by Haley Weir
"I guess I just dance to the beat of a different drum."
Balor stabbed out his cigarette and tucked it behind his ear like some sort of bad boy from the nineteen-fifties. Whisps of dark hair fell over his brow, and the light from the torches on deck illuminated enough of his face to soften his sharp features. "What do you do when you aren't pilfering priceless weapons?"
"Seriously?" Olivia snorted. "We've been in the same room on many occasions and even been included in the same discussions, and yet you have never spoken a word to me. Why now?"
"Sometimes it's hard to hear anyone when the voices of the gods are ringing in my ears...even myself. Here, I suppose your voice is loud enough to comprehend."
She crossed her arms and nodded. Rina and the others explained that Balor was a Sage that had been blessed with the knowledge of the gods. It wasn't hard to imagine that having all those egos in one man's head might be hard to handle at times. "I'm a sex therapist."
"A what?"
"I teach people how to have healthy, satisfying love lives without the fear of judgment." She took great pride in the fact that her answer had stunned a being who had seen it all and lived to tell the tales. "Sex is a form of expression that shouldn't be taboo just because of outdated notions and bigotry. If everyone is of legal age and consenting...what's the harm?"
"And where do you provide these sessions?"
"I live a nomadic lifestyle most of the year, so I created a website that allows my clients to see my location and book sessions accordingly," Olivia explained.
"Can you separate the therapist from the woman? Can you have sex and enjoy it without turning it into therapy, I mean?"
"I don't always mix business with my pleasure, no."
"Good." Balor leaned forward again, but he stopped just barely an inch from her face. Olivia smelled the fruity smoke from his unusual cigarette as well as an earthy scent that lingered on his skin. It was like parchment paper mixed with the first summer rain to hit the hot city pavement. "Can I kiss you, Olivia?"
She licked her lips and tilted her head back with a teasing smile. "And why would I want to kiss you, exactly?"
"Because you know kissing me will stop the world from spinning. It will set your soul on fire and feed the yearning in your heart. Kissing me will set you free."
Olivia pressed her palms against his chest and gave a gentle shove. Balor stumbled back with a wide-eyed expression as she sauntered over to the men that she noticed earlier. They all but drooled as she approached. Olivia liked to tease, but there was a line even she refused to cross. Getting involved with Balor was a bad idea. Usually, Olivia had no qualms about having a hot fling on vacation, but she had a bad feeling about Balor.
He was the last of his brothers without a mate, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that kind of pressure. Olivia preferred hookups with a lot less baggage than that. "Hey, beautiful," one of the gentlemen slurred. Olivia rolled her eyes, but she tossed her head back with a fake laugh while touching his arm. She wasn't sure why she had wanted to put on a show for Balor. Even if he had gotten jealous, it meant nothing...right?
~*~
The Red Herring
Caribbean Sea
The light of the moon touched the peaks of her breasts with reverence. A mane of soft curls fell over her shoulders and came to a stop at the flare of her wide hips. As Balor observed her from a distance, he wondered how Diana Kelly was the goddess amongst her friends and not the woman with thighs he wanted to bury his face between for hours...maybe even days. The husky notes of laughter that floated above the music brought a smile to his face.
Three men closed in around her. Lecherous eyes with a predatory glimmer looked at Olivia with tainted intentions. Hands reached out to grope her. Balor bounded across the deck in the blink of an eye and shoved his way into the center of their group. He pushed one of the men, and he nearly tumbled over the railing and into the waters below. The others held their hands up and stepped away as he growled deep in his chest.
"I knew this would happen," Olivia complained. "I'm getting off of this boat when we make port in Dublin."
"Why?" Balor spun around with a frown on his face.
"Because you and your brothers have major boundary issues." She stalked towards two of the men he had saved her from, but he pulled her in the opposite direction. Though she lived her life freely and expressed her sensuality without inhibition, Balor doubted she was interested in what the human males had in mind. He tugged her along gently and headed towards the stairs that led to the bedrooms. Olivia shook off his hold and cocked her head in obvious amusement. "I expected jealousy from the flirting or maybe even that Blackheart family possessiveness, but nothing like this. You don't know me."
"I'm not jealous."
"Sure." Olivia attempted to walk past him, but he slammed his hand against the wall to bar her way. "Do you have any idea what those men really wanted to do to you? How they wanted to use your body against your will and toss you overboard? They're filth."
She blinked at him for a while, and he was struck by the sight of her beautiful eyes. "I suppose I should thank you then."
"I wasn't looking for thanks."
"Thank you, anyway," she replied. Olivia attempted to leave once more, but he shifted his arm and blocked her path again. "I have only a few days left on this cruise and I would like to enjoy it without you bullying me."
"Next time you want to play games with me, Olivia, make sure you're naked. I don't respond well to jealousy; I find it a waste of time," he growled. "If you want me to fuck you, then all you had to do was ask, darling."
She quirked a brow and traced her finger along the length of his arm. Balor was disappointed he had worn long sleeves, for he nearly trembled with the need to feel her touch on his skin. It was pride that kept his true reaction at bay. "You're bad news, Balor Blackheart," she whispered. "It's never that simple with your family."
"If I were a stranger on this ship, would you even care to ask about my family?" He closed the slight gap between them and slipped his hands under her shirt to feel the warmth at the small of her back. The breathless little sigh that escaped her lips was utterly delicious. "Forget that you have met me. Right now, I'm just Balor. I'm a man you met on a cruise ship. I'm devilishly handsome and mysterious...and so hard that I fear there may be a permanent imprint from my zipper."
Olivia tisked and lowered her hand between them, cupping his erection. "We can't have that, can we?" she purred seductively. Balor felt his pulse quicken as she captured his mouth in a kiss that made him shiver from head to toe. Olivia flicked her tongue against his and pulled back with a gasp. "Your tongue is pierced?"
His wide shoulders shook as he laughed at her reaction. Those stunning eyes devoured his body in a slow, appreciative look that made him twitch in his jeans. "When we leave this ship, we can go back to pretending each other doesn't exist. But for now, I want to show you exactly what this tongue ring can do."
Balor was on her in a flash. He hoisted her off of her feet and felt the soft curves of her body as he fumbled with the lock on his chamber door. Impatience won as he used his power to break the lock and tossed her onto his bed. Balor kicked the door closed and pulled his tight black shirt over his head. The silver of his jewelry glittered in the moonlight that filtered in through the windows. He stood over her and gripped his erection with a hiss.
Olivia grabbed the front of her corset and popped the hooks free. Bountiful breasts spilled from the cups, filling out the loose muslin blouse that still covered her torso. Balor straddled her hips and ripped it down the center with little care for the garment. Olivia wiggled her way onto her belly and backed her lush rear into his lap as she pulled down her long skirt before moving away to rest against the pillows. Balor stood back to admire the beautiful woman in his bed. Most modern men were ignorant to the pleasure her body could provide. But Balor was more than eager to explore every curve, crease, and valley on Olivia until he was satisfied.
He pulled the e
lastic band from his wrist and tied his hair back. Olivia's eyes widened as he reached for the buttons of his jeans. Six metal fastenings and a long zipper were manipulated into place, allowing his member to spring free of the denim. Balor pushed the jeans down his long legs and stood before her in nothing but his skin. "You're staring, Olivia," he chuckled.
"There's a lot to look at."
Balor crawled onto the bed. His large body eclipsed hers, causing the bed to shudder beneath his weight. The door had already been broken. If the bed were to fail them, he was more than willing to pay for the damages. Balor kissed Olivia like a starving man and tasted her sweetness as he buried his hands in her hair. Whoever his mate truly was, he pitied her. Balor couldn't imagine any female living up to the wild flame he held in his hands.
THE END
Balor's Premonition
Chapter One
San Antonio, Texas
Olivia Knight whistled as she carried her bags of post-breakup snacks into the grimy little motel room she rented for the weekend. She toed off her flip-flops before kicking the door shut and setting the bags on the bed. The lights flickered for a moment only for the fuse to blow entirely. Olivia picked up the phone on the bedside table and called the front desk. In typical fashion, the owner decided not to answer. She scoffed, slammed the phone back into the receiver, and shuffled off towards the bathroom. A knock echoed through the room before her feet hit the tile floor.
"Who is it?" Olivia called as she crept over to the dresser and retrieved her small pistol.
"Maintenance. I'm here to fix the outage."
She tucked the gun into the waistline at the small of her back and opened the door. A large man burst inside, knocking Olivia off her feet. She rolled across the floor and scrambled on her hands and knees into the bathroom. The door slammed shut. She turned the lock and pushed open the window before it got stuck halfway. Olivia cursed under her breath, picking up the metal trash can beside the toilet and using it to smash open the window. Glass sprayed over the stained linoleum floor. Olivia threw down a towel and hoisted herself through the opening.
Her bare feet hit the scorching pavement. She dashed through the narrow alleyway and headed towards the gas station. As Olivia reached the sidewalk, someone grabbed her from behind. Strong arms yanked her back into the alleyway, forcing her chest against the brick wall of the motel. "Where is the Sword of Zeus?" a deep voice snarled.
She stomped on his foot and rammed her elbow into his stomach. The man crumpled to his knees. Olivia ran as fast as she could and pushed through the doors of the gas station. She tiptoed through the aisles, stopping at the souvenir display. Only an “I heart Texas” shirt and a pair of shorts with the state football team were in her size. Olivia grabbed the clothes, a pair of sandals, and a prepaid cellphone before approaching the counter. "Can I get the key to the bathroom, please?" she asked the teen at the register. The key was tossed onto the counter as if the kid couldn't be bothered. Olivia paid for her items and hurried into the bathroom.
Once she was in a fresh pair of clothes with her gun within reach, Olivia dialed the one number she swore she'd never call. The phone rang three times before a rough voice grumbled over the line, "Balor Blackheart."
"Poughkeepsie!"
"What?"
"I'm in trouble!"
"Olivia?"
"No, it's the Easter Bunny," she drawled sarcastically. "Of course it's Olivia."
"No one has been able to find you for months! Where the hell are you?" A rustle of fabric came through the speaker and Olivia felt bad for waking him.
"I'm in San Antonio with a group of mercenaries on my tail."
Balor grumbled something unintelligible before she heard the sound of a door closing. "Mercenaries looking for the sword you stole from the castle's armory, I assume."
"You assume correct," she admitted shamefully. "Turns out I get a little loose-lipped when I do shots of tequila off of a hot male stripper in Rio. I know I messed up, but I'm terrified…" Olivia hated admitting weakness just as much as she hated running for her life. "I wouldn't have called you if I had any other choice."
"I'm on my way!"
"Thank you so much! I'll repay you; I promise."
"It would be best if you didn't say anything about what you're about to see…"
"Huh?" Olivia looked around the bathroom in confusion. She saw nothing but damp walls and a greasy mirror aside from the toilet and sink. A heartbeat later, symbols appeared on the floor. "Balor, I think demons are after me."
The symbols began to glow red like embers in a campfire. Suddenly, a hole appeared in the floor and Balor crawled out of the darkness like something out of a horror film. The hole closed up behind him, and Balor whispered a spell to remove the symbols burned into the floor. Olivia stared with wide eyes and a slack jaw. "How…?"
"Let's get you out of here; then we can talk." Balor grabbed Olivia's arm and steered her out of the bathroom. She hurried to keep up with him.
"Look, I know you're upset with how things ended the last time we saw each other."
"It was a fling," Balor said with a bitter snort. "You warned me that you would leave when the cruise ship docked in Dublin...I should have believed you. My feelings aren't hurt, but I guess I expected more from you."
Olivia tossed the unruly mane of ginger curls out of her face and looked Balor in the eyes. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I've never hidden who I am."
"It's your nature. I can't be angry at a hurricane for blowing in from the sea only to disappear after a few hours."
She had been compared to a lot of things in her life, but never something so destructive. Olivia tucked a curl behind her ear and pointed to the motel. "I was staying there when the man attacked me. Once I'm out of the state, you won't ever have to see me again." She tossed her old clothes into the donation bin outside of the gas station and led Balor across the street. The alley was empty as a hot summer breeze fluttered the blinds that covered the broken bathroom window.
~*~
San Antonio, Texas
Balor ran a tattooed hand through sweat-soaked strands of inky black hair. He dug around in his pocket, pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette filled with nightshade and elfroot, and lit the end with a skull lighter. The soothing concoction filled his lungs as purple smoke filtered through his nostrils. Magic rattled in his bones, and the voices in his head were silent for a few glorious seconds. Seeing Olivia Knight after their Caribbean cruise had awakened unwelcome emotions within him.
Balor feared that the reckless redhead was under his skin something fierce. Olivia pushed open the door to the motel room. Dresser drawers were on the floor, clothes were scattered around, and the mattress had been flipped over. It was clear that the mercenary had searched the place from top to bottom. "Was the sword here?" Balor asked around a puff of smoke.
"No, I don't travel with it."
"Where is it?"
Those striking hazel eyes blinked up at him with a spark of mischief in their depths. "Telling you would defeat the purpose of stealing it," she replied. "It's safe, and it'll stay that way. The fate of the mortal world depends on that sword and I don't trust you or your brothers to do the right thing."
Her words hit harder than he expected. "I always try to do the right thing...even at my own expense."
"You know what they say about good intentions." Olivia crouched near the disheveled bed and used her fingers to pry up the floorboards. She pulled out a duffle bag, a roll of black velvet, and a jar filled with some sort of ash. "If you can get me as far as New Orleans, I'd be very grateful."
"Actually, you'll be going back to Destiny Falls with me, where you'll stand trial before the council," Balor replied. "And, seeing as Giddeon is still in Los Angeles with Diana and Casey, you'll be facing Madeu and the others."
"What?"
"Members of the sleuth see you as a war criminal, Olivia. They won't just let you go free after you stole the sword." Balor stamped out his cigarette and tucked it behind his e
ar before approaching Olivia. She was forced to crane her neck in order to hold his gaze, and he wanted to sink his teeth into her throat. Everything about her was perfect...except for her inability to see just how much he desired her. "Tell me where you've hidden the sword."
Balor reached out with his magic. Ripples of energy flowed from his body and surged deep into her soul. He watched as the very life force within her body squirmed.
"That's…not fair! You bastard. It's forbidden to use...magic…against a human," she gasped. "Don't do this, Balor!"
"Tell me where the sword is!"
"I'll never forgive you for this," Olivia screamed as tears ran down her face. Balor was impressed with the resilience of her will. She clutched her head and buckled beneath the overwhelming swell of power that coursed between them. "Please!"
"I'm sorry." Balor snapped his fingers, and time slowed. He reached out, placing his palm flat against her chest as he ignored the foul taste of guilt in the back of his throat. The sound of her frantic heartbeat filled his ears and Balor used a very invasive spell to break through her barriers. Once he was in her mind, something snapped.
His back hit the wall as the power he used to overcome her catapulted him across the room. Magic ricocheted from Olivia as fire erupted from her body. Balor shook his head to clear the stars from his vision and watched as flames engulfed Olivia. He leaped across the room, grabbed her by the shoulders, and knocked her unconscious with a spell. The fire continued to spread, crawling up the walls and searing a path towards the bed. Balor tossed Olivia over his shoulder and grabbed her bag before he pulled the fire alarm. They weaved through a crowd of patrons as they evacuated the motel. Balor kept his eyes down and moved quickly to avoid the panicked humans.
He cast a small portal with the wave of his hand once they were out of sight and stepped through the rift. Balor braced himself for the unnatural cold that enveloped his entire body, chilling him in a way no ice or snow ever had. He clenched his jaw and walked until his boots scuffed upon the polished floors of the throne room. His eldest brother, Madeu, sat at the foot of the throne with a pen between his teeth. Balor watched as Madeu scribbled down some notes and cleared his throat pointedly. "We have a problem. One that will involve us calling in Hades. Nemesis was wrong," Balor explained. "Olivia isn't human."