The Dark-Hunters (38 page)

And the curse was over.

He lifted his head to see Grace smiling up at him.

“Is it done?” she asked.

Before he could answer, he felt a tremendous burning on his arm. Hissing, he pulled back from her and covered the burn with his other hand.

“What is it?” Grace asked as he withdrew from her.

She watched, stunned, as an orange glow encompassed his arm. When he let go, the ancient Greek words were gone.

“It’s over,” she breathed. “We did it.”

The smile faded from his face. “No,” Julian said, trailing his fingers along her cheek. “You did it.”

Laughing, she threw herself into his arms. Julian held her tight as they rained kisses on each other.

It was over!

He was free. Finally, after all this time, he was a mortal man again.

And it was Grace who had done it. Her faith and strength had seen him through.

She had saved him.

Grace laughed again as she rolled him over in the bed.

But her relief was short-lived as another, even brighter flash filled the room.

Her laughter dying instantly, Grace felt a malevolent presence even before Julian tensed in her arms.

Sitting up in the bed, Julian forced her back, placing himself between her and the handsome man standing at the foot of the bed.

Grace gulped when she saw the tall, dark-haired man who glared at them as if he could kill them where they lay. “You bastard upstart!” the man snarled. “How dare you think to be free.”

In an instant, she knew he must be Priapus.

“Let it go, Priapus,” Julian said with a warning note in his voice. “It’s over and done with.”

Priapus snorted. “You think to command me? Who do you think you are, mortal?”

Julian smiled evilly. “I am Julian of Macedon, born of the House of Diokles of Sparta and of the goddess Aphrodite. I am the champion of Greece, Macedonia, Thebes, Punjab, and Conjara. Known as Augustus Julius Punitor to my enemies who quaked in terror at my presence. And you, my brother, are a lesser known god who meant nothing to the Greeks, and only slightly more to the Romans.”

Hell’s wrath burned across Priapus’s face. “It’s time you learned your place, little brother. You took from me the woman who was going to sire my sons to lead my name into memoriam. Now I take yours.”

Julian launched himself at Priapus, but it was too late. He had already vanished with Grace.

C
HAPTER
17

One moment, Grace was naked in her bedroom with Julian, and in the next, she was lying on a round bed in a room that reminded her of a harem tent. Her body was covered in a deep red silk wrap that was so soft and delicate it felt like water sliding over her skin.

She tried to move, but couldn’t. Terrified, she opened her mouth to scream.

“Don’t bother,” Priapus told her as he approached the bed. He ran a hungry look over her body before he climbed onto the mattress and positioned himself on his knees beside her. “You can’t do anything unless I will it.”

He ran one long, cold finger down her cheek as if testing her skin’s texture and temperature. “I can see why Julian wants you. You have fire in your gaze. Intelligence. Bravery. It’s a pity you weren’t born during the time of Rome. You could have given me champions to lead my armies.”

He sighed as he ran his hand down the center of her throat. “But such is life, and the whims of the Fates. I suppose I’ll just have to content myself with using you until I grow tired. If you please me until then, I might let Julian have you back. Provided of course, he still wants you after my children have stretched out your body.”

His eyes burned with hunger. And Grace trembled at his look.

She couldn’t believe Priapus’s selfishness. His vanity. Terrified, she wanted to speak, but he kept her from it.

Dear heaven, he had complete power over her!

An unseen force pushed her up, setting her back against the pillows as Priapus doffed his robe.

Grace’s eyes widened at the sight of his nudity and his erection. Another wave of fear washed over her.

“You may speak, now,” he said as he moved to recline by her side.

“Why do you want to do this to Julian?”

His gaze darkened in anger. “Why? You heard him. His name was revered by everyone who heard it, while my name was seldom spoken aloud even in my mother’s temples. Even now, I am mocked. My name is all but lost to antiquity while his legend is told and retold around the world. Yet I am a god and he is nothing but a bastard seed not even fit to inhabit Olympus.”

“Get your hands off her, you worthless footnote.
You’re
not fit to wipe her shoes.”

Grace’s heart pounded at the sound of Julian’s voice. Raising her head from the pillows, she saw him standing below the dais where they were. He stood in the center of the room wearing nothing but jeans and holding his sword and shield.

“How?” Priapus demanded as he left the bed.

Julian smiled evilly. “The curse is lifted. My powers are returning. I can now track and summon all of you.”

“No!” Priapus shrieked. Instantly, his body was covered in armor.

Grace fought against the force that held her as Priapus grabbed a sword and shield from the wall above her head and attacked Julian.

Mesmerized by the spectacle, she watched as brother fought brother.

Never had she seen anything like it. Julian whirled gracefully in a macabre dance as he met his brother fierce blow for fierce blow. The floor and bed shook from the intensity of their battle.

No wonder Julian had become a legend.

But after a few minutes, she saw Julian stagger. He lowered his shield.

“What’s the matter?” Priapus taunted, using his shield to press Julian back. “Oh, I forgot. The curse may be gone, but you’re still drained from it. It will take days before you reach your full strength again.”

Julian shook his head and raised his shield higher. “I don’t need my full strength to beat you.”

Priapus laughed. “Brave words, little brother.”

He brought his sword down across Julian’s shield.

Grace held her breath as they began hammering blows again.

Then, just as she was sure Julian would win, Priapus tricked him into overextending his reach. As soon as Julian’s side was unprotected, Priapus brought his sword up, and sank it into Julian’s stomach. Julian dropped his sword.

“No!” Grace screamed in horror.

His face a mask of disbelief, Julian staggered back, but couldn’t go far with the sword still in Priapus’s hand, and now in his side.

“You’re human again,” Priapus sneered as he twisted the sword. He lifted his foot to Julian’s hip and kicked him back.

Free of the sword’s blade, Julian staggered, then fell to the floor. His shield clattered loudly as it hit the ground next to him.

Priapus was actually smiling as he stood over Julian. “You may not be able to die by mortal weapons, little brother, but you can die by immortal ones.”

The force holding Grace released her. As fast as she could, she ran across the room to where Julian lay on the floor, covered in blood. His breathing came in short, sharp gasps as his entire body shook.

“No!” Grace sobbed, pulling Julian’s head into her lap. Horrified, she stared at the gaping wound in his bare side.

“My precious Grace,” Julian said as he reached one bloodied hand up to touch her cheek.

She wiped the blood from his lips. “Don’t leave me, Julian,” she begged.

He winced in pain. Dropping his hand, he struggled to breathe. “Don’t cry for me, Grace. I’m not worth it.”

“Yes you are!”

He shook his head as he held her hand tightly in his. “You are my saving Grace. Without you, I would never have known love.” He swallowed and moved her hand to his heart. “And I would never have known me again.”

She watched as the light faded from his eyes. “No!” she screamed again, cradling his head to her breast. “No, no, no! You can’t die. Not like this. Do you hear me, Julian! You can’t leave me. Please, please don’t go. Please!”

Grace held him tight as she wept out the agony in her heart, her soul.

“No!” The fierce scream echoed through the room and shook it.

Grace saw Priapus actually pale at the sound. A clap of thunder sounded and, in a brilliant flash of white light, Aphrodite appeared in front of her. The agony on the goddess’s face was indescribable as she looked down at Julian’s cold, pale body.

Her blue eyes filled with disbelief, Aphrodite glared at Priapus.

“What have you done?” she asked him.

“It was a fair fight, Mother. Me or him. I had no choice.”

Aphrodite let out an agonized scream that came straight from her heart. “I invoked the wrath of Zeus and the Fates to give him his freedom. Who the hell do you think you are to do this?” She looked at Priapus as if he made her ill. “He was your brother!”

“He was your bastard son, but never my brother.”

Aphrodite shrieked in rage. “How dare you!”

When the goddess turned her gaze back to Julian, Grace saw the grief on her face.

“My precious Julian,” Aphrodite wept. “I should never have let them hurt you. Sweet Cyprus, what have I done with my selfishness?” She fell to her knees by his side. “I left you alone when I should have protected you.”

“Oh, give it a rest, Mother,” Priapus said as if bored by his mother’s pain. “Julian knew what all of us have known since the dawn of time. You think only of yourself, and what we should be doing for
you.
It’s who you are. Unlike Julian, the rest of us learned to accept it aeons ago.”

Aphrodite didn’t take those words well. In fact, her face turned to granite as she rose to her feet with all the dignity and grace one would expect of a goddess.

She arched a brow at Priapus. “You said it was a fair fight? Well, let’s have one, shall we? Thanatos has yet to claim Julian’s soul. It is not yet too late to save him. All I need do is start his heart.”

Grace felt a sudden warmth engulfing Julian’s body.

Leaning back, she watched as a golden aura surrounded him, mending the jagged wound in his stomach. His jeans melted away slowly and were replaced by golden greaves and shoes. The golden wave traveled up over his chest, covering it with ancient gold armor and dark red leather and cloth. Dark brown leather bands covered his forearms.

The blue tinge faded from Julian’s face.

Suddenly, he took a deep breath that shook his entire body, then opened his eyes. He looked up at Grace and smiled a smile that warmed her all the way to her soul.

Grace bit her lip as happiness swelled inside her. He was alive!

“What the bloody hell?” Priapus roared.

A woman appeared above them, floating serenely. Her black hair shimmered as she glared at Priapus. “As your mother said, it’s time we had our fair fight, Priapus. It’s long overdue. And this time, there’s no Alexandria to distract Julian from his vengeance.”

“What?” Aphrodite asked. “Athena, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying Priapus sent her to Julian on purpose to distract him while Priapus fled your temple in fear of Julian’s wrath.”

By the look on Priapus’s face, Grace could see the truth of it. He curled his lip. “Athena, you treacherous bitch. You always did coddle him.”

Athena laughed as she appeared next to Aphrodite. “No one ever coddled him. It’s what made him the finest warrior Sparta ever trained. And it’s what is going to enable him to kick your ass now.”

Julian rose to his feet. The grim look on his face sent a ripple of chills over Grace.

Aphrodite moved to stand between him and Priapus, and when she looked up at Julian, Grace saw the pride in Aphrodite’s eyes. “This is the second time I have given you life, Julian. I regret I wasn’t the mother you needed the first time. You have no idea how much I wish I could change that. All I can do now is give you my love and blessing.”

Aphrodite looked over to Priapus. “Now, go kick his spoiled little ass.”

“Mother!” Priapus whined.

Julian turned his gaze to his brother. He twirled his sword around his body as he approached Priapus. “Ready?”

Priapus attacked without warning. Not that it mattered.

Grace’s jaw dropped as she watched them fight. If she had thought Julian skilled before, it was nothing compared to the way he fought now.

He moved with a speed and agility she would never have thought possible.

Athena came to stand by her side. She reached out and ran a light touch over the red wrap. “Nice dress.”

Grace frowned in disbelief. “They’re fighting to the death and you’re admiring my clothes?”

Athena laughed. “Trust me, I pick my generals well. Priapus doesn’t stand a chance.”

Grace turned back to the men at the same time Julian drove his shield sideways into Priapus. The god stumbled back and Julian plunged his sword straight into his side.

“Rot in Tartarus, you bastard,” Julian sneered as Priapus disintegrated into a thousand lights.

Grace ran to him.

Julian tossed his sword and shield aside and grabbed her up in his arms and twirled her around.

“You’re alive! Right?” she asked.

“I’m alive.”

Grace surrendered herself to him then. He lowered her down his body, slowly, his armor caressing every inch of her. Until he could claim her lips with his kiss.

Grace heard someone clearing her throat.

“Excuse me, Julian,” Athena said when he didn’t release Grace. “You have a decision that needs to be made. Do you want me to send you home or not?”

Grace trembled.

Julian looked down at her, his gaze searching. He ran his hand gently over her cheek as if savoring the feel of her skin against his. “In all the centuries I have lived, I’ve only known one home.”

Grace bit her lip as tears swelled. He was going to leave her now. Dear God, she just hoped she could stand the pain of it.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “And it’s with Grace,” he said against her hair. “If she’ll have me.”

Grace rolled her eyes as relief swept through her with such ferocity that she wanted to scream, to laugh, but most of all she wanted to hold on to him forever.