Pride of the Lion: Hades' Carnival, Book 3 (14 page)

She gripped the edge of the sink and took a deep breath. She could do this. After all, she really didn’t have a choice in the matter.

“Araminta?” The bathroom door was shoved open and Leander loomed large in the doorway.

“I’m coming. Hold onto your horses.”

He frowned at her, his expression becoming even more concerned. “But I have no horses. We drove in your car. Are you sure you are okay? Did you hit your head?”

In spite of her fatigue and fear, she smiled. “It’s just an expression. It means have some patience.”

He grunted and held the door for her but didn’t step back. Her arm grazed his chest as she walked by. It wasn’t fair. The guy had fought yucky demons. He should reek of sweat and demon, whatever the hell they’d smelled like, but instead a hot scent, much like the desert air, seemed to permeate his skin. It was delicious and made her want to rub herself against him.

Shaking off her growing arousal, she stalked to the counter. “Do you know what you want?” There were two young men in the lineup ahead of them so she motioned to the menu suspended from the ceiling behind the counter. “Everything they have is listed.”

Leander tilted back his head and studied the various meal deals and single offerings. It occurred to her that he might not know how to read. She wasn’t even sure what, if any, written language had existed when he’d last walked this world. Hieroglyphics maybe.

She sidled up to him and tugged on his hand. He leaned down so she could discreetly whisper in his ear. “Can you read?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes. Even though we were held in stasis for all those years, we absorbed all the learning and creations of mankind. I can read and speak all languages.” The corners of his lips tilted upward and she found herself holding her breath, hoping he would smile. “But it is much different experiencing it in the flesh.”

Araminta couldn’t begin to imagine how disconcerting it must be for him to be free and in a world that was so different from the one he’d left behind. The fact that he was functioning at all was to be admired. And he could read and speak all languages. That was intimidating as all get out. The guy was not only built like a god and a first-class warrior, but he was smart too. Compared to him, she was ordinary at best.

No, it was just as well that he was leaving once the curse was finally broken. Better to focus on practical matters and put aside all thoughts of him as a sexy, intelligent guy who she really liked in spite of his domineering tendencies.

“Do you even have to eat?” It occurred to her that he might not have to. After all, the guy was immortal. She had no idea what the rules were when it came to Leander.

“Not often. But I am hungry after going without for such a long time.” He pointed to one of the pictures. “What exactly is that?”

“It’s a breakfast sandwich with bacon, cheese and eggs.”

He nodded. “I will have some of those.”

The teenage boy behind the counter stared up at him when Leander stepped forward to place his order. “Can I take your order?”

Leander nodded and began to order. “I will have three of those.” He pointed at the breakfast sandwiches. “A number one, a number two and a number three breakfast.”

Araminta stood beside him, gaping at him as Leander continued to order. The boy behind the counter could barely keep up. She only hoped she had enough cash on her to pay for everything. He finally finished with two orange juices.

Leander turned to her. “What will you have?”

“Ah.” She wanted to say she wasn’t sure she could afford anything now that he’d ordered, but one glance at the excited expectation on his face and she resigned herself to whatever the meal would cost. She could use her bank card if she didn’t have enough cash on her. The guy hadn’t had food in several thousand years. No wonder he wanted to try everything. “I’ll have the number two breakfast with whole-wheat toast. And a coffee.”

He frowned. “That is all?”

“Believe me, that’s more than enough.” She gained weight easily and normally wouldn’t have eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast, but after the night she’d put in she figured she deserved it. “We’ll take it to go,” she told the young man, who was openly staring at Leander.

When he told her the price, she dug into her purse and came up with the money. Luckily, she had enough cash with three bucks to spare. She was happy not to have to use her bank card. She had no idea if Hades had access to such records or not, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Her squeaky-tight budget would take a slight hit but it was worth it. It was definitely the most expensive fast food order she’d ever had.

When the clerk started to bag their meal, it occurred to her that it probably wasn’t wise to let too many people see Leander. She’d gotten used to his odd features, but the clerk couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him and they’d also be on the security feed.

“Damn.” She should have thought of that. This whole cloak-and-dagger running from a vengeful god thing was new for her and she was bound to make mistakes. She only hoped it didn’t cost them their lives.

Beside her, Leander tensed. “What is it?”

She stepped back and snuck a look at the other patrons in the restaurant. There weren’t a lot as most folks were using the drive-thru this time of day, but there were enough. “You probably shouldn’t be in here. You draw too much attention. All we need is for someone to take a picture of you and post it on the Internet. Does Hades even use the Internet?” It felt crazy to even be asking a question like that, but it was necessary.

Leander brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, the light touch sending a quiver of desire pulsing through her. She needed to keep her wits about her and not succumb to his potent allure again. She needed coffee, hot, strong coffee. She was tired and on information overload and it would be all too easy to lean against Leander and let him take care of everything.

But that was only smoke and mirrors. He wasn’t staying, so she couldn’t let herself depend on him.

“Do not worry, my beauty. I will take care of that.”

Fear broke through her fatigue. “Don’t you dare do anything to bring more attention our way,” she commanded.

“Your order is up.” The teenager behind the counter shoved several large bags and a cardboard cup holder toward them. Araminta grabbed the drinks and one of the bags, leaving the rest for Leander.

He stayed behind her until they reached the door, then he moved in front of her. He gazed over the parking lot before herding her back to the car.

“What about the security cameras? And I think one of the other patrons took a picture of you with his cell phone.” Worry gnawed at her gut. She didn’t want the demons to find them again so soon. They probably knew where she lived, but maybe not. Araminta still had hope she could hide Leander there until the time ran out on the curse.

He waited until she was in the car with her door closed before sliding into the passenger seat. He set the bags on the floor at his feet. “I sent out a pulse of energy. All electronic gadgets will have malfunctioned while we were there. There will be nothing but static on the security tapes and the picture will be little more than a blur of color.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” She passed him the drinks. “Handy skill. Hold onto this, I’m going to park at another restaurant down the road and then we’ll eat.

Leander wiped his mouth with the napkin, feeling replete after thousands of years of gnawing hunger. The food seemed strange, but most of it was tasty. He hadn’t particularly enjoyed the hash browns, finding them too heavy and oily, and had left two of the three he’d ordered in the bag. The eggs and bacon were surprisingly good and he’d particularly enjoyed the breakfast sandwiches. The best of all was the orange juice.

“Here.” She held out a paper cup with steaming liquid. “Want to try my coffee?”

He reached over and took the cup from her hands, his fingers grazing hers. She sucked in a breath and quickly began to stuff her garbage into one of the paper bags. It was satisfying to know his touch affected her. Goddess only knew that her mere presence had him continually semi-aroused.

He caught a whiff of her scent—lavender, tinted with light arousal—and he barely swallowed a groan. Now was not the time or place. Araminta had been right about that back at the hotel, and it was even truer now. They were in a vehicle out in the open. They were also among people, which would hopefully temper Hades’ actions. Any kind of public fight would bring unwanted attention and the chance that the other gods and goddesses would discover what he was up to.

Leander canted his head to one side and let that thought simmer. Maybe he should take Araminta to a heavily populated area and keep her there until the time ran out on the curse. Of course, Hades had no scruples and could easily involve innocent people in their fight. What to do?

“Are you okay?” Her voice snapped him back from his thoughts.

“I am fine.”

“You going to try that?” She motioned to the cup in his hand. He brought the cup to his lips and sipped. The brew was bitter. He frowned and tasted it again. It didn’t get any better.

“You enjoy this?” It was foul stuff, not at all how he’d imagined it given Araminta’s obvious enjoyment of the beverage.

She laughed and took the cup from his hands. “It’s an acquired taste.” She took a large mouthful and swallowed before releasing a satisfied sigh.

Leander grunted and decided he did not particularly like coffee. He would like to try tea sometime. Maybe that would be more to his liking. And it was one of the two most common and socially acceptable beverages on the planet. Every culture served a variation of one or both of them. If he was going to live in this strange new world he would have to learn to adapt.

If
being the operative word. They had to survive the rest of the day until the clock stuck midnight tonight.

Araminta wiped her hands with a paper napkin and shoved it into the bag with the garbage. “We need to get rid of this and get back on the road.”

“I’ll do it.” He didn’t want her away from the minimal protection the vehicle gave her, not even to walk to the garbage can a few feet away. If they were attacked she could always drive away. Not that she would if previous experience was any indication. He was still angry at how she’d put her life in danger back at the parking garage.

He shot her a glare. “Stay in the car and do not move.”

Rather than be intimidated by him, she shot him a saucy smile and saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

His lips twitched but he refused to smile. She had to take the threat to her personal safety seriously. The worst was yet to come.

He grabbed the bags, opened all his senses and scanned the area before climbing out of the car. The garbage can was clearly marked and only ten feet away from them. He kept his eyes and ears peeled for any sound or movement that didn’t belong. It was more difficult to use his sense of smell as the acrid odor of garbage and gasoline filled the air.

He heard Araminta’s phone ring just as he reached the garbage. He dumped the paper bags and hurried back to the car. She was just answering it as he slid back into his seat and shut the door.

“Where are you?” The voice on the other end was female and extremely agitated. Leander’s ears twitched with curiosity as he used his enhanced hearing to listen to her conversation, experiencing not a twinge of guilt at doing so. Everything in her life for the next eighteen hours or so concerned him.

“I’m about fifteen minutes from home. I got delayed with some minor car trouble.”

Leander muffled a laugh. He guessed bouncing demons off the hood of her vehicle counted as car trouble. She shot him a glare and returned to her call.

Something deep inside him shifted and settled. He didn’t understand what it was at first. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he’d never experienced before in spite of all the years he’d lived. It was contentment.

Araminta soothed the savage beast within him. Both he and the lion were content to simply be in her presence, to watch her graceful movements as she gestured while she talked, to listen to her warm, soothing voice. She truly belonged to them.

“I won’t be much longer. I promise. Are the police still there?”

“Yes,” Mary Jo answered. “They said they’d stay since you were on your way.”

“Tell them we’ll be there shortly.”

“We?” Mary Jo questioned.

Araminta ignored the question. “I meant I’ll be there shortly. See you in a bit.” She disconnected the call and tossed her phone into her purse. “We have to get going.” She started the car and pulled on her seatbelt. “Buckle up.”

Leander didn’t want to put on the safety harness. He felt jammed into the vehicle as it was. But one glance at Araminta’s face told him she was going to be stubborn over this. He heaved a sigh, grabbed the belt and snapped it in place just as she had. The cloth band tightened against his chest.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He growled at her and her eyes widened. She said nothing and quickly pulled out of the lot and onto the road. The next ten minutes passed in silence.

“What are we going to tell the police about you? They’ll ask who you are and they’ll want to see identification.” Araminta chewed on her bottom lip and several of her fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “That’s going to be a problem.” She glanced over at him. “I assume you don’t have any identification handy, certainly not a birth certificate or a driver’s license. You won’t exist in any database.”