Ares' Temptation (9 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Insecurities

The plastic chair in the waiting room at the Lower Keys Medical Center dug into Kaye’s back as humiliation and shame burned through her. She buried her face in her hands, unwilling to meet the questioning gazes of the other family members. That person on the boat wasn’t her. Never had she raised a hand to anyone before.

The emergency room took Bradley in only as a precaution, but still she couldn’t stop feeling like a serial killer. Thank goodness Ares sat beside her, offering his continual support, rubbing her back.

“Can I get you some coffee or water?”

“No. I’m fine.” She pried her hands off her face and glanced around the room.

Her mother talked with Veronica and her father across the room. The other aunts and uncles had taken Grammy back to the resort to wait for a phone call. Besides Ares, no one had said much to Kaye.

They probably thought she’d lost her mind. She couldn’t blame them. If someone had strangled her over the railing of a boat, she’d have given them a certificate of insanity. Sure, Bradley had teased her and Ares, but a few snarky remarks shouldn’t elicit a murder attempt.

Her mom broke off from the group and took the seat on Kaye’s other side. She squeezed Kaye’s shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m shocked and mad at myself.” Kaye shook her head. “My anger took over, and I had no control over what I was doing. I know that’s not an excuse…”

“It’s okay. These things happen sometimes when unresolved feelings from childhood rear their ugly head.” She folded her hands in her lap and paused as if thinking about how to word the next phrase. “There’s something I never told you about Bradley.”

Kaye blinked and sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”

“He has a learning disability.”

“What?” Perfect Bradley? Captain of the track team, president of the student body, first in his class with straight A’s, science fair wins, presidential awards.

Her mother nodded. “He’d be very angry if I told you, even now. But I think you need to know, to understand why he is the way he is. It’s not an excuse for his behavior, just an explanation. I should have told you a long time ago.”

Kaye glanced at Ares. His face showed no emotion either way, but he nodded in encouragement. She turned back to her mom. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Bradley takes competition very seriously. He feels like he has to prove himself, again and again to beat the disability.”

Compassion spread through her. “All this time I thought he was competing against me, and he was competing against himself.”

The doors opened, and Bradley came out with a nurse. Veronica rushed to him, followed by her mother and father.

“I’m fine.” Bradley waved them off. His cheeks were red. “Just a little bruising.”

Bruising? Remorse stung her gut. Was she strong enough to cause bruises?

They thanked the nurse and began to walk toward the exit.

Kaye touched Ares arm. “You go ahead.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I have some unfinished business.” She raised her voice. “Bradley?”

He turned around and broke from the group as the others walked out.

Bradley stopped Ares as he passed him. The two men faced each other, and Kaye braced herself for the worst. “Sorry about the beer.” Her brother’s voice was penitent.

Ares nodded. “No offense taken.” He continued out the door to join the rest of the family.

Everyone left the waiting room except for Bradley and Kaye.

Kaye bit her lower lip. For something like this,
sorry
didn’t cut it. “So you’re gonna be all right?”

“Yeah.” Bradley rubbed his hand on his neck. “If you were trying to kill me, then you failed.”

“I don’t know what got into me.” Kaye shook her head. “What I did was totally unacceptable, and I’m sorry.”

Bradley’s face softened. “It’s okay.” He gave her a half smile. “I was drunk, and I pushed you too far. I shouldn’t have teased you and your boyfriend.”

Kaye froze in disbelief. Bradley was apologizing? To her? After she tried to kill him? Some people really did grow up. She thought about him living with a secret learning disability. What would their lives have been like if she’d reached out to him, if she’d known? “I always looked up to you as a kid. You were so perfect, so good at everything, and I never told you so. I guess I thought you didn’t need the support. I should have.”

“We should have supported each other,” Bradley acquiesced. “You were always getting hurt and going to the hospital, and I was too busy with my own life to come and visit.”

“Listen, I don’t want to compete with you anymore. Friends?”

He offered his hand. “Friends.”

The door opened, and her mother peeked in. “Just making sure everything’s okay with you two.”

Bradley clapped Kaye’s shoulder. It stung, but the gesture also filled her with relief and a sense of camaraderie. He glanced at their mother and smiled. “Never been better.”

…

Ares stood with Kaye’s family outside the hospital. She’d been in there with Bradley for the last ten minutes. Was she making amends or embroiled in another fight?

Her mother had gone in to check on them and hadn’t come out yet. He glanced at the unmoving door. Kaye needed her own privacy to resolve the issue, but the urge to protect her built inside him. He’d wait another few minutes, then go in himself.

Granted with his powers, she could protect herself. He was the one who needed help.

A black crow walked across his path then took off, flying around the side of the building. Ares narrowed his eyes with anger. Then, an idea brightened his thoughts. All this time, Hekate had been in charge. He had to start taking matters into his own hands, turning the tide of battle.

Kaye’s family wouldn’t notice if he slipped away for a minute. Ares followed the bird around the side of the building.

He tripped. “Hades’ Underworld!” The grass seemed even. It was his clumsy footing, as a result of Hekate’s damn curse.

“I see you still have work to do.” Hekate leaned forward on a park bench surrounded by pigeons. She reached into a brown paper bag and pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds. Even though the temperature rose upwards of a hundred degrees, she huddled under her crow-feathered robe like it was winter on Mount Olympus’ highest peak.

Ares held his breath, trying to calm himself before he lurched after her. She’d disappear in a puff of smoke, and then he’d never get to ask the questions burning on his tongue.

“I know you’ve cursed me for a reason. But Kaye has done no wrong. Leave her out of this.”

Hekate laughed. “I see you’ve developed a fondness for her.” She spread another handful of seeds over the grass. “This curse has developed better than I could have hoped.”

“She’s innocent,” Ares growled. “Your quarrel is with me.”

The old witch waved her hand over the pigeons’ heads. “Innocents die in war all the time. It is an ugly consequence. What’s done is done. There is no other way to break the curse.”

“Then spare her feelings. If I can get her to love me, remove the curse without her knowledge.”

Hekate pointed a finger at his forehead. “You don’t want her to know your true intentions? Eh?”

“My true intentions are to protect her.”

“Ah. So noble. So valiant. So quick to kill in the name of that honor.” Her last words turned sour with bitterness. Hekate emptied the bag. “Once the curse is broken, the truth will be revealed. What she thinks of you is your problem, not mine.”

He stepped toward her, and the pigeons scattered in flight. “You vile, callous witch.”

“You didn’t seem to care about her opinion before.”

“I care now.” He lunged.

The witch disappeared before he reached her, and his hands closed on black smoke.

“By the flames of Hades’ Underworld.” Ares squeezed his fists. No other way to break the curse? To save Kaye from heartbreak?

He collapsed onto the park bench. She would find out he’d used her to regain his powers, and he would hurt her. He would lose her. There was no other way.

“Ares?” Kaye ran across the grass. “I looked for you everywhere. What are you doing out here? Who were you talking to?

Ares sighed and brushed the remainder of the sunflower seeds off the park bench. Best not to get too attached. He was already in way over his head, almost at the point of no return. The truth sat like a rock on his tongue. “No one. It is not your concern.”

Chapter Fourteen

In The Water

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” Kaye pulled back the curtains and sunshine brightened the room. She had to wake Ares somehow. She thought of climbing onto the couch along with him and showering him with kisses, but remembering his brusque goodnight nod, she decided against it.

Ares squinted from the couch. “What time is it?”

“Ten o’clock.” She came over and placed her hand on his forehead. “You’ve been sleeping a lot lately. I didn’t think gods slept at all. Are you feeling okay?”

“I am well.” Ares sat up and swatted her hand away.

“Okay.” Kaye sighed and went over to the drawer to fold her clothes. Had her fit of anger yesterday driven him away? He’d seemed to understand, even consoling her at the hospital.

No, it was something that happened after they left. Ever since she’d found him on the side lawn with the pigeons, he’d been in a bad mood.

“What is on the agenda today?” He stretched his arms, flexing his enormous biceps.

Kaye tried not to stare. He was such a tease. “The aquarium. It’s one of Grammy’s favorite places.”

“An aquarium?”

“Yes. It’s a big tank of water with a whole bunch of different fish species. You don’t have one on Mount Olympus?”

“No.” Ares pulled on his shirt. “The ocean and everything in it is Poseidon’s realm.”

“Oh, Poseidon. Isn’t he the god with the trident?”

Ares grimaced as if disgusted. “Yes.”

“I take it you’re not fond of him?”

Ares walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. “No. He’s made several attempts to attack my father’s kingdom.”

Kaye had already showered, but that didn’t stop her from dreaming about going in there with him and rubbing soap suds all over his glistening muscles. “Why?”

“When my father overthrew my grandfather, Cronus, he drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. Poseidon got the ocean, and Hades the Underworld. Poseidon has never taken it well.”

“I see.” The more he spoke of the god realm, the more she decided it was not a place she’d like to visit. Even if he was hot.

“But you’ll still go to the aquarium?” She called after him as he closed the door.

His voice echoed from the shower stall on the other side. “If you wish it, I will come.”

…

They pulled into the parking garage and found a space on level three. Kaye turned the engine off and glanced at Ares. The God of War stared at the dashboard.

“You seem nervous.” She touched his arm. “Don’t worry, Bradley and I worked everything out yesterday at the hospital. There won’t be another scene.”

Ares waved her off. “I’m not worried about that.”

Kaye wasn’t letting him off the hook. He’d been acting strangely the whole ride down. “What are you worried about?”

Ares unbuckled his seatbelt. “Let’s just say I’m not fond of the sea.”

Kaye collected her purse and opened her door. “Well, this isn’t the sea. It’s a representation of it.” Maybe if she explained more about the aquarium, she could get him excited too. “It’s really neat, when you think about it. The aquarium siphons water from the ocean into the tanks. Thousands of gallons go in and out every day.”

Ares touched her hand, stopping her. “So this place is connected to the sea?”

“In a way, yes. But I hardly think Poseidon and his army could fit through a water pipe.”

“You are right.” He smiled and opened his door. “I am being foolish.”

Thank goodness he saw the light. Why an aquarium spooked the God of War was puzzling. Wasn’t he pretty close to all-powerful?

They walked inside, where Grammy sat with Kaye’s parents. Kaye embraced them and turned to Grammy, kissing her on the cheek. The familiar rosy smell of her skin lotion automatically made Kaye smile. “How’s the birthday gal?”

“Tired.” Grammy laughed. “I stayed up late watching a marathon of
I Dream of Jeanie
.”

“You didn’t know we were meeting here at eleven?” Kaye shot her parents a questioning glance. Sometimes when they made plans, they forgot to tell everyone involved. Like when they invited only half her friends to her high school graduation party and forgot her favorite teacher.

Grammy waved her concern off. “Oh, I did. Just want to get them all in before I leave this world.”

Her mom took the handles of Grammy’s wheelchair and pushed her forward in the line. “Honestly, Mom, don’t talk like that. Many people have gone on to live to a hundred. You might be here a long time to come.”

“I certainly hope not.” Grammy rolled her eyes. “Just long enough to watch all my favorites all over again. Next up is
Leave It to Beaver
.”

Ares raised an eyebrow, and Kaye smiled. That was Grammy for you. Ninety years and she still had her sense of humor.

They bought their tickets and met her relatives inside the lobby. Bradley walked up and clapped her arm. “I’m staying away from the railings this time.”

Kaye slapped her hand on her forehead. He’d never let her hear the end of it.

“I’m only joking.” Bradley punched her in the arm. There was something different about this teasing, like for the first time, he laughed along with her.

Ares put his arm around Kaye. “Good. Otherwise I’d have to hold her back.”

Kaye turned to him, stunned. The God of War, Mr. Stone face, just cracked a joke. “Careful, you’re next.” She poked her finger in his chest.

“I’d like that.” Ares raised both eyebrows, and Kaye blushed, hoping Bradley had moved too far away to hear.

“Let’s get this show on the road.” Grammy tugged Kaye’s shirt as her mom wheeled Grammy by her and Ares. She turned in her chair and raised a finger. “There are some beautiful green turtles you have to see!”

They walked into the main room, where the massive, three-story fish tank cut through the center of the building. A family of stingrays longer than Kaye’s wingspan passed by, followed by a school of small black fish and a hammerhead shark.

“By the Gods.” Ares spoke in a hushed tone as he glanced up to the highest level.

“I’ve finally found something to impress you.” Kaye squeezed his arm. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’d be better off saying
wow
.”

He furrowed his brow. “Wow.” The word came out awkwardly flat on his tongue.

Kaye nodded and laughed. “Yeah, but say it with more excitement next time, okay?”

They made their way up to level two, reading the smaller exhibits on one side and watching the giant tank on the other.

Grammy wheeled herself toward the glass. “One, two, three… Where’s the fourth one?” She peered down at the bottom of the large tank. “Oh, there he is! Why isn’t he with the others?” Her voice sounded oddly melancholy, as if the turtle were part of her family.

“He’s probably just taking a break, Grammy.” Kaye walked over. One green turtle sat at the bottom. He seemed to be staring right at them, unmoving.

“No, I’ve never seen one of them act like this. His coloring isn’t right either. He might be sick.” She put her hand to her neck and pulled at the wrinkled skin.

“I’ll take you down there.” Kaye took the handles of the wheelchair. “Maybe we can find someone who works here and ask some questions.” She looked back to Ares. “Will you be okay for a while?”

Ares nodded. “I’ll follow the others to the third level. I’d like to see the surface of the tank.”

“Great!” Relief mixed with delight spread through Kaye. Finally, he was starting to enjoy himself.
Now, if only this mood will last until tonight…

…

Ares followed Kaye’s parents to the third level. He’d never seen the bottom of the sea before, and this tank showed him the beautiful world Poseidon had inherited. The creatures’ graceful movements amazed him, reminding him of a trained warrior moving on the battlefield. Why couldn’t Poseidon be content with what he had?

He moved toward the railing. It was high enough to keep out children and most adults, but at Ares’ height, he could lean over and see the ripples in the surface.

The water distorted the shapes of the fish, making them appear bigger and smaller than they were. If only this refraction of shadow could be applied to combat.

Something large came up from the bottom of the tank. It wasn’t swimming in circles with the others. It swam directly toward the surface.

Mrs. Underhill pointed beside him. “Would you look at that? It’s coming right up. John, get the camera.”

As Kaye’s father reached in his bag, Ares recognized one of the green turtles. Was it the one at the bottom of the tank that Kaye and Grammy had gone to check on?

The turtle broke the surface and splashed the onlookers. As the mortals fell back in shock, the turtle reached its head toward Ares. A deeper intelligence shone in the creature’s eyes. For a moment, the hardened turtle skin turned into the shimmery porcelain face of a merman.

That’s not a turtle.
Before Ares could react, the turtle’s flipper morphed into a longer extension with fingers.
It’s a god in disguise.

Ares raised a hand to ward the creature off, his reflexes dull and slow. The turtle grabbed Ares’ shirt and pulled him in the tank. Cold water shocked him. Ares fought as the turtle grabbed his sleeve in its jaws and pulled him deeper and deeper, past hovering stingrays and dark-skinned sharks.

Bubbles of air spewed from his mouth. Ares hadn’t gotten a good breath before he went under. Normally, as a god, he could stay submerged for quite a while. But without his powers, he had a mortal’s fragile lungs.

He fought the beast, punching its shell, but the hard casing bounced off his attack. Pain exploded in his fingers, and he clenched his fist while fury roiled through him. In the Sea God’s realm, he was weak as a fish on the sand. The water slowed his movements and muddled his senses.

His lungs screamed for breath. Ares pulled at his shirt, trying to tear the sleeve, but the fabric wouldn’t budge. He’d have to undo every button, and the turtle thrashed, making it hard to focus.

The magic waned, revealing the human face with the iridescent blue eyes and the shimmery skin. Triton. It had to be Poseidon’s son, come to finish him off in his debilitated state. To die as a man in a mortal’s entertainment park vexed him. He should die in glorious battle in a golden field, wielding his sword!

Kaye entered his mind, and his heart changed. He didn’t want to die at all. He wanted to be with her.

A hand closed over his, infusing him with a fiery strength.

Ares whirled around. Kaye heaved him toward the surface. Her dark curls spread from her face like an angel’s halo, and fierce determination hardened her gaze. She would not let him die.

With her power, his shirt ripped from the turtle’s jaws. They ascended as Ares’ lungs burned. Never had he experienced such desperation. He clamped his lips closed, refusing to give in to his urges.

The turtle pursued them, and he kicked at its jaws. He hit the beast square in the forehead, and the shimmery skin appeared and vanished as the magic dissipated and Triton left the body. In a gleam of current, the Sea God was gone. Triton was aggressive, but he wasn’t foolish. He would not risk exposure to the mortals to further pursue his target. The last thing Poseidon needed was more scientists poking and prodding his domain.

The beast regained its senses and flopped lazily to the edge of the aquarium, rejoining the others.

Kaye and Ares broke the surface, and he gasped in air. She pulled him toward the edge, where crews dressed in wet suits jumped in. The aquarium workers lifted them out of the tank. Onlookers snapped pictures, the flashes disorienting him.

“Turn off your cameras,” Kaye shouted, grabbing at a camera. “The show’s over.”

Ares lay against the tank, regaining his strength.

Kaye turned toward him. “Are you all right?”

“I am unharmed, thanks to you.” Ares smiled. Never had he thought a mortal woman would save his life—with his own powers.

As Kaye reassured her parents and Grammy, a man in a business suit broke through the crowd. “Are you two okay?”

Kaye nodded. “What the hell happened?”

The man placed his hand on his chest. “My sincerest apologies. Usually the barrier is high enough to keep people from falling in.”

“He didn’t fall in, that turtle pulled him in.” Kaye pointed her finger at the tank. “I saw it myself.”

The man placed both palms in the air. “The green turtles are a peaceful species. They’ve never shown any type of aggression.”

“Maybe you should have them quarantined.” Anger tinged Kaye’s words. “They could have killed him.”

“It’s okay.” Ares held Kaye back before she grabbed this man’s throat. “I am certain this is an isolated incident.” He did not want them to punish the beast. It was the god, not the turtle, who’d attacked him.

“You are not pressing charges against the aquarium?”

“No.” Ares stood and rung out his shirt. Honestly, these mortals were silly. On Mount Olympus, there was no such thing. You either took your revenge, or you did not.

“Who are you? The police?” Kaye put a hand on her hip. Ares had seen that look in her eyes before. She meant business.

“My apologies, again. Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Nathan Hamil, the manager of this aquarium.”

Ares shook his hand. “No harm done. Please do not punish the turtle.”

“Are you sure?” Kaye whispered beside him.

Ares nodded. “They’re Grammy’s favorite. Besides, I just want to leave as soon as possible.”

“Of course.” Kaye took his arm. “We can’t stand here dripping wet anyway.”

She told her parents and Grammy to meet them back at the resort, then she and Ares returned to the car. Kaye laughed unexpectedly as she unlocked the door.

Ares studied her. Was she going mad? “What is the cause of your amusement?”