by Nicole Hall
Dax held her, and she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Stop torturing me, Lindsey, and open your eyes.” With a sigh, she peeked up at him. He nodded and hefted her slightly higher. “Good girl.”
Dax found a dry rock big enough for both of them and sat with his back against the cliff wall, holding her tight in his lap. Lindsey didn’t have the energy or the inclination to argue. She had enough trouble keeping her eyes open.
“Where’s Sophie?” The words came out garbled, but Dax understood them.
“I took the taser from her and sent her back to Kora with a warning. She looked genuinely surprised when I let her go, but I think it was the vine that really convinced her the truth might not be what Aphrodite told her. She took off when you created the fire shield. Hopefully, it’s not too late to counter Aphrodite’s conditioning.”
With great effort, Lindsey curled her fingers in the fabric over his chest and nodded. “Where’s the mirror?”
He jerked his chin the direction they’d come. “Back there next to the sword. Nice deflection, by the way, but we should probably up your combat training.”
Lindsey sighed. “I thought the same thing.”
Dax sat quietly for a moment, running his hand up and down her back. “Why not just give her the seal?”
She’d expected a rebuke for risking herself, but his tone only expressed curiosity. “That was never an option. I couldn’t risk the damage she’d do with that kind of power. Look at what she did to Sophie.”
Dax chuckled and nuzzled her hair. “You’re wrong, you know. You are made for heroics.”
Her eyes burned with the prickle of tears as warmth swept through her, followed immediately by exhaustion. “I may have been wrong, but you were right. I was scared, so I intended to run.”
“I know.” His quiet agreement told her nothing about his feelings, but Lindsey wouldn’t give in to fear this time. She refused to believe it was too late.
“I should have known better, and I’m sorry for not trusting myself enough to take a chance. I’m not running anymore. I love you, and I want to stay right here.”
Dax framed her face with his hands and kissed her, softly at first, building to scorching heat as she pulled him closer. “I don’t care where we go as long as you’re with me.” He whispered the words across her lips, then eased back to meet her gaze.
“I love you too, but I’m not carrying you out of the woods for a second time.”
She laughed and finally let her eyes close again as weariness pulled her under. “I don’t care. I’ll stay in this cursed ravine forever if I’m with you.”
Epilogue
Lindsey
She woke up in the cave. Again. At least this time her head didn’t feel like it was going to explode, and she’d been tucked under the blanket on the sleeping bag. The lantern illuminated most of the space, but a secondary light source shone near the entrance. Lindsey squinted and a man came into focus surrounded by a slight reddish glow.
He had an impressive beard of rich russet and shoulders for days. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in Dax’s arms, so if this guy—another god, if she had to guess from the fact that she could just barely see through him—planned to kill her, he’d had plenty of opportunity. That didn’t mean she’d relax though.
“Where’s Dax?”
“Your guardian agreed to allow me a few minutes alone with you. A feisty pick, that one. I heartily approve.” His deep voice struck a chord. She’d definitely heard it before.
Lindsey sat up gingerly. “It wasn’t really my choice, but thanks.”
He waved away her qualification. “There’s always a choice.”
The god smiled down at her and extended his hand. Lindsey took it and let him pull her up. His face looked vaguely familiar, but she was certain she’d never met him before. For someone who’d been non-corporeal not too long ago, he had a good grip.
“Well done, daughter of my daughter.”
Lindsey’s brows flew up. “Daughter?”
He laughed, a full sound drawn up from his belly. “You thought with fire magic you were perhaps descended from Poseidon?”
She smiled. “That joke would probably be funnier if I knew who you were.”
“Hephaestus of the Forge.” He inclined his head, and several key pieces of evidence fell into place. The most important of which was that she recognized the feel of his magic.
“That sword is yours, and that was you in my dream.”
“I wished for my descendants to have a piece of me, and I was concerned by what Calliope told me.”
Lindsey shook her head, trying to process. “Calliope? When did she—” Her mouth snapped shut as she remembered all of the cat’s mysterious disappearances. “She was meeting with you.”
A smile flitted across his face. “She tried her best to convince me that you would benefit from my intervention. I believed her too late.” Hephaestus shook his head sadly. “Aphrodite and I loved each other once, but in time, we grew apart. You did well with her. And now you need to do the same with me.”
Weirdly, Lindsey’s first reaction was a violent denial. After all the trouble with Aphrodite, she should be doing backflips that Hephaestus would go willingly. Before she could come up with a viable excuse to keep him around, he pulled the sword from behind him and held it out to her.
The symbols glowed in the lantern light as Lindsey reached for the hilt. “What does it say?”
His arms dropped to his sides, and his bushy chin rose. “Family. To remember the purpose of the sword—strength to protect those you love.”
“We couldn’t find a translation,” Lindsey murmured to herself.
“You wouldn’t. This language is long gone, like most of my people. The time of the gods has passed. Maybe we’ll have another, but for now—for you—I choose the sword.”
She wanted to argue, but she understood. According to the Fates, his mere presence put his descendants in danger.
Lindsey changed her grip on the sword and presented it to him. “I would have liked more time together.”
Hephaestus chuckled and placed a big hand over the blade. “I would have enjoyed that too, I think. I wish you a good life, daughter. You’ve already made our line proud, now make it happy.” He disappeared, and the sword warmed in her hands.
Lindsey stared down at the tarnished blade. Family. Something she hadn’t really had until now. Part of her—a larger part than she’d thought she was capable of—grieved for the connection she’d just lost.
She took a shaky breath and moved to the cave entrance. Dax waited just outside, leaning against the boulder with his arms crossed. His scowl transformed into a wide grin when he spotted her.
“All better?”
Lindsey nodded and hopped down to the muddy creek bed. “All better. I know I said I’d live in this ravine with you, but maybe we could find a nice apartment in town. I am really sick of this cave.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. “I’m with you, wherever that is. My truck is packed, and I’m ready to go.”
She cringed and dropped her head. “You weren’t leaving because I drove you away.”
Dax laughed. “I was going to chase you across the state, whether you wanted me to or not. I love you. I’m not letting you get away that easily.”
“I’m an idiot,” she muttered. “But at least I came to my senses. We should get back. Alex and Sabine will be home soon.”
“Or…” He lifted her chin, and the fire she encountered in his eyes caused an answering heat to spread through her belly and pool between her legs. “Maybe we could stay out here, alone, a little longer.”
Unfortunately, you’re not alone.
Lindsey groaned and glanced over at the cat trotting out of the woods. “Why? Why couldn’t you let me have this moment?”
Calliope ignored Lindsey’s plea and picked her way closer across the mud. I have troubling news that needs your immediate attention.
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Lindsey glared, but Dax squeezed her waist. “What is it?”
The cat jumped to a small ledge at eye level with them in the cliff wall and sat with her chin high. The seal is gone.
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Next up in Rise of the Lost Gods…
Divinity Bound
Grab your copy of Divinity Bound and find out what happens when unwitting demigods and their fated guardians try to stop newly released gods from running amok in the human world.
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Turn the page for your sneak peek at the first chapter…
Divinity Bound
1
Ana
She’d never made out in a cop car before. Technically, the SUV that pulled up behind her was a sheriff’s car, driven by none other than Sheriff Shane Garrett. Her mind went immediately to the gutter every time she saw his official vehicle.
Ana relaxed her hands on the wheel and tried to calm her racing heart. Failing to parallel park wasn’t against the law, so the esteemed sheriff had no reason to question her. She watched in the side mirror as he got out of his vehicle and shaded his face as he peered toward her.
Worn jeans clung to his thighs, and an orange UT Austin shirt stretched across his broad chest. Off duty, then. He’d double-parked behind her, but she doubted the few people availing the services of downtown Deckard in the middle of the afternoon would care.
The two large boxes in the back seat blocked her view of him as he crossed behind the car, but she knew what Sheriff Garrett looked like when he walked. A smooth, graceful cadence that showed confidence in his body. She’d know. Her life up until the last few months had focused on squeezing every last drop of beauty from her movements.
And this man was beautiful without trying.
He appeared on her side of the car and ran a hand through short, dark hair as he approached. She reminded herself that according to the townspeople—and Kora—he didn’t take advantage of his authority. Kora swore he was kind, and Ana tended to believe her boss’ judgment calls. Still, her stomach trembled as she rolled down her window.
Humid air smacked her in the face, making a mockery of the air conditioner. “Sheriff Garrett. How can I help you today?” Ana adopted her customer service voice. A bland smile and limited interest could hide a surprisingly large amount of anxiety.
He tucked his thumbs in his front pockets and leaned down to meet her gaze. “I’ve asked you to call me Shane.”
She didn’t dare, at least not to his face. Using his name felt too intimate, especially while staring into dark eyes that saw too much. “Did you stop me just to remind me of your name? Because I assure you. I remember.”
He chuckled. “You look like you’re having trouble.”
“I’ve never been great at parallel parking, and all the practice here seems to have made me worse instead of better.”
“Want me to try?”
Ana stiffened. “Not particularly. Do I have a choice?”
A flicker of hurt crossed his face so fast she thought she might have imagined it, but he straightened and shrugged. “You always have a choice.”
Ana sighed at the prickle of guilt, knowing she’d give in. “If I can’t get it this time, it’s all yours.”
He nodded and walked back to his SUV. Instead of getting in, he leaned against the front and crossed his arms. Apparently, she now had an audience. Fantastic. That would really help her perform better this time.
Sweat dampened her shirt, but she didn’t bother rolling up the window. Why give the good sheriff a nice, cool car to sit in? Ana jerked her attention away from the mirror where she’d been staring and focused on the maneuver in front of her. Pull forward, back up at an angle, pull forward at the opposite angle.
Her brows flew up as she stopped the car neatly next to the curb equally spaced between the other two cars. The thrill of triumph raised goosebumps along her arms, but the tingling sensation didn’t stop at her skin. Prickles raced down to the tips of her fingers, and a dull glow formed around the steering wheel.
Ana gasped and dropped her hands to her lap, clenching them tightly around each other. This was why she didn’t go out much. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself, and unpredictable magic hands would ruin any chance she had at blending in.
Her pulse raced as she willed the power to fade.
“Well done. I promise you’ll get better with practice.”
Ana jumped at the male voice next to her. The sheriff had returned.
He rested his arms over her open window and glanced at the two boxes in the backseat. “You need any help taking those up to your place?”
“What makes you assume I live here?”
He raised a brow. “Everyone knows you moved into the apartment above Kora’s shop. Maribeth told me you were having trouble because your knee was still bothering you, and Reggie said I should stop by to make sure you used the locks since there aren’t a lot of people around once the businesses close.”
Small town gossip struck again. His gaze settled on her face, and Ana prayed her hands had stopped with the dramatics. She couldn’t look down to check, but the telltale prickle had disappeared. “My knee is healing nicely, and I make sure to lock up whenever I’m home. I’m very cautious with my safety.”
He tilted his head with a sardonic twist to his lips. “You’re going to make me stand here and watch you struggle to carry both those boxes up the stairs with a bum leg?”
For a second, she considered the idea. Ana hated being the center of attention, but this man brought out a stubborn streak she hadn’t known she possessed. He’d no doubt make good on his promise, and deep down, she wanted his attention on her. Not like that though. Not watching her fight with the unwieldy boxes and the tiny stairway.
Ana peeked at her hands, relived to see the glow had faded. With her magic safely dormant again, she didn’t have any good excuses for denying him. At least, not any that wouldn’t cause suspicion.
She smiled up at him with fake enthusiasm. “Thank you for your kind offer, Sheriff. I accept.”
He leaned closer, and the façade melted into real heat she saw reflected in his eyes. “Please call me Shane.”
Had she been worried about being too close?
Her nails dug into her palms, a reminder that she couldn’t risk anyone finding out the truth. Especially him. She’d let him carry her boxes and help her park all he wanted, but that didn’t mean Ana could afford to lower her guard.
“We’d better hurry before someone needs to use their car.” She jerked her chin toward the vehicle behind her that his SUV blocked.
The charged moment passed. He opened the door for her to step out and moved away. “We’ll get there one day.”
Ana shook her head. She didn’t understand his interest. They’d known each other for months—he’d stopped to introduce himself on her first day in town—and when she couldn’t physically avoid him, she tried to put him off with polite small talk. Her reticence didn’t seem to make a difference. He always smiled and tried to lure her into conversation.
She opened the back passenger door and wrestled one of the boxes out of the tight space while he did the same on the other side. His tee-shirt strained against his biceps as he hefted the box, and Ana sighed. In other circumstances, she’d welcome notice from a nice, attractive guy, but the events of last December had shown her even nice guys couldn’t be trusted.
They trudged up the short stairway to the second floor, and Ana counted time in her head. Had it been eight months already?
Sometimes, the pain in her k
nee zapped her right back to that night at the barre when her foot had slipped, and sometimes, she forgot that her life had been completely different before this year. Deckard, Texas felt like home more than Magnolia or Houston ever had.
Granted, the trees looked the same as the ones on their estate, but here, she had the freedom to explore in those trees whenever she wanted. No high stone walls, locked gates, guards—nothing but herself to hold her back.
Her doorway didn’t boast much of a landing since it hadn’t been built as a primary residence. Kora and David had renovated the storage space above their store last year into an efficiency apartment, and then Kora had strong-armed Ana into moving in rent-free.
The sheriff waited next to her door, taking up more than his fair share of the tiny space. She braced her box against the wall on the opposite side as she wiped sweat off her brow then dug out her keys.
He tilted his head and squinted at her. “The sun is brutal today. You should be wearing a hat.”
“Where’s your hat?” Ana cringed on the inside at her sassy tone. She didn’t flirt, and she certainly didn’t antagonize county officials with the power to detain her.
He grinned and leaned against the wall while she struggled to work the key in the old lock. “Got a thing for cowboys?”
She hadn’t, until she’d met Shane—Sheriff Garrett. “I have a thing for men not telling me what to do with my fashion choices or my body.”
The door finally opened and blasted them with a wave of frosty air. Ana nearly closed her eyes in relief. The thermostat had been acting up the last few days, so she never knew what temperature to expect.
She jumped at the touch of a hand against her back, then fixed a cool expression on her face. The sheriff held his box with one hand and urged her to go through first with the other. The motion reminded her strongly of the men she’d known in her youth. Good ‘ol boys that never let a woman touch a door with her own dainty hands.