“Cerek, I-I know now it wasn’t the right decision, but I wasn’t trying to cause problems. I was trying to help. I was—”
“Shut up.” He wrapped one big hand around her nape and pulled her into him.
She bumped into his broad, muscular chest and had just enough time to lift her hands and press her palms against his shirt as his arms closed around her. Then all she felt was heat as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her in a way that was both punishing and possessive.
She was lightheaded when he finally broke the kiss and let her breathe. His lips moved from her cheek to her jaw and blew warmth over her ear and down her neck. She slid her hands up his back and just held on.
“I swear to all that’s holy,” he whispered, “I’m gonna lock you in a freakin’ tower.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. He threatened that all the time—usually when she got into trouble with her cousins. Which wasn’t really a threat because they lived in a tower in this very castle.
“I wouldn’t let you. Not unless you locked yourself in there with me.”
He sighed and held her tighter. “I’m not joking this time, emmoní. If Zagreus had realized who you were, he would have taken you instead of Talisa.”
“I don’t think so.”
He drew back and looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
“I think he did know who I was. Max said my name, and Zagreus reacted to it. Talisa and I are both linked to the Horae, which makes us valuable to any of the gods, but he knew I was the heir to the throne of Argolea as well. Yet when those satyrs burst into the club, he didn’t reach for me. He didn’t even look at me. He poofed out of there with Talisa without a second thought.”
“But... The satyrs are his. They’re his army.”
“Not these ones. These satyrs were definitely not on his side.”
“Then I don’t get it.” Cerek’s brow wrinkled. “Why take Talisa over you if he knew you were the more valuable hostage? Zagreus never does anything unless it helps him gain power.”
“Because I wasn’t the one he wanted. Cerek”—she tightened her grip on his forearms—“Zagreus acted as if he knew Talisa. Personally. I don’t know how to explain it except that he somehow recognized her. And he called her mono mia.”
Cerek’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? Mono mia? Those were his exact words?”
She nodded, her stomach already swirling with the puzzle pieces he was now putting together.
“Skata,” he mumbled. “Aphrodite told me a story about Zagreus when I was trapped on Olympus. About the female he called mono mia.”
“I know. I heard the same one from the Sirens when I was training there. If he really thinks Talisa is his mono mia...”
“Then he’ll never let her go.” A new kind of urgency filled Cerek’s eyes. “Go find Cynna. Tell her what happened. Find out whatever she knows about Zagreus and his so-called mono mia. She spent almost a year with him. She has to know more than us. At this point, she might be our only chance of finding Talisa.”
He released her and moved for the door.
Turning, she said, “Where are you going?”
“To stop Theron from torturing everyone in that club to get answers. Zagreus could be anywhere by now.”
Elysia reached for her mate’s hand before he could leave. “I’ll find Cynna. But, Cerek, Max...”
“I know.” He stilled in the doorway and looked down at her. “But try to think positively. If those satyrs really did turn on Zagreus, and they saw what Zagreus did to Max, they won’t kill Max. They’ll recognize his markings and use him as a bargaining chip, either to trade to Zagreus or someone else.”
“That doesn’t exactly ease my fears.”
He squeezed her hand. “He was wearing his Argos medallion, right?”
“He always wears it.”
“Then we can track him. Titus is probably already on it. Don’t worry, emmoní.”
Easier said than done. She wouldn’t be able to stop worrying. Not until Talisa, Max, Cerek, and the rest of the Argonauts were all home safe and sound.
“It’ll be okay.” He pulled her into him and kissed her forehead. “I’m still ticked you crossed into the human realm without telling me, but if you hadn’t gone with Max, we’d never know he and Talisa were in trouble. And we wouldn’t have any chance of finding them now.”
She met his gaze as he drew back. “Does that mean I’m not getting locked in a tower after all?”
“Hell yes, you’re getting locked in that tower. As soon as everything’s back to normal, I’m locking you in there myself and tying you up. Naked. Until you’re begging me to let you go, and I’m absolutely convinced you’ve learned your lesson.”
Pushing to her toes, she lifted her lips to his and smiled. “We both know that will never happen.”
He kissed her gently. “Thank the Fates for that.”
She lowered to her heels and released him. “Go.”
His humor faded. “Stay in this realm. Please. So I don’t have a freakin’ heart attack.”
She smiled and nodded, and as she watched him rush down the hall to go after her father and the other Argonauts, she leaned against the doorjamb and told herself they’d find Talisa. And Max. And bring them both home.
They had to. Because she’d never be able to live with herself if they didn’t.
Chapter Four
Stinking daemons. They smelled like the rot of the Underworld. A place Zagreus hated almost as much as he hated his fucking father.
He watched the flesh melt on the third daemon as flames engulfed its body. At one point it had been human, though you’d never know now by looking at it. A human soul trapped in the Fields of Asphodel who’d traded himself to the forces of evil for one more chance at life.
Part of him pitied the daemons. Most made that bargain not knowing they’d return in the body of a monster. But a bigger part knew they got exactly what they deserved. Nothing good came from making deals with the devil. Zagreus knew that better than most.
“Get up,” he said to the female at his back, taking one last look at the beast already turning to ash on the ground. “We’re leaving now.”
No sound echoed behind him. No rustling or shuffling indicating she’d listened.
He turned and looked back toward the tree where he’d left her, only to find the area empty.
“Motherfucker.” He was not in the mood to play cat-and-mouse tonight.
Tuning into his enhanced senses, he scanned the dark forest, squinted, and peered through the trees, searching for heat and movement.
There. Roughly two hundred yards from his location. Zig-zagging around tree trunks and brush, her hands still bound in front of her.
He flashed directly in her path.
She opened her mouth the second she spotted him but no sound escaped, and she was too close to slam on her brakes. Her body smashed into his chest, ricocheted back, and crashed to the ground.
She twisted over to her side. Shaking his head, Zagreus leaned over her, grasped her arms, and hauled her to her feet.
“Thorn in my ass,” he muttered. “You were never this much trouble before.” When she winced as if she were in pain, he loosened his grip and reached for a twig stuck in her hair.