I craned my head and angled my gaze down as much as I could with his fist tangled in my hair. Unsurprisingly, his loose-fitting pants showed no sign of an erection whatsoever.
“Oh, Ouranos,” I cooed, “don’t I turn you on anymore? I thought we were going to finally fuck.”
He wiped his fingers off on the remains of my shirt in disgust, then threw me to the floor as effortlessly as he would a doll. I laughed and rolled over, leaning back on my elbows.
“What’s the matter? Don’t you like a girl who actually likes sex with big, scary beasts like you? Did you forget I have a satyr for a mate? And a dragon too. I just love when they tie me down and double-team me with their huge dicks.
“Or maybe you’re just worried you won’t be able to please me the way they can when I take them both at once. Got a little inferiority complex, do you? Why don’t you show me the little guy and I can kiss it better?”
I made kissing noises at him, but he just stared at me like I’d grown a second head. Then a chill settled in the room, the air crackling with his magic. His eyes blazed with blue-white fire as he bared his teeth at me.
“I will break you. It doesn’t have to be now, but I will make you fear me.”
Then he turned and strode out of the bathroom, his broad shoulders brushing the sides of the doorframe and a nimbus of crackling lightning surrounding him as he left.
I laughed for as long as I could stand it, but my laughter broke down into sobs when he finally shut the door with a heavy thud. Tears streamed down my face as I curled into a ball and cried.
After several moments, I finally managed to get my breathing under control and crawled toward the shower. I reached up to turn a silver knob and hot water cascaded from the ceiling like rain. I couldn’t see a nozzle, only a dense fog that must’ve been an actual cloud.
I marveled at it absently, numb from the encounter and barely resisting the urge to close my eyes and check out. Oddly, I kind of wished that I had the crazed nymph back to escape into, to lose myself in lust so I was oblivious to the torture. But Ouranos had managed to cure my fever with a simple touch, and not even a pleasurable one.
I still had a weapon, or at least a shield, but I didn’t know how long I could summon the power to be turned on every time he was present just to keep him at bay. He was too powerful and would eventually wear me down, particularly now that I’d learned his intentions.
I wasn’t sure whether to believe him, but he was an ancient god who had fathered a race of higher beings before, and if Fate was to be believed, that coupling had been decidedly one-sided too.
I huddled under the water, letting my clothes dissolve and the heat and steam sear away his cold, electric touch. I wished like hell my men were here, but at the same time, I was glad they weren’t. Especially not Ozzie, even though losing him had incited in me a fever so debilitating I risked losing my mind without him. He was safer without his memories. Except without a complete soul, I had no chance of beating Ouranos.
But with a complete soul, Ouranos might still overpower me and turn me into his personal broodmare.
My bond with my mates was still strong, and I had no doubt that they would search for me. I would have to find a way to escape and get to them before they made it this far. Perhaps if we could regroup and get Ozzie’s memories back, we could make a plan to destroy Ouranos once and for all. All I knew was I had to find a way out of here before they tracked me down and fell victim to Ouranos as well.
I sat staring into the steam until I lost all sense of time and place. I existed in a cloud, and I repeatedly imagined the silhouettes of the bathroom furniture that appeared and disappeared were really the outlines of my mates walking toward me. My hounds were with them, the four violet shapes trotting along in front like the happy little guides they were.
Sniffling, I rubbed my eyes, wishing I had a clue what had happened to them. Sophia had said Ouranos captured them. Were they trapped somewhere inside this castle? Would I ever see them again? Would I ever be able to get back to the human world and keep my bargain with Fate to find mates for the bloodline?
When I opened my eyes again, a shape flickered in my vision for a split-second, faded, then appeared again—a violet, vulpine face with erect ears, glowing eyes, and a distinct blaze down its nose.
I blinked again, certain it was a trick of the steam. I tried to tell myself I’d been in the heat too long, but that was absurd, and I knew it.
There it was again, just for a moment, and this time, I was sure it wasn’t my imagination.
“Blaze? Please help me find my way out of here!”
I lurched up and hurriedly cranked the knobs to turn off the water. The steam cleared, but Blaze didn’t reappear. Yet when I glanced down at the tiles just outside the crystal door, there were four glowing paw prints.
I knelt and studied them, looking in the direction from which they came, but seeing no other tracks. I knew it was a sign, but what was Blaze trying to tell me?
Grabbing a towel, I wrapped it around myself then sat down and stared at the marks. Gradually the water began to evaporate, and the tracks changed shape. They each transformed into small, hound-shaped silhouettes, each with distinct features—Jewel’s diamond mark, Jimi’s tufted ears, and Boots’ pale paws. But when I looked for the fourth print, all that remained was a shapeless puddle reflecting the sunset outside the window.
“So I need to find the other three?” I asked. “All right, let’s try this.”
22
Ozzie
Without another word, Dionysus disappeared, leaving us standing at the gates like he didn’t want to be seen by the bearded man standing watch outside.
The man came toward us, his gaze homing in on me. I stepped forward, gratified to see that the hound had managed to make it here too and was already trotting in the man’s direction.
He stopped on the path and frowned at the hound, then looked back at me, narrowing his eyes as he took in the other four men.
“This is highly irregular,” he said. “Particularly because of you.” He pointed a long finger at me, then spun around. For a second I thought he intended to leave, but rather than looking at the back of his head, I locked eyes with another face. This one was younger and clean-shaven, his eyes a piercing silver.
“We wish to gain entry to the realm of the gods,” I said, itching under this face’s scrutiny.
“To what end?” the gatekeeper’s first face said.
“To reclaim lost memories. I believe the key to reclaiming them exists within these walls.”
The visage that faced us continued to study each of us while the other did all the talking. “And why do you believe this?”
“I was here before, seeking protection within the realm of the gods for a young woman in my charge. I have no memory of the visit, yet I am told what transpired between us was important.”
“Your lost memories are of no concern to the gods,” he said.
“Maybe not, but I believe the woman I was with is of great concern to them. Her name is Deva Rainsong. Ring any bells?”
This time, it was the younger face who spoke. “Our memory isn’t the faulty one. We most certainly remember her. But you are not the same as when you departed. The soul fragment she possessed that day you left us has returned to you. Care to explain? We are not in the business of humoring jilted lovers who can’t take no for an answer.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not a jilted lover. Deva would never have given back my soul by choice. All my companions gave their own soul gifts to her. I would return the gift as well, but I am unable to. I need my memories back first.”
The man turned around, frowning deeply. “The chimera has made her choice already. And it wasn’t you.”
“If you mean the god, she isn’t with him by choice.”
The gatekeeper studied me for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the others. “You are all here for her?”
“Yes.”
“If I let you in, you must not waste time
. The sky god’s castle is to the north. If she remains his captive for much longer, you will lose her. Now go.”
He tilted his staff, and the enormous gates swung inward.
My jaw dropped at their sudden eagerness to help, but I didn’t want to seem ungracious for our good fortune. “That was more than I expected.”
The gatekeeper sighed. “I will only speak freely now because I hope your chimera really is the answer to our prayers. The gods are tired of the trouble Ouranos causes. It is in all our best interests for Deva to have the strength she needs to defeat him. I remember you, Ozzie West. I saw the honor and love you had for the chimera when you first brought her here for her protection. She needs the same from you again.”
He stepped aside to let us pass.
“What of my memories?” I asked as the five of us began to walk through.
“To the west,” he said, then motioned and the gate swung shut behind us.
We stood in a sun-dappled courtyard, a single path leading to a square with a fountain in the center. I started walking, my insides a churning mess of emotion I couldn’t explain. The gatekeeper had said to go west for my memories, and when I looked toward that path, my anxiety spiked.
“I don’t like this,” Llyr said. “If Ouranos is hurting her, we can’t waste time finding his castle. Let’s split up.”
“Okay, but which of us gets the hound?” Rohan asked.
“I think I can find my way without help,” I said. “You guys go find Deva.” I looked at Llyr. “You said I can drift, right? When I get my memories back . . . assuming I succeed . . . I imagine I will be able to come straight to you.”
“We can hope,” Llyr said. “But you shouldn’t go alone. Rohan will stay with you. Keagan, Bodhi, and I will find Deva.”
The big satyr’s expression clouded and he rested a hand on my shoulder. Inside my head, our bond thrummed with the impression of his urgency. His own conscience wouldn’t let him pursue any path but the one that led to her, and the others all looked equally anxious.
“Are you all right with this? I can handle myself,” I said to Rohan. He shared a solemn look with Llyr, then nodded.
“You’re too important to her to risk losing track of,” Rohan said.
I nodded and reached out to clasp Llyr’s hand in a farewell shake, but found myself yanked flush with him. He squeezed me tight, and while my usual inclination would be to only share the most perfunctory embrace with another man, having his arms around me made some of the coiled tension inside me ease.
I hugged him back, confused by the sudden desperation welling up inside me.
“This isn’t goodbye,” I rasped.
“I know,” he replied, “but being parted from a blood-mate is never easy.”
Deep down, I understood exactly what he meant. Although they told me Deva was the love of my life, the most I felt with her was raw attraction that could potentially grow into more, given time. Meeting Llyr had felt more like a missing puzzle piece falling into place.
He withdrew, gaze darting to my face, then away as we parted. The small scar on his full upper lip caught my attention, and a slice of jealousy hit me again. I resisted the urge to make a fist and instead clamped my hands on either side of his head and slammed my lips over his.
Llyr growled into the kiss, but he didn’t pull away. He surrendered to me, and for the first time since learning I’d been intimate with these men, I understood the allure.
I kissed him roughly and plunged my tongue deep, demanding entry to his mouth, and he gave. This felt right, and completely within my realm of acceptance, to be the one to hold dominion over all of Deva’s lovers, to be the man who controlled their actions, and through them, to please her.
Yeah, I was down with this wholeheartedly.
“Remind her that she’s mine if you find her,” I said. “The next time you see me, I’ll know who I really am.”
Llyr licked his lips and gave me a lazy smile. “I can’t wait to have you back.”
He turned away, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth, and I caught a peripheral glimpse of the bulge at the front of his jeans. Bodhi and Keagan fell into step beside him, both giving me curious looks before walking down the northern path.
Rohan cleared his throat. “I have to say, I’m going to miss this version of you a little when you get your memories back. You’re a lot more relaxed about . . . well, everything.”
“You can’t tell I’m faking it?” I said with a wry smile.
I ignored the twisting in my gut and headed down the western path, counting on my apprehension to lead me true.
“Nah. I can tell you’re scared, but no more than anyone would be who was about to dive into the unknown. The old you was constantly wanting something he knew he shouldn’t. You’ve got a much clearer head, which is a good thing.”
“Let’s hope it stays clear,” I said.
The path was a straight flagstone avenue lined with flowering trees. It was wide enough for a car, but I suspected nothing so modern had ever touched these stones. The path stretched as far as I could see, leading into rolling green hills, and beyond the hills were snow-capped mountains. I wasn’t sure I trusted the vista, but something in my gut told me we wouldn’t be walking far enough to discover whether it was real or not.
Through the trees bordering the path, an entire ancient forest sprawled, reminiscent of the old forests I’d grown up traipsing through as a kid in Hungary. I had no idea what was in store, but my growing panic made me wonder if I was heading to my doom. Perhaps that was how I’d felt the first time I’d traveled this path.
I almost missed the fork when we reached it a few minutes later, but when I spied what felt like a familiar petal-strewn gap in the trees, my stomach flipped.
Rohan shot me a glance when I paused. “Is this the way?”
“It has to be,” I said, staring through the trees.
He eyeballed me, then nodded and gestured. “Lead the way. I suppose we’ll know the place when we see it.”
The smaller path meandered deeper into the ethereal forest, the flora filled with birdsong and the rustling of native creatures. The glimpse or two I caught of the small beasts would have interested me more, had a hot coal of dread not been weighing me down with every step.
I paused on the path as it wound around the shore of a small pond and stared out at the beautiful blooming water lilies. In my mind’s eye, I pictured Deva defiantly challenging the god the moment before he swept her away on the wind. Some of my anxiety eased at the thought of her and I took a deep breath, darting an apologetic look at Rohan, who stood silent by my side.
“I didn’t expect it to be this hard,” I admitted.
He gave me an assessing look. “You never talked about this part of your life with us, and Deva has kept the memories close. I believe she shared them with Llyr, but not the rest of us. If I were in your shoes, it would have been difficult. She was still only a day old, even though she was full-grown.”
I frowned, struggling to see the apprehension inside me as separate from my determination to see this through. I shook my head.
“I don’t think that was what I feared. No doubt I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of deflowering her so early in her life, but there were bigger things to fear. More dire consequences of sharing my soul.”
Rohan lifted his brows. “You remember?”
“No, I . . .” I paused and turned to stare down the path, the sense of déjà vu unbearably potent. In only a few more yards, I was sure we would reach the tower I’d stayed in with Deva. And I remembered my resignation and anticipation, two very conflicting feelings, over the need to defy Fate in order to save Deva’s life, and at the same time risk making her a target.
“We’re almost there,” I said.
I stepped back on the path and strode faster now, the dread slipping away as my memories began to trickle back in snippets. I’d walked hand-in hand with Deva down the path, had passed the same stand of tall cypress trees, and seen the
same tower crafted of the same highly polished stone as the wall that surrounded this place.
It stood on a rise overlooking a low valley, but the greenery around it obscured the view from the ground. A staircase wound around the outside and I began to climb, my heart pounding with each step I took. Rohan kept pace behind me, and I looked back only once. His eyes were wide and excited, a match to my own, I was sure.
We reached a landing near the top of the tower, and I stopped and stared at the huge wooden door. It was carved out of a single slab with intricate whorls that I traced with my fingers, recalling Deva’s smiling face as we were shown in, her beauty the only thing that offered any distraction from my concerns.
I reached up and touched the smooth, circular stone embedded in the door at eye-level. The milky whiteness flickered under my fingertips as if responding to the warmth of my touch.
“Welcome back, guest. What do you desire?” a resonant voice said.
My mouth was dry. I struggled to swallow, coughed, then said, “I wish to enter.”
23
Ozzie
A little over a year ago . . .
I am lost in her—in her scent, like cinnamon-laced fruit, her flavor not far different. I’m lost in her heavenly softness, her naked curves clinging to my side as she sleeps.
Her hair is a tangled mess around her warm brown face and shoulders, her dark lashes soft, feathered arcs that cast small shadows on her cheeks. The late afternoon sun shining through the bedroom’s sole window gilds her skin, making her glow.
Some of that glow may very well be her inner light from the magic we shared while making love.
My love for the girl I saw through the ordeal of her accelerated growth and maturing with my music is nothing compared to what I feel for her now. The woman in my arms is my soul mate, a thing I had come to believe I would never find, much less understand what it means to have.
It is the most overwhelmingly, painfully beautiful feeling I have ever experienced, more all-encompassing than the fear that possessed me in the moments before she set my mind at ease and allowed me to give in to her love for me.
Fate's Fools Box Set Page 116