Giving It Up for the Gods (21 page)

Saul paled. “Jase? I thought she was with you. Go find her. I’ll go after Merc.”

“I’ll kill him,” Jase bellowed, and, horns erect, skin glowing, he shoved Saul aside. He yanked the back door open. Inside, pinned to a bed by Merc’s net, Neptune shrieked and bled. The youngster brandished Neptune’s trident and danced wildly around the bed.

“Animal?” he yelled as he thrust prongs into the pillow alongside Neptune’s head. Feathers flew upward, then floated to the floor like snowflakes. Merc shook the pillow off the trident and stabbed it into Neptune’s hip.

“Stop, son!” Neptune screamed. “You’re family. Don’t hurt me.”

“Dumb piece of shit?” Merc shrieked. He twisted the trident and opened a gaping wound in Neptune’s flesh. Trapped in his ancient body, Neptune screeched, but he couldn’t fight back.

“Worthless, useless punk?” Merc pulled the trident loose and continued his war dance around the bed. With a triumphant yell, he stabbed the trident deep into Neptune’s chest.

Another scream. A gurgle of air sucking into a death wound. And silence. Utter silence. Neptune’s eyes dulled, and his mouth gaped like a beached fish. Neptune’s trident, another Vulcan-forged weapon, quivered back and forth in his chest as Merc released it. The youngster stared at the dead god, and as his adrenaline rush of anger faded, his skin paled, and his blank stare was as stark as his shocked expression. Another look at his victim, and he dropped to the floor.

Shaking, he rocked back and forth. “I’ve killed him.”

Jase punched the kid’s shoulder so hard Merc rocked backward and rolled into a fetal position on the floor. “And I’ll fucking kill you if you don’t carry a message to Lindy. Tell her I love her. Now get your scrawny ass out of here.”

Merc buried his face in his hands and wept. “I killed Neptune, Grandpa. I killed him with his own trident.”

Saul walked calmly to the bed and pulled a slender gold band from Neptune’s finger. “So you did, kid. And don’t call me Grandpa.”

Jase bellowed, “Find Lindy. Now!”

Saul ignored him and slid his first ring of power back on his finger. He sighed as a shudder ran through his body. Almost, he could touch his long-lost powers, but even with the ring, they slipped through his fingers like a spider web.

Beside him, Merc wailed as he rocked back and forth. “I killed him.”

“He deserved it, kid.” Saul grasped his shoulder. “Now try to calm down. You’re the only one who can find Lindy.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Circe took a second sip of her wine. With her slender body and waist-length blonde hair, she looked like a Hollywood diva. Naturally graceful, she moved like one too. “Don’t worry, honey. I don’t plan on summoning Pluto’s minions. There’s a robe on the chair, and I’m certain you’ll feel more comfortable clothed.”

Lindy shrugged on the robe. “So what now?”

“Now”—Circe’s smile warmed the room—“I get to chat with my niece.”

Lindy actually looked over her shoulder, but they were alone.

Circe sat in the fireside chair and gestured at Lindy to take the other. “Oh honey, didn’t your mother ever talk about your father?”

With a second puzzled glance over her shoulder, Lindy sat. “Mum can’t remember a thing about him. Guess he didn’t make a great impression.”

Circe almost choked on her wine. “No one forgets my brother Aeetes. I guarantee she remembers every time he fucked her, but she daren’t admit the truth.”

“She can’t have known he was related to a bitch like you,” Lindy snarled back, her fingernails extended into sharp talons.

Circe covered her yawn with a graceful wave of her hand. “It’s not like I haven’t been called that before. I asked my brother to mate with the feistiest Siren he could, and you, honey, along with a couple of others, are the result. Relax and let me explain.”

Lindy pulled her shoulders back; then she sank back down in the chair, satisfied she could hold her own with Circe. “I know Sirens are über-sexy and smart, but really, having a sorceress for an aunt kinda stains my rep.”

The enchantress blushed. “Matricide sucks; besides, Saturn’s Lua was a minor goddess like me. We were close once; then we both developed a passion for Satu— Never mind. I didn’t foresee her death or the things it set in motion, but for the sake of my former friend and her husband, I intend to see her murderers suffer.”

“Come on,” Lindy taunted, “like you actually had a friend. And matricide sucks? Odd you say that, when you tried your hand at genocide. Good thing us Sirens turned out tougher than you thought.”

“You’re like old boots, honey,” Circe agreed.

Lindy did a double take, not sure where this was leading.

Circe poured more wine. “Sure you won’t have some? Honestly, Lindy, I hadn’t planned on us meeting just yet, but Saturn and Janus Bifrons slip in and out of my visions, seemingly at will. The man you know as Saul was once an all-powerful, primordial god. His children turned out to be major shits, despite everything he and Lua did for them. For her sake, I intend to see he gets back his rings.”

Yeah, right. Like I really believe that
. Lindy glowered at the enchantress. “Look, lady, your spell fixed up Neptune and left him free to prey on Sirens. Don’t expect me to think anything good about you.”

Circe curled her feet under her. “Ah, but did it? Perhaps he’d have healed completely if my enchantment hadn’t weakened him, but I guess you’ll have to trust me on that.”

“I’d rather trust a king cobra,” Lindy snapped.

“You pain me.” Circe clasped her hands over her heart. “You see, I thought if I cozied up with Juno, I might get my hands on the ring she’d stolen from Saul. Then one of her pet seers shared a foretelling I’d known for years. From her, Juno learned that the Sirens would bring about her and her brothers’ downfall. That’s why she rigged the singing contest between the Muses and Sirens.”

Outraged, Lindy answered quickly, “And didn’t you enjoy it? I’ve heard how you smiled at Juno’s side and enjoyed my sisters’ distress when they fell. And you really expect me to believe we’re on the same side?”

Again Circe seemed unfazed. “Lindy, honey, haven’t you ever asked yourself why the Sirens changed forms as they fell? Didn’t you wonder whose enchantment gave you two legs and limitless sex appeal? That spell almost drained me. When I finally recovered my powers, I foresaw a way to help Saul. He thinks his informant is one of my handmaidens, and while I’d like to keep this our little secret, it’s me. See, I trust you a damn sight more than you trust me.”

Unable to accept Circe’s version of the truth, Lindy shook her head. Then she realized that, all things considered, some magic had been at work when the Sirens fell. She stared at the minor goddess who claimed to be her aunt, but for once words failed her.

Circe appeared unconcerned. “My brother grew up alongside Lua too, and he wants vengeance for the terrible thing her children did to her. When I shared my foreseeing, he set out to father you. I’m proud of you, Lindy. Your heritage drew in Neptune, but your love for Jase destroyed him.”

“Much good it did me,” Lindy muttered miserably.

“Giving up on your demon, honey?” Circe sipped her wine. “He hasn’t given up on you.”

“One word for you. Cardea. I won’t embarrass Jase by hanging around like a bad smell.” As she spoke, Lindy realized Circe’s boudoir smelled of roses, not sulfur. She studied her self-proclaimed aunt—
I suppose every family has a black sheep
—and mulled over their strange conversation.

A bellow echoed through the hell-realms. Jase, and he sounded seriously pissed. He was probably in a hurry to get back to Cardea. Lindy stifled the urge to run to his side and stroke his horns. It was a sure way to soothe his anger, and she’d…love it. Any chance to touch him, whatever his form, was something she couldn’t resist. But he’d denied her that right when he’d plunged down into Cardea’s prison rather than hers.

Even though she was a strong, sexy female, Lindy needed a good cry sometimes, but if she let one tear fall, she’d cry a flood. Besides, she refused to weep in front of the Sirens’ greatest enemy.
Suck it up and stand strong. I’m a warrior temptress. I can have my pick of men
. But she couldn’t have the one man who completed her soul. Jase. He’d made that clear the moment he heard Cardea’s voice. No wonder he’d told her not to complete the claiming ritual back at Aldborough. She blinked hard, but her misery welled up inside her.

Circe ran her finger down Lindy’s cheek. “Tears? For your demon? Shall I summon him?”

Lindy raised her hand. “No! Don’t! He chose a self-centered nymph over me. She could have at least grown fat and flabby over the centuries, but no. The wretched woman was all dark-haired beauty and
oh, Jase, protect me
.”

“Fat?” Circe laughed. “On a prison diet? Pluto punished her for being an empty-headed liar. Considering everything we know about Pluto, there’s a certain irony in that, don’t you think?”

Lindy blinked hard and sniffed. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? Jase chose her. After all that’s happened, I just want to go home. At least Scopuli’s a safer place now I’ve bedded Jase instead of Neptune.”

That was all she’d ever been to him—a quick screw to bring down his enemies. For her, it had been a take-me-forever fuck. Even tied down and naked on a stone altar, she’d loved the way their bodies melded into one. Damn it, her ideal man was a no-good louse—a user?
Perfection. Jase is perfection, and he’s ruined me for other men
. Her future…blank. Her heart…shattered. Her pussy…wet for a man who wanted another woman. Her stomach rolled, and she prayed she didn’t hurl all over Circe’s Barbie-pink carpet.

Circe looked thoughtful. “I can send you home, but it won’t be pleasant. Imagine falling through a cold, endless night and landing who knows where. Close your eyes and picture it.”

No way
. Not after Sirens fell from the skies, but she was so damned sleepy. Then she was falling. Tumbling. Spinning out of control. Time lost its meaning. Then the darkness dissolved into bright rainbow lights that dazzled her. When she could finally see again, she was alone on her favorite beach in Scopuli.

* * * *

Jase’s demon rose, taking him over completely. He needed Lindy, and he needed her now. Even the red-skinned beast that seethed inside him knew that without Merc, he’d no chance of finding her. His demon backhanded Saul across the room and grabbed the teenager’s shoulders. He shook the kid until his teeth rattled. “Pull yourself together. Carry a message to Lindy. Now.”

Suddenly, Circe stood in the doorway, strings of pearls woven through her waist-length blonde hair. Her wrists and ankles jingled with dozens of golden bracelets. Her sheer turquoise robe shimmered with rubies and diamonds. “The boy’s in shock. I can help, but you’ve got to calm your demon. Oh, and if you ever hit Saturn again, I guarantee you’ll regret it. Remember that.”

Jase radiated fury the way a fire did heat. He tossed Merc aside and turned to Circe. “Or else?”

“Or else I won’t help you find Lindy.” The sorceress’s bracelets rattled as she moved across to Merc. When she rested her hand on his forehead, his body stiffened and jerked; then he went limp. “Don’t worry, Saul, honey, he’s just sleeping.”

Saul rubbed his cheek and rose to his feet. “Where is she?”

This time, Circe’s smile was open and honest. “At last. Someone who actually cares for my niece. What? You thought she gained all that strength accidentally? Lindy’s safe, and she’s exactly where she wants to be. Back home in Scopuli.”

Jase roared again. His demon demanded Circe pay with pain, blood, and death if she hurt his mate. He stalked forward, but Circe shot behind Saul. “You promised to protect me.”

“Don’t look at me.” Saul shrugged. “I promised to watch over my informant, not history’s most evil sorceress. Although my Lua once thought highly of you. Okay, witch queen, get us out of here, and when the time comes, I will.”

“Fuck that. Find Lindy,” Jase growled.

Circe put her hands on either side of Saul’s waist and peered around him. “What would Cardea say about that?”

“I don’t give a shit what some stupid nymph thinks. Where’s Lindy?”

Jase raised a hand to punch Saul, but even his dumb-ass demon remembered Circe wouldn’t help if he thumped Saul again. Not that Saul didn’t deserve it. This whole fucking mess was his fault. And Merc’s. Without the oath they’d forced from Jase, he could have claimed Lindy long before things came to this. “I don’t—”

“Oh, honey,” Circe interrupted, “the whole preternatural world knows you fell because you loved Cardea. In fact, you couldn’t keep your hands off her, but you paid a high price for your lust. Then when she called out from her cell, you rushed to her rescue, not Lindy’s. What’s my poor niece supposed to make of that?”

Jase stared at the slender sorceress. Slowly, his horns receded, and he ran a hand through his hair. He fell to his knees as he shrank back to human size. His skin glowed redder than normal, and his demon rumbled. It wanted out. It wanted Lindy. And it wanted her now.

His voice was a deep, unearthly rumble. “She doesn’t believe that. She can’t. Can she?”

Circe’s hands lingered on Saul’s waist. “Oh, honey, believe me, she does. You broke her heart, and she just didn’t have the strength to face you. Not when she thought you were with Cardea. She told me it was time she went back to Scopuli and lick her wounds, so that’s where I sent her.”

“Then send me after her,” Jase demanded.

The sorceress moved out from behind Saul. “I can’t. Well, I could, but you wouldn’t thank me for it. Imagine tumbling through a dark vortex. Its every twist and spin would crush your soul. If you thought your fall from Olympus was bad, well, honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Jase shuddered and relived painful memories. There’d been no sound. No light. Just an eternity of cold that had crept into his bones, but he hated that he’d hurt Lindy. “I’ll do anything to get to her side. If you won’t help, I’ll wake Merc and slap some sense into his stupid brain. Then he can find her for me.”

“Leave him alone,” Saul snapped. “And you, witch queen, just do it.”

Circe stared at Jase long and hard. “Don’t hurt her again, or I’ll hunt you down and destroy you.”