Chapter 37
PHAEDRA
Darkness blankets the room, and I sit up, confused to find cold, dark ground beneath me and a roaring fire nearby. The last thing I remembered was showering with Hawthorne, then falling asleep together. In my bed.
Something rustles in the shadows, and I slowly get to my feet.
“Hello?” I call out, uncertain whether this is reality or a dream.
“About time you woke,” a surly voice answers from the other side of the fire.
With trepidation, I walk around to the blaze and find a stocky man with a beard, heavily muscled, in a simple tunic and pants with a leather apron on. He’s sitting on a log, staring into the fire. Hephaestus. I immediately kneel at his feet.
“Get up. We don’t have much time,” he gruffly orders me. As I stand, he grabs my left hand, and the brand on my palm lights up. “Drink this.”
Hands shaking, I take it from him and sniff. Smells like mead. Hopefully, it’s not poison. I tip it down my throat. Sweet honey and fruit. Similar to the mead of my childhood. I lick my lips and hand the cup back to him.
“You did well with the task I gave you. It’s time to assemble the box.”
Damn it. I’m not ready. “I don’t have the bottom panel. Ares…”
“Ares gave you what you need,” he says, refuting my words. “Get the panels and the key. Tomorrow begins the Great Panathenaea. Bring them to the largest and most celebrated temple of Athena.” He turns one eye toward me. “Alone.”
He disappears, and the fire dies, leaving me in complete darkness. Not wanting to stumble around in the dark, I sit, shivering, propped up against the log. Cold seeps into my bones, and numbness sets in. My lids drop along with the temperature, but conversely, my heart speeds up.
“Your heart is racing. Phaedra, wake up,” Mathias commands me. “That’s it, sweetheart. Come on. Let me see those beautiful blue eyes.”
Bright sun shines on my face, and I raise a hand to block it. “What’s going on?”
I hear the faint noise of metal scraping metal, and the sun disappears.
“I closed the drapes. Can you open your eyes for me?”
“What day is it?” I ask, cautiously opening them.
Mathias is sitting on the bed, looking down at me with concern. “July 23rd. What’s going on? Bad dream?”
“Did you know the gods often used dreams to visit their subjects?” I ask him, telling him what happened without saying the words.
He tenses. “Did they? That’s smart. Was that because they liked the secrecy of it?”
They said come alone, but they didn’t say I couldn’t leave clues. “Mm, that’s my guess.” I sit up and lean against the headboard. “Where did Hawthorne go?”
“He’s downstairs in the kitchen. I heard your heart racing and came in to see if you were okay,” he informs me, sweeping my hair behind my ear. “Do you need me to get him?”
“No, I was just making sure he was safe,” I reply, trying to think through this. Glancing down at my left palm, I realize the brand is glowing.
Mathias’ eyes widen when he sees it.
“Is it time? You don’t have the last piece,” he says, quickly standing.
I reach over and grab his hand, pulling him back down to the bed. “If we exchange blood, will that turn me into a vampire?”
He blinks. “You would only turn into a vampire if I bled you dry, then gave you my blood. Why? Do you want me turn you?” A troubled expression settles on his face. “It isn’t something I would recommend. Given your unique status, I’m not sure what would happen.”
“No,” I answer, and he blows out a relieved breath. “You said that bonded mates can sometimes hear each other’s thoughts or feel their emotions? Can you feel mine?”
He smiles wryly. “Only when we kiss. I’m not sure if it will be the same for you when you take my blood, but I wouldn’t mind if that’s the case.”
“Kiss me,” I demand, rising up on my knees. The covers slip, revealing my silky camisole and shorts. I grasp his shirt and pull him to me.
His brow lowers as if he’s not sure what’s going on, but he dips his head and claims my lips in a kiss. The minute they touch mine, I melt into him. Hands at my side, his thumbs rub the underside of my breasts, and I deepen the kiss.
Mm, I could kiss him until the end of time.
His kiss deepens, becoming more passionate and erotic, his tongue dancing against mine. He slides one hand up, covering my breast, and my body floods with need.
“I want to bond with you,” I gasp, knowing he knows but wanting to give him the words.
His eyes turn dark red. “Now?”
I nod. The clock is ticking, but I don’t want to leave here with any regrets. “But I want to do it right. Even though you’ve already taken my blood, I want you to do it again. A proper exchange.”
He takes a deep breath. “I want to be inside you then.” His gaze searches mine as if he’s not certain how I’ll feel.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell him, reaching for his shirt and stripping it off. My mouth finds his again, and I push him down onto the bed and straddle his lap as the thought of bonding with him fires my blood.
Mathias’ hand slips into my hair as he holds my mouth to his. Wicked tongue dancing with mine, he takes over the kiss, delving deep as if he can’t get enough of me.
I reach down and unbuckle his pants, pulling them off until the only thing between him and me is the silk shorts I’m wearing. I slide up and down, loving the feeling of my body molding to his hardness.
He grabs hold of my camisole and rips it open, and my need becomes an inferno.
Hands grasp my breasts, pushing them together, and his mouth moves from one side to the other, stroking them with his tongue.
I moan and place my hands on his chest so I can steady myself as my hips move, needing to assuage the ache between my thighs.
“You’re so fucking wet. I want to be inside you,” he growls, shredding my shorts. His hands grip my hips as I move on top of him with nothing between us.
Slick with need, I slide down on him and stop. My gaze flicks to his, waiting.
His eyes are the deepest, darkest red. “Phaedra, my mate, my love, will you give me your blood and bond with me for the rest of our days?”
“Yes,” I answer breathlessly. With our gazes locked on each other, I move, pushing us ever so closer to the edge.
He elongates his fangs, and I stare at them. The first time, I didn’t see his fangs and barely felt them. I sweep my hair behind my back, and without stopping, I lean over and bare my neck to him.
He groans and licks the side of my neck. Like before, the area tingles. There’s a tug, and I feel his tongue and mouth moving on my neck, drinking my blood. My body quickens, and I move faster.
He lifts his head and licks the drop of blood lingering on his lips. “Forever mine.” His fang pierces his bottom lip, and blood wells. With a sigh, I capture his lips with mine, sweeping my tongue over the few drops, taking his blood into me, as I kiss him with all the passion burning inside me.
Warmth spreads throughout my body, and I know it’s his blood. My heart beats hard and fast as if it’s going to burst out of my chest. My need becomes unbearable, raging out of control, and I clasp him to me, crying out for him.
He flips us and takes over, moving impossibly fast, but his eyes are locked on mine, full of wonder and a hint of possessiveness. My body shakes, and I fall over the edge, bringing him with me.
His lips glide over mine, then move to my neck and cheek, bestowing light kisses everywhere they touch. Clinging to him, I murmur my love, nuzzling his cheek as I work to catch my breath. Mathias runs his hand up and down my body until both of us calm.
I sigh, and his lips claim mine in a languorous kiss, silently murmuring words of love and devotion. My mate, forever. I’m never letting you go.
I pull my lips away. “I heard you. In my head.” I stare at him, trying to silently get my own message across, then I kiss him and flash an image of The Parthenon.
He rears back and looks at me in shock, then he nods and slides out of bed. “I’m going to grab the others.” He opens his mouth to say something, but I quickly shake my head and put a finger to my lips. The gods may be listening.
The second he leaves, I jump out of bed and grab a quick shower, then pick up the phone to ask Charlie to meet me in my garage.
Ten minutes later, I’m stepping into the portal with the key, the panels, and the Blades of War.
Hephaestus told me Ares already gave me what I needed, but since this is all I have, I’m guessing they’re vital to this plan.
Given our history, I didn’t want to leave without giving Mathias and the others a clue, but I also couldn’t break Hephaestus’ rule.
But it wasn’t about following the gods’ rules.
When Mathias woke me, I knew I didn’t want to leave here without cementing our bond and showing him how I felt.
Just in case things don’t go according to plan, whatever that may be.
I wanted no regrets between us. And if it was also my best shot at sharing information without saying it out loud, then that was a bonus.
Charlie sways a bit as he steps out of the portal. “Are you going to be okay here by yourself?” His eyes scan the temple behind me, then he looks at the backpack on my shoulder. “The Parthenon, huh? I can’t do two jumps across the pond in one day without recharging. I’ll hang around for a bit.”
Grateful for his understanding and his offer, I give him a hug and take a deep breath. “Thanks, Charlie. You’re a damn good friend.”
Pivoting, I begin the trek up the hill to the Acropolis.
Built during the Golden Age of Athens by the most skilled artisans and architects of their time, the Acropolis is considered by some to be the birthplace of democracy and Western civilization.
Such irony the gods chose this spot. They’re not exactly into free speech.
Once I reach the city, I continue climbing until I’m standing at the pinnacle in front of The Parthenon. A symbolic statement on the importance of Athena, its magnificence is still incredible to this day.
I glance at my phone. Almost eight thirty p.m. The summer sun is just beginning to set, marking the start of the Great Panathenaea, the ancient Greek festival celebrating Athena. I wonder if she chose this day and time for us to meet.
Entering the cella, I set down the backpack and grip the Blades of War, waiting for the gods to arrive.
Hephaestus enters first, his eyes darting from one corner to the other.
Apollo and Artemis arrive next, the brother and sister eyeing the weapons in my hands with raised brows.
Athena strides in, shoulders thrown back, clearly at home in her magnificent temple.
Demeter appears at the entrance, her soft face and delicate features the epitome of tranquil, and her golden robes representative of the harvest and the nature she has dedicated her powers to protect. She dips her chin, a small smile on her face. I lower the blades, not wishing to offend her.
Ares comes in with a flash of light. He looks at the blades and smirks, but he does nothing to take them from me. Something Apollo and Artemis immediately notice.
With all of them assembled, I remove the key and panels and set them on the ground at my feet. Athena smiles and opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, lightning fills the small space.
When my eyes adjust, Zeus is standing there with Hera on his arm.
I nervously take a step back and drop to my knees, my head bowed.
My stomach sinks. I’ve never seen Zeus up close.
Only the other gods. But I know he’s aware of me.
He wanted to send me to Hades that day, but Demeter stepped in and offered me a different punishment, the one I ultimately accepted.
“Athena!” Zeus orders in his booming voice. “Explain.”
Trembling, I glance up.
She dips her head. “Our powers are waning, and the gates between the worlds are weakening. You know this, but you choose to ignore it, believing we can continue to uphold their integrity. We can’t.
This plan was voted on by the Twelve Olympians.
Six voted aye, six voted nay. Given the tie and our rules, we are within our rights to move forward. ”
“Only a god can hold the portal gates,” Zeus snaps back. “Humans don’t have that power, not even one like her.” He curls his lip when he says “her”, and I realize he really hasn’t forgiven me for opening the vase.
“She isn’t human anymore,” Demeter murmurs, to my astonishment. When Zeus demands to know what she’s talking about, she lifts a shoulder. “An apple fell from one of my trees. She took a bite.”
The apple that knocked me out?
Hephaestus steps forward. “The ritual was completed last night when she accepted nectar from me.”
He gave me nectar of the gods?! What have they done?
Confused and desperate, I turn to Athena, who sighs. “We knew she would need god powers to hold the gates, so we made her a demigoddess.”
Zeus roars and stalks toward me, only to come up against an adamantine sword.
He stops, and I look to the right and find Gatlin standing there.
A spear made of Imperial Gold appears on my left, and I turn to see Hawthorne wielding it.
Spinning around, Jamison holds a golden bow and arrow that looks suspiciously similar to Artemis’.
Mathias stands next to him, looking fierce, with two short swords crafted of adamantine.
Add that to the blades in my hands, and we’re all brandishing god killers.