Warrior Betrayed: The Sons of the Zodiac 3

As Montana Grant struggles to lead her late father's company, her estranged mother suddenly reappears, spouting nonsense about Mount Olympus, immortal warriors, and curses. But after an event that puts the company's future-and Montana's life-at risk, she decides to take her mother's last but of advice.

Quinn Tanner is Montana's security specialist-and a Taurus Warrior. With worldwide peace hanging in the balance, it's up to Quinn to help Montana rise to her destiny-even as they're falling in love.

My deepest thanks to:

Mom, Dad, Beth, Eric and Amelia—for everything.

Kerry Donovan—I absolutely love working with you. You have a wonderful ability to draw out the right nuances of the story and help make it shine and working with you is such a privilege and a joy.

Holly Root—your enthusiasm and all-around loveliness are truly too awesome to adequately express. As always—
thank you
.

The Writer Foxes—Alice Fairbanks-Burton, Lorraine Heath, Jo Davis, Tracy Garrett, Kay Thomas, Suzanne Ferrell, Julie Benson, Sandy Blair and Jane Graves. You guys never fail to make me laugh, and you are the most amazing thing that has come out of my dream to pursue writing. To pursue a dream is a gift—to pursue it with the support of such wonderful friends is a dream come true.

And to Jo Davis—you have championed the warriors from the very first day I told you about the idea. Thank you for your support and for all the “brain-storming” on appropriately delicious adjectives for one’s hero.

Roxane, Carley and Christine—my most excellent partners in crime. You keep me sane, you keep me honest and most of all, you keep me in stitches. You’re my
Sex and the City
Girls—I’ll leave it up to the three of you to figure out who’s Samantha, who’s Charlotte and who’s Miranda….

Taurus Warrior

Determined and forceful, my Taurus Warriors lead by their obstinate, unbending will. Filled with quiet pride, a Taurus Warrior will never back down and never give up.

His enemies will feel the mark of his dogged pursuit, for once in his sights, he will never rest until they are eradicated.

Private and self-contained, my Taurus will not let others in easily; rather, he hides his vulnerabilities and needs under an impenetrable mask of stoic strength.

Sensual and unerringly faithful, my Taurus will cherish the woman who wins his stubborn heart. For the woman who can capture him—with a heart even bigger than his—will know a love for the ages…

—The Diaries of Themis, Goddess of Justice

1971

“Mother. You’re the only one who can help me. Surely you can understand my need to do this?”

Themis watched her daughter Eirene pace around the small residence before stopping in front of the now-dark Mirror of Truth. The very same viewing screen where Themis had watched the young goddess fall in love in crystal-clear detail.

Pushing aside her distaste for the subject of Eirene’s affections, Themis pressed the one advantage she had. “You have a role, Eirene. Along with your sisters, you are the Horae—the Hours. Diké and Eunomia depend on you.”

“I know very well what I am, Mother,” her daughter spat, the words raining down on her like hail.

“The world depends on you to maintain the very fabric of society. Moral justice, governance and law and peace. Surely you don’t believe you can simply abandon them and your duties?”

“The world’s abandoned us, Mother. Why should I continue day after day in my role as worldly peacekeeper”—Eirene flung a hand outward at the dark screen—“if these miserable humans you’ve chosen to focus on can’t do their part? Besides, Dee and Nomy are okay with it. Happy for me.” The last part of that statement—
which is more than I can say for you
—hung between them, unspoken.

Themis brought the mirror to life and a dismal scene of war in a jungle filled the room. “The humans. They live in a time of confusion, Daughter.”

“They live in a time of selfishness and greed, liars to themselves and to one another. Truth be told, despite your best efforts, they always have.”

Where was this coming from? Such sudden hopelessness from her daughter who had always lived a life devoted to peace and mutual understanding. “So that makes your act—abandoning them when they truly need your guidance—acceptable?”

A small, harsh laugh bubbled past Eirene’s lips as she turned her back on the mirror. “You can do guilt with the best of them, Mother.”

“Why now? Why
this
man?”

The slash of Eirene’s lips gave way to a small, happy smile. “Jack is everything to me.”

Themis chose her words carefully. The battle with her headstrong daughter would be lost if Eirene knew her mother had kept tabs on her mortal love. “He is a powerful man. A shipping
magnate
, the human’s newspapers call him. Surely he’s made some choices—some poor choices—on that path to power.”

The smile vanished. “Jack runs an honest business. He lives an honest life.”

“But how can you be sure? You just said yourself, mortals are helpless.”

“Not this one.”

Gods save me from young love
. Even as the thought crossed her mind, Themis had to admit her daughter was older—millennia older—than any human living today. Yet for all her years, Eirene was unschooled in the ways of human life. While her role as universal peacekeeper ensured her constant interaction among humans, it also meant she viewed their worldly problems from a distance.

Her Eirene. Goddess of peace. Forever absentminded with her dreamy belief in the ability to find a common ground in the face of any conflict.

So where was her little peacekeeper now?

Attempting a different tack, Themis tried for something that would express the grave consequences of her daughter’s impending decision. “Diké was born a mortal and tried to live among humans. Your father brought her up to Mount Olympus when it was evident she couldn’t execute her duties. Couldn’t fulfill the promises of her birth if she didn’t have immortality.”

Eirene’s voice quieted, but her vivid blue gaze remained firm on Themis’s. “I accept mortality. And maybe I don’t want my duties any longer.”

With those words, Themis’s focus shifted. As she lost ground to her daughter’s stubborn will, concern morphed into a deep-seated anger she was unable to hold back.

“You dare to turn your back on your gifts? To abandon who you are? For a
man
?” Themis’s voice rose on the last word. She knew her ire had gotten the better of her, but she was beyond caring.

Had her children learned nothing from her mistakes?

Had they not seen how fruitless love could be? How easily a faithless man would betray his supposed beloved if given the opportunity.

Had Eirene not lived with the consequences of her father’s abandonment, too?

“If it’s turning my back, it’s only to embrace a new gift. A love like nothing I’ve ever known. I want Jack.”

“He is not what you think he is, Eirene.”

Even as the words left her lips, Themis knew they would do irreparable damage.

A cold, harsh mask descended over Eirene’s porcelain features. “Have you watched us? There?” She stabbed at the mirror. “Spying on us?”

“You are my daughter. It is my right—my
duty
—to protect you. To watch out for you.”

“You know nothing of him. Nothing of the life he has or the life I wish to share with him. You just sit here on your throne of justice”—Eirene swept a hand around the room—“like this can protect you from actually living.”

The words struck Themis’s heart, but she pressed on. “This is not about me, nor is it about my choices. It is about Jack Grant. He is not the man you believe him to be.”

“No, Mother.” The deep hue of Eirene’s eyes blazed like blue fire. “You are not what I thought you to be.”

Great, hopeless waves of sorrow swept through her, centered in the roiling pit of nerves in her stomach. Shifting tactics yet again, Themis pressed her daughter. “You will not be moved from this course of action?”

“No. A life with Jack is what I want.”

“And what of your duties as peacekeeper?”

Although the flick of her wrist was casual, Themis took some small hope in the quaver that tinged the edges of her daughter’s voice. “Find another.”

“And where would I do that?”

“You’ll think of something. Knowing you, it’ll have something to do with balance.”

Before Eirene had even finished speaking, Themis knew what must be done. Calm now with the strength—nay, with the balance—of her decision, her voice was steady as she delivered an implacable order. “Your daughter. If you persist in this course of action, I’ll have your daughter.”

“And what if I have sons? Or no children at all?”

At that, Themis raised her eyebrow as an image of the youthful vigor and determined swagger of her daughter’s beloved filled her mind’s eye. “Your man will be content to live a childless life with no heir to the fortune he’s worked so hard to build?”

“I’ll make it so. He loves me. He’ll agree. I won’t damn another to my lot in life.”

A tinge of desperation edged the words, but still, her daughter’s gaze held firm.

“You dare more than you should, Eirene. Now you don’t simply defy me, but you dare the Fates.”

“My Moirae sisters will protect me. They will understand.”

“Your sisters do their duties.”

“You think they’ll behave just as you have? Placing duty above love? Above family?”

“They’ll do their duty,” Themis insisted.

“Is this it, Mother? All you have to say to me?”

Her chest clenched, the feeling so like the day of Zeus’s abandonment, Themis hardly knew how she’d stand it. Unwilling to show weakness, she pushed through the pain, her shoulders rigid, her voice stiff. “So this is it? Your decision is made?”

“Aye. Forevermore, I shall be a mortal. I shall no longer hold the keys to peace. I shall no longer be a member of the Horae.” With that, her daughter turned and walked the few small steps across the width of the cottage. Long, flowing flames of red hair cascaded down her back, so like her mother’s. So like her sisters’.

A sense of finality pervaded the room, yet Themis refused to back down. Refused to acquiesce. As her daughter’s hand reached for the door, Themis’s voice rang out through the still air. “I will have your daughter, Eirene. She will replace what is lost this day.”

Her daughter’s steps never faltered. Never slowed as she moved through the doorway.