Isadora (Masters Among Monsters Book 2) (10 page)

Vasilios was over the altar and in front of Diomêdês before his words had ended. Although he had to look down to meet Vasilios’s gaze, the authority that radiated off the other vampire made it apparent who was the more dominant of the two.

“I think of every consequence and action I take, brother. Do not forget why and how you stand here today. If it were not for
my
actions, you would be rotting at the bottom of a lake, would you not?”

Diomêdês narrowed his eyes at the reminder. “You would be correct.”

“And was it not
your
actions that led you to that predicament? Do not be so quick to condemn one’s lack of temper and foresight when you once had so little of it yourself.”

When Vasilios spun away from him, Diomêdês sensed an uncertainty in the male. One he’d never felt before. An inner turmoil roiled through his entire being.
 

“What we suspected, the gods? It is true, isn’t it?”

Vasilios clasped his hands behind his back as he continued walking farther from him. “I am not certain, but I believe so. Yes.”

“And the human you fed tonight?”

Vasilios halted and pivoted his way. “I do not believe he is human at all. However, he is most certainly connected.”

Diomêdês made his way around to one of the large chairs behind the altar and sat. He pushed the hood back from his head and rubbed at his aching temple. “Yes, but to whom is he connected? The gods or us? Did you see how strong he was? How fast? It is a bold move you have made. One which could—”

“I know,” Vasilios said as he came up the steps and placed his hands on the cool marble. Then he looked him directly in the eye. “To answer your question, brother, it’s both. I believe he is now connected to us both. I know you do not much care for the human culture, but surely you have heard the term ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’”

“He is a threat to us.”

“Right now, he is a tool for us. Beyond that, I will see what his use is to me.”

“To you?” he asked. “And what of the rest of us while you decide if he is going to continue to warm your bed?”

Vasilios flashed beside him, and clasped his chin in a firm grip as he said, “I am becoming tired of justifying myself to you, Diomêdês. First in front of Alasdair, and now here. You best quit while you are ahead or the gods or whoever it is hunting us down will be the least of your problems.”
 

Clenching his teeth, Diomêdês refused to cower from the furious male holding him at bay.
 

“Do I make myself clear,
brother
?”

“That you do.”

Vasilios released him and straightened, running his hands down the lapels of his jacket as if his activities had crumpled it. “I am pleased to hear it. Now, when they return—”

“The human male who took her is mine.” That point was not up for discussion.

“I take no issue with that. Do with him as you will. However, you may wish to know that, when Leonidas was feeding from me, I saw something rather interesting which concerns the one he is to bring to us.”

Diomêdês sat forward, his attention piqued, and waited for him to continue.
 

“It appears that my newly acquired yielding was having dreams. Visions he was writing on paper. This other male sought out his musings and stole them. One can only assume there is a reason, and if he knows how to bring down Thanos and capture your Isa, then—”

“He too is connected.”

“This is my deduction also.” Vasilios tapped his lower lip. “I am not sure death should, or would, be the best punishment for this crime.”

As a treacherous grin curved Vasilios’s lips, Diomêdês raised an eyebrow. “Then what do you suggest?”

“Perhaps a little…coercion.”

THE SECOND THEY faded into the mammoth hall, a shiver of apprehension raced up Leo’s spine. He recognized this place from those odd dreams he’d been having.

Paris collapsed at his feet, and surprisingly, Elias remained upright and coherent as he tugged his arm away in an attempt to escape. It was no use though. With Vasilios’s blood coursing through his veins, Leo was much stronger than the man who had once been his boss and friend.
 

Alasdair stood on the other side of him with Isadora slung over his shoulder in a classic fireman’s hold, and when Leo looked down the long stretch of paved stone, two figures waited there. No doubt Vasilios and the other scary one.

“Bring him to me, Leonidas.”

The order rumbled through Leo’s head in a voice he recognized. It was as though Vasilios was standing right next to him. He looked to Alasdair, who offered no kind of help. Then his feet began to move of their own accord.
 

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Leo? What are you doing?” Elias questioned under his breath. “You can’t really mean to take me up there. To
them
.”

“It’s not like you gave me much of a choice.” Leo didn’t spare a look for the man he was towing along behind him as he walked farther up the aisle.
 

“This…this is not what’s supposed to happen.”

“Really? Good to know, Elias. Would’ve been nice to have the choice.”

“You always have a choice,” Elias told him, much like Vasilios had, as he tried to loosen his grip.

“No. I
never
had a choice in this. You took that from me when you decided to play games and keep secrets. Big fucking secrets, I might add. How long have you been lying to me? Since we met?”

“This wasn’t my decision, Leo. I was just doing what I was told,” Elias said. “How are you so fucking strong?”

Leo glared at Elias, suddenly in a full-on rage. “Because
I
made a decision. The only one I could. I decided to live.”

Elias’s eyes shined with his indignation. “While offering me up to die?”

Tightening his fingers around Elias’s wrist, Leo shook his head. “Unlike you, I thought about your life before I did anything.”

“Really? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The delicate balance you have fucked up? Paris is a fucking mess.”

“
Paris?
What about me?” he asked as they reached the end of the hall and stood in front of three stairs leading up to a raised stage. “You know, things could’ve been different, but you never bothered to explain. You didn’t give me a chance to understand. What was I supposed to do? Take it all on blind faith?”

“Yes.”

The word was so final that Leo had nothing to say in response.

“I thought you were smarter than this, Leonidas. So did they.”

 
“Who are
they
, Elias? Quit with the lies already.”

“Yes, I have to agree,” Vasilios finally spoke aloud and made his way down the steps. “It would be wise to stop with the falsehoods unless you wish to relinquish the ability to speak at all.”

Elias broke eye contact with him to stare at Vasilios, who was now standing opposite him. “I presume you plan to kill me no matter what I do. So I have no problem speaking my mind.”
 

Leo released his hold on Elias and clenched his shaking hands as he dared to address Vasilios. “I did what you asked.”

Vasilios angled his head towards him, and when their eyes met, Leo’s heart pounded. He was commanding as hell in the suit he’d put on.
 

“So you did,
agóri
. Would you like to be rewarded now or later in my bed?”

Elias grunted with disgust, but Leo was too angry with him to care. He wouldn’t be judged for having offered himself in exchange for their lives.
 

“You’ll keep your end of our bargain, right?” he asked.

“Oh, yes.
I
will not kill your friend. However, I made no such promise for Diomêdês.”

The vampire who’d been waiting behind Vasilios made his way towards them, and when he stopped opposite Elias, Leo wondered if he was about to see his biggest mistake play out in the murder of his friend right beside him.

The one with the unique-colored hair, which was half pulled back and tied behind his head, seemed to tower over Elias, and he was a tall man to begin with. The vampire’s skin was perfectly smooth, and where he was leanly muscled, Elias was broad and built. The one thing they both shared, though, was the fierce scowl of anger, as they each sized the other up. The air was ripe with tension, and it seemed to have a visceral effect on Vasilios—his eyes had turned black as the night sky.
 

“Where is she?” Diomêdês demanded as he glared over Elias’s shoulder.

Leo didn’t have to turn to know that Alasdair was now walking the same path he’d just taken. Paris, no doubt, left on the floor, hopefully forgotten if he was lucky. When Alasdair stopped by the other side of Elias, he shifted Isadora off his shoulder and into his arms.

“She is here, Diomêdês.”

DIOMÊDÊS LEANED OVER Isadora and placed his lips to her cheek. She looked dreadful, the worst he’d ever seen, and as his rage bubbled within him, he faced the human who was standing by Alasdair’s side.

“This is the one?” Diomêdês asked.

“It is,” Alasdair confirmed.
 

He narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin, catching a particular scent on the man—apples. His arm flew out, and he grasped the man’s shirt and dragged him closer.
 

“You have been inside my Isa. I smell her on you.”

The human glared at him with such defiance that Diomêdês had to respect his courageous stupidity. Although it was misplaced and would get him nowhere, it was there just the same.
 

“Respond.”

The man’s lips curled into a demented kind of grin, and Diomêdês found it much like one he himself would flash.

“Yes. I have been inside your Isadora.”
 

Diomêdês thought that would be all he would say.
 

But then the human added, “Many times.”

He wasn’t sure he could ever remember a time when he was so irate, and as his temper reached a fever pitch, he moved his grip up the bastard’s thick neck and squeezed. “Do you think it is wise to provoke the one who has the ability to kill you in an instant?”

Silver eyes locked with his, the irises swirling. Vasilios was right—this man was more than what he appeared to be.

“It’s better than giving you the satisfaction of fear. Which is what your kind thrives upon.”

“You presume an awful lot.”

“It is not presumption when you have been shown facts.”

Diomêdês tightened his hold, and then the male coughed as the air became trapped in his throat, fighting to get down to his lungs.
 

“Diomêdês.”
 

His name was barely a whisper, but he’d have known that voice anywhere. He turned his head and found that Isadora had lifted hers. He dropped the human to the floor, and as he fell a curse left him.

“Mikri mou polemistria,
you have awoken.” He took her from Alasdair and cradled her to his chest.
 

Her hands clutched at his coat as she buried her face in the fabric.
I am home,
she pushed into his mind.

Diomêdês shut his eyes as he held her tighter.
Yes, you are home. Safe with me.

She lifted her face, and when her eyes found his, she gave a weak smile. It was so unlike his fierce little warrior that the expression alone made him want to commit murder.

You rest. I will make sure he pays.

“No,” she said out loud as she continued to gaze at him.

“Isadora. He deserves death for what he has done.”

“I agree. But, first, I think he should see the faces of a race he wished to destroy,” she said, lowering her eyes to the human, who was staring up at her from the floor. When she returned her eyes to his, the warrior resurfaced. “And when his demise comes, it will come from me.”

“Very well.” He glanced down the line of figures standing stock-still, and when his eyes fastened on Vasilios, he stated in a voice so cold that it was a miracle the room didn’t form icicles, “Have him taken to the Adjudication Room. We will deal with him when we are ready.”

Vasilios gave a slow nod and then looked to his yielding.
Was he… No
. Vasilios would never seek approval from a human. But the Ancient seemed to want some kind of reaction from the man. When the blond turned to the oldest of them all with a grim expression, Diomêdês wondered what had just been pushed into his mind.