Kellsie opened the mini refrigerator and pulled out the last bottle of water there. She twisted off the cap and drank half of it before passing what was left to Marko. He tilted back his head and drank. When he was done, he set the bottle on the counter. “We must go.”
He didn’t seem the least bit concerned that she was still pissed with him. His expression was a cross between impatience and inscrutable warrior. “Come.” He held out his hand, fully expecting to be obeyed.
Her independent female side bristled at his command. The sensible part of her brain reminded her that in this situation he was the expert. She wasn’t a professional fighter or bodyguard. He was. She could assert her independence later.
If she survived.
His hand swallowed hers whole as their fingers entwined. Marko towed her behind him and stopped at the door. He put his ear to the metal and listened before turning back to her. He kept his voice so low she had to practically strain to hear it. “We’re going straight out and around the back of the trailer. From there we’ll work our way to the far side of the carnival to the tents.”
Where the carousel had been. She nodded, knowing now was not the time to talk. She could add her two cents worth when they were in a safer location.
Marko slowly turned the handle of the door and eased it open. He slid out and pulled her behind him. He closed the door and headed straight for the woods. Kellsie kept her head down and followed him, trying not to let her feet make any noise as she stepped across the forest floor.
Chapter Thirteen
Marko wanted to take Kellsie and run away from here as fast and hard as he could. He wanted her safe, far away from the coming fight. He also knew that was impossible. No matter how fast or far they ran, Hades would find them. With his ability to open portals anywhere on the planet, there was nowhere they could hide.
But they only had to stay hidden until midnight, a voice inside reminded him. It was tempting, but not truly an option. If he was going to run he should have already done so and not returned here.
Of course, Hades might be expecting them to run. Maybe by coming back here they would confuse the god and his minions. But a niggling thought remained in Marko’s brain. Why had they ended up so far away from the carnival after Kellsie set him free? Was that part of the curse? A gift from the Lady? He honestly wasn’t sure. And why hadn’t Hades found them yet? He’d found Kellsie, after all. But Marko had no idea how long it had taken Hades to find her—days, weeks, months?
None of it mattered. It was all speculation. They had to deal with the situation at hand. If they survived the coming hours there would be plenty of time to contemplate answers to his questions.
Marko was very aware of Kellsie following behind him, putting her feet where he stepped, trying her best to move as quickly and quietly as possible. There didn’t seem to be many people around, but they were being very careful to stay out of sight as they moved stealthily toward the cluster of tents near the back of the carnival. He wanted to see if the carousel was still there.
He couldn’t think about the possibility of her being hurt. The mere idea almost paralyzed him with fear. He’d never worried about his own safety before. He was a warrior. A protector. As were his fellow warriors. Nor had he truly feared for the Lady of the Beasts, his goddess. She was, after all, a very powerful entity in her own right. It would be nearly impossible for Hades to kill her, which was why he’d imprisoned her all these years.
But Kellsie was different. She was human. Fragile. Easily broken beyond repair. Her life force could be snuffed out in a moment.
He shouldn’t worry about Kellsie. After all, he had more than enough to concern him. Rescuing his fellow warriors and his goddess should have been his primary concern. But that was now secondary to protecting Kellsie.
When he’d crept into the trailer and taken her in his arms, he’d known he’d die to protect her. She felt so right in his embrace, as though she’d been made just for him. And he supposed in some ways she had been. If she hadn’t, she’d never have been able to free him from his prison.
She was one of the truly bright lights in the world. Special. He’d lived thousands upon thousands of years before he was ever imprisoned. Her time in this world was so short, a mere heartbeat in comparison. She deserved whatever time she had left in her mortal life.
She tugged on his hand and he realized they were almost at the tents. Time to get his head back into the game before he got them both killed.
“I think this is the one.” She kept her voice to barely a whisper and pointed to one of the long line of joined tents. “If I’m remembering correctly, that is.”
Marko concentrated and could feel the slight hum of power coming from behind the canvas wall. It was muted, but it was there—the carousel with Arand and Leander.
He curled his hand and concentrated, allowing his fingernails to morph into long, lethal claws. Beside him, Kellsie gasped. He ignored the fact he was probably frightening her. She’d have to get used to it. This was nothing compared to what Hades and his demons would throw at her when they were attacked. And it wasn’t if but when. The demons would find them at some point. It was inevitable. The fact they hadn’t been attacked up to now was highly suspicious.
Again, he wondered if Kellsie wasn’t part of Hades’ plans. After all, she was an actress. Maybe everything that had happened between them was a lie. Maybe every soft moan of pleasure, every cry of completion had been manufactured.
He growled low, both he and his bear displeased by the mere thought. He shook his head. He’d smelled her arousal, seen the rosy flush on her skin. There was no way she’d faked her orgasm. Her sheath had gripped his cock so tightly and hotly, pulsing rhythmically as she’d found release. That had been very real.
“You okay?” she whispered. Her hand was resting on his arm and concern filled her beautiful blue eyes.
“Yes.” He had to believe in her honesty, in her passion. If it wasn’t genuine, he was lost, because there was no way he could ever harm her. If she was playing on Hades’ team she was the perfect secret weapon. She could slay Marko easily. He would never raise a hand to defend himself against her. He’d rather be dead, his soul lost, than to believe Kellsie would betray him in such a fashion.
He knew Roric would have fought to the bitter end. So would his still-trapped companions, Arand and Leander—the wolf and the lion. Mordecai would laugh at him. After all, the serpent had killed the woman who’d freed him as a gesture of good faith to Hades when he’d joined with the god. Fury boiled deep inside Marko to think that one of them could so easily betray their honor and the Lady.
Marko would retain his honor. He would fight to the end and would not betray the woman who’d set him free. No matter where her allegiance lay.
He raised his arm and let his claws rake over the canvas. The cloth ripped easily, opening a small window for him to peer through. It was light outside but the inside of the tent was filled with shadows.
Thankful for his preternatural vision, Marko scanned the confines. A small security light shone on the center of the room. And there in all its splendor sat the carousel. “It’s here.”
He made the hole larger and angled his body in through the opening. Kellsie followed quietly behind him. He could hear her breathing, feel the heat from her body and smell her fear.
He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine. But that was a lie. He had no idea what would become of either of them. He glanced around the confines of the tent and took a cautious step forward.