She sensed someone near her but didn’t feel any threat from whoever or whatever it was. It was disconcerting to say the least, but she couldn’t afford to stop and investigate. Her window of opportunity was running out.
The tunnel was narrowing as it came to an end and she pushed forward, stumbling into the light. She cried out and threw her arms over her face to protect it. It had been more than five thousand years since she’d last seen any light at all, and even the mellow glow of the moonlight was too much for her to bear.
She fell to her knees and felt the cool moss and grass against her skin, the wind stroking her body like a lover’s caress. Tears spilled down her cheeks and onto the ground, which hungrily sucked the moisture in. Sweet-smelling violets immediately sprang from the salty drops. Their scent enveloped her and she smiled. She was home.
Hades felt the shift in his realm as the outer barrier was breached, and he threw back his head and roared. The walls around him shook and every demon raced for cover, including Luna, none wanting to bear the brunt of their master’s anger.
The goddess had escaped from Hell. How had that happened?
His senses flared and he searched for the rift, finding the tiny breach in the wall of his domain in a long-forgotten, dusty, abandoned corner of his realm. His fury sent rocks tumbling, collapsing the tunnel so no other could use it. Candlelight flared into mighty torches and illuminated everything around him. The mirror he used to see into other realms shook and rattled in its ornate frame.
“Mordecai!” He’d kill the warrior with his bare hands for allowing this to happen. “Mordecai,” he roared again. A nearby candle flared so high and burned so hot it scorched the rock ceiling and several goblets on a nearby table shattered with the vibrations of his anger.
“You bellowed, my lord.” Mordecai sauntered into the room looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Luna ducked out behind him and disappeared from view. He hadn’t given her permission to leave. He’d deal with her later.
Hades was literally breathing fire as he stepped down off the low dais that held his majestic carved throne and approached his general. “How did this happen?”
Mordecai didn’t even pretend not to understand what Hades was angry about, which was the only thing that kept Hades from killing him instantly. “I was training your armies. You’re the one who made the deal with the Lady. I thought you had the situation under control.” Mordecai raised an eyebrow in question and Hades wanted to hit him and shatter every bone in the warrior’s face. He promised himself he would do so just as soon as his war was won.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Next thing his dear brother Zeus would be coming to see what all the commotion was. He was realistic enough to know that both his brothers had spies in his realm, but thankfully, none close enough to the seat of power to discover what was really going on. After all, he had spies in theirs. There was no love, or trust, between them.
“I would rather she’d stayed here until the battle was over, but it is of no consequence. She has no power now and is even weaker than my brothers.” Hades straightened the cuffs on his designer suit, in control of himself once again. His temper was his greatest weakness and it behooved him to control it, especially in front of one as cunning as Mordecai.
“How are the armies coming along?” Better to focus on what was important. The Lady of the Beasts had escaped into a world that no longer remembered her. She was powerless against him. The world belonged to him with its greed and violence. The only step left was for him to claim it. He listened with half an ear as Mordecai droned on and on about battle plans and tactical maneuvers. Who cared about such things? Maybe Ares, the god of war, but not Hades. All that mattered to him was the outcome.
In the meantime, he would test this new warrior who’d been set free from the curse and find out what the lion was made of. What were his weaknesses and strengths? Could he be easily bought or manipulated? It would also be a test of the female who was with him. She would probably be the weak link.
Women were always weaker. Just look at the Lady of the Beasts. She’d been easily beaten and imprisoned along with her faithful warriors. He conveniently disregarded the loyalty and bravery of the last two women who’d released Roric and Marko from their captivity. As far as he was concerned, they were nothing more than an anomaly.
He dismissed Mordecai and called on four of his best fighting demons. He gave them instructions, opened a portal, sent them through the utter blackness and shut it behind them. He didn’t think they’d be coming back. But that was of little consequence as long as he learned what he wanted.
He stalked back to his massive wooden chair and threw himself into it. He rubbed the smooth wood as he turned to the mirror and commanded it to show him the warrior and the human female.
Chapter Seven
Araminta froze in place, trying to figure out where the danger lurked. Leander certainly thought that someone was in the parking garage with them. And where the heck had he gotten the sword he was now holding in his right hand? It seemed to have come from out of nowhere just like his clothing had, just like he had.
She blinked and tightened her hand around the handle of her suitcase. The night just kept getting crazier and crazier. She bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming. What was next? Some demon from Hell? Scratch that thought. She could do without the demon. It might finally push her over the edge and make her check herself into a hospital.
Leander’s gaze was centered on the far end of the parking garage. It was extremely quiet, even for the middle of the night. The sounds of traffic echoed through the cavernous building, but they were faint and distant. A plinking sound came from her left—water dripping onto metal.
She shifted position and her bag scraped against the floor. It seemed overly loud in the open area. About half the lot was empty, but there were still plenty of vehicles for someone to hide behind, which was why her car was parked near the entrance. As a single woman, she always had to be aware of such things, and she didn’t like parking garages even in the middle of the day. They gave her the willies.
She reached out and lightly touched Leander’s arm. He barely glanced her way before returning his attention to the far end of the platform. “I’m parked right here.” She kept her voice at a whisper and pointed to a spot only about twenty feet away, not wanting to alert anyone else who might be nearby. She reached into her purse and dug out her keys.
“Move slow and stay behind me,” he ordered. She was more than willing to comply. It would be stupid not to stay behind the big, strong warrior wielding a four-foot sword. And if there was one thing she wasn’t, it was stupid.
Leander eased forward, carefully placing one foot in front of the other. In order to stay as quiet as possible, Araminta picked up her suitcase and followed him, not wanting the wheels of the bag to scrape against the pitted concrete.
So far, so good. Araminta was beginning to wonder if Leander wasn’t just imagining things. Doubts began to creep in once more. Maybe he was making everything up and she was just gullible? But what would he have to gain from that? She’d already slept with him, and she wasn’t exactly rolling in money.
They reached her reliable Honda, but he stopped her before she could shove her key in the lock. “Let me.” He held out his hand and she reluctantly handed over her key. Honestly, this whole caution thing was getting out of hand.
Still, she recognized stubborn when she saw it, and the thinning of Leander’s lips and imperious lift of one brow let her know he wasn’t going to let her unlock her own door. For the sake of expediency, she surrendered her car keys.