren’t common in their circles. The Mal were disgustingly old-fashioned and stuck in the past when it came to relationships. Most of the men believed women belonged in the house, raising good little Mal babies and keeping their mouths shut while the men plotted world domination. Those men would never comprehend the fact that women were the stronger sex. Den understood. His father hadn’t but his mother had taught him how strong women had to be to put up with the shit their men did. “Where did you go just now?” He automatically glanced at the camera. He trusted Kari. He did. He just couldn’t take the chance of someone discovering the plans he and Jacoby had made. Too many lives depended on keeping this secret. He shook his head and kept his mouth shut. Amazingly, she didn’t push. “Okay, you can keep your secrets...for now. But you know where to find me if you decide to take me up on my offer.” Then she turned and walked out into the front room. He stayed behind, trying to get his head on straight. She’d rattled him—no, not rattled. She’d cranked him up and now he wanted her more than he had before. If that were even possible. Vaffanculo, he needed to talk to Jacoby openly. They needed to figure out how they were going to make Kari, Den’s mother and Jacoby’s sister disappear from three different locations at the same time. Without getting caught or ending up dead. Might as well wish for a miracle because that had a much better chance of actually happening.

  Chapter Two

  Jacoby was only five minutes into his rounds when the woman appeared at his side. “You look like you have the fate of the world on your shoulders, Jacoby. What’s happened?” He wasn’t surprised by her appearance. He’d been expecting her. The only problem he had was, he still wasn’t sure if she was real or if he was imagining her. “The Mal are sending our replacements on Sunday. I don’t think we have enough time to get everyone out before then.” “Ah, yes. That could be a problem. So what are you going to do?” For a few seconds, Jacoby considered the fact that he was most likely talking to a figment of his imagination. She’d made her first appearance about two months ago, had scared the shit out of him as he’d made his rounds one night. He’d thought she was real...until he’d reached for her and his hand had passed right through her arm. Freaked out and afraid he’d finally lost his mind, he tried to ignore the apparition but she’d refused to go away. The second time she’d appeared, he’d found he could no longer ignore her and he’d asked who she was. After she’d told him, he’d walked back to the cabin and almost confessed to Den that he was losing his mind. He’d caught himself before the words could escape and make Den worry more than he already was. “I’m not sure. I thought we’d have more time to come up with a plan, make something work.” “Well, now you don’t. Who do you sacrifice?” Jacoby shot a glare at the female walking beside him. “No one. That’s not an option.” “Sometimes it’s the only option.” Stopping with a frustrated sigh, Jacoby turned to confront his imaginary friend. He looked much more real than she had the first time he’d seen her. She held herself like a goddess and by that, he meant she looked regal. Not tall but not short, not skinny but not heavy, her hair down to her mid-back and a shade of brown that defied explanation. Somewhere between sable and gold. And her eyes...damn, she had beautiful eyes, a brown so dark they looked almost black. They held a sharp intelligence that made him feel like an idiot every time he opened his mouth around her. Sometimes he kept it shut. This was not one of those times. “No. Not in this case. And if you don’t have anything helpful to say, I respectfully request you don’t give any more advice. Unless you have something to suggest other than sacrificing someone I love.” She remained silent and, for several seconds he wondered if he’d finally stuck his foot far enough into his mouth that she’d leave and never come back. He wasn’t sure that’s what he wanted. She stared at him for so long he was pretty sure she was about to blast his head off his shoulders. And then she smiled and he swore the fucking sun shone out of her pores. Vaffanculo, he truly was losing it. “Good for you. I’m glad to see you’re not afraid to speak your mind. You’re going to need that strength.” His mouth opened as he tried to think of a response but all he could come up with was, “I don’t know what the hell to do. We’re screwed anyway we try to work this. And if you were really here and not just a figment of my imagination, you’d be able to help me with this problem. But since you’re just part of my brain, of course you don’t have anything to add because I’m well and truly screwed here.”

  The woman laughed, husky and low and sexy, the kind of laugh that turned men’s heads and made them want her.

  Except for Jacoby. He had it bad for an actual flesh-and-blood goddess who made him want to throw her down on any flat surface and lose himself in her soft body. The same goddess his best friend lusted after, as well.

  Damn, they were all screwed.

  “Why don’t you tell me a little more about your dilemma and we’ll see if we can’t come up with a solution.”

  Sighing, he figured what the hell. “The problem is I don’t know who to trust except Den. We have no allies in the Mal. And we don’t know anyone outside of it. We’re fucked.” He paused. “Excuse the language.”

  Which just made him want to smack himself upside the head. Why the hell was he apologizing to someone who wasn’t really there?

  “Well, I do know someone you can trust.”

  Snorting, he began to walk again, not surprised when she kept pace. “Sure. Okay. Lay it on me.”

  “His name is Steven and I believe you may have heard of him.”

  He stopped short. Holy shit. She was right. Or he was right. And who the hell cared at this point.

  He’d never met Steven Castiglione but the guy’s name was infamous among the Mal. Jacoby had never heard the entire story but the rumors flying among the Mal muscle, guys like Jacoby and Den, was that he’d defected to the lucani a few years ago, after he’d taken down a high-level Mal in Florida.

  Why the hell he’d gone to the lucani, no one knew although there was talk of a woman being involved.

  Which made sense. When wasn’t there a woman involved?

  The woman back at the cabin immediately popped into his head. Beautiful. Sexy. And off limits.

  Fuck.

  “Do you know how I can get in contact with him?”

  The woman put one hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows. “Oh, so you believe I’m real now?”

  “Are you?”

  Her laughter rang out, strong and clear and completely natural. But there was still something so...otherworldly about her.

  “Who are you?”

  Her smile softened but the look in her eyes made his back straighten. It was the look of royalty.

  “Before I tell you my name, I want you to tell me something.”

  He nodded, his throat going dry.

  “Who do you think I am?”

  He hadn’t been expecting that question but he had an answer ready to go.

  “Turan, Lady of the Swans.”

  Her smile widened slightly, enough to let him know he’d amused her. Why? He had no idea.

  If she was real, he had no idea why the Goddess Turan would be talking to him. Considering she was one of the five founding Etruscan deities who’d disappeared thousands of years ago... Even an idiot would understand his dilemma.

  If she wasn’t real, then, yeah, the stress was getting to him and he needed to have his head examined.

  But he had no idea why he would’ve conjured up this goddess as the voice of his conscience. It made no sense, which was why he hadn’t said anything to Den or anyone.r />
  No one would’ve believed him anyway.

  “Are you?”

  He had to ask, couldn’t stand not knowing.

  “Are you sure you want the answer?”

  No, he really wasn’t but he was done screwing around. “Yes.”

  Her smile made all the tiny hairs on his arms stand at attention, not in fear but in awe. “And that’s your answer, as well.”

  Shaking his head, he frowned. “How? And why me?”

  “Because you called to me.”

  “What? How?”

  She reached out to him, laid her fingers against his jaw and he realized he could feel her skin against his. His mouth dropped open in shock and he drew in an audible gasp.

  What the fuck? Had he been wrong this entire time about her not being here? Had he imagined his hand going through her body like she wasn’t there?

  “Don’t doubt yourself now, Jacoby.” She drew her hand away. “I need you to be strong.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the battle is coming.”

  “What battle?”

  Her smile leveled out. “The battle for our return.”

  Chapter Three

  Kari could tell something had changed. Jacoby had returned from making his rounds looking even more tense than he had before he’d left. He’d pulled Den into the tiny galley kitchen, where they’d held a quiet, intense conversation she hadn’t been able to overhear. Which led her to believe one of the men had a little more magic than she’d thought. Maybe more than anyone knew. Otherwise, the Mal wouldn’t be wasting his powers guarding her. It was obvious the Mal thought she had very little power left or they would’ve set more than two guards on her. It pricked at her pride that they thought so little of her. Which was ridiculous. She should be happy they’d underestimated her. It’d make it easier for her to slip away. The problem was, she didn’t want to slip away without Den and Jacoby. She wanted them to come with her. From her spot on the couch, where she was pretending to watch some mindless show about tiny little houses with more amenities than any mansion she’d ever been in, she wondered what had put that look on Jacoby’s face. Den hadn’t had time to tell him about their little scene in that same spot about an hour ago, so that couldn’t be the problem. Not that she thought it was a problem. She was hoping it would happen again, like soon and including Jacoby. Sighing, she propped her chin in her hand and gave up any pretense of watching television. Those two were much more interesting than anyone she’d ever met before. Which was odd because she’d been around for a couple thousand years and had met millions of people in her lifetime. So what was it about these two men? On the surface, they were handsome, of course. But she’d met some of the most beautiful men in the world throughout her life. What set these two apart? Den had the whole he-man protector vibe going for him, which, she had to admit, appealed to her more than it probably should in this day and age. Then again, she was a goddess so she could do as she damn well pleased. And she usually did. Jacoby... He was still a mystery to her. Respectful to a fault but she could tell he wanted her. Or maybe she was reading something into his behavior that just wasn’t there. On the outside, he seemed like the perfect Mal soldier, quiet and dutiful. But there was something else about him, something that made her want to dig beneath the surface and uncover all of his secrets. Because he had secrets. They shadowed the depths of those dark eyes and made her want to pull him close and pet him until he told her everything. As the Goddess of Healing, this wasn’t uncommon for her. They didn’t call her Lady of the Singing Heart for shits and giggles. It was her nature to want to heal her people, to take their emotional pain and distress and leave them happier than she found them. But what she felt for Den and Jacoby went beyond wanting to heal. She wanted so much more, something she’d never felt before. Which made her want to dig inside herself and find out why. But first, she wanted to know what they were discussing because it certainly seemed intense. They leaned toward each other, as if they were keeping their voices low, but Kari knew one of them was using some sort of spell to keep her from hearing their conversation. And if that wasn’t interesting enough, Den was doing his fair share of the talking. He was usually the one to listen, while Jacoby talked. It’d been almost five minutes and their conversation didn’t seem to be abating. In fact, she thought it might actually be picking up speed. Jacoby was shaking his head as Den leaned back, his hands spread on the counter behind him, making his arm muscles bulge. Damn, she really wanted him to use those arms to lift her off her feet and hold her against the wall and fuck her until she couldn’t see straight. Or maybe he could hold her against Jacoby while they both took her. Oh, the images in her head. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start to drool. And how embarrassing would that be? Pretty damn embarrassing, considering she was a freaking goddess. Jacoby turned to look at her just then. She was sure he’d only meant to glance over and make sure she was still watching TV. But their gazes caught and held. His held a stormy indecision that made her own gaze narrow in contemplation. He stared at her for several long seconds before he shook his head, inky dark hair falling over his forehead and his mouth flattening into a straight line, and tore his gaze away. Slashing a hand in front of him, he responded to Den, who shook his head and said something that made Jacoby’s jaw tighten even further. Whatever they were arguing about, it was intense and they weren’t in agreement. They kept going back and forth, shaking their heads in alternating turns. Deciding she’d had enough of being left out of the conversation, she rose from the couch and made her way to the kitchen, where both men went silent and still as soon as she stood. With a snap of her fingers, she spelled the cameras in the room to loop the last ten minutes of footage. If anyone was watching, they’d see Den and Jacoby talking in the kitchen and her watching TV on the couch. It took more magic than she’d expended in days and she knew it left her vulnerable in a way she didn’t like to be. But she had the feeling the situation had changed and time had run out. “Don’t you think it’s time to fill me in on the plan?” The men exchanged a glance before Den straightened away from the counter where he’d been leaning and closed the distance between them. She let her head drop back so she could maintain eye contact, her lips curving in a smile she’d been told was irresistible. Den’s gaze dropped to her lips for several long seconds before he dragged it back to meet hers. “Do you need something, Lady Kari?” She let her smile widen and watched the heat in Den’s eyes burn hotter. “I need to know what’s going on. I’m sure you know I’m not stupid—” “No, Lady, we—” “—and I realize that something’s changed. I’d like to know what that is. I may be able to help.” They both looked at the camera in the doorway at the same time before staring at each other. Den tilted his head to the side, his eyes widening. Looking at Jacoby, she caught him shaking his head. But she didn’t think he was responding to Den’s silent question. He just looked frustrated. Finally, Den said, “Things have.” “Den.” Jacoby’s terse tone cut through the air like a blade but Den never broke eye contact with her. “They’re sending our replacements Monday. Which means if we’re going to get you out, we have to do it soon.” “For fuck’s sake, Den. You’re gonna get us all killed.” Now, Den turned to Jacoby, his expression darkening. “It’s now or never, Jack. We either do it or we don’t. But we both know we can’t not do something. We’ve run out of time.” There was an undercurrent in his voice that clued her into the fact that other pieces were in play here. She’d never been a chess player. She didn’t enjoy games that didn’t involve sex or wine or even ping pong balls and those cute red plastic cups filled with beer. Hell, she couldn’t even finish a game of checkers without getting distracted, which usually meant flirting with her opponent and ending up in bed. She was an unapologetically sexual creature who took emotional pain from those who needed her and sloughed off that pain with sex or alcohol. She barely ever looked beyond the pain to the resulting causes because if she did, she wouldn’t be able to function. Her heart just couldn’t take it. It’s why she’d never s
ettled down with any one lover for more than a couple of years. The mortals died eventually and the immortals... Well, mostly they were dicks. These two men had piqued her curiosity and she wanted more of them. So whatever problem they were having, she needed to help them solve it. If she could. “Tell me what’s going on. I may actually be able to help.” Jacoby’s scowl deepened as he shook his head but Den caught and held her gaze. “It’s not just you we need to get out. My mom and Jack’s sister need to disappear, too.” The plot thickened. “Why?” “Because my mom’s sick and we know of only one person who has the same illness who was actually cured. No one else has survived.” His jaw tightened and he swallowed hard before he continued. “And Jack’s sister...she needs to get away before the Mal make her into a monster.” “Why would they do that?” Jacoby and Den exchanged another one of those looks that expressed a whole lot more than any words could. Finally, Jacoby inhaled sharply and let it out on a sigh. “Because they think she’s your replacement.” Kari’s mouth dropped open for several seconds even though she really didn’t know what to say. Her replacement? She blinked as the world around her went a little dim. Maybe it spun, too. Reaching for the nearest flat surface to hold herself up, she instead connected with warm flesh. Jacoby had reached for her, sticking out his hand to catch her before she toppled over. Which had been a very real possibility. My replacement. She knew what had happened with Katene and Lucy. Lucy had been the Etruscan Goddess of the Moon until a few years ago when she’d given up her mantle of power to the young Etruscan shifter who’d been born to take her place. I’m being replaced. What if I don’t want to be replaced? Did she even have a choice in the matter or would she simply lose her powers one day and be...just another nameless face on the street. “Lady Kari?” She swallowed hard, trying to keep up with her boomeranging thoughts but her brain wouldn’t settle. Would she be mortal? Would she have any magic? Would she have to get a job? What would she even do? She didn’t have a clue. She wasn’t trained for anything. She couldn’t do anything. She was useless— “Kari. You need to breathe or you’re going to pass out.” Jacoby’s low, worried tone finally got through the haze of panic that had descended on her. Her gaze connected with his and she found herself a little steadier. Sucking in several long, deep breaths, she realized Jacoby had hold of her hands and was squeezing them tight. Not painfully, just tight enough for her to feel safe. “Damn it.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Den run a hand through his already tousled hair, his expression angry. Not at her, at himself. “Den.” He met her gaze, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have let my fucking mouth run—” “I glad I heard it from you and not someone else. Really.” She released one of Jacoby’s hands to reach for Den, grabbing the hand that was about to run through his hair again. She wanted to smooth those ruffles.