2. Perseus #2
“Well, it’s not like a map. X does not always mark the spot. But that’s where Perseus comes in. Thanks to him, we’ve found a lot of good candidates. His team has been doing the necessary research and coming up with possible candidates.”
Despite her eyes being obscured, Perseus could feel Medusa’s stare on him. “Really?”
“He’s the Vancouver pack’s best tracker,” Eros explained.
“He’s been invaluable in narrowing down our leads from the book further.
Also, my father, Hephaestus, has been working on a device that could find the descendants on a wider scale.
He says he might even be able to tell how much geryon blood someone has, and if they could transform once the pyxis is opened.
But he’ll need data from the human descendants to help him perfect the tracker. ”
Medusa leaned back in her chair. “I see.”
“That’s why we need your help,” Eros said. “To find as many as we can now so we can use the data to build an accurate tracker without alerting the mortals and causing panic and chaos.”
“But I can’t tell if someone has geryon blood.” She turned her head toward Bob. “Only if they are fully human or not.”
“We just need you to narrow down the search,” Bob said. “Initially, we thought everyone with geryon blood would have the same physical features as me.”
“And what features are those?” Medusa asked.
“I have marks on my back where my wings should be,” he explained.
“But after meeting some of the descendants living in Vale Crossing, we found that wasn’t true for everyone.
So, after some experimenting, we managed to isolate geryon DNA markers and find them with a blood test. Once we identify someone, we give them the test, and it tells us if they have the markers or not. ”
“But we can’t go around stripping people naked or poking them with needles, as much fun as that sounds,” the god of desire drawled.
“The test also requires a few vials of blood, and it’s time-consuming and expensive for now,” Bob continued.
“We’ve wasted a lot of time and money in the last few months testing several dozen individuals, and we’ve only found five of these humans with geryon blood.
We’ve also had to be creative about how to explain why we need to take their blood and get them to stay silent afterward. ”
“How do you get them to agree then?” she asked.
“With my glamor magic,” Eros said. “It’s the only way we can tell them without them freaking out or exposing our existence to the bigger world.
If it turns out they don’t have the DNA, then I make them forget.
My magic can also help them ease into the idea of them turning into geryons.
However, I’m not always available, and the whole thing is still time-consuming.
Which is why I suggested we hire you,” Eros said.
“So, once we track down possible candidates through our research, all you have to do is tell us if they register on your scale or not, then we can administer the test with their consent.”
“I see. Alright, I’m ready to work when you are.” She straightened up in her chair. “Where do we begin?”
“Excellent.” Bob tapped on the keyboard. “We’ve tracked one of the geryon descendants to a remote village in the Himalayas called Sirbhajun.”
“It makes sense,” Eros said. “Geryons live high up in the mountains in Vale Crossing. They’d be well suited to such altitudes.”
Bob caught his gaze. “I’ll have the details sent to you. Perseus and the jet will take you to Kathmandu later today.”
“Excuse me?” Perseus just about shot up from his seat. “I didn’t agree to go.” If Medusa had any objections, she hid them well as she remained calm as a millpond. “Why can’t you go, Eros? You can get there in the blink of an eye.”
“I would,” he said. “Except, unfortunately, I’ve been called to Olympus.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I can’t tell you. Godly duties and such,” he said curtly. “But, I won’t be able to return to the Upperworld, not soon anyway.” There was something in his face that Perseus had never seen before—worry. “This is why I wanted Medusa to join us right away, since I won’t be around.”
“Does Psyche know?”
The god’s lips tightened. “Yes. I’ll be bringing her to Denali right after this meeting, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to bring her back until I’ve finished my business.
She wants to stay there and continue her research while I’m gone, but your father said he’ll take care of things and make sure she can come back whenever she wants.
Cade Andersen of the Alaska pack will also be sending a few of his wolves to watch over her twenty-four seven. ”
“Good.” However, that still didn’t solve his problem. There was no way in hell he’d be able to spend time alone with that woman. “Isn’t there anyone else who can go to Nepal?”
“What, you think you’re such a treat to be with?” Medusa hissed. “I’d rather go by myself than be subjected to this vitriol.”
Shit . He scrubbed a hand down his face. “That’s not what I?—”
“If you’ll excuse me”—Medusa smoothly pushed her chair away and stood up, chin held high—“Bob, I’ll use the rest of the day to study those files. Lord Eros, it’s not too late to go back on our agreement. Just let me know and I’ll pack my bags.”
“Smooth, Perseus, real smooth,” Eros admonished as soon as Medusa left the room.
“Are we going to have a problem here?” Bob asked. “Perseus, like I said, you’ve been invaluable in our search. But Medusa?—”
“Could really speed things along,” he finished.
Perseus knew he could walk away anytime.
He volunteered for this project and wasn’t even being paid for his time.
Unfortunately, his pride and work ethic refused to let him quit now.
Besides, he truly enjoyed the work he’d been doing in the past months.
Instead of being stuck in an office day in and out, he’d been able to use his skills, and it was never boring. Why should I be the one to quit?
“Perseus?” Eros cocked his head to the side.
“It’s fine. I’ll go with her.”
“Jet takes off at eight,” Bob said.
“I’ll be there.” Huffing, he stood up. “I need to get ready.” With a nod to both men, exited the room. There were a lot of things he needed to—“Psyche?” He nearly collided into his sister outside the door of the study. “What are you doing here?”
“Perseus?” Large hazel eyes peered up at him, but only for a moment before she looked away. “Can we talk?”
He’d been avoiding her—and everyone else—the entire weekend, so he should have known this moment would come.
While they weren’t particularly close, Perseus loved Psyche fiercely, and he would die to protect her as he would any member of his family.
He could also not deny her anything. “Alright. But not here.” He glanced back at the room. “Let’s go out into the garden.”
They walked up to the main floor, then out through the side door that led out to the well-maintained garden that had a stunning view of the ocean.
Like the rest of the house, it was tasteful and suited the surroundings of the island.
Jean was a renowned architect and had designed their home to compliment the natural features of the environment.
Today, the ocean wind whipped at them, tousling Perseus’s golden locks and Psyche’s long dark curls. With a wrinkle of her nose, she gathered her hair and twisted it, tucking it into her hoodie. “You know I prefer to speak plainly and directly. Because of my autism.”
Their family never tried to hide or shied away from Psyche’s diagnosis. In all honestly, he personally preferred her straightforward nature. “Go on.”
Her eyes met his again before turning back to the ocean. “So, are you a demigod?”
“Yes.” The truth was always the best answer.
“Did you know? Before Medusa?—”
“Yes.”
“Do Mom and Dad know?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows drew together. “How come you know? Are you going to tell them? Or Theo or Agnes or Christine?”
“Someone told me. Look, Psyche…” He inhaled a deep breath, allowing the salty ocean air to invade his lungs. “I’ve known for a while; I just chose not to tell anyone.”
“Why not?” She cocked her head to the side. “You know you can tell us anything.”
“Yes, but…” How to explain this to her? “It doesn’t matter who my father was.”
“Are you going to take the golden apple then?”
Fuck no.
The gods would have to force that damned apple of immortality down his throat before he ate it and became one of them.
But he bit his lip. “It’s complicated, alright?”
She pivoted to face him, and this time, she looked him straight in the eye. “You have to at least tell Mom and Dad.”
She was right, of course. “I will…but you need to let me do it at my own time.”
“When?”
“At my own time.”
“But when is that?”
Perseus mustered up every bit of patience he had. His sister was not being a petulant child—she just really needed to know the answer. “I’m sorry, Psyche, I can’t give you a definite answer. Not right now. Please, I just need time. But I promise, I’ll let them know.”
“Alright.” She sighed. “Did Eros tell you he was going away for a while?”
“He mentioned it. Do you know why?”
“I do. But I can’t tell anyone. Olympus business.”
Perseus didn’t give a fuck about Olympus—it could all burn down for all he cared. But he did care about Psyche. As a mortal, she would not be able to go to Olympus, which meant she would be away from her mate. “Will you be okay?”
“Yeah, I have my work to keep me occupied.”
“And you call us—any of us—if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.” There was the briefest of smiles on her face before she gave him a quick hug. “I should go. Eros needs to leave soon. Take care.”
“You too.” He watched after her until she disappeared into the house, then turned back to the sea. The blue waters of his home usually didn’t fail to calm him, but today, not even the gorgeous sight of the waves and the vast cerulean skies surrounding him could soothe his nerves.
This place would always be his home. His mother, Amanda, had been a sea wolf born to this pack. Even if she hadn’t died in childbirth and he hadn’t been adopted by Leo and Jean Gialamas, he would have still grown up here.
You belong here , he told himself. You always have, you always will.
Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to change.