He groaned and yanked the shirt off, then tumbled her to the bed beneath him.
“Hey, I was looking forward to a challenge,” she laughed.
“I’m easy where you’re concerned,” he muttered, tugging at her blouse so he could reach her breasts.
She let him take over, enjoying the small respite from the stress. And she smiled to herself when he panted into the side of her neck a long while later. He probably didn’t even realize her intention--distracting him from the non-stop tumble of worries and arguments in his head. She tightened her arms around him, her heart thudding quicker again when he returned the embrace.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” he growled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He gave her ass a squeeze. “Liar.” But he didn’t move away, nor did the tension return to tighten his shoulders.
Not yet. She knew it was inevitable, but she’d managed to distract him for a little while.
Mission accomplished.
Ryder couldn’t help feeling antsy as he steered the car into Virginia. They were too close to the men he’d been trying to protect Mena from. This was the complete opposite of anything he would’ve planned.
And Mena had been quiet so far this morning. He glanced across at her and frowned at the way her mouth tightened. “Baby?”
“I’m fine,” she said.
Shit. That was a lie. He needed to get her someplace they could stay for a few uninterrupted days, and fast.
“Don’t you dare.”
He glanced over at her. “What?”
“I know what you’re thinking. Stop it. We have time. Time enough to get to Ari’s.”
He didn’t argue. It would just waste time. He started watching for signs along the highway.
When he took an exit ramp about half an hour later, she made a disgusted sound.
“Mena--”
“You’d better just be stopping to get gas. We’re not too far.” She shot him a quick, sidelong scowl.
He’d known last night there was something going on, dammit. And he’d let her distract him without protesting. Because he needed the distraction. “Fuck.”
“Maybe later.”
He shot her an incredulous glance, startled by the grim smile curving her mouth. Reluctantly, he smiled, too. “Maybe later I’ll think about it.” He reached over to stroke a wisp of hair from her face. “We need to find someplace, baby,” he said, more gently.
“Not yet. Not when we’re so near--”
“Pretty soon, we’re going to have a lot of people looking over our shoulders, Mena. You can’t be out among them when this starts. Think of the innocents.”
The curve of her mouth flattened, and she turned to look out the window. “I’m thinking of the not-so-innocents,” she muttered.
He scanned for a sign. Anything that indicated a safe place for them for a few days.
Nothing.
He drove vaguely parallel to the highway for a while, searching. A seedy little motel that didn’t even look like it should be open for business had a half-lit sign out front reading, “ancy.” He drove past, stress knotting at the base of his neck.
She sighed some time later, and he glanced over to see her leaning back in her seat, eyes closed. Her mouth wasn’t so pinched now, though both her hands rested on her belly, not lightly, but pressed tight.
Son of a bitch.
He drove faster. He should’ve stayed on the highway. At least there, he’d see billboards advertising accommodations. Here, he was meandering lost like a damn tourist. He took the next turn in the direction of the highway.
And had to stop himself from jamming his foot on the brake when the same fucking Harvester they’d seen yesterday drove in the opposite direction.
That was too much of a coincidence.
He waited until the rear of the other car disappeared from his rearview mirror, then whipped around to go the other way.
“What?” Mena’s hand landed on his knee.
“Our Harvester friend.”
Her brows lowered. “Here? Are you sure? Maybe just a cousin who looks like him.”
He shook his head. “Definitely the same guy, same car.”
She remained silent, but she’d sat up straighter, in spite of the way she kept her hands over her mid-section. When the back of the other car came into view, she blew out a slow breath. “This is a long way from home. Not a coincidence.”
“Probably not, but he’s too far from Ari’s to be rejoining the hunt.” I hope.
No other cars drove between them, which meant he was taking a chance if the other guy turned off onto another road.
Still...he needed to know what was going on.
Mena set her jaw against the tightening knots in her gut--they weren’t just from PMS, but stress as well. How could the same man be here, too, a whole state from where they’d last seen him? Unless he was following them somehow.
She dismissed that as impossible. None of the Harvesters had any idea which direction they’d headed after their last encounter, though Ari may have called in reinforcements to the region after she’d killed the man in Georgia. Ryder’s fingers curled tight around the steering wheel. Too tight. He’d already been worrying about finding someplace to wait out her three days of cursed hell, and now they had bigger concerns.
But they could use her PMS curse to their advantage.
She just had to make him see reason. It had worked for Andi. It could work now, too.
The man in the car ahead didn’t seem worried about them behind him. She wondered if he even had any clue they were following. And what she’d be able to do to him in a matter of hours.
The timing sucked.
But because they were so close, maybe she could make Ryder understand this was the way to deal with the Harvesters for them. To get their forever.
Emotional blackmail. She considered that. She’d already done it, to persuade him to head toward the Harvesters instead of continuing to hide.
Her breath caught. How horrible was that? Using the one thing he wanted most to make him do what she thought was best? Gods, she was a manipulative bitch.
She’d never considered herself manipulative or bitchy before. Those were Desi’s forté, especially where men were concerned.
A lump stuck in her throat. Apparently, she was more like her sister than she knew.
It took her a few seconds to notice the car had stopped. She blinked hard and looked up. They were parked off the road, shaded by a small cluster of trees and tall bushes.
Ryder studied her with a little frown. “Are you all right, baby?”
She nodded once.
“He pulled into a dirt road ahead. I want you to stay here while I check it out.”
She opened her mouth to protest, then shut it, thinking of her revelation moments ago. She nodded one more time.
Ryder touched her cheek. “I’ll be as fast as I can. Keep the doors locked and if any Harvesters find you, lean on the horn. I’ll be right back.” He leaned over to brush a kiss on her mouth. “Promise.”
Mena caught his face in her hands and kissed him again. “I know,” she whispered, hoping he wouldn’t hear the choked tone.
He hesitated, and she released him.
“I’ll be right here,” she said, more firmly.
He got out, and she locked the door behind him, watching his broad shoulders as he eased into the trees. In just a few seconds, he was out of view, and she leaned forward, covering her face with her hands.
“Oh, my Gods,” she choked out around the lump. Her eyes burned, and she squeezed them shut.
She needed to tell him when he returned that she’d changed her mind--she’d go wherever he wanted, that she wanted forever, no strings attached.
Pain jabbed at her.
Gods, not now. She couldn’t deal with this now, too. She took a slow breath, then another, trying to stave it off a little longer.
The nearby gunshot made her sit str
aight up, heart pounding wildly.
Ryder hadn’t taken his gun.
Oh, Gods!
She twisted in her seat and rummaged through the open duffel bag on the floor behind her until her fingers closed on the gun. She grabbed it, then reached back in for her dagger and leg sheath, fastening the leather around her thigh quickly.
She snagged the car keys and tucked them in her pocket before opening her door. She eased it shut as quietly as she could, then took another steadying breath. She’d be no help to Ryder if she went rushing in and got killed. She forced herself to wait, listening for something.
The gunshot had been close. She heard no voices, no footsteps.
She waited a few seconds longer, then started into the brush where Ryder had disappeared.
Ryder swallowed back a curse when he heard the footsteps behind him. They were too light, too careful. She hadn’t stayed in the damn car. He knew when the gunshot rang out she’d want to rush in.
He’d still hoped she’d remain in the car.
He glanced back, waiting for her to emerge. The relief on her face made him smile, just briefly, as did the tears making her eyes shiny. Then he saw the weapon she carried. Gods, what was she thinking?
Never mind. He knew what she was thinking. He gestured for her to remain silent, gratified when she did. And unspeakably relieved when she reached him. She crouched at his side and offered the gun.
She shut her eyes tight when he took it, then shot him a questioning look, her head tipping to one side.
He dipped his chin so his mouth was beside her ear. “Our friend has a friend. Or two.” He tucked the gun into the back of his jeans, covering it with his shirttail.
She nodded, and he noticed her hand went to her belly.
“Go back to the car.”
She met his gaze for a second, then she looked away and nodded. Just once, but it was enough.
Until the second gunshot rang out, startling her so she stumbled into him.
He caught her before she fell into the brush, but her feet still disturbed leaves and twigs. He winced, and, noticing her pallor, helped her to a more secure position. “Go on, baby,” he breathed against her ear.
Fear clouded her eyes now, but she didn’t argue.
“I just want to check out what they’re doing. Then I’ll be back. Promise.”
She lifted her chin once in assent, and he released her. He waited until she took a careful step, then another, before he resolutely turned away, trusting she’d do it.
He had some Harvesters to find.
Mena moved cautiously, careful not to snap a twig or crunch old leaves. Even if she’d wanted to go faster, she couldn’t, panting softly through the stabbing pain in her belly. It was coming too fast. They wouldn’t have time to find a safe place.
She stopped and shut her eyes, trying to breathe through the sharp twisting in her gut. It nearly brought her to her knees. Already.
“The monster, at last,” said a deep, accented voice near her ear as hard fingers wrapped around her upper arm.
Her heart beat quickened, pounding inside her ribs so hard it hurt nearly as much as her belly. Damn.
The man’s fingers dug into her arm, and he hauled her around in the opposite direction. She stumbled, opening her eyes and trying to focus. The curse hadn’t kicked in enough for her to turn him to stone, but her dagger lay against her thigh.
She heard a muffled shout ahead, and her heart jumped into her throat.
“I am not alone.” A stranger’s voice carried through the trees. “My cousin will find your Medusa. Kill her.”
Mena heard a hard thud, and she swallowed, knowing Ryder would fight the other man.
“And I will,” the Harvester murmured to her. “It will give me immense pleasure to end you.”
“Too bad it doesn’t put an end to you as well,” she muttered, panting through a sharper cramp. Maybe she’d be able to turn him to stone soon, after all.
“It is unfortunate your protector is occupied. I would like to kill him as well, but Gregos will deal with him. It is too bad we won’t have time to make him suffer for killing our cousin.” The man continued to pull her into the woods, nearer to the sounds of fighting, not bothering to avoid the fallen leaves or small branches.
That meant there were only the two of them, she realized through the haze of pain. Two against two. This wasn’t insurmountable.
She heard Ryder swear when she stumbled again. Close. She smiled at him, trying to let him know it was going to be all right. That they could do this.
And the pain across her abdomen flashed stronger, hot.
She couldn’t keep in her gasp, but she managed not to fall to her knees.
“Stop it,” the Harvester growled, yanking on her arm. “I will not fall for your ploys. Stand up.”
“Piss off,” she panted. She needed to curl around a heating pad. And maybe take one of Ryder’s magical pain pills.
Or maybe just a little magick.
She sank to her knees, feeling the energy of the earth through the thin fabric of her skirt. She couldn’t stave off the PMS, but she could protect Ryder.
She ignored the tugging on her arm and visualized drawing up the earth’s energy, warm and gentle, before she pushed it toward Ryder. He frowned when the Harvester he was grappling with swung his fist at Ryder and ended up on his ass on the ground several feet away. The man looked stunned, and Ryder took advantage of his distraction to dive in and pummel his opponent.
The man holding her arm muttered something and yanked at her arm again. “Get up, monster.”
A vicious cramp made her moan aloud, and she bent forward instinctively, only dimly aware of the additional pain in her arm from the Harvester’s grip. “Stupid Goddess,” she whispered, her forehead almost to her knees.
“Get up, I said!” The man tugged once more, harder.
She fumbled her free hand to the hem of her skirt, pretending she was trying to put it on the ground to push herself to her feet. She moaned again, mostly for show, though the pain in her belly curled tighter. Soon, she’d be able to do some damage to him with her gaze. But she didn’t have time to wait. Instead, she found the hilt of her dagger and wrapped her fingers around it. As the Harvester yanked her to her feet, twisting her arm behind her, she tugged the dagger free and swung around.
He shouted, something she couldn’t understand, but warmth splashed over her fingers. His blood. She knew without looking. Behind her, she heard the sounds of Ryder’s continuing fight, but she needed to focus on her own battle. This was for her life, dammit. For their future. For forever.
She jabbed the dagger deeper as she looked up into the man’s surprised face. Her blade was buried to the hilt in his middle, angled up for maximum damage, as she’d been taught, as all of her cousins had been taught.
He shook his head, as if denying the inevitable outcome, but he staggered back. She followed in spite of the pain in her abdomen and twisted the dagger.
A gurgling sound escaped him as blood spilled past his lips.
She withdrew her dagger completely and shoved him away.
He fell backward, landing flat while blood pumped from his wound, from his mouth. His dark eyes reflected his shock.
She heard a shout behind her, but she had to bend forward against the pain of her cramps. Ryder would be fine.
She gasped at the new pain in her belly--not cramps, shallower, almost at the surface. Sharper. Near her hip, she thought, not her belly. It spread outward, intensifying. “Holy Gods!” she panted, bending farther forward. That didn’t help, didn’t alleviate the agony, but she couldn’t straighten.
“Mena?”
Like a hot blade stuck beneath her skin to tear her apart from the inside out. Oh, Gods. “I’m fine. Really,” she managed. “Do what you need to do.”
She heard his growl, then another punch, a groan of pain. If she could have, she’d have smiled, knowing he trusted her, just as she trusted he’d deal with the Harvester. But the pain stre
ngthened, bringing her to her knees. Mena couldn’t quite stifle her moan, but she clapped one hand over her mouth to contain any more--Ryder didn’t need her distracting him. Sweat burned her closed eyes and soaked the back of her sweater.
And then the pain vanished. Like it had never existed.
Mena smiled, still panting as she rested her forehead on her knees.
It was over.
She didn’t need to look to know that the goblet was no longer part of her tattoo. She was no longer the Medusa.
Something heavy hit the ground behind her, and she lifted her head to see Ryder running toward her.
“I’m fine,” she said, pushing to her feet. “It’s over.” She knew her smile was even wider now.
He skidded to a stop in front of her, frowning. “What?”
“It’s over.” She stretched to touch just beneath a cut on his cheekbone. “I’m not the Medusa anymore,” she whispered.
His eyes widened, and then a grin spread over his face. “Yes!” He grabbed her and hauled her against him. “Yes!”
Mena laughed until his mouth cut off the sound. He spun her around, and they both laughed between kisses.
Ryder finally stopped spinning. “Really?”
“Really. The cup is gone.” She gingerly brushed her fingertips beneath the cut again. “You’re bleeding. My protection spell didn’t work well enough.”
He shrugged. “I’ve had worse. You’re sure?”
She smiled. “You’re welcome to check, but I’d rather we had somewhere private for your inspection.”
He growled, planting a hard kiss on her lips. “Let’s go. Before anybody else shows up, and they haven’t gotten the newsflash yet.”
Mena didn’t argue. She didn’t know how long it took for Ari to learn there was a new Medusa, but she didn’t want to test him.
He caught her hand and turned toward the car. Stopped when he saw the Harvester on the ground. “Good.” He squeezed her hand. Then he steered her out of the little wood.
Mena couldn’t stop smiling as he drove them away. It was really over. She realized when the curse had lifted, when the goblet left her, her cramps had vanished as well. Gone.
Protecting Medusa Page 27