How to Worship a Goddess (19 page)

“Hey, Kyle. Come on in and join the party. We're just getting started.”

Sal waved his hand and a hard-ass walked into the room. Brand felt his back stiffen and he had the strongest urge to shove Lucy behind him. He barely stopped himself from reaching for her before she stepped in front of him. As if he needed protection.

And there was definitely something about this guy that screamed danger.

He looked like a hard-core biker. Tats running up both arms and into the short-sleeved T-shirt that barely contained the bulging biceps and broad shoulders and chest.

He had wavy dark hair to his shoulders that didn't look at all feminine and his features were set in stone-cold-killer lines.

Yeah, not a guy he'd want to meet in a dark alley. It'd be a pretty even fight if this guy decided to take offense to Brand's presence. But the guy barely glanced at him. He nodded to Sal as he walked through, then walked up to Lucy and bowed at the waist as if he were at a dinner with the queen.

“Lady of the Silver Light. Welcome.”

“Thank you, Kyle.” Lucy actually sounded relieved to see the man. “How are you? And Tamra? She's well?”

“We're fine, Lady. Thanks for asking.” Kyle let his gaze run over Brand now and he knew the guy was taking his measure before he turned back to Lucy. “What can we do for you? Is there something you need?”

Like
maybe
tear
the
guy
behind
you
limb
from
limb?

Brand didn't think this guy would have any problem with that. He exuded danger like some guys reeked of cheap cologne. Kyle was a predator. Brand had no problem believing that.

“Actually, yes. There is something you can do for me. I'd like Catene to assist Sal and me with a spell.”

The guy stilled for a split-second before he nodded. “She's with Margie. I'll call and get her to come over.”

Lucy reached for his arm before he could move, her hand resting on his arm without restraining him. “I won't allow anything to harm your daughter, Kyle.”

He nodded, but Brand had the sense the guy had to force himself to do it. “I'll just go make the call. Cole's on site. I'm sure he'll be here in a minute. Do you need anything else?”

Lucy's smile looked a little strained. “Not at the moment. Thank you, Kyle.”

“Then I'll give Cat a call. Excuse me.”

Kyle stepped out of the room, and Brand barely heard his footsteps as he headed away. The guy moved as silently as a ghost. Lucy sighed and she exchanged a look with Sal.

“He suspects.”

Sal nodded, his human hands resting on his hide-covered hips. Brand's gaze stuck there for some reason, the sight making him shake his head.

“Yeah, he knows something's up.” Sal turned to look at Lucy, pulling a cigar out of his back pocket. “Kyle's not stupid. Neither are Dan and Margie. A girl with three biological parents? Not one you read about. Ever.”

Three… “What did you just say?” Brand shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “Did you just say three biological parents?”

Lucy sighed and turned to give him a weary smile. “She's an extraordinary young girl, but it's not something you have to worry about. You have enough on your plate as it is.”

But… Holy shit. What the hell else was gonna broadside him today?

Brand caught Sal eyeing him, a gleam in his dark eyes. “What?”

Sal's smile grew about the cigar clamped between his teeth. Brand wasn't a smoker but even he had to admit the damn thing smelled great. Just not like anything he'd ever encountered before.

“Nothing. Just… ever meet a king before?”

A king. His brain worked that one over for a second. Was he serious?

“No, but then I've never been invited to Buckingham Palace for tea.”

Sal barked out a short laugh. “No king there, son. But there is here, so you better brush up on your curtsy.”

Brand hadn't heard anyone approach. The man just appeared in the doorway, though Brand knew he hadn't arrived by magic.

No, this guy had walked right up to the door. Only he hadn't made a sound.

Lucy straightened beside him and Brand did a double take. Well, holy shit. The woman looked like a goddess.

Regal, haughty. So beautiful it almost hurt him to look at her.

What the holy fuck…?

“Colerus.”

“Lady of the Silver Light. Welcome and greetings.”

Then the guy actually went down on one knee, as if proposing, grasped the hand she held out for him and kissed it. When he rose again, Brand had to make sure his mouth was closed because he was pretty sure it'd been hanging open for a few seconds.

As the guy stood, Brand took a closer look at him. Colerus was a solid wall, not as overtly muscled as Kyle, but Brand knew the guy would be able to hold his own in a bench-clearer.

Even if he did look too… clean cut. His light brown hair was short enough to be corporate-approved but long enough to show a wave and his sharp hazel eyes missed nothing.

And when he smiled just before he reached to enfold Lucy in a hug… Hell, Brand figured women dropped at his feet all the time.

“Easy, boy.” Sal's voice was pitched so low, Brand almost didn't hear it as he contemplated throwing a roundhouse at the guy for daring to touch Lucy. “You'll wind up with a few claw marks if you're not careful.”

Colerus finally stepped back and smiled, his expression losing that stiff formality. “It's really nice to see you. It's been a while and I apolo—”

“Cole, no. You have nothing to apologize for. I know how busy you've been. A king's work is never done. And how is Arabella?”

King. This guy was king of the werewolves?

Cole paused for a brief second, as if unsure how to answer. “She's fine, Lady.”

Lucy nodded then reached behind her. For Brand. He grabbed her hand and let her pull him up beside her. “Cole, I'd like you to meet Brandon Stevenson. Brandon, this is
Rex
Colerus Luporeale,
legatus
of the
lucani
Legion.”

Brand had a feeling that
Rex
word meant something he should be worried about, but Cole shook his hand, his grip firm and their gazes met and held. Cole didn't try to stare him down but Brand definitely felt his curiosity.

“Nice to meet you, Brandon.” Cole nodded once more then turned to Sal, his smile spreading as he first shook Sal's hand then did a complicated knuckle-bump thing that Cal figured was their equivalent of a secret handshake.

“Hey, wolf king, how's it going?” Sal took a step back, as if to take in the entire picture. “Looking pretty sharp for a weekend.”

“Got a meeting.” Cole looked back at Lucy with a slight grimace. “I'm sorry. I can cancel—”

“Oh, no.” Lucy shook her head. “No, you don't need to stay. This isn't an official visit. We're only here to use the altar.”

“Okay.” Cole's eyes narrowed as his curiosity peaked. But the guy didn't ask any questions. Either he didn't give a shit or he knew better than to question a goddess. “Do you need anything then?”

“No, dear. Just some privacy.”

“Then I'll leave you to it. I really was just about to get in the car and leave.” This time he bent to kiss Lucy's cheek and Brand couldn't bring himself to get upset about it. It was more like the kiss you gave your favorite maiden aunt. Or your patron goddess.

“Stevenson.” Cole nodded at him, that curiosity still glowing in his eyes. “Hey, Sal, we still on for poker next week?”

“Only if you want to lose another couple thou.” Sal snorted. “Sure, kid. See you then.”

And as soon as Cole had disappeared, Sal turned back to Brand. “So, Brandon, what do you think of the
lucani
king?”

King. Ah, the
rex
before Cole's name.

Holy shit. That guy, who could only be in his early twenties, was a king. The werewolf king.

Brand started to shake his head then couldn't stop.

Sal laughed. “Dude, you are providing hours of amusement. And the day's not over. Let's hope you live to provide a little more.”

***

“So, Catene. Do you think you'll be able to handle this?”

Catene had turned out to be a beautiful copper-haired teenager with bright blue eyes, a smile that lit up an entire room, and two fathers and a mother who adored her. And were worried about her.

Catene didn't seem to be worried, but then she was a teenager. Brand knew from dealing with the young guys on his teams over the years that, at that age, nothing frightened them. They were invincible, immortal.

“Absolutely, Lady Lucy.” She flipped that smile toward Brand. “Everything will be fine.”

Hell, when she said it, absolute conviction in her voice, Brand knew it would be. Not that he didn't trust Lucy or Sal, but there was something about this girl…

Something her parents sensed or knew. Something that worried them. Or maybe that was just them being parents. Which he still hadn't wrapped his brain around. He'd have to ask Lucy about that whole three-parent deal later.

Then Lucy smiled and all thoughts of anyone else faded. He figured he must look like a fool, grinning at her like he was.

“So,” Sal said. “Let's get this show on the road.”

“Lady, are you sure you don't want me to assist as well?” Catene's mother, Margie, piped up. “I know I'm not as proficient with this type of spell as Cat, but you may need a healer on hand. I could call Nica…”

“If we need anyone, we'll be sure to get in touch. But thank you, Margie.”

Lucy acknowledged Margie's concerns without being patronizing but she'd made herself clear. Only Brand, Lucy, Sal, and Catene would be there for the actual ritual or whatever the hell they were going to do.

Which he hadn't really allowed himself to think about. Probably shouldn't really think about considering the knife Sal held in his hands.

As they'd waited for Catene to arrive, Sal had disappeared for a few minutes before returning with “supplies.”

A blanket, a basket filled with who-knew-what—and that blade. Long, lethal-looking. Black handle and dull black blade. Probably best not to think about what he was going to do with that blade. Yeah, they'd explained the process before, but that had been hypothetical. Now that Brandon was staring at that blade…

Not so hypothetical anymore. But he'd do it. For Lucy.

Jesus, had they really only meet three days ago? It felt like he'd known her forever. No, not forever. Lucy would live forever. He'd be gone in a few short decades. Or sooner, if whatever Sal planned to do to him failed.

“Okay, people.” Sal's hooves clacked against the floor as he headed for the door. “Let's move out.”

They left Kyle and Margie behind at the den's community center, which turned out to be a sprawling log structure in the middle of a community of houses tucked into the woods.

Brand saw a few actual log houses though most were made of stone and none had a second floor. Hard-packed earth served as roads. No asphalt anywhere. No concrete.

It looked almost European, though he'd never been to Europe. He knew they had electricity but he had no idea where it came from because he didn't see any power lines. Probably buried. Of course, it could just be magic.

The sun had just set and there was still enough light in the sky to see to walk as the almost-full moon hung low and just above the trees.

Lucy and Catene led the way, their voices too low for him to hear. They had their arms linked and, though Lucy's lips curved in a smile, he saw stress in her expression.

“Where are we, anyway?” Brand asked Sal, as they walked side by side down a winding path through the trees, away from the houses. The pines provided cover from anyone who might want to pry.

“Rockland Township. The
lucani
own almost half the township though no one but them knows it. Been living here for almost two hundred years, since Cole's grandfather came over from Sicily to take over control of the
lucani
and institute the legion.”

“Legion? Like the Roman Legion? Seriously?”

Sal nodded. “Just like that, yeah. No time for a history lesson, but the
lucani
had been a secret legion of the Roman army way back. They were kinda like the Special Forces. They did the dirty work, if you get my meaning.

“They managed to keep it together for centuries after Rome fell, but in 1758 the
Malandante
nearly decimated them and the
Enu
and
Fata
in a purge. That was when most of the Etruscans moved here.”

Brand thought for a moment about what that would have meant. No huge cities. Hundreds and hundreds of miles of forests.

“Must have seemed like heaven,” he murmured.

Sal nodded. “Too much temptation for some. They ran wild. Not all of them, but a lot. Enough to make it dangerous for them all. They'd splintered into small groups and none of them would've survived if a few hadn't gotten together and petitioned the Sicilian
lucani
king to help them.

“Cole's great-grandfather sent his oldest son over in the early 1900s to bring them into line. And when his father died, he moved the entire operation here to the States. A few families stayed, but the
lucani
legions are based in America now. Right here, actually. With Cole.”

“And he controls the werewolf army?”

Sal grunted out a laugh. “Yeah, he does. They have fighters, but mostly the
lucani
run a string of nightclubs across the country. More structure, steady employment and a way to keep the younger males from running feral. It works for them.”

Brand just shook his head at the thought of werewolves running nightclubs. It just seemed so damn bizarre.