10. Perseus #2
“Dr. Robertson and Mom and Dad thought it best you had some privacy while you healed. And it would be easier to keep you safe out here.”
Keep him safe…
Fuck.
He’d been attacked.
And Medusa had been part of it.
A twinge of pain plucked at his chest.
“Perseus?” Psyche cocked her head to the side. “Is there something wrong? Why are you wincing?”
“Noth—”
The door opened, starting them both. Theo entered, face strained, dark circles under his eyes, hand scrubbing against the scruff on his jaw that was normally clean-shaven.
“Psyche, I just—” He sucked in a breath, body completely still. “Perseus.” Quickly, he strode to the other side of the bed. “Are you alright? How long have you been awake? Why didn’t you call me, Psyche?”
“Theo, I woke up a minute ago. Leave her alone.”
“I just…of course…sorry…” Theo raked his fingers through his disheveled hair. “I…gods, I’m so glad to see you awake.”
The two of them had grown up together, joined at the hip, and they always had a close relationship, so of course Theo had been worried. Perseus would have been a wreck, too, if roles were reversed and he had to watch Theo almost die.
“I’m glad to be awake.” He could already feel his strength starting to return, so he slowly pulled himself up. “Psyche says I’ve been in a coma for two weeks.”
“Yeah, we were worried, but Dr. Robertson assured us you were doing fine and healing on your own.” Dr. Cal Robertson was a doctor who was part of their pack and an expert on shifter physiology.
“You had brain damage from the lack of oxygen, not to mention a few broken bones and a punctured lung from those…things. I’m just glad you managed to send me that emergency SOS.
That Hephaestus really is a genius when it comes to tech stuff.
” His nostrils flared. “Perseus, what happened?”
Perseus massaged his temples, trying to recall the events of that last night in Switzerland.
With Medusa.
Initially, he’d been taken aback by her reluctance to meet Theo for dinner.
He thought their relationship was developing, progressing even.
But her ‘no’ had felt like an utter rejection–at least until he really thought about it, and realized she was right.
They’d only known each other for less than a month, though for him, that didn’t matter. He was so sure of her, of them.
So, he’d thought to make it up to her by taking her on a romantic date and telling her exactly how he felt. When he did at dinner, she’d seemed taken aback once more, but he decided to be patient. Perhaps she just needed time to process it all and let his words sink in.
Little did he know, she was setting him up to die.
“Where is she?” he said through gritted teeth. “Where is Medusa?”
“Gone.” His brother tsked. “I tried to stop her, but she got away. Literally disappeared into thin air as I was restraining her. But why did she want to kill you?”
Psyche shook her head. “If Theo hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have believed it. She seemed so nice and Eros trusted her, otherwise he wouldn’t have brought her on. I’m so sor?—”
“It wasn’t his fault, Psyche. Or yours.” Perseus braced his hands on the mattress and swung his legs to the side of the bed. When his siblings made a move to help him, he waved them away. “She fooled us all.”
And now she was gone. Slunk back to whatever hellhole she came from. Rage began to simmer in his chest, temporarily blocking that dull ache forming there.
“No wonder she didn’t want to meet me for dinner,” Theo said. “She already had plans for you.”
“But do you know why she wanted you dead?” Psyche asked.
Another pain stabbed him in the chest, more intense this time. Medusa’s beautiful face surfaced in his brain, but he quickly quashed it. That murderous witch had been lying to him this entire time.
“I…yes.”
Those men—no, things as Theo said—wanted him to say his father’s name. They used his feelings for Medusa to force him to acknowledge Zeus.
To fulfill the prophecy.
He shut his eyes tight. There was something he was supposed to remember…
The prophecy…
Free him from his bonds…
Crown the mighty head…
The other…beware
Remember this conversation…
Something in his brain snapped into place.
The prophecy.
Theo’s eyebrows knitted together. “What’s going on, Perseus? What are you not telling us?”
Tension seeped into his body as he fought with himself, wondering if he should tell them the entire truth. On one hand, it was none of their business. But on the other, whoever tried to kill him might try again, and if they were willing to use Medusa, they could go after his family.
But could he keep them safe without revealing his secret?
“Does this have something to do with your real father?” Psyche said.
“Your biological father?” Theo asked. “What about him?”
Oh, Psyche.
It seemed the choice was made for him. He gathered his thoughts, inhaling what seemed like the biggest breath he’d ever taken. “Yes, it has something to do with him.”
Theo’s jaw dropped. “You know who he is?”
“He came to me the night I turned eighteen and revealed himself.”
“And you never said anything? And—wait.” Theo whirled toward Psyche. “How come you know?”
“I don’t, really.” Her gaze darted away. “Medusa told us he was a demigod. Accidentally.”
Was it accidental? Or did she do it on purpose? The rage inside him was now closer to a boil. “That’s why whoever was trying to kill me sent her. To confirm what I was.”
“Wait, wait.” Theo waved a hand. “I’m confused. Wasn’t she the one trying to kill you?”
You have served your purpose, dear Medusa. You were an excellent inside agent.
“No, no.” The fragments of memory in his brain were coming together. “There was someone else. She was just a tool to make me admit who my father was and fulfill the prophecy.”
“What prophecy?” Theo said impatiently. “Will you just tell us everything so we can find out who tried to kill you and eliminate them?”
Perseus swallowed hard. “When my father came to see me, he said I was supposed to fulfill a prophecy. One that foretold that he would be imprisoned and I would free him.”
Theo harrumphed. “And what did you say?”
“I refused.”
“Why?” Psyche asked.
“Because he was an asshole who left my mom to die,” he said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, he just left, and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Good.” Theo nodded in agreement. “That bastard doesn’t deserve to have a son like you. Hope he did rot in jail or wherever it is gods send their own to be imprisoned.”
“Tartarus,” Psyche said in that flat, informative tone of hers. “It’s the place where—” She gasped aloud, her eyes bulging out of their sockets. “Zeus is your father?”
Perseus’s head snapped toward her. “How did you know?”
“Like the almighty Zeus? King of the Gods?”
“Yeah, but I never even gave a hint. How did you know?”
“Because he’s in prison—Tartarus—right now.” She chewed at her lower lip. “That’s the reason why Eros can’t leave Olympus. It turns out, Zeus became the ruler of Olympus because he cheated.”
Power you will have, if you seize it
Only then will you be crowned king of the heavens.
A sense of foreboding filled Perseus.
Psyche continued. “When the other gods found out, they sent him to Tartarus, and he’s been there ever since, leaving his seat on the council empty.”
But the end will come, and you will be unseated.
“He’s been gone for a couple of years now, and all the gods and goddesses just kind of got sick of it. Now they’ve locked everyone in Olympus so they could decide on who’s going to take his place.”
A beast of nature who speaks your name will free you.
And the crown will finally rest on the mighty head.
“Motherfucker,” Perseus cursed. “He won’t stop. Not until they’re all dead.”
“Who? Zeus?” Theo asked.
“No, no.” Perseus pushed himself off the bed.
Stretching his legs felt good, but so did the surge of energy coursing through him as his mind began to race.
“The one who tried to kill me. The other.” He clenched and unclenched his hands.
“I dreamt—” No, it wasn’t a dream. “The Fates came to me while I was in my healing coma.”
Psyche gasped. “The Moirai? The three who are one?”
“Yes.” He knew it had to be them. “They came to warn me that someone is interpreting the prophecy differently. Another— the other , they called them—thinks it means that Zeus’s child will take his place on the throne instead. They want it for themselves.”
Theo hissed. “So, this ‘other’ person hired Medusa to make you admit who you were so they could kill you and stop the prophecy?”
“Yes. And it’s not just me they’re after. I think they’re going to kill all of Zeus’s children.”
“There must be dozens of them running around. That Zeus was a damned horny bastard,” Theo said dryly. “No offence.”
“None taken. But still, they’re my blood. I can’t just stand back and let them be killed.”
“Of course not,” Psyche said. “And they might not even know who they are.”
“We’ll do what we can,” Theo said. “But first, we need to track down that she-devil who trapped you.”
The slicing pain tearing at his chest nearly had Perseus doubling over. A low growl echoed in his ears. “No.”
“No?”
“I don’t—she’s not the priority.” And frankly, he never wanted to see her ever again. “We have other things to worry about.” He just wanted to forget about her.
“I suppose. There’s still the geryon descendants too,” Theo said. “I suppose we could figure out a way to find them and the children of Zeus.”
“It’ll be easier to track the demigods,” Psyche said. “Any of the gods and goddesses should be able to tell if someone is a demigod. Or at least I think they do.”
“Really?” Perseus asked.
“Uh-huh. Actually, Perseus, Eros told me there was something different about you when he first met you. So gods must be able to sense demigods.” She snapped her fingers. “Actually, if you eat the golden apple and turn into a god?—”
“Uh, no thanks. Immortality isn’t for me, Psyche.” He kicked himself when Psyche’s face fell. “Of course, I’m happy for your choice. Eros is your mate, you should be with him for eternity.”
She blew out a breath. “I guess I was thinking how nice it would be to have you with us when…”
“When I’m dead and turn to dust?” Theo said.
“It’s not funny, Theo.”
“Ah, Psyche, Psyche,” Theo tsked and, despite her protestations, he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead. “You just be happy, okay? You deserve it. Don’t think about the future. It’s so far ahead.”
“I know but…” She bit at her lip. “I guess it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to take the golden apple just so I wouldn’t have to be without you, Perseus. I mean, what if you met your mate and she didn’t want to be immortal? That would be terrible.”
Perseus ignored the shooting pain behind his rib cage. “Anyway, we’ll worry about that later. Right now, I need to get out of here. Stretch and be out in nature. The kinks in my muscles have kinks.”
“And we need to tell Mom and Dad you’re up,” Psyche pointed out.
“That too.” It seemed like forever since he’d seen his parents.
“Will you tell them?” Theo asked.
“In time.” At the very least, Mom deserved to know what happened with Amanda. Perseus sensed the guilt from her all these years as she wondered if there was anything she could have done to prevent her best friend’s death.
No, Mom, you couldn’t have done anything. That bastard probably orchestrated the whole thing. Neither she nor you were to blame.
“We still need to make a plan,” Theo said. “When will Eros be back? He and the other gods should know that someone is trying to take Zeus’s place.”
“I don’t know, really. He’s been gone so long.”
“Sure they won’t keep going on and on forever. They’re immortal, but they do have duties.”
Perseus couldn’t imagine Eros sitting through meetings day in and out as the gods and goddesses decided who was going to take Zeus’s place.
“Let’s just hope he can come back soon and we can warn him and the other gods and goddesses.”
“Who’s going to be back soon?” said the familiar lazy drawl that came out of nowhere.
“Eros!” Psyche cried as she launched herself at her mate. “You’re here. I’ve missed you.”
“So have I, darling.” Turning his head, he caught her lips with his and kissed her deeply, his arms wrapping around her.
Perseus and Theo glanced at each other uncomfortably, waiting for the amorous couple to, well, de-couple, but that seemed unlikely to happen soon. Thankfully, Theo spoke up.
“Can you guys quit the tonsil hockey for just a second?”
They broke apart, Psyche red-faced and Eros just as smug as ever. “Sorry, didn’t see you there,” he said. “So, I take it you’ve all missed me while I was away?”
“Something like that,” Theo muttered.
“Believe me, I wasn’t exactly having a merry old time,” the god of love and desire said. “Actually, it was dreadful, thanks for asking.”
“Eros.” Psyche tugged at his hand. “We’re glad you’re back. There’s something you need to know. Something that happened while you were away.”
The god tensed. “Are you alright? Did something happen to you? Who hurt you?” He turned to Perseus and Theo. “And is there anything left of them for me to kill?”
Mentally, Perseus shook his head. His future brother-in-law truly was a psycho. “No, it’s something else.”
“You better sit down. Actually, we all should sit down.” Theo motioned to the door leading out to the cabin’s main living area. “A lot has happened.”
“From the way you’re all looking at me, I gather I’m not going to like what I’m about to hear,” Eros said.
“No,” Perseus said. “You won’t.”