The Glassheart Chronicles Page 7

Dropping through wispy, diaphanous clouds, I tumbled from the sky in a completely unladylike fashion and landed abruptly on the sidewalk. Straightening from my crouch, I pivoted in a circle to get my bearings. I was surrounded by quiet suburban houses, all cut from the same vinyl-sided cookie-cutter. A shaggy little ankle-biter yapped at me from a handkerchief sized yard across the street. His insistent bark quickly grated on my nerves. I snarled at him and he ran yelping back to his porch, where he cowered beneath the steps.

  I smiled in satisfaction before I shook my head to clear it. It was always a little disorienting traveling back and forth between the mortal world and the Spiritlands. Honestly, I hadn’t gotten used to it again just yet. My immortal memories had only recently been returned to me and I was still getting accustomed to the whole thing. But already, I seriously hated being here. Even the air was miserable, damp and clinging to my skin.

  The only thing worse than being here was appearing as a mortal. I sighed. Like so many of the other gods and goddesses from the Spiritlands, I had been relegated to mortal form for the past several thousand years. But the Fates, the three frightening Moirae sisters, had recently given me a get-out-of-jail-free card. They had returned my goddess heritage to me, complete with body and memories, with one condition. I had to perform a task for them. And to do it, I had to assume my mortal shape just one more time. I dreaded it, but it had to be done.

  Looking around to make sure no one was near, I gritted my teeth and shape-shifted. In the blink of an instant, during which I knew I only appeared as a blur, I transformed into my mortal image. Glancing down, I opened my hand to make sure I still had the small brown leaf. It was there, resting safely on my palm. My orangey, mortal palm. Ugh. I could not wait to leave this short, pudgy body behind soon, forever. The Fates had promised. All I needed to do was this one little thing and I would never have to live as a mortal again.

  The dog from across the street was furiously yapping again, pausing only to growl. Apparently, he hadn’t appreciated my little magic trick. I gritted my teeth and pointed at him. He forcefully flew against the wall of the house before sliding lifelessly to the porch. He wouldn’t be yapping anymore.

  I calmly walked up the manicured sidewalk and stood on the delicate front steps staring in through the large, sparkling window panes. Mortal houses seemed so temporary and breakable. They were made from flimsy wood and concrete, as opposed to the marble and stone that I was accustomed to. The homes of gods were built to last forever, a requirement that mortals simply didn’t have.

  As I stared inside, I didn’t miss the irony. It seemed that I was always the outsider looking in. There was no reason to feel sorry for myself, of course. I might be an outsider, but that simply meant that I was seldom surrounded by idiots.

  Inside the house, Gavin Chase was stretched out on his sofa, sleeping with a cat curled at his side. I almost shuddered. How mortals could interact with furry creatures of that sort was entirely beyond me. But Gavin wasn’t exactly a mortal. He just didn’t remember it. Yet. But I was here now and that little issue would soon be fixed.

  I lifted a finger to ring the bell and almost shuddered again. My finger was short and stubby, over-tanned. Another thing some mortals seemed to have a penchant for. I couldn’t wait to get back to myself. My goddess body was perfect and unblemished, soft and smooth as porcelain.

  I watched Gavin wake and in amusement, studied his dark face. He had always had dark hair and eyes, in every life that he had ever lived. From the very beginning, when he was Cadmus, husband of my rival goddess, Harmonia, he had appeared the same. Dark hair, friendly white smile and an easy attitude.

  Harmonia didn’t deserve him, but life after life, she had still gotten him. It had amused the Fates to allow it- to make the gods and goddesses love and lose their soul mates time after time after time while they were in mortal form. Harmonia had been tricked by them to believe that she was a Keeper of Fate and that the fate of the world itself rested on her shoulders. Life after life, they had made her choose to allow her soul mate’s death, bound by her strange sense of loyalty and honor.

  Harmonia. Thinking of the goddess of contentment and peace made me want to retch. In each mortal life, the Fates had positioned us against each other, using our natural opposition to their advantage. We were polarized opposites in every way. I relished chaos. She enjoyed peace. Her very nature annoyed me. Why would anyone want to create harmony? Being bad was so much more fun.

  Gavin swung the door open wide and I almost laughed out loud at the expression on his face. Of course he was surprised. He still thought that his girlfriend Macy was simply a mortal like himself and that she and I were sworn enemies. And I guess his thoughts did have shreds of truth in them.

  Macy was a mortal, for now, just like Gavin. She was only just now remembering that she was actually the goddess, Harmonia. And Gavin hadn’t remembered who he really was. Today was the day of reckoning for both of them. And as for that second part… well, we were sworn enemies. Just not mortal. We had never gotten along, but technically, it wasn’t my fault. It was simply how we were created to be. But that didn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it.

  And this was going to be fun.

  “Tara?” Gavin uttered in surprise, his voice husky from sleep. I felt a little stirring from deep within in reaction to his primal maleness. He really was an attractive man. He always had been. Lean and strong, with a smile like the sun. This was going to be very fun.

  “Hey, Gavin.” I conjured up my best sweet voice. I was truly good at faking it. “Is Macy here?” I knew full well that she wasn’t.

  “No, she isn’t. She might be at her house though.” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

  I widened my eyes innocently. “Because I want to apologize. This bitterness between us is just horrible and I really want to fix it. And I was hoping to talk to her. Do you think she’ll be here soon?”

  He studied my face for a moment and I did my best to maintain an angelic expression. I was a very, very good liar and mortal men were so easily manipulated. I could see that he really wanted to believe me, the gullible idiot.

  “Possibly,” he replied cautiously. “I’ll call her and find out. Come in,” he motioned.

  I stepped gingerly past him and waited in the foyer as he closed the door.

  “Have a seat,” he gestured toward the sofa. I took one, avoiding the furry creature still languishing in the sun. It opened one eye and stared at me before lazily closing it again. Stupid feline. I remembered the dead little dog across the street and smiled an evil grin.

  Gavin pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. I waited, the anticipation lingering like expensive chocolate on my tongue. Harmonia was going to be furious, terrified… and would fall right into my hands. The Fates would be so pleased.

  But he shook his head.

  “Voicemail,” he murmured to me with his hand clasped over the phone. He waited and then spoke after the beep.

  “Hi, beautiful. Hey, you’re not going to believe this but Tara Wilson is here looking for you. She wants to apologize or something. So call me. I love you.”

  He flipped his phone closed, tossed it on the couch and shrugged at me.

  “She didn’t answer.”

  I smiled my most pleasant smile. “Is it okay if I hang out for just a minute or two to see if she calls back? I mean, surely she always returns your calls, right?”

  He looked puzzled. “Of course she does.”

  “Perfect. Then I’ll just wait a minute.” I patted the seat next to me. “Why don’t you come talk to me? I owe you a few apologies, too.”

  He stared at me suspiciously again. “You owe me an apology? What for?”

  “I owe you a couple of them. Sit down and I’ll explain.”

  He stared at the empty seat next to me and I almost laughed. Men were so easily led around by
their noses. But his hesitation did annoy me.

  “Come here,” I coaxed, in a sugar laden voice. “I don’t bite.”

  He hesitantly settled onto the edge of the couch next to me and I stroked his arm. He moved away, staring at me in apprehension. I fought back my agitation as I felt my temper begin to flare. How dare he prefer that simpering nothing to me?

  I scooted a little closer and leaned into him, inhaling his mortal scent. He smelled of cedary musk and sunshine, like the outdoors. It worked for him and I had to admit that I liked it. This wasn’t going to be a hardship, by any means.

  “I apologize for being so mean to your girlfriend. I truly do. I didn’t mean to be so… vicious. She and I have had a misunderstanding, but I want to rectify it.”

  “A misunderstanding?” Gavin raised his eyebrow. “You stole her boyfriend last year. I don’t know how, but you did. And that was cold. And that is entirely for her to forgive, not me.”

  “True. But I wanted you to know, too. You clearly love her.”

  He stared at me with cold dark eyes. “Yes, I do love her. Now, what was the second thing?”

  “Oh, yes…” I trailed off, resting one hand on his. He automatically pulled it from my grasp, his stare hardening. “There was one other thing. Just a small thing, really. I’m sorry for this, Gavin.”

  He looked at me in annoyance. “Sorry for what, Tara?”

  “This,” I murmured. Reaching for his phone, I grabbed it and stepped out of his reach before I flipped it open and hit redial. While he watched me in confusion, I waited for the beep and then started speaking.

  “Harmonia, I have Cadmus. The poor dear thinks he’s in love with me. Can you believe that? Find me and don’t dally. Bring your bloodstone and the Map of Souls.”

  “What are you talking about?” Gavin demanded, as he snatched his phone from my hands. “I don’t think I’m in love with you and why did you call me Cadmus?”

  “Oh, my sweet. There are so many things to tell you. But we should probably begin with this.”

  I stood and quickly shimmered back into my goddess body and stood proudly before him, beautiful and strong. I felt the strength returning to me as it pulsed through my veins. I had missed it, even though I had only been without it for a few minutes. Mortal bodies were so weak.

  Gavin stared at me incredulously, fear forming in his eyes as he leaped from the couch and backed away from me. I enjoyed fear, though. I could smell it a hundred yards away. And he was covered in a thick blanket of it now, anxious and apprehensive. I licked my lips and took a step toward him.

  “What the hell is going on?” he demanded as he backed further and further away. I had to smile. Did he really think he was getting away? So cute. I took another step.

  “Ah, sweet Gavin. Or should I say Cadmus?”

  He stared at me in confusion. “Why do you keep calling me Cadmus?”

  “There is so much to catch you up on, Cadmus. So much. But you’ll need to come with me, first.”

  He shook his head. “You’re crazy and I’m not going anywhere with you. You need to leave. Now.”

  I laughed, a malicious and cutting sound, even to my own ears.

  “Or what? You’ll call the police and tell them that Tara Wilson just morphed into the goddess Eris right in front of your very eyes? I think not. They’ll lock you away in a mental institution.”

  “The goddess Eris?” he repeated slowly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  I sighed. “This is getting tedious. Let us just get this over with.”

  I leaped across the room in two single bounds and pinned Gavin against the wall. I had to give him credit-- he was strong for a mortal. But I was using goddess strength and he had no chance. The scent of fear was so strong in the air around us that I couldn’t help myself. I licked the side of his neck and found the taste to be exquisite. Terror was such a turn-on. I licked him again, oblivious to his protests and struggles.

  But the delicious emotion was distracting me and I needed to focus. Shifting my purpose back into the forefront of my mind, I quickly stuck the leaf in my mouth, crushed it in my teeth and mixed it with my own saliva. Holding Gavin roughly against the wall, I forced his mouth open with my own, thrusting the crushed leaf into his mouth with my tongue.

  He struggled as hard as he could in a valiant effort to escape. But I was a hundred times stronger than he was in his mortal state. And I kept his mouth locked with my own until I was certain that the enchanted leaf had dissolved and he had swallowed it.

  The Fates had created it themselves with powerful magic, creating a strong love potion mixed with Awakening balm. He would very soon remember exactly who he was, with one minor little change. He would not remember that Harmonia was ever in his life at all. Instead, he would think that he was madly in love with me. Every instance that she had appeared in his life would simply be erased, which would leave a few confusing holes for him to deal with.

  I knew the second that the potion had taken effect. He stopped struggling and stood limply against the wall, held firm by my arms. And then he moved against me, wrapping me in his embrace, deepening the very kiss that had just enchanted him against his will. I smiled against his lips. This was easier than I had thought it would be. The magic was indeed very powerful.

  He pulled back and looked at me, his dark eyes slightly blank.

  “Eris,” he murmured. “I’m so glad you are here. Where are we?” He stared around in wonder and bewilderment at the house that I knew his mortal body had grown up in. “I don’t remember how I got here. What is this place?”

  I smiled again, forcing a pleasant expression.

  “It’s of no consequence, sweet Cadmus. All that matters is that I’ve found you and I’m going to take you home. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To go home?”

  His eyes were still glazed over in confusion, a side effect of the potion, as he nodded.

  “Yes,” he whispered huskily. “I’d like to go home.” I tried to ignore the soft place inside of me that his vulnerable voice was awakening.

  “Then come with me,” I replied softly, holding out my hand. He took it, wrapping his strong fingers around mine and staring at me with an expression of trust that I had never seen before. No one trusted me…with very good reason.

  “Come,” I repeated.

  And he did. Kneeling with him on the floor, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and thought about my home in the Spiritlands. The white marble columns rising out of the horizon at dusk, the lanterns which spread their warm light, the ancient, thick carpets collected from all around the world, the silken tapestries and bedclothes. I could practically smell the sweet scent of my homeland as I felt the familiar weakening of my limbs and we began to fade from the mortal world.

  And then suddenly, we were standing together in my home.

  Gavin stared at me in the blanked over stare that I knew I should become accustomed to. As long as the potion was in effect, he would be perpetually confused. And oh-so-malleable. I smiled at him.

  “We’re home, my sweet,” I said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. I sensed that he almost moved away from me, something that was annoying. Really? Even under the permeating effects of a love potion, he shirked away. That wouldn’t do.

  I turned and pressed myself against him, kissing him long and hard. He eventually wrapped his arms around me and returned the kiss. As he did, I couldn’t help but become absorbed by it, allowing that soft place within me to swell, just for a moment. His chest was hard, his arms were firm and he smelled really good. It was of no matter to me that he wasn’t really mine. He was mine for now.

  Cadmus pulled away and stared around me in puzzlement.

  “Is this home?” he asked as he examined my home.

  “Of course, sweetheart,“ I assured him. “We’re home in the Spiritlands. We love it here.”

  �
�The Spiritlands,” he repeated in a murmur. “We do love it here, don’t we?”

  I wanted to laugh at his perplexed gaze, but didn’t dare. I wasn’t sure exactly what would break the spell and I couldn’t risk doing anything. My freedom from mortal bonds was at stake, and nothing was more important than that.

  I led him by the hand to a serving tray on a carved banquet table. Picking up a silver pitcher full of sweet Olympic nectar, I stared into his chocolate brown eyes as I lied calmly to his face.

  “Cadmus, my love, I need you to listen. Never, ever drink from this pitcher. It is poison for you and I would never want anything to harm you. Do you understand?”

  He nodded. “Of course. It is poison to me,” he repeated blankly.

  I briefly wondered what it would be like to have a splendid man such as this love me. Truly love me as he did Harmonia. I slid my hands over his strong, muscled arms and lean torso as I leaned up to kiss the side of his neck. He no longer tasted like fear. He tasted like a man and I hadn’t had a real one in quite a while.

  But this was important. He could never drink the nectar, because once he did, it would restore his immortal form and his true memories and then he would know everything. That couldn’t happen yet. After Harmonia came here, it wouldn’t matter. But until then, I had to be careful. Very careful.

  “Don’t ever forget, my love,” I whispered as I licked his bottom lip. He nodded stoically.

  “Now then,” I continued. “I should show you where you will be sleeping.” I took his hand and he trailed behind me as we walked down the marbled floors of my hallway. Opening the double doors to my bedchambers, I showed him inside.

  He stared around at the massive bed, woven tapestries and gleaming ebony floor.

  “Are these your rooms? I will sleep here also?” he asked tentatively as he walked further inside. I nodded.

  “Is that a problem, Cadmus?” The words felt sickeningly sweet on my tongue, but he didn’t seem to notice. He shook his head.

  “Of course not. Your rooms are beautiful.”

  He walked to the veranda doors facing us and stared out at the vast expanse of land that backed up to the house. Wild flowers and tall grass blew across the empty plains of the Spiritlands. There was nothing else as far as we could see.

  “Are you looking for something?” I asked, watching his face. He seemed hopelessly lost and I knew it was from the holes in his memory. It was so entertaining.

  He shook his head slowly. “No. I don’t believe so. I just feel odd. Like I shouldn’t be here, like someone else needs me.”

  A flash of anger burned through me quickly and my head whipped around.

  “No one else needs you but me. Do you understand?” I snapped. How was it possible that even in this bewitched state he was so closely tied to Harmonia? It was unfathomable. Her hooks were embedded deep within his handsome, bronzed skin.

  He turned to me in surprise. “I meant no offense, Eris. Truly.”

  My ire faded somewhat. It was true. He did mean no harm. That was something about him that had never changed. He was a good person, with a pure soul. And if that fact didn’t sicken me so much, I would almost feel badly for doing what I was doing. But that wasn’t in my nature and in my opinion, being good made him weak.

  I walked smoothly to his side and kissed his cheek.

  “Don’t worry, my love. I’m sorry that I snapped at you. I am just tired and I’m sure you are as well. Why don’t you rest for a bit before we have dinner?”

  He nodded in compliance and walked obligingly to the bed. As he slid onto my silken bedclothes, I was briefly tempted to join him. My time with him would be short and I should take advantage of the time that I had. I wanted to know, at least one time, what it was like. But there was something I had to do first. Turning on my heel, I walked briskly from the chambers and to my desk by the fireplace in the great room.

  I pulled a sheet of parchment from a drawer and while I was thinking about what to write, I noticed a movement from the corner of my eye.

  A black raven with blood red eyes sat watching me from the open window. It was silent and still and held a rolled up paper in its sharp beak. The Fates had wasted no time. I motioned to him and he fluttered from the window to my desk in the space of one heartbeat, dropping the missive unceremoniously in front of me.

  “Lachesis would like to know if it is done?” the bird politely queried, cocking his head and staring at me with a crimson eye.

  I nodded, freezing in trepidation in spite of myself at the mention of the middle Moirae sister’s name. “Yes. Cadmus is at this very moment resting in my bedchambers.”

  The bird kicked the paper toward me with one clawed foot. “She wants you to read this and respond,” he creaked.

  I stared at the bird for a moment before unrolling the paper. It was frustrating, to say the least, to listen to the condescending tone in his voice.

  But instead of reacting, I turned my attention to the feminine scrawl on the paper.

  Harmonia will arrive with Aphrodite. Leave her unharmed and

  bring Aphrodite to us. We’ll send Alexi to escort you.

  “What kind of trickery is this?” I asked the bird in annoyance as I tossed the message onto my desk. I hated the uncertainty that I heard in my voice and quickly sought to harden it as I continued.

  “They told me to imprison Harmonia by any means necessary and deliver the bloodstone to them. And now I am to ignore Harmonia and focus on Aphrodite?”

  And I had so been looking forward to using ‘any means necessary’.

  The inky black raven stared at me unblinkingly and slightly judgmental.

  “Are you questioning the Fates?” he asked calmly.

  The threat was clear in its voice. I quickly shook my head. I should not anger them. There was no point. Obviously, I would do what they wanted.

  “No. I do not question them.” I stared at the bird defiantly, daring him to challenge me. He did not. Instead, he cocked his head again, motioning silently toward the blank paper in front of me.

  Gritting my teeth, I reached for a pen.

  It will be done.

  I rolled up the parchment and handed it to the bird and he balanced one foot on it while staring at me.

  “You can do whatever you may,” he croaked. “But remember. Harmonia is the Chosen One.”

  My head snapped up.

  “You believe the prophecies?” I asked incredulously.

  He stared at me, his bloody red eye staring straight into my thoughts, it seemed.

  But he remained frustratingly silent.

  For a brief moment, one split second, a rush of white hot fear flooded through me and stilled my heart. Could it be true? Would Harmonia be the one who would demolish the Moirae sisters’ rule over the Spiritlands? Could she restore the throne in Olympus?

  But I shook my head. It couldn’t be. How could the goddess of harmony and contentment be anywhere close to powerful enough to conquer the Fates? It was impossible and I willed my rapid heartbeats to still. The bird did not know what it was talking about. It was only one step above a carrier pigeon.

  He stared at me in amusement and I fought the urge to strangle him.

  “It’s foolish to doubt,” he observed.

  “Just deliver my message to the Fates,” I snapped. “Be gone.”

  He scooped up my missive in his beak and waddled to the edge of my desk before flying out the window in a flurry of black feathers. I sat still for a second before I moved. I would be fine. The Fates would not be toppled. And if I served them well, they would allow me to stay here in my home. I sighed despondently. I definitely did not want to return to the mortal world. And that very thought made me remember the beautiful mortal slumbering in my bed at this very moment and I smiled.

  I didn’t even waste the time walking to my bedchambers. I simply envisioned it and I was suddenl
y standing next to the bed, staring down at Cadmus’ tranquil face. In sleep, he had a boyish quality that made him seem vulnerable and appealing. His dark hair had fallen over one eye and I reached down to brush it away. At the touch of my hand upon his brow, he opened his eyes.

  “Hi,” I murmured quietly. Why did I suddenly feel so nervous? This was all a game. He was nothing to me but a way to lure Harmonia to my home. Yet my own body was traitorous and I felt an unexpected, wild longing for this man.

  “Hi,” he answered uncertainly. He nervously ran his fingers through his hair as he watched me. “Did you come to nap?”

  “Yes,” I smiled. “And then some.”

  I slipped the straps of my shift off of my shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Cadmus flushed and looked away. I leaned forward and with one finger, turned his head toward me.

  “You’re not a virgin, my love,” I murmured.

  He nodded silently as I crawled into bed with him. His body was warm and masculine and I was really going to enjoy this.

  Climbing on top of him, I bent to kiss the side of his neck and then his lips as I moved against him. His eyes fluttered closed and I watched him as I slid my body over his. His muscles flexed and tightened as he arched toward me in a complete physical reaction to my touch. His face was beautiful in its perfection.

  Until he spoke.

  “Harmonia,” he whispered.

  I froze and his eyes flew open.

  “Is something wrong, Eris?” he asked cautiously. He didn’t even realize what he had said.

  But from the wary way he watched me and the tense way he held himself, I could tell that he innately knew that I was dangerous, even if his mind was telling him that he loved me. It appeared that I couldn’t even pretend that he was mine…because deep down, he never would be. A lump formed in my throat, but I quickly swallowed it and replaced it with fury.

  I threw the covers off, picked up my clothing and stormed from the room, pausing in the hall to get dressed and compose myself. Cadmus didn’t even call after me, something that I tried not to let pain me.

  After I had gotten my temper under control, I continued into the great room and dropped into a chaise lounge with a sigh. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered- he was nothing to me. But I couldn’t deny that his reaction had stung. I truly had thought that he would prefer me to her, if he was just given a chance.

  Movement in the doorway caught my attention and I glanced up.

  Harmonia’s jade green eyes stared at me through the glass of my front door. I felt a wickedness welling up in me and before I could stop myself, I called for Cadmus. Almost immediately, he appeared, just as I knew he would, smiling apologetically at me.

  I motioned for him to come closer, perfectly aware that Harmonia’s gaze was upon us. Cadmus came to me willingly and I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him close to me, inhaling his kiss, deepening it as I held him next to me. My knees actually felt weak from it by the time he stepped away. But it had served its purpose. I kept my eyes locked with Harmonia’s and hers were full of pain, a fact that I enjoyed.

  At her loud knocking, Cadmus walked away from me to open the door. I listened to him speak with Aphrodite as I watched Harmonia’s face with pleasure. She was tormented, her lovely features twisted in angst… just how I liked them. This was not what she had expected. I was sure that she had thought that I was torturing him. Never had she guessed that he had been in my bed. And she would never know exactly what we had done there.

  She flashed a look of rage in my direction and then marched over to stand in front of me.

  “What have you done, Eris?” she demanded, her green eyes spitting jade flames.

  “I have no idea what you mean, Harmonia,” I answered innocently, trying my best not to laugh. She had no idea how amusing she was. I felt the need to rub it in, to make it even worse for her. I would only have this leverage over her for a short while- I wanted to use it while I could. I called to Cadmus.

  “Cadmus, darling. Please come sit with me. I have the need to feel you near.”

  He stared at me dutifully as he walked to my side and sat. The fury on Harmonia’s face was too entertaining and I couldn’t contain myself. I laughed in her face.

  “What have you done?” she repeated, gritting her teeth.

  Keeping my eyes glued to hers, I let my fingers wander aimlessly over Cadmus’ toned shoulders and arms, trailing down to rest lightly on the top of his thigh. There was no way that she could feel him tense up at my touch. I was the only one who knew of his innate discomfort.

  “I have no idea what you mean, Harmonia,” I answered pleasantly. “Is it so far-fetched to imagine that Cadmus just acquired better taste and prefers me to you?”

  I could see Harmonia clench her jaw before she answered.

  “He doesn’t even know who I am. You’ve done something, you wretched snake.”

  At the venom in her voice, Cadmus raised his gaze to hers, then shifted to mine. He was clearly startled.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Yes,” Harmonia answered. “You are mine. We’ve been together for thousands of years. You don’t belong here.”

  I started to speak, to object, but there was no need. Because Cadmus laughed, a rich, husky sound that echoed throughout my stone home. And Harmonia’s face fell. I reveled in her sadness and stayed silent.

  “I think I would remember that, would I not?” Cadmus asked her, his twinkling warm eyes attached to her face. I could see, just for a second, that he was hoping it was true. Even in this confused state, he felt a connection to her, a connection so strong that magic and my best efforts couldn’t break it. It was maddening.

  He turned to me and his expression changed into one of necessity. Pleasant necessity, but necessity nonetheless. I steeled myself against the emotion that he invoked in me. What was wrong with me? None of this mattered. He didn’t matter.

  “Sweet Eris, we should invite your friends in for the night. The Chimeras will be out soon. We wouldn’t want them to get waylaid by one.”

  I felt a smile forming as I shook my head. “No, that would indeed be tragic, dear Cadmus.”

  Harmonia was at a loss for words, something I had never before witnessed. It was vastly amusing. I watched her face the reality that it wasn’t safe for her to travel the Spiritlands at night. Finally, she turned to me, wrenching her eyes from Cadmus’ face.

  “Thank you, dear friend,” she spit. “We would be ever so grateful for your shelter.”

  Cadmus grinned, a beautiful smile that took my breath away. And it was directed at her. I steeled my heart once again.

  “Wonderful. Any friend of Eris’ is a friend of mine. I will see to your rooms.”

  He pushed off of the couch and strode from the room with a masculine, loping walk. Both Harmonia and I watched his broad shoulders disappear through the doorway before she turned to me once more.

  “What did you do?”she hissed.

  “As if I would tell you,” I answered in satisfaction. I couldn’t make Cadmus want me, but I could enjoy the pain that I inflicted upon Harmonia. She would never know what had happened between him and me, something that I knew would torture her forever. That would have to be enough.

  For the first time, I noticed the entourage that had accompanied her. Aphrodite and the Amazon queen, Ortrera, stood anxiously behind Harmonia, with Ortrera’s warriors lingering on my porch. I fixed my gaze on Aphrodite. For whatever reason, she was supposed to be my focus now.

  Ortrera stepped forward from the shadows and murmured into Harmonia’s ear. Regardless of her quiet tone, my goddess hearing could hear her words perfectly.

  “My warriors will be outside guarding our horses,” she said quietly to Harmonia. “I shall stay inside with you.”

  Harmonia nodded while I pondered that. I would need a plan that would thwart the Amazon qu
een while I absconded with Aphrodite and that was not going to be an easy task. My thoughts though, were interrupted when Cadmus reentered. In the flickering candlelight, his bronzed face was so handsome that it was almost painful. I swallowed hard, knowing in that second, as he focused on Harmonia, that he would always be hers.

  “Your rooms are ready,” he announced to Harmonia. “If you would come with me, I’ll show you the way.”

  Unable to concede quietly, I couldn’t resist another jab at my nemesis.

  “Don’t be gone long, Cadmus dear,” I sang in what I hoped was a lighthearted tone. “I shall need you again shortly.”

  He nodded, smiling a curt smile in my direction before he led the visitors out of the room and down the hall. Watching his broad back disappear, I knew that the charade was over. I could no longer play house with Harmonia’s husband. I needed to focus on what I needed to do in order to keep my immortality.

  Rushing to my desk, I yanked open drawers until I found what I needed.

  A small vial full of a sleeping potion so potent that it could level an entire clan of Chimeras rested innocuously inside a velvet bag. The glistening gold vial sparkled in my fingers as I lifted it out and rolled it back and forth. The liquid within was more useful than most of its kind, because it didn’t need to be ingested. I simply had to rub it on my fingers and then touch the skin of whomever I wanted to effect. Because I had created it, I was immune. The most casual of touches and even the fierce Amazon queen would go down. Unless awakened by equally powerful magic, she would sleep for a hundred years.

  Calmly walking down the hall with the potion in my hand, I passed the bath chambers. From within the closed doors, I could hear Harmonia and Cadmus murmuring softly. They were in there, together and alone. I paused, frozen to the floor, as I listened to Cadmus’ raspy moan and the smooth sound of flesh rubbing against flesh.

  I closed my eyes for a brief painful second, blocking out the images that sprang instantly to my mind. I couldn’t help but imagine them wrapped in an intimate reunion embrace, staring lovingly into each other’s eyes and my heart physically hurt. I blocked it out as I crept toward the Amazon’s bedchambers.

  I had one mission and one purpose only.

  I didn’t even know that I was crying until my vision blurred and a tear dripped onto my hand. Annoyed with myself for showing weakness, I wiped quickly at my eyes. I was being ridiculous. Cadmus was nothing to me. Nothing. But strangely, regardless of my internal protests, I knew that I would feel his absence and his rejection for some time to come. It was profoundly painful. But I couldn’t think about that now. That would come later, I knew, when I was attempting to sleep in the dark… alone.

  Putting it out of my mind for now, I studied the muscled woman standing with her back to me at the windows. Ortrera was watching her warriors make camp outside and I knew I only had a few moments before her keen instincts sensed my presence. It would only take one touch from my hand. Just one. And then she would be out of my way and I could deliver Aphrodite to the Fates, securing my eternal freedom.

  It would only take a second.

  I stepped into her room and closed the door softly behind me.

 

  The End… for now.