“I guess when Orpheus and Demetrius left here, they went to see Delia.”
“The witch?” Isadora asked in shock. “Demetrius went to the coven?”
He’d gone without her. That hurt almost as much as the fact he hadn’t tried to talk to her after the party. She’d supported him through so much, was the one who’d encouraged him to embrace his heritage. The fact he could so easily push her aside sent her temper through the roof.
Casey nodded. “I couldn’t make out much, just Theron’s side of things, but he mentioned something about an unquenchable fire.”
Everything inside Isadora stilled. Even the baby slowed its frantic ballroom-dancing jig. An icy chill spread down her spine. “Say that again. Are you sure he said unquenchable fire? Those exact words?”
“Yes.” Casey’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
Isadora reached for the arm of a nearby chair and lowered herself into the seat. “Oh my gods.”
Callia pushed to her feet. “Isadora? Are you okay?”
Isadora held out a hand to keep her back. “I’m fine. It’s not me or the baby. It’s…” She dropped her hand and looked at her sisters. “Unquenchable fire. Some call it Armageddon, others the Apocalypse. Whatever the term, it’s a reference to the end of days. A fiery inferno that’s supposed to spread all across the entire human realm and destroy every living thing in its path.”
Casey and Callia exchanged holy skata glances. Quietly, Callia said, “How do you know about this?”
“When I was in school, studying to rule just in case our father was never able to produce a male heir, it was covered in the ancient texts. Prometheus, as you know, is the one who gave fire to humans. But he was worried Zeus and the other gods would one day lay claim to what shouldn’t belong to them. It is written that should that day ever come, he would rather see the end of all things than the human realm in the hands of the gods.”
“What are you saying?” Callia asked. “That Prometheus is planning to destroy the earth? How could he even do that? He’s still imprisoned by Zeus.”
“He could if he planned this long ago,” Casey said quietly. “He’s the father of forethought. Who’s to say he didn’t put a time limit on things. If the Orb wasn’t found by a certain date, if its pieces weren’t uncovered by a specific time... He could have even put conditions on power shifts within the heavens. These are gods we’re talking about, not humans or Misos or Argoleans who live in a finite universe.”
Shit. That made a lot of sense. Isadora’s pulse picked up speed.
Silence settled over the room. Then Callia said, “If that’s what this is... If the guys have found evidence it’s coming…”
“Then Titus isn’t the only one in danger.” Isadora’s thoughts skipped to the hundreds of colonists at the Misos Colony. And to Nick. Though she was still pissed at him for what he’d done, she didn’t want him harmed. And she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t do something—anything—to save the people her father had forsaken.
She pushed to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Casey rose too.
“To get dressed. Someone has to find Titus before it’s too late. Our heroes aren’t getting the job done.”
“No.” Callia’s eyes widened with understanding. “It’s too risky this late in your pregnancy.”
Through their link with the Horae, and with the help of the Orb, the sisters were able to see into the present. They’d used that gift once, and it had worked, but there had been repercussions.
“What other choice do we have?” Isadora asked. “Maelea said she sensed great power within Natasa. Stronger than any god. I’m not going to sit back and do nothing when we can harness our gifts together and find Titus. The Argonauts aren’t making any progress. They’re only wasting time. And contrary to what you both think, I’m not a piece of glass. I’m stronger than I look.”
Casey pursed her lips, then looked to Callia. “She does have a point.”
Callia frowned. “Don’t do that. You’re supposed to back me up.” Then to Isadora, “Look, even if I wasn’t worried about the effects on the baby—which I am—I’m more worried about you. I know you’re strong and tough, but you’ve been through so much. And you’re the only heir to the throne we have. Casey and I can’t rule. The Council will never recognize Max. If we lose you, the Council wins. And Zander, Theron—all of the guys, especially Demetrius—will be pissed if we take the chance.”
“Leave the Argonauts to me.” Confidence swelled inside Isadora. A confidence she was growing more accustomed to with every passing day. If nothing else, her father had taught her how not to rule. “This is a matter of life and death. Some things are bigger than one person.”
When Callia frowned, Isadora softened her expression and added, “If I feel a twinge of anything, I’ll pull away. I promise.”
Casey pushed to her feet. “Promising and doing are two very different things.”
Isadora knew that better than anyone. She lived with it every day.
She pushed aside thoughts of her mate, squared her shoulders, and glanced between her sisters. “As queen, I promised to protect my people. And those people include the Misos. No matter what, I’m not about to fail them. Now hold out your hands. It’s time we stop letting the men screw everything up and find that Argonaut once and for all.”
Natasa’s pulse raced as she rested her head against Titus’s shoulder and fought to slow her breaths.
Sweat slicked her skin, and his arms held her tight, but for once she didn’t feel claustrophobic. There was no heat. Just cool, tingling sensations that reverberated all through her veins, into her limbs, even down her fingers.
“I…” His voice echoed against her ear. “Wow.”
A smile spread across her lips. Wow for her too. She could still feel him inside her, softening slightly but still there. Still long and thick and gloriously naked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He chuckled, and the sound resonated from his chest into hers. Felt so damn good. “Next time I promise to do all the work.”
“How soon can there be a next time?”
He stilled beneath her, and she felt something—a shift in him somehow. Confused, she pushed up on one hand and looked down.
His hair was mussed, his features relaxed, but there was something in his eyes. A doubt. A worry. A fear that hadn’t lingered there before.
She rolled off him, tugging the sheet up over her body. Nerves ignited in her stomach, reminding her they might have this incredible chemistry, but there was an ocean of things between them they needed to discuss.
“How did I get here?” she asked, figuring starting with easy was the best bet all around. “And where is here? I have a vague recollection of a hospital room, but this doesn’t look like the same place.”
“We’re at the Misos Colony. I called Nick, their leader, and asked him to pick us up.”
“The colony?” She tensed. “Does anyone else…?”
“No.” He smoothed his hand down her arm. “No one else knows we’re here and Nick promised to keep his mouth shut.”
“Oh.” She relaxed back into him and stared up at the ceiling’s intricately carved wood beams. “And this room?”
“We moved you here after your temperature cooled. Thought you’d be more comfortable. Well—” a smile curled through his words “—I think Lena and the other clinic staff though we’d both be more comfortable. We didn’t fit well in that single bed together.”
She was comfortable with him. Very. The memory of him pressing deep inside made her hot all over again. She bit her lip.
He rolled to his side, facing her, and chuckled. “I might not be able to feel your emotions but I can definitely feel your body temperature heating up. Give me a minute to recover, okay? I may be a hero, but you have a tendency to overwhelm me.”