Moon Borne (Halcyon Romance Series Book 1) (36 page)

This ruse was a delicate balance, for he also did not aim to anger Persephone. He still required the information about his sister.

“Kyme.” He drew her into his arms. Would this be the last time he held her? Kissed her? After this meeting, she might refuse to ever see him again. His chest constricted against the pounding of his heart. The organ wouldn’t still until Kyme was his. He winced.
She will never be mine.

“When we reach our destination, act like you did when I first captured you.” The corner of his mouth turned up at the memory. He’d recognized at once that this fiery creature was his.
No, not mine.
He winced again.
Collect yourself. Focus.
“My client is unaware of our plan.” He cleared his throat. This was the hard part. “I cannot divulge everything to you, but I would not bring you if I believed you were in any danger. Do you trust me?” He tilted her chin and peered into her darkened indigo eyes.

She parted her lips as though she wished to speak. The words he sensed she’d been anxious to tell him earlier? As before, she closed her mouth and nodded.

He didn’t wish to press her, so he kissed her instead. Slow and tender, his tongue met hers in a caress that defied his intense passion. He would savor this moment, endure the agony of not claiming her, and instead focus on committing her taste, her softness to his memory.

He tangled his fingers into her silken locks, nibbling away at her delicate moans. She snared the waist of his breeches, skimming her hands over the bulge of his straining cock. Groaning into her mouth, he resisted the instinct to thrust into her hands. No time for that.

In affirmation, the boat creaked as they docked.

Arsenius grasped her shackled wrists and held them above her head, her back against the wall.

If this was to be their last kiss, he would sear Kyme with his scent, claim her lips with such thoroughness he would brand his imprint on her. If he couldn’t have her, no other male would either.

With all of the love he could never express, Arsenius kissed Kyme goodbye.

A knock at the door ended their kiss. Panting, he traced her lips with his finger one last time.

“Tell me.” Her blue eyes flashed up at him, desperate.

He swallowed hard. Was she asking of him that which he’d sworn never to speak again?

A louder, more insistent knock. “Coming.” He growled at the door, snared her elbow, and led her off the ship.

Arsenius took the lead, with Nazrin and Gaven flanking either side of Kyme, and Thereus in the rear. They encircled Kyme, a boundary of muscle and armor.

They were impressive. Lethal. Formidable.

Yet they’d be utterly impotent in the presence of the goddess.

***

Kyme struggled to match the pace of the massive males around her. She ought to be comforted by their presence, yet icy foreboding crept down her spine. Dread broke out as a light sweat on her skin, leaving her throat parched. Making the heavy chains seem like they were wrapped around her heart instead of her wrists and ankles.

Arsenius hadn’t spoken any words of love, though neither of them might survive this encounter. No, she fought back her tears, choosing to trust instead in the male she loved.

As they approached the impressive, ivory stone castle, the gilded doors opened, though no servant performed the task. The great alabaster hallway they trod through echoed with the clinking of her chains and their footsteps. The sweet fragrance from dozens of vases brimming with summer flowers permeated the air.

At the end of the hall, another set of heavy doors opened, once again on their own. They were expected and whomever they were meeting was powerful. Kyme bolstered her courage.
Lena.

She exhaled and steadied herself. Regardless of the outcome today, she would not fail Arsenius. She would sacrifice anything for his sister.

If she survived, she would gather the strength to tell Arsenius of her love.

The throne room was bare of adornment, save for fresh flowers and a few tables laden with fruits and meats. Marble columns lent the room the aura of a temple and peculiar swirling carvings were etched into the west-facing wall.

The feminine figure seated upon the marble throne was draped from head to toe in lavender silk. A female handmaiden framed her on either side. Kyme gasped as the woman lifted her veil and the faint violet glow of the goddess Persephone filled the chamber.

Nazrin snatched her arm to steady her.
How? What? Why?
The questions flew through her mind so quickly she didn’t have time to absorb them.

Was this what Arsenius had been unable to tell her on board his ship? She pursed her lips and studied the goddess. It made no sense. A god would never enslave the possession of another god.

Have I ever wronged Persephone?
Curiosity rather than fear prodded at her. The wall of masculine muscle surrounding her stood firm. None of these males would permit her to be harmed.

The goddess rose from her throne and glided forward, brushing aside her two attendants. Her bronze locks fell in tight curls well past her waist, but did not sway as she strolled.

She drifted toward Nazrin and addressed him first. “Your new alliances please us greatly, warrior.” Persephone offered him a warm smile as he knelt before her, head bowed. “Your presence is not required. You have my word the Amazon shall not be harmed.”

At the goddess’s declaration, those four sets of tense, broad shoulders deflated. Kyme also released the breath she’d held since the goddess had begun speaking.

Nazrin lifted his head as Persephone’s fingertips brushed his arm. “You will be with your mate soon. Go and await the sign.” He rose and exchanged a quick nod with Arsenius before departing the chamber.

Persephone wasted no time in dismissing the others. Whereas Nazrin seemed aware of whatever connection he had to the goddess, it was not so for Gaven. Kneeling, his blue eyes widened as the goddess whispered in his ear. Rushing after Nazrin, Gaven called out, “Wait, we must talk, my brother.”

Even Thereus was oddly empty of his magnetism as he faced the goddess. He knelt with his forelegs tucked elegantly before the goddess. “Your time will come soon, Lord Thereus, son of Cheiron. Steel yourself.” Was that a hint of mischief in her tone?

The centaur blanched, the first time Kyme had witnessed him at a loss for words, unable to charm his way out of the goddess’s penetrating violet gaze.

A smile beamed from her lips like the sun drifting out from behind the clouds as she waved him to depart. With a slight quiver to his bow, Thereus also departed.

Lastly, Persephone approached Arsenius and Kyme. He positioned his body half in front of hers, ready to defend her.

Kyme’s chains fell open, crashing to the floor without making a sound.

“She is not your captive.” A sly smile played across the goddess’s lips. “Let me tell you a story.” She stepped to a nearby vase and plucked one of the flowers—a daffodil. “Millennia ago,” she twirled the blossom in her fingers, “there was a young girl. Sheltered by her mother, she had never known men. One day, a handsome yet fearsome god took her from everything. He claimed his love was strong enough for both of them.

“The girl was selfish. The god tricked her into remaining in his realm, but she missed her mother, her world. Her cries reached the ears of her protective mother, who petitioned Zeus.” Her melodious voice floated around the airy chamber, laced with sorrow. “Even as her request was granted, her heart had softened. The male whom others loathed was kind and loving to her.” Persephone’s eyes misted and she crushed the daffodil in her hand, the petals floating to the floor. “Because of her hasty pleas, they would forever live with the curse placed upon them.”

Kyme nodded, this was the tale of Hades and Persephone, whom Zeus cursed to spend two-thirds of each year apart.

Persephone continued, “One day, he discovered a way to set them free. The goddess Aphrodite had agreed to petition Zeus. But first, she required proof.”

“Proof?” Arsenius cocked his head.

“Yes. That Hades and I fathom the true nature of love. Even when it is found in the most unlikely of places.” She cast a wistful smile upon them. “She offered us a list of names and declared if we united those couples, she would intervene for us.”

A wager? This whole ruse with Arsenius capturing her had been based upon a game between the gods?

A grim laugh escaped Arsenius. “Let me guess. Our names were on that list.”

“Yes.”

He jerked his chin at the fallen petals. “You sent the Lamiae ship. Why?”

The goddess lifted one mischievous brow and tilted her head toward Kyme. “She is beautiful when she fights, is she not?”

Kyme’s cheeks flamed. Arsenius coughed into his fist.

Persephone twisted a ring upon her finger. “I fear other gods have learned about this list, and would go to great lengths to counter our efforts… My mother included. What began as an innocent quest for the proof of love has turned dark.” She lowered her lashes. “Dark indeed.”

The pieces clicked into place in Kyme’s mind. “Apollo. The minotaur mentioned him, but I did not comprehend his ramblings.”

The goddess lifted her lashes. “My mother has recruited the sun god. They have been following my every move, in hopes of thwarting my attempts to unite the pairs of lovers.”

“Wait. Apollo arranged for the minotaur to fight me?” Arsenius’s fists clenched at his sides while he grumbled, “I will kill Dolios for this.”

“Yes.” Persephone paced across the chamber. “Once they discovered your name was on the list, they attempted to eliminate you.”

“Like a bloody chess piece. Why? It seems an innocent enough wager.”

“Not to the Olympians.” Kyme shook her head. “The gods are very possessive of their descendants.”

“Indeed.” Persephone clasped her hands in front of her and studied a painting on the wall. Kyme squinted at the canvas. A battle? “The last time the gods engaged in such games, the greatest battle for love was spawned.”

“The Trojan War,” Arsenius cut in. “You wish to cause a war?”

“No, Arsenius.” The goddess whirled. “What I wish is to live with my husband, and not in the darkness of the Underworld. I’m afraid, since the Trojan War, the rift on Mount Olympus has never mended. Many would seek to orchestrate another upheaval of power. My husband’s arrangement with Aphrodite has placed countless lives in the path of peril. War may be the result.”

Her violet eyes misted as she extended her hands in entreaty. “If it is, I would ask that you fight for me. For my future. My fate.”

Kyme choked back a gasp as Arsenius sank to one knee in front of the goddess. “My Lady Persephone, you have my allegiance. If there is to be a war, I would fight for love. No purpose is greater, no cause higher. I would be honored to serve you.”

Her mind spun at the ease with which Arsenius, who had no love for any of the gods, devoted himself to Persephone. Was it the knowledge that Nazrin, and perhaps Gaven also had? Or did this fierce male believe that strongly in love?

The depths of her soul shifted, like a key clicking into a lock.

When the time comes, you must embrace your true path.

This was what Artemis had meant. But why?

Persephone placed her hands upon his shoulders. “No, warrior. It is I who am honored.”

Arsenius rose beside Kyme, though he cast his gaze at the floor.

Kyme clenched her fists to hide her trembling. Arsenius might blindly pledge himself, but she had too many questions. “Forgive me, goddess, but why have you brought me here like this? Why did you hire Arsenius to enslave me?”

***

Though Kyme asked the question, Arsenius knew the answer. Persephone had already told them. Just as Persephone and Hades had fallen in love, so was her objective in placing them together.

“Aphrodite chose you for a reason.” The goddess drifted to Kyme’s side. “You possess a rare gift. On your own, you are powerful. But with Arsenius…” She arched one fine brow. “Do you not sense it? His love makes you strong.”

Arsenius fought the urge to clear his throat, to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Once again, his emotions were being declared for him. Bloody hell, he couldn’t gauge Kyme’s reaction.

He focused instead on Persephone. He shouldn’t have expected anything less of Hades—a god notorious for strategizing. His mind wandered back to the mermayde and her mate, Gaven. Aedre possessed a gift as well. Perhaps Nazrin’s future mate did too. And who the hell knew with Thereus?

Aphrodite and Hades must have guessed the consequences of her wager. Had war been their intention all along? If so, they’d already begun assembling their troops. Clever gods, they weren’t collecting powerful individuals for their army, but rather
couples
. Pairs of warriors whose loyalty to the cause of love would not falter.

If not for that damn wager, he’d never have met Kyme. He owed them his gratitude, even his allegiance.

The goddess dropped the flower and whispered, “I have failed.” Sadness clouded her violet eyes. “I asked Hades to let me try. I was sure my methods would be gentler than his, and as effective, but—”

Kyme stepped forward. “You are not mistaken, my Lady. I do love him.”

His heart bounced around in his chest, unsure of where it belonged. What was Kyme saying? Was she lying to protect him? He didn’t dare believe her words—the mystery of her affection was easier to accept.

Arsenius swallowed hard as he sensed his blissful ignorance was about to be torn from him.

Persephone peered between the two of them. “Your mate does not believe you. I’m afraid you’ll have to prove it.”

“P-Prove it?” Kyme’s voice pitched high. Those two words sent a dagger into his rapidly beating heart. He didn’t want to know. He didn’t want to know. He didn’t—

Kyme snatched a dagger from his belt, grasped her trembling finger, and swiped the blade across it. He yearned to close his arms around her, to whisper in her ear that she didn’t have to do this. That, like Hades, he would love enough for the both of them.

Yet he was frozen, transfixed as though witnessing a gruesome battle. He ought to look away. Walk away. Do anything but watch.