Earth Borne (16 page)

Thereus barely kept his fists by his side. Just because he hadn’t claimed her yet didn’t mean he wasn’t going to. That she wasn’t spoken for.

A maiden glided into the room, brightly breaking apart the tension, a sunbeam splitting storm clouds. He sniffed.
Hmm.
Agrius’s betrothed.

“Thereus, a pleasure to meet you.” She flashed him a sweet smile.

He grinned back. Meeting the woman his brother had chosen struck him with a great sense of approval. A striking beauty, she was tall and lithe. Her violet eyes revealed they shared the same wicked humor. “You as well, my Lady Eione.” He clasped her hand and in a brotherly fashion, kissed it, ignoring the growl emanating from Agrius. No bonded male liked his female being touched in any way by another male.

She laughed and stepped to Kalliste with an air of grace only nobility possessed. With a wink, she wrapped her companion’s arm in hers and declared, “Come, Kalliste, let’s leave the men to their talk while we discuss matters of true importance.”

The centaurs chuckled at the women as they sashayed from the Great Hall.

“Wait,” Thereus called, striding to them. He would prove himself to everyone, so he snared his wife’s hand, spinning her about, and bent to claim her mouth. Their lips met with the heat of the desire they shared. Wrapping his hand around the back of her head, he held her firm as she drew away. He didn’t care that their kiss was longer and more passionate than was proper.
She’s mine.

A male cleared his throat. Thereus released her. Reluctance pulsed through his chest. What he didn’t regret was his mate’s flustered beaming as her friend grabbed her arm and hauled her away.

After she departed, he faced the arsenal of his family.

“Would someone explain what the bloody hell is going on?” Oreius stomped his hoof.

“Aye,” a couple of the others grunted.

“It is precisely what it looks like, brothers,” Thereus snapped.

“Damn, Thereus, what in Hades is wrong with you?” Agrius shook his head.

“Aye, what kind of game are you playing with Kalliste?” Oreius added, taking a step toward Thereus.

He snarled as his brothers joined forces against him, their bodies tensing for a fight. Damn, if he’d fathomed it would be this bad, he’d never have come.

Holding up his hands and stepping in between his sons, Cheiron cut through the heated words. “My son, we deserve an explanation. You’re treading a dangerous line. We can sense your horse’s urge to bond, and of course, we are protective of Kalliste.”

“I know what I’m doing,” he growled.

“Didn’t Eurytion declare the same?” his eldest brother Hector countered. “You’re a risk to everyone like this.”

The chorus of berating renewed. They’d never grasp this delicate situation. Even he didn’t comprehend the emotions storming inside his heart. Though he hadn’t admitted it, he
was
taking a huge risk. He’d been living this way for so long, he’d forgotten.

A half-bonded centaur was like a loaded cannon sitting atop an open flame. They all had reason to fear him. Eurytion became so crazed from the
lyssa
he’d raped the bride of Pirithous the first, the Lapith King. His actions initiated a war that killed thousands and forever altered their race.

Thereus would never force his wife into his bed. He discerned the border of his control, where the line he mustn’t cross lay. He had time. Could he convince
them
?

Squaring his shoulders, he faced his father. “I am being careful, Father. Kalliste’s not ready for the bonding, yet. I mean, gods, look at how I’ve treated her.” He scraped his hand across the back of his neck. He lowered his hand and his head. “I need time to prove myself worthy of her. Please understand.” He ignored the disapproving grunts from his brothers, focusing on the wise King.

Cheiron’s unreadable grey gaze studied Thereus. Finally, he nodded. “I believe you, my son. However, know this. If we detect any sign of madness in you, we will be forced to stop you.”

He dipped his head in appreciation. This was the best he expected. Besides, his brothers weren’t going to have the opportunity to imprison him. He would handle this. His way.

“Let’s speak of this no more,” Cheiron commanded. “We must discuss Thereus’s request and our position in regards to Hades and Persephone’s War.”

His elder brothers followed their sire out of the room. Thereus paused as his youngest brother’s glare cut into his back. Whipping around, he scowled at Petraeus. “What?”

His brother didn’t answer him, merely glowering.
Damn.
Petraeus was the one brother who’d not had his chance for retribution. Perhaps that was his problem.

“Do it,” Thereus grated.

“I’m not going to hit you, Thereus,” he scoffed. “Though I swear, if you hurt her, I
will
kill you.” He turned his back on him—a grave insult amongst centaurs—and followed their brothers.

***

“It’s so wonderful to see you again.” Eione grasped Melita in another tight embrace.

Even though she counted Eione among her true friends, she’d never confessed her identity to the golden-haired maiden. The fewer people who knew, the safer she was. Secrets had a way of freeing themselves, especially if the tongue speaking was not the secret’s owner. When the truth came out, she hoped Eione would side with her. A fire inside her violet eyes bespoke of her strength, and her loyalty.

Eione had been thrilled when her mate introduced them last year, for she’d had the unfortunate circumstance of meeting with Hector and Delia first. Fortunately, she’d encountered Melita soon after, and they’d bonded over their incompatibility with Delia.

Agrius, with his dark, hooded eyes, and sleek, chestnut horse-half, was a desirable catch. It wasn’t Agrius’s fine looks causing Melita’s heart to ache. No, it was how his eyes heated whenever they rested on his mate, the way he would pluck a wildflower and present it to her in front of his brothers, despite their taunting. He was so devoted to her, and she to him.

Melita often found herself staring at the pair of them, wondering, what if… What if her dark centaur Lord had never gone away? Even better, what if her sister had asked her to change places before their wedding? Then she would have been his.

Instead, she watched others living their lives, happy and in love. Oh, but she wasn’t blind. She wasn’t the only sad soul in the world. Oreius, Cheiron, and even Hector and the other brothers shared her misery. They were missing what Agrius and Eione had.

Today was different. Today, as she sat across from her friend, sipping her tea, Melita was an equal. Indeed, she had as equal a chance at happiness as Eione did. Yes, her situation with Thereus was complicated. At least it wasn’t finished. The Fates had not yet woven the conclusion of her story, and mayhap it would end happily.

“You must tell me. What of your husband?” Eione’s smile sparkled.

“Well, he’s returned.” Melita hid her sly grin behind her teacup as she took a sip.

Sharp eyes narrowed back at her. Eione was ready to play her game.

A laugh bubbled on her lips. “Oh, Eione. It’s so perplexing.” She peered out the window and down into the gardens where the boys were playing. “Yet sometimes, I sense it’s all very simple.”

“It certainly appears so, from the way he kissed you.” Eione tapped a finger against her lips and smirked. “Do you still love him?”

The maiden had proven such a confidante, Melita had told her nearly everything. Her smile washed away, a footprint in the sand smothered by the lapping waves of her fears.

“Are you afraid he’ll leave again?”

Eione’s question was straightforward, yet she possessed no answer. Was she afraid? In some ways, Thereus leaving was the perfect solution. If she ignored the beating of her heart.

Could she trust him? He left once. In truth, he’d used and discarded her, treated her as though she hadn’t even existed. No matter how hard she dismissed it, making excuses for him, her heart ached.

They’d been so close to making love, yet she’d never let it go that far. A part of her, deep inside, didn’t trust him with her body. He must have sensed her reluctance, because he’d pulled back as well. A sign of his sincerity? A man who planned on leaving wouldn’t take the time to court her.

Melita sighed. “Your question is more formidable than it seems.”

“Indeed.” Eione smiled wistfully. “If it’s any consolation, once he’s bonded to you, you won’t have to worry anymore.” Her smile grew. She leaned in and whispered, “Believe you me, Aphrodite is a clever goddess. There’s
nothing
like a bonded male.”

Melita laughed as she brushed off her friend’s words. “I place no faith in the bonding.”

“It’s real, Kalliste. From what Agrius has told me, your husband is going to ask you to perform the ceremony with him soon.”

She arched her brows. “Well if he is, he has not spoken of it to me. The only happily bonded couple I’ve seen is you and Agrius. The two of you are simply blessed by the gods to have found someone you can love with such devotion.” She shrugged and stared off into the distance.

“Oh no, I can tell what you’re thinking.” Her friend leaned in closer. “
Hmm.
How easy my mating to Agrius has been. Well, I regret to rip you from such an illusion, but easy isn’t part of love.”

“Whatever do you mean? He
adores
you.”

“Yes, well, that doesn’t mean our path hasn’t been difficult. Would you like to hear the story of how we met?” She eased back.

“You’ve never offered before.”

“You’re right.” Her fingers wrapped around her teacup. “I never told you because it makes me sad.”

“Sad?”

“Yes, sad, because of my family. You see, how I met Agrius, well. I ah, I shot him.”

“You shot him!” Melita jolted out of her seat.

Eione laughed and waved at her to sit. “Yes. I was out hunting and mistook him for a stag. Fortunately for him my arrow only pierced his hide.”

Melita gasped at the violence of her friend’s story, but Eione chuckled. “There I was, with a dead, well, nearly dead centaur at my feet.” She shook her head. “My father hates their race, but I refused to leave him. Thankfully, he was semi-conscious and I demanded he turn human. Then I dragged all eighteen stones of him to one of my childhood play-caves.”

“What happened when he awoke?”

“We fought—mostly about him being a trespasser on my father’s lands. He was so brooding yet passionate, well, how could I not fall in love with him?” She smiled playfully. “The Lapith-Centaur War destroyed my family. We lost lands, wealth, true, but that happened a long time ago.” She scoffed. “We were content, though the hatred in my family never diminished. If any of them found Agrius, they’d kill him. Without question. I had to choose between them. I chose Agrius, and we stole away.”

“Is that why you haven’t married him yet?” she prodded.

“Yes. I write them, my family. I write letters, hoping one day they’ll forgive me. I want to marry him, I do. I long for both halves of my family.” Tears misted in her violet eyes.

“I’m sure they’ll approve eventually.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. Such familial love had to be stronger than ancient hatred.

Delia glided into the room. The time for private confidence expired. The woman’s immediate grimace of disapproval over their lack of composure was like a pot of cold water thrown onto a hot fire. It left everyone choking on the smoke.

Chapter 16

Thereus rubbed his temples. Exhaustion claimed his mind. While his limbs burst with robust energy, a haze obscured his clarity. All he wished for was to find Kalliste and hold her. To savor her soft curves in his arms, her sweet scent in his nose.

He would be denied a while longer. In their human forms, he and his brothers reclined around a long oak table, his father Cheiron at the head. They’d been debating this war for hours, and hadn’t yet reached a consensus.

From Agrius’s constant stares, he guessed his brother wished to speak of other matters. Damn it, he was sick of talking, of explaining himself. Yet Agrius was the sole person who’d kept silent during the interrogation about Kalliste.
His
questions would be the hardest to answer. Of everyone, he’d hurt Agrius the most. Faking his death was quite possibly the most foolish scheme anyone had ever conceived.

Only now did he perceive its full ramifications. His brothers, though they loved him, did not trust him. They were unwilling to rush into a war with him and some unheard-of army.

“Why should we involve ourselves in a clear dispute amongst the gods?” Hector’s baritone rumbled through the room. “Surely, Hades and Persephone have appealed her banishment for millennia.”

“Aye.” Oreius pounded his fist on the table. “Why must
centaur
blood be shed? ’Tisn’t a matter of who will win, but how many will die.”

Thereus advocated for the devil, as he argued for Hades. “It’s not a question of whether they’ll start a war, my brothers. ’Tis whose side we’ll be on when it begins.”

Hades and Persephone weren’t the sole gods forming an army. Though, being gods, they were bloody silent on the details—something about a rematch of Troy. Who they would be fighting was the question of the day. Rumors whispered of the sun god Apollo heading the opposing army. This made no sense, since Apollo had fought on the side of love during the Trojan War. However, if Zeus sided with Hades, and the god of the Underworld failed… One might overthrow the Supreme Ruler—Zeus—himself.