Present Day

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Allie Standifer

The Poseidon Brothers Series Book 1

Poseidon’s Prophesy By:

Allie Standifer Triskelion Publishing www.triskelionpublishing.com

Triskelion Publishing 15327 W. Becker Lane Surprise, AZ 85379 First e Published by Triskelion Publishing First e publishing March 2007 ISBN 1-60186-122

Copyright 2007 Allie Standifer All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission of the publisher except, where permitted by law.

Cover design Triskelion Publishing.

Publisher’s Note. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to a person or persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental.

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Dedication To the Mt. Helicon Muses: Ladies, I’m finally catching up! Thanks for the late night sanity chats, the unending support, countless reads and for telling me I had a voice. Most of all this is dedicated to my parents. For always telling me to reach for the moon and stars no matter how far away they may seem. Without your love and support this book would still be a dream. I love you both!

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The Legend Death permeated the air, weighing down the oxygen with the smell of blood and fear. It was war. War meant demise and destruction. It was the beginning of the end for their world and their way of life. Hermes flew across the land with fear beating in rhythm with the wings of his sandals. His mind centered on one thought only. He must find the sea god before it was too late. Zeus needed his brothers to fight off the freed Titans. Finally spotting the lord of the waters, Hermes watched the water god’s body moving in a nymph. Not long ago manners and a healthy respect for his own life would have demanded Hermes wait until they both regained their breath but at this moment, manners weren’t important and his life wasn’t all that certain. ***** Poseidon turned to look over his shoulder, his sea colored eyes showing no surprise at the presence of his brother’s messenger. This was the moment he’d both dreaded and prepared for. He knew what was to come and what he had to do. But knowing the outcome didn’t make the moment any less painful. Gracefully he came to his feet not waiting for Hermes to speak. “Tell my brother, lord of the skies, I will join in battle with him before the mount is taken.” The messenger didn’t wait for further explanation. He turned and winged his way back to Mt. Olympus. Poseidon lowered his hand to the lovely woman sitting open-mouthed in shock over the identity of her lover and the news of battle. “You must leave now and forever forget what you have heard today.” He spoke harshly knowing her life and the future depended on her cooperation. He waved a hand. “Go now before it is too late.” She didn’t speak. She stood, gathered her clothes and fled. Poseidon tilted his head back and looked at the deep blue sky. He shuddered for what he was about to do. Waves crashed against the shore, distant mountains rumbled, and the air was tainted with foreign smells making each intake of breath painful. He turned in a slow circle facing the water and mountains then shouted. “Alexial, Dorian, Come to me now, all of you. Delay me not, my sons.” The air stirred and the water rose as the earth shifted. They were coming. His warrior’s mind accepted the sacrifice that was to come as a sound plan of battle. But what he must do to ensure their survival and that of their race caused his father’s heart to bleed. Alexial was the first to arrive, his dark hair ruffled by the restless ocean. He was the son any man, mortal or immortal alike, would be proud of. All his sons stirred his pride, but Alexial looked beyond the obvious answers to the truth within. His nature was cautious but open to possibilities. He would lead his brothers through the dangerous times ahead with his head straight, never letting go of his goal.

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Dorian followed Alexial, Alexial’s best friend and immediate younger brother; his midnight hair tamed against the relentless wind. Though Poseidon knew Dorian would ensure Alexial’s life at the expense of his own, he prayed to the one God that the choice would never happen. Dorian would suffer much before being given the chance to find his own peace. His boisterous laughter and quick wit would be silenced by his father’s own hand. The guilt accompanying the thought made him turn away from the young man’s steely gaze. Seven additional men converged upon the shore where their father stood. None of them dared to break the silence pressing against them. They stood tall, fearless, and ready to bow to his will without question or voice. Poseidon surveyed his sons and wished there were more time. Wished there was another way, any way. To prevent the shadow hunters from finding the last of his remaining decedents and cursing all humanity to enslavement, he was forced to curse them into a life without meaning. An existence built on the frail hope that someday the curse would be undone and the prophecy fulfilled. He forced calm into his voice. “The Titans have been freed.” He held up a hand to stop questions he knew would come. “It matters not how they were freed. What matters is the battle today they will win. We will lose Olympus, but I refuse to lose the future.” Alexial shook his head denying what his ears heard. “Father, where do you—“ Poseidon cut him off. ”There is nothing any of you can do to change the tide of this battle. It was foretold and so it will be.” He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the salt of the ocean, taking comfort in the familiar scent. He turned to his oldest son. “You will be needed for a future battle. Alexial.” “You will lead your brothers. You alone will shoulder the responsibility of not only mankind, but the lives of each of your siblings. Do you accept that which I have entrusted to you?” There was no hesitation when his son spoke. “I will.” “Do you promise me fealty? Loyalty? Submission to my choices and decisions in all matters?” He pressed each question, knowing the answers but knew the test had to be done. “On my life, I promise you all this and more. You have my life, heart, soul and my word that what you command, I shall do, upon my life.” Honesty rang pure in his rich voice. Poseidon nodded and prayed he hadn’t mislaid his trust in this one. “Then offer me the life of your brothers,” he demanded. His voice empty of emotion. To Alexial’s credit shock flared only an instant before it was submerged. The others remained still, eyes locked on the battle playing forth in front of them. “I cannot,” he responded. Eyebrows arched high, he stood staring at the one he would have the others call leader. “You cannot or will not?” Broad shoulders shrugged in much too casual a gesture. “Cannot, will not, it is the same.” “You promised on your life to be at my service and obey my commands. Is this how you guard your word?” “True, I offered my life, Father. I did not, however, offer the lives of my brothers. I will not turn on them to save myself, not even for you.” Alexial stood firm and proud before his father, daring him to strike.

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Instead of the harsh words and angry face expected, Poseidon smiled and clasped his shoulder. “You do well, my son. You offer what is in you to give, but you never bargain with that which is not yours to offer. You will lead the others with wisdom.” The god’s face lost amusement when the mountains rumbled. A reminder that time was short and he could put off the inevitable no longer. “My sons, I regret with my father’s heart what I am about to do. But as a warrior, I can only assure you there is no other way to prevent you from being destroyed. Remember my words. Remember your laughter and tears. Hold strong to the feel of the wind on your skin, the taste of rain on your lips, the sweetness of air in your lungs. For now I will take all that from you to secure not only your future but our own as well.” Raising his golden trident above his head, he circled the massive staff in the air above them. Whispering words only he could hear, uttering prayers only he knew. Sweeping one last circle around them he spoke above the sudden rising wind, the waves swelling in agitation. “By the power of the mountains and the stirring of the sea, I command your souls to come to me. From this moment on, I take your soul, which makes you man and leave your emotions buried within the sands. You’ll feel no wind within your hair, no gentle silk on skin so bare. Into your memory laughter and tears will fade. Until the joining of two souls are made. From the ashes of extension one shall rise to guide the nine, hidden from sight, silenced by sound, the lies of the ages keep the nine bound.” He pointed the staff at each son, in the center of their chest. Poseidon felt the pain as fire filled their bodies, the feel of limbs being torn, lungs grasping for breath before a heart stuttered, and then shoved them to their knees. He lifted the souls from their bodies and cast them into the wind. He knew the enemy would find them by the call of their immortal souls. This way, they would be safe. He looked down at his bowed sons writhing on the sand, pain etched on their features and questions burned beyond the pain in their eyes. “Forgive me, my sons, I knew of no other way to protect you. You are my final hope to save us all. There is one I will send to you in the future. Listen well to his words and heed his actions. He might well be the wave that changes the tide of your victory. Remember, the Phoenix always emerges from within the ashes of hell.” In his last act of protection Poseidon advanced to the water’s edge. He raised his beloved Trident with both hands and broke the golden rod into ten pieces. Once the weapon lay broken within his hands, he heaved them into the ocean. Poseidon vowed “It will never be whole until all of my children have recaptured their souls. And when they have found the woman holding their soul, their hearts will beat, their lungs will fill with air, their senses will flare and their dormant bodies will once again live.” He knew they would have the Phoenix to show them the way. In a blink of light he was gone.

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The Prophesy

Chapter 1

Present Day Jewels gleamed in the smooth rock wall, while a waterfall echoed throughout the cavern mixing with raised masculine voices. “I don’t give a shark’s ass what he says, I won’t do it.” “We have never refused his requests. Why should we do so now?” Alexial questioned. Kryssin’s heated glare would have melted another man to a puddle. As it was his older brother shrugged and sat in the leather recliner. “Why me?” Krys demanded. “Because it was asked of you,” came the calm reply. “Asked?” Krys pounced. “It was never asked of me. This is another one of that cursed Phoenix’s games. Send me out amongst mortals in daylight, then have me poke about through whatever relics they have managed to scavenger up from the ocean. What is the point of it?” he asked again. “Why now? Why this find?” Alexial shook his head. “It is not for us to question. I am not sure of the whys or hows but think on this, little brother. What if now is because we are closer than we’ve ever been? As to why this find? What if it is a link to the missing prophecy? Would you be more eager to go then?” “Why should we trust him?” “We have no choice but to trust him. He is the only one left to guide us.” “Then why will he not show himself? Why send messages only? First, the scroll messenger, second came the birds bearing his cryptic notes, then mail, a recording on the phone and now e-mail. How can he truly be an Oracle? That is what I want to know.” Kryssin grew agitated at the thought of their anonymous guardian. “I ask you, what kind of seer forwards chain mail?” It was true, Alexial thought. Phoenix rarely went a day without sending them some type of joke or urban legend warning though their e-mail. It baffled them all, but Dorian more than the others. He thought someone holding power such as the Phoenix should be more serious and respectful of their position. Not randomly sending jokes about Little Johnny and his wayward mouth. Or chain mail warning of dire consequences if they didn’t immediately send it out to ten more people. “You must admit it keeps us on our toes. His message came crammed between news of a new virility gum and a joke about vampires.” In all his existence, Alexial had never heard of a wise man with a sense of humor. It was just their luck to be the charges of the first. Kryssin’s head lowered in shame. It truly wasn’t his place or right to question Alexial, much less Phoenix, an Oracle. But damn it, he wanted to be left alone. Not to be pushed out in the midst of mortals, feeling, breathing living mortals with their pulsing blood that begged to be tasted. Kryssin knew his wants and needs weren’t considered important. It was the service he would be doing for his brothers. Every day, he made a pledge to himself he would bring no

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shame to those that called him family. He would search to find the missing scrolls of the prophecy to unlock the cure of their existence. “Eager?” he questioned. “I do not know if eager is the word I would have used.” Alexial merely lifted a black brow silently telling him to go on. “Why me, Alex? I have no great experience in dealing with ancient text and such. Send Eryx, he’d be perfect.” “It is not for me to question an Oracle, Krys. It is simply my duty to carry the orders out, as it is your own.” Alexial got up from his chair and walked over to him. “I know this is hard for you to understand and even more difficult to follow, but there must be a reason Phoenix has chosen you. These new scrolls have to mean something or else he wouldn’t risk sending you out in the sun hours.” Kryssin winced at his brother’s words. If Alexial and the others knew how unworthy he really was, they would kill him themselves rather than bestow this honor upon him. His maternal relationship lacked anything even closely resembling affection. His mother hadn’t cared what her son’s interests or concerns were until she thought he could be maneuvered into betraying those he held dear. His refusal had turned her into a madwoman, cursing him and his father while vowing to destroy whatever he came to love. He knew she would have kept that promise just for the satisfaction of bringing him pain. Kryssin prayed to whatever god would listen that his brothers never found out. If the time came that they did, his life, such as it was, would be over. And his body would be surrendered to the unfeeling sea for all eternity. ***** “The stupid, ignorant, fat headed, media hungry jerk,” Clio Foster mumbled as she made her way from her boss’s office into the dim hallway of the university. “What does he care about preserving history? He wouldn’t know history if it bit him in his plaid lipstick covered ass.” “Calm down, Clio,” Tara Masters said as she pushed her friend down the threadbarecarpeted corridor. “He wants publicity without the work. You knew that before you even opened your mouth about the scrolls.” Clio stopped in her tracks. “I didn’t open my mouth. Well,” she waved a hand to stop her best friend’s protest, “I did, but I was remarking on the difference between acid levels found in my jars compared to the knockoff jars Thomas was trying to foist off on us. Never, did I once mention my desire to unveil the scrolls I found to the world, especially when I don’t know anything about them yet.” Tara took her arm and continued to propel her down the hall where the press awaited in the main conference hall. “Fine, I believe you. You didn’t mean to say the magic words, undiscovered ancient scrolls, in front of the world’s most anal-retentive money hungry, publicity desperate boss ever created. It slipped out. That’s fine, honey,” she soothed the other woman. “But now you have to pay the price for you brain going on vacation at the time.” They turned the corner of the narrow hallway, both women stopping at the closed door. “What am I supposed to say to all those reporters?”

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Tara absently answered while she dug in the massive suitcase she called a purse. “You’re going to play the game of dodge and don’t answer.” Her hand came up with a tube of MAC lipstick, lipstick brush and a small two-handled object Clio was afraid to identify. “Oh great, that will make me look good. Dr. Clio Foster has scrolls but no idea where or when they came from. Think that will get me promoted?” she asked sarcastically. “Keeping your mouth shut will stop you from getting fired. Does that count?” Clio rubbed a hand over the imaginary hurt. “Ouch, have I been that bad?” Tara rolled her eyes. “You’ve been worse than any three-year-old after a morning of sugar-puffs and caffeine.” “Ooh, that is bad. I’m sorry for taking this whole mess out on you. I’m madder at myself. I still can’t understand what made me open my mouth and blurt out about those jars,” she explained while Tara fussed with her curly brown hair and smeared her lips with lipstick the color of a ripe mango. “I never told a soul besides you about them. What made me do it that day?” Tara was busy. Taming Clio’s natural curls was not a task to be taken lightly or completed in minutes. Tara had set herself up for failure but didn’t know how to throw the towel in. Instead, Clio yanked the brush and tube of putty from her friend’s hand. “It’s as good as it’s going to get. Why bother?” “I bother because you don’t,” came her friend’s smart reply. “I don’t because it never looks good no matter what I do to it. Besides, what does it matter? I’m going out in front of a group of scientists and geek reporters. Hello?” She waved a hand between them. “When has that group ever cared what I looked like or even noticed for that matter? They are really here for the articles, not the pictures,” she joked. Clio swatted away Tara’s hands and pushed the door open to prevent any more last minute beauty tricks. It was time to face the music. She wondered what tune would sound good with her career flushing down the toilet. ***** Kryssin knew his brothers thought he was pouting, but that wasn’t the case. He was simply thinking things over very silently in his mind. It was better this way. If he opened his mouth and said what he really wanted, the three of them would be thrown out before they got the information they had come here for. “Whoa, check out the pocket protector convention,” Bastien murmured. “Shut up, Bastien,” Talos replied without heat. Hearing his brother’s crusty response made Kryssin feel better. At least he wasn’t the only who knew this was a bad idea. “What?” Bastien tried to look hurt. “What did I say?” He leaned over Kryssin’s shoulder to peer at Talos. “Did someone forget to drink their water with salt this morning?” “Shut up, Bastien.” Talos said again. Kryssin knew they were all on edge. Being out in the sun had lowered their immense strength. The sunrays had drained their skin of its normal moisture and the only way to keep from crumbling into ashes was to constantly drink water laden with salt. Another fun drawback to immortality he thought.

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Kryssin knew Talos was uptight about the new situation Phoenix had placed them in. Never before had he requested they venture out into such a public function in the light of day without the rest of the family’s support. Doing so now made the muscles in his neck tighten and his stomach clench with nerves. Something was up. Phoenix had a reason for setting this up and Kryssin didn’t believe the crap Alexial had spouted off earlier. But he also knew he couldn’t leave without finding out the truth behind the mission. “You really need to lighten up. Shit, it’s just a geek fest. I think Phoenix is losing his touch on this one. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me if he…” Kryssin lost the trail of Bastien’s babble as his senses sharpened. He could smell the sweat of the bodies filling the room, the repressive heat of the lights drying out his skin and more. He could feel the throbbing of his pulse pound within the veins of his body. Kryssin felt his heart beat. He lifted his head and cautiously sniffed the room. There wasn’t a change, yet there was. Something had entered the room or one nearby. Whatever it was, Kryssin wasn’t going to let it get away. Not now, not when his body had roared to life for the first time in thousands of years. “Son of a bitch.” He cursed quietly. “That lousy, lying no good barnacle eating, crossdressing Oracle lied to us.” “What is, Krys?” Talos asked. “What has Phoenix lied to us about?” “He knew. He knew all along.” Kryssin was moving in small circles, scanning the room for the person he knew had to be hiding somewhere just out of his sight. Bastien reached a hand to his shoulder. For once his handsome face lost all trace of humor. “What is it, brother? Is it the hunters? Here?” At once the other two men straightened their once lazy posture, their muscles tensing in preparation for battle. Talos reached in the pocket of his cargo pants which Kryssin knew held several knives. Bastien was more into modern weapons and had as Kryssin expected, unzipped his leather jacket for easy access to his handgun hidden there. “No,” Krys reassured them. “It is not the hunters, though in a few minutes you may wish it was.” “Damn it, boy. Tell us what has changed!” Talos roared. The people around him were upset by this intrusion revealed by their whispers and pointed looks. But no one braved the small group to shush him. With his six-foot-four frame hardened with corded muscles, the pale scientists were no match for Talos. And they were smart enough not to waste their time or energy trying. Not to mention the other two men who flanked him. Both looked like they could eat nails with tartar sauce all the while smiling. “He set me up. Phoenix set me up to be the test run. This was never about the scrolls.” He spun around, not knowing if it would be better to leave and face the problem another day or stay and fight as his nature demanded. His nature won out. “She is here. My soul-keeper is within this room and Phoenix knew it all along. He is playing a game with me.”

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He shouldn’t be the first. Out of the nine, Phoenix should have known Kryssin was the least worthy of the honor, if that termed even applied.

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Chapter 2 “Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick.” Clio stepped back from the curtain separating them from the stage and audience, only to have Tara shove her forward again. “No, you’re not, Clio. You have to do this. Dr. Dork will can your skinny butt if you don’t go through with this,” her friend reminded her. “But I hate doing these things,” she whined even if she hated herself for whining. Clio received a smirk in response. “All the more reason to get it over with quickly. Kind of like a Band-aid or dumping a man. You do it quickly and all at once. That way the worst part is over and all that’s left is the healing.” “I like to ease my bandages off slowly with water and I’ve never had to dump a man before, so I’ll take your word for it.” “Trust me on both accounts. It’s easier and far less messy to just get it over with.” Tara, Clio knew, was always in favor of anything that could take the hassle and inconvenience out of her life. Her history of bouncing from one foster home to another served to make her friend wary of anything that felt like permanence. Her home on the top floor of Poseidon’s Towers hotel was proof enough of that. “Trust you? Yes, but this is a large group of peers that will demand answers I don’t have. If I were given more time and money to further research regarding the containers, this wouldn’t be a problem, but right now I have nothing concrete to share. I’m going to be laughed out of the room.” “You’re not going to be laughed out of anywhere. The pocket dicks are going to be drooling all over your shoes to get to you.” “To get to me for what?” she asked. Tara shook her head. Her face masked with irritation. “Babe, you have something they want more than their left nut. You’ve got un-dateable scrolls, sealed in clay jars that are, as far as you can tell, over a thousand years old, right?” Clio nodded her head. “What scientist in his or her right mind would turn down the chance to dig themselves deep into this?” “But I can’t give them up.” “Why not? What have these stupid jars ever done for you?” “It’s not like that, Tara. I can’t let someone else take over the research. My parents died because of me. Because I found those jars. I have to be the one to finish it.” “It’s time to give up the guilt, Clio. Do you honestly think your parents would want you to bathe yourself in remorse for the rest of your life?” Tara questioned. “No, I know they wouldn’t but having the scrolls and doing my own research makes me feel as if I’m still connected to them,” she tried to explain. Clio knew psychiatrists would have had a field day explaining her motivations. The jars were her last remaining tangible symbol to her parents and she wouldn’t easily give them up. “Then fine, do your own test but damn it, don’t hang yourself out to dry in the meantime. Give the nerd patrol something to chew on while you continue doing your own studies.”

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“I don’t have anything to give them. Why doesn’t anyone understand that?” “Don’t be an ass, Clio. You’ve got the basic information. Just dish it out in small doses. Give it to them one nibble at a time to keep them off your tail and your job safe.” Tara brushed the curtain back a bit to look out at the people awaiting their appearance. Could it really be as simple as that? Give the vultures waiting beyond the dark blue curtain a minor detail and keep the rest of the jars’ secrets to herself. Clio smiled for the first time in what felt like days. “Tara, you are brilliant.” She gave her friend a hug. “I think I may survive this after all.” Suddenly Clio felt chills run down her body, freezing the air in her lungs. She reached out a hand to steady herself and would have fallen if not for Tara’s strong hand. “Clio, what’s wrong.” Her friend’s words filtered through the loud buzzing in her ears. She gasped for breath that would not come, and felt an iron cold vise take hold of her chest. She was powerless to stop the sinking sensation overwhelming her body. Clio was positive she was experiencing a stroke or heart attack and that she might die before she had the chance to unlock the secret of her scrolls. Black dots swirled before her suddenly dry eyes. The buzzing in her ears grew louder eclipsing the sound of Tara’s voice. Clio knew her time had run out when the dancing blackness converged to cover her eyes and blocked out Tara’s stunned face. She prayed her life had been lived well enough and she would be reunited with her parents in the afterlife. Heat and ice joined within her lungs burning and freezing her at the same time. The pressure was so intense she prayed for death to release her from the pain. When she reached the point of mentally begging for the Grim Reaper’s appearance, there was a loud swishing in her ears and then nothing. The pain evaporated as if it never existed. Her body was left aching and sore, but the agony of the last few minutes, or hours, was gone. Clio dragged a lungful of sweet oxygen into her starved body. She tentatively opened her eyes to find her friend’s dark hair bent over her chest, her ear pressed against Clio’s heart. “What are you doing?” Why was her mouth so dry? How long had that freakish episode lasted? Tara’s head jerked up at the sound of her friend’s voice. Her blue eyes filled with relief. “Clio, oh God, what happened to you?” She moved to encircle Clio’s horizontal figure in a tight hug. “Sweet heaven, don’t ever do that to me again.” Clio struggled to get up but was hampered by Tara’s enthusiastic hug. “I’m fine now, I think. Tara, ease up a minute. I’ve got to see if I can stand.” She struggled to her feet, winced at the overall soreness of her body. There was a strange heat warming several portions of her chest and stomach. “What happened?” Tara’s blue eyes grew damp. “You clutched your chest and dropped.” She peered into the other woman’s face. “What’s up with your eyes?” “My eyes?” Clio questioned. “What do you mean? Where’s your mirror?” Her foot tapped an impatient rhythm while Tara dug through her bag searching for her ever-present mirror. After several minutes she immerged triumphant and held it up for Clio to inspect her own face.

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The person looking back at her caused Clio to give a sharp gasp of alarm. Her eyes were bloodshot while her normally golden skin was ashy and pale. “What the hell happened to me? How long was I out?” “Maybe a minute or two, but no more. I was about to scream for 911 when you came to.” Tara peered deeply into her face. “You don’t remember what happened?” “No,” she said. “Not all of it.” But the pain she remembered and would remember till the day she died. It had taken over her entire body. She didn’t like feeling like an outsider in her own skin. “Honey, we’ve got to get you checked out. I thought for sure you were going to die on me.” A quick squeeze of her hand let her know Tara was almost as scared as Clio was. “I can’t go now. I’ve got to go out there and feed the vultures.” Her hand came up to stop Tara’s objections before they started. “If I don’t, I’ll lose my job. We both know Plaid Boy won’t buy a minor health problem, even something like near death, putting a spike in his spokes.” Clio brushed off the dirt her trip to the floor had produced and said a quick prayer of gratitude for her renewed health and that she managed to have her “attack” behind the curtain instead of in front where the whole auditorium would have witnessed her episode. “You’re right,” Tara agreed with her. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t going straight to the hospital right after this is over.” “Let’s see how I’m feeling then, okay.” She didn’t want to make promises she couldn’t keep. If there were something wrong with her, finding out in the next hour or so wouldn’t change the outcome. It would only hinder her search for the truth about her scrolls. She didn’t have time to waste visiting doctors and waiting while they ran innumerable tests all to find out she was either dying or in perfect health. Either way she knew it would be a waste of time and time was something she didn’t have in abundance anymore. What little she did have, she was going to selfishly hoard away for herself and her research. It was a childish attitude, but once she announced the discovery of the jars to the world and the miracle they could hold time would become her enemy.

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Chapter 3 “What in the name of Zeus are you talking about? What do you mean your soul-keeper is here within these walls?” Talos grabbed Kryssin’s arm, who was astounded that he could feel the painful pressure of his brother’s grasp. Bastien’s eyes were wide with amazement. “How can you tell? Can you feel? Smell?” Kryssin shook his head, not sure he would be able to put into words the feelings that coursed within his body. The living sensations spiking his nerve endings were fading. Like a plug had been pulled, the sensation had been cut off that quickly. Instead of answering, Kryssin shook his head again. He had to get his self-control back. To do anything less would disgrace his brothers and his own honor. Now was not the time to allow any distractions, even one as important as finding his soul-keeper. “I’ll talk about it after we get what we’ve come for.” He knew his brothers wanted details, but it would have to wait until he himself knew what those answers were. He pulled Talos’ hand off his arm. “Quiet. It looks as if this side show may be starting.” Bastien shot him a look to let him know the conversation wasn’t close to being over before both men turned their attention to the stage. The curtains parted, then two women stepped through the opening. The sensations within Kryssin intensified. She was here, the one woman on this planet that was the keeper of his soul. The only woman guaranteed to save him from the shadow hunters for eternity and the alluring call of the sea. His eyes took in both women. The beautiful red-haired woman oozed sex from her wide green eyes and stood several inches above her mousy companion. The dark suit she wore highlighted the creamy perfection of her skin. Yes, she was a woman worthy of becoming his mate. The smaller female looked like a puff of air would push her to her knees. The color of her eyes wasn’t apparent behind the lenses of her hideous gold frame glasses, but they were watery, weary and streaked with red. Her hair, what little escaped from her tight braid, resembled the color old brown mustard yarn. She seemed to grow paler the longer she stood beside her friend. His soul-keeper moved to the microphone placed on the wooden podium. He admired the graceful way she gestured to the woman behind her who then stepped forward one tiny step. “Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Tara Masters, Director of Public Relations for LSSU. I thank you all for coming on such short notice. When you know the reason behind this last minute press conference I think you will agree any inconvenience was worth it.” She stepped back and nudged her companion forward. “It’s my privilege to introduce you to Dr. Clio Foster, Director of Texas Operations and Senior Research Associate for Lone Star State University.” The smaller female came weakly to the front. She cleared her throat and reached for the glass of water quickly placed in her hand. “As head of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology for LSSU, I want to thank you all for coming. I can promise you that today will prove to be worth your time.”

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She went on to describe the history of the university’s underwater research and the strides they had made within the last ten years and where she hoped they would be going in the future. The longer she talked the more animated her face became. Kryssin could see the strength easily hid behind the curtain of uncertainty. Kryssin pushed aside his thoughts of the Amazon hidden beneath such sedate clothes and centered his concentration on Tara Masters. He never doubted his soul-keeper would be a beautiful woman. But he never expected her to seem so complete. He came from a time when women leaned on men for everything from the food on the table to the babes in their wombs. He wasn’t comfortable knowing his soul-keeper hadn’t needed him. She had provided for whatever she needed in her life. Well, he was here now and she would no longer look to herself or others to fulfill her needs. He would provide whatever he thought she needed. ***** Clio felt herself getting into the rhythm of the same speech she’d given a hundred times before. It felt good to be back on firm ground; familiar territory soothed her taunt nerves. Here she was confident and secure. It wasn’t until she was near the end of her rehearsed speech that her nerves returned. It was now or never. The moment she both feared and anticipated for the past ten years. Her one moment of truth was finally happening. “I have some news I’m sure all of you will want to hear. We have discovered several scrolls that we are unable to accurately date at this time. However, several tests have indicated the scrolls could be well over five thousand years old. At this time I’m not allowed to reveal where or how the scrolls were found. Suffice to say that they are in remarkably good condition and hopefully will give us some first hand knowledge of what life was like five thousand years ago.” Clio held up a hand to stop the questions that were already peppering her from the floor. “I’m sorry, I’m not taking questions at this time. There is a handout being passed around with all the information I’ve outlined. As soon as more information is available, I’ll make it known to you. Once again, I thank you for coming.” She backed away from the podium, turned, and fled from the questions various members of the media and fellow scientists peppered her with. She met Tara’s bright smile with a wan one of her own. She was so tired she could sink onto the dingy carpet and lose herself in sleep. Tara knew her moods and reactions so well because she quickly came up and wrapped her arm around Clio’s waist. “Come on, honey, we’re getting out of here and taking you to a doctor. If it’s possible, you look worse now than when you went out there.” Clio pulled away from her friend’s gentle concern. “No, Tara. There’s no reason to go to the doctor. I’ll be fine. It’s just too much work and not enough sleep. Research has been taking up most of my free time and all my nights.” She moved around to duck behind the cloth barrier. “I’m going home. I’ll get a solid eight hours sleep and make an appointment tomorrow.” Tara shook her head, not willing to give in so easily. “Not going to happen, Foster. We’ll grab a bite and then see how you look after there’s some real food in your system.”

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Clio opened her mouth say she would eat, but Tara once again beat her to the punch. “No, Clio, we’re going to eat real food, served on plates with real flatware. Nothing plastic in sight and no jumbo super-sized allowed.” “Think you have me figured out, do you?” she teased, knowing Tara was right. If left to her own devices, Clio would have stopped at her favorite fast food place and loaded up with caffeine, a chilidog and Tater Tots. It was unnerving to be known so well, but it was nice to have someone worry about her after all these years. “Fine,” she agreed. “You choose the place but I’m not dressed for any of your normal hot spots.” Tara smiled at her agreement. “No problem. We’ll go someplace quiet and out of the way, where the food is good, the margaritas are strong and the waiters are quick.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, preparing to walk out. “How’s that sound?” “It sounds perfect,” a rich deep masculine voice answered.

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Chapter 4 Kryssin watched as both women whirled around to face him. Their expressions mirrored shock at his presence and irritation at his rudeness in listening in on a private conversation. “Excuse me?” questioned the bland one in a dry voice. “The dinner sounds perfect. Would you mind if we joined you?” He gestured to his brothers standing slightly behind him. “Who are you?” “Forgive me.” He bowed slightly from his waist. “I am Kryssin Poseidon and these are my brothers.” He gestured the two men forward. “Talos and Bastien. We would be honored to join you this evening for dinner, if you would have us.” “I’m sorry,” the stuffy doctor informed him. “But this is a private dinner between friends.” She ignored her friend’s elbow jab. He watched as Tara clamped her hand around the other woman’s upper arm. “Please excuse us for a moment, gentlemen. I need to have a word with my friend.” They turned and walked to the privacy of the hallway. Kryssin watched with curious regard as the two women bent their heads together and argued over his invitation. He knew they would accept. He would settle for nothing less. “You are sure it is the red-haired one?” Bastien looked where the women had withdrawn, his turbulent green eyes locked on Clio Foster’s face. “What are you staring at, Bas?” His brother’s attention on the doctor bothered him for reasons he attributed to his newly feeling body. Bastien tilted his head to the side but didn’t bother to look at Kryssin. His gaze remained locked in front if him. “I’m looking at a beautiful woman. What does it look like I’m doing? “With you, Bas, I never know. Why are you staring at my soul-keeper?” “It is not your red-haired keeper that has caught my eye. It’s the other, the doctor, I find fascinating. You are certain that she is not your half-soul? “Of course, I am certain. She is too plain to be anyone’s keeper. Her head is buried as deeply as Eryx’s into the past that she will not embrace the future. No, it is the other that sparks with life and living. She is the one whose delicate body guards my soul.” “Then it is as you say. I think I’d like to spend considerably more time in the company of the plain one, as you called her. She would be challenge enough to keep any man on his toes. That one is full of hidden fire.” “Bas, you will not touch her,” Kryssin ground out. “Brother, you keep your attention on your woman and I will take care of the other. As you said, she is of no importance to you. She would be a charming distraction while we take care of this business. Pillow talk could include a few dropped comments about where the scrolls were found.” “You would sleep with her to win a few drops of information?” “Sleep has nothing to do with it. I would be with her without the scrolls, but now the pot is much more enticing. I want to see how hot I can make her burn.”

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Talos growled deep in his throat. “Bas, it is a bad idea. If she is a close friend of Kryssin’s soul-keeper then screwing her and dumping her would not make Tara look favorably upon any of us, much less you, little brother.” Bastien looked wounded by his brother’s remarks. “Who is to say I would screw her and dump her?” he questioned. “She could be a very significant relationship for me.” Both men laughed at that because they knew not only was it impossible for Bastien to remain faithful to one woman for longer than a day, but it was not in their nature to make bonds with a woman who didn’t hold their soul. But Bastien, being the rebel, had kept several different women over the long years. He released them only when they questioned his never changed appearance. “Significant…how? This one will bore you to tears within hours,” Talos proclaimed. “Not if I kept her mouth otherwise busy.” His eyes glimmered with mischief as he responded to his brother. “And I don’t believe there is anything boring about this one. Did you see the passion in her eyes as she discussed her find?” “Shut your mouth, Bas. I don’t want to hear any more. You will not touch her,” Kryssin ordered, while wondering what had possessed his tongue. Why should he care if his brother and the woman screwed themselves stupid? She was unknown to him, not important in his plans. “You could save us time and trouble and suggest agreement to the good doctor’s mind.” Talos paced as he watched the women. He was never at ease inside enclosed spaces. None of them were, but it affected Talos the most. His eyes strayed to the doors at the end of the hall. Kryssin could see his brother’s eagerness to leave the musty dry dwelling. “I could, but I would prefer they come to this agreement without a push from me.” “Why?” Talos looked frustrated as he stared at his brother. “Why should we waste time with caring for their sensibilities when we have more important business to attend to?” “Is it business we are calling it these days?” Bastien questioned. “I thought it was more of a romantic thing. But,” he turned his attention back to Kryssin, “I happen to agree with Talos. Why waste everyone’s time. Simply, push her to agree and we can be done with it.” “Because soon enough I will be pushing things upon her and need to allow her what freedom I can while I can.” Kryssin knew the choices the future would hold. He didn’t like knowing he would be forcing his will upon the one woman who was saving his soul. In order to save her life he would go beyond his honor and her own desires. ***** “You can’t be seriously considering inviting those men to join us.” Clio lifted a brow wondering if her friend had finally lost her mind. “Do you know who those men are?” Tara demanded. “No, and neither do you. That’s my whole point.” What was Tara thinking? “Did you even listen to their names? Kryssin, Talos and Bastien Poseidon? Doesn’t that ring a bell?” Clio searched her mind but came up blank. “Is this a future ex— I should know about? If so, I can bow out and let you both go on your way.”

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“God, Clio, do you ever watch the news?” Tara rushed on. “They’re three of the nine Poseidon brothers of Poseidon Technologies, Poseidon Nautical Research and Development and also Poseidon Hotel where I’m currently living. Any of that ring a bell?” “Oh shit!” Clio felt her stomach twist as she glanced back at the men she so recently insulted. Why couldn’t she ever make a good first impression? Why was she doomed to make a fool of herself in front of the one group of people she needed to impress? “Why didn’t anyone bother to tell me they were going to be here? Who invited them?” “Like they need an invitation to go anywhere? They are the most sought after family in the state. Just by showing up they’ve given your find credence. You should be jumping for joy and offering to buy them dinner.” “I’m not offering to buy them dinner. I will offer to meet them during business hours and answer any questions they might have. But no way on having dinner with them tonight. I’m tired, hungry and in no mood to play games with GQ and his boys.” But as she said the words, she knew they were a lie. Her traitorous body was drawn to Kryssin’s tall frame. Never before had a man affected her in such a way. She wanted to rub her body against his like a cat in heat. To absorb his scent into her senses and memorize his body’s every move. Except he took no notice of her. Instead, his swirling blue eyes heated for Tara. The action didn’t surprise Clio. Men trailed after her tall beautiful friend like lost puppies. No, their lust wasn’t unusual, but the hurt and envy she felt was a first. Tara grabbed her arm. “Come on, Clio, please do this for me. Think of the brownie points we’d get from Dr. Plaid himself for landing these new patrons. You wouldn’t have to worry about your job again for at least six months,” Tara shamelessly bribed her friend. “Think of all the research you could do without that sword hanging over your head.” “Play dirty, why don’t you?” Clio accused her. “When it comes to this family and this much money, there is no such thing as fair.” Clio didn’t want to agree, but everything the other woman had said was true. She would be able to devote more time to her first love without the threat of unemployment hanging over her head. “Fine, but I doubt I’ll be needed for their dinner plans.” “Don’t be an ass, Clio.” Tara turned on her heel, a smile firmly in place as she returned to the men who were patiently waiting. “Gentlemen, please forgive us for deserting you, but business, as I’m sure you know, must come before pleasure.” “A man would wait for hours, much less mere minutes, for the privilege of time spent with you.” Clio heard Kryssin reply. She wanted to lose her lunch on the shabby brown carpet. Who talked like that in this day and age? And more important who in the hell would buy that crap? Clio was angry to see Tara fawning all over the man. Her friend must have lost her mind. “By all means, the three of you must join Clio and me for dinner. I know of the most wonderful relaxing place not five blocks from here.” “Dinner with two beautiful women?” Bastien spoke. “What more could a man ask for?” He walked over to where Clio stood frozen to the floor and offered his arm. “Dr. Foster?” Shaking herself out of her stupor, Clio took the offered arm and wondered what the hell had come over her. She normally would never have agreed to have dinner with strange men,

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but the lure of having unlimited free time to spend researching the scrolls and diving was a bribe she couldn’t and wouldn’t say no to.

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Chapter 5 The Mexican restaurant was busy, as Clio had known it would be. She hoped the noise and other customers would keep conversation to a minimum. Considering the pattern her day followed, she should have known better. Before Tara could give her name to the hostess, a man wearing a suit and tie came running up, eagerly reaching for Kryssin’s hand. “Señor Poseidon, welcome back to Casa. We will have you seated in but a very short moment.” “Thank you, Hector.” The man quickly turned back to the hostess and rattled off rapid Spanish. The woman nodded her head and pulled the correct number of menus out of the pocket at the side of her stand. “If you would please follow me,” she murmured. Clio looked over to Tara, who gave her the universal ‘I told you so.’ look. Clio kept her mouth shut as they were led to a very private table. She couldn’t believe how quick and easy it had been for them. If she and Tara had been alone, they would have waited at least an hour for any table to open much less one this prime. The hostess seated them behind a half wall surrounded by ferns and an aquarium that filled up the rest of the wall. The sounds of the other diners were hushed and Clio felt strangely isolated. “Ladies.” The one with the flashing eyes held an arm out indicating they should seat themselves first. Before Clio could seat herself the man with the mischievous smile slid in ahead of her. Great, not only am I stuck in a dinner I didn’t want to go to, but now I get to be up close and touchable with three gorgeous strange men. She vaguely wondered if her night could get any odder and quickly stopped that line of thinking. It always led to worse. Sliding gracefully into the booth in her skirt proved to be a challenge, but the one introduced as Bastien gave her a wicked grin, grabbed her hand and pulled until she slid across the seat landing flush against his hard body. “Comfortable?” he asked with a wink after they placed their dinner and drink orders with a very prompt waiter. “Ah, yes, thank you.” “Good. I know you didn’t want to join us, but you and I will ignore the grown-ups and have fun ourselves,” Bastien whispered in her ear. “You don’t think I’m a grown-up?” “If I must, then yes, but all they’re going to talk about is work, stuffy music and pretentious people. Do you really want to join in that conversation and leave me lonely?” He batted his sexy green eyes at her in what she knew he considered an innocent expression. “So what does that leave us to talk about, Mr. Poseidon?” Why was she having this conversation? Clio watched his eyes light up with humor as he shook his head. “Drop the mister or you’ll make me think you’re talking to Alexial.”

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“Alexial?” she questioned. He nodded his head while a pained expression appeared on his handsome face. “Yes, my oldest brother. He’s the only one that ever fit the ‘Mr. Poseidon’ bill.” His arm encircled her shoulder pulling her closer to his side and his warm breath tickled her ear. “He’s the most grown up of any adult you’ve ever met. Real stuffy type,” he confided in a hushed tone. “So you’re the personality and charm of the family?” she whispered back, wondering how she could be having this insane conversation with such a good looking man and not feel tongue tied. Bastien made her feel comfortable enough to be herself. Bastien’s face broke into a grin. “You’re not only beautiful and smart, but you’re quick. I like that. I like you,” he pronounced as if it were a decree from royalty. Not sure how to take this new line of conversation, Clio laughed slightly. “Thanks.” He waved a hand to dismiss her reply. “No thanks necessary. Your charm, beauty and wit have saved me from another tedious evening with Staid and Serious over there.” His caustic comments towards his brothers broke her reserve and she couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled from her throat. “You should be locked away from the sane population.” “Lock me away so long as there are beautiful women such as yourself to help ease my insanity.” “They don’t let you out by yourself very often, do they?” “You mean my overbearing and perfectly proper brothers?” he questioned as he nodded again in the men’s general direction. “Yes, I can’t see them letting you run loose over the city, melting women’s hearts with that face and charm.” He put a hand over his heart and assumed a hurt expression. “You wound me, beautiful one.” He used his free hand to lace their fingers. “How can I ever look at another woman now that I’ve found someone to love me for my body and not my money?” “You really have lost your mind.” Insane he might be, but he was funny, drop dead gorgeous and interesting. Clio couldn’t imagine getting through dinner without Bastien by her side. “I’d rather lose my mind and enjoy life than to find it and have it suck all the pleasure out of living.” He surprised her by the heat she could hear under the surface of his statement. “Well, I don’t think you’ll have anyone accusing you of taking anything too seriously.” He gave her hand a squeeze and dismissed the conversation. “Come now, there are so many more fascinating things to discuss than me. Like you for example.” “Me?” She was surprised by the genuine interest reflected in his eyes. “Why on earth would you be interested in my life?” “Oh honey, there are so many things about you that interest me you’d blush if you knew.” Before she could reply, a cold voice cut through the warmth of their conversation. “Bastien, would you care to share with the rest of the table what fascination Dr. Foster holds for you?” The deep voice iced over. “I assure you I won’t embarrass you by blushing.” “Busted,” Bastien whispered under his breath and shot her a cocky grin before turning his attention to his brother. “Krys, I wouldn’t want to burn your innocent ears with naughty talk.”

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Clio wanted to crawl into the nearest hole and disappear. She wasn’t the sort of woman men argued over, so she knew it couldn’t be jealousy that hardened Kryssin’s tone. He must think she was leading Bastien on. Though how in the world anyone could lead Bastien to a place he didn’t want to go was beyond her. Aqua eyes blazed from one to other before Kryssin replied. “So that’s why you’re monopolizing Dr. Foster’s time? To talk dirty?” He made it sound cheap and tawdry when a few minutes ago she’d felt happy and at ease. She felt Bastien tense beside her and his hand gently squeezed on hers. “Krys, watch your words. This isn’t the time or the place to forget yourself.” “I’m not the one in danger of forgetting anything, little brother. You, however, might want to re-examine your priorities.” “My priorities,” he stressed the word, “are the same as they have been. The family. But then again I’m not the one wearing blinders in the dark.” Kryssin leaned closer, his shoulder brushing Clio’s arm, sending a shock wave of heat through her. Neither man noticed her small shocked gasp and continued their cryptic conversation. “And you think you’ve seen something I’ve missed, Bas? I doubt it unless it was hidden between a woman’s—“ “Ladies, I apologize for both my brothers’ behavior. Normally when we let them out in public they behave better than a sailor on shore leave,” Talos broke into the conversation. His hazy blue eyes pinned both men with a look of strong disapproval. Bastien looked contrite. “I’m very sorry, Clio, Tara. Please ignore Krys and me. We have a tendency to butt heads when we disagree.” Kryssin didn’t add his apology but shook his head and relaxed back into the booth. Clio felt the weight of their words linger in the air. The animosity pressed against her until she felt there was no air left to breathe. She startled Bastien as she pushed against him trying to escape the feeling of danger. “Clio, are you all right?” His beautiful face was filled with worry as he stood to let her out of the booth. She gave what she hoped was a sincere smile. “Yes, I just need a minute. If you all will please excuse me?” She didn’t wait for anyone’s approval but turned on her heel and left. ***** An awkward silence fell over the table at Clio’s absence. “I’m sorry, Clio has had a rough day and she really wasn’t prepared to go out tonight,” Tara spoke softly, her hand lightly touching Krys’ arm. He reached over and covered it with his own. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for. Bas and I are the ones behaving like savages. I’ll strive to make it up to your friend when she returns.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “However, in the meantime, I want to learn all there is to know about you.” He could see the pleasure and interest reflected in Tara’s green eyes and wondered how long it would take before they could leave this place. He didn’t want to waste time with the silly human mating rituals. Tara was his. It was that simple. But he understood the need to

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ensure she was comfortable with him before he attempted to tell her the truth. Honesty would have to wait for a more convenient and private time. “I don’t know what you want to know. My life is pretty boring. You know I work for the university. I’ve lived in Texas all my life and wouldn’t choose to live anyplace else. Of course,” she laughed lightly unaware of the new tension thrumming through her companion’s body at her words, “I’m sure everyone feels the same way about their home, right?” “Yes,” Talos replied and gave Krys the chance to control the fear her words invoked. If she had such ties to land, how would she react when she found out she’d have to break those ties? Krys was grateful for his brothers’ presence. They added a much needed buffer between them. Even with his strange behavior over Bas’s normal flirting antics, he was happy Bastien was there. If anyone could charm the frosty Dr. Foster out of her clothes and her secrets, Bastien would be the one. Anger tightened his stomach at the thought of his brother touching, tasting and making love to Clio. It wasn’t right and it wasn’t normal. Bas slept with a new woman almost every night; why should this one be any different? He owed it to his brother and the rest of the family to stamp out his jealousy. He was the lucky one. He’d found his soul-keeper. And she was everything he’d ever hoped she would be, soft, lovely, sweet and beautiful. He was a lucky immortal. Kryssin turned his attention back to the table and the conversation flowing around him. “Mostly we rely on private donations to keep the exhibits open. Not to mention funding the exploration of wreckages.” He heard Tara speaking to Talos. “You enjoy doing the exploring as well?” His brother craftily questioned. Tara shook her head and laughed. “Lord, no. I can’t stand the thought of being buried underwater like that. Just the image gives me goose bumps.” She took a quick sip of water. Krys watched closely wanting to understand her fear of his home. “Clio is the one you should talk to about diving. I think she spends more time underwater than on land. She’s more fish than human, I always say.” The words left her mouth freely and easily, but the knowledge of them impacted the brothers strongly. They sent uneasy glances around the table. Each wondered what the next step would be and how. Kryssin watched as his finger traced the condensation of the glass, his finger following the flowing pattern of the water as it trickled down. He enjoyed the wetness against his skin, the feel of the cold moisture cooling his flesh. It was amazing the difference a touch could make. He had to restrain himself on the ride over from touching everything. He wanted to bask in his returned sensations but knew if he went around touching, smelling and sampling everything that caught his eye, Tara would put an end to their association before it could begin. Kryssin traced the next bead of water as it made its way down the clear glass. But this time there was no feeling of dampness against his skin nor was the heat of his finger chilled by the coolness of the glass. It was gone. As quickly as they had come upon him, they were just as swiftly taken away. His felt his lungs deflate no longer needing to expand for oxygen. His heart stuttered to a slow crawl then ceased. It beat once then stopped. Everything in his body shut down like it had never been alive two seconds ago.

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How could this be? Tara was at his side touching his hand, smiling at him. What had happened? Was there only a small window of time to cement the connection and, if so, had he waited too long? Was his soul lost to him forever? “I’ve got to go. Please, excuse me.” He shoved his chair away from the table anxious to be alone. There had to be someone who knew the reason behind the confusion. There was only one person to ask and if it hadn’t meant life or death for the family, he might not have had the nerve to go. But Phoenix was the only one with the answers and therefore the only place he could ask. He pulled out his cell phone, hit the speed dial for Phoenix. Then prayed the Oracle would answer before Kryssin changed his mind and hung up. “Joe’s Bar and Babes.” He almost hung up. It took every ounce of willpower not to slam the phone shut and walk away. But he couldn’t. His brothers were relying on him to be the first to break the curse. For them he had to put up with the slightly off, highly unorthodox and just plain weird Oracle that ruled their lives. “Phoenix.” “Yep,” came the snappy reply. “I need answers. Something’s going on. I can’t get into it now, but you need to go back to the—“ “Turn right,” Phoenix interrupted. Krys pulled the phone from his ear to stare at it. Had he heard correctly? Was this some mystical wisdom he was supposed to understand? “Turn right where?” He heard the Oracle sigh. Then Phoenix spoke slowly as if to a dimwitted child. “Take your body. Turn it right. And walk.” “You want me to walk the right path? Right versus wrong what?” For as long as they’d had an association Phoenix never gave the answers anyone wanted. Hell, he didn’t even give answers they could use. This was crap just like the rest of the time. “Zeus, save me from stupid people and slow drivers.” He heard Phoenix take a deep breath. Then “Turn your ass right and walk down the hallway. And Kryssin?” “Yeah?” “Don’t fuck this up.” Okay, he grumbled to himself. “There is no need to yell.” But he was talking to air; Phoenix had already hung up. Not wanting to know what was down the hallway but unable to stop himself, he turned right and slowly made his way down the dimly lit corridor. His palms started to sweat with nerves and his heart thudded in anticipation. As the door to the right opened, it hit him that his feelings were back. He grinned just before Clio Foster walked straight into his arms. Clio knew the instant the arms settled around her whom they belonged to. The scent and feel of him were burned in her brain from the few minutes they had spent together. She been able to pull herself together somewhat in the bathroom and wasn’t looking forward to having another run in with the man who seemed determined to hate her.

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“Excuse me,” she mumbled and tried to step away from his hard body. But instead of releasing her and going on his way, his arms tightened around her until she wanted to fight to breathe. “Let me go,” Clio panted. “Shut up.” Kryssin’s breath caressed her ear when he growled at her. “Please… I can’t…breathe.” His hold relaxed enough for her to draw in the necessary oxygen to keep from fainting, but their bodies were flush against each other. Clio felt his body shake. Heat rolled off him in waves. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by his rough voice. “It can’t be you,” he whispered against her throat. “You’re not what you’re supposed to be.” His words meant little to her. She wondered if he was under the influence of some type of illegal drug. After all, isn’t that what most of the idle rich did for recreation? She summoned the courage to speak before he could go off again. “Look I don’t know what you’re mumbling about and I don’t care. I’m in complete agreement. It’s not me and I don’t give a rat’s ass if you think I’m supposed to be something or someone else. No one asked for your opinion.” This really was the most ridiculous situation she’d ever found herself in. She was flattened against the ladies room door, with two hundred pounds of sheer testosterone pressing against her. She needed to snap Kryssin out of it before someone saw them. She refused to have her already ugly day topped off with public humiliation. “You don’t understand.” His breath continued to tickle against her suddenly sensitive neck as his arms flexed around her. “There’s no way I can make you understand. I wish there were another way or you were someone else. You’re not what I want. But this is what the fates have decreed, so be it.” She stiffened her spine in outrage and again tried to pull away from him. He tightened his arms until she subsided. “Not what you want?” she fumed. “Well I don’t p—“ Kryssin head came up as quickly as his hand to cover her mouth. His aqua eyes blazed in hers. “Shutting up would be in your best interest under the circumstances.” He drew in a few deep breaths, calmed himself and went on. “When I ask a question I want a yes or no answer. You won’t elaborate. You won’t go argue. Do you understand?” Her eyes firing with anger, she mutely nodded her head. “Very good. Are you married?” She didn’t want to answer. What he asked was none of his business but looking into those mesmerizing eyes left her little choice. Clio felt like she was drowning in a sea of blue and green. She had no choice but to answer him. She slowly shook her head. Kryssin gave a sharp nod of his head. “Good. Boyfriend, lover?” Instead of reacting with nerves and doubt Clio felt the righteous fire of indignation burn its way through her veins. How dare he ask her these questions? It was none of his business if she had one lover or ten. Her head moved back and forth in slow motion. “At least something’s going right,” he mumbled before continuing on. “Do you have family?” Oh, how she didn’t want to answer him. Clio fought with all her strength to break this hold he had over her. Mentioning her family brought an instant sensation of guilt and

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loneliness. Instead of answering, she forced her eyes closed and winced at the pain the simple movement caused. She felt rather than heard Kryssin’s surprised breath. “You are stronger than you look,” he told her. “I only hope you’re smarter than you act.” Her eyes flew open again in anger. How dare he mock her? He was the one holding her hostage against a wall in a public area. Where did he get off insulting her? Kryssin must have read the rage in her eyes. “Don’t get worked up, honey. I had a reason for asking you questions. I’d still have you, but it would be more complicated to go through a husband or lover. This just makes things simpler.” Those turbulent sea colored eyes captured hers once more. “We have some things to discuss and not much time to do it. I need you to listen and listen well.” Kryssin stared hard as if to see to the bottom of her soul. “By Zeus’s bolt, you are not what I expected.” Clio didn’t have time to blink before the hand covering her mouth moved and his lips held hers hostage instead. The gentle movements of his lips shocked her. Had she been able to prepare for his kiss, she would have expected something harsh and rough. But nothing warned her of his mouth’s sweet heat moving against hers. “Open for me, love,” he whispered as his tongue traced the curve of her bottom lip. She felt his teeth nip in encouragement and gave in to the insanity ruling her body. Her mouth opened and Kryssin devoured. She tasted the tartness of wine and the unique flavor that was all Kryssin. His tongue edged along her teeth before dueling with her. He mimicked the motion of his hips that were pressing against the front of her skirt. As quickly as it had started, it was over. Kryssin leaned against the far wall, his chest rising in harsh movements and his hair obscuring his face as it hung down. Clio didn’t want to know what his problem was. He’d ignored her from the start. Then when he wasn’t ignoring her, he insulted her in front of everyone. Now he kissed her witless. No, she didn’t care what his problem was as long as he left her alone. Her back pressed against the opposite wall, she crept quietly around the payphone and was only steps away from freedom when his arm lashed out and caught her wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?” It was too much. His behavior, the strange words, the heated kiss and his sudden possessive attitude pushed her over the limit. If it had been any other day or any other man, Clio might have been afraid. But Kryssin had strongly affected her from the start and she’d used the last of her patience not screaming her head off. She didn’t care what happened after this moment. He could very well rape and kill her, but he wasn’t going to without being blasted from her. “Get your hands the hell off me.” She saw the surprise that flashed in his eyes. Good, she didn’t want him to think his kiss melted her brain, which it almost had. “Honey, my hands haven’t even started with you yet.” Clio uselessly tugged at her wrist as he pulled her back into the corner. “If you don’t let me go this instant I’m going to scream until my eyes pop out,” she threatened him. Instead of fear or wariness she expected, Kryssin’s eyes filled with humor right before he clamped his hand over her mouth again. “Never let the enemy know your intentions. First rule of battle.”

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Hearing a noise come from the other end of the hallway, Kryssin pulled her tightly against him and moved them into a closet she’d failed to notice before. When the door shut, locking them alone in a cloak of darkness, Clio remembered to fight. She opened her mouth, latched her teeth to one of the fingers covering her mouth and bit down hard. “Hera’s handmaiden, what the hell are you biting me for.” He shook his hand but she wasn’t giving up her pound of flesh without a struggle. “I’m not going to hurt you, you silly twit.” Oh, that did it. She’d put up with more than her share of shit today. Nobody, but nobody, called her silly or a twit. In response, Clio dug her teeth deeper into the soft flesh caught between them. “Let go of my hand, Clio. I don’t want to have to hurt you. But I can’t let you gnaw my fingers off.” She didn’t let go or let up on the pressure. She could wait here until someone noticed she was missing and came to find her. She wasn’t about to take her chances with this lunatic in a locked closet. Her only problem with her current position was it didn’t allow her a chance to scream as she so desperately needed to. “Okay, let’s calm down.” His voice came out of the dark strangely soothing on her taut nerves. “I’m sorry I frightened you. It wasn’t my intention. There are things I had to know and, to be honest, all of this is a bit of a shock to me as well.” Clio grunted her disbelief. Fat chance anything ever took him by surprise. “Fine, you don’t believe me. You will in time but for now I’d really like you to remove my fingers from those razors you call teeth before you end up swallowing one.” She almost gagged at the mental picture he painted and her teeth let up for a fraction of a second before she clamped down again. “Damn it, woman, I said I wasn’t going to hurt you. I could have broken your neck by now if that was my intention.” He moved closer to her, his taut muscles pushing her back against the door. Kryssin’s hard thigh muscled in between her legs to pin her against the wood. A bolt of heat shot from her center where he pressed against her body and she whimpered in denial. “And here my brother thought you were the sweet shy type,” he informed Clio while pressed close to her. “I think there’s more fire in your veins than ice.” She felt his sudden awareness and wanted to scream in frustration. “I’ve promised not to harm you and yet you don’t believe me. Short of letting you go, which I can’t do, you’ve left me only one other option.” She could hear the laughter in his husky voice. “What torture I have to endure for the sake of a soul,” he said almost to himself while rearranging the fit of their bodies. “Yes, I think this will hurt me so much more than you.” His callused hand cupped her breast causing a shock of heat. Clio’s nipple puckered up in response to his thumb’s ministrations. “We can end all this if you just let go of my hand,” he whispered placing moist wet kisses down her neck to the bodice of her shirt. “Then again you taste so damn sweet, I don’t mind the pain if I can get the pleasure.” Everything in the room, the restaurant, her world narrowed down to this man skillfully playing her body. She felt the tug on her blouse as he lifted it from her skirt and opened the buttons keeping her flesh for his exploring fingers. Just the touch of his fingers made Clio’s

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breath catch and the whisper of hot breath against her sensitive flesh made her tighten her thighs. “You smell so sweet and fresh. Like a sunrise coming over the ocean. I wonder if you’ll taste as sweet and tart.” The words hovered in the air as his lips claimed the aching nipple he’d toyed with. It was everything and nothing. Clio felt the world expand and shrink to center on Kryssin’s hot sucking mouth. She never expected a man’s touch to heat her blood. Or the simple feel of his mouth moving from one breast to the other to make her want more. So much more than what he was giving her now. She clamped one leg around his thigh and pressed against the hard muscle hoping to relieve the pressure building between her thighs. Neither one noticed when his hand was freed from her mouth. They were too busy trying to devour the other. His soft silky hair was thick between her fingers as she pressed him tighter against her chest. She wanted so badly to rip the clothes from his body and sate herself with the hardness she felt trapped behind his zipper. “I was right,” he whispered. His head lifted as he brushed soft kisses over her still swollen lips. “You taste as good as you look.” This time his kiss was harsh with hunger. Lips, teeth and tongue all came together to feed the beast she’d unknowingly unleashed. Strong arms pulled her tighter against his muscled chest. Clio felt one hand clasp her hip and pull her harder against his thigh until she was riding him in a storm of passion. No thought beyond climbing the pleasure coursing in her body. His hands were everywhere touching, stroking, pulling and grasping. And everywhere he touched flames followed in his wake. Clio felt his lips explore the pulse beating frantically at her neck. His tongue traced the spot and he moaned harshly. “By Poseidon’s curse.” The words floated over her head, lost in the haze of passion Kryssin created for them. As she felt her climax approaching, his teeth nipped along her throbbing pulse. When the pleasure consumed her and pulled Clio under, Kryssin’s teeth sank deep into her flesh to drink her blood.

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Kryssin drank deeply of the woman’s life’s essence. She must indeed be the one he sought for the power flowing in him was beyond anything in his experience. The sheer rush of feelings caused his body to tighten with need and his pants tighten against his arousal. She was everything to him; light, laughter, music, and magic. She was his soul. Every hardship, every pain, every moment of his useless existence had been made worth it by this one woman. She was the reason he searched countless dark caverns, swam the deepest parts of the ocean, always searching for the answers that could only be found in her arms. The joy crashed through him tumbling him headlong into ecstasy along with spine numbing fear she would be wrenched away before he could claim her. No one would stop him, he vowed. She was his by right and birth. There was nothing created on this earth and beyond that would keep him from Clio. He needed to ensure she remained his. He drew her scent deep into his lungs as he continued to absorb her blood within his body. The need to tie them together burned in his mind and echoed to her soul. Kryssin stopped his feeding, lapped up the few spots of blood off her skin and commanded Clio to open her eyes. “What?” she stammered. He could feel the confusion that swirled in her mind along with the dizziness from the blood loss. But he didn’t give her time to ponder his actions before he moved again. Kryssin forced her chin up meeting her vague gaze and capturing her with a slight mind command. “Be still and drink from me.” Slashing a finger across his throat he pressed Clio’s shaky mouth against his bloody skin and was lost in her. “By blood, by mind, by body, by heart and by soul,” he murmured as his power weakened with each sip Clio took. But Kryssin couldn’t find the desire to break their connection. The gentle feeding motion of her lips was pure heaven on his newly revived skin. He didn’t want to let it end. The next step he knew as instinctively as the first. He opened his mind, searched for the link that was Clio and found it. She was everything beautiful and good in his world. With a gentle mental grasp he clung to the fragile thread connecting them and pulled himself toward her light. The feeling of oneness overwhelmed him. He cried out with the sheer perfection of the feeling. He never dreamed in all his years of existence such a feeling would be possible. “Kryssin, what have you done?” Talos’ voice broke through the rapturous haze clouding his mind. “Stay back, brother. This is not yours to interfere.” He sent the harsh warning out. “Oh shit, Krys. You couldn’t have waited till we were someplace less public?” Bastien’s voice echoed in the small room.

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“Get out,” he growled holding Clio tighter in his arms. “Krys, you’re losing it. She’s not the one for you. You can’t keep her like a stray that followed you home.” His voice calm, Bastien moved closer to where Kryssin’s tall form hid the woman in his arms. “Bastien, I tell you again to leave now. This is my concern alone.” One foot poised to take a step, his brother stopped in mid-stride, his eyes widened in horror. “Hades balls, Kryssin, you haven’t taken her blood, have you? Please tell me you didn’t do something this stupid.” Bastien didn’t wait for an answer but sent a mental distress call to the one who held Kryssin’s allegiance. He prayed it would not be too late. “Kryssin.” Power rode on the voice that cut through the darkness of the closet. Kryssin jerked his head, feeling the weakness in his limbs and the unsteady beat of his newly awakened heart. A tongue came out from the shadow to close to dripping wound over his throat. His voice was low and hoarse when he answered his oldest brother. “Alexial, what is it you do here?” A contemptuous snort came from the regal man glaring back at him. “You have forgotten yourself, little brother. You attempt that which has never been tried and in the process you might kill your soul-keeper.” He lifted one black brow in question. “Is this how little you regard the one that keeps you safe from the shades?” The words stammered out of Kryssin’s mouth fueled by anger as much as pride. “I forget nothing. I do not forget I was the one sent out to prove the legends true without my knowledge. And now that I have shown our soul-keepers truly do exist, you wish me to release her? Why would I be so foolish?” “If you do not, then she will suffer far more by your hands than that of the demons that hunt us.” “You lie. I would never cause her harm. It is beyond me, beyond any of us to do so.” “See the truth in my words, Kryssin. I understand your need to claim your soul and bind her to you, but would you do it at the risk of her life and soul?” “I risk nothing. She is mine by right and by birth. She belongs to me.” “No one is denying your claim, brother. We all rejoice in the woman you’ve found. But you are rushing through things we don’t understand. And I’m afraid without the proper preparations we’ll lose both of you.” Alexial’s voice never rose. He stated the facts and let Kryssin come to terms with the harm he might inflict on the woman who stood silent in his arms. Kryssin’s silence broke with Clio’s moan of pain. Her body shuddered and jerked within his arms. “Clio? What is it? What’s happened?” Bastien kept silent and moved to the corner as he watched the oldest of them all step forward to help Kryssin and his guardian. “It was too fast and too much at once, brother. Her body doesn’t understand your blood and is seeking to destroy it even as it’s being absorbed within her cells.” “So what does this mean? Is Clio dying?” “Dying, no,” Alexial replied to Kryssin’s relief. “But she’s in a great deal of pain. Your soul has been tied to hers from the moment of creation. With your blood and brief mind bond, it seeks to separate from her and join you in its true home.”

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“I don’t understand. Why should this be hurting her? It is a natural thing, the soul wanting to return to its natural body?” “Natural, yes, but her body can’t handle the shock of losing something that has been part of her. Clio doesn’t know she holds someone else’s soul within her body. She feels whole and complete which she is. When you tried to force all five bonds at once, her body couldn’t take it.” Kryssin’s eyes widened with alarm. “Get Alekos here. He can heal her.” “Alekos can do nothing for her spirit or soul. Nor could any other healer we summon. This is a spiritual matter, one that requires time and trust, which you have not given her. But perhaps our brother should look at her physical body.” Why had he pushed so hard? He should have been satisfied with knowing Clio was real and that she existed in his world. But with one taste of her blood he became too greedy and wanted everything all at once. Now, the one person he was sworn to protect above all others, was suffering by his own greed. “Is there any way we can stop it? Stop her pain?” He was determined to end her misery and would pay whatever price required. “Alekos, we have need of you,” Alexial spoke into the air. Within a swirling splash of light and water, a man appeared. His blond hair dripped over violet eyes as he smirked at the men gathered round. “Running out of decent meeting places, have we?” His voice was low and musical soothing to any who heard it. “I don’t know. I think this is a step up from Kryssin’s usual haunts, if you ask me,” Bastien piped in. “It’s a good thing no one did ask you, Bas.” Alexial sent him a warning look. “Um, Alekos, in case you weren’t aware, you’re dripping with water and your clothes are wet? Were you home?” Bastien said from his position by the door. “You always were the quick one, Bas. What gave me away, my sopping hair, the salt on my skin, or the fact that I looked like a drowned pelican?” Before Bastien could make his comeback, Kryssin interrupted. “Why don’t you go back out to our table and soothe ruffled nerves? I’m sure Tara is becoming anxious wondering where her friend has gone.” “Fine, you never let me stay around for the good stuff anyway.” Bastien flipped his wrist and was gone in a sprinkle of water. “So what do we have here and why?” Alekos leaned back against the far wall, his glittering violet blue gaze taking in the scene before him. “It would seem Kryssin has proved the legends to be fact and in his haste to ensure a bond he pushed too hard and fast.” Alexial’s tone didn’t reveal any censure or anger at his brother’s rash actions. Alekos straightened from the wall, his tall frame strung taut at his brother’s casual words. “What do you mean the legends are truth? How did Krys prove this? What does Phoenix say?” Kryssin’s voice was low with weariness. “Phoenix plotted the whole thing, don’t you know? He set it up so I’d run into her and not know it was her until it was almost too late. The bastard loves playing mind games with me.”

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Clamping a hand under Kryssin’s weaving form, Alexial spoke quickly to the healer. “He pushed the bonds and Clio’s system rebelled. Can you help?” A mask slipped over Alekos’s face as he closed the distance between them. His eyes glowed brighter in the darkness as he focused his energy on the woman moving in Kryssin’s arms. “Let me have her.” Everything in Kryssin rose up in fury at the thought of another man, even his brother, touching his woman before the bonds were complete. But he knew if something wasn’t done, he might lose Clio all together. Reluctantly and with infinite care, he placed Clio’s pain wracked form in Alekos’s strong arms and watched while his brother passed his hand over her body from forehead to feet. Kryssin’s muscles twitched at the pressure being held within his hands. Kryssin could see the aura emanating from the healer’s hands as it passed over her body. He didn’t understand what is what that Alekos did or how it was possible but he was now grateful beyond words his brother was here. His earlier anger drained away under immense humility. “She is weak.” Alekos’ voice intruded. “Searing pain tears from her stomach to chest. Ice coats her legs and arms numbing everything in between. She thinks she is to die. If not from the numbing cold then from the pressure squeezing her chest tight and her lungs shut.” Violet eyes caught Kryssin. He could see pain on Alekos’s face and knew it was the same pain Clio fought, pain that was his fault and responsibility. “We’ve no time for blame now.” Alekos’ deep breaths sounded harsh within the small confines of the room. “There is nothing to be done of the blood bond. It’s too late to stop her body from absorbing it. The pain from that will continue.” “Wait.” Kryssin stopped him. “There is nothing we can do to stop what my stupidity started? She’s going to die because of my eagerness.” He thought his newly beating heart would stop. If she died, all hope for his brothers, himself and the world would die with her. The blame weighed heavy on his already weakened shoulders. “I said nothing about giving up. I said the blood bond is finished. But the mind bond remains open and is showing her body what is to come if you keep along this course.” “I’ll stop.” He stepped up to assure his brother as his legs wobbled beneath him. Kryssin would have fallen straight to the floor if Alexial hadn’t tightened his grip and kept him standing. “You have no choice but to stop,” Alekos said harshly. “But first you must close the mind bond before it does further damage.” “How?” Shaggy blond hair floated in his face as his brother looked at him. “Find the path that took you there before. The bond opened a hole within her. You must hurry to close it before it’s too late to close it at all.” “Krys, can you do this?” Raising weary eyes he answered Alexial without letting Clio out of his sight. “I have no choice, brother. She is in this state because of me. I’m the only one who can fix it, right, Alekos? Or I assumed you would have healed her by now?”

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“You are right. But this is a path only a true soul mate can travel from one mind to the next.” “Then let’s get started.” Pushing away from his brother’s strength, Kryssin stood on rubbery legs and stumbled his way to where Clio lay now silent in his brother’s arms. “If you need the additional strength, I can follow behind you,” Alexial offered. They both knew the generous offer would be refused. “No, I’m on my own this time. It’s just Clio and me.” He closed his eyes and sought that fragile connection from his mind to hers. He could see the thread in a distance, wavering under the pain radiating from Clio. The brightness and glow had gone out from it. The pain had to be draining all her natural power. Kryssin had to stop it before there was no light left to lead him back. If it were gone, they were both stuck in the darkness of her mind and her death.

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Chapter 7 The hum of voices swirled above her head. Icy hot pain filled the reality in Clio’s world. She didn’t know how or why the pain started; she only knew it had always been there. It pulsed through her in waves dragging her down, suffocating her to the point of madness. The eagerness to give up the fight and give in to the pain taunted her every breath. She knew to let go meant her death and somehow the strength to care eluded her. Voices rose around her, though she couldn’t unravel the words, but she knew they were discussing her. For whatever purpose she didn’t know. She only hoped they were there to either ease the pain or help end it for good. Clio felt more than heard the echo of her name being called from a great distance. A part of her wanted to turn towards the voice and the comfort it offered. But the other half of her knew the pain urged her to flee before the voice brought more agony with it. Against her will, she felt the bond binding her to her mortal body thin until it was just the barest glimmer of cord. So that was it, she thought, her mind separating from the pain. I’m going to die. The realization didn’t frighten her as she expected. Clio had nothing to really tie her to this place. She had a few friends but all her family had died years ago. Her only regret was that she wouldn’t be able to complete her studies on the unknown scrolls. Such a waste. “Clio.” The voice came again, closer this time so she didn’t have to strain to hear it. She wanted to push it away but lacked the physical body to do so. “Clio, you can’t give up. I won’t allow you.” Again the voice came closer. Why didn’t it just go away? Who was this voice to tell her what she could or couldn’t do? Her interest in fighting back waned along with her strength. “Why do you give up so easily?” Easy? He, she recognized the husky male tone of the voice now, thought this was easy? He should try being in her shoes. As if reading her mind, he responded. “I would give all that I am, honey, if I could indeed take your place.” Why? She felt the hesitation in him before he spoke again. “It is my right and honor to protect you.” There was more; she could feel it. There was a piece there in his mind she saw but was unsure how to grasp. It was too much effort to care and she let herself drift back to floating in the comfort of nothingness. “Don’t you dare die on me. Not after everything we’ve been through to find you,” he demanded. This was too much. She couldn’t even manage to die in peace. What was it lately with her that was making people go out of their way to fight? First, it was her boss this morning and then that strange man at dinner; the man with the husky voice and molten blue eyes. “So you like my voice? Well at least it’s a start.” No, it couldn’t be. If there was a God in heaven she refused to believe He would allow her to spend her last remaining minutes on earth being plagued by the devil.

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“I know we didn’t get off to such a great start, but I’m in no way the devil.” Something about that made her smile and feel happy, but she couldn’t remember what it was. “Could it have been meeting me? Do you remember you came to dinner with my brothers and me along with your friend, Tara.” In the strange half-world she existed in she didn’t wonder how he was reading her mind. She simply accepted it. And in the same manner she thought her words back to him. “You are the one I was with today?” Again the brief pause before he spoke. “I was there.” It must be him whom she remembered with happiness. The man who looked at her with heat in his eyes and desire in his touch. For him she would make the effort to hold on. “How did you find me?” “I’d find you anywhere in heaven or hell and follow you until we were together again.” The words would have brought tears to her eyes if she’d had a body that allowed her to cry. “I don’t know how to get back from here,” she told him hoping he would lead her back. “Praise Hera, I didn’t think you would listen to me.” For him she would make the effort to go back to the pain and confusion rioting within her body. “I don’t know if I can make it.” Clio felt whatever power remained was draining away rapidly. “Shush, love, just allow me to hold you and guide you back. You don’t have to do anything but lean on me,” he assured her. Before she could ask him how she could lean on him when she didn’t have a body, she felt a tingling sensation where her arms would have been. Clio felt herself being pulled further away from the peace of limbo and back to the pain. At the first brush of ice and fire to her body, she tried to wrench away and return to safety, but she was securely locked within arms she couldn’t see or feel. “Let me go. Please, it’s too much.” “Clio, please just a bit longer. I know it hurts, baby, but the worst will be over once you pass through this.” She didn’t believe him. There were things he hadn’t told her. Pieces were missing. Maybe the whole thing had been a lie. Clio tried to focus on pulling her body away and felt triumphant when she slipped a few inches from his grasp. “No, Clio. I’m not letting you go,” he swore and she could hear him speaking to someone else in the same way he spoke to her. “Alexial, I need you.” Before she had time to wonder who Alexial was, he was there. “Be calm, little sister, we’re here to ease your pain, not further it.” This new voice was gentle, calm and filled with tenderness. She was eager for his next words, wanting only to follow wherever the voice led. “Great,” the first voice spoke. “She’s enthralled with your voice. Nice going, brother.” “Does it matter how we save your mate’s life?” The soothing voice replied. “Right now, no, but when this is over Bastien’s never going to let me hear the end of it.” “So long as she is around for him to tease you about, I wouldn’t care.”

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Something that felt like a sigh caressed her cheek. “You are right. Forgive me my jealousy.” “It is forgotten. Now let’s get your soul-keeper back to her body before she changes her mind again.” The force of both men surrounded her and guided her back towards the red haze of pain she’d come from. But this time there was no choice of going back. She was held more firmly than before and sensed the resolve of both men. ***** Kryssin felt the instant Clio’s soul re-entered her body. Mortal bonds entwined her still frame in an invisible weave ensuring her lifeline was once again strong and whole. He felt weary all over. It had been a battle not to give up and follow Clio into whatever the next life held. But there were others depending on him and he couldn’t forsake his honor just because he was tired. He lifted blood shot eyes to those of his brother. “I thank you for your help.” “You would have done the same, little brother,” Alexial said. It was the truth. Kryssin would sacrifice anything for his family as they would for him. But this time there was something new in the mix. In all their years of existence, this was the first time any of them had fought to bring a mortal back from the realm prior to Hades. Both wondered if the Shadow Hunters had been able to track them from that plane into this one. Alekos knelt beside Clio’s unmoving form. “The pain is over now. She’ll wake in a bit, and she’ll be groggy and unsteady. She won’t remember the journey you just took.” Kryssin let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding as the healer continued. “She’ll need to eat and get plenty of water. None of this coffee or soda crap. It will only make her feel worse. But,” he said standing up in his wet clothes, “she’ll be good as new tomorrow.” Unused to his new functioning body, Kryssin could only nod his head as his heart pounded in relief. “Come on, let’s give the two of them some time alone.” Alexial opened the door in the manner of humans, threw his brother a smile and followed Alekos out the door. Kryssin rested his aching muscles as he sat against the wall while cradling Clio in his lap. For the first time he was able to take a really good look at her. He couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t known her from the start. Her skin was the color of light honey from the diving she did. Even with her eyes closed, he could picture their vibrant green color that reminded him of the sea grass that grew near his home. He ran his fingers across her satiny skin, relishing the ability to feel the softness beneath his fingers. He pulled her further onto his lap so he could cradle her warm body in his arms. Her scent drifted over him. It was tangy and wild much like the woman herself. Clio’s hair long ago lost its fight for order and now fell across his chest and arms. He grabbed a handful of the silken strands to rub between his fingers and over his lips. Kryssin felt the slight tensing of her muscles as she fought toward wakefulness. “It’s all right, baby. I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”

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Clio relaxed her muscles and snuggled back into Kryssin’s lap. He never expected to enjoy just the feel of her in his arms so much. She was quickly becoming all-important to him. She was becoming his world. “Open your beautiful eyes, love. Let me see you smile.” He saw the twist of her head as she fought his compulsion to obey his command. Her lips parted and her tongue darted out to lick dry lips. His own mouth felt suddenly dry and his stomach cramped with desire. “Just open your eyes for a minute and then I’ll let you rest again.” Clio muttered in his shirt, rubbing her nose along his chest. Then she opened her mouth and uttered the one thing capable of breaking his newly beating heart. “Bastien?”

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Chapter 8 Bastien whistled softly as he walked the restaurant hallway to fetch Kryssin and his mate. He thought how lucky his brother was; finding that one person made to fit his life and passion. He wished Kryssin nothing, but blessings on his match, but he couldn’t help the unease crowded in his mind. He knew, as did the others, how important finding their soul-keepers were. Without them, the battle was over and the war lost. Each woman would be the key that would lead them to ten pieces of the trident. Once the trident was whole again they would have the power to vanquish the Scabers and Shadow Hunters that stalked them. Once their foes were vanquished the threat of the Titans rising once more would be gone. But still Bastien couldn’t help but feel unnerved at the thought of one woman becoming everything to him. He liked his life the way it was. He did what he wanted, slept with whomever he desired and made sure no one was hurt in the process. His brothers laughed at his excessive need for women, but they didn’t understand. When he was mind to mind with a woman, sinking his cock into her wet body and his teeth deep in her veins, he was sated. The feeling never lasted long but it was enough to give him a taste of what he couldn’t remember. The scent of salt in the air, the warmth of a fire dancing on his skin and the satin touch of a woman’s body beneath his fingers made him feel. Bastien craved that ability with every ounce of his immortal being. Kryssin charged out a door at the end of the hallway. When he spotted Bastien, his eyes lit with fury and with a roar he charged his brother. Ducking the first punch, Bastien held his hands palms up in peace. “What the Hades is wrong with you?” Kryssin grunted in answer and charged him again, this time landing a solid punch into Bastien’s ribs. He took no more than a second to launch himself at Kryssin’s throat. When he landed a hit to Kryssin’s eye, Bastien felt somewhat mollified and backed up hoping whatever had set his normally calm brother off had been worked out of his system. Maybe the mention of his mate might soothe Kryssin’s temper. “How is Clio?” He was wrong. Kryssin came at him again with all the fury of a raging hurricane. He shouted insults Bastien was too busy defending himself to understand. He knew it was a matter of minutes before someone stumbled across them or came to investigate the noise. It was hard for his mind to focus on anything but blocking the blows Kryssin threw. “Enough.” Alexial’s voice was harsh with displeasure and at once the brothers broke apart. Kryssin’s chest expanded as he sucked air into his starved lungs. Bastien watched amazed at the phenomenon. His brother was breathing, really truly breathing. He also looked at Kryssin’s throat where he could see the rapid beating of his pulse. “It’s unbelievable,” he whispered.

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Without explanation, Bastien knew Alexial understood his words and nodded his agreement. “So it is,” Alexial replied before turning back to Kryssin, who stood, hands on hips and eyes blazing, looking like he’d like to go another round. “What reason do you have for fighting Bastien in this manner?” The tone was harsh, formal and cold. Bastien was glad for once it wasn’t directed at him. Kryssin shook his head and Bastien could see he didn’t want to answer. If it had been anyone but Alexial Kryssin would have left without another word. But since Alexial was who he was and he was indeed standing there waiting for answers, Kryssin could do nothing but answer him with the truth. His head bowed, Kryssin spoke softly. “My mate…” He hesitated taking another deep breath before going on. “she… called his name upon waking.” “Oh shit.” Bastien whispered and knew there was nothing he could do to get out of the hole he’d found himself in. For once in all his centuries of existence, he wished himself different because no one would believe the truth, not with his past. “’Oh shit’ about sums it up, Bas.” Alexial stepped to him his eyes filled with ice. “What have you done that causes Kryssin’s soul-keeper to speak your name upon waking?” He noticed the emphasis Alexial put on Kryssin’s name and knew there would be no talking his way out of this. His reputation, which he had taken pride in but minutes before could very well destroy the foundation of his family. ***** Physical pain wracked his body and Kryssin was grateful for the momentary distraction from the pain in his heart. He felt the pity from Alexial but from Bastien he could feel nothing. He had expected Bas to laugh it off or make a joke but his silence damned him more than words ever could. Kryssin turned his back to his brothers and rested both hands on the wall. A part of him rejoiced in the pain his body felt, another part resented his returned abilities for it linked him to Clio and thinking of her just brought him more pain. He tensed as his oldest brother laid a soothing hand on his shoulder. “Before we condemn Bastien, wouldn’t it be wise to hear what he has to say?” “Always the peace maker, huh, Alex?” His words were harsh and laced with pain. But his brother’s expression never changed. His blue eyes remained steady and thoughtful. Kryssin knew the message Alexial was trying to convey, but as his mind reached to accept, his heart rejected it before hearing the words. “When it’s necessary, little brother, and this time it seems more than necessary. I haven’t seen you like this since…” His voice trailed off lost in the distant memories. He shook his head sending a cloud of black hair swirling over his shoulders. “I want you to think, Krys, and think honestly. In all our centuries of being has there ever been a time when Bastien betrayed you?” “No, but then this is the first soul-keeper we’ve found.” “So after thousands of years, Bas decides to ruin the one thing guaranteed to end our torment? He covets the one woman in the world he knows is not meant for him?” Alexial

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didn’t speak with accusation in his tone but rather with calm conviction. The more he spoke the more Kryssin felt like a fool. He shook his head, not wanting to face the brother he so easily accused. “Again ,you are right, Alex. In all the years Bas’ mischief has never caused anyone pain least of all those he loves.” The hand tightened on his shoulder before it fell away. ” He may always be in some scandal or another but he would harm himself before turning on us.” “By the goddess, Alex, I didn’t know what else to think when Clio whispered his name before her eyes were even open. What else was I supposed to do?” He lifted his weary gaze to look for an answer. “You didn’t ask her?” The tone of his brother’s voice changed again. Instead of being reassuring and calm, it was covered in ice. Kryssin felt the heat of embarrassment rise to his cheeks and almost cursed the return of his sensations but stopped before the words were formed in his mind. Even with all the drawbacks of pain and humiliation he wouldn’t change his current state for all the treasure in the ocean. “I know. I should have asked, but I was too angry. I let my emotions take over my body and I’m sorry. But it’s difficult dealing with the return of everything all at once.” It was a bad excuse and each brother knew it. “I’m not the one you need to ask pardon from.” Alexial turned his back and walked to the silent Bastien. That his normally talkative, lively and humorous brother had remained so quiet caused another flash of regret to pass in Kryssin’s mind. He opened his mouth to apologize when the door to the room where he’d left Clio before swung open. Her face was pale, but she held head held high as she walked passed without sparing him a glance. Kryssin thought she was going to walk by all of them without a word until she spied Bastien slumped against the men’s bathroom door. Clio let out a cry of concern and rushed to his side. “What happened, Bas? Are you all right? Do we need to get you to a doctor?” Her voice was smooth and tender which caused Kryssin’s anger to rise again. “Let it be.” Alexial held him back when he tried to make his way to his mate and brother. “How can I just let it be? Do you see her holding him in her arms like he’s in pain? What does that tell you?” “It tells me your soul-keeper has a large and generous heart. That she feels the pain of others and seeks to soothe them in whatever manner she can. It tells me she will be a good mate and mother and that you’re probably unworthy of her.” “You defend him.” Kryssin pulled against his brother’s arm. He wanted to rail against the two people huddled on the floor where Bastien had slumped. “I defend your mate and if you were thinking clearly right now, you’d be proud of her instead of blind with jealousy.” “I’m not…jealous.” His voice trailed off. Jealous? It was true. Kryssin was jealous of the easy and almost instant affection that had grown between the two. He watched through new eyes as his mate patted his brother’s face and arms looking for injury. He wanted to tell her to

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spare herself the trouble because Bastien might have looked worse for wear, but he couldn’t feel any pain. Instead, he kept his mouth shut, his jealousy pushed to the side and marveled at the woman in front of him. “Bas, can you walk?” Clio tenderly pushed the hair from his eyes. He looked so pitiful she wanted to take him away and care for him herself. But it would be foolish to let anyone in his family any closer in her life. Clio didn’t know what had happened in that closet beyond the kiss she shared with Kryssin, but she knew something else had gone on. Something that no one was going to tell her. And the last thing she needed from this family that kept secrets so well was their meddling in her private life. “I’ll be fine, Clio. Just let me get up,” Bastien assured her, his voice slightly hoarse. She squatted beside him. “Here put your arm around my shoulder and I’ll get you out of here.” She had managed to get Bas standing on both feet when a voice from behind her spoke up. “It won’t be necessary to take care of Bastien, Dr. Foster. I’ll make sure he gets home safely and I’ll also send a doctor to tend to his injuries along with Kryssin’s.” The man behind the voice stepped out from the shadows. Clio felt an instinctual need to take a step back but with Bastien weighing her down, she held her ground. “I’m sorry, have we met?” They must have, the man knew her name. But Clio knew she’d never seen him before. A man like this no woman would ever forget. He held on hand out to her. “Forgive me, Dr. Foster. I am Alexial Poseidon, the man responsible for these two idiots.” Clio clamped her hand briefly around his before jerking it back. There was something strange about him. He was tall, with midnight black hair and the same swirling blue eyes as Kryssin and Bastien. This man’s build was made of nothing but solid muscle and steel. His shoulders were wide and seemed to strain against the seams of his well-cut jacket. He wore an air of power about him with the same casualness other men wore ties. Here was the source of strength she glimpsed before in Talos, Bas and Kryssin. Each man was strong in his own right but in the face of the eldest she knew without being told he was the firstborn his core was nothing more than solid control and arrogance. Clio shook in her shoes at a small glimpse of something she didn’t understand. She needed to get out of here now before they did anything weirder to her. “Bas.” She touched his silky dark hair. “Take care of yourself when you get home. Make a doctor look at those ribs. I’m not an expert but I think you might have broken a few.” Bastien gave her a small smile and squeezed her shoulder before he let her go to lean against the wall. “You take care, jellyfish, don’t let these sharks bite you to pieces.” Clio patted his hand and knew she’d miss this strange and charming man even though they had met but hours before. She felt an instant kinship with him. Two black sheep surrounded by wolves. Gathering her courage, she turned to face the two brothers. “I’m sure you’ll see your brother taken care of.” She nodded her head at Alexial. “You’ll understand if I decline to finish

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dinner and now excuse myself. If you have any further questions or have need of additional information please contact the university help desk. They’ll be more than happy to answer any of your questions.” Before tonight one foot in front of the other had never seemed like such a chore. Then again before tonight she never thought passion could take over her body and mind. It was a night of firsts and she hoped lasts. Like the last time she had to see these two men. “Dr. Foster, a moment please.” Alexial spoke. “I’m afraid I’ve given you all the moments I’m going to this evening, Mr. Poseidon,” She returned coolly, not stopping the motion of her feet. “Alexial please, Dr. Foster.” “Alexial,” She consented and refused to offer him the same courtesy. He gently grasped her elbow, taking Clio by surprise at his swiftness. “There are some pressing matters we need to discuss with you. A few minutes of your time can’t be asking all that much,” Alexial spoke softly making her want to agree until she saw Kryssin’s face in the shadows of the hall. His look was filled with primal rage and possession. No, there was no way she was staying for another round of who knew what. “Again, I’m sorry but even one minute is asking too much.” She tried unsuccessfully to wrench her elbow free. “I’m terribly sorry you feel that way.” His voice actually sounded remorseful. “It makes saying this all that much harder.” Clio’s spine tingled and the small hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention. Whatever was going to happen she wasn’t going to like and she knew damn well there was no way she could get away from them. She sighed out loud and wondered who in the restaurant would hear her scream. “Say what?” “That we can’t let you leave, Dr. Foster.” She yanked and tugged her arm for him to release her but his grip was firm. Before she could open her mouth to scream, she felt a hand clamp over it. “Try to relax, Clio. No one’s going to hurt you,” Kryssin’s voice assured her. Damn right no one was going to hurt her. She wasn’t going to let it happen. Reaching a hand down to the pocket of her skirt that held her keys, Clio wanted to cry out in gratitude when her fingers closed over the small can of mace she carried on her keychain. She slid the canister in the palm of her hand, careful to keep her keys from bumping together and brought it up enough that she would have room to maneuver. She felt for the safely latch on the top of the nozzle and snapped it open. Faster than she thought herself able to move, Clio sprayed the mist into Alexial’s eyes and stumbled free as his hold loosened. Not taking a chance she turned the mace on Kryssin but was unable to spray the chemical into his shocked blue eyes. She aimed instead for his throat and mouth hoping the mace would work just as well there as in the eyes. But she didn’t stick around long enough to find out. Spinning on her heel, she ran to the entrance of the hall and to freedom. And ran smack dab into a massive wall of muscle. Before she lifted her eyes she knew it was over. But she made herself look anyway.

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Up, up and up her gaze traveled until it reached the mocking silver blue eyes of the one brother she forgot about. “Hello, Talos,” She said defeated and turned back to her jailers.

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Chapter 9 Kryssin could feel Clio’s defeat and anger. Her emotions beat at him like the relentless waves of the ocean. He wanted to shout for his brothers to release her, anything to stop her fear. But he held his tongue knowing their actions were centered on her safety. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Clio.” Alexial said as he walked to her. “And what way is this exactly?” she asked backing up. Kryssin watched as his oldest brother shook his head in sorrow. No one among them would ever dare harm a woman and it insulted his brother to see a woman retreat from him in fear. “This is a strange situation we need to discuss. But let me try to rest some of your fears. No one here will ever harm you much less touch you in anger,” he assured her with a soothing voice. Clio’s eyebrows rose up in shock. “How stupid do you think I am? Like I’m just going to take your word you people won’t hurt me. Get real, I wasn’t born last night.” “Your intelligence is not in question, Dr. Foster. In fact from what my sources tell me your intelligence is rather high. Your SAT scores were some of the highest your counselor had seen not to mention your intelligence score were off the charts.” He paused before speaking again. “However, your common sense seems to be lacking.” Clio’s mouth open and shut rapidly in shock before she was able to speak. “What in the hell gave you the right to dig into my life? What I do, what I know and how smart or stupid I am, is none of your business.” Her cheeks flushed a bright color and her eyes sparkled in anger. At that moment Kryssin had never seen a woman look more beautiful or desirable. “Forgive me, if you think I’ve intruded beyond politeness.” Alexial made a small bow to her. “But it does not change the fact the digging was necessary for you as well as for us.” “Necessary? What the heck is necessary in shuffling through someone’s IQ scores?” she questioned. “Need made it necessary,” he answered simply. “I would suggest we table this discussion for the moment until we are someplace less vulnerable.” Clio ignored his last statement to focus on the first. “Need? What need?” “Please, Dr. Foster, I ask that you let this go for now. There will be a better time and place to open this rather large can of worms.” She shook her head rapidly. “No way, buster. You think you’re going to keep me prisoner without giving me the smallest reason why? I won’t allow that.” For a moment Clio looked as shocked as the rest of the hall occupants by her bravado before she masked her thoughts. “This is not the way this was supposed to happen.” Alexial muttered under his breath before looking over his shoulder to Kryssin. “I’ll say one thing your mate has courage and heart. May Zeus help you both.” “Alex, can we leave this for now? We have nothing in place. Hell.” Kryssin raked his hands through his hair in frustration. “We don’t even know what needs to be in place. Look, get in touch with that irresponsible Oracle of yours and find out what comes next.”

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His brother opened his mouth to speak then shut it before he nodded. “Yes, might as well. What do you propose we do about her in the meantime?” He jerked his dark head toward Clio. “We erase everything but the knowledge of a nice calm relaxing dinner. It’s asking too much to bring her with us now. I’ll never earn Clio’s trust when she is this angry and frightened.” “Yes, you are right, little brother. I’m sorry but it seems you may have quite a battle on your hands for this one’s heart not to mention soul.” Alexial shot his gaze to Talos and the other man quickly left to return to their table. “Whoa, you guys aren’t going to do anything to my mind. I thought you wanted to kidnap me. Wasn’t that the plan?” Her voice quivered as fear replaced anger. “One would almost think you would prefer to be held against your will instead of forgetting our meeting,” the leader of his people commented. Clio backed away until her shoulders touched the far wall. She raised both hands palm up like the Scales of Justice. “Let’s see, get taken against my will or have my brains scrambled like eggs?” Her left hand fell as if under great pressure. “Nope, the brain fry loses. I’ll take kidnapping please.” Kryssin didn’t know who was more shocked at his mate’s flippant remark. Alexial stood with his mouth open, Bastien sat against the door trying to smother his laughter under a cough and Kryssin felt his chest swell with an emotion too overwhelming to name. Instead of shrinking back, his mate came out swinging. He wondered if Clio saw the changes in herself as clearly as he did. He managed to clear his throat and spoke directly to her. “Clio, no one is going to scramble your brains. You aren’t going to be kidnapped and no one is going to find your body floating in the Gulf. You watch too much television.” “I watch too much TV?” she gasped. “I’m not the one doing some weird impression of Armani gangsters.” Bastien’s laughter cut through the tension as he spoke. “By the goddess, a woman with the heart of a lion, the body of a nymph, and the wit of a trickster. I think I’m in love.” Kryssin growled deep in his throat warning his brother to back off his mate. “Bas, I wouldn’t push your luck anymore this day. One more remark about your brother’s soul-keeper and I’ll sic Phoenix on you,” Alexial spoke in a low even tone while his eyes flashed with his own repressed humor. At the mention of the irksome Oracle, Bastien’s face comically dropped and his mouth fell open. He waved his arms as if warding off Alexial’s words. “Not another word from me. I swear.” He raised his palm to show his sincerity. “Enough of this,” Clio interrupted Bastien’s plea. “I don’t know what’s going on. At this point I really don’t care just as long as you let me go.” “Yes, we know you don’t want to be in our company any longer than necessary,” Kryssin bit off growing angry at her continual sniping remarks. “Don’t get mad at me. I didn’t ask for you to invite yourselves to dinner. I didn’t ask for you to jump me in the closet. I wish I’d never seen any of you.” “Hades balls, woman. You shall get your wish.” Kryssin paced the small space to where Alexial stood. “Call for Dorian. He’ll ensure she remembers nothing of us.” He threw his last

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words to her as he vanished from the hallway. “I hope you enjoy your bland existence, Dr. Foster.” ***** Clio stood stunned, overwhelmed with the afternoon’s events to take in Kryssin’s abrupt disappearance. “Ah, that really didn’t happen?” She paused. “Did it?” The one called Alexial looked over at her. His blue eyes were no longer warm but cold with fury. “What does it matter to you? You’ll get your wish no matter what the cost will be to others.” “Cost? What cost? What others?” She was confused. While she had been afraid, none of the men had hurt her. Instead they treated her with a reverence. Except for Kryssin. He had kissed her, touched her and seduced her. “It doesn’t matter now.” Alexial waved his hand to dismiss the conversation. As suddenly as Kryssin disappeared, another man appeared. He was tall like the rest, his waist-length black hair was tied at his neck. His eyes were the deepest darkest black Clio had ever seen. She felt a shiver run down her spine as his gaze landed on her. “So the rumor is true?” His voice was a total contrast to his appearance. It was like liquid silk rolling over her body. Each word caressed her skin and she wanted to moan from the sheer pleasure of hearing him speak. “What rumor is that?” Alexial asked. “The one that says she is Krys’s soul-keeper? The one that says she is a normal mortal woman? Or the very incorrect one that says she’s got a heart filled with compassion instead of a rock of selfishness.” Clio was shocked at the bluntness of Bastien’s brother’s words. Why should she care what any of them thought of her? She didn’t know them and they sure as hell didn’t know her. She was as compassionate and giving as the next person. But she wasn’t going to allow herself to be taken prisoner to satisfy some lonely rich boys whacked out fantasy. But the truth was his words did hurt her. For no reason she could understand, she wanted this man’s approval. After today’s events she doubted she’d ever get it. “So she is not a paragon of virtue?” Her arms tingled when the seductive voice spoke again. “Hmph, she’s not a paragon of anything,” Alexial bit out, clearly not wanting to talk about her any more than he wanted to talk to her. It was Bastien’s words that brought tears to her eyes. “Lay off, Alex. She’s had a rough enough day. She almost lost her soul, dies and then has to deal with you jerks talking about kidnapping her or turning her brains into SillyPutty. Under the circumstances I think she’s doing a hell of a job by not screaming her head off and running out of here like a loon.” He paused to send Clio a look of encouragement before going on. “I, for one, think she’s got more than smarts. Clio’s got courage, heart, brains and a body that won’t quit.” Bastien’s wink let her know he was teasing at the same time placing himself firmly on her side. She sent a small smile back to him. “What is to be done with her?” the voice asked. “You wipe her memory of us and the events that happened here in this area. Leave her with the knowledge of a nice sociable dinner. Nothing more.”

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Black eyes didn’t respond but he gave a small movement of his head that Clio assumed the others took as a nod. She watched memorized as he glided to her. She couldn’t see his feet touch the ground but his legs moved. What the hell was going on now? Just when she thought she’d reached the top of her weirdness limit, they pushed it over. There was no place to run. Clio had backed herself into a corner to protect her back and now she was trapped. Her eyes narrowed as the silent man walked toward her, his fathomless black eyes capturing her own. She felt the same weightless freefalling that she did earlier with Kryssin. But this time the falling was accompanied by the feeling of security. She felt no fear as he walked close enough for their clothes to brush. This man meant her no harm. It was safe to close her eyes and give control over to him. And she did.

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Chapter 10 The water churned from the force of Kryssin’s strokes. His anger was deep but his pain went deeper. In all the years of his life, when he dreamed of his soul-keeper, he’d never once envisioned that she would spurn him or fear him. This woman did both. The open water of the Pacific lapped all around him. There was nothing in sight. No land, no boats, no planes. It was exactly what Kryssin needed to burn off the anger. He turned on his back, doing a lazy backstroke and kicked his feet. The sun was gone, but the moon had risen to take its place. The silver of its light shone off the water soothing Kryssin’s battered mind and heart. But as much as the magic of the water and the healing light of the moon eased his anger, they did nothing for the anguish of his heart. What did he do now? With Clio’s mind wiped free of today’s events, he could approach her again but today would always be between them because he would remember every moment between them. After they bonded, she would know he kept something from her. That was no way for soul mates to live. He couldn’t see starting his life with Clio on a lie. Then again, Kryssin thought, as he smoothly flipped to his stomach, she may never respond after the events of this afternoon. His body tightened at the memory of her taste and touch. He could have spent the next sixty years just kissing those lush lips. Or lose himself in the scent of her hair. Or drown in the feel of her skin. Everything was so much sharper now the breeze in his hair, the water caressing his body, the scent of the night filling his lungs. Kryssin couldn’t believe how much he’d forgotten in all the years since he’d lost his soul. The smallest scents made him want to laugh with pleasure. The briefest touch made him want to writhe in ecstasy. And he owed everything he felt and sensed to Clio Foster. Kryssin was at a loss. On one hand, he could claim her and bury the lie so deeply in his mind he hoped she would never find it. On the other hand, he could say to hell with it and do whatever it took to fulfill the legend. “And where’s the honor in that,” a voice chimed in on his right. “Not to mention the fun?” Kryssin wasn’t surprised to see Jay swimming easily beside him. “Reading my thoughts again, eh?” Her soft laughter floated over the water. “For the first time in years they’re actually worth reading.” “What does that say about the state of my mind? My imaginary friend thinks I’m boring.” Kryssin wasn’t worried though. Jay had been a part of his life since he’d woken up from his father’s summons on the beach many centuries ago. She’d been his guide, friend, confessor, and protector. Never once in all their years together had she let him down. She saved his life more times than he could count. She made him laugh when he was tempted to cry. And she gave him the courage to seek life instead of surrendering his body to the call of the sea.

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He never knew where she went when she left him. She never spoke of a life beyond what she shared with him. His questions were met with silence or laughter. Only one time had he dared push her about her past. She left him alone until the loss of her friendship was unbearable. “When are you going to stop this imaginary friend crap?” she questioned him without any heat. It was a conversation they’d had many times and would continue to have in the future. “I’ll believe you’re real when I see you someplace besides the water and when you tell me something about yourself other than your name.” “So what?” she smiled at him. “You want to know my bra size? Or what type of toothbrush I use? And before you ask I prefer Charmin over Scotts for toilet paper. I’ll take the San Antonio Spurs over the LA Lakers any day,” she finished with a flourish. “That’s a lot of sharing. I don’t know if I can handle the bonding. You’re overwhelming me with personal information,” he replied sarcastically. “You never said you wanted specific answers. And I take my Spurs very seriously,” She said with a twinkle in her ocean green eyes. “Glad to know there is something you take seriously.” She clutched a hand over her heart as her body defied gravity to float above the water. “Ouch, that hurt.” Kryssin stopped in mid-stroke to turn on his side and laugh. “If I thought for a minute you were serious, I might actually be sorry.” Jay dropped the hurt expression and the hand covering her heart until her fingers trailed in the water. “You know there are some things I do take seriously…very seriously.” She lifted her head to meet his eyes. The expression on her face was on he’d seen a very rare occasions. It was somber, her eyes no longer twinkled with laughter and her lips were pulled tight in a straight line. Crap, just what he didn’t need. More bad news. “Out with it, Jay.” She released a deep breath. “Krys, you made a mistake today. But it wasn’t your fault. You’ve got to get the guilt monkey off your back or you’ll never be able to claim your mate.” As usual she stunned him with her knowledge of his life outside the waters. “Hey, I don’t need you telling me I screwed up. I know it and even if I didn’t, Alex or Dorian would be more than happy to fill me in.” “Your brothers understand what happened today more than you think.” At his disbelieving laughter, she rose up out of the water. Folding her legs to sit tailor-fashion, she pinned Kryssin with a gaze that trapped him and he was powerless to look away. “Don’t do this, Jay. I’ve had a bad enough day and you’re going to push me over the edge,” he warned her, his voice rough with temper. “Oh yeah, like you scare me.” She gave a small laugh of her own. “You wouldn’t hurt me anymore than you’d hurt your soul-keeper.” Kryssin’s eyes narrowed in anger. “I wouldn’t push that theory right now.” Jay shrugged to show how little his threat meant to her. “Think about this, shark breath. How many soul-keepers have the nine of you found so far?” Since she knew the answer already, Kryssin didn’t feel the need to reply.

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“Yeah, exactly none. So, how were you supposed to know what to do or say? If you ask me I think this woman’s lucky to still be alive. It doesn’t say much for her that she’s too much of a coward to fight for life.” The fury her words caused him surprised Kryssin. Before he knew it his mouth was open to defend her. “She didn’t know what was going on.” Jay waved a hand to dismiss his words. “Yeah yeah yeah, still doesn’t explain why she picked up her marbles and called the game quits. You’d think the fates would have picked a better mate for you. Someone with some backbone to stand up to you and those thick headed brothers of yours but no, this one is too delicate to push. She’s too human to fight back. Blech,” She made a disgusted noise in her throat. “She would have been better off in Hades’ realm if you ask me.” “Well, no one did ask you.” Kryssin pushed his own body out of the water to face her. He didn’t know why he was defending Clio. Hell, he agreed with most of what she said, but it didn’t feel right to let someone else, even his closest friend, trash his mate’s character. “For your information, Clio did stand up to my brother. She pretty much told us all to go to Hades. She came back from the shadow realm in one piece when most humans would have lost their sanity after sixty seconds there. And another thing.” He pointed his finger at her. “Clio didn’t have a clue what was going on. She didn’t ask to be the first soul-keeper found. She didn’t ask to be the first of nine destined to save the world. Shit, she doesn’t know the rules or boundaries any more than I do.” While he continued to rant, he was vaguely aware that Jay had moved their conversation from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to a small deserted island. It was Kryssin’s secret place that only Jay knew of. The one place he ran to when the world and all its demands caught up to him and he needed a soothing retreat. Without stopping his tirade, Kryssin paced the length of the beach while Jay floated above the sand and followed his long strides up and down the sand. Her pink gossamer robe flowed gently with the ocean breeze as she moved beside him. “What makes you think she’s not a fit mate?” he demanded stopping in front of her. “There’s been no time to explain anything to her. Who’s to say once she understands our reasons, Clio wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to help us. She loves the ocean almost as much as I do. She just needs time to come to realize the importance of the situation. Once she knows everything, she would agree to help us regardless of the fact that none of us is sure what the next step may be.” It was the smug smile on Jay’s lips that let him know he’d been played. “Damn it, Jay, why don’t you just tell me these things instead of letting me make an idiot of myself?” Her smile grew brighter. “I’ve got to have some fun and you’re it, big boy.” Kryssin refused to smile back even as his lips twitched to move. “Let me introduce you to my brothers and you’ll have more than enough people to have fun with,” He assured her. Her bright smile faltered for a minute. Jay stopped her floating to stand in front of him. “Nope, no can do, water dude. I exist to harass you and you alone.” “Oh lucky me.” He whispered under his breath knowing she’d hear him anyway. He cleared his throat and spoke louder. “Like any of them would put up with an imaginary…” He paused to look her up and down. “…well, imaginary whatever you are.”

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Jay didn’t get mad at his broad hint to find out exactly what she was. She never did. She simply smiled and agreed with him. This time her answer shocked him. “Don’t worry, Krys, the rest of the testosterone gang have their own monkeys to deal with.” “You mean we each have a Jay to drive us insane? I thought you said you were the only one of…” he waved his hand toward her, “what you are?” Her laughter rang in his ears and lightened his heart as always. “Oh trust me, Kryssin, I am most assuredly the only one of me in existence. The gods couldn’t make perfection twice. Jealousy and all that you know.” She informed him while inspecting her perfectly manicured nails. “You’re nuts. You know that? Plain nuts.” He told her. Jay lifted her shoulders in a classic shrug. “So you think I should go back to Clio and explain everything? The legend, the curse, lost souls, Scabers and Shadow Hunters. I should tell her all that?” It sounded crazy to his ears. If he didn’t live it, he wouldn’t believe such a wild story and there was no way he could see straight-laced Dr. Foster buying into the Poseidon Legend. “I think you should follow your instinct.” “Oh yeah, that’s a good idea. My instinct almost got her killed, remember?” “It also saved her life.” He didn’t argue the point with her. He knew it would be useless. Once Jay believed in something, nothing short of an Oracle decree would make her change her mind. He doubted even the Oracles had the patience to fight with her when her mind was made up. He moved on to the next point. “Okay, let’s say I meet up with her again and I go from instinct. What’s to stop me from rushing the bonds again? I didn’t stop myself last time. Alexial did. If it hadn’t been for him, Clio and I would have both died.” He winced remembering how close to the cliff they had traveled. “Who’s to say Alex won’t stop you again?” She answered in an even tone. “Give big brother his due. He knows more than you give him credit for and less than you think he does.” “Great, here we go again.” He hated it when Jay spoke in such vague terms. There were never simple answers, only complex sentences that had to be dissected into the smallest form before any answer could be found. But in the end, her words were always proven true. “Hey, don’t blame me. I didn’t ask for this job.” She told him. “It’s not like you’re a bucket full of laughs either.” Embarrassment colored Kryssin’s cheeks when he heard the underlying hurt in her voice. “I’m sorry, Jaybird. I shouldn’t have taken my temper out on you. It’s just so hard figuring out what to do, learn where the next step is and how to do it all without attracting the attention of those bottom feeders.” She laid a hand on his arm, her touch gentle and comforting. “It’s okay. I know you don’t mean it when you spout off. But this is one time I can’t tell you what to do. No one can. Your fate and the fate of your soul rest in your hands alone.” She stepped back. “Remember Kryssin, there’s a reason for every action we do and proof in the smallest of objects that we hold close to our hearts.” Her words echoed on the air as Jay’s body shimmered and disappeared. It was always this way. She’d be standing in front of him laughing one minute and when he turned around poof, she was gone.

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After so many centuries he thought he’d be used to it by now, but somehow it never failed to surprise or impress him. He sat down in the sand to watch the moon rise high above the water. Jay’s words lingered in his mind as he thought what his next step would be. Kryssin’s only certainty was that Clio belonged to him and he would have her regardless of her fears and pride. Some things were more important than what one person wanted and saving the world from the Titan’s destruction was definitely one of those things.

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Chapter 11 “Has he returned?” Bastien shook his head. “Sorry, Alex. There’s no sign of him and we’ve searched his usual haunts.” He looked at his brother sitting on the edge of his black marble desk. Bas sat with one of his legs swinging out and the other propped up on the seat of an ancient Roman throne chair. The piece was priceless and a gift from the water sprites. If it had been anyone other than this brother, Alexial would have thought the insult was on purpose. But with Bastien, he knew better. His brother simply didn’t see the value in worldly objects. He sat on the desk because it was more comfortable not as a disregard for his brother’s position. Still Alexial felt compelled to try and correct him once again. “You know, Bastien, your footrest makes a perfectly acceptable chair. It was used in the coronation room for all of Egypt’s pharaohs.” “Okay.” As easy as that, Bastien removed his foot from the gold and jewel encrusted chair. “But come on, Alex, do you really need to have all this priceless and one of a kind crap in your office?” He raised a hand to encompass the room. For the first time in years, Alex looked around trying to see the room with new eyes. Okay, maybe his brother was right. It was a bit on the formal side. Given that the room was the size of a small home, it was hard to find a way to decorate it in anyway that would add warmth. When they had made this underwater cavern home and carved out each room, he had no time to worry about decorations or furniture placement. He’s left that up to the water nymphs that had volunteered their services. He should have known that with their formal tendencies his office would look more like an opulent throne room than a twenty-first century office. But given that it was decorated more than three thousand years ago, he couldn’t fault anyone for the lack of warmth. He never noticed it until it was pointed out. Maybe one day, in the far far future, he could talk the nymphs into changing one or two things. “I feel like I should bow down every time I walk in here.” Bastien’s voice broke through his wandering thoughts. “Is that some new protocol I’m missing out on, brother? Does everyone else prostate themselves before the great and powerful Alexial?” Alexial took a deep breath and banked his anger. Losing his temper at Bas would gain him nothing but his brother’s mockery. As always, Bastien tried to ease Alexial’s burdens with laughter. But he didn’t need the clown of the family riding his back when so many other things were already weighing him down. “You did what you could, Bas. There’s nothing more we can do but wait until he surfaces again. Maybe by then I can convince him to try again.” He finally replied refusing to remark on Bastien’s previous comments. “Yeah, well, I can’t help but think that Kryssin isn’t going to give up yet. It’s not like him to let go this easy.” He thought about Bastien’s words. “You’re right. Krys would never admit defeat even to the point of death. Wherever he is, I hope he’s re-grouping for another try. This is too important for him to fail.” If he had a beating heart, Alexial knew it would have pounded out of his chest long ago no thanks to all the demands on him.

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“We all know what’s at stake here. How could we not? Eryx does nothing but read old tombs then bore us to death with his findings. Kryssin has spent his time searching the seas for the lost island and coming up empty handed. Talos goes wherever he goes but comes back with nothing but more questions. The rest of us search, explore, and dig to find some scrap of knowledge that would lead us to the first step. Every one of us, yourself included, big brother, has nothing to show for the centuries of searching. Nothing but lots of priceless furniture that’s not comfortable to sit on and intimidates everyone who comes here.” He said the last with a grin on his face. Alexial gave in and slumped in his supple leather chair. It was the one piece of truly comfortable furniture in his office and a gift from the brother currently smiling at him across his desk. “Fine, Bastien, I get your point, but what else would you have us do? Sit on our hands for the past years? Wait and hope the answer would simply fall into our laps?” His tanned hand sliced the air in a motion to disregard those ideas. “There is one point you are forgetting about our aimless searches, little brother.” “And that would be…?” Bastien left the desk to examine the shelves that covered all but one wall of the huge room. He picked up a 4th century B.C. jar and tossed it between his strong hands. Alexial gave himself credit for not wincing as his brother played with the priceless artifact. Instead his voice was calm and his tone even. “Throughout our useless searches all nine of us have come across sunken ships, buried treasures, secret societies, forgotten mines and unexplored caves filled with rare jewels.” Bastien nodded his head in agreement. “Where would we be without any of those? Without the wealth that our travels brought us? I guarantee you wouldn’t have that gas-guzzling toy you love to drive when you’re land bound. Not to mention the fancy homes, apartments, clothes and all the rest of the toys you can’t seem to exist without.” Alexial gave a knowing glance at his brother’s waist where a cell phone, PDA and GPS tracker were kept within easy reach. Granted the tracker was designed to alert them to Shadow Hunters and Scaber’s presence, but his point was all the same. They would have none of this without the benefit of their explorations. Bastien smiled sheepishly. “Hey, I’m not knocking the money. I like my gadgets. All I’m saying is in all the years we’ve looked, not one of us has come across anything to do with our soul-keepers. I guess I just feel kind of bad for Krys. He’s swimming blind in a hurricane without his senses. It’s got to be rough on the guy.” Surprised at his brother’s compassion and insight, Alexial said nothing as he thought over his words. True no one had found anything even vaguely mentioning the existence of soul-keepers, but he chose to believe it wasn’t from lack of knowledge but lack of trust. If the words were ever written down and the wrong set of eyes read the knowledge, there would be nothing to stop the demons from going after the brother’s souls in their guardians bodies. “Krys will get through this. We’ll make sure he does. We don’t have another choice.” His voice was firm with the conviction of his power. “Of course we’ll be with him,” Bastien agreed as he muttered under his breath. “If we could only find the sea worm?”

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***** Dinner had been pleasant, but Clio couldn’t wait to leave. She was so tired all she wanted to do was go home and sleep for a week. She couldn’t ever remember feeling this drained. “That will teach you to get more than three hours a sleep at night.” Clio scolded herself as she walked to her car. Keeping her keys firmly in hand, she unlocked the car with the remote, threw her jacket in the back and opened the driver’s door sliding onto the leather seat. She couldn’t find the energy to put the key in the ignition and switch it on. She’d have to soon or the restaurant security would have her towed. But it was more than the threat of security that made her move finally. It was the feeling that she’d escaped something dangerous by the skin of her teeth. All through dinner, she wondered what it was that she’d forgotten. When nothing came to mind, she shoved the feeling away and tried to act interested in the conversation flowing around her. As usual, the men were enchanted by Tara. She could see the lust in each of their eyes but she wasn’t jealous of her friend. Tara never meant to flirt or send out the signals she did. Her charm came to her as naturally as breathing and she would be heartbroken to learn that her actions caused Clio pain. So she kept her mouth firmly shut and enjoyed the show. To give credit to the Poseidon brothers, they behaved better than most men. They divided the conversation equally between both women, seeming to be interested in what each of them said. Bastien had flirted shamelessly with Tara, complimenting her eyes, hair and skin. Then he turned around and focused his considerable charm on Clio. She knew by the matching laughter in his eyes that he didn’t take any of it more seriously than she did. To her surprise she found herself enjoying her dinner and her companions. Except for the one who watched her with hooded eyes. Kryssin made her heart beat too fast and her breath catch in her throat. There was knowledge in his eyes that she didn’t trust. It was as if he knew a secret about her she wasn’t aware of. The more she attempted to ignore him, the less successful she was. Her eyes were drawn again and again to his face wondering what made him fascinating to her. Each time Clio found herself ensnared by his eyes and helpless to turn away, Bastien would lightly touch her arm and free her from his power. If it wasn’t for Kryssin, Clio would have accepted the walk back to her car, but she felt the need to run from him. So she refused the offers of each man to ensure her safely to her ride. Now sitting in the security of her vehicle, she laughed at the silly tricks her mind played. There was nothing sinister or threatening about Kryssin Poseidon. Granted, his obvious wealth put her off, but his actions tonight had been nothing but chivalrous. The long hours of work with no time to relax were coming back to haunt her. Clio made up her mind to carve out time this coming weekend to go out diving. She’d force herself to lay aside the scroll research for at least eight hours each day.

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Her mind made up, Clio put the car in reverse and backed up from her assigned spot. She turned the wheel, and headed out of the private parking area as she pressed on the gas there was a sickening thud from the front driver’s side. Slamming the car back into park, she wrenched open the door fearful of what she would find. “Oh please, don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead whatever you are.” She pleaded with the unknown victim. Rounding the front of her car, she could see clearly in the glare provided by her headlights and the surrounding security lamps. She stopped short at the hood. There was nothing there. She leaned over to look underneath the body and saw nothing but empty space. “What the hell?” she whispered softly, not wanting to hear her voice echo in the empty lot. “I’ve been working way too hard, if I’m imagining hitting things.” Glancing around one last time to make sure an injured animal hadn’t been thrown to the side, she walked the few steps back to her door and reached for the handle. A hand grabbed her from behind and pushed her roughly against the hard metal. “Let me go. What’s the matter with you?” Clio lashed out with her legs, arms and head. She was relieved to hear her assailant grunt as one of her blows connected. Her pleasure was short lived when her arms were pulled painfully behind her back and held there by one cold hand. She shivered at the icy feel of her attacker’s skin. He felt like he had been in a deep freeze for years and was just now thawing out. Clio thrust the thoughts from her head and concentrated on what her next move should be. “Look what the sea scum left all alone,” a chilling voice whispered in her ear. “Didn’t they warn you I’d come?” Her voice was low but didn’t betray any fear. “Nobody told me anything. I don’t know anyone by the name of sea scum. You’ve got the wrong woman, pal,” she told him. He didn’t release her. Clio hadn’t really expected him to, but it never hurt to try all her options. “Oh no.” The cold voice whispered again near her ear causing gooseflesh to rise on her arms. “I know exactly what I’ve got, the soul-keeper to a Poseidon trash. They shouldn’t have left you all alone, little girl. You never know what can happen to a female at night.” His hoarse laugh made her wince. “But you are surely going to find out. That I promise you. By the time those fools know what’s going on, it will be too late. Your soul and that of your mate will be mine. But I promise to leave your body somewhat intact, so at least they can identify you.” Oh shit. Clio whimpered in her mind. She should have listened to her gut when it told her to run. Now she had a crazy man who thought he could suck the soul from her body by ending her life. Well, she wasn’t going to prove to be that easy to kill. Her scream rang out in the darkness carried further by her fear. She prayed that the night guard would find her before her attacker tried to force her in the car. If he managed to get her in the car, rescue would be too late and her life would be as good as gone.

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Chapter 12 Footsteps pounded on the marble behind him. Kryssin turned and saw Bastien furiously running to catch up with him. “What in Hades’ is the matter with you? You don’t ever run,” he pointed out. Like the rest of them, Bastien had the gift of terrain travel. He could will himself anywhere with a mere thought. To his laziest brother, moving faster than an amble was a shock. He stopped in front of Kryssin, his normal twinkle extinguished by the concern in his eyes. “Zale heard a rumor he knew we needed to hear.” Chills raced over his newly awakened skin. Aside from Dorian, Zale was the least spoken of the brothers. He spent his time searching and destroying the shadow hunters that captured him long ago. For his brother to send any communication, Kryssin knew the news had to be bad. “What was the rumor?” He spoke quickly as he felt his heart speed up in fear. Bastien sent him a look of pity before he answered. “Zale heard that your soul-keeper traveled to the dimension before Hades.” “How did he hear of this?” Zale never stayed in one place for long and his visits were rare. Kryssin feared where his brother had gotten the information from. “He was hunting the Scabers and had trapped several of them in a cavern off the coast of China. They offered him a bargain if he would spare their miserable existence.” Bastien paused to look around. “Damn it, Bas, finish the story. I don’t have time to play games with you.” “I’m trying to make sure our big brother doesn’t hear of this because if he does, he’s going to want to be in the middle of it. Then Dorian’s going to come after both our asses,” he explained in a softer voice. “Okay, fine. Just finish before my newly beating heart gives out from the suspense.” His brother smiled at the reminder of Kryssin’s new abilities, but the smile quickly faded when he spoke. “The seekers told him that the hunters felt her presence in their realm and knew what she was the moment she entered. They’ve formed a party to go after her.” Kryssin reached over and grabbed his brother’s shirt. “When?” he demanded. “When did they leave? How many were there?” Bastien looked unfazed by the other man’s tight grip. “Zale didn’t know. He was asking those questions when they vanished in front of him. He said that was an hour ago, human time, so with luck the hunters shouldn’t have had time to find her yet.” Sweat beaded on his forehead as he released Bastien’s shirt. “I have to find her. She doesn’t have a clue what’s out there looking for her. May Athena protect her if they get there before I do.” “You mean we, don’t you, big brother?” Bastien corrected him. Kryssin shook his head while his brain scrambled to latch on to Clio. He couldn’t find a trace of her in his mind and he started to panic. “This isn’t your battle, Bas. There’s no reason to put yourself in danger. You’ve never wanted to be a warrior and this is no time to start learning.” He moved down the hall, forgetting for the moment his own powers of teleportation as his mind whirled with thoughts of Clio.

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“Hey.” Bastien came up behind in and grabbed his arm. “Just because I didn’t want to be a warrior doesn’t mean I don’t know how to fight. I trained for years with Dorian,” he reminded him. The shock of the news was enough to distract him from thoughts of his mate. Dorian never fought or trained with them. Any training their second eldest brother did was in secret with no witnesses. Kryssin couldn’t believe their Protector had granted such an honor to anyone least of all, to Bastien. “When the hell did this happen?” he questioned, hearing the jealousy in his voice. Bastien had to grace to look sheepish before answering. “Right after the battle where you freed Zale and Alekos from the hunters. He pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to learn how to defend myself.” His eyes shone with remembered pleasure. “Like there was any chance in the Seven Seas I was going to turn down that offer. He taught me to fight, so I could defend myself or my family, if necessary.” Kryssin was torn. He knew he’d stand a better chance of defeating the creatures sent after Clio if he had a trained fighter by his side, yet he still saw Bastien as a little brother in need of his protection. He strained his mind to come up with a reasonable excuse to leave Bas behind when he heard a voice whisper through his mind. “He’ll never allow me to help. Krys doesn’t think I’m strong enough to stand beside him.” Kryssin was stunned. How was this possible? Never in all the years of their lives, had he known of their hearing each other’s thoughts. He didn’t even know it was possible. But under his wonder and impatience, he heard the guilt and sorrow in his brother’s voice. He never knew Bastien worried what he thought of him. Kryssin would gladly allow the seekers to feed off him before he harmed his brother’s feelings. The choice was made. “We have to hurry,,” he said gruffly, not wanting his brother to know he heard his innermost thoughts. “They can’t have that much of a head start on us. We left her less than fifteen minutes ago.” His heart lifted when Bastien’s hazy blue eyes glowed in gratitude. “Lead the way. I’ve got your back.” Kryssin spared a quick look over his shoulder. “You’re damn right you’ve got my back. Now don’t forget it.” In the blink of an eye the brothers were gone. ***** “Do you think it was wise to leave them to their own devices?” Dorian questioned. The day had been long and Alexial was tired from the effort of pulling his brother’s mate from death. But there was still much to do. He was grateful the night was upon them when their powers were at their peak. It would give the two facing battle the edge they needed. Alexial turned from the window where he’d been admiring the schools of fish swimming past. The tranquility of the water and all who dwelled there eased his troubled

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spirit. He would be forever grateful to the gods that had formed the caverns and caves that he and his family called home. The thick walls protected them from man’s discovery while at the same time brought them fresh salt water vital to their survival. “Wise?” He laughed harshly. “I don’t know, Dorian. But I was told it was necessary.” Dorian’s eyes grew cold as he grasped the meaning behind his leader’s words. “Phoenix.” He spat the name at as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. “What does that son of a barracuda know about this?” Alexial, used to his brother’s anger over their mysterious Oracle, ignored the insult. Centuries of experience taught him that defending the being none of them had ever met would be a waste of time. “Apparently, he knows a great deal. He was the one that said to wait for Zale’s arrival.” Alexial moved from his position by the window and walked across the room. He pulled his leather chair out and winced at what had been left there. “Bastien!” he roared. Dorian, always on guard, rushed over to his brother and kicked the chair away before Alexial could stop him. He placed a hand on his brother’s muscled arm. “Z, it’s all right,” he told him in a firm voice. “It’s just another one of Bas’s ideas of a sick joke.” With that said he rolled the chair back over with his mind and lifted up the whoopee cushion from the seat. “You got to admit, it’s never boring with Bas around,” he said, flinging the toy to the top of his desk. Dorian growled. “If he would pay more attention to serious matters, he’d have less time to think of jokes to play on you. It’s insulting the way he treats your position so casually.” His second-in-command moved silently from behind the desk to take his usual position against the far wall. His black clothing blended with the shadows so well his presence wouldn’t be known until it was too late. “Bastien doesn’t treat my position lightly. He shows respect whenever there is a gathering and at council he is at his best.” For the most part, it was true. Bas did behave himself when the situation demanded it, but the look in his eyes always made people wonder what he was planning next. “Besides, Dorian, before I’m his or your, Council-Master, I’m your and his brother. That has always and will always come before any duty to our Senate.” This was the lesson he learned long ago from Poseidon and it was one he never forgot no matter how much power was thrust upon his shoulders. His brothers came first. There was no movement from the corner, but Dorian’s quiet voice filled the room. “No one, least of all me, doubts your honor to us.” His voice was firm and without emotion as he spoke. “There are times I worry that you don’t question the Phoenix enough. We blindly follow whatever orders he issues because they come through you. But I promise you this, let that cowardly prophet send something to me and the only effort I’ll make for him is to hit the delete key.” If he could have, Alexial would have sighed wearily. He was tired of the constant bickering between his brother and the Oracle that knew exactly how and what Dorian thought.

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Sometimes, Alexial wondered if Phoenix didn’t deliberately send certain messages to irate his brother. “I know your feelings, Dorian. Hell, we all know your feelings. Even Phoenix knows of your distrust. I honestly think he takes pleasure in baiting you.” “I’ll give him something to take pleasure in, all right, but I promise you it won’t be with words,” he told his brother. Alexial waved a hand to end the discussion. “We don’t have time to argue about Phoenix anyway. What we need to concentrate on is his message and not a word from you.” He pointed his finger towards the corner. “I’ll let you send a nasty e-mail to Phoenix after we get this mess straightened out,” he promised. “Phoenix said the hunters were after Kryssin’s mate and that he and Bastien would go after them. I owe you a debt of gratitude for the training you gave Bas. I never knew he even wanted to learn.” “I did what was necessary,” came the soft reply. “So you say. But moving on, after our brothers defeat the hunters, they are to bring the woman back here to finish the bonding. Once that’s completed, she’ll lead us to the first trident piece and the next chosen soul-keeper.” Dorian let out a snort of disbelief but otherwise remained silent. “What?” he demanded an answer. “You don’t believe our mates exist anymore? Even after what you saw this afternoon?” “Oh, am I allowed to speak now?” he asked taking a step into the light. Alexial leaned his head back against the smooth leather and cursed his father for making him the leader of a group of argumentative immortals. “Yes, Dorian, you are allowed to speak. And even if I said you weren’t, when has that ever stopped you?” Dorian’s dark head dipped in agreement as he closed the distance between them. His voice was lowered and pitched for his brother’s ears alone. Another nifty trait Poseidon bestowed on them. It came in handy with a room full of people when he didn’t want to be overheard. “You are correct as always, brother.” This time it was Alexial’s turn to snort, which as usual Dorian ignored. “I don’t want the others to know of this woman.” Sky-blue eyes rimmed in silver widened in shock. “What the hell are you talking about? Not tell them? Are you nuts, Dorian?” He got up from behind his desk to face his brother. “This is the very thing we have searched for, lived for and hoped for since our curse began. How can I, in good conscience, keep this news from the others? And more important, why would I?” Dorian’s midnight-blue eyes never wavered as he met his brother’s angry gaze. “My reasons are simple. We know nothing about the bonding rites nor do we know if it will be successful. Worst-case scenario, the woman dies as she almost did this afternoon. Kryssin may or may not follow her to the land of water beyond the curtain. But what happens to the rest of them? This will take away the will for them to live and continue the search. We’ll have lost seven brothers to the heart of the ocean not just one.” In a way, Dorian was right. If something happened in the rites that they couldn’t fix, it would destroy his brothers and take away any hope for their future. But, his mind argued,

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they were without that hope now. What difference would it make? At least this way the brothers could envision an end to their quest. “I don’t know, Dorian. It doesn’t feel right to keep such news from the others. How would you feel if I didn’t tell you?” he asked curious about his rigid brother’s answer. He shrugged. “It’s too late to play that game now. I know the truth.” “Will there ever be a time when I get an answer to anything I ask you?” A rare smile formed on his lips before Dorian answered. “I will babble until you grow sick of my voice the day you claim your own soul-keeper.” The effort it took not to buckle at his brother’s words amazed Alexial. He never knew until the words were spoken how desperately he wanted to find his own mate. He turned his head, not wanting Dorian to see the hope and fear in his eyes. “Well, then, we’ll worry about me when that time comes. For now we concentrate on Kryssin and his mate.”

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Chapter 13

A sharp metallic taste coated Clio’s tongue. Fear held her tighter than the creature binding her arms. Panic had made her weak and spineless years ago. It had caused her to hide instead of rushing to her parents’ rescue. She had made a vow as she stood before her parents’ coffin that she would never allow any emotion to control her so completely again. Yet, here she was mildly allowing herself to be pushed and shoved into the car. Not knowing if she would be alive to get out of it. The thought of her parents and the anger that chased behind the memory shoved away all her other emotions until she was filled with rage. Clio wasn’t going down without a fight. She would keep the promise she’d made in her parents’ name or else she’d die trying. She watched and waited for her move knowing the man had to let go of her arm to open the door. As her body tensed in anticipation, everything else faded in the background and became static. She saw only the car and her attacker. She let those two things become the sole focus of her world. Deep breaths regulated her breathing and gave Clio a sense of surreal calm. When her would be kidnapper pulled her away from the car and let go of her hand. Clio attacked with a force of power fueled by rage. She grabbed his head that was covered by a thick wool hood and slammed it into the hard steel support frame of the door. He cried out at the contact and whirled to confront her. Clio didn’t know if it was her pushing him against the car or his own whirling actions that caused the hood to fall back and reveal her attacker’s face, but what she saw made her back away in horror. “Come, water-mate, don’t make me injure your puny human body.” The words came out of a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and a tongue like that of a snake, pointed and split. Instead of flesh covering his face, the creature had red scales layered over black. His eyes were small, yellow orbs covered by two sets of lids. Clio’s stomach rolled at the sight of things crawling where hair should have been. Even her nightmares had never produced a being as hideous as this. Her steps faltered when his tongue struck out stinging her neck. The shock of the pain burned away her numbness and cleared her mind. “I don’t know what you are.” She said in a surprisingly calm voice. “But there is no way I’m letting you take me anywhere. God only knows what diseases you could be carrying.” Her voice stopped the monster. His head tipped to the side as he seemed to think her words over. Clio assumed the scratching sound that left his throat was laughter as he started for her again. His steps were even and unhurried. “Oh, little water-mate, you’ll taste so delicious going down, so smooth and sweet. I might just keep you for myself instead of sharing you with the rest.” When his tongue flicked out again, she dodged it and it passed harmlessly by her. But Clio knew she couldn’t evade the thing all night. There really was no telling what substance covered his tongue. She didn’t care to find out.

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The spot where he hit her arm burned and itched, but she resisted the urge to scratch. Calling on her years of poison ivy outbreaks to control her hands, Clio stopped under the glare of a security light. He followed her into the circle cast by the high-powered light and hissed when his eyes absorbed the glare. With a speed she couldn’t follow the creature retreated from the circle. Cool, he didn’t like light. Now at least there was a plan B. If she couldn’t defeat him and no one came to rescue her, she’d stay in the spotlight until dawn when the morning light would hopefully drive the monster away. “You can’t stay in there forever, water-mate,” he hissed at her. “Oh, I think I can, especially if it means keeping your slimy claws off me,” she retorted, shocked at the confidence in her voice. Clio had never been one for false bravado. She was always the peacekeeper in the rare times conflict arose around her. She didn’t know whether to be impressed with her newfound courage or to slap her self silly for antagonizing a creature that could bench press a dump truck. “Join us and we will give you eternity.” He promised her ignoring words. That more than anything pissed Clio off. No one ignored her. She’d put up with that for most of her life with school, work and friends. She sure as hell wasn’t going to take it from a thing that looked like he crawled off the screen from a bad B horror flick. What the hell? He couldn’t kill her twice she comforted herself. “You’ll give me eternity? With what?” she questioned. “Uncle Victor’s magic miracle potion? Please.” She gave him a disgusted look to show him how little his words meant to her. She followed his steps as he circled her. He waited, she knew, for one slip in her defense. Clio was determined not to give it to him. “You mock what you don’t understand, water-mate. If you knew the true extent of my powers you would cease this foolish attempt for freedom.” He, or it or whatever it was, had pulled the hood back over his face so the voice seemed to come out of nowhere. “Oh, right. You say you’ve got power. You’re so big and bad so I should give up and let you kill me. Are you nuts?” The words were out before she could stop them. A nerve-racking screech filled the quiet night as the creature’s anger grew. “I am Vistar. Leader of the hunters and controller of the stones. You are foolish not to fear me.” “This is so like a bad B movie,” she replied, giving voice to her earlier thoughts, while her brain absorbed what he said. What hunters did he lead? Were they the same manner of creature as this one? Clio almost gagged at the thought of more than one of these repellent monsters in existence. “No more talking. Just picturing you with your buddies having a beer is making my stomach heave.” Her words caused an explosion of motion and she knew she’d pushed him over the limit. Vistar’s cloaked body charged into the light and tackled her to the ground. The force of his hit made them roll far from the safety of the illuminated circle. Clio didn’t want to touch any part of his body for fear his skin condition might be contagious. If she survived this confrontation, she wanted to make sure she wouldn’t have to explain anything strange to her dermatologist.

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The forked tongue struck out hitting the side of her cheek before she could avoid it. The pain stung but fed her anger and forced down her fear. She grabbed both sleeves of his cloak and twisted her body until she was able to get her legs under where she assumed his stomach and nuts would be. His foul breath coated her face and his tongue continued to make swipes at her, but she was getting better at dodging. “Stop the struggle. You are but a weak female and no match against my superior strength and mind.” The creature clasped her shoulders with claw-like fingers and squeezed until she felt the skin break. “Oh, now you’re just trying to piss me off,” she told him angling for a better position while fighting off his saliva hits. “Why do you not give up? You cannot win. There is no man here to save you. Keep your strength for when the real pain begins,” he told her in his raspy voice as he leaned his head down and pulled her shoulders up. “I…don’t…think…so.” She grunted against the pressure of pushing against his hold. “I don’t kiss on the first date, frog breath. Now back off.” Pulling her shoulders back, Clio willed all her strength into her legs as she rammed one foot in the soft part of his middle and the other straight into where she hoped his family egg maker rested. His body became immobile and frozen with what she prayed was pain. Her arms ached as she shoved the creature off her and rolled to her feet. She watched as his chest bellowed and wheezed. His voice came out broken and un-naturally high. “You will pay for this, water-mate. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll see you crawl to me for forgiveness.” “Never going to happen,” Clio swore as she turned and ran to her car. Thank God, he had left the keys alone. She slid behind the wheel, slammed the car in drive and pressed her right foot hard on the gas before bothering to pull her door closed. It was past time to get the hell out of here. She didn’t want to know if that thing could call for backup. Going as fast as she dared down the garage’s spiraling ramp, she prayed she’d make it out before snake-man could recover. Leaving one hand on the wheel, she used the other to search the contents of her purse for a makeshift weapon. “Damn it, that’s the last time I ever clean out my purse.” She cursed as she remembered throwing away nail files and her ancient can of mace. When her hand curved around a small bottle, she prayed that maybe she’d thrown something else away instead of the pepper spray. Pulling her hand out, she took her eyes off the ramp long enough to identify the bottle. “Shit, this isn’t going to help.” But, just in case, she kept the small squirt bottle of antibacterial lotion in her fist. Clio neared the last two levels when her luck ran out. She watched in shock as the covered figure raced to her from the opposite direction to land on her hood. His claws scratched against the glass making her ears burn. When that didn’t work he used his arm to beat at the windshield determined to break through and reach her.

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He tried to block her view and prevent her from leaving the garage. But the swerving motion of the car allowed her glimpses of the area ahead and she kept her foot pressed firmly on the gas. In a desperate attempt to slow him down, Clio pressed the release button for her windshield wipers. She laughed in pleasure as the blue fluid splattered all over his face and he screamed in pain. The view behind his shoulders made her crow in delight. The exit. She’d made it. All she had to do now was find the brightest parking lot in the city and leave swamp-thing to fry. With her attention on the exit, she saw too late the cramped claws reaching for her. One imbedded itself in the metal of the roof and the other smashed the window, spraying glass in her hair, eyes and arms. She had a split second’s reaction time when she saw the security shack with its bright lights and concrete pillars. She wrenched the wheel and floored the gas pedal. She hit with a sickening thud, the vehicle’s grill crunching under the impact and her seatbelt jerked her back as her shoulders was thrown forward. As Clio’s head slammed back, she cursed fate and whatever deity created this nightmare. Her door was ripped from the frame then clattered off to the right. When it landed there was an eerie echo then the air was silent again. “Stupid female. You think you’re smarter than a hunter? Water-mate or not, I owe you pain.” Clio was yanked so hard her seatbelt snapped and her already bleeding shoulders shrieked with the added pain. One minute, she was lifted above the monster’s head and the next, she was soaring through the air, her back slamming against the concrete rail. Her hands fisted up in response to the hit. “Shit.” She winced at the impact, her vision going hazy before clearing in time to see the monster come after her. Clio pushed against the wall, forcing her body up and silently screaming at the agony each motion caused. She feared something was broken. Maybe a rib or lung or something important because not only was her breathing hindered, but whenever she tried to draw a breath, there was a strange sucking sound from her chest. “What, no snappy comeback? Here I was just starting to enjoy our chat.” He stood in front of her, his face spotted and dark from where the windshield fluid had hit him. “And here I was just wondering how much longer I’d have to put up with your sorry ass.” Dumb, stupid, the names went on silently inside her head as his claw came out and struck her across her face. “We’ll end this now, I think. You’ve begun to bore me now that I know you’re as weak as the rest.” He leaned over and picked Clio up by her arms once more, shaking her like a rag doll. “I hope you learned your lesson in this life, water-mate. Maybe in the next one you’ll learn not to mock those superior to you.”

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With a careless move, he threw her bleeding body on the trunk of her car. With precise moves, he turned and followed after her. A small whimper escaped her swollen lips. Great, where was her courage when she really needed it. Taking a last useless stance, she shoved her battered body off the back windshield and concentrated on the waning power in her legs and hands. Clio squeezed her leg muscles, preparing for a final lunge. She made a fist with her right hand only to find the lotion bottle still clenched in her left. Remembering how the creature had reacted to light and the fluid from her car, she prayed the bottle would also do the trick and buy her time to run. When she saw his arms reach for her again, Clio flipped the snap-top lid open, held it upside down in her hand and lunged at him. She squirted the bottle where she knew his eyes were with all her strength at the same time kicking out to connect again with the one spot dearest to any male. His rasping wails echoed in the parking garage as she stumbled from the car and ran toward to street. Looking over her shoulder to keep the monster in sight, she blindly ran straight into another wall. Only this one was made up of warm muscle and solid flesh. And spoke to her. Please God, don’t let this be one of his friends. She didn’t have the strength for another round. “Clio.” The wall shook her gently. Somehow, in the part of her brain that wasn’t crying, screaming, withering in pain or just pissed off, she knew this wasn’t one of her attacker’s buddies. The way he smelled was her first clue. “Let go. I have to get away. It’s coming,” she warned him as she struggled to free herself. “You have to leave now. Go.” Clio pushed, trying to make the wall leave. Instead of releasing her strong arms wrapped around her waist and held her close against a heated chest. “You’re safe, baby. I promise. We’ll take care of it for you,” a male voice whispered in her hair. She shouldn’t believe it. She knew that thing wasn’t defeated, just really angry. The combination of the secure arms and confident voice eased her mind. When she heard the soothing heartbeat underneath her ear she gave up the fight. “He’s all yours,” she whispered to her savior. “No more germs though. I cleaned him.” Then there was nothing but blackness and the comforting beat of a steady heartbeat as arms gently lifted her up to be cradled like a child.

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Chapter 14 “What in Hades’ realm is she talking about?” Bastien questioned after hearing Clio’s words. “I have no idea, but it looks like she had a fight with something. Whether it’s a hunter or not, I don’t know,” he replied, looking around the deserted area. His clasp on the bloody woman in his arms tightened slightly as he saw the damage to her car. “Kryssin, listen.” Bastien coached his voice for Kryssin’s ears alone. “Over there behind the car. There… a noise, can you hear it?” He turned his head, listening intently for whatever had caught his brother’s attention. After a few seconds, a rasping wheeze reached his ears. Before he could hand Clio off to Bastien to have a look for himself, his brother took off in the direction the noise had come from. Kryssin waited impatiently for his brother’s voice but the only sounds he heard were the honking of cars in the distance and the wind whistling through the garage. Laughter broke through the stifling silence. Bastien’s laughter bounced from one concrete wall to the next making his voice boom through every level. “What’s the matter with you?” Kryssin demanded, furious that his brother was taking Clio’s safety so lightly. “Your mate, brother mine, is one hell of a woman,” he said. “Mortal or not, she’s got balls.” Not knowing if he should be offended by that remark, he held his words as he walked over to where Bastien was leaning over a prone form on the floor. He didn’t understand what he was looking at until his eyes registered the coarse brown woolen cloak. “It’s a hunter,” he said in awe, shocked at the sight. “Damn straight it’s a hunter. An unconscious one at that,” Bastien replied as he drew his sword out of the air. He looked over at Kryssin still holding Clio’s still body in his arms. “Why don’t you take care of her and I’ll meet you when I finish with this garbage.” Kryssin shook his head. “We’ll leave together.” He backed away from the hideous creature that started to move around. “I’ll wait for you by the guard shack. Hurry.” Mindful of the woman in his arms, Kryssin backed away slowly, keeping his eye on the hunter and his brother. He didn’t want to leave Bastien alone with such a vile demon and hesitated at the car. “Go.” Bastien made a shooing motion with his free arm. “I can handle this. I swear.” Seeing his brother’s indecision, he said the one thing guaranteed to make him move. “This isn’t something your mate should have as her first memory of our lives.” Guilt crashed into Kryssin as he realized Bastien was right. Clio would have enough to deal with. She didn’t need to have the memory of a hunter’s death as well. Also there were her injuries to worry about. He knew without looking further that several of her ribs had been broken, her left lung punctured, she had suffered a mild concussion and those were just the obvious injuries. He needed to get Alekos to take care of

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her, but the thought of his brother, even in healing, touching her warm silky body made him want to growl in anger. For Clio’s health, he’d force down his warrior nature and ensure her well being before ensuring his claim. “Call if you have need of me,” Kryssin said as he turned and walked back to the lighted safety of the crumpled guard shack. He’d have to get Alexial to explain and smooth over the damages. There was no doubt in his mind; their eldest brother would have arrangements done within an hour. He heard a loud sizzling noise, then a pop and knew if he turned he’d see a green fog rising over what had once been a Scaber-Hunter. Kryssin felt a shiver of fear run down his spine at what could have happened if they hadn’t arrived in time. Never again, he vowed. Clio could scream, yell or beat him for the next year. She wasn’t leaving his side unprotected ever again. “You ready?” Bastien came up to him grinning like a fool. “What can you possibly find to smile about?” he questioned, knowing he couldn’t find a smile within himself if his life depended on it. His body was too busy fighting off panic. He threw an arm over Kryssin’s shoulder and led him to the corner where they had entered. “I’m laughing because your soul-keeper just kicked the proverbial shit out of a lead Scaber-Hunter.” Kryssin’s body shook as the words registered in his mind. His mate, his one source of life, had been attacked by one of the most vicious hunters that ever existed and survived. “She’s never leaving the safety of home.” Bastien laughed loud and clapped Kryssin’s back. “Please tell me I can be there.” “Be there for what?” “When you tell Clio she’s not allowed to leave.” “She’s my mate. She’ll do as I say. There’s no reason to think she’d refuse me.” He may have said the words, but he knew there would be trouble. The woman he met this afternoon would fight tooth and nail for her independence. But he was sure, once he explained the dangers she would face, Clio would comply with his wishes. After all, it was a reasonable request and the most logical solution to ensure her safety. “Just promise to come get me before you fill her in on all your rules and regulations. I want to make sure I’ve got a front row seat, a nice warm bottle of O Positive and a bucket of popcorn. It’ll be one hell of a show.” Bastien laughed again as they disappeared from the garage leaving no trace of the creature or their presence. The only thing that remained to show the battle was Clio’s wrecked car and soon that would vanish as well. ***** “Alekos!” Kryssin shouted for the healer as he set his mate down on his bed. Her long honey-colored hair was matted with blood from the cuts on her face as it spilled free against the blackness of his sheets. A heavy weight pressed down on his heart. In his secret dreams he’d always imagined his soul-keeper as a soft, frail, spiritual woman. One who would look to him for protection and strength.

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There was nothing weak about the woman lying before him. She had courage, intelligence and wit. Too much of each for his peace of mind. He’d never heard of a female going up against a Scaber-Hunter much less winning the fight. Kryssin reached down to entwine their fingers and was embarrassed to find his own shaking. He cursed fluently in several languages. His greed and carelessness caused the hunter to find her. Ignorance was the sole reason she lay unconscious and wounded in his bed. “Well, this was one way to get her in your bed, Krys.” Kryssin whipped around, his body placed in between his mate and danger. Alekos didn’t bother to look offended. His laughter cut through the tension building in the room. “Ease off, little brother. You sent for me, remember?” It was too much. Everything that had happened was overloading his mind. The functions of his body seemed more a chore now, than the blessings he called them a few short hours ago. “I remember.” His body went limp as he sat by Clio’s side. “There was a fight.” “I know. Bastien told us. Scoot over and let me see to her injuries. I know it can’t be all that bad or you’d be feeling it too.” Alekos moved to the other side of the bed and sat down. “You know,” he pulled out a jar of sea salt, “instead of being furious, you might want to try being grateful.” “Grateful?” Kryssin’s eyebrows shot up and he looked to see if Alekos had lost his mind. “What should I have to be grateful for? Grateful that I almost killed my mate in my haste to claim her? That I scared her into running away from me? Oh no, I know what I’m truly thankful for. She’s so terrified of me, she ran straight into the arms of one of the worst hunters in our world.” His breath came in gasps and his heart beat a furious tempo as images swarmed his mind of what could have happened. He moved from the bed when the images became too graphic. His strides were long and fluid as his mind raged. He needed to get out, to swim in the open water beside his brother, the shark. But Kryssin couldn’t leave; not while things were so tangled with Clio. Alekos’ healing hands moved over the still body of the woman in question. Pale blue light shot from his palms as he used them to glide over Clio’s body. The room was silent as Kryssin gave the other man time and space to work on his mate. When she awoke, they would have to have a long talk. There were things Clio was going to have to accept in her new life, changes she would need to make. But most of all she was going to have to understand Kryssin was her mate and she wasn’t going to live her life without him. “It’s done,” Alekos announced. “Will she be all right?” He winced at the desperate note in his voice. “Yes, she’ll be fine,” he assured him. “Actually I think she’ll be better than she was before. She was suffering from exhaustion, anemia, and one or two more minor human frailties. But she’ll be fine within a few tides.” Tension he wasn’t aware of unknotted from his shoulders. Kryssin smiled at his brother. “Thank you.” His eyes lost the twinkle of suppressed laughter as Alekos lowered his head. “It was my honor to care for the first soul-keeper.”

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“We’ll have to see about that.” He knew Clio would awake pissed off and afraid. He would deal with her reactions when the time came. He just wished he knew how. Alekos continued their previous conversation as if it had never stopped. “As to what you should be grateful, little brother, is the simple fact you found your soul at all.” And that you were chosen above us all for the first honor. The spoken words and the ones that hovered in his mind confused him. Kryssin knew that once long ago, this form of communication had been part of normal life, but since the time of the End Wars no one had regained the talent. Now here he was, the least worthy of them all, developing a trait that shouldn’t exist and one he wasn’t sure he wanted. “I am thankful I found Clio, but I didn’t think it would be this way. And,” he shot a look to his brother. “I know what an honor it is and that I don’t deserve it.” To his satisfaction, Alekos’s eyes widened a fraction before resuming his normal bland expression. “I never assumed otherwise.” “If you say so.” Was his only response. He heard Alekos’s movement behind him. When he turned he was startled to see his brother slouched over in the chair. His shoulders were hunched, his head down and hands gripped tightly in his lap. Kryssin wanted to speak, but the weariness of Alekos’ posture made him hesitate. “Kryssin, let me ask you something,” Alekos said without raising his head. “Ah, sure.” What was this about? “How many soul joinings have you witnessed?” “Well, none, but that doesn’t mean I sh—“ “Shut up, Krys. And for once in your stubborn immortal life listen to someone else.” Shock alone kept his mouth closed as Kryssin watched, Alekos gather himself and stand to face his brother. “You have never witnessed a joining. I have never seen one, either. I know for a fact none of the others have. So what makes you so special? Why should you know what to do and how to do it?” Alekos’s eyes burned with the sincerity of his words. “I doubt any one of us could have handled the situation any better. Give yourself and your mate a chance to understand what all of this means. We lost a lot when our father took our souls. We lost magic, power and most important, we lost memories.” “Alekos, I feel helpless.” The shame of his admission had Kryssin turning away from his brother. Feeling the strong grip of his brother’s hand on his shoulder offered him both comfort and embarrassment. “I didn’t say these things to embarrass you. I wanted to point out the futility of placing this blame on yourself.” “If I’m not to blame, then who is?” This had to be his fault. He didn’t want the guilt, but there was no one else to blame. “This isn’t about blame or at least it shouldn’t be. You have a mate. Granted the first two meetings weren’t perfect, but there is time to make amends. You and Clio have that time.” Kryssin closed his eyes as he thought his brother’s words over. In all the hundreds of years, Eryx had never come across any reference to the brothers’ mates. It was true none of

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them, not even the eldest and leader, Alexial, knew how to start, perform and complete the ritual. If there even was a ritual. “Logic has ever been your weapon of choice, Alekos.” Alekos shrugged his big shoulders. “Logic is the one weapon that can never be defeated. Plus, it works well with hotheads such as you.” “Thank you for the words and the time.” He offered a smile. “I’d best see to my mate’s comfort before she wakes angrier than the last time we met.” When Kryssin would have shown him to the door, Alekos stopped him with a brief touch on the shoulder. “Wait, before you see me out I need to ask another question.” Kryssin wanted to ask if it was important, but the steady, humorless look in his brother’s eyes made him certain it was. He pushed back his own impatience to be with Clio and waved him back into the room. “I am all ears.” The humor fell flat in the silence. “When you first encountered Clio, you did not recognize her.” “No, I didn’t.” He left the answer short. Shame filled him when he thought of his attempt at wooing Tara. “How did you discover your error?” “Oh, Hera’s handmaiden, Alekos! Can you not save me any dignity?” Once he told Alekos, the story would be all over before morning. “I don’t ask as idle gossip, you idiot.” Temper sparked out of Alekos’ eyes as they flashed a swirling green to silver. “I need to know if your body went dormant again. If you spoke to her or she to you. How you connected. If any part of your soul was returned. You are the one the rest of us shall have to learn from. For the sake of your brothers, I have to ask these questions.” “Okay.” Taking a deep breath to release his anger restored Kryssin’s humor. With sparkling eyes and a taunting smile he asked. “Jealous, are we?” Shiny gold hair fell in a waterfall around his face as Alekos watched his brother’s chest rise and fall. “That was just cruel.” “Yep.” “Fine, get your digs in while you can.” Alekos shook his head again as Kryssin’s attempt at deep breathing resulted in hiccups. “Karma’s a bitch, but she sure does love me.” “Bite me,” Kryssin managed between hiccups as he walked the length of the room. “Nah, you’re way too old and tough.” This time laughter lurked in his eyes. “You do know you can’t walk them off? The cure is to douse yourself in eel urine, whistle the hokey pokey while standing naked on your head in front of strangers in a public place.” With a look of deadly intent, Kryssin abruptly changed direction and headed for his brother. Alekos, being the wise man he was, understood the look of violence in Kryssin’s eyes. He made a visible effort to swallow the last of his laughter. “I cry peace, little brother.” He held out his hands. “If you’re done using me as your new comedy routine, then would you please get the hell out of my rooms?”

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He watched Alekos struggle with his misplaced humor before smoothing his face back into its normal expressionless mask. His tone was lower and more formal when he asked his next question. “Do you remember if words were spoken by either of you?” Eyes closed, Kryssin tried to picture the moment before they’d tried to devour each other. “She told me to get the hell away from her.” Guilt over her words tried to rise in his throat but he was ruthless as he pushed it back down. He didn’t have time for guilt. His entire family was relying on him for answers they would all need. “Think back, Krys, past Clio’s anger and your own hunger. Something had to have been said or done to release a piece of your soul back to your body.” The memories were both painful and arousing as he let his mind drift back to the past night. He watched himself pin Clio to the wall, trapped between his arms. Her green eyes blazed with anger and determination. Even now Kryssin could feel the increased speed of his heart, the faster flow of air in his lungs as he remembered the smell of her skin and the silky heat of her mouth. “We spoke of nothing really. I asked if she was spoken for by another. She yelled then bit me.” His mouth curved in a gentle smile as Kryssin remembered the fire in her face and body as she defied him. The desire shot through his body as he thought back to the heat and sweetness of Clio’s blood. How right it had felt to let her take from him, to let the very essence of their bodies nurture each other. “By blood, by mind, by body, by heart and by soul,” he whispered as the words trickled back through his mind. Kryssin felt more than heard Alekos move across the room. “These are the words you spoke?” “Yes.” Passion burned through his body. He needed his mate to wake. “Where did the words come from? Where did you learn them?” Questions shot from his normally even-tempered brother’s mouth like shots from a gun, rapid and one after another. “What happened after you said the words? Was there a physical change or was it mental?” Kryssin raised a hand to halt the peppered questions. “A minute, brother.” He ran an impatient hand through his already tousled hair. Kryssin re-ran the scene through his mind once again. “I’d never heard the words before, at least not in that context. They were just there, sitting in the front of my mind. All I knew was that it was imperative to say them, to have Clio know I was saying them to her.” “Five phases, five pieces to claim before the soul is returned. The blood, the mind, the body, the heart and the soul. Somehow you’ve managed to claim at least one. The blood bond, I would think,” Alekos muttered as Kryssin watched him work the puzzle through his mind. He was happy this was at least keeping one of his brothers out of his love life, in a way. “Have to go think on this. Let me know when you’ve completed the other four and what happens at each step. I need to see if there is a change in her basic structure or if changes are on a molecular level.” The healer to all walked through the doors connecting the bedroom and sitting room. Kryssin followed quickly, not liking the idea of leaving Clio alone with any other man.

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“Yes, I’ll have to keep an eye on her for the next few days. I want a step-by-step diary of your activities until the joining is complete,” he muttered, as he ran a glowing hand up and down Clio’s body. “There is no basic difference I can see, yet.” “Alekos, you are a pervert if you think I’m going to document every interaction between my mate and I. You’ll get information only when I think it will help the others. Otherwise, keep your healing, nosy nose out of our business.” Kryssin grabbed the healer’s arm and pushed him out of the bedroom and pointed to the front door. “At least, let me check her daily. I need to see if her system reacts to any changes that may occur. It would be for her safety.” Kryssin winced as he listened to his older brother voice the request. “I’ll see what Clio says before I agree to anything. But I will ask her,” he promised. The healer gathered his things, glanced back once more at the sleeping woman and left with the reminder to call if there was any change in Clio’s situation. With his brother gone, Kryssin sank to his knees beside the bed and brushed the silky hair away from his mate’s eyes. Yes, she was a miracle but one he never thought to deserve. Even if he lived until the end of time, he’d never find the way to make up for what he was taking. “I’ll do anything in my power to make you happy,” he pledged, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “I know you’ll hate me when you wake, but maybe someday if I can’t win your love, I can at least earn your friendship.” Love he couldn’t demand or ask for when he wasn’t certain the emotion existed. But if there was a chance, this was the woman he’d choose to lose his heart to. He’d never believed in a true union between souls and would have doubted their existence if he hadn’t been privileged enough to witness it between mortals time after time. For all the powers within their race, the strongest and most powerful, love, eluded them all. Resigned, Kryssin dragged an overstuffed chair over to the bed, held Clio’s hand to his chest and prepared for the long vigil.

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“We don’t know what the hell we’re doing, Alex.” Kryssin paced in front of his brother’s desk the next night. His eyes were rimmed in red with dark circles, the skin pulled taut over his sharp cheekbones. His normal fluid actions were jerky and clumsy; a testament to his sleepless day spent watching over his mate. Alexial’s strong voice was sharp. “No one, least of all me, claimed to know how to claim a soul-keeper.” He dragged a hand impatiently through his hair. “Eryx is working on it. He’s digging into the last scrolls we found and he thinks he’s found the key to break the inscription.” “Alex, he’s been saying that since we found the damn thing eight hundred years ago.” Frustration mounted in his voice, his steps random as he spoke. “Then maybe it took eight hundred years for Eryx to break it.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked at his younger brother’s tense body. “Look, I know this isn’t easy for you, but you’ve got to get control over yourself before you cause Clio to run again.” Kryssin gave a harsh laugh. “Oh yeah, like I haven’t thought of that, Elder. If only it was as easy as you say. But I can’t control what happens when I’m with her. I try, you have no idea how much I try, but my body takes over my brain.” He winced, remembering Clio’s reaction at the restaurant. “I don’t want to hurt her, but I can’t seem to stop.” “What are you saying, Krys?” “I’m saying we’re screwed, big brother. We’ve landed neck-deep in a pile of shit and sinking fast.” Alexial shook his head in denial. “No, I refuse to accept that. After all this time, I will not give up and you damn well better not either. This is too important, Krys. We have no choice but to find the answers.” It was no use. His brother wouldn’t understand unless he was the one going through the claiming. How could he explain the need that burned through his body like fire or the tangle of emotions caught in his throat every time he looked at Clio? He didn’t know the woman. Kryssin had no clue about the way she thought. What her favorite food or movie was. There were so many things missing out of the picture that was Clio Foster that he needed to know in order to bind her to him. Binding, not love. He didn’t want her love. He just needed her to help save the world from disaster. And he had no idea how to keep her. ***** The smell of salt and fresh air woke Clio. Tension tightened her muscles as she dragged her heavy eyelids opened. The shock of her surroundings loosened her shoulders as Clio’s mouth dropped open. She had no idea where she was. Her last memory was of fighting off the lizard beastie. Everything after that was a blank.

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But she must have received help from someone because although her body hurt, it was more sore than downright painful. She felt as if her injuries had occurred weeks ago instead of last night. She pushed the black silk sheets aside as she gingerly moved her legs over the end of the bed. The bed itself could be labeled a work of art so exquisite were the carvings on the headboard and pillars supporting the solid wood canopy, stretched above the entire length. Leaning closer to wood, Clio made out various shapes to the figures. Some were singing and dancing, others had books in hands or were holding some type of writing instrument in their hands. It was beautiful and straight out of a fairytale. Because in each scene depicted, the people were surrounded by some form of underwater animal. Sharks, whales, dolphins, mana-wars and others she didn’t recognize. Whoever had created the bed had done so with loving attention to every detail. Clio glanced down hoping to see her shoes but lost her breath at the drop to the floor. “It must be at least five feet down,” she whispered to herself before taking another look around this strange room. The bedroom, if something so large and elaborate could be called that, was the largest she’d ever seen. It looked to be the size of one of the university’s lecture hall but better decorated. The walls were covered in a shimmering blue paint that made her think of waves washing up on the shore. A painting dominated most of the wall to her left above a white and green marble fireplace. It was a picture of happiness with a man surrounded by his family playing on a beach. The water looked so real, Clio felt like she could reach over and dive in the salt water. Shaking the feeling off, she studied the furniture spaced evenly around the room. The pieces looked very old but in wonderful condition. The light-colored wood fit well in the room’s overall color scheme and almost against her will she found herself easing back in the bed to rest her sleepy head against a pillow softer than any cloud. It had to be a dream, she convinced herself. No place on earth could be this beautiful or peaceful. The thought of a dream lulled her back into the safety of sleep but not before she saw an octopus swim past one of the many windows in the room. She was positive it was an illusion. No way could that have happened in any place else but her imagination. ***** “Clio, rise and shine. Come on, sleeping beauty, time to get up.” A warm male voice spoke softly in her ear. “No,” she mumbled, determined to ignore him no matter how good his voice sounded. “Going away.” “I’m sorry, but you can’t, honey. Several tides have already passed.” Clio made no move to respond, hoping if she were quiet enough the man would leave her alone to sleep in peace.

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“Uh uh ah, we have to get something in your stomach before you really get sick.” He was still there. “Go away.” “Will you open your eyes if I promise to let you sleep again once you’ve eaten and I see how well you’re healing?” When his words registered, she heard the humiliating rumble in her stomach. “Thought you might want food.” His voice was full of humor now. “I wouldn’t be hungry if you hadn’t woken me up.” Logic wasn’t her best trait, especially first thing in the morning with no caffeine to bribe her brain into working. However, his brain seemed to have no problem using logic. “No, you still would have been hungry. You just would have been unaware of it.” Prying one reluctant eye open, she peered at the owner of the annoyingly logical mouth and screamed. He jumped and whirled around obviously thinking the threat was behind him. Once assured nothing was going to jump out from a corner, he turned around with a perplexed expression on his too handsome face. “Why are you screeching like an orca in heat?” Clio had backed away as far as possible. Her shoulders pushed into the headboard while her mind raced to understand what was going on. “You,” she whispered staring at the man as he inched closer to the bed. He cocked his head to the side as if trying to read her thoughts but eventually gave up and answered her. “Yes, it’s me. Were you expecting someone else?” Clio’s hair flew as she violently shook her head side to side. Her response appeared to confuse him as much as her scream. “Then why the shock?” This couldn’t be happening. The man in front of her was the same lunatic from yesterday. Kryssin Poseidon, one of the nine mighty brothers with more money than many small countries. As she stared into his deep blue eyes, memories of last night’s dream came flooding forward. His mouth biting into her neck, drinking her blood and then Clio taking his blood into her body all came pressing against. She found it hard to breathe. “Shhh.” Strong arms came round to hold her firmly. “It’s okay now. You’re safe.” “Safe,” she stammered. “How can I be safe when you’re here?” Confused blue eyes met fearful green ones. “Why wouldn’t you be safe with me? I would never harm you.” Pushing against his chest was about as successful as pushing against a rock wall. “Harm me? You don’t think it harmed me when you drank my blood or when you made me drink your own nasty stuff?” Kryssin loosened his arms enough, so she was able to look at his whole face but not enough for her to escape. She saw confusion, humor and something else in his expression before he masked his thoughts. “Remember that, do you?” His voice sounded matter-of-fact, as if he’d done nothing more heinous than steal her coffee and not her life-source.

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“Of course, I remember. It’s not everyday a strange man tries to molest me in a supply closet.” Her eyes darted around the room, looking for some sign of the door that would lead her out of here and straight to the nearest police station. “Molest you?” He sounded offended by her description. “Is that what you think happened?” Clio gave up trying to pull away from him. She didn’t want to waste what little energy she had on what she knew was a useless fight. She would need her strength for whatever was coming up. “I don’t think that’s what happened,” she answered sharply. “I know it.” Instead of looking upset, his lips curved in a wicked smile. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach that said she pushed him too far. “Hmm, molest. That is such a dirty word for something so delicious.” His warm hands rubbed circles against the small of her back soothing an ache she wasn’t aware of. “Maybe you’re not remembering as clearly as I do.” Kryssin’s arms tightened to pull her closer against his chest. “Let me give you a small reminder of exactly what happened,” he whispered as his head descended and his lips took possession of hers.

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Chapter 16 Desire exploded with the first soft brush against Clio’s lips. Her mouth opened under the slight pressure of his tongue and he dived into the warmth of her like a man starved for water. He drank down the heat and wetness that was Clio. Using teeth, tongue, and lips, Kryssin explored the inside of her mouth, wanting to drown himself in her flavor. Easing one hand into her hair, he angled her head and dove in deeper. Passion rose as Kryssin caressed the heavy weight of her breast, pleased when he discovered her nipple already tight with desire. He plucked it between his thumb and forefinger and groaned when Clio’s hips rubbed against his in response. Leaving the thickness of her hair, his hand glided down till he reached the hem of the shirt she’d slept in. It had taunted him during his rest. His woman was asleep in his bed wearing his shirt and he couldn’t touch her. It was enough to turn an immortal to drink. But now she was here in his arms right where he needed her to be. His hand skimmed lightly under the silk shirt across the smooth satin of her hip, to explore the abundance of naked flesh under his fingers. He was never more grateful for the return of his senses than at this moment. Clio’s skin was the softest thing he could ever remember touching. She was warm and smooth under the sensitive pads of his fingers. His hand left the safety of her back tempted by the seductive curve of her waist and hips. Kryssin pulled her hard against his own blatant arousal and almost melted when she purred in her throat at his action. Her lips were wet and swollen with passion when he finally pulled away to draw in air. He licked and nibbled his way down her throat to the plush fullness of her breast, enjoying the way the hard peaks pressed against his chest through the soft material of the shirt. Clio’s eyes were dark and heavy lidded with passion. Both hands were tangled in his thick dark hair as Kryssin unbuttoned the barrier between his lips and her aroused nipples. He took a deep breath, inhaling the musky sent of her desire mixed with his own and felt his lower body tighten to the point of bursting. When the final button had been dispensed with, Kryssin held his breath at the exquisite sight of her naked breasts. Her rose-tipped nipples were puckered and made his mouth water. He had to taste her, to take that sweet hardened nub and suck it into his mouth, and nibble on it until she screamed his name. Kryssin forced his eyes away from her chest to her face, which was tipped back. Her face was flushed pink, her lips moist and wet. “Clio,” he said her name with a quiet reverence. With drugged moves, she tilted her head to meet his eyes. “Watch me,” he instructed her, his voice husky with desire. “Look at me as I taste your breast and suck it into my mouth.” Her swollen lips parted more as her pink tongue came out to wet them, but she didn’t look away.

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Kryssin lowered his lips to envelop her hardened nipple into the heat of his mouth. “Kryssin,” she moaned his name as her fingers clutched his head pressing him tightly to her. He didn’t answer. His mouth was full of her sweet flesh and he couldn’t get enough as he bit the plumpness of her skin, soothing the pain with the heat of his tongue. Time faded as he divided his attention between both succulent globes, feasting on the feel and taste of her. His hands roamed the rest of Clio’s silky body. Enjoying the length of her legs, the roundness of her ass and finally the wet heat between her legs. She gasped as he slid a finger between her damp lips, rasping it over the sensitive nub now swollen from his attentions. He rubbed his palm again, felt the shiver of her reaction and slipped a finger into her musky heat. “Oh, stop…I…what…Kryssin.” Clio’s breathing came in shorter gasps as he pushed a second finger inside with the first. He moaned at the tight clenching of her muscles as they grasped his stroking fingers. Her hips moved tentatively with the motion of his hand. “That’s it, baby. Ride my fingers,” he muttered against her love-bruised breast before licking his way back to her mouth. “You’re so wet and hot,” he whispered against her lips. “I could come right now just feeling you squeeze my fingers.” The words seemed to excite her and she moved her hips harder against his thrusting hand. “More,” she moaned, taking his lips with hers and thrusting her tongue inside his mouth to tangle with his. Kryssin took her at her word and added another finger to the two already drenched with her passion. He hadn’t meant to take it this far. He’d only wanted to show her the desire between them she’d denied. But he couldn’t stop now. He’d give her release but withhold his own. If he took her now in the first heat of passion she’d never trust him again and he needed her trust almost as badly as he wanted her body. Her cries became louder and her movements frantic as Kryssin increased the pace of his thrusting fingers. With his body pressing hers into the soft mattress, he pushed her over the top and felt her body explode around him as her release flooded his hand. His mouth took Clio’s in a savage growl as she came apart in his arms. Her scream of pleasure swallowed by his lips. His tongue teased and tangled with her own as his hand continued to soothe her, dragging out her orgasm until she lay limp beneath his hard aching body. Finally when he knew she could take no more, he reluctantly pulled his wet fingers from her body and lifted them to his lips. Once again he whispered her name. She looked at him with a dazed expression, which changed to shock when he lifted all three fingers to his mouth and sucked them inside. “Mmmm,” he moaned at the addicting taste of her. “Next time,” he warned her, “I’ll use my mouth instead of my fingers.”

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She opened her mouth, but he stopped her by pressing his lips against hers and knew she would taste herself in his mouth. Her passion renewed, she grabbed his shoulders to pull him down against her body. “No baby. You need sleep and I need an iceberg,” he said pulling away from the temptation of her body. “Sleep.” Gratitude filled him when her breathing eased and tension melted from her body. He should have taken her. She wanted him. They would have been explosive together. Somehow he could build on sex. Why did he stop? But his heart knew the answer his body was denying. He wanted her to wake in his arms content and happy. Not filled with loathing and disgust as she would have been if he’d allowed his desire to cloud his brain. He rolled away from the bed quickly. He didn’t want to take the chance of changing his mind when she was still so wet from passion and the scent of her heat filled the room. He needed a long cold swim to rid himself of the painful erection ready to burst beneath his zipper. With one long last look at the sated woman in his bed, Kryssin flashed out of the room and into the middle of the Arctic Sea. ***** Clio woke, her body limp with satisfaction. The smile forming on her lips froze when she noticed the tangled mess of sheets and the blue silk shirt that once covered her body now thrown to the corner of the wide bed. Clutching the sheets to her naked breasts, she quickly searched the room for Kryssin’s smirking grin. Seeing that she was alone, Clio reached for the shirt and quickly pulled it on. Knowing she had to get out of here before the rogue returned, she leaned over the side of the bed to judge the length of the distance, thinking she could do the old fashioned tying of the sheets to get down. She then discovered that the floor was easily accessible with a small set of wooden steps placed against the bottom frame. Clio wasn’t going to question her luck or sanity; she’d save that for when she was home safe. Instead she lowered her feet to the first step and backed down until she felt the smooth coldness of marble beneath her feet. She looked for the door leading to the hallway. Kryssin had come in, but at the time she’d been too unconscious to pay attention. The door to her left was the closest so she would start there first. The old-fashioned knob turned easily under her hand and she slowly cracked the door open enough to peek around it. To her disappointment, it wasn’t the exit, but a huge walk-in closet with wall-to-wall carpet her feet sank into. Her need for proper clothes made her edge deeper within Kryssin’s personal territory and she knew it was his. His scent was everywhere. She took several deep breaths, inhaling his unique scent before she realized what she’d done and quickly stopped herself. “He smells no different from any other man,” she chastised herself. “Just grab some pants and get the hell out of here before he comes back.”

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It was the thought of his return that pushed her deeper into the room. Her hand ran over rows of expensive silk shirts like the one she was wearing along with pants of every fabric imaginable. Clio stroked the soft black leather in her hand thinking of how the subtle material would hug his firm backside and emphasize the strong corded leg muscles. Long legs that were covered with crisp hair that tickled when he rubbed them against her own while his lips devoured her mouth and his hand— “Stop it,” Clio ordered herself. “Just stop it. It will never happen again, I don’t want it to happen again. Maybe it never happened.” But the wetness between her thighs was proof that her experience with Kryssin hadn’t been a dream. For the first time in her life, a man had tempted her beyond her safety zone. Maybe she should open herself up to more of life’s unexpected experiences. After her near brush with death last night, Clio needed to live her life instead of watch it zoom by. She’d start by stopping all internal dialog. If something came into her head she was going to say it, no matter how bad it ticked someone off. Clio looked around the closet with appreciation for the contents. Everything was lined up, neat and orderly with shoes shelved in their own individual compartments. But nowhere in all the clothes did she find a single pair of jeans or sweatpants. It was unnatural. Men everywhere in the world regardless of wealth had to own at least one pair of jeans. Every man it seemed, but the one who’d kidnapped her. And she had been kidnapped, regardless of how pretty her prison looked. For a moment she stopped and wondered at herself. Why wasn’t she freaking out and calling for her straitjacket? Then she knew. It was the sexy jerk Kryssin. He brought her passion roaring to life and made her feel safe in a world she no longer was certain of. A world she was determined to expand and experience. Life was for the living. Grabbing the nearest pants, Clio was dismayed to find the black leather pants in her hand. She was tempted to put them back and take something less erotic but decided it would be a waste of time. The leather slid over her legs and around her waist with a whisper of sound and the hiss of zipper as she fastened them. She loved the feel of the rich material against her bare flesh and understood the pleasure of wearing something so costly. It felt like the first step in her personal revolution. The belt she found helped keep the pants around her middle and with the shirt untucked, there was hardly any noticeable lump from the extra material bunched around her stomach. She could get away with the outfit, but the lack of shoes was going to cause her problems. It was easy enough to fix her lack of footwear when she discovered Kryssin’s stash of socks. With four pairs of black silky socks in her hands, Clio left the closet and hurried to the over-stuffed leather recliner tucked in the corner.

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As she slipped the socks on, one over the other, she noticed what she had thought to be a window were actually large aquariums filled with exotic fish and other underwater life. She sat stunned as a school of blue and yellow fish lazily swam by. Keeping watch for their return, she finished tugging the last sock in place and stood up. But the fish hadn’t returned. It was odd but none of her concern. If Kryssin wanted to keep a school of pretty fish in his bedroom who was she to argue? There were some things she collected Clio prayed no one would ever know. Turning from the lively aquatic fish show, she walked to the middle door and was disappointed to find a bathroom instead. At least, she assumed that’s what it was because it was like no other bathroom she’d ever seen. In keeping with the color scheme of the main room, the walls were completely made up of aquariums. The bright blue of the water contrasted nicely with the soothing silver and green of the marble on the floor, counter and sunken tub in the corner that could easily fit twenty men. This was her dream bathroom. Now that she knew something like this existed, that is. The room was roughly the size of a small house and covered from one end to another with marble. The sink ran half the length of the room, included dual sinks and vanity track lighting. The shower stall was set opposite of the sinks. More curious than she’d liked to admit, Clio opened the opaque door and gasped. The stall was also crafted from the same expensive marble that covered the rest of the bathroom. Two seats made of the same material were built in at each end. But what made Clio want to weep in envy were the eight showerheads placed at strategic levels. Biting her lip to keep from whimpering, she followed a streak of light to the top of the shower stall and her eyes widened in disbelief. Yet, another aquarium had been built from seam to seam at the top. It was unreal the way this man lived. He could afford to have the most sensuous bathroom she could ever hope to see and then installed fish tanks everywhere he could. While the tanks should have seemed out of place in such luxurious surroundings, whoever had decorated the rooms made sure they blended in and added to the effect of the environment. Overall, it was tranquil and peaceful. “And isn’t that a strange thing to say about a person’s bathroom,” she muttered. No one she knew had a house that came close to this, much less their actual bath space. Clio gave the tub/swimming pool a quick glance and shook her head at the sight of the jets and built-in- massage chair. What rich people spend their money on, she thought with dismay and a touch of envy. If she had Kryssin’s kind of money, Clio knew exactly what she’d do with it and it sure as hell wouldn’t have been wasted it on a bathroom. The sound of something hitting glass forced her out of her musings and into the bedroom.

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Heart beating furiously, Clio looked around the room and found nothing out of place. The closet door was still open from her scavenging trip and revealed no one hiding in its depths. Behind her the noise came again. She swung around expecting to confront an angry Kryssin. Instead there was no one there. She searched the room, closet, drawers and even checked beneath the bed but came up empty. Just as she was wondering if her mind had gone, Clio turned to examine the area she thought the noise came from. She leaned into the glass, looking for the seams or filters to the tank. Finding nothing, she moved on to the next one, having to stop and hitch up her pants before investigating the next tank. She straightened up, pressed her face to the glass and discovered the reason behind the noise. And screamed for her life.

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Chapter 17 No doors flew open. There were no sounds of feet pounding in the hall. The men just appeared. One minute Clio was alone in the room, the next she was not. It was Kryssin who reached out to her and pulled her to her feet. “What has happened?” His voice was soft but threaded with steel. “Has a hunter found you again?” The words she heard but could not understand. “Hunter, who’s Hunter?” Kryssin’s body tightened slightly. “Not a who, but a what. Has anyone been in the chamber besides me?” Still un-nerved by the sight that caused her to scream, Clio couldn’t do more than answer his simple questions. “No,” she replied. “There is no one else.” Short choppy breaths broke the silence that followed her words. “Then what in the name of Zeus were you screaming about, woman?” She turned around to face him. Her anger burned away the numbness of shock. “I want to leave here now,” she demanded, mentally patting herself on the back. Being assertive wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. The man who’d spoken so harshly to her closed the space between them. Clio held her ground when he spoke. “Are you saying you screamed as if your very life were in danger because you simply want to return home?” His stormy grey eyes held a wealth of contempt. It was the hostility that made her take a closer look. If he’d pacified or petted her, Clio would have been able to ignore his disdain. But the anger behind his eyes forced her to exam this new foe. His thick sable-colored hair hung loose behind his back. He was taller than the others by at least an inch or so, but it was his eyes that made her aware that a blood relationship was shared. Eyes the color of the stormy sea when stirred and angry burned into her. His nose was straight and proud like the Greeks in days of old. Muscles covered every inch of his tall frame and were encased in skin the color of melted honey, golden and rich. “There is no need of this.” A new voice broke the tension. It was one of the brothers she’d met before. Talos, Clio thought. He, too, was tall, well built, but there was an air of calmness the others lacked. Where the eyes of the man who verbally attacked her swirled with dark anger, Talos’ eyes glowed a rich blue only seen in the purest of the ocean’s waters. As his gaze met her own, Clio felt his calm and it eased the tension thrumming through her body. “If she is to scream for no reason, then I, for one, would like to be made aware of it now.” This time the words didn’t bother her. They floated over her touching but not harming. Clio didn’t know what came over her, never in her life had she been the type to tug a shark’s tail, but the need to reclaim some of her lost dignity forced her to speak. “If you ask me nicely and say please, I’ll tell you why I was rather startled.” The words sounded worse spoken out loud and she would have given anything to take them back when she saw those eyes darken further.

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She wanted to open her mouth again, this time to apologize, but couldn’t force her lips apart. Everything was too strange here, too different that she needed to feel somewhat in control of whatever little she could control. “Do not play games with me, Kryssin’s woman. I will not tolerate a threat to my brothers’ safety.” She choked a startled laugh. That this six-foot five-inch mountain of muscle thought she was a threat to anyone, much less these examples of prime testosterone, was hysterical. “What am I going to do to them?” she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Bleed on their clean clothes?” He took a step forward and Clio held her ground. “You are not worth the risking of their lives as surely as they would do to keep you safe.” On top of being scared to death, she now had to put up with Mister Testosterone In Shoes talking in riddles. “What in the hell are you talking about? I haven’t asked anyone to get me a cup of coffee, much less risk their life for me.” Oh yeah, the new and improved Clio Foster was kicking ass and taking names until a new voice distracted her inner cheerleader. “This is not the time for such a conversation to take place.” This voice she knew. It was Alexial, the eldest and the leader of the Poseidon brothers. Until he had spoken, Clio hadn’t been aware he’d even been in the room. The blackness of his hair blended in with the clothing he wore and she couldn’t tell where one started and the other ended. Alexial’s skin was darker than the others, as if he spent the majority of his time in the sun. The one thing that relieved the blackness of his appearance was his eyes. There was a startling beauty to them. So rich and vibrant, a blue she had never seen before. There was nothing to compare the color to and she was at a loss to describe their true shade. But she understood too well the steel behind them. “It is my responsibility and honor to explain and guide her through this,” Kryssin spoke from behind her, keeping a firm grip on her arm. His hold on her wasn’t enough to bruise but tight enough to let her know she wouldn’t get away without a scene. His words sent of shiver of foreboding down her spine. Whatever it was she didn’t want to know. “Oh, no.” She pulled her arm away as far as she was able and glared at him. “There will be no guiding or responsibility. You won’t have time because I’m leaving this place and you nut cases behind.” There, let him deal with that. And maybe he would understand that she wasn’t a person to take orders well. “I’ll deal with your fantasies later. Right now, I need to know what caused you to scream.” His face was hard and showed no sign of the passion they’d shared earlier. “Fantasies.” She stepped up to him until they were toe to toe, pushing a finger into the muscled wall of his chest. “There is nothing in my imagination so sordid as to call this a fantasy. Nightmare, maybe, but no, this is not the stuff I dream of.” Kryssin encircled her finger gently within his hand and spoke softly. “We’ll get to your dreams later, honey. For now I need to know what has frightened you.” “I’m not frightened, not of you nor the great wall of muscle over there,” she said, using her free hand to point at the others. “What does tend to freak me out is when I see a shark swimming straight at me in your fish tank!” Clio almost shouted the last words at him. Fear

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like she’d never known before, even with that thing last night, had frozen her body. The largest shark she’d ever seen had headed right at her and she had been positive it would break through the glass and tear her to pieces. “Fish tank? What’s she talking about?” a voice whispered. “Don’t know,” another male voice answered. “What maniac keeps sharks for pets? For that matter I think it’s even illegal. Do you want me to report that along with my kidnapping?” Anger Man spoke again, his voice sharp with hostility. “You will report nothing to the top dwellers. Even if you somehow managed to get notice to them, they would do nothing.” “Keep your silence, Zale,” Kryssin warned him as he pushed Clio behind him. “No, little brother, I think not. Silence will not get you what you want from her.” Zale moved to her line of vision. Clio peeked her head out to see him better. She wasn’t going to hide behind any man. She was done hiding behind anyone. A little brush with death and she could take on the world now. “What are you talking about? Of course it’s against the law to hold sharks captive. And what do you mean he won’t get what he wants from me? No one is getting anything from me except maybe some papers from my lawyer.” Zale laughed and it wasn’t the warm fuzzy kind either. It was cold and harsh and made Clio want to desperately hide in the protection Kryssin offered, but her pride kept her from seeking it. “I agree it is against mortal law to hold such an animal within confines of a private tank. However,” he stopped and gave her an evil grin, “there is nothing illegal about a shark roaming free in open water.” At first she didn’t understand. “Open water? What open water?” But the coolness of his eyes shoved the meaning down her throat until she had no choice but to swallow it. “Damn you, Zale. There was no reason for you to speak other than for your own pleasure. You did this to hurt Clio and nothing more.” She expected Zale to turn his fury on Kryssin. She was shocked when she glimpsed the warmth of affection replacing the open hostility. “If my words caused your mate distress, I offer my sincerest apologies. Your way was taking too long and would have led to further confusion on her part. My way was more direct and gave her the information she asked for.” To Clio’s shock, she realized the man was sincere. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he wanted her to know the truth of whatever was going on. But it still didn’t explain the earlier remarks and she was too caught up in the present, so she pushed anything else to the back of her mind. “You had no right to speak of these things to her.” “I invoked the right to see to your protection at all times,” Zale responded calmly. “My protection?” Kryssin sounded shocked and his eyes traveled from one brother to the next, but no one made a move to speak or leave the room. They all remained motionless as they watched the drama unfolding. “How is beating my—Clio over the head with things she is not ready for, for my protection?” His voice never wavered under the force of Kryssin’s anger. “You keep your thoughts and attention on her and away from your safety. Therefore, it became my responsibility to protect you where you would not.”

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None of this was making any sense. “Why would Kryssin need protection anyway?” she interrupted. “There are those who seek to take more than his life. One of those you have met, I believe.” “That slimy thing from last night?” “Though I have never heard a hunter called so, I believe they are one and the same.” “The Creature from the Black Lagoon is after Kryssin?” “Yes.” The man’s short answers were enough to make her head explode. “Why?” “To see him dead.” An angry growl forced its way past Clio’s lips. “Is English your first language?” His eyes narrowed at the change in subject. “No.” “Then if I speak really slow, with small words and hand puppets, do you think you could give me a clue why that thing is after Kryssin and me?” She made a slicing motion with her hand when he would have spoken. “And don’t tell me to see him dead, genius. I got that part. I want to know why.” When Zale didn’t respond, Clio inched further from the protection of Kryssin’s body. If things were going to get ugly she wanted enough room so she could either run or fight. Now she was able to see the rest of the room and the shocked expressions on everyone’s face, but that of the man in black. His face remained neutral and he revealed none of his thoughts. What had she said that shocked these men? All she’d asked for were answers, though why it mattered to her that someone wanted to kill Kryssin she couldn’t guess. Maybe it was the word murder that didn’t sit well, but in her heart she knew it was more than that. How much more she wasn’t willing to pursue. The sound of laughter broke everyone’s stare and the clapping of hands drew them away from the tense circle they had formed. “Bravo, Jellyfish. What a show you’ve put on for us today.” Bastien. Loud, lovable and irresponsible Bastien. Until now he’d been in the corner not making himself known. She wanted so badly to run into his arms for protection. Instead she clutched her hands behind her back to keep from reaching out to him. “I didn’t know I was the entertainment.” “Neither did I,” he said with a smile. “So does this mean tall, dark and cranky over there isn’t going to answer my question?” She jerked her thumb in the general direction of Zale and for once saw something other than open hostility directed towards her. His mouth was open, his eyes wide and the tension that held his shoulders back was gone. He looked shocked. Whether it was at her behavior or Bastien’s attitude, she couldn’t guess until he spoke. “Did she just call me a name?” The question wasn’t directed at anyone, but Bastien jumped in to answer. “Um, it was more than one, Zale. I believe she called you genius, and not in the good way and then she called you tall, dark and cranky.” He finished off like a child ending a report; proud of himself for accomplishing the right task. “Thank you, Bastien.”

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“You’re welcome,” he said politely. Eyes narrowed, Zale walked slowly over to where Clio had pressed herself against the wall. It gave her a good view of the room and everyone in it. But it also left her helpless to flee the incoming brother. “Now, hang on.” She held both hands in front of her to ward him off. Instead of pushing against her, he stopped right before skin touched skin. “There’s no need to get violent over a few words. It’s not like you’ve been all sunshine and roses to me, Jaws.” Zale got that look that so many people get around her. The one that asks which planet she had been dropkicked off. He cocked his head to the side, pursed his lips and stared. “What?” she demanded, grateful her voice hadn’t cracked with fear. He spoke to the others without moving his head. “Is this her normal way?” Bastien said yep. Kryssin kind of coughed but made a noise of agreement and Talos kept his eyes down but nodded his head. The other two men looked at each other then shrugged their shoulders as if to say they didn’t have a clue. “Why do you insist on calling us by wrong names?” Zale questioned. Heat crept up her cheeks. “Well, all of you have the last name of Poseidon. The Greek God of Oceans, River and horses. You live in a gigantic fish tank. Besides it’s easier than trying to keep your names straight.” “You are a strange one,” he finally murmured underneath his breath, but Clio caught his words just the same. “I’m strange? Oh, if that isn’t rich,” she bit out. “I’m not the one living underwater or wherever this place is. I’m not the one attacking innocent woman just because someone yacked in your Fruity Pebbles this morning. Nor am I the one accusing people I’ve just met and don’t have a clue about, of plotting to get someone killed or have them killed or crap I can’t remember, but it had something to do with someone dying.” She rubbed her forehead that was starting to ache, the other hand simply dropped to her side. She softly hummed. “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea…” Mentally she decided to cut back on the name calling, even if she thought it was funny. No one besides Bastien appreciated her humor anyway.

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“Is English your first language?” Zale asked. Clio’s head popped up when her words were thrown back at her. “What is that supposed to mean?” “Just as I asked. Do you speak another tongue more fluently than the one you speak now?” His voice was smooth with no inflection. “I speak some Spanish, but English is my first language,” she answered carefully. “Then it is not a language barrier that keeps me from understanding you.” “Huh?” Now she was lost. Bastien’s smothered laughter made his eyes shine like the blue crystals on shimmering water. “If I may?” Zale and Clio answered together. “No!” Bastien backed up not looking the least bit offended by their refusal. “Enough of this.” Kryssin stepped over to where they stood. “I’ll deal with what’s necessary after the rest of you leave.” Zale frowned as he thought over Kryssin’s words. “How do I know you’ll explain all that will ensure your safety?” “You can ask Clio when we’re done.” An innocent smile played on his lips. Zale’s only reaction was the dilation of his pupils to show his displeasure. When he spoke none of his emotions showed in his voice. “It will be as you say, little brother.” The men made a mass exit to the door, all of them, except Bastien, filed out with brief murmurs of goodbyes. He walked over to where Clio stood huddled against the wall. He took her fists in his own hands and raised them to his lips. “Stand your ground to a point, Jellyfish, but know the difference between standing for what you believe in and standing just to see the view.” With that cryptic comment, he turned and sauntered out of the room leaving Kryssin and Clio to face each other. More than space separated them this time, questions and fears had widened the chasm so deep, nothing might ever be able to breach it. ***** Clio turned to him, her eyes shuttered. The smiling woman who had only moments before laughed with his brother was gone. “So you’re going to explain to me…what?” He needed to tell her. She needed to know the truth. But he couldn’t help worrying what his honesty would cost him. “To be blunt, I have no idea where to begin.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to find the words to answer her questions but not scare her away at the same time. “As they say, start at the beginning.” That brought a small smile to his lips. “Ah, but the beginning was so long ago.” Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Exactly how long ago was it?”

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He couldn’t speak if he had to face her. His mind wandered off to relive the memory of her moans, the feel of her skin and the smell of her desire. His body hardened in response to his thoughts and he tamped down his desire before she caught sight of how distracting he found her. Kryssin turned to pace the room, running his hands in a distracted manner through his hair. “It begins when many gods and goddesses ruled the earth and answered to no one but the One God. They were given free will in much the same manner as humans. They made mistakes, fought wars, fell in love, had children in much the same manner as the charges they looked over. The only differences being they were immortal and had special powers.” He glanced back to see how Clio was taking his words. To his enormous relief, she’d settled in one of his leather-overstuffed chairs and appeared to be listening. “The powers were not randomly handed out but carefully selected and given to those best suited for them. But as with everything good and pure, over time the immortals became corrupted. They helped their human charges less and became more caught up in their own desires. There came a time when they were forced to pay a price for that which was once given freely.” He paused not knowing how his next words would affect Clio. “What was the price?” Her voice was soft and curious. “The payment was blood. The blood of those they had sworn to protect.” Kryssin turned from the ocean portal to look at Clio. “The gods and goddesses had been tricked by an Unclean. They thought if they gave the protection of their mortals over to the tricksters, then their mortals would be protected in times of war or famine. Instead, they were used as cattle to be butchered and fed upon.” He stopped to take a breath before going on, needing to finish the story before she questioned him more. “In retaliation, the immortals waged war on the Unclean ones. It was bloody and vicious and many a mortal lost his life in the heat of a battle they could never hope to win. But the immortals were so sure of their own powers and the blessings of the One God they grew careless in their defense and that led to their destruction.” Kryssin had trouble breathing and his heart slammed against the confines of his chest. The smell of blood filled his nostrils, the sounds of the war and the dying flooded his memories. The horror of the End War came back in a rush of sensations and he almost crumbled under the weight of his recollections. “Kryssin?” He heard Clio’s voice from a distance. “What happened? Should I get your brothers?” The mention of his brothers was enough to pull him out of the vision. Once more he was within his home, safe. The war that still had the power to wake him screaming from sleep had been over so long ago that none but those who fought in it even knew it happened. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a moment.” He walked to bathroom for water to quench his parched throat. He should have known Clio would follow. She stood uncertain in the doorway, watching as he drank glass after glass of water. He wanted to go to her, wrap his arms around her body and beg her to stay with him forever. He wanted to promise her the world and beyond. But he had no right to promise anything until she knew the whole truth. No right to speak of things she wouldn’t understand.

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He forced himself to continue leaning against the cool marble of the sink. “Where was I?” “They were too careless of their power and it was the end of them.” Kryssin crossed his arms over his chest. “Hmm, is that what I said?” He shook his head not allowing himself to delay any further. “Right then, so the immortals became so full of their own immortality they forgot to guard that which could destroy them. Because you see, Clio, everything in the universe has a balance. If you take you must also give. If there is wrong, there is always a right.” He pushed himself away from the sink to pace the bathroom. “Well, if you have indestructible immortals you have to have a way to kill them, right? Balance, it is all in the balance.” Kryssin paused to stare through the portal drawing strength from the serenity of the sea. “So what was their weakness?” He wouldn’t face her, not until this was over, so he talked to the sea instead. “A group of beings called the Titans were the fall of the immortals. They’d been told to always guard the mountain where Titans were held captive, but either they forgot or didn’t think anything could harm them. They left the mountain in the hands of a mortal army and the Titan’s minions killed the army, those we call Scaber demons. Afterwards, there was nothing to stop them from freeing that which was never been meant to be freed. The Titans were let loose on the world to destroy the gods and goddesses and anyone else who was foolish enough to get in their way.” The screams of his friends still vibrated within his mind. Kryssin shut his eyes to stop the memories from taking him over. “The Unclean forgot one thing in their quest for power.” “Balance,” she whispered. Not turning around, he nodded his head. “Yes, the balance. For once the Titans were loose and had a job to do; they could be controlled. It was only when the last of the gods lay dying the victors understood their mistake. Because when the last of their victims died and their assignment was over, the Titans would answer to no one. They had no master and so they turned on the very ones who freed them.” Just a little more, he promised himself and then it would all be over. “With the last of their powers, the immortals and the Unclean united to bind the Titans back to earth from where they came. The plan worked but again not without some side affects. With the Titans bound once more, the gods and goddesses dead or dying, the Unclean had no power left to steal because the Titans had taken it all themselves. The easiest thing for them to do was to find the descendants of those immortals and steal the power from them. It would have worked except for one flaw. They forgot the gift given to one of the gods. The gift of prophesy. This god saw what would happen and what they would become. He knew in order to prevent it, he would have to take that which gives power from each of those that carry it. He did so but not lightly. He also ensured in the future when the threat rose again, each descendant would find their missing piece and destroy the remains of the Unclean before they let loose the Titans once more.” And there it was. His story and the story of his brothers set out for Clio to judge. He waited for her laughter or scorn but what she did was something he never could have been prepared for.

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She walked on silent feet, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “I don’t know why I’m doing this,” she whispered against his ear. “I just know I can’t make myself not do it.” And that was all he needed to hear. Somewhere somehow along the way, he had stumbled into doing something right. Clio cared for him. She felt the connection between them and could comfort him when she felt his pain. The Claiming had begun. He prayed to God that he be allowed to continue stumbling along the right path until their fates were sealed.

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Chapter 19 The need to comfort, to ease the sorrow that weighed Kryssin’s shoulders down was something Clio didn’t understand but couldn’t fight. She knew the story he told was more than a way to pass the time even if she wasn’t sure what it meant to her. But there was a deeper meaning behind it and she’d find out soon. Keeping her arms wrapped tight around Kryssin’s flat stomach, she rubbed her face in the soft cotton of his shirt. Clio enjoyed the heat of his skin and the fresh scent of his body as she had with no other. Kryssin took a deep breath. “I know why you feel this way, Clio,” he spoke so softly she strained to hear the words. “I’m not going to like the answer, am I?” It was instinct that guided her now. He shook his head. “No, I doubt you will, but it doesn’t change the fact you still need to know the truth.” She eased her arms from around him and took several steps back. “You know this is insane, don’t you?” She waved her arm between the two of them. “I meet you for the first time yesterday, you do some weird mumbo jumbo on me, I get attacked by the Creature from the Black Lagoon and then I wake up wherever the hell this place is.” Clio closed her eyes as the events rushed through her mind. “By all rights and sanity, I should be screaming my head off, calling the police and beating the hell out of you. I’m not this bold person I’ve become around you.” Kryssin asked, “Then why are you still here and why have you changed?” She made a rude noise. “That’s the million dollar question. When I woke up I was mad, but okay. I checked out your little love nest here and walked back into the bedroom looking for my clothes when the shark from hell swam at me.” She gave a rueful sigh. “That’s when I lost it. I decided if I was going to lose my mind then for once I’d stop monitoring my every word and deed.” “I know. My heart stopped when I heard you scream. And you didn’t lose your mind. You’re finally coming into your own.” “I was okay with screaming, but I didn’t like it. I’m not big on being scared and hiding,” she admitted,, her voice firm as she ignored his second remark. “I could tell that from the Scaber-Hunter you beat the hell out of.” Mild amusement toned his words. She caught the unfamiliar name. “Is that what that thing was? A Scaber-Hunter. What is it?” A single finger reached out to touch the clear boundary separating Kryssin from the water. “They are called Scaber-Hunters and area one of the fiercest hunters in the world. They are part of the Unclean ones.” He dropped his hand and finally turned to face her. “And for now, I’d like to leave it alone. Please.” It was the please that affected her. Clio was sure that word had never passed his lips before. She gave in since there was other information she wanted more. “Fine with me.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But we will get back to it.” “My word,” he promised her.

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“Good, now where were we?” If Kryssin was surprised at the easy ways she backed down, he didn’t show it. “You were telling me the reason behind your scream.” Heat rose to her cheeks as embarrassment flooded her body. “I’m not a whining crying type of woman but there are some allowances for man-eating sharks.” A hint of a smile played around his sensuous full lips. “As there should be,” he agreed. “The shark freaked me. I screamed and then bam, the rooms were filled with the hunk of the month club models.” Picturing the men’s sudden appearance made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “Then in case I wasn’t having enough fun, your delightful brother, Zale, was it?” Clio waiting for his nod then continued. “He goes off on some weird sci-fi geek trip, spouting mortal laws and some other nonsense.” She paused to gather her thoughts, remembering with a flare of anger the other man’s taunting words. “He really freaked me out, but that’s okay. It’s a problem between him and me. But he pissed me off and that’s good. It stopped the fear and helped me stay stable enough to listen to your story.” Clio kept her back to those haunting blue eyes. She didn’t want to read whatever message lay there. “So here we are,” she stated. “we’re alone, you’ve told your story and I’m too busy being upset about you to worry if I’ve lost my mind or not.” He was suddenly behind her, not touching, but Clio could feel the heat from his hard body pulsing over her in waves. Her breasts swelled, moisture pooled between her thighs and her palms itched to touch his tanned skin. “You haven’t lost your mind, Clio. On the contrary, I think you’ve handled yourself better than anyone could ever expect,” Kryssin’s breath whispered over her ear. The sensation made her skin tingle in need. “Then tell me why I’m not screaming and crying or begging to go home,” she demanded, fighting off her arousal. “The answer isn’t as simple as you’d like.” “Then give me the idiot’s version and I’ll take it from there.” “Fine.” Clio missed his warmth when he moved away. “The story, as you put it, is the history of my family. You are one of the guardians entrusted with a soul. My brothers and I need your help to find the first piece of the trident and hopefully lead us to the next soulkeeper.” Yep, she knew she wasn’t going to like it. “Why me?” she asked. “I finally meet a man who has more than two brain cells, not bad to look at and he’s nuts. This is just my luck.” Her head dropped in weary acceptance. “First, I’ll thank you for the compliments. Second, I’m not crazy. And third, I can prove what I say.” Kryssin’s voice was firm. Clio pivoted to face him. Her eyes lowered to the taut fabric stretched over his groin. Bad eyes, she reprimanded herself, very bad. Forcing her gaze up and over the narrow waist, solid chest and determined chin, she met his stare with her own. “Proof?” She made no effort to keep the suspicion out of her voice. “Like what? You’ve got a birthmark shaped like a crab. You were born when the tide was high and so were your parents? Come on, what’s really going on here?”

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Kryssin appeared not to notice her sarcasm or insults. He leaned quietly back against the marble tub, his long legs stretched out in from on him with his arms crossed over his chest. A lock of dark hair fell to cover one eye and Clio’s hands itched to sweep it away. “First, listen to my words, then I’ll provide the proof you need. But remember this before I finish my story, Clio. In the entire time we’ve been together, you’ve never showed fear of me. Don’t you wonder about that? It’s the claiming and that is proof enough for me.” The words weren’t spoken harshly or in anger. Kryssin spoke evenly and with purpose. “Fine, you have your way and I’ll take hard evidence, thank you very much.” He inclined his head but seemed almost hesitant to speak. “We, Talos, Bastien and myself, were sent to observe your news conference, to look for clues to our own missing scrolls. But the plan changed within minutes of walking in the building.” Clio wanted to ask what changed and how but resigned herself to keeping her mouth shut. “I told you there was a price for everything given, remember?” Her head nodded in agreement while her lips stayed firmly shut. “To save the souls of his descendants, the god removed those souls and cast them out into the waters to be safe until they were needed again. This didn’t kill the sons. It did, however, change their lives for all time. They lost the ability to smell the ocean, to feel the sand beneath their feet and the warmth of sunshine on their skin. Their bodies no longer used a heart to pump blood through their bodies. Lungs were emptied of oxygen and never refilled. The sweet taste of wine and the flavors of food were gone. They had nothing left. Do you understand?” This time his voice did rise at the end. “I think so. Many ancient cultures believed that to remove the soul was to remove everything that made a person human. Our five senses are part of that humanity.” He grinned. “I forget how knowledgeable you are of history. It is most impressive.” Clio cast her eyes away from the tempting sight of his smile and ignored the rush of pleasure from his compliment. “Yeah well, it’s a part of the job,” she muttered, uncomfortable with his praise. “For some, yes, but with you, I think it’s more. But I see it’s making you tense, so we’ll drop it for now.” Kryssin shot her another bone-melting smile before composing his face to more serious lines. “So the descendants lost their humanity but not their purpose. They were the last line between the Titans and the total destruction of the earth.” Clio couldn’t help but be intrigued by his story. It fit with several not well-known Greek myths she stumbled across in her research. The Poseidon Prophesy was the tale of nine brothers cast out into the mortal world without their souls. Always searching for the one woman created to guard it within her body and share it with him. The tale went on to detail the battles fought, the temptations of the sea and the results if failure should occur. Supposedly, the shadow hunters, as the evil was called, would use Poseidon’s Trident to unlock the curse holding the Titans captive. When that happened, the earth would shake under the weight of their feet and the sky would fall with the force of their might. It wasn’t a pretty story. “I’ve never been able to find out how it ended,” she said. “I’ve always wondered what the moral of the story was. You know, the myths always had a lesson to teach, but this one isn’t finished yet.”

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“You’ve read of this?” “Hmm, what? Oh yeah, I did a paper on Greek myths and their relevance to twentieth century living. Got an A,” she said proudly. “I never knew there were tales of it in books.” He seemed confused by her knowledge. “Oh, it wasn’t in a book.” Clio picked up a crystal piece. It looked to be an oldfashioned perfume bottle but in too good a condition to be a real antique. She answered automatically while exploring the little things that had escaped her notice earlier. “I found the story in some scrolls about ten years ago. A friend excavating an old temple in the Aegean Sea. He invited me over to see if I could make sense of them because they were written in a language no one could identify.” Clio didn’t notice the pallor of Kryssin’s skin and only vaguely aware of the hoarse note in his voice. “Did you?” he asked. “Identify it, I mean.” “Hmm?” She looked over at him. “It was an ancient language we still can’t pinpoint, but I deciphered enough to be able to get the gist of the story.” Her eyes narrowed as she took in the ashy sheen on his skin. “Hey, you okay?” “Fine. I’m fine,” he assured her. “Please continue.” “Nothing left to say. I deciphered as much as I could which was really only the story. The next day the truck transporting artifacts to the museum crashed and everything was lost. My friend was pissed. He seemed to think it was deliberate. But there was no reason for it. The only real value in there was to people like me.” “Everything was lost?” “Unfortunately, yes. I never had the chance to read the rest of the scrolls and I can’t believe I remember that one myth so well.” “But you said there were several places where you’d heard the same story.” Clio gave him a droll look. “Well, this is the wave-net generation.” When he gave her a confused look, she explained. “I surfed the web and checked out sites that dealt with myths and old legends. It was pretty easy. There’s this one site, The Phoenix Tales, that’s full of all sorts of cool information. Pictures, trivia and a ton of other stuff people like me would be interested in.” Kryssin was on her in a flash, his hands wrapped tightly around her upper arms. “What did you say the name of the site was?” She shot him an angry glare. “The Phoenix Tales. Jeez, what’s wrong with you?” She rubbed her arms when he released her. “All this time, we never looked in so obvious a place. It was hidden right before our eyes. Damn it.” He slammed a fist on the counter, smashing through the marble. “Okay, now I’m beginning to be scared,” Clio said as calmly as she could. Her eyes focused on the hole where Kryssin’s fist made. His face softened as he read the fear in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Clio. But you have no idea what this information means to us. The years we’ve spent chasing around getting nowhere and finally there’s some hope.” “Glad to be of service,” she said, not stopping the backwards motion of her legs. This time there was no older brother to drain her fear.

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Kryssin could do things no other man could. The way his fist easily smashed through the marble was just one of a long line of things her brain had been trying to show her. Things she couldn’t ignore any longer. “Come.” He held a hand out to her. “We’ll go see Eryx and tell him your news.” “Thanks, but I think I’d better be getting home. I’ve got work to do, a plant to water and some pretty pissy fish to feed.” Clio angled her body so each step took her closer to the door and further away from Kryssin. He seemed to understand she wasn’t as happy with the news as he was. “Why are you running from me?” Confusion clouded his sexy mystic-blue eyes.

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Chapter 20

“Running?” she retorted. “I’m not running. I’m slowly moving my feet to the door and then I’ll be moving slowly to the bedroom door and then the exit.” She slid her feet another inch across the hard floor. “But you want to leave because of your fear.” The open doorway pressed at her back. Yes, made it. Now all she had to do was get to the bedroom door and run like hell. “I want to leave because it’s time I did so. I’ll just leave you to play with your brothers and I’ll find my own way. Thanks for the hospitality.” She waved and raced to the door. When her hand touched the doorknob, Kryssin was already leaning against it, not a hair out of place. “Stop doing that,” she ordered, losing some of her fear to aggravation. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave. You got me sidetracked and I didn’t get to finish what I was trying to say.” “Send me an e-mail, okay? I don’t have time for this.” “I promise you the one thing we do have is time.” He pushed away from the door and Clio backed up with every step he took. “Now stop moving away from me. We have to finish this up and then go tell the others your news.” “What if I don’t want to go with you? Can’t you tell them yourself?” She kept moving backwards until her knees hit the wooden platform of the bed. “Why would I?” he asked, his voice calm and reasonable. “It is you who bring such tidings of great news. Therefore you should be the one to reap the benefits.” “You know, it really freaks me out the way you talk.” That’s brilliant, Clio, let’s piss him off again. Maybe he’ll hit you instead of the marble this time. “The way I talk.” A line formed between his eyes. “How do you mean?” “See that’s just it.” She pushed against his chest when he tried to move closer to her. “One minute you talk all Middle America and then next you sound like you came out of ancient Rome in whatever B.C.” Kryssin appeared thoughtful as he listened to her words. “You’re probably right.” A wide grin split his face. “I tend to revert to my natural accent when excited or upset.” “Your natural accent?” she questioned, knowing this would be one of those things she should never have asked. “Why on earth would you call that formal an accent natural? It hasn’t been used in probably hundreds of years.” “I know,” he said, his lips pursed in thought before he reached for her again. He pulled her body against his and lowered them both to the bed. “I miss hearing it flow off my people’s tongue as it used to. There is nothing as sweet as to hear your people speak in their own language. But my people are no more. They died so long ago even I have trouble remembering them at times.” The loss of his memories didn’t seem to bother him too much right now. It might be because he lowered his head to lick and nibble on Clio’s exposed throat.

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She luxuriated in the feel of his body pressed hard against her own. The bite of his teeth and the quick lap of his tongue made her pulse race. She wanted to give in and give herself over to the passion Kryssin so easily aroused in her, but his words kept intruding on her desire. When it finally sank in, she shoved him roughly off her and to the floor. He sat with a look of confusion and anger on his face. “What did you do that for?” Clio didn’t back down from his hostile tone. “Your natural tongue, lost people, ancient language. Who the hell are you, Kryssin Poseidon?” With a grace she couldn’t help but admire, he rose to his feet in one swift movement. “I am who I said I am. Kryssin, fourth son to the god of the waters and mountains, Poseidon, ruler of all the oceans and lakes. And you, my sweet Clio, are the one foretold in the legend. You are my soul-keeper and I am your mate.” “Shit,” she whispered as his words sank in. The color drained from Clio’s face, giving her eyes a wide haunted look. She spoke in a voice tight with tension. “I should have listened to my mother and become a lion tamer. The worse they have to deal with is getting eaten. God, they have it so easy.” At first, her words confused Kryssin until he understood she was using humor to feel her way through the situation. His admiration grew. “I would like to meet your mother.” She spared him a quick glance before turning back to the view. “Oh, I’m sure she would have loved you. If anyone was weird, unusual, from another planet or dead, she was interested. Meeting the immortal son of a sea god would have made her year.” He was picking up the anger and helplessness radiating off her. Had there been problems between mother and daughter? If so, could he help her deal with them? He’d never dealt with human women much less their protective mammas. Clio’s ragged sighs pulled him back to the present. “Is there someone else you’d like to contact? Let them know you are safe and well? To let your father know also?” he asked, keeping his voice low and gentle. She made an un-ladylike noise at his question. “The only person that cares if I’m okay, besides my credit cards companies, is Tara. And my father’s not alive. He and my mother died together.” The anger in Clio’s voice as she spoke of her father’s death pulsed of something deeper, but Kryssin was hesitant to act on it until she felt more comfortable trusting him. “Well then, would you like to shower and clean up some? Then we’ll get you fed and give you a tour.” He knew one of his brothers would have gone to the trouble to find something for his mate to eat. As for her clothes, Kryssin had enjoyed taking care of that task himself last night. Wispy bras, silky underwear, leather pants, silk shirts and cashmere sweaters had been placed in his room in anticipation of her needs. “Getting cleaned up sounds good. Can I borrow another shirt to wear until I get my own stuff?” Instead of answering her question, he said. “You’ll find everything you need when you come out. If there is something missing or you need help, just call my name.”

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Then before he gave into the temptation to bathe her himself, he vanished from the room and into Alexial’s library.

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Chapter 21 “What the…” Clio’s words drifted off as she scanned the room. “Well, beam me up, Scotty.” The man was an enigma. She was torn between wanting to call the nearest Straitjackets R Us or believing every word he’d spoken. “Wrong.” She shook her head. “It’s not up to me to get involved in this mess. He thinks I’m someone else or he’s so desperate to find his soul-keeper he picked the nearest gullible woman.” Too many questions bombarded her. Was he telling the truth? If not, did his brothers support his delusion? If it was the truth, then how could she convince Kryssin she wasn’t the one he was looking for? It was ludicrous to even think he might be telling the truth. She was a scientist. Her life was based on fact and evidence. As such, she couldn’t ignore the obvious. Like he’d never shown her tangible proof of his tale, no documents, no talisman, not even a frickin picture to support his claim. With a soft moan, she rubbed her now aching head and walked to the giant sunken tub. Normally, she would have ignored the decadent marble pool in favor of a quick shower. But now she needed the time to go over what she knew and what she’d been told. Gold dolphin taps spouted heated water and Clio poured bath oil into the steaming pool. Shrugging the material off her shoulders, she tested the temperature with a toe and found it hot enough to relax her stiff body. As the water enclosed her in its hot embrace and she leaned her head back against the built in pillow, Clio reviewed the events that led her to this place. ***** “What are you doing so far away from your mate?” Kryssin watched as Jay gracefully swam toward him. He’d known, somehow, she would be here. When he failed to find his older brothers, he instructed Eryx to call when Clio left his apartments. Then he allowed himself to be lured by the ever-present call of the sea. Kryssin would never know how Jay knew he’d taken Clio. There were some things his mysterious friend never spoke of and he never pushed for more than she was willing to divulge. “Clio is relaxing in a bath, trying to come to terms with the truth and her purpose.” Jay gave an inelegant laugh and splashed water into his face. “Her purpose?” she drawled. “Please tell me you didn’t say that to her?” To be honest, Kryssin couldn’t remember how he’d spoken of the details but knew it wouldn’t matter. Clio would accept her role and adapt to her new lifestyle. “I don’t think it matters how I said it. I made sure she understood what her position is.” He wiped away another round of water to his face. “What is the matter with you today, Jay? I thought you’d be happy things are working out so nicely.” She rolled her eyes. “Men are so stupid. No matter the time or culture, their intellect never grows.”

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“Hey, that sounds like you’re trying to insult me,” he protested, and ducked the water streaming toward his face. “I’m must not be doing a great job if you only think I’m trying.” “What did I do?” “Nothing. That’s what you did and you should be ashamed of yourself. I expected more out of you. Your idiot brothers should have been the ones to do nothing.” She huffed out a sigh, which was impressive considering she was floating on her back in the middle of the ocean. “So you’re mad at me because I did nothing. But you’d be even madder if my brothers had done something?” His head was starting to pound from chasing thoughts. Jay had never been this way with him before. Sure, they had argued and fought but never with any serious threat behind it. Now, the woman he thought of as a sister seemed to be genuinely angry with him. “You just don’t get it, do you, Krys? You bring this woman into your home, dump an old forgotten legend in her lap and tell her it’s up to her to fix the problem.” Jay stopped floating to turn and face him. The worry and frustration in her eyes caused a ripple of fear in his chest. “It didn’t happen that way…exactly,” he protested, knowing it was useless. “Oh, so you didn’t just drop her in your bed alone, leaving her to wake up in a strange place not knowing what was going on or where she was. Then whenever you deemed it time, you showed up with the Muscle Mafia right behind you and probably scared the crap out of her. And to top it all off for the poor woman, you tell her this fabulous tale and that she’s the key to solving it. Then bam.” Jay clapped her hands together making Kryssin jump at the sudden noise in the otherwise quiet water. “You leave again without a word of where you’re going or when you might be back. Oh yeah, I’m sure she’s already in love with you.” Hearing it put in that light made Kryssin feel guilty. “That wasn’t all there was to it.” A feminine brow arched. “Oh, you got a little nookie on the side? Well, good for you lover boy. I’m sure that makes her all warm and tingly inside and cancels out the abandonment and fear.” He protested, knowing his voice sounded un-naturally rough. “It wasn’t sex.” At Jay’s disbelieving look, he forced himself to admit. “It wasn’t sex for me. I…well she…damn it I’m not going to have this conversation with you, Jay. You’re like my sister and there’s no way I’m discussing my sex life with my little sister.” Instead of getting bashed over the head with a sea turtle as he expected, Jay said nothing. When he gathered enough courage to look her way, Kryssin saw Jay shake her head as if trying to lose whatever thought bothered her. “Hey.” He softened his voice. “You all right?” She brushed his concern aside. “Right as a river. I just had a quick flash.” Her voice was light and quick Kryssin sensed there was more to her words. For the first time he could remember, his friend was hiding something from him and he didn’t like it a bit. “Come on, Jaybird, you can talk to me,” he coaxed her. Giving a too bright smile, she ignored his worry. “You need to go talk with your mate. Listen to what she says and pay attention to what she doesn’t. Don’t be a typical male, Kryssin.

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You need to understand this isn’t going to be easy for her. You’ve snatched her from everything familiar and she’s lost without the anchor of her world.” “But I told her everything would be fine. She knows what’s going to happen and how important a role she’ll play in this war.” “So all you did was tell her how important she was in what’s to happen?” It was a trap and Kryssin knew it, but there was no stopping the words already set in motion. “What else was I supposed to tell her?” Wincing at the pure feminine screech of outrage, he ducked his head underwater only to be yanked out by his hair seconds later. Jay held him until only his torso was covered in water and poked a strong finger in his chest. “You were supposed to tell her how important she is to you. What woman wants to be wanted as a thing? Not a single one, that’s how many. You should have told her how important she is to you. How much she’s changed your life, what she’s given to your life and how long you’ve been searching for her. Not to mention what a miracle you think she is.” Poke poke poke went her finger digging deeper with each word. “She is your freakin beacon of hope and you’ve treated her worse than a low-paid servant. You treated her like a cheap hooker. Taking whatever pleasure you wanted then leaving when she might have needed your emotional support.” With the barrage of words, Kryssin understood one thing. He’d let Clio down. She needed more from him than a physical release and new clothes. With the knowledge came the guilt again and he didn’t want to deal with either emotion, so he chose to fight. “Did it ever occur to you, your Almighty-Know-It-All, that I might need time to adjust to what’s going on as well? It’s not like I can ask anyone. This is the first time a soul-keeper has ever been found and I’ve got no idea what to do with her.” “Then doesn’t it make sense to treat her all the more special? You were chosen out of all your brothers for this honor and instead you act like some huge unwanted burden has been placed on your shoulders. Well, get over it.” Jay’s anger hit him like a wave, relentless and hard. “And as for needing time to adjust, you’ve had more than six thousand years. How much more time is it going to take you, Kryssin?” “And while you’re waiting, adjust,” she sneered the word at him. “Maybe someone else without your hang-ups will take your coveted place. Someone your mate already knows and likes. Someone who didn’t dump her like an unwanted package. Someone who knows a good thing when he sees it.” Jay let her insult hover in the air as she ducked into the water and disappeared. He didn’t have to look to know she was gone, he could feel her absence in the water surrounding him. “What the hell just happened?” They never fought. But today something had set Jay off in a way he’d never seen before and hoped to never see again. “Crazy female,” he muttered, hearing her words replay inside his head. He was about to say the hell with them all when her meaning sank into his brain. “Someone she knows and likes. Someone who already knows a good thing when he sees it.” Kryssin’s roar of rage cut through the surface causing the waves to rise. “Bastien”

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***** Finished with her bath, Clio tugged on the silky robe she’d found beside the tub and walked into the bedroom. The clothes she’d left lying on the bed were gone. Instead she saw a pair of butter colored leather pants and an icy blue silk shirt. “What the hell?” she wondered. The pants were too small to be Kryssin’s. Pulling them on Clio discovered the fit was perfect. Seeing no undergarments lying near the clothes, she put the shirt on over her bare skin. The feel of the material rubbing against her naked breasts sent a shot of heat straight between her legs. The shock of desire stunned her. Clio wasn’t the most sensual of women. Heck, she could count on one hand how many lovers had passed through her life with a finger or two left over. But suddenly it was as if her body was awakening for the first time. She felt the erotic rub of leather against her legs and squeezed her thighs tight while stifling a whimper. With any movement she made, her body burned in reaction. “It’s got to be this place,” she murmured to herself. “It has nothing to do with Kryssin and his asinine fairy tale.” “Asinine is a little harsh, don’t you think?” A deep voice broke in. Clio whirled around to find Kryssin leaning against the thick bedpost, a small smile playing along his lips. “How did you get in here?” she demanded, embarrassed to have been caught talking to herself. About him, no less. “How do you think I got here?” His smile grew along with Clio’s sense of unease. “Forget it.” She just knew he wouldn’t tell her the truth. “Just point me to the nearest exit, so I can be on my way.” Kryssin lost the lazy smile and his body drew taut. “You still think to leave? Even after everything I’ve told you? After everything you’ve seen?” His eyes mirrored the disbelief in his voice. “Look, I don’t know what I’ve seen. It was a very interesting tale you told me and I wish you the best of luck with the prophesy and all that, but yeah, I really need to go.” He took two steps and stopped. “So everything I’ve said means nothing to you?” Shaking her head, Clio fought to keep her tone even. “No, I think it’s very sweet you would share such a private family secret with me. I’m flattered you think I’m this soul…person you’re looking for. But come on.” She waved a hand to encompass her body. “Can you really see me being the soul mate type?” When Kryssin made a move forward, Clio backed up after seeing his blue eyes darken in anger. “Sweet? Flattered?” His voice rose with each word. “Don’t you dare try and mock me or my family. You have no idea what you are facing and yet you think to placate me with simple words?” “Don’t get your shorts in a twist, Krys. It’s just that I have things to do. I’m sure you’ve got virgins to ravish, armies to raise and wars to—” He held one hand up. “Don’t.” he said his voice low. “The last thing you need to do is bury yourself deeper. My temper is fast thinning with every word out of your mouth.”

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His tone and posture should have frightened her. He looked big and menacing in black pants and shirt. Instead, she felt oddly safe as if she knew he would never harm her. It was such a strange feeling to experience with someone she met less than forty-eight hours ago. “We are going to see Alexial and maybe he can talk some sense into that thick skull of yours.” He was in front of her before Clio had a chance to blink. His hand wrapped tightly around her wrist and then she was being propelled across the room and out the door before she recovered her wits to object. “And stay the hell away from Bastien.”

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Chapter 22

Twenty minutes later, Clio numbly watched as Kryssin knocked on a large coralcolored door. It had to be a fantasy. What she saw and experienced did not exist in the real world. Her world was filled with paying bills, telemarketers, and toilet cleaning. But this. She craned her necked trying to look everywhere at once. This was like something out of a dream. Everywhere she looked there was water. Bright, sparkling clear blue water flowed in place of walls. A bright school of yellow fish darted past quickly followed by two playful dolphins. The sleek beauty of the swift creatures brought tears to her eyes. She felt her feet sink into a gel-like substance beneath her and wondered how hard she’d have to pinch herself to wake up. Did she want to wake up? Even asking herself that question brought Clio up short. Of course she didn’t want to stay here. She had things to do, responsibilities to fulfill and fish to feed. Just because there wouldn’t be a tall, muscular body to die for man waiting when she woke up, was no reason to abandon her sanity. “Come in.” A masculine voice startled her out of her thoughts. Kryssin didn’t touch the gold handle. Instead he pushed the door until it swung open noiselessly and ushered her inside. “Clio, welcome to our home.” Alexial stood and held out his hand. Automatically extending her hand to his, she was surprised by the warmth of his hand. Why that fact surprised her she had no idea. “Yeah, thanks for the welcome. It’s been great and all, but I’ve got to go.” It was useless. She knew it as she spoke the words but something inside her kept pushing her to make a bid for freedom. Instead of getting angry at the hostile note in her voice, Alexial seemed amused. “I’m sorry if you feel our hospitality has been lacking. Is there something I can provide to make you feel more at ease?” “Cab fare home?” she answered hopefully. His shiny black hair swung around wide shoulders when he shook his head with a small smile. “That I cannot do but anything else is yours for the asking.” Not that she had expected any different but it was worth a shot. “Fine, I’ll consider myself kidnapped and in mortal danger,” she snapped at both men and threw herself into the soft black leather chair furthest away from them. Arms and legs crossed with her foot tapping impatiently, she waited for their furious reaction to her words. When the reaction came, it was not what she expected. Alexial’s expression turned to stone as he faced his brother. When he spoke, his voice was harsh and cold, turning the room a few degrees cooler. “You have threatened her?”

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Kryssin looked horrified at the notion. “You think I could harm her?” “She just said mortal danger, Kryssin. It’s not a random idea to just pop in anyone’s head. It had to be fed by fear in some way.” The hurt look dropped from Kryssin’s eyes and Clio watched as their color changed to a swirling blue-grey, like the ocean before a storm. “I have not harmed her nor have I threatened to do so. I would protect her with my life.” Whoa, protect her with his life? What in the hell had she gotten herself into and why wasn’t she curled up in a ball, sucking her thumb and screaming for Elvis? Clio needed to work on her insane woman behavior, but first she wanted to hear the rest of the conversation and why he had this strong need to protect her. “Maybe I should add someone else’s life into the balance to ensure her wellbeing.” “There will be no other guarding her.” Kryssin’s voice rose. “Her safety is ensured by my blood.” The big bad brother didn’t act like he heard Kryssin. He kept speaking while Kryssin grew more and more agitated. “Bastien will provide for her until we get things settled.” The way he spoke, Clio knew it was more a decree than a request. Even though she liked Bastien, she felt a sense of unease climb her spine. Something wasn’t right between the brothers and she didn’t want to be caught in the middle. “Bastien will not touch her!” The anger in Kryssin’s voice shattered a beautiful Tiffany lampshade on the desk and sent papers swirling. “Oh shit,” she whispered. “Somebody mention my name?” Bastien laughed as he walked over to Clio, leaning down to press a chaste kiss on her cheek while whispering in her ear. “Want to see a grown man explode and turn seaweed green with envy?” He winked when he stood making sure to casually place a hand over her shoulder. In the time it took her to blink, all hell broke loose. Kryssin leaped across the floor. His eyes swirled with anger as he faced Bastien. “You will not touch her. She belongs to me by right and by blood,” Kryssin spat the words out in a heated rush. To his credit Bas didn’t laugh or make a joke. What he did made the situation worse. In the space of a heartbeat, he placed his body protectively in front of Clio’s. “Watch yourself, Krys,” Bastien warned. “You dare stand between me and what’s mine?” Kryssin’s eyes swirled in fury. “Get away from my mate or I will rip you to shreds,” he growled. Clio couldn’t see if the threat made any difference to Bas. He kept his tall form protectively in front of hers. She gently pushed against his shoulder and suppressed her annoyance when he didn’t notice her attempt to move him. “Bastien, although I thank you for the gesture, I don’t think it’s necessary.” She laid her hand over his arm and pushed him away. Kryssin saw the touch and his anger ignited. Clio watched in horror as his incisors lengthened and his eyes swirled red in a blue haze. “Ah, guys, I think I want to change my mind about the whole protection thing.” Her voice came out higher-pitched than she thought possible and she gave a silent prayer of thanks for small miracles as she hid behind Bastien’s large frame. “Kryssin, this is enough. You’re scaring Clio.” Alexial’s voice broke through the cloud of anger covering the room.

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“He will not touch her. She is mine.” Kryssin said again. “No one is challenging your claim. Bas was once again attempting to be funny and as usual, fell short of the mark.” Alexial turned to his errant brother. “Will you please tell Krys you didn’t mean anything by your words?” She could feel the tension drain out of Bas but he didn’t move his body away. “My words were meant as nothing more than a bad attempt at humor.” The tension in the room dropped further by now and Clio had enough of being the protected little female. She smacked Bastien’s arm and shoved away from his protection. “That’s it. I’ve had enough. Someone, I don’t care who, had better get me the hell out of here. I mean now!” Her voice was raised to almost a shout. “You dare give us orders?” Zale’s voice carried the weight of his disbelief. “Oh crap, when did you crawl in?” she asked her arch nemesis. Why hadn’t she let the slime creature kill her? It would have been more humane to die at its hands than to slowly strangle to death with the testosterone filling the room. “Look, armcandy, I don’t really care who you are. In fact, I don’t care what you are. I just want to get the hell out of here. And since you’re too slow to follow the program, I’ll use the small words and hand puppets to help.” She paused to give her words more effect and ensure every male eye was on her. “It wasn’t an order. It was a demand, stud-less,” A dozen brows rose as she spoke. Crap, she’d forgotten her vow to cut out the nicknames. “Arm-candy?” Bastien choked out over his laughter. “Stud-less?” Zale looked confused at her words until Bastien explained. “She’s calling you a boy toy, gigolo and man whore, a guy who—“ “That’s enough, Bas. I think we all get the idea of what Clio means,” Alexial interrupted his brother, his features drawn into a stern frown. But his midnight-blue eyes twinkled with repressed mirth. “Enough of this, we have more important matters to discuss than Zale’s sex life.” This came from a dark corner of the room. Clio was shocked. She hadn’t known anyone was standing there. She squinted her eyes but wasn’t able to see anyone there. “Dorian is right,” Alekos agreed. “There are things that need to be spoken of and explained to Clio before we continue. Also, Eryx needs—“ The door crashed open followed by the most breathtakingly beautiful man Clio had ever seen. His sable hair hung down to his waist and shone with gold. A light blue silk shirt covered his massive chest, bringing attention to extraordinary blue eyes. With every glance they changed color. One minute a passive blue of the ocean waters, then swiftly changing to the turbulent hue of the sky just before the storm. The man paid her no attention as he strode into the room. “Alexial, I think I’ve found him. Or at least I think I’ve found—“ He stopped suddenly and turned on his heel and walked over to where Clio stood between Bastien and Kryssin. Those mysterious eyes widened as they ran over her. “You’re her.” His voice held a hint of awe. “You’re the one that belongs to Kryssin.” “Yes,” Kryssin said as he reached over and clamped a possessive hand on her shoulder.

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“Have you completed it yet? What’s changed? How long did it take? What was involved? Did her blood—“ “Nothing’s has been finished yet, Eryx,” Kryssin spoke in a gentle tone that belied the harshness of his voice. “We were about to discuss Clio’s assured assumption of leaving.” Eryx’s perfect blue eyes grew wide. “You would leave us? But why?” Why couldn’t anything be simple in her life? “I would leave because I have a life to get back to. Things that I must do which don’t include being kidnapped by a group of Adonis wanna-be’s.” “Is English your first language?” She rolled her eyes in frustration. “Why do you people keep asking me that?” Then under her breath, “Ask one smartass question and they pick it as their theme song.” Zale answered before the others. “I have already asked her this and she assures me it is the only language she knows.” The newcomer appeared more confused by his brother’s words. “Then why does she speak so strangely? I confess I can’t understand half of what she says and she’s only spoken a few words.” “I think it is a cultural thing. These Texans have taken English and butchered it until it is no longer recognizable.” Hearing her beloved home state and people insulted, shoved Clio’s temper off the ledge. “Oh no you don’t, boy-toy. Do not go there.” She elbowed the two men away from her and stormed to where Zale leaned against the desk. “Again, I do not understand your meaning.” His brows were drawn in confusion. When they were toe to toe, she pushed one finger into his solid chest and jabbed…hard. “Insult me all you want. Hell, insult New York and Nebraska for all I care, but don’t ever…bad mouth…Texas…again.” With each word Clio used more force to press her finger into his rock hard chest. “If you do not wish to have your beloved state slandered, then perhaps you should take care in the way you mispronounce the English language.” Her vision swarmed in red. “That’s it, you stuffed up, anal-retentive, delusional, ignorant piece of shit.” With out further warning, she wrapped her hands around his too wide throat and tried to squeeze. “This isn’t the time, Clio,” Kryssin’s voice whispered in her ear. “Oh, there has never been a better time.” Her voice came out a little hoarse from the effort to strangle his brother. “It’s the perfect time. He’s immortal, right? I can keep killing him ‘till it’s out of my system. And never be brought up on charges.” Evil glee rang out in her laugh as she tried to squeeze tighter. “Krys, I think your mate’s a little strange. Entertaining, but strange.” Bastien offered his opinion from a safe distance away. “Watch it or you’re next.” She was starting to think this might not have been her best plan. Zale had his brothers here to back him up and, unfortunately, they looked more amused than offended at her attempt to commit murder. Her victim, however, looked neither amused nor frightened to find her hands halfway around his throat. His expression was of shock, from the lips gaping open to the glazed look in his eyes. Zale, it seemed, could not come to terms with her willingness to usher him into hell.

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“Enough.” Alexial’s strong voice didn’t rise, but stilled everyone’s movements. “Do we now seek to fight amongst ourselves? Don’t we have enough enemies without making new ones in our own family?” Muscled arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her away. Clio was mad and she wanted blood. Zale’s would be perfect, but anyone with the last name Poseidon would do. She turned to start in on Kryssin when Alexial’s words registered in her red-hazed brain. She was surprised at the eldest brother’s words but shocked when Zale walked over to where Kryssin had pulled her and bowed his head. “I am sorry for the offense my words gave you.” His head remained down. Clio, for the life of her, couldn’t understand why. Hadn’t she been the one trying to kill him? After a minute had passed, Zale didn’t raise his head. She licked her dry lips. “Ah…that’s okay…I guess.” When a finger poked her rib, Clio winced but gave into the hint. “Um…I’m sorry about the almost killing you thing.” If it wasn’t one hundred percent heartfelt…oh well. Zale’s dark head immediately came up as she spoke. “I will do my best to try and not rile your temper, but I find after so many centuries of living there is nothing more entertaining than a worthy opponent in which to match wits.” The good feelings that had begun to ease her tension rocked back into force. She pulled away from Kryssin’s arms and raised a hand to her now throbbing head. “You couldn’t just leave it alone, could you? You had to go and ruin a perfectly good apology by reminding me you’re all nuts.” She thought she heard Kryssin whisper under his breath, “Here we go again.” But when she turned to face him, his expression was neutral. “Nuts? How is it you think we are not in our right minds?” This from the over-excited Eryx. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that crazy man here...“she pointed to Kryssin, “tried to tell me I’m some kind of soul Tupperware. Then there’s the whole centuries old thing. Not to mention the living in the world’s largest fish tank.” She looked around at the men staring at her. “Yep, you all have lost your marbles and I have no desire to share my few remaining ones with you.” “You’ve shared our tale?” Alexial asked as he walked behind his desk to sit. Kryssin nodded as a pained expression flitted across his face. “Yes, but she didn’t respond well.” “That would be an understatement if she’s calling you crazy,” Bastien offered his unwanted opinion. “However, she did offer the most fascinating clue.” Kryssin raised his voice to be heard over the mumbling. “It seems not only was our family history told in several parchments destroyed years ago, but we’re also on the World Wide Web.” “Excuse me?” Bastien stuttered. “We’re what and where?” Eryx looked like someone had popped his balloon. “Yeah, Clio said she found a web site called The Phoenix Tales. In there are all sorts of captivating details of our family that even we didn’t know.”

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Alexial nodded his head. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, but I have no doubt who’s behind it.” The leader and eldest brother turned his head and bowed in Clio’s direction. “We thank you for this new information and are grateful you shared your knowledge with us.” “Um…sure…not a problem,” Clio answered. “We have no time for this,” Zale broke in harshly. “She must be made to understand and accept or everything has been for naught.” “Don’t you start with me again,” she growled. “Please, everyone take a seat and we’ll see if I can clear up the confusion.” Clio looked to where Alexial sat behind his desk. He looked calm and in control. It wouldn’t hurt to listen to what he said. It wasn’t like she could leave anyway. “Fine,” she said in a grudging tone. “Let’s hear your version of the fairy tale.” Serious velvet blue eyes met Clio’s over the expanse of Alexial’s desk. “First, let me assure you, none of us are mentally impaired and no one will harm you while you are under our protection.” The sarcastic remark twittering on her lips died when she saw the grave expression on the eldest brother’s face. Whatever he was going to say meant something to him and it wouldn’t make her look any better by letting everything shoot out of her mouth. “Fine, let’s hear your version of his delusion.” There, that was better than what had originally tried to come out of her mouth. “Krys explained the beginnings of our origins, correct?” She nodded. Better safe than sorry. “Then you understand why finding you is so important, not only to my brother, but to everyone here. You are our sole hope for any future. Without finding you, we would have remained in doubt and ignorance for the rest of our immortal lives.” He stood in one fluid motion and brought her clenched hand to his lips. “For existing alone, we could never repay you, but for being a woman of great courage and understanding, I will forever be in your debt. You have but to ask for anything and it shall be yours.” Alexial squeezed Clio’s hand to stop her from demanding the one thing she knew he wouldn’t give her. “Anything, but your freedom for that I can not allow or risk. You have no idea of your own importance or the danger you’re in.” There it was again; the threat of danger over-riding the hint of her part in the madness. “So, no freedom, but a million dollars in diamonds, the location of the resting place of Jimmy Hoffa and eternal youth. Is that about right?” Sarcasm loaded Clio’s words down, but it was better than fear shaking her voice. “Would these things make your transition easier?” There was no heat or accusation in Alexial’s voice but she could see the censure in his eyes. “I could care less if it was a million diamonds or a million pounds of Play-Doh. My freedom is not for sale at any price and neither am I.” The eldest brother’s disapproval over her monetary concerns added gas to her already inflamed temper. Zale spoke up from the corner where he’d silently watched the conversation. “No one offered to buy you, Ms. Foster. We don’t have to. You’re already our permanent guest here.”

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If there had ever been a time for his rude overbearing older brother to remain quiet, Kryssin knew this would have been the moment. But common sense had never prevailed over Zale’s over-developed protective streak. Even Clio’s previous attempts to strangle him wouldn’t slow this torpedo wreck down. He watched in dread as Clio’s face, relaxed seconds before now tightened in a familiar battle expression. When she rounded on Zale, hands on hips with her brilliant green eyes flashing, Kryssin knew he’d read her face correctly. “It’s Doctor Foster. And I have no intention of being your anything, much less your guest. There are laws in this country that—“ Alekos stepped between the two angry combatants to become peacemaker once again. “This is not the time to break each other down or issue directives that would never be enforced. We have more important issues to discuss, like finding out how the Scabers found out about Clio so soon and how they knew where to bring her down.” “Scabers? She has those bottom feeders after her?” Zale turned his ice blue eyes to the dark corner where Dorian stood in shadow. “Why was I not told this?” “It wasn’t necessary.” Came the calm reply in a deep sensuous voice. As Dorian knew, his answer set Zale off on him and took his attention and heat away from Clio. “I am a Seeker in our family, am I not?” “That is true.” “What’s a seeker?” Clio’s voice piped up. Everyone but Bastien ignored her. “It’s an honored position in our family. Only the strongest and most worthy are allowed to this position. You might call them guardians in your culture. They watch over and protect those in need of their help.” Clio snorted but didn’t say anything more as she listened to Zale continue his tirade. “Why the hell wasn’t I called to dispatch this latest spawn instead of letting the girl take her chances?” “What more was there to do? You were already on your way. It’s not like our information could change the time you left or the distance between.” Kryssin watched Zale’s body grow tighter as the tension in the room rose. This was a great insult to any of them, but to a Seeker this was one of the highest slaps. He didn’t understand the reasons why Zale hadn’t been called in either, but he stood by Alexial’s decision even as it made his palms sweat to think of Clio being in that much danger. “What does it matter now that she is here and safe with us? We will guard her and ensure nothing will harm her in the future.” “She could have been killed.” “She was not.” “And you think this will make my day-tide rest easier? The first soul-keeper found and there was no call put out to any Seeker to protect her.”

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“It was Phoenix’s wish that Kryssin and Bastien be sent to fetch her.” He winced at the word fetch. He knew Alexial didn’t mean it in the submissive way he used the word. Clio was another story. “That is it!” She pushed her way past the men speaking over her head and around her until she stood against the wall so she could face each man. “You knuckle-dragging IQ challenged fools seem to forget I’m in the room.” She pointed a finger at Alexial. “For your information, I don’t need to be fetched anywhere for anyone. I go where and how I want. I don’t ask permission and I won’t start now.” She rounded on Zale, finger held at the ready. “You are either the most ignorant male ever created in the history of existence or you’re one sick puppy that gets his kicks from yanking my chain.” She kept her lethal finger pointed in Kryssin’s direction. He wanted to wince even before she spoke. “You are the worst of the lot. Telling me I’m in danger, spouting off some lame family myth and then getting me in bed where…” Watching her cheeks heat up as Clio became aware of what she’d said made Kryssin feel marginally better but not by much. He didn’t like the fact his brothers were in the room while she laid out their entire sexual history as brief as it was. He knew it was too much to hope they’d missed the sexual reference when each man turned and looked at him, their blue eyes filled in turn with amusement, curiosity and in one case jealousy. It was time to take the attention off his and Clio’s sex life and back to where it belonged. “Sweetheart, I know you think this is all nuts, but you’ve got to listen to what we’re saying. All we’re trying to do is protect you.” He could see it was the wrong word as her eyes flashed anger drowning out the embarrassment that had held that place shortly before. “Protect me?” Her eyes fairly burned with anger. “All of you say you are doing this to protect me, but none of you are willing to tell me what the danger is or how to stop it.” Zale made a small huffing noise before he spoke. “If you would stop fighting us long enough to listen then you’d understand what the threat is and what we intend to do to stop it.” Kryssin saw the hasty reply on her lips before she swallowed it and simply nodded her head. He was grateful when Alexial cut Zale a sharp look before continuing his explanation. “As I was saying, Phoenix wished to have only Kryssin and Bastien sent for her protection. It was no slight to your abilities, Zale,” he said sending an understanding look to his brother. “I don’t know what Phoenix thought would be accomplished, but it must have been done because we’ve gotten nothing more from him.” Clio’s mouth opened and closed several times before she seemed to make her mind up to say nothing at all. Instead she shook her head and waited for Alexial to resume his story. “Although we are immortal and possess many strengths not found among mortals, there is a limit to what we can do. There is no altering of the fate. The Fates are greedy bitches and allow no one to tamper with what they consider their domain.” He waved a hand that encompassed every body in the room. “No matter the length of our lives, the Fates still have the ultimate ruling.”

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Kryssin watched as Clio’s eyes widened in astonishment at his eldest brother’s words. He knew it wasn’t what she expected to hear and that she was leery of where the words were leading. Seconds later, her instincts were proved right. “As cantankerous as they may be, the Fates also play a generous role in matching soul mates. But with us they haven’t had an easy time of it. As Kryssin told you, we lack our souls, so it is much harder to find our own halves when we don’t have the half to match. But thanks be to the heavens, Poseidon gave us ways to detect when our other half is near, a radar system if you will.” This was the part where it could go either way. Kryssin could feel sweat forming on his newly awakened skin as he waited for Alexial to drop the other shoe. “Kryssin was able to find you in that way. He knew without a doubt you were the precious keeper of his soul. The only woman able to complete him and restore his body to its former life and he was right. Clio, you are everything to him as he will be to you. When the claiming is complete, neither one of you will be able to do without the other. If you try, you’ll end up destroying yourself and him.” He waited for the explosion of anger, the protest of innocence, but the room remained silent. Chancing a look out of the corner of his eye, he was scared by the sight that met his eyes. Clio’s beautiful green eyes had glazed over while her chest rose and fell in fast repetition. Kryssin saw her knees buckle as her legs wavered and before he could cross the room to catch her, Bastien had already gathered her limp body in his arms. Talos, reacting like the healer he was, immediately started to check her for signs of illness. “There is nothing I can find that would cause this reaction. Her breathing is now steady and her pulse is faster than a normal mortal, but other than her elevated heartbeat, she should not be like this.” Kryssin wanted to shake his head in amazement at the ignorance of his very knowledgeable brother. Why couldn’t any of them see it wasn’t some human frailness that caused her body to black out, but the sheer overwhelming knowledge of what and who they were that caused her body to shut down until her mind could assimilate everything she’d been told in such a short time. Kryssin gently took the precious burden from his brother’s arms. “We’ll leave it for now. Clio has had as much new information now as she can handle.” He sent a sympathetic look to the healer. “Her body shut down when her mind couldn’t accept the information coming at her. When she wakes…” He stopped there, not sure what would happen when she regained consciousness. He knew it wasn’t in him to allow this to happen again. His body and mind screamed to take her and run; to leave his brothers and the very people he was raised to protect. But his soul cried out to protect and cherish her. To slowly reveal more of his people and their ways without overwhelming her, to show her the wonders of his world and everything that could be hers once she accepted and shared the soul they both claimed. But until then, he would keep her within his own chambers and guard her from the brothers he now looked upon so jealously.

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“Tread easy, Kryssin,” Bastien advised him in a very subdued voice. His brother’s eyes fairly glowed with the intensity of his words. “This way is even more new to her than it is to you. Place yourself in her mind and see how hard this must be for Clio to accept. Her scientist’s mind can’t fathom the sheer enormity of what we’re saying but her woman’s heart has already begun to accept us.” Without further teasing or riling words, Bastien turned on his heel and made a silent exit, while his brothers remained behind their mouths hung open in shock. Their little brother had spoken both wisely and from the heart. Two occurrences that had never happened in all their many shared years of existence. And each brother shared the same thought. Exactly what type of effect was Kryssin’s soul-keeper having on their carefree brother and would her influence reach out to change them as well? ***** Softness enfolded her body as Clio struggled to open her eyes against her mind’s demands to keep them closed. Forcing one eye half open, she wondered at the dimness of her apartment. Normally the sun shone bright through her gauzy curtains, waking her before the alarm clock could ring. Instead of the bright warm sunshine, what greeted her made Clio bolt upright in bed and scamper back till she hit the protection on the wall. Across the width of massive bed, Kryssin lay on his side; one hand propping his head up while the other toyed with the silken coverlet. His eyes, when she forced herself to look at them, were filled with chasing emotions that flashed too quickly for her to name. “What…what are you doing here?” she managed to stammer out. Hating her voice for breaking under the pressure of fear. Those hazy blue eyes warmed in what could only by sympathy. “I came to check on you. What kind of mate would I be if I left you alone in such strange circumstances?” “Mate?” Clio’s voice rose and before she could form the words to blast him, scenes from yesterday crashed into her mind. The dizzy spell at the press conference, the forced invitation to dinner with the Poseidon brothers, the kiss in the hall. More and more images flew through her mind as her brain screamed in denial that any of it could have happened. She didn’t believe in fairy tales. Clio’s feet were planted firmly in the dirt or sea as it were. In no way did she believe anything her mind was showing was nothing more than vivid dreams. “If they are but dreams, then how do you explain me?” His butter-soft voice broke the through the whirlwind in her mind. “Mass hysteria?” she offered weakly. Kryssin shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “That’s not the Clio Foster I’ve come to know. Where’s the fire and passion that burned through your blood when you threatened my brothers and me? It couldn’t have drained away with a few hours sleep.” Kryssin thought she had fire and passion? Wow, no one had ever said anything like that about her. She’d often been called calm, rational and certainly reliable, but never passionate.

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“Ah,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “There’s that smile I dreamed of in the daytide.” Realizing her lips were forming a smile, she quickly squashed those thoughts and struggled to bring her mind back to where they started. And where had they started? Her mind zigzagged in opposite directions until it landed on the obvious. “Why am I still here?” “There was no other choice,” he flatly informed her. “What do you mean? You couldn’t find a taxi or car to drive me home? You didn’t have the money? What?” He heaved a frustrated breath before resting his back against the footboard. With his legs folded tailor fashion and his strong arms easily resting on his knees, Clio found her own body unwinding. “We didn’t think it wise to bring you back to your own home when the Scaber-Hunters are on the hunt for you. That you were able to defeat one is a miracle, but it’s not one I would count on again in the future. You are too important to risk on something as crucial as your resting place. As you can see,” he waved a hand to encompass the room, “you are safe here. There is nothing you can ask for that would not be given to you.” The tension was back. “How dare you!” Clio rose to her knees for a better advantage to yell at him. “You dare to presume to know what is best for me. Who died and gave you permission to rule my life? I’ve been doing just fine for years now without your influence and I don’t need your protection,” she spat out while trying to untangle her legs from the silken web of sheets trapping her legs. “Clio, please, be at ease. No one here will do you any harm. On the contrary, each of us would give our very lives for yours. I just wish to be ensured of your safety. That is all.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand. He held one hand outstretched pleading for her understanding. It was the softness in his gaze that broke through her anger and the sincerity of his pledge that made her sit back down. “Kryssin, I don’t understand what you’re trying to do to me. Everything you’ve told me…” She raked a hand through her disheveled hair. “I don’t know if I can believe this story you tell. So far, you haven’t offered me any proof what you say is real.” Kryssin’s body tensed at her words. “You would have me offer proof other than my word?” Clio could only stare at him. Why did he seem so insulted she wouldn’t just take his word for it? After all, he was talking about believing in a centuries old myth not to mention the tiny immortality factor. How could she not demand proof? But she did her best to soothe his ego while at the same time explaining her own actions. “Kryssin, I don’t mean to say you’re lying, but I don’t know you. And I am, after all, a scientist. I demand proof in all aspects of my life. If you were in my position, wouldn’t you ask for the same thing?” She watched his mouth open then close. His eyes drifted over her shoulder. She waited in silence while she hoped he thought over her words. Clio was still surprised when he held his hand out to her and said, “Come.”

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She hesitated looking from his hand to his eyes. He must have mistaken her hesitation for refusal because his eyes darkened to the color of the sea before the storm. Kryssin shook his hand at her again. “Come. You ask for your proof, Dr. Foster? I am but giving you what you ask.” Clasping his hand, Clio let Kryssin help her off the bed, across the room and through the door in search of the proof she demanded.

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Chapter 24 Several hours later, Clio was breathless, but she was a believer. Her heart pounded and her ears continued to ring. What he had shown her was beyond words, beyond anything she’d seen before. Kryssin lived in a city under the sea. A city the likes of which she’d never experienced. Everything was fresh and clean; the streets were lined with a material she’d never seen before. There were no cars to congest the roads. People walked or used bicycles as strange as that seemed to her. Kryssin had laughed and explained, “There are some surface-walker’s inventions we make use of.” The strangest thing wasn’t the pure air, clean streets, or even the wall of water surrounding the city, but the sun that shone down and bathed the it with warm light. “But I don’t understand,” she whispered, afraid if she spoke too loud the magic would come crashing down. Kryssin snagged her hand and entwined their fingers before he spoke. “The sun is a natural part of our world and we can enjoy it here without it hurting us. We’ve simply devised a way to combine the best of the surface world and our own.” But still it didn’t make sense. How can there be sunshine miles beneath the sea? And she had no doubt of the realness of the bright beams caressing her skin. There had to be some other explanation. “I don’t understand, Kryssin. This should be impossible.” She motioned with her hand to encompass everything around them. “How is this possible?” Looking pleased with himself, he squeezed her hand and walked on while trying to explain his world to her. “There is no one explanation for what you see. It has been so for as long as I remember. There are a group of leaders, The Senate, we call them, that oversee our environment. They would be able to give all the details for the answers you seek. But I think of it as our miracle. Without the sun shining down upon us we would have had to merge with the topsiders years ago. And who knows what type of destruction that would have caused for both our worlds?” “So this has always been here? Why haven’t we discovered this?” “Why should you have found it? We had no wish to be discovered.” His answer was simple but left more questions. Planting her feet, Clio waited for Kryssin to notice she wasn’t by his side. He noticed almost before she thought her words. He turned to face her, his expression serene. “Is there something else that has caught your attention?” Rubbing her aching temple, she wondered where to start. “Kryssin, I understand you take all of this for granted, but I can’t. You say this place hasn’t been found because your people don’t wish it. Fine, but why? Do you just wish something and it happens?” A sparkle grew in the depths of his ever-changing blue eyes. “If that were so, we wouldn’t be here discussing something that is of no consequence.” “What would we be doing?” Her lips asked the question before her brain could censor them.

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With an ease she envied, he closed the distance between them until she could feel the heat of his body brushing against hers. “I would be proving the prophesy true in a much more interesting manner. A much more pleasurable way for both of us than a tour of the wonders of my world.” Kryssin’s head dipped lower until each word was spoken against her lips. “If I could wish my wants into existence I would have found you years ago. I would wish for you to never leave my arms and my body to never leave the haven of you.” His soft lips pressed against her own as he kissed her between words. “You can’t mean that,” she whispered against his teasing lips. “You have no idea just how much I mean it,” he said, before he dropped the pretense of teasing and devoured her mouth. Sharp bolts of desire shot from her lips and jolted down her body until even her toes tingled from the kiss. He coaxed her to open to him and gave a grunt of satisfaction when her head tilted back to give him more room to explore. Tongues dueled while hands grasped warm flesh and Clio lost herself within the sensations Kryssin created in her body. This was something she’d heard about, read about but never thought to experience in her reality. She wanted more of this, more of him. Her arms wrapped tighter around Kryssin’s neck as she pressed the full length of her body against his and relished the feel of his hardness pressing back. She felt his hands move lower to clasp her hips and he pulled her against his swelling groin. They both moaned at the contact. Clio wanted to protest when his warm full lips left hers until Kryssin planted soft kisses along her jaw to her ear then finally follow the outline of her neck. She jumped when she felt a sharp sting. He’d nipped her but not broken the skin. The thought of biting alone should have been enough to shake her from her passion-induced haze. But the thought of Kryssin’s lips and teeth anywhere on her body only increased her desire. She tilted her head back instinctively giving him full access to the pulse pounding in her neck. “Oh, love.” The words mere puffs of air against her heated skin before his mouth closed over the vein throbbing with her lifeblood. There was a tingle as his tongue laved gently against the skin. A sharp piercing touch and then nothing more as she fell head first into instant orgasm. Lights exploded before her eyes. Wave after wave of pleasure rolled though her body making her crave more, want to go higher. As abruptly as the pleasure began, it ended when Kryssin’s head jerked away. She could hear as if from a distance the swearing under his breath as he wrapped both his strong arms around her and kept her securely wrapped to his chest. “Bad time, big brother?” Kryssin took a deep breath before releasing it to answer. “You’d do well to work on it in the future.” “Hey, I’m only the messenger. Innocent as the day I was born.” Clio recognized Bastien’s teasing voice now. Embarrassment burned through her at being caught almost on top of Kryssin in public. “Whatever it is can wait, Bas.” Kryssin’s voice growled against her ear where it was pressed tightly to his chest.

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“Unfortunately, it can’t. We’ve received word that we’ve got to move on the scrolls now.” That jarred Clio out of her lethargy. She pushed away from Kryssin’s warm body, took several steps backwards and after several deep breaths turned to face the oh-so-innocent looking Bastien. “What do you mean you got word on the scrolls? How could you when I haven’t told you where they are?” She turned her gaze to include Kryssin. “What kind of game are you all playing? You can’t know the location unless I told you which I’m positive I didn’t. Someone owes me an explanation.” She tapped her foot against the lovely teal-colored floor waiting for either man to incriminate himself. Bastien spoke first. “Clio, it isn’t like what you are thinking. We didn’t break in your files or where ever you had secreted the coordinates. We ah…that is…” He seemed to stumble over the last part and threw a beseeching look to his brother. “Don’t look at me,” Kryssin warned him. “I don’t have a clue how you found the location either, but like Clio, I’m extremely curious to find out.” “Damn it.” Bastien scrubbed a hand over his face before dropping it to his side. “We had an e-mail from Phoenix.” “That’s it?” Clio demanded. “The answer to my life’s biggest secret was in your in-box? What am I, on a loop for losers that I don’t know about? Come on what’s really going on here?” Kryssin crossed the few feet separating them but didn’t touch her. She must have looked as violent as she felt and he was safer keeping his hands behind his back. “Clio, it’s nothing like that. We’ve explained Phoenix to you.” He began only to be cut off by Bastien’s sarcastic. “As well as anyone can explain that old relic.” At his older brother’s harsh look, he mimicked zipping his lips and looked away. “As I was saying, we’ve explained Phoenix as best we could. He knows things we don’t understand. How and where he gets his information I haven’t a clue. But he’s never been wrong and we’ve learned to trust his advice over the years. He’s the Oracle and there is no understanding him.” “So is he the one running the website I came across?” “It has to be. This is a perfect example of Phoenix-like thinking. His advice is always on the money though a bit on the strange side.” Bastien’s zipped lips came un-zipped. “Oh yeah, like his advice on that pyramid scheme in the early 90’s that went so well or the chain letter that had me sending a dollar to every person on the e-mail list.” Kryssin held his head as he muttered under his breath. After a few minutes of mumbling, he raised his head and sent a pitying look upwards. “Bas, I’ve told you time and time again, Phoenix sends those as a joke. You’re not really supposed to do any of the things the letters tell you. Dorian doesn’t actually read all the e-books on reincarnation that Phoenix sends, Zale doesn’t donate to every cancer charity that pops up in his in-box. It’s just Phoenix’s way of…” He paused for a minute. “Well, he’s strange and it’s just his way.” “Yeah, I know, but what if one time he sends me something and I don’t do what it says, but I was supposed to. Then what happens?” Bastien looked upset at the possibility. “You ask someone, that’s what you do.”

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“But what if no one is around to ask and it’s like a really big thing and I don’t do it and I end up getting us all killed?” Hands once again came up to clutch his face as Kryssin made a low pained noise. “It won’t happen and if it does, we’ll all be too dead to blame you. Okay?” he answered behind his hand. “Yeah, but I still don’t—“ “Enough!” Clio yelled into the insanity. Listening to the two of them argue what ifs was enough to drive her insane. “If you two could save your Doomsday predictions for another time and just explain to me where this Phoenix got his information, I’ll be happy to go off and leave you to it.” Kryssin pulled himself together. His shoulders straightened, spine stiffened and head came up as he turned his back on his brother and focused on her. “As I was trying to explain, Phoenix never tells us where the information came from. Only that it’s correct.” If he thought that tidbit would make her feel better, he had another thing coming. “So what? Just go over to wherever he is and demand he tell you. If that doesn’t work threaten to beat it out of him.” Though violence wasn’t normally a part of her nature, Clio could feel the need build for Phoenix’s blood. This mystery man was playing too easily with her life. She didn’t trust anyone to play with anything of hers much less her life. A burst of laughter broke the tension. Bastien rocked back and forth on his heels, head shaking and one hand against the wall to hold his body upright. She looked to Kryssin for an explanation. But instead of meeting her gaze his lips were pressed together while he contemplated the ceiling above his head. “What?” she questioned both men. “What did I miss this time?” Finally Bastien’s laughter subsided to small chuckles and Kryssin removed his fascinated gaze from the top of the room to look her in the eye. “No one has ever met, seen or been in the same room with Phoenix. We couldn’t find him if our lives depended on it.” “So you just willy-nilly trust some guy you’ve never met, that sends chain e-mail and gets his jollies from digging into other people’s private lives?” “Yes, I’d say that about sums it up,” Bastien answered her from the safety of opposite wall. “Great.” She threw her hands into the air. “Now I really know you’re all insane and it must be contagious because I’m starting to believe all of you.” Clio sent her own desperate look towards the ceiling and prayed. “God, please grant me some Xanax to live through the day and if drugs aren’t handy then a shot glass and a bottle of Jose’s finest will do just great.”

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Chapter 25 “So you’re a vampire.” Clio was once again back in Kryssin’s room packing for the trip she didn’t want to take with a man she couldn’t trust herself to be around. Picking a fight seemed the most reasonable solution to her hormonal problem. “No.” “You have that whole mind thing going.” “Yes.” “You’ve been around for a million years.” “Yes.” “You’ve got issues with sunlight.” “Yes but—“ “You can turn all freaky when you want,” “I suppose you can call it that but—“ “Then you’re a vampire.” “No, I’m not.” “But you drink blood, shrink in sunshine and can put a whammy on someone’s mind.” “Yes.” “Vampire.” “I’m not a damn vampire, woman.” “But you have the whole blood thing going on?” “Yes.” “That makes you a vampire.” “No, it doesn’t.” “Let’s try this again,” she said ticking off each finger as she spoke. “You drink blood, you have a problem with the sun, you have the pointy teeth thing and you sleep during the day. I say that makes you a vampire.” She paused as a new thought occurred to her. “Can you change into a bat?” “Why would I want to? And I’m not a vampire!” “It’s okay, really, I won’t tell anyone, but you can’t keep denying it when you don’t have a reflection. It’s a huge vampire give away.” Krys could actually feel the blood in his veins pound with frustration. Would this woman ever let him explain? Deciding he would have to take matters into his own hands, he clapped a palm over Clio’s mouth before she could spout off more vampire lore. “I’m not a vampire, I can’t change into a bat and I wouldn’t even if I could. Those creatures are filthy. Second, the reason I don’t have a reflection is because I don’t have a soul. Missing your soul means you’ve lost the very thing that makes you part of humanity. Not human, no reflection. I can go out into the sun. I just have to take certain precautions if I’m out in it too much. The sun has a very draining effect on my people. It leeches the moisture out of our skin and leaves us in a weakened condition. I drink blood because it’s what I was born to. The ancient ones called it ambrosia or the nectar of the gods.” He kept his hand firmly over her luscious mouth, took a deep breath and rushed on. “Every mortal sought the drink, but none knew the very source of

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our power was running through their very veins. It has been kept a secret for over a million years and is guarded highly. People have killed to try and get our blood. There are some beings out there that will stop at nothing to discover the secret of my family’s existence. But once and for all I’m not a vampire.” He may have covered her mouth, but her eyes were shouting loudly at him. “If I move my hand will you promise to let me answer your questions without interrupting me?” He could see Clio weighing the issue in her mind and at her nod, slid his hand away from the temptation of her mouth. “You’re not a vampire?” she asked with a question in her voice. “No, I’m not.” “But what about the sunlight thing?” “I already explained to you that sunlight leeches the moisture right out of our skin and if over exposed…” he paused trying to think of a delicate way to explain. “Well, just grab a broom and dustpan. We’re easily disposed of.” “Oh, that’s gross.” “It’s not all that much fun for us either.” “Yeah, but at least you’re dead, I’d be the one having to Dirt-Devil your ashy butt.” He winced at her vivid description. Most humans would change the subject to something more comfortable. His mate worried that his remains would clog the vacuum. “If it ever happens, I’ll try to make as little mess as possible.” He hoped she caught the sarcasm in his voice. She did. “I know I shouldn’t have said that, but come on, Kryssin, this is all a little much to take in.” She explained while rubbing his arms like she was trying to soothe his injured feelings. “I think I’m doing great not running out of here screaming for Prozac and a priest.” Covering her hand with his, he led her to the steps. “I know this has been hard to accept and I appreciate that you’re trying. Hell, I’ve never had to do this before, so I don’t even know if I’m explaining it right.” Clio stopped rubbing his arm to stare at him. He saw her eyes widen, but couldn’t read her expression. “What?” he asked. He prayed she wasn’t going to go off about Flipper, Nemo or tuna in a can. She licked her lips. His eyes followed the movement and hesitated to speak. Her voice was low when she did speak. “Ah, you mean you’ve never told anyone else about you, this place or anything?” “Of course not,” he answered offended. “How could you ask me something like that?” “Calm your flipper, Flounder. There’s no reason to get upset. I just thought, you know, being older than dirt, you would have shared your little secret with a person or two.” A million or two women were more like it. The rest of her expression said. “Don’t call me Flounder. And when did I ever give you reason to mistrust my word?” Too late he saw the space he’d left wide open for her. “The day we met, you dragged me into a closet, found me beaten to a pulp and then refused to let me leave here without an army.” Clio sounded so smug, he didn’t know if he should drown her or kiss her. “Besides, as soon as you get what you want from me, I’ll be out

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the door quicker than a box of used cat litter, only smelling better.” She held up a hand. “Don’t try and deny it. Been there, done that, got the free video to prove it. So let’s just leave it as…whatever it is and not get all involved with mushy feelings and stuff.” Kryssin stepped forward making sure his body blocked any escape before he spoke. “Oh, I can promise you there will be mushy stuff all around and you’re going to love every minute of it. That’s one thing I can prove right now.” He lowered his head to prove his point. Clio was his and it was just a matter of time before she got over whatever silly thing from her past that made her wary of him. She just needed time and Kryssin to prove he was right. He limited the kiss to a thorough but quick brushing of lips and tongues. He needed to explain the next phase of the program to his prickly mate. “We’ve got to make plans,” he spoke into her sweetly scented hair. “Ummm,” she replied. “Tomorrow night we leave for the boat. It will take us two or three days to reach the coordinates given by Phoenix and verified by you.” “Whoa.” She pulled back from him. “Kryssin, I need to get some things from my apartment, feed my fish and pay bills. You know, normal non-blood-sucking people things.” “You will not be…” he stopped himself just in time. “I ask that you not place yourself in danger by going back to your home. Whatever you need, I will be more than happy to provide.” She shook her head. Kryssin watched as the glossy strands fell about her face. “It’s not things, Kryssin. It’s the memories that go with them. I have pictures of my parents that can never be replaced. Some sweaters and slippers that would make me feel more at home on this boat of yours.” She shrugged. “Just my things, I guess. His heart went out to her. She looked so brave talking about things that were important to her but accepting that they may be lost. Kryssin gave in to a pair of big green eyes revealing a lost look. “If you would make a list and allow me entrance then I would be more than happy to pick up these items you described.” Radiance lit her face. All at once his arms were filled with an exuberant female. His face peppered with sweet, soft kisses. “Thank you, Kryssin, you’ll never know how much this means to me.” He frowned before saying. “You’ll never know what it’s going to cost me to do this. I have to trust Bastien with your safety and virtue.” Clio just laughed and hugged him some more. Sometimes, Kryssin thought, it wasn’t so bad, this compromise thing.

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Chapter 26 “This isn’t a boat,” Clio whispered as Bastien escorted her on board. “It’s a floating palace bigger than most Third World countries.” “It’s not that big.” Bastien was quick to assure her. “Tell me this isn’t the baby boat and the mama isn’t one of the Hawaiian Islands with a very large engine.” Kryssin’s brother threw his head back and laughed. “Hermes’s wings, woman, your sense of humor is almost as warped as mine. I knew I was going to like you.” Clio returned his warm smile. “Oh, you did, did you?” With one arm draped companionably around her shoulders, Bastien guided her up a wide marble staircase and into what looked like the ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. “Your family doesn’t believe in doing things in a small way, do they?” “What’s the point of living if you don’t live it to the fullest?” he returned. “It’s one thing to make the most out of life, but quite another to shove it in everyone’s face.” She turned around to view the back lifting her arm to encompass the boat. “I mean, come on, what could you possibly need with this big of a boat? How many of you are there?” “Oh, we don’t just use it for family. There are several companies that lease it for corporate or private parties.” Everywhere she looked signs of wealth dazzled her eyes, making her afraid to touch anything. “I think I’m afraid I’ll break something or get thrown off by the etiquette police.” “Nonsense,” Bastien argued good-naturedly. “Let’s get you settled in.” He led the way past priceless paintings, ancient artifacts until they reached a set of soft blue doors with gold handles in the shape of waves. With a flourish, Bastien grasped both handles and pushed the doors open. “Be it ever so humble…” He stepped inside and gave Clio space to enter. She knew her mouth was open, but Clio felt like the dumpy country cousin who’d come to town. The room was easily the size of the lecture hall at the university. Pale green walls reflected the shimmering movements of the vast ocean displayed through huge glass paneled doors and windows. Her mind wasn’t on the beauty of the room anymore. Bastien was the only one of the brothers that seemed to understand and appreciate her position. He was her best source of information. “Bastien, do you have time to answer some questions for me?” “Sure, Jellyfish. What’s on your mind?” He relaxed in the wide blue over-stuffed chair. His hands ran idly over the material as he crossed his legs. “Um, what can you tell me about this whole blood thing?” His sexy green/blue eyes widened a fraction and perfect lips pressed tightly together for a moment before being released with a short laugh. “Don’t you want to start with something simple? Like our birthdays? Kryssin’s favorite color or food?”

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The thought of Kryssin having a favorite color warmed her heart for some strange reason. “Nope, I need to know about the blood. Will it change me? How much do you people need and how often? Am I going to start eating bugs and chasing small children?” She said the last with a small laugh, but there was no humor in her mind. She didn’t want to become one of the hags she’d seen in the movies or read about in books. Her fear of what she might become overshadowed everything else. “Zeus’s bolt, woman, you really don’t believe that drivel, do you?” Clio ignored his astonishment at her fears. “Yeah, well, it’s not like I’ve got anything else to go by. You people aren’t very forthcoming with answers. All I’ve heard about is the “legend”. How I’m supposed save Kryssin’s soul and find the mysterious Trident piece.” “You don’t think saving Kryssin is important?” “For goodness sake, Bastien, I’m not a complete bitch. I know this may be hard for you to believe, but I’m also not normally the fainting or screaming type. The last forty-eight hours have been more than a little unusual for me.” Clio pushed a loose strand behind her ear as she tried to formulate the words swirling in her mind. “It’s just so much to take in. Lost cities, soulless immortal Greek gods and the whole blood thing make me queasy. I need some answers if you want me to come to terms with everything.” “Why don’t you ask your mate for these answers?” “I told you. He doesn’t see me as anything but a means to an end. I’m just the shell housing his soul. When he gets that back I doubt I’ll be seeing him around so much.” “Then give him what he wants and you’ll be free.” “No.” She moved to look out the wide set of windows overlooking the water. “If he gets what he wants, Kryssin will put me on some type of shelf and forget me.. I’ll just be another thing to be played with or ignored. He doesn’t really want me in his life. That was painfully oblivious when he hit on Tara at dinner. If he wasn’t interested in me before he knew I held his soul, why would he want me after I give in?” Clio was already halfway in love with the crazy man. She didn’t want to be pushed aside or used as an ornament after he was done with her. She needed to know her feelings were returned. If not, then it would be better for her to know now. That way she could prepare for the heartache to come. She had changed so much since their first meeting. No longer did Clio fear showing the world her determination and ruthlessness. Kryssin’s attention gave her the boost her ego needed. Not to mention constantly being on her toes around his brothers. ***** Shock rang through Kryssin’s body as he shamelessly eavesdropped on Clio and Bastien’s conversation. He’d come to her stateroom to drop off a few more personal items he thought would make her feel more at home. He’d raised his hand to knock on the door and stopped when he heard Clio’s voice asking his brother for answers she should be asking of him. Then he got the shock of his long life. Clio thought he didn’t need her other than as a means to an end. It was the most ludicrous idea.

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He needed Clio for the very air he breathed. For each beat of his heart she was essential to him. But he needed her for more than the life she brought back to his long dormant body. He needed her for the laughter she brought to his life and his brothers. The courage she showed all the while claiming to be a coward. She was so much more than a body that housed his soul. Clio was the very reason for his existence. She was, simply, his world. Jay’s words came to mind as he leaned against the wall. Yeah, he’d tried to order, command and even demand Clio follow whatever directives he gave her. He’d never taken the time to really explain why he’d issued the demands. If he were in Clio’s position, Kryssin would have told himself to go to hell from the get go. Maybe Jay was right. Kryssin needed to take the time to explain not just the legend, but the man behind it. Although he knew he should feel some shame in not announcing his presence, Kryssin shrugged off the guilt. If this way the only way to understand Clio’s fears; then so be it.

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“Oh cut the crap, Clio.” Bastien leaned forward in his chair. “It’s not crap, Bastien.” she answered right back. “It’s how I feel. I thought, out of all of them, you would understand.” “Huh, why would I understand? Uh, not that I don’t.” She watched the crease between his brows increase as he tried and failed to follow her logic. “You aren’t like the others, Bas. You actually have a sense of humor and a personality not dominated by testosterone manliness.” “Hey,” Bastien was quick to interrupt. “I have the same amount of manliness as they do.” Oh no, now she had insulted his ego. “I didn’t mean it as a bad thing, Bastien. I’m sure your chest hair is as manly as the rest of the apes.” Far from looking appeased as Clio hoped, Bastien gave her the ‘what are you smoking?’ look she’d seen numerous times. Instead of getting into a conversation about the size of his balls…er…feet in comparison to his brothers, she brought the topic back to where it had started. “Seriously, Bas, I’m worried about the blood thing. Am I going to change? I know I’ve taken his blood at least once and he’s ‘Big Gulped’ mine.” Bas rubbed his hands hard across his face, then dropped his head. “All right, Clio, I’ll tell you what I can. The rest you’ll have to ask Kryssin. I want your promise on that.” He raised his head and pierced her with a steady gaze. “What about Alekos? Kryssin mentioned something about him being a healer. Wouldn’t he be a better person to ask?” His eyes never wavered from hers. “Alekos isn’t your mate. Kryssin is going through changes as well. He’ll know more about what is to come than someone who’s never been through this.” He held a hand to stop her next comment. ”And, no, there has never been someone before the two of you.” It wasn’t like Bastien was telling her no, she mused to herself. So if I don’t go to the others than I don’t have to ask Kryssin. Even in her own mind, Clio knew there was something slightly off with her plan but pushed her remaining doubts aside. She needed to focus on the purpose of this chat. “Look, I get that I’m important to all of you. My soul is what will keep evil from devouring the earth and all that.” Man, did that sound stupid coming from her mouth. “Clio, it’s not like we look at you and see a Cracker Jack box with the soul as being the toy surprise. We, each of us, get that you are a unique person. A person with your own thoughts desires and wants. Trust me there is not a male in our family that doubts you have a brain in that lovely head.” She should have been pleased with the praise but his wording was tricky. What sounded like a compliment could also be taken as insult. Given the more pressing matters on her mind, she chose to drop it. For the time being.

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“Great, so you see me as more, but I’m afraid your brother doesn’t get that. I’m his means to an end. Like swallowing really bad cough medicine to get rid of a cold. You do it because you don’t have any other choice, not because you want to.” “If that’s what you think, fine. I’m not going to waste the rest of the day tide talking you out of it.” His position in the chair remained relaxed but his eyes held a wary light. “now to answer your question.” Finally, she thought. “I have no idea about the blood. I assume my brother took your blood and gave you his. I have to guess this means you bonded in some way. Your bodies may be more in tune to each other. There may be a chance for mind communication. I really have no idea, Clio.” Bastien reached out and grabbed her hands in his own as she paced by. She looked into the sea-blue eyes and saw his sincere sympathy at not being able to answer her questions. Clio removed her hands gently and patted him once on the knee. “It’s okay, Bas, I’ve got plenty more questions.” A small sigh escaped his lips before he lightly laughed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” The matching chair across from Bastien was as comfortable as it looked. Clio sat, crossed her legs and started the next round. “Am I going to die?” Bastien sprung from the chair. “What…no…why do you think one of us is out to kill you?” Since his anger and hurt seemed genuine, Clio forced back the words biting at her lips. She absolutely would not mention the beatings her body had taken since meeting them. “Calm down, I’m not accusing you of plotting my murder. I’m asking if I can die. You know, will I live forever and all that?” It took a few seconds for her meaning to set in. “Crap on a clam, Clio, I don’t know. I’m sure as Hades not going to help you find out.” His face was pale beneath his tanned skin and she thought there might be a faint tremble in his hands. They were tucked out of sight before she was certain. “I wasn’t asking you to kill me, Bastien. Jeez, morbid much?” she teased lifting her brows in question. “I wanted to know if I’m going to have the same lifespan as the rest of you. If I don’t, what happens to Kryssin’s soul? Does he lose it and have to start all over again? More importantly, how do we get his soul from my body and back into his? Has anyone thought of this? Because I have to tell you, the whole ‘from one body to another’ thing is giving me the creeps.” “You have a mate,” Bastien said, as he stood and moved slowly to the doors. “Your mate should be the one to answer your questions. I’m just the little brother. We’re not allowed to know anything about all this grownup stuff.” His feet already moving to the door, Bastien turned and raced out of the room. ***** Kryssin caught him as Bastien was heading full steam in the hallway. “Wait,” he hissed.

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Bastien’s face comically dropped at the sight of him. “The two of you are going to give me gray hair. And that’s supposed to be impossible among immortals.” Bastien, shut up and listen, Kryssin thought and watched with astonished eyes as his brother’s head popped up. “What did you just say?” “Ah, what did you hear?” Surely, Bas wasn’t able to pick up on his thoughts. “You told me to shut up and listen.” “Hades’ balls!” Surely the Fates weren’t cruel enough to give him the power to send his family thoughts and suggestions. While it may be fun in the short term, once his brothers found out, there would be hell to pay; literally. “You know I think I’ve had all I can take for one day. Between you and your mouthy mate, I need some of those pills she’s always mumbling about.” Bastien thoughtfully rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Tell who you want, whatever you want. I’m keeping my mouth shut until told otherwise.” With a quick wave, Bastien was gone. “Coward.” Kryssin whispered to the area where his brother used to be. Now it was his turn to face Clio and he prayed he’d have some of the answers she sought. He made a silent vow to actually listen to what she said instead of dismissing her words. Taking a deep breath and smiling at the still new sensation, Kryssin walked through Clio’s doors with that smile still on his face. ***** Hearing the sounds of the doors opening and shut warned Clio she wasn’t alone anymore. She expected that coward Bastien and was stunned to see Kryssin instead. “What are you doing here?” she asked, moving her body further away from the door and him. “Clio, please.” He held up one hand to stop her backward movement. “You have questions. I want to answer them.” “That’s it? You suddenly have a change of heart and want me to actually know what’s going?” Her sarcasm filled the room. Kryssin was slow and deliberate as he made his way closer to her. She could see the care he took as the distance between them shrunk. “I’ve always wanted you to know what was going on. It’s a misunderstanding on my part that I thought you did.” He paused in his pursuit of her to give her a slow-heat filled smile. “One I intend to clear up before either one of us leaves this room.” Oh boy, Clio thought and couldn’t refrain the shudder of pleasure his silky words caused on her body. Something was different in Kryssin. He still oozed power and sensuality. Except now it was tempered with…what? It was that last unfathomable thing making her blood pound. “Okay, if you’re serious.” She gave in a little, willing to see where this new side of Kryssin led.

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“Oh I’m very serious, baby. Now let’s have a seat, get comfortable and clear up the confusion.” Ignoring Bastien’s recently vacated chair, Kryssin sat at the small plush love seat. He patted the teal cushion next to him. She could refuse, but Clio knew it but decided it wasn’t worth the fight. She’d pick her battles. This wasn’t going to be one of them. So she sat next to Kryssin, on the too comfortable couch and waited for his next move.

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Chapter 28 With a deep breath, Kryssin plunged into his explanation. “I caught some of what you and Bastien were saying.” He slanted his head to see Clio’s reaction. So far so good. She seemed unsurprised and clearly willing to hear him out. “First the blood-tie. I honestly can’t say what it’s doing to your body. I do know you won’t turn into a mad woman seeking the blood of children.” The thought of Clio running around trying to tackle kids to quench her blood-driven lust made him smile. His mate didn’t have the heart or the stomach to become what she feared. “Okay, that’s good to know. No mindless killing of innocent people. Check.” He could see tension ease out of her shoulders as she spoke the words, however flippantly. “Second, I’m going to have to assume you’ll be immortal like me. We’ve shared blood.” He caught Clio’s surprised look and wanted to laugh. Her emotions were so open and honest. It was a refreshing change. “Alekos and I have talked. He seems to think there are five separate events that need to happen for a complete bonding. The first we’ve already done. Blood.” “Okay, I can get that. It’s gross and does not do pleasant things to my stomach when I think of it, but I understand.” She took a breath, placed her hands tightly in her lap and then faced him straight on. “What’s the other four?” “Blood, body, mind, heart and soul are the essences that I must have in order to have my soul back.” Kryssin waited for Clio’s reaction to this newest bombshell. She sat perfectly still, her face glued to his as her emotions widened her eyes. “So I’m supposed to give you my blood, my body, my mind, my heart and my soul? Uh, don’t I kind of need all of the above to keep myself alive?” Relief released the tension in Kryssin’s muscles. “Baby,” he said and clasped her hand in his. “I don’t think it means literally. We’re thinking it may have to do with me being with you in body—“ “You mean having sex, right?” Clio cut him off, but made no attempt to remove her hand. He took that as a small sign of trust. “Yes, we…I believe, by body means making love,” he gently corrected her assumption their being together would be nothing more than relieving a mutual itch. “Yeah, that would make sense. What about the heart?” “Um.” This time he hedged, not sure of her reaction where emotions were involved. Remembering Jay’s words, he chose to lay everything out in the open. Then he’d deal with the consequences as they occurred. “I’ll fall in love with you,” he stated simply. “If I’m not there already.” This time Clio’s face was a study of shock, pleasure, hurt and wariness. “But you can’t be,” she protested, trying to move her body away from his on the small couch. “You haven’t known me long enough. The time we have spent together hasn’t been filled with cotton candy and rainbows. Hell,” she snatched her hand away and jumped up to pace the room, “we fight every time we’re in the same room. It’s not possible for it to happen that fast.” “Not every time,” Kryssin reminded her. He watched color pinken her face as his meaning sank in.

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He wrapped his hands around the edge of the loveseat cushion to prevent them from reaching out to her. Clio needed space to think, breath and understand. Even if it threatened to kill him, Kryssin would give Clio the space she desired. “Um, yeah there is that.” Her small pink tongue darted out to wet her lips. His balls tightened at the delectable sight. She cleared her throat several times before attempting to speak. “But, um, don’t you think it’s a proximity thing? I mean if someone else was standing here.” Her shoulders lifted and dropped. “Someone like…my friend Tara. You’d be just as attracted to her.” There it was. The name settled in the room like a live grenade. “No, I wanted to want Tara. I tried to picture her in my bed, but it never happened.” “Krys, don’t lie to me. I saw the way you two were attached at the hip at the restaurant. You shared googly eyes and everything,” she accused. He ran a hand through his hair. Picked a piece of lint off the lint free pants and did anything to buy time. This was going to be the make or break part of their talk. “I’m not lying, Clio. I saw Tara as a commodity. She looked good, didn’t appear to be demanding and liked my money. It would have been easy. Tara would have given me space, peace and privacy.” There was a well of tears swimming in Clio’s eyes he knew she refused to let fall. She was a strong one, his mate. “Great. Good. Go find Tara and live your perfectly boring happy life together. By the way, she is my best friend and not nearly as shallow as you’d have her be.” Her voice wavered. “It’s not Tara that makes my blood pound. Tara doesn’t make me want to yank my hair out. I don’t know if I should shake you or kiss you. You, Clio, bring out emotions in me I wish I didn’t have. I feel like my heart is going to stop when you leave the room. It only starts to beat again when you walk back in.” He tightened his hands over the wood frame. “I’ve never, in all my existence, been more scared, alive or confused since the day I met you. There was some part of me that knew exactly who you were, but I didn’t listen. I didn’t want to know the emotions you brought with you. Now I think I’ll go crazy if I lose them.” He could see the hope war with disbelief in her misty green eyes. “Kryssin, I’m not sure what to think. You tell me I’m the hope for the future, but I’m not the one you want. Now you claim you do and after what you’ve said about Tara you want me to believe you already love me. You want me to accept the fact that you fell in love with me in forty-eight hours? When we’ve spent, maybe, four of those hours together talking?” “We’ve spent more than that together. But even if we didn’t, it wouldn’t matter. My soul calls out from your body to join with me. It knows its rightful home. The Fates are devious bitches, but smart ones. They knew you were the perfect mate for me. You fight with Zale and make the rest of us laugh. You protect Bastien when most women see nothing other than his playboy persona. You treat Alexial with both respect and humor when most fear his very presence. You see so much more than is there. How could I not love you?” A single tear slipped down Clio’s silky cheek. “How can you think all those things about me? I’m not that nice or good. I yell at people in traffic all the time,” she informed him. Kryssin took a chance and walked to her, gently enfolding her within his arms.

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“Anyone you yell at in traffic deserves it, I’m sure,” he told her. “We’re in a mess, huh?” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “No more than usual, love.” “So we’re going to start over. Here and now. Pretend that everything before this moment doesn’t exist.” “Well, I don’t think we should forget everything.” He smiled and was rewarded with a soft rose blush on Clio’s cheeks. “I, myself, have some rather fond memories of our times together.” She buried her face in his chest. “You would,” she mumbled. He let it go for now. There would be plenty of time later to tease and play with his mate. This moment was for laying her fears to rest and finding common ground for the two of them to build a life on. “What other questions did you have, baby?” He prodded her back to the loveseat and sat her on his lap. “Bas said you were full of them.” “Bas needs to learn to keep his mouth shut,” she muttered softly, but a smile tugged at her lips. “I think it’s the whole five step thing. Am I supposed to give you my heart, mind, body, blood and soul? I mean the blood we’ve done. Fine, not too freaky. Body, we have sex, then that one’s done.” “Not if it’s done properly,” Kryssin corrected her. “Yes, well.” Clearing her throat, his mate bravely pressed on. “Mind, heart and soul are what’s left. How do I give you my mind, much less my heart and soul?” “I don’t think it’s so much as giving as allowing another person in.” He tightened his arms for a second. “If you are the one required to give,” he reminded her. “It might be me. If that’s the case then we’re as good as done.” “I don’t know, Kryssin. It seems too easy. If you were the one, then why didn’t you break the curse earlier?” He thoughtfully rubbed his chin on her head. “I guess you have a point. Maybe this really has nothing to do with my emotions and everything to do with yours.” “So if it’s up to me, how do we do it? What’s the process? How long will it take? And more importantly, will it hurt?” With his heart beating a mile a minute, Kryssin stood with his mate in his arms. He was ready to connect their bodies and complete another part of his soul. “Hey.” Clio clutched at his shoulders when he made his way to the large king-size bed. “What are you doing?” “I’m planning to answer your questions…in detail. But to start,” He dropped her on the soft mattress. “We’ll do it anyway we like, the process is more hands on than anything. Sometimes it will be long and slow, but I have a feeling, at other times it will be fast and frantic.” Each statement was punctuated with a soft kiss. “If there is pain for you, then I’m not doing something right. So I’ll be forced to stop and start all over. Again and again and again,” Kryssin whispered as Clio drowned in their kiss.

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Chapter 29 Now Clio totally understood the term bone-melting. Thanks to Kryssin’s addictive kisses, she was ready to ooze straight through the mattress. She knew they hadn’t worked everything out yet. It felt like a really good start. She knew he was being as honest with her as he could. Clio might not know everything Kryssin knew, but it wasn’t from deceit on his part. She’d been startled when he confessed his desire for Tara. Any other man would have screamed his innocence. Yet, Kryssin told her he tried to force himself to desire her friend because it would have been easier. In some strange way Clio could understand that and appreciate it. She didn’t want complications and confusion in her own life, but here she was. Gamely trying to help an immortal Greek warrior retrieve his soul from her body. Oh, the sacrifices I make for humanity, she giggled to herself. Clio became lost in the feel and taste of her mate. The warmth of his body pressed against hers, the feel and play of Kryssin’s muscles beneath the silk fabric of his shirt. Desire became a living breathing entity in the room. It flooded her senses and set her blood on fire. She’d had lovers before. She knew what sex was or had been. Sex was a nice little pop that relieved stress and scratched the occasional itch. What Clio experienced with Kryssin was on a totally different plain. He moved over her body like a wave through water, touching and tasting what naked skin he could find. Warm lips left a trail of heat from her mouth to the open neck of her shirt. He nuzzled the tops of her breasts and made an impatient sound when the silk shirt barred further exploration. “Too many damn clothes, woman,” he muttered and rose up. Impatient hands swiftly lifted her shirt over her head. “So beautiful,” Kryssin whispered, stroking the sensitive points of her breasts before his mouth captured one rosy nipple. Clio gave a moan of approval. She arched against his touch and grabbed his head. Kryssin’s hair was silk between her fingers and she reveled in the right to touch him intimately. Kryssin moved up to feast on her mouth. His kisses were wet, deep and thorough and made her head spin. He poised his muscled body over hers, bending to press soft, licking kisses in a trail down her breastbone to her belly. His tongue traced over her, suckling and biting with gentle and rapacious skill. Clio moved her hands from his hair to his shoulders. Her nails dug into the firm flesh. Her chest gleamed where his busy mouth had been, and his mouth went everywhere, a hot, dizzying swirl of pleasure. She wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders and nuzzled his neck. “This…I…you…” she couldn’t continue as he kissed the curve of her breast. “Yes, you and I together where we belong.” He slid his hand down to her leather clad inner thigh. “But first I think we need to get you more comfortable.” He shot a wicked grin at her before unsnapping her pant’s button and slowly sliding the zipper down.

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“You are amazing,” he said, staring down at her partially nude body. Kryssin worked quickly to push the remaining clothes off her body. “Oh, Clio, there are no words.” She brought her mouth to his, savoring his tongue and lips while his hands trailed up the inside of her naked thighs. “You’re wet.” The heat in his voice alone was almost enough to make her come. “Kryssin, please,” she whispered against his whiskered cheek. The sensual, rough scrape of fine stubble against her face made her lose track of what she’d been trying to say. “Please what, love. This?” He pressed two fingers against her desire-heated flesh. Clio moaned and thrust her hips hard against his fingers, encouraging him to continue. Instead he slipped one long finger inside her, pressing against a spot she was sure didn’t exist; until now. Clio’s body twitched and clasped around his hand. “Kryssin, I can’t.” Not that she didn’t want to, but Clio knew from previous experience this wasn’t the way to make her come. She needed more. He pressed whisper soft kisses against her throat and shoulders. “Oh you can, love, and you will.” He added a second finger to the first and Clio’s world narrowed to nothing more than this man and his magic fingers. Then a third finger joined the other two. At the same time he bent to catch a nipple between his teeth. Her moans turned raw, her body following his hand. Time and space swirled into a sensuous blur of damp kisses, heated praise and talented fingers. Each sweet shock of surprise was the most intense she’d ever felt, constantly supplanted by the next that was hotter; an endless wave of blistering heat. Pleasure rocked her body and her hips moved with a mind of their own. Rising and retreating to follow the movements of his hand. She couldn’t relax. She would shatter in pieces if she let go for a single instant. “Don’t fight it. I want to see you come apart. Then we’ll do it again.” His hand and fingers squeezed, probed and thrust deeper, a rhythmic imitation of sex. Her hips moved against him, encouraging each stroke, and he pushed her over into a long, shuddering orgasm that had her whimpering his name. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Kryssin whispered in awe, one hand still cupping her body and the other pressed over her heart. The wonder in his eyes had her blinking back tears. “Kryssin, you undo me,” she said a bit breathless. Her heart pounded beneath his hand and the rest of her body felt alive. He’d given her more passion in the last ten minutes than her other two lovers had during their entire relationship. A quick smile formed on his lips. “I think we undo each other.” He pressed a soft, gentle kiss on her mouth. Kryssin sat up, startling a groan of protest as his fingers left her body. He caught her knees in his tanned hands and spread her legs until she was sure he could see every inch of her sex. She gasped even as he bent, tasting her with his tongue, licking and sucking. Clio went wild. She was burning up. Crazed and feverish with her body going up in flames. Kryssin draped her legs over his wide shoulders and caught her hips in his hands to keep her still. She locked her fingers in his hair, holding him closer as she cried out and twisted; the sensations built and expanded.

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“Kryssin,” she groaned, husky and deep. Her head rolled to the side, her hands clenched his head tighter and with a low cry and a convulsive shudder she came again, crying and pleading with him for more. Kryssin reared up and tore off his clothes. When he joined her in bed, Clio pressed her body against his and they both moaned at the erotic sensation of flesh against flesh. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold on, love,” Kryssin confessed in a heated whisper. “Let go, Kryssin. I need all of you.” She moved her body against his, wanting to see his control break. His hands were everywhere. Clio basked in it. He’d been so constrained before, but he lost that power now, and she reveled in his overwhelming passion. One big hand cupped her backside while the other fondled her breast. His mouth was voracious on hers, and she was swept away on another rush of passion. Then Kryssin was between her thighs, lifting her hips in his hands and pushing into her. Clio’s first thought was that he’d never fit. He was too big and she wasn’t. There was no actual pain, just an incredible feeling of pressure. “Relax for me, love.” He pressed deeper. Clio clenched his shoulders. “You’re so big.” “I’m perfect for you.” She felt him surge into her with a hard thrust that stretched her, filled her and took the last bit of breath from her body. He pulled back, Clio sucked in air, and he thrust forward again this time seating himself to the hilt. She cried out and automatically tried to move away from the pillaging body so intent on taking her over. Kryssin stopped in mid-thrust. His blue eyes were hazy with passion when they connected with hers. “What’s the matter, love?” She shook her head, unable to get the breath to answer him. “Am I hurting you?” She could see the strain in his quivering muscles and felt the tiny pulses where his body joined hers. She managed to shake her head and gasp. “There’s so much of you.” “Does it hurt?” His eyes searched her face in a desperate appeal. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He squeezed her and she took a halting breath. “You didn’t.” He flipped them both so that she lay on top of him. “What are you doing?” She stared at him in confusion. “Giving you control. Take what you want. My body is yours.” Her heart hammered in panic and fear. She didn’t know what to do. She’d never been given control over sex and wasn’t confident on how to proceed. But the look in Kryssin’s eyes shut her mouth. Emotions blazed from the depths and she saw such trust, confidence and love shining back at her. She spread her legs wider, braced her arms on his shoulders and dropped her head for a mind-numbing kiss. Her heart hammered as his hands stroked over her hips, and she slowly eased the rest of his length inside her.

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She gasped. His eyes blazed, his breath came harder and faster and Clio’s insides melted. “Oh, Clio,” he whispered her name and took possession of her. She paused and his eyes widened. “Clio?” “I’m afraid I’m going to…you know…” “You’re afraid you going to…come?” he asked on a ragged breath. “That’s the whole point, sweetheart.” “But I want it to be good for you,” she protested, as his hands took over the movements of her hips. “Just touching you is good for me. Hell, being in the same room with you is almost enough for me to come.” Each downward push resulted in him thrusting hard into her body. She got into the rhythm, rising and falling according to her body’s needs. Her own climax mounted with every movement, every inch of him penetrating deep inside her. She pulled back again, her body aching for his return. His jaw clenched; sweat glistened across his forehead. His hands at her waist tightened; his eyes dilated with primal need. “You are incredible. So wet and tight. So mine,” he added, with a possessive thrust. His lips latched onto her neck, nipping and kissing his way to where her pulse pounded. Then he paused, withdrew his lips, lay back down and moved only his hips and hands. Eyes burned into her like two blue fires, silently asking the question she didn’t want to answer. Clio knew Kryssin wouldn’t push the issue now. He would be happy with her body alone. But blood was needed to continue the bond and Kryssin trusted her enough to make the decision for both of them. Shouldn’t she trust him not to hurt her? Trust was a two-way street and it was time Clio met Kryssin halfway. She brought her mouth to his, delighting in his taste and heat while she lowered herself yet again. Kryssin filled her, completely taking over her senses, but there was that tiny part still missing. Brushing her hair off one shoulder, Clio leaned down and offered her neck in silent invitation. Blank shock registered on his face before realization set in. Stunned gratitude met her gaze. She was grateful Kryssin didn’t ask if she was sure. One hand wrapped around her neck and pulled her closer to his mouth. She felt the scrape of fangs and the wet heat of his tongue as his moan filled the air. There was a sharp pain followed by an explosion of colors. Clio knew Kryssin was taking her blood, the ambrosia of his people, into his body, but it didn’t bother her now. She felt the rhythmic flow of their bodies moving together and wanted more. Harder, Krys, I need more of you, she thought desperately. Instantly, his thrust quickened. He used his free hand to spread her lips, so each stroke of his body would rub over the pulsing nub of her desire. Their movements became more urgent, each fighting to achieve the peak looming just out of reach.

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Kryssin’s mouth moved from her neck to her breast before capturing her lips in an intense kiss. Clio, my own, my love. You are life to me. Please don’t…ah…so good…don’t ever leave me. The voice floated in her head at the same time Kryssin used his grasp on her neck to pull her against his chest. She smelled the blood and instead of being repulsed, became consumed by it. Bodies continued to move, hands roamed and moans filled the air. She let him guide her to the slash over his heart and eagerly placed her mouth over the wound. Drawing his essence into her, feeling everything that was Kryssin poured into her body. The third orgasm hit as she lifted her head from his body. One minute, she was lost in the emotions of his eyes then next her body was thrown into a whirlwind of sensation. Pleasure rode over pleasure, stealing her breath and convulsing her body. Beneath her, Kryssin held tighter to her hips as he slammed into her over and over again. His breath was a harsh whisper against her neck. “Clio…Clio…mine” Kryssin stiffened, his neck thrown back and his release flooded her body as her name tumbled again from his lips. Clio fell in a sweaty heap on his chest and prayed no one would ask her to move for the next twenty-four hours.

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Chapter 30 The sun’s slow descent into the water woke Kryssin from astounding dreams. Clio had been in his arms, giving freely of her body and blood. He woke hungry. For Clio and for food. The lightweight on his chest forced his head down and his heart to overflow with pure joy. Clio, naked in his bed. Still asleep, she curled around him, her hair spread out over his chest, her cool hand over his heart, her thigh pressed into his lap. He pulled the sheet away from her body and pulled her closer to him, burying his face into her hair. His hands began to explore her body with reverent attention to detail. His hands slid slowly over her skin. He wanted to memorize every inch of her. He kneaded her shoulders and arms, hands and fingertips. He traced every vertebra in her back and brushed his fingertips across her ribs in soft, feathery circular strokes. His gaze zeroed in on her pale, pink nipples. He lowered his hand to her breast, cupping around her, smiling at how delicate she was. Unable to resist, he moved her off him, leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth, softly drawing on it. She moaned as her nipple tightened. He explored the hollows of her collarbone, the muscles and tendons of her neck. He touched her face, tracing every feature, following his caresses with soft kisses down her body to the juncture of her thighs. She moved against him, her mind still lost in sleep, but her body aware of the pleasure in Kryssin’s touch. Kryssin inhaled the musky scent of her sex, gave his own groan of approval and closed his mouth over her. Being very tender with her, he circled her with his tongue, finding a rhythm that made her body twist and her hands grab his head. “Kryssin?” Her sleepy voice sounded both sexy and confused. His weight held her lower body still, but she jerked roughly when he inserted one finger into her tight heat. “Come for me, love. Let me feel it again.” He wasn’t sure if it was his words or the two additional fingers he pushed in her body, but Clio came apart in his arms. “Oh…Kryssin.” Her groan was husky and deep. Her hands dropped from his head to clench at her side. With a low cry and a convulsive shudder she came again, sobbing and crying out his name. Kryssin reared up to his knees, needing her with a desperation that defied anything he’d felt or done before. Sliding the smooth tip of his shaft along her wet flesh, he eased over her body and drove into her, riding her hard and fast, his thrusts untamed and frenzied as he strained toward his own release. His heart hammered in his chest, his frenzied pulse matching the pulsing in his erection. His muscles grew tight, and his lips sought hers in a blazing, openmouthed kiss, completely possessing her. He felt the last of his control shred when Clio eagerly opened her mouth under the pressure of his, her hips lifted to encourage his possession.

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Their tongues touched, tangled, as sweet and welcoming as the legs wrapped around his waist and holding him tight as his hips pistoned relentlessly against her, creating a hot, slick friction neither of them could deny. She forced her mouth from his and shouted as another orgasm tore though her, her body bowed up off the bed to take him even deeper. With one last powerful plunge he came on a feral, rasping groan. When the last of the pleasurable trembles were wrung from his body, he collapsed on top of her. Shaky and spent, he buried his face against her neck as he waited for his world to right itself again. Though he accepted his world, his life, would never be the same. He was completely in love with Dr. Clio Foster, no thinking about it. ***** “Well…that was…um” Great, the man gave her the best night and morning sex of her life and all Clio could do was stammer into his hair. Moving slowly, Kryssin eased off and out of her body. “You okay?” he asked, pressing soft kisses along her jaw. “I’m fine, great, in fact never better.” She pushed against his shoulders; irritated he wouldn’t move. She needed out of this bed and away from Kryssin. The man confused her on every level and she didn’t need the confusion. Her life was strange enough as it was without adding the whole immortal stud-muffin to the mix. Kryssin’s husky voice broke through her chaotic thoughts. “Stud-muffin?” He sounded both amused and insulted. Her hand went to her mouth. Oh, no, please tell me I didn’t say that out loud. “You didn’t,” Kryssin replied calmly. “I heard your thoughts…very loudly, I might add.” Fear and embarrassment had Clio shoving, pushing and kicking Kryssin off her. She jumped off the side of the bed, barely remembering to take the sheet with her then wrapping it securely around her body. Turning to face him took more courage than Clio knew she had. “You cannot hear my thoughts.” As if saying so made it a fact. Kryssin relaxed on the bed, his arms tucked neatly under his head, his blue eyes running a heated gaze over Clio’s skimpily clad body. “Can so.” Running a shaky hand through her hair, Clio wondered what to do next. Should she appease him? Tell him, yes, she believed the nonsense he was spouting. Or continue to argue with him and prolong her state of near nakedness. Kryssin gave a weary sigh. “You don’t have to humor me, love. I’m not insane.” With a grace that should not belong to a man of his size, he sprang from the bed in all his naked glory. Releasing a weak laugh, Clio backed up. “Insane, I never said you were insane.” “No, but you did think it.” He stalked towards her, his eyes hot with intent. “Oh boy.”

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Pressing into her personal space, he leaned his face in and pressed his clever lips against the curve of her neck. “Why is it you can believe everything else I’ve told you but not accept I can read your mind? And you can hear my thoughts too.” His gaze lifted to meet her own shocked one. “But I can’t. I’ve never…” All you have to do is try, love. Everything I am is yours including my thoughts and mind. The words shimmered in her mind, his voice clear but his lips remained still. It couldn’t be true. Yet, there was no denying the husky timbre of Kryssin’s voice in her head. “You shouldn’t be able to do this,” she whispered in panic. How long had he been able to read her thoughts? Did he know the intense desire that flooded her system the first time they met? Had he sensed her jealousy of her best friend? How humiliating to be caught with her mind open and her desires so easy for him to read. Strong hands framed her face, forcing their eyes to meet. “Clio, I didn’t have this ability until recently. Neither did you.” Okay, that relieved her on some counts, but still it was disconcerting to know he knew her thoughts probably better than she did. “Oh I wouldn’t say that, love.” Gentle fingers stroked her cheeks. Kryssin’s eyes shone with amusement, and some other emotion she didn’t dare define. “But give me time.” “Oh no, none of that, I don’t care if you can read my mind. You’ll stop doing it immediately.” To enforce her decree, she stomped her foot and gave him her best teacher’s glare. “But your thoughts are so enticing, how am I supposed to resist?” The snake nuzzled her throat muddling her thoughts for a minute. “Well, even if I’m picturing you naked and doing the tango, it’s none of your business what goes on in my mind. Those are private thoughts and should be respected.” Was that her voice sounding husky and not the least bit firm? “Honey, there is nothing private between water-mates. We belong to each other. Didn’t you understand what the five vows meant?” Wickedly talented lips nipped her earlobe, draining most of her rational thought. The five vows? Oh, he meant the five pieces to bring him back to his soul. “Yeah, I got it. You needed my blood, body, mind, heart and soul. So what?” “So,” he said moving behind her. “You freely gave me your blood, your body and, I believe, your trust.” It was difficult, if not impossible, to think with Kryssin touching her. His tongue brought shivers to her skin and heat to her body. “You think I trust you?” “A part of you must because there is no other way we could hear each other’s thoughts.” Warm hands reached around to cup her breasts and tweak her hardened nipples. Jerking away from him, Clio rushed to the door, yanked it open and stared in stunned silence at the beautiful man on the other side. “Hello.” His voice was colored with the slightest accent, color flushed his cheeks and his startling aqua eyes stared with curious fascination. “I’m Eryx, Kryssin’s brother.” Clio stared in fascination at the tanned arm. Moving automatically she put her own hand out. “Clio,” she managed to stammer out. A bright smile lit his face and Clio would have sworn she was basking in the sun.

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“I know.” He gave her a sheepish look. “We met kind of the other night in the library. I’m afraid we didn’t get a chance to talk. I know you’re a marine archeologist. I’ve been searching the ocean my whole life, I’d love to get your impression on a few of my favorite pieces.” He made the offer in a gentle tone, expecting nothing but leaving the possibility open to her. Clio thought he was a remarkable man and certainly not hard-edged like his brothers. “Hey,” came another male voice, this one annoyed. “I can hear you, remember.” She turned her head to glare at Kryssin, but the sight of his nearly naked body froze her lips. How could she want to beat him senseless ninety-nine percent of the time then lust after him with the hormones of an eighteen- year-old the rest of the time? Heat flared in his eyes. “Eryx, maybe you could give us an hour or so to get ready. Then I’m sure Clio will be more than happy to talk old stuff with you.” Eryx’s face fell for an instant then the disappointment was gone. “Sure, Krys, it’s no problem. Just yell whenever you finish.” The sadness on the man’s face finally snapped Clio out of her stupor. She latched on to Eryx’s arm and pulled him into the large sitting room. “Don’t be an ass, Kryssin. Your brother is more than welcome to stay.” She gave a hard glower to her lover then turned a brilliant smile on the man sitting stunned next to her. “Sorry about him. He’s not the sharpest fin in the seas. So what did you say your part in the insanity is?” Eryx was caught between the two of them. His beautiful eyes jumped from Kryssin to Clio then back again. Confusion was written all over his astonishing face. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said and patted his arm. “He’s just mad he lost an argument. Sore loser and all.” “Um…I…Krys?” He made a pleading gesture to his brother. “Sorry, little bro, I tried to save you, but you’re stuck in the world according to Clio now. Good luck.” With a wave and a smile, he disappeared behind the bedroom doors. “You want something to eat? I’m starving.” She walked over and picked up the menu Bastien had pointed out yesterday. “Let’s see we can start off with coffee, Diet Coke. Croissants sound good.” She tossed the menu down and turned back to him. “What do you think?” Clio was aware this brother wasn’t arrogant like the rest and she needed to go easier on him. She just wasn’t sure what he wanted with her. “Um, Clio.” He stood when she had and she found his chivalry charming. “I’d love to join you, but I’m afraid I can’t eat.” Eryx looked embarrassed by the admission and she thought he must have eaten earlier. “Sure, no problem, but you can still join me for caffeine,” she offered. “I’m afraid I can’t drink any of your liquids.” Humiliation written all over his perfect face.

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Chapter 31 “Any of my liquids?” She frowned until the light finally clicked on. “Oh crap, I’m so sorry. Look, I don’t need anything right now. It can wait.” She felt like a fool. Everyone knew vampires and those that say they aren’t vampires can’t eat real food or drink. A warm hand touched her arm. “It’s okay, Clio. I don’t miss what I can’t remember. The smell of food or even the taste of it won’t make me sick,” he explained. “But it’s rather like eating paste. You can survive on it, but why would you want to?” Clio was well and truly stumped. “I’ve seen Kryssin eat. In fact the pig ate almost everything on my plate as well as the three dinners he ordered for himself.” The dinner had come close to dawn when Kryssin declared himself famished for meat and his mate. She smiled as she remembered how he’d gorged himself on both. Eryx looked surprised at the revelation. “Really, I wonder…” His voice trailed off and his gaze went vague. Oh no, not another brother holding back secrets. This she wouldn’t put up with. Clio snapped her fingers in front of Eryx’s face. “Hey, now none of that. What do you know and how is it going to slap me in the ass?” Aqua eyes narrowed in confusion. “Excuse me?” “You got this vague fugue look in your eyes and went all Zen on me. So, grasshopper, tell me what stinks in the state of Denmark?” If possible, Eryx’s face looked more confused. “You are speaking of the great Shakespeare work? He was a man who knew how to live. And such talent.” He looked grieved for a minute. “We’ve yet to see talent such as his since his death.” “Whoa, you knew William Shakespeare? How cool is that? Did he really write all those plays or was it the other guy? Were women allowed to perform his stuff? Where did you—“ “Clio, let my brother up for air,” Kryssin interrupted her. She swiveled to face him. “Huh? Air? Why? He doesn’t need to inhale.” Turning back to Eryx, she shrugged and offered a sheepish grin. “Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you.” Eryx looked horrified at the thought. “Oh, no, you didn’t give me any offense. It’s true I don’t need oxygen to survive.” A smug smile perched on her lips when she faced Kryssin. “See I told you so.” In return he offered her a gentle smile and quick kiss. “I stand corrected.” “Ahem.” Kryssin’s brother cleared his throat. “Krys, could I ask a few questions?” With an indulgent smile, Kryssin scooped Clio up in his arms and settled them both down in the loveseat. “Ask away.” He pulled the squirming Clio back against his chest and whispered, “Behave or you’ll embarrass my little brother.” “Ha, like anything would embarrass the lot of you water-brained shellfish.” Her answer was given with a sweet smile and swift kick to her mate’s shin. But she settled happily against his chest, enjoying the rhythmic movement of his chest against her back.

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“Clio and I were talking and she mentioned you ate quite a bit of food recently.” The poor man looked so embarrassed. “Strange as it seems, little brother, I did. What’s even more surprising is I enjoyed it.” Clio felt him twirling a strand of her hair and wondered why her eyes welled up. Stupid hormones, she thought. Not hormones, honey. Love. His voice was a soft whisper in her mind filling her with a sense of belonging. Get out of my head, you mind-peeking perv. “What do you think caused this new craving?” Eryx blithely went on, ignorant of the undertones swirling around him. “It’s my mate, of course. She’s brought me back to life.” As a reward she was given a loving kiss and soft hug. “It’s not like I did it on purpose,” she grumbled in his arms. “Honey, all this affection is going to smother me.” With a wink he looked to his brother. “She’s besotted with me.” Eryx gave a half smile. The look in his eyes showed happiness for his brother but jealous in a small way. “The steps are complete, then?” Clio could tell Eryx wanted to know for future reference and not some sick desire to know if they’d played hide the electric eel. With a noise to clear his throat, Kryssin tightened his arms around her. She wasn’t going to like this. “I believe we have completed three of the five steps. Clio, however, thinks only two have been finished.” Excitement only a scientist would feel leaped out of Eryx’s brilliant tri colored eyes. “Which ritual was done?” Then realizing how personal his question was, his face closed up again and he sank back into his chair. Tilting her head back with a finger to her chin, Kryssin posed the question to her. “Well, love, what do you think?” It was the light of discovery in Eryx’s eyes that opened her mouth. She loved the thrill of new discovery and knew Eryx shared her passion. “We’ve done two, regardless of what shark on a stick, here says.” “I was only trying to protect your modesty, love,” Kryssin protested. “Like there’s one person on this boat that doesn’t know you got lucky last night?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. “You may be right. You were rather loud.” Her mouth opened to blast him, but his kiss caught the words and fed them back to her. “You were saying?” he asked when he finally released her lips. Shaking her head, Clio tried to manage a decent glare but knew it fell short. “We shared blood. We had sex. Two parts down, three to go. If your brother can keep his mouth shut and not tick me off.” I have so many plans for my mouth, honey, and not one of them is for talking. Ignore him and he’ll stop, she promised herself and turned her attention back to Eryx. “So what else do you need to know?”

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He stumbled a bit before regaining control. “Umm, let’s see. Kryssin stated there was pain the first time for you. What was your level of comfort with this exchange?” Eryx looked cute as he pulled an old-fashioned notebook out of his back pocket, licked the tip of his pencil and focused on her. Quit noticing how cute my brother looks or I’ll end this little question and answer session. How could the man sound menacing in her head? Bite me, clam cake. She straightened up on his lap. I plan on it…later. And pushed his impressive erection against her sheet-clad bottom. “What was the question?” She had to focus her thoughts on something other than the horny man holding her tightly to his crotch. “What was your level of pain?” “You know I don’t have a clear memory of the first time.” She spared a glare at Kryssin. “This time there was no pain. I don’t feel any different. He’s the one to get all the benefits out of this deal.” I didn’t notice you complaining last night or this evening tide. Hush, you are getting me off track. Get out of my head. A deep chuckle was her only answer. “You’re eating real food, enjoying it. You can expand you lungs for oxygen and your heart pumps in regular rhythm to supply blood to your body?” This time, thankfully, his questions were directed at Kryssin. “Yes, I was overwhelmed with the need to fuel my body with food sustenance. They tasted wonderful and had no ill effects on my body.” “Have there been any other signs of changes? Have you experienced a manifestation of new powers, added strength or additional tolerance to the sun?” Wow, the guy really was interested. “Why do you think there would be?” He shrugged sheepishly. “In my family I’m known as the historian. If any mention of our family or curse has been in writing, I’ve got a copy of it. There were symbols on an ancient Greek tablet I found that said taken powers would be restored and new powers granted.” Ancient writings? Eryx had Clio’s undivided attention. “Do you think I could see this stuff? I promise not to touch or anything, but I’d love to get a look at what you’re using as research.” For a minute, Eryx looked baffled then pleasure suffused his face. “I’d love to share my research with you. It’s one of the reasons I came to your suite.” “When would be a good time for you? I’ve got nothing going on right now if you’re not busy,” she pushed, excited to see what treasures the youngest Poseidon brother held. “I’d be delighted to show you. I’ve already fed for the evening, but perhaps you’d be more at ease in something less comfortable.” His graceful hand gestured in the vicinity of her body. Clio looked down and gave a sharp squeal. She was still in the damn sheet from the bed. How could Kryssin let her sit here and entertain his brother this way? I assure you, if he had been entertained in any way other than academia I would have changed your clothes myself. I’m not speaking to you. She huffed out of his lap, smacked his arm and attempted a dignified exit.

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The next three days passed in an orgy of pleasure for Clio. She spent part of her nights with Eryx combing through his documents. The other half spent with Kryssin. The man she was rapidly falling in love with. It surprised her how easily she fell into the pace of his life. They spent the day or daytide as he called it, asleep in each other’s arm. When they rose each night, after a thorough session of love making, they’d eat and then make plans for the night to come. She loved to tease him just to watch a smile light up his eyes. She taken to showing him all the new and wonderful foods developed over the past hundred or so years. Clio stuffed him full of steak, pizza, chocolate and every different kind of pastry the ship could supply. He expressed enjoyment for each new taste and trusted her to fill his mouth with only things he would enjoy. True to the nature of a man, Kryssin’s favorite food would keep a five-year-old high for a year. He loved processed foods. Fruit roll-ups, Milk Duds and Captain Crunch became a staple in his diet. As much as she pretended disgust with his eating habits, Clio was delighted to watch the joy appear on his face from such a simple pleasure. They watched movies in the luxurious theatre; old movies, new blockbusters, romances and mysteries. Sometimes, one of the other men would join them, but more often than not they left Kryssin and Clio alone. And each night, Kryssin pulled Clio into dark water surrounding the boat. At first, she was terrified of what lay beneath the surface, but Kryssin quickly relieved her fears. The man swam like a fish and never needed to come up for air. She’d found that handy fact one night when Kryssin said he couldn’t wait for their bed. And he charmingly reminded her he’d skipped dessert. Oh, the trials a woman endured to keep her man fed. Her only complaint in the idyllic days was that he lacked the appreciation for her drug of choice, Diet Coke. He said the bubbles made him sneeze and the taste lacked flavor. Like that made any sense, she fumed at him. He just winked and shoveled another spoonful of cereal in his mouth. Sometimes she spent time alone with Eryx in his massive vault, which is how she’d come to think of his suite of rooms. He’d shocked her when he told her his rooms at home were three times larger than what he had on the boat. Which made sense. Why take the risk of bringing your treasure with you all the time? If the boat sank, she knew Eryx would risk his immortal life to save his papers. She was sure the other brothers knew this as well. Hence, Alexial’s refusal to allow Eryx to bring more than a few of his ‘precious’ papers along. She knew she wasn’t much help to the youngest brother, but she was grateful he allowed her to pillage his prized possessions. Eryx had even generously offered to show her one of Shakespeare’s original plays. Clio almost fainted at the offer.

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It was her last night on the yacht. Kryssin had informed her when they arose that tomorrow evening they’d be at the coordinates near the Bimini Islands. And then it would be time for her to do her job. It seemed too soon. She watched in fascination as they bypassed the Keys through the straits of Florida. Tonight, the ship would silently glide by the dark land. And tomorrow evening she’d be face to face with the nightmare from her past. The thought of what faced her beneath the silky blue of the water made her heart pound. Her skin grew clammy and a shiver ran down her body from the cool ocean breeze. Did she have the courage to confront her parent’s final resting place? Thoughts of their final moments together were seared forever in her memory. The laughter on her father’s face as he teased her mother over breakfast. The loving look her mother gave her father when he offered to do the dishes. All of those small memories combined to make her heart both swell and ache. Clio felt a small tear trek down her cheek but didn’t feel the need to wipe it away. For her it was a small tribute to the love her parents shared and the life they once had. Gentle lips touched the wetness and smoothed it away. Clio wasn’t surprised Kryssin was here. As he told her repeatedly, he knew her every thought. “Is it so hard to let them go?” His strong arms wrapped Clio tight, pulling her to his chest. She didn’t answer right away. Instead she chose to simply enjoy the feel of his arms around her and the safety he offered. “I’ll miss them for the rest of my life,” she finally whispered. “Don’t you miss your parents?” Strangely, she remembered they had never discussed his parents, only his brothers. She felt the tension in his body before he spoke. “My mother and father were much different than yours, love. My father was larger than life, literally.” Kryssin choked out a laugh then buried his face in her hair. Something told her not to do it. Not to ask the questions burning on her tongue about his mother. She didn’t want to cause him pain and this was obviously a sore subject. “There is nothing you are forbidden to know of my life, Clio.” He plucked the questions out of her mind. “But that doesn’t mean there are not things in my past that shame me.” “Shame you?” How could that be possible? Kryssin was the most forthright man she’d ever known. Granted his methods weren’t always the best, but his intentions were good. Arms eased their pressure when he turned her to face him. “I have been in your mind. I’ve seen what you consider the worst in yourself. What you think of as blackness in your soul doesn’t begin to compare to the rot in mine.” Clio opened her mouth to speak, but it was the bleakness in his eyes that stayed her mouth. He had been in her mind. Kryssin looked through everything there was to her. He never once condemned or accused her. Didn’t it take a type of courage to face the very heart of a person? To know things about them they may have forgotten. Did she have that kind of bravery, to see the scars and battles that made Kryssin the man he was today? “No, Clio,” he said pressing her tighter to him. “There is no reason for you carry my burdens as well.” She shook her head. “Kryssin, whatever it is you think I can’t face, I can. Nothing about you or your past will change my feelings for you.”

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His body jerked. “What feelings?” he whispered hoarsely against her ear. Clio wanted to step back, to put distance between them. She didn’t want to give Kryssin the power over her. What if he changed his mind? What if this was all some cosmic joke on Clio Foster? How could someone from his background, wealth and looks fall for a nobody like her? “Then look to my mind and heart for your answers. Any words I might say are useless in the face of such fear.” His hold on her loosened and Clio was afraid she’d pushed him one time too many. “No, Kryssin, just give me some time to get used to this. I wasn’t even part of your world last week. There’s a lot to get used to in such a short time.” She pulled back and looked in the lazy blue eyes she loved. “I care about you. I do,” she insisted when he tried to move away. “I need more time to sort everything out.” “Time isn’t what you need, Clio. You need faith in yourself and me. You need to leap off that bridge knowing I’ll catch you, every time.” His words shook something in her. She couldn’t risk losing him, not yet and not like this. Throwing her caution and good sense to the wind blowing around them, Clio deliberately lowered the barriers in her mind and actively sought out Kryssin.

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Chapter 33 It wasn’t as hard as she feared. In her mind’s eye she saw a pulsing blue light. It was Kryssin’s light, the same color of his eyes when he made love to her. She flowed toward him, ready and open to accept everything he had to offer, both the good and the bad. At first she was amused to see herself. Kryssin’s mental view of her lacked the harshness of reality. Her skin didn’t shine, her hair wasn’t silky and her body certainly didn’t have the sex appeal he projected. My mind, my opinion. Kryssin! Even here, he wouldn’t leave her alone to face whatever darkness might be lying in wait. I told you forever and I meant it. Now please have your quick look and get out. I’ve better ideas of spending our night. A quick shiver ran through her body at the thought of what his ‘ideas’ would mean. Instead of buckling under his sexual pressure, Clio mentally tightened her girdle and looked deep within her mates mind and heart. ***** Kryssin could count on one hand the times he’d felt fear. It had always been for someone else; mostly his brothers and once upon a time, his mother. But now the acid taste of fear clogged his throat as he waited for Clio’s reaction to his life. He’d done some things he wasn’t proud of. Others he barely remembered. There had been women throughout the endless years. Women he’d taken for pleasure and blood, nothing more. At the time, they’d been nothing more than an enjoyable food source. He’d taken and discarded them with ease. What if Clio found his past deeds so horrendous, it killed the kernel of love growing inside her? Silly vampire, if you can face the worst in me, I’ll honor and cherish the memories I find in you. Clio! Even in his most desperate moments, she was there like a beacon of light leading him out of the darkness. With her mental hand in his, Kryssin opened up everything in him to Clio. He showed her the times with his mother. Her threats to take down Zeus and the Olympian gods, the treachery that marked her for death when the battle finally ended, and the curses she rained down upon his head when he chose to stand by his father and brothers, leaving her to suffer a death sentence. Kryssin gave her a glimpse of the shame and embarrassment he felt being chosen as the first to receive his soul. His fear that one day his brothers would discover the truth of his parentage. Her soft laughter floated through the black haze of his memories. Aww, poor Flipper. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but they already know.

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They couldn’t know. Alexial and Dorian would have thrown him out if they knew the truth. Zale would stake his body to the nearest beach and watch the sun destroy him. How could Clio think his brothers knew? Because they are the ones that told me. Kryssin pulled his mind back, feeling his legs go weak. He had hidden the shame and lived in fear of their discovery and all this time they knew. And never once had they said a word to him. “Why would they?” Clio’s hands stoked his back in a soothing pattern. “Do you really care what Zale’s mother did? Or who Alekos’s mother was? Does it reflect on them? Change your opinion of who they are and how they live their lives?” Kryssin knew it was a trap, but couldn’t find the strength to untangle it. “Of course not, but none of their mothers plotted to kill their father and let demons rule the planet.” “Oh, everybody needs therapy,” she snapped back, never releasing her hold on him. He barked out a half laugh. “That’s your answer, your words of comfort? That everybody needs psychological help?” Clio shrugged. “Therapy is highly underrated.” Kryssin opened his mouth to protest, instead laughter poured out. Here he was in his darkest moment and Clio happily told him to seek mental help. By the one God, he loved this woman. And not for the soul she’d given him, but for the heart she’d given a reason to beat. “You truly are my everything,” he whispered in her hair when he swung her into his arms. Kryssin planned to carry her to their bed and show her exactly how much he appreciated her unique view of the world.

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Chapter 36 “You are the most egotistical, stubborn, pig-headed, ignorant male I’ve ever met.” Clio stormed around the expensively decorated meeting room. “Clio.” Kryssin’s calm voice didn’t nothing to soothe her nerves. Incensed, she whirled to face him. “You…do…not…speak.” If I do not say the words, how will I ever calm your fears? Sneaky cheat, she fumed. “Stop talking in my head!” The big muscle brain-dummy shrugged those massive shoulders and gave a ‘who me?’ look. Alexial, Zale, Eryx, Kryssin and Bastien sat or stood in various relaxed positions throughout the large room. None of them seemed overly concerned by her objections. “There is no reason not to use me on the dive,” she protested again. “Clio, this argument won’t get you anywhere. We’ve discussed it and the decision remains.” His voice was unruffled and his face so passive, Clio wanted to hurl one of the priceless vases against his head. “Who discussed?” she questioned. “Nobody brought me into any discussion.” Zale chose that moment to slither out from under his rock. “You were not needed. You are Kryssin’s mate and therefore, too valuable to risk needlessly.” She wanted to snatch him bald for the casual and careless way he spoke to and about her. “You,” she pointed a finger at him, “I should have killed.” An actual smirk passed over Zale’s face before his expression faded to blandness. Bastien broke the tension. “I know you think it’s an easy dive, Jellyfish, but there are too many things that could go wrong.” “Such as?” He passed a glance at each brother. “Here’s the thing. Kryssin won’t be using a tank when he goes down. You’d need one. He won’t be limited by time restraints. You will.” The visions that popped in her head were both intriguing and fearful. “Oh yuck, what does he do? Turn into a squid or something?” “What is your obsession with shape-shifting?” The object of her objections asked as he leaned back in his chair, not a care in the world. Clio gave a careless shrug. “I read a lot. Werewolves are really hot.” That stunned the group into silence for all of two seconds. “You have met werewolves?” asked Eryx, curiosity apparent in his voice. Zale barked out. “When did this happen?” “Did they touch you?” This from Kryssin. “Were there any females?” Of course, Bastien would think with his little brain. Poor guy. She asked over the din. “Hey, why won’t he need tanks? You don’t grow gills or anything, do you?” No one bothered to answer her. “I’ve heard rumors on occasion, but we’ve never had solid proof,” Alexial said to an excited looking Eryx.

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“I should get a lifetimes supply of Lithium, tequila and tarter sauce to deal with you people,” Clio muttered under her breath. Where did they come up with this crap? She mentioned the fiction books she’d read. All of a sudden they were ready for a silver bullet wolf hunting party. Maybe she needed to pass out the Xanax to them? Amid the voices and confusion over this new idea, a phone blared out Heart’s song ‘Barracuda’. All movement halted and eyes shifted to Bastien. Hands held up in innocence, Bastien backed away. “I didn’t do it this time. I swear.” In the middle of the chorus, ‘Barracuda’ changed to ‘Under the Sea’ in a lively Jamaican beat. Clio had to fight not to laugh or sing along. The rest of her group stared at the phone lying innocently on the stone coffee table, happily chirping on about nothing being better than life under the sea. Finally, when it was obvious the music wouldn’t stop, Alexial reached over and flipped the phone open. “Yes, Phoenix,” No one moved as they watched the oldest brother’s face go from tense to rigid in the space of seconds. “I don’t believe that is wise.” White knuckles gripped the phone so hard, Clio thought the plastic would crumble under the intense pressure. “As you say, Oracle,” He hung up the phone. “Clio is going with you, Kryssin.” Alexial’s voice was quiet with a thread of steel lining it. “By Hades’ hand, she is not.” Gone was the look of casual laziness. Kryssin’s taut body fairly vibrated waves of anger. Alexial shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid Phoenix had seen the need for her to be there.” He looked directly at his little brother. “You know there is nothing we can do to defy his predictions.” Kryssin bristled under the order. “She is my mate and I won’t risk her life on some whim of a second-rate soothsayer. I can’t believe you’d ask it of me!” “Hey, she is right here and can speak for herself.” Clio jumped to stand between the two men. And faintly heard Zale’s muttered, “Don’t we all know that.” She spared him an ugly look but turned the main portion of her attention to Kryssin and Alexial. “First thing, why won’t you need tanks for the dive? Second, I’m going with or without you. My parents died there and that’s where their bodies lay. If anyone has a right to be there, it’s me.” The news stunned the men into silence. It wasn’t information she’d meant to blurt out but they were trying to keep her from this dive. She would risk everything including facing her greatest fears, to be able to say a final goodbye. Eryx was the first to speak. “Clio, I’m sorry. I didn’t, we didn’t know.” He waved both arms to encompass the group. “Are you sure you want to face this?” A smile touched her lips as Eryx’s concern warmed her heart. “Going back down there, remembering everything that happened.” She took a deep breath, grateful when Kryssin’s

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warm hand enclosed her own. “I didn’t think I’d ever be ready for it. But I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past few days. I really can do this,” she promised the men silently watching her. “I need to do this or it really will haunt me the rest of my life.” “She will go.” The pronouncement from Zale shocked Clio to the tip of her bare toes. Out of all the brothers Zale was the last she’d expect to be on her side. “Phoenix has pronounced it and Clio has earned the right through her parents’ blood.” The decree left everyone silent for a moment. Reflecting on their inner demons, she supposed but it didn’t matter to her. She was going down to say a final goodbye to the people who had raised her, loved her and given their lives for her. Her courage was the least they deserved. ***** He wouldn’t allow it. Kryssin refused to put his mate’s life in danger on the say so of a being none of them had met. He didn’t care if it caused a rift between them, at least Clio would still be alive to fight. If she went down, he wouldn’t be able to protect her. It wasn’t the Scaber-Hunters he worried about, but the emotional demons he couldn’t slay for her. She shouldn’t have to face her parent’s graves after everything else she’d been through in the past few days. He would go after the six jars or whatever Clio said was down there. He’d bring them back up. Then Clio and Eryx could translate to their heart’s content. But no way, was he allowing the woman he loved to make the dive. “I won’t allow it,” he decreed in his firmest voice. “The hell you won’t,” his mate cheerfully returned. “Less of this allow crap and more requesting would be good for you right now, lobster breath.” “You will not risk yourself in this way.” A new thought came to him, making a cruel smile curve his lips. “Besides, we don’t have tanks for you to use.” His logic didn’t sway her. “I’ll use whatever you used to go down. Can’t be all that hard if someone with your limited brain power can manage it.” Was it just last night the cold and angry woman before him lay eagerly in his arms, whispering soft words of love? He found no resemblance now. His life would be so much better if he could keep her tied to his bed where he knew she was safe. Kryssin held on to his temper with a death grip. “Clio, we don’t know if you can absorb oxygen through your skin like we can. I’m not willing to risk you for the sake of petty pride.” Green eyes flashed fire and Clio’s chest heaved in anger, but it was her cold tone that put ice in Kryssin’s veins. “My pride is not petty and even if it were, it’s no longer your concern. What’s left of my family is down there and I deserve the right to say goodbye. Not to mention retrieving the jars they died for discovering.”

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At once, he felt shame for minimizing her pain and reached a hand out to comfort her. When she backed away from him, her face filled with revulsion, Kryssin felt his heart crack open. “The decision is yours, Clio, but if you risk your life diving, I will never forgive you.” The coolness of his voice must have startled her. Her mouth dropped in an ‘Oh’, then Clio regained control and straightened her spine. “That’s fine with me, Kryssin. I’ll never forgive you for trying to keep me away from my parents.” Her words echoed in the air long after she stormed out of the room. Kryssin’s insides felt twisted and raw, and each beat of his heart boomed the pain screaming inside his head. Bastien’s voice broke through the red swirl of pain and anger coalescing inside his mind. “What in the name of Zeus was that about?” his little brother demanded. Instead of answering Kryssin shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave the room. Before he’d taken one step, strong hands gripped his shoulders. “I think we deserve an explanation,” Alexial said him softly. If it had been anyone else but Alexial asking the question, Kryssin would have blown him off. Plus, in light of last night’s revelations, he owed his family. “She doesn’t need to put herself through this.” He stated what he thought was an obvious answer. “Would you be content to stand on the sidelines if it were one of us?” “That’s different,” Kryssin said. “Why?” Bastien chimed in. “Because she’s a woman? Dude, if you hadn’t noticed, that’s one woman that can take care of herself.” “But that’s the point!” Kryssin almost shouted at them. “If I’m there to stand for her, she shouldn’t have to stand at all.” Surprising everyone, Zale spoke up in Kryssin’s mate’s defense. “Clio Foster has more guts than sense, I agree. But I think she deserves the chance to do whatever she needs to in order to lay these particular ghosts to rest.” Kryssin was convinced Zale had lost his mind. “Would you let your mate go down there?” He shook his dark head. “She is not my mate. The question doesn’t apply. However, she sees the need to be there and you should support her choice.” “And what if Scabers are down there?” He threw the question at them. “How much closer can she get if she’s fighting demons?” “Alexial, Bastien and Eryx will stay here to monitor us. I will make the dive with you in order to ensure the safety of both of you.” The offer stunned and humbled Kryssin. Zale wasn’t known for love of groups. That he’d stayed so long among them this time testified to devotion for his family, which now included Clio. “Why do I have to stay on the surface?” Bastien complained in his most whiny voice. The tone grated Kryssin’s sensitive ears. “If we’re attacked, we’ll need your strength here,” Alexial answered. The response seemed to mollify him because Bastien said with a shrug. “Okay.” Alexial turned his powerful gaze back to Kryssin. “Go prepare yourself and your mate. We’ll be in position within fifteen minutes. And comfort yourself with this thought. Clio may

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have not taken enough blood to allow her to breathe underwater. If this turns out to be the case, then your fears and anger are for nothing.”

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Chapter 37 Blue water sparkled around her, the familiar scent of salt on the breeze served to cool some of Clio’s anger. The tranquility of the water never failed to settle her nerves, which is why she supposed, she spent so much time there. Something about being in the vastness of the ocean humbled her, and at the same time, filled her with purpose. She’d spent more time in and under the silky wet surface than she had on land. She glanced around the strange area and wondered what exactly went on in this place. The mysterious island of Gavula lurked in the distance. Underneath the simple white sand shores and green trees lay a myriad of caves and caverns. Ones Clio would soon be exploring. Her questions were more about the entire area than just one island. There were so many unanswered questions about this mystifying place. She knew the Bermuda Triangle ran from Bermuda to Miami to Puerto Rico. But those were just the borders of the Triangle. From the Gulf of Mexico they had to travel through the Straits of Florida by Cuba and head Northeast, as they had in the past three days. There were countless theories attempting to explain the many disappearances throughout the history of the area. The most practical seemed to be environmental and human error. The majority of disappearances could be attributed to the area's unique environmental features. The "Devil's Triangle" was one of the two places on earth a magnetic compass pointed towards true North rather than magnetic North. The difference between the two was known as compass variation. The amount of variation between the two could change as much as 20 degrees. If this compass variation was not compensated for, a navigator could find himself far off course and in deep trouble. Her faith had been well placed in Kryssin’s family. They’d arrived at her exact coordinates without a navigational problem in sight. Her only problem seemed to be the mate that refused to trust her. Kryssin didn’t believe she had what it took to face the cavern, her parent’s death or any demons that might show up. He wanted to coddle and protect her from the big bad world. Well, too bad. She was a big girl and hadn’t needed anyone fighting her battles since she was a child. If he couldn’t trust her, then there really was nothing for them to build a relationship on. It was that fact that caused her heart to bleed because Clio had believed Kryssin would fight for her, not against her. She was wrong. Now, Clio leaned over the railing looking into the sparkling water below and ignored the men behind her. She knew they were discussing strategy, but Clio didn’t want any part of it. They didn’t think she was ‘worthy’ enough to be part of their little war game, then she wouldn’t ask to be a player.

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“How you holding up, Jellyfish?” Clio turned from the view and smiled into Bastien’s concerned eyes. “I’ll make it through,” she assured him with a wan smile. “Oh, I’ve no doubt about it. I’m just wondering how much strain the fight with my brain-dead brother is weighing you down.” Enigmatic blue eyes pulled at her with the concern she saw overshadowing his normal humor. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? We’ve all got a job to do. The relationship stuff will have to wait.” If there was a relationship to come back to, she thought glumly to herself. “Besides as Kryssin keeps reminding me, this may not even work. I probably don’t have enough of his blood in me to absorb the oxygen like the rest of you do. But we’ll find out.” Bastien let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t understand why you two don’t read each other’s minds. Then you’ll understand his concerns and vice-versa.” If only it were that easy. “I’ve shut him out and he’s put a barrier up. I think we’re done communicating.” “If there are two more hard-headed people in the world, I’ve yet to meet them.” Her chance to respond was interrupted by Alexial’s commanding voice. “Time to dive. Kryssin, Zale, you have everything you need?” Both brothers nodded looking glum. “Clio, anything you want before you go?” “Besides another mate?” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on the group. Kryssin tensed and looked away. Bastien shook his head and Zale smirked. Men were idiots. “Tell me one more time how this is supposed to go?” She was stalling. It wasn’t pretty, but no one ever said fear was attractive. “If you can’t remember simple directions, then what good will you do us?” Kryssin lashed out. Thankfully, everyone ignored him. “Clio, I promise you it couldn’t be simpler. When your body submerges in the salt water, your skin will open your surface cells to gather the oxygen from the water allowing you to breathe normally. You’ll still be required to push the oxygen out with your lungs, but it will feel natural,” Alexial explained. “Easy as one, two, three,” she assured the worried men. “No problem.” Eryx followed her down the dive platform. When everyone else’s attention wasn’t on them, he spoke quietly. “I know why they don’t want me down there. I’d be more of a liability than help. But you’ve got a purpose for going there. Phoenix wouldn’t have sent you otherwise.” He smiled his assurance. It was nice having at least two brothers on her side. Though she wasn’t sure she could count Zale. He might be agreeing with her just to mess with her head. “Thanks, Eryx.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before starting down the metal ladder. He caught her hand in a firm grip before she’d taken one step. “Here, take this with you.” He shoved something in her hand. “You can hide it in the small of your back with your suit covering it, no one will see it.”

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Clio spared a quick glance around her. Seeing the others caught up in the maps, she looked at what Eryx had pushed at her. It was medium length knife with an intricate design on the handle. The blade of the knife was covered in soft leather. “Won’t the water ruin it?” she asked. Eryx shrugged unconcerned. “Doesn’t matter so long as it keeps you safe. Take care, Jellyfish, and watch your back.” Hearing Bastien’s nickname on Eryx’s lips brought tears to her eyes. She quickly averted her eyes, lifted the tank top of her pink suit, hooked the clip to the black boxer type bottom and pulled the tank back down. “Thanks, Eryx.” He gave her a bashful smile then returned to the deck. This was it, she told herself, minutes later as she poised her body to make the dive. Now or never. Clio pushed off with her toes and made a perfect dive into the mystifying blue water below.

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Chapter 38 It wasn’t going to work, she thought in a panic. Her skin wasn’t absorbing a damn thing and she was going to die with Kryssin telling her ‘I told you so’. Damn him. Damn me later, concentrate now. His calm voice eased the worst of her jitters. Easy for you to say. You’re a merman and I’m so not. She promised God if He let her live through this she’d treat her fish nicer. Buy them the really expensive food and not the ninetynine-cent stuff she normally dropped into their bowl. Forget your damn fish. Picture your skin opening up to accept the oxygen, feel it filling your lungs and then exhale. Clio felt his very presence inside her. She felt the force of him open her body and allowing the oxygen to pass through her skin cells and into her blood stream. Her eyes popped open, no burning there, and she let out a deep sigh. She was doing it. She was breathing like a fish underwater. Forgetting her anger, Clio threw herself into Kryssin’s arms and peppered his face with kisses. I’m breathing. Did you see that? I exhaled under the frigging water. How cool am I? You are very talented, but the true test is yet to come. The coolness in his voice brought back the memory of their fight and his lack of trust in her. Clio pulled away from his arms and motioned for him to lead the way. Without another word or glance in her direction, Kryssin swam swiftly through the water, not sparing a backwards look. There was a hand on her elbow. Zale was motioning her forward. He wanted her to follow Kryssin, so he could watch both their backs. She signaled her agreement and swam after her soon-to-be ex-mate. The thrill of her new power was lost in the wave of sadness brought on from Kryssin’s lack of acceptance. ***** Ahead of her, Kryssin cursed. He didn’t want to fight with Clio, but by coming on this dive she’d left him no choice. She had deliberately put herself in danger. It was unacceptable to a man of Kryssin’s background to accept that. He’d been taught at an early age to coddle and protect women. The very one he swore to protect above all others, ignored him. There were too many variables under the water. Granted, the ocean gave him more power but Clio didn’t know that. She thought she’d skip into the cavern, without a care in the world, pick up the clay vessels and wander out. If only she lived in reality. It was a slim chance the Scabers would be waiting on them, but it was a chance all the same. The thought of those filthy demons touching his mate again made him want to destroy something.

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Lost in his bad humor, Kryssin almost missed the crack in the reef that signaled the start of the cave. Slowing down, he gestured to the others. It was now or never. The scrolls or what his family hoped were the lost jars of Poseidon could be resting in this very cavern. They needed them if they were ever to find the next eight mates. Taking a deep breath for courage, Kryssin pushed his way into the darkness of the tunnel and prayed his fears would be unfounded. ***** The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and goose bumps pricked her flesh. Clio knew it was part nerves. After all, this was her first visit since her parents died here. But she was certain there was something more to it than simple nerves. The oily feeling was back in her stomach. She almost felt the touch of a hateful gaze raking her skin. Maybe Kryssin had been right. That thought alone was enough to shock her out of her stupor. He wasn’t right. Clio needed to be here and more important, Kryssin needed her here as well. They swam for close to thirty minutes before the tunnel cut sharply to the left. Kryssin motioned for them to stay back while he scouted the area. She made a movement to argue, but Zale held her back with a shake of his head. Feeling irritated with the whole male species, she resisted the urge to kick Kryssin’s brother and settled for glaring at him until Kryssin returned. Time slowed down while they waited and Clio couldn’t force interest in anything but Kryssin’s return. Finally, after what seemed like hours, his dark head appeared and gave them the allclear signal. Zale pushed her forward and up until Clio’s head was above water and her gaze glued to an unbelievable sight before her. It was an underwater palace complete with marble pillars, glittering gold statues and chests of jewels. “What is this place?” she whispered, her voice echoing in the cavernous room. “The real lost city of Gavula,” Zale answered in the same low tone. “Come on, let’s get what we came for and get out. I don’t like the way this place feels.” Kryssin’s curt tone cut through the wonder of the room. Clio pulled herself from the water and onto the warm marble floor. Looking around she could almost see her father’s face when he came upon this discovery. He would have been delirious over such a major discovery and it was only natural he brought her mother down to share it with him. Her eyes moved around, taking in any space that would hold their bodies and came up empty. Where could they be? Clio silently maneuvered around the various artifacts, for once taking little interest in the priceless pieces. She wanted what she’d come here for. Clio wanted her parent’s bodies. And they were nowhere to be found.

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She sat down, weariness making her clumsy when she knocked over several vases. She couldn’t motivate herself to feel back or sit them back up. She just sat there in stunned silence listening to the men map the room and scour for the jars. All this time, Clio had held out some hope of finally being able to say a proper goodbye to her mother and father. Now she was left with nothing. She didn’t even have hope left. Feeling sorry for herself and drowning in pity, Clio didn’t hear the whisper of movement coming from the pool. From her position between the tall thick pillar and two gemstudded vases, she didn’t see the green finned creatures emerge from the water until Kryssin’s alarmed shouts filled the air. “Zale, behind you!” Kryssin’s voice bounced around the room. Clio peeked out and was stunned to find the once empty cavern filled with ScaberHunters and more coming out of the water. Just as Kryssin had feared, they were outnumbered and under attack. She saw the panicked look come into Kryssin’s eyes as he fought the two demons coming at him. She knew he was looking for her. She wanted a way to communicate that she was safe for now, but there was no way to do so without drawing attention to her. A crashing noise sounded on her left and she looked around in time to see one very large demon throw Zale to the ground and point a sword at his throat. “Tell your brother to stop fighting my men or I’ll kill you now,” the thing hissed out between his jagged teeth. “Go to hell,” Zale replied between his own bleeding lips. “You first,” The creature replied as he drew back his sword to swing. Clio didn’t think; she reacted and jumped from her hidden position. She yanked the knife from the sheath at her spine and let out a warrior’s scream. The Scaber didn’t have a chance to respond. Clio’s knife was through his heart before he knew she was there. He stumbled and dropped his sword into Zale’s waiting hand. “Kryssin’s going to kick your ass for that.” He smiled at her then jumped into the circle of Scaber-Hunters surrounding her mate. “Yeah, well, he’s got to be alive to kick anything,” she replied to Zale’s form. She didn’t have much time to contemplate Kryssin’s anger because the fight had turned toward her. Clio was startled when Kryssin appeared in front of her, his sword held steady while his gun was locked and loaded. “I suppose it wouldn’t do any good if I order Zale to zap you to the ship?” “You’d be right…for once.” “Right, then.” He paused to lop off the head of an attacking green man. He turned them back-to-back, while keeping his eye on Zale who was fighting his way back to them. “Thanks for my brother’s life.” “No problem,” she replied, too busy to give him the smartass comment he deserved. She’d think of a really good one later, but right now she was too busy cutting at swamp things. “Aim through the heart or throat. Anything else they can heal within the water like we can.”

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“Can’t we zap out here and come back later?” Sloosh, wham; another slimy one down. “No, they know we’re here for something. If we leave now, they’ll trash the place and we’ll never get the other jars.” “Alrighty then.” And that was it. Kryssin turned his head and went back to his own fighting. The enormity of his actions shocked Clio to her core. Kryssin might not be aware of it, but he trusted her. The proof was in his actions. They may not make it out of there, but she’d die a happy woman. He’d put them shoulder to shoulder trusting that she would not only watch his back but cover it as well. Warmth suffused her while heat surrounded her and a strange feeling centered in her chest. When she put her hand over the spot, heat seared her skin. What the hell was happening now? Golden light shot out from her body, disintegrating each demon it touched. Her body lifted in the air and spun in slow circles. Light destroyed every Scaber-Hunter in the room and the ones coming from the water at the same time music poured into the room. In the strongest part of the light, Clio saw her parents. They smiled at her, filling her with such a sense of peace and purpose she’d never known. They had come to say goodbye, she realized. The time had come to let them and the pain go. They wanted better for her and her life. She sensed they approved of Kryssin and shared their happiness with her before fading back into the brilliant golden light. When no enemies were left on the ground, Clio’s body floated down and straight into Kryssin’s arms. “What the hell was that?” he whispered, gathering her into his arms. “That was the third ritual. The one of trust.” She snuggled into the safe haven of his body. “You finally showed me trust when you allowed me to fight at your side or back as it were.” She winked at him, and then promptly yawned. “Oh man, mass killing makes me tired. Can we get the stuff and go?” she asked, twining her arms around Kryssin’s neck to play with his hair. “Whatever you want, honey. Zale will stay here and I’ll zap you back to the ship.” He pressed soft kisses to her hair and face. “Why leave Zale here? Granted meditation might do him some good, but it’s pointless.” She shot Zale a winning smile. “I stay to find the parchments. If your new superpowers didn’t destroy them,” he responded in his normal brusque manner. “Zale, quit fawning over me. I’m fine. Geez, you save a guy’s life and he acts all emotional. Wuss.” She winked at him from the safety of Kryssin’s embrace. “If you two would stop bickering like children for a minute?” “I can if he can,” she retorted smartly. “We have to get the scrolls before more demons come back,” Zale reminded her in a stuffy voice. “So go get them. What are you waiting for?” “Perhaps you didn’t notice but they are not easily found.” He strolled through the room kicking at piles of dust. “You could have made it a bit neater, you know.”

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“Oh, Zale,” she sang knowing what she said next would drive him insane. “Yes.” His eyes were wary at the sweetness in her tone. “They’re right at your feet and there are only two of them. The others were taken years ago.” Surprise shone out of his face before he once again masked it in neutral lines. “Oh and Zale?” “Yes.” The cautious reply came hesitantly. “Bite me.” Clio looked up into Kryssin’s stunned face and said, “Beam me home, water-boy.”

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Chapter 39 Back on board the ship, Eryx immediately took over the care of the two jars. Clio looked on longingly as they disappeared. Since she was still locked in Kryssin’s embrace she didn’t think she’d stand a chance of following the newly acquired treasure. “Don’t even think about it,” he whispered in her hair. “I wasn’t,” she answered. “Not really. I know we have to debrief the rest of the troops but then…” she wiggled her eyebrows, “they’re all mine.” “Zale can explain everything for now. I need you alone.” His voice had taken on a desperate edge. “Okay,” she told him simply, ready to face whatever came next. He muttered some excuse to the rest of the group, then flashed the two of them down to their set of rooms. Once there, Kryssin refused to let her out of his arms. He strode to the shower, used one hand to turn the knobs and let the other slide seductively down her body. “I need you, Clio.” There was a touch of anxiety to his voice. “Take what you need, Kryssin.” She offered him her body and heart. Need turned into desperation before her eyes. He ripped at her clothes while struggling out of his own. In seconds, they were naked and Clio was pushed up against the shower wall with Kryssin pressed hard against her. “Don’t leave me, love,” he whispered, pressing frantic kisses along her face and jaw. His fingers went straight to her inner lips. “Open up for me, Clio. Let me feel all of you.” She opened her thighs for him. Her body putty in his hands. “You’re wet and soft. You’ll suck me right in,” he murmured, as he slid his finger up and down the slick folds. He kissed her tenderly, sucking her bottom lip then releasing it to tangle with her tongue. He caught her cry against his mouth when he angled his hand to caress her clitoris. Clio tore herself away from his kiss long enough to demand, “Now, Kryssin. I want you in me now.” He pushed her legs wider and pressed the head of his penis against her swollen nub. The burning heat of contact made her moan. “It’s not enough.” Her chest heaved for breath. “I’m going to come inside you again. Feel you clutch me, so tight and hot. She wiggled trying to get closer. “Stop talking about it and do it,” she demanded. He slid himself tenderly into her wetness and then down to lodge in her slick, feverish opening. He pulsed against her. Clio closed her eyes and licked her lips. “Are you trying to kill me?” Blue eyes burned into green when he looked up. “No, love, I’m trying to make it last. Once I get inside of you, two, three strokes max and it will be over for me.” “Please,” was all she could force out. Kryssin uttered a grinding moan as he pushed himself slowly inside her. He dragged himself almost out then with a bellow, shoved himself balls deep in her body.

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“Put your arms and legs around me.” His voice was rough and tense. She clung to him like a monkey and held on for the ride. Clio abandoned herself to his magical pleasure, seduced by his whispered words, the sensual, pounding rhythm of his body slamming into hers. Explosions of pleasure rocked her, each one burning hotter than the one before. She clutched at his shoulders, nails biting into flesh. The more Clio opened, the more Kryssin gave until they were lost in a spiral of unending pleasure. “I love you, Kryssin Poseidon,” Clio whispered words she was unable to hold back. He met her eyes once again, this time with pleasure and awe. “You are my life, my heart and my soul. I love you, Clio.” They exploded together, neither one noticing the golden glow that encompassed them both until the light filled the stall and burned around them, sealing them together. “What in Hades’ realm?” Kryssin jerked away trying to separate from Clio. Clio soothed him. “It’s done, Kryssin. Your soul is now your own.” She patted the area around his heart, still shining with the beautiful light. “No one can take it away from you. Your soul is home.” She watched amazed as tears came to his eyes and he shook his head. “You are my soul, regardless of the curse. You are my home.” Delighted and touched, Clio brushed her lips across his. “Then take me to bed and show me again.” A wicked grin crossed his face. “I’d be delighted to.”

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Chapter 40 Later that night, Clio found Eryx bent over the scrolls. “Can you read them?” she asked from behind. He jumped a foot. “Clio, I wasn’t expecting you this soon.” She gave him a crooked smile. “I couldn’t stand not knowing what they say.” He nodded his head in understanding. “I know. I was eager myself.” “So what’s on them?” she demanded, coming up to his side. “Well, there’s the old good news/bad news adage.” “Figures,” she muttered. “Okay, let’s hear the good news.” His smile lit the room. “Let me read it to you. I’ve translated it from the original text, so bear with me.” Eryx picked up a small white sheet of paper, cleared his throat and read. “The first will lead you to the second. The second will answer the questions of the first and explain the haste for the third. The third will challenge the second and clear the way for the fourth.” He shrugged his shoulders when he finished reading. “The bad news is the rest had been cut out. The only other part I can read is the last.” Clio gave him a hard look and he quickly picked up another sheet of paper. “To regain what once was and restore power, the tenth must bathe in the fire and not be burned. To be sacrificed on the altar of the forgotten. Only then will the ten be one and life be freed from the shackles of fate. The tenth will rise when fire shall freeze, ice will scorch, rain will thirst and sand turn to steel. The tenth will find the way to fill the bottomless cup of life. From the ashes of extension, one shall rise to guide the nine. Hidden from sight, silenced by sound, burdened with the knowledge of ages. Tested by the Oracles and the karma of destiny.” He finished with a flourish. “What the hell does all that mean?” For once Clio hoped to have nice clear answers. Instead there was mumbo followed by more jumbo. “I think it’s telling us how to find the rest of the soul-keepers. It’s like a riddle.” “Great.” Clio ran a hand through her hair. “I stink at riddles.” “Yeah, me too, but I know someone who excels at them.” The look her gave her left no doubt who’d she be asking for help. “It’s Zale, isn’t it?” Eryx nodded. “This sucks.” Eryx nodded again. “Give me the—“ The ship rocked and they were both thrown to the right side slamming into cabinets. “What’s going on?” she wheezed out. “Attack.” They were on their feet in seconds, scrambling for the door.

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Sounds of fighting reached Clio’s ears before they reached the deck. Pushing the door open onto broken glass she watched in shock as Scaber-Hunters poured over the ship. “Eryx, grab another sword. I’ve got to find Kryssin.” She hoped the search for the weapon would keep the youngest Poseidon brother out of harm’s way until she could locate one of his siblings. She spotted Bastien, grinning and slicing away at every demon that came near him. “Bastien!” she yelled over the noise. He looked up, eyes going wide when he spotted her. In seconds, he cleaved a path to her and pulled her behind him. “What in Hades’ hell are you doing here? Where’s Eryx?” His eyes looked desperate for a glimpse of his younger brother. Clio yelled loud enough to be heard. “I sent him down to get more weapons. It’s the only thing I could think of.” Bastien pointed his sword to one of the still intact lifeboats. Clio nodded her understanding and backed away, all the while looking for sign of her mate. When she spotted him, her heart dropped to her feet. He was surrounded by the slime creatures. For every one destroyed two took its place. Alexial and Zale were doing their best to reach him, but given their own opponents, they wouldn’t reach him in time. The crack of a rifle shot split the air. Clio watched in amazement as with each shot, demons fell away from Kryssin. She looked around trying to spot the source of their salvation. Shocked to the tips of her bare toes, Clio spotted Eryx with an assault riffle on top of what she assumed was the captain’s office. He looked calm and wasted not one shot. Finally, Kryssin was able to slay his last Scaber-Hunter and work his way toward his brothers. A flash of light caught Clio attention. There, in the shadows on the rail, a demon stood his spear poised at her mate’s unprotected back. “Kryssin!” she yelled, running toward him. He turned, but not in time to see the missile hurtling right at him. Clio gave a powerful shove of her calves and sailed through the air. The spear pierced her body with ease and she tumbled to the ground, still frantic for Kryssin’s safety. When she tried to push up, her knees crumbled and she fell onto her side. Blackness swallowed her whole.

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Chapter 41 Kryssin watched as his mate raced as if in slow motion across the deck and threw herself directly in front of the spear. “No!” he screamed, his anguish drowning out the wails of the dying. “Clio.” He ran heedless of the danger to gather her close in his arms. Tears ran unheeded down his cheeks, and pain swelled and burst inside him. “No,” he whispered in her hair. “You promised never to leave me, Clio. Don’t…don’t…I can’t … live without you…you promised.” “Get her to the heart of the sea and this will complete her destiny.” Kryssin looked up at the unexpected voice. “Jay?” She nodded her head at Clio. “Can’t you feel the sea calling to her? Release her there, Kryssin, so she can come back to you.” He held Clio tighter. “What if she doesn’t?” Jay looked at him with compassion. “You are joined now. There is nothing in this life or the next that will separate you. Now remove the spear from her body and return her to Mother Ocean.” Kryssin found himself nodding his head, but when it came time to remove the offensive lance, he found his hands shaking too much to grasp it. “Allow me,” Zale offered. Kryssin nodded, held Clio tighter and winced when he heard the wet sucking sound of steel pulled from his beloved’s flesh. “Now, go, son of the sea. Take your mate to heal, so that she may rise and swim by your side for eternity.” He nodded and gathered Clio into his arms, strode to the rail, carefully climbed over then looked back at his brothers. Sometime after Clio had been hit, they must have won the battle. All around the ship lay piles of dead gray/green turned to dust. His brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, presenting a united front. “Bring our sister back to us when she’s ready.” Kryssin nodded at Alexial’s words and jumped.

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Chapter 42 Clio woke to the sensation of falling water and soft music. She felt refreshed and alive, her body pulsing with energy. Opening her eyes caused a start. “What the hell?” At once, strong arms were around her. “Finally, my love, I thought you would sleep forever.” “Kryssin” she sighed and relaxed against him. “Where are we?” “The heart of the sea or at least of my people. We call it Limani, which means haven.” “It’s beautiful,” she said looking around. The room was circular, each wall depicting a mural of an underwater scene. Jewels shone from the rocks they were buried in and sweet scents filled the air. “Not as beautiful as you.” His arms squeezed around her again. “You scared the immortality out of me, woman. What were you thinking?” Kryssin turned her in his arms and shook her lightly. “I would have survived the spear, woman. You almost didn’t.” “I didn’t think,” she admitted. “Well, now there’s a price to pay for the lack of thinking.” He sounded severe and her stomach clenched in fear. “Okay, let’s have it.” Would she be banished? Who would banish her? There really wasn’t a government set in place for such actions, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. “You’re immortal, my love, stuck forever with me.” It took a minute for his words to sink in. “What?” Kryssin carefully nodded his head. “It’s true. Bringing you into the water so close to death revived your body and gave you immortality.” When she didn’t speak, Kryssin eyes grew worried. “Is that so terrible, love? Do you truly mind the blood?” he rambled on. “We don’t need it every day and you like it when we make love. Then again we make love often so it might be everyday. I could try to resist, if you’d like.” “Kryssin, shut up and kiss me.” She put every ounce of her happiness into her words. “Your wish is my command.” It wasn’t really and never would be. Kryssin was his own man…er…immortal but then again so was she. Clio knew she’d have forever to train him to her way of thinking and forever just might be long enough to show him all her love.