Marko was perfectly still beside her. She could feel him willing his friend to come to life, sense his hope and his fear. The lion’s back shifted slightly beneath her, muscle rippling. Then nothing. Finally, after several minutes passed, she opened her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
He raised his head and gave her a sad smile. “Thank you for trying.”
She slid off the animal’s back and Marko was there to help steady her. His dark eyes were filled with sadness. She was sorry she’d been unable to help the remaining trapped warriors, but the connection just wasn’t there. She placed her hand over Marko’s heart, feeling the strong, steady beat against her palm. He was so vibrant and alive. So real. “I wish I could do more.”
He shook his head and his hair brushed against the side of her face. “No. You’ve done enough. I should have sent you on your way to safety hours ago.”
“But if everything you said is true, then there is nowhere I can go that’s safe.” The thought of being away from Marko made her stomach roil. She wasn’t sure she liked how he affected her. She was used to being alone, yet the thought of being without Marko left her reeling.
“It’s too late now.” He caught her shoulders in his hands, digging his fingers into her skin. “Promise me you’ll run if I tell you to.” His eyes were so intense it was almost hard to look at them. They blazed like dark topaz in the light. He shook her lightly. “Promise me.”
She wouldn’t lie to him. “I can’t.” As much as a part of her wanted to run away and hide, she knew she couldn’t leave Marko to face his enemies alone.
“Well, this is all fine and touching, but we have business to attend to.” The voice came from out of the dark corner behind her. Marko spun her around, putting her behind him. She reached out and steadied herself against the carousel, her hand brushing over the body of the wolf. Fur bristled beneath her fingers before turning to wood again. She jerked her hand away, startled by the sensation.
A light clicked on, spotlighting the corner where the voice emanated. She blinked as the light temporarily blinded her. Not that she needed her vision to know who was there. She easily recognized him.
As her eyes adjusted, she could see Mordecai standing in the middle of the circle of light, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He was wearing black combat boots, khaki pants and a black T-shirt. A knife sheath sat on his left hip. His dark eyes blazed with power.
Shit. This wasn’t the same man who’d tried to seduce her. Well, it was, but it wasn’t. She could feel the dark power flowing off him now, and it scared the crap out of her.
“Mordecai.” There was pure steel in Marko’s voice as he greeted his former brother-in-arms.
“Marko,” he returned. “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get down to business.”
“I have no business with you, traitor.”
“No, you don’t. Your business is with me.” The deep, seductive voice seemed to come from everywhere. Kellsie jerked her head right and left, searching for the owner. She knew it could only be one person—Hades.
She recognized this cultured, sardonic tone from her dream. Now she wondered if maybe it had been real after all. Just the thought of Hades invading her sleep made her queasy. She shivered, wishing she had some kind of a weapon. But what did one use to slay a god?
He coalesced from the darkness, seemingly stepping out of a black hole. Great special effect, but this wasn’t a movie. She clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. How had she gotten herself into such a situation? She wasn’t special. She was simply a woman trying to make a decent life for herself as an actress.
“Oh, but you’re very special, my dear.” A tall man in a designer suit stepped forward. He was too good looking to be real. His features were carved to perfection. His skin swarthy, his eyes coal-black. His lips were thin and managed to look both cruel and sensual at the same time.
Pure power and danger surrounded him, and Kellsie shifted a bit closer to Marko. Crap, he could read her thoughts. She desperately tried to throw up a mental block to keep him out. She concentrated on building high, thick walls in her mind.
Hades threw back his head and laughed. His black hair brushed against his shoulders. It wasn’t too long or too short. It was fashionable, as was the rest of him. He wore a ring on one finger and a diamond stud in one ear.
“You are amusing,” he continued. “In case you don’t know it by now, I’m Hades, Lord of the Underworld.” He inclined his head slightly in greeting.
Okay, so the guy seemed to think a lot of himself. I mean, who gave themselves that long a title? Of course, he was the god of Hell, so she guessed he could afford to be vain.
She mentally slapped herself before she descended into hysteria. She practically held her breath, not daring to move, not knowing what might set him off.
“You’ve performed well, given me exactly what I wanted.” He gestured to Marko before greeting him. “It’s nice to see you up and around again.”
Marko growled but didn’t say anything.
“Ah, the bear was always stoic. Not like the white tiger who roared at everyone and everything, or dramatic like Phoenix who just went up in a flash of light and flame, or that annoying jaguar.” Hades shook his head. “So predictable. All of you.” He nodded at Mordecai who was standing still and silent as a stone. “I knew the serpent would come over to my side in order to save himself, and I was right.” He turned his back on his second in command, dismissing him for the moment.
Kellsie was watching both men. Not by a twitch or a flicker of a gesture did Mordecai reveal what he was truly thinking. How did it feel to have his less-than-honorable actions paraded before others? Perhaps he didn’t care.
Hades snapped his fingers, bringing her attention back to him. A thick scroll appeared in his left hand. He shook it out and the parchment unrolled and fell to the floor.
“Let’s get down to business. I have a proposition for you.”
Chapter Fourteen
It was taking every ounce of restraint Marko had to control his urge to attack. But that way would lead to failure. Brute strength alone would accomplish nothing. He had to outthink Hades if he was going to win his freedom and save Kellsie. He couldn’t think beyond that, not now.
Hades was as Marko remembered—smooth, sophisticated and cultured. But beneath the glossy coating was the real man—grasping, power-hungry and cunning. With each moment that passed, Marko was aware of the clock ticking toward midnight. He didn’t know how long they had to survive, probably a little more than twelve hours. A lifetime when trying to keep the devil from claiming your soul.
He could feel Kellsie behind him. She was quiet but he knew she had to be terrified. Once again, he wished she wasn’t a part of this. He reached out with his right hand and pushed her more solidly behind him.
Hades noticed the gesture and simply smiled. Marko’s blood ran cold. When Hades smiled, it boded ill for others. Truthfully, he was surprised the god was here. His usual method of operation was to send in his minions until victory was assured. Hades wasn’t one to bother getting his hands dirty. He might be an immortal, powerful god, but there was always a chance his power could be taken by his brethren. Marko had no idea what powers Zeus or the others might wield. Hades much preferred to see others suffer and die in his name. Marko had slain thousands of Hades’ demons in the war before he’d been cursed and the Lady captured.
“Business,” Hades reminded him, gesturing to the scroll. “I’d like to make an offer.”
“I’m not interested in anything you have to say,” he growled. How he wanted to go for Hades’ throat. But that was stupid and probably what Hades was hoping for. Without his full powers, Marko couldn’t even hope to keep the god at bay. Defeating him was an impossibility by himself. He needed the others with him, and even then it wasn’t an assured victory by any means. After all, Hades had defeated them once before.