10

Jordan stood on the balcony for about ten minutes watching Zeus sitting on the sand. She wasn’t sure why he was there or why she hadn’t joined him. The night before was complete blitz and her body still hummed. His scent clung to her.

She was falling for the god. What did that mean? Where would they be after Helena and Drakon were taken care of and the stone was returned to the harpies?

Dread knotted up in her chest. She didn’t want to be left alone and broken-hearted.

Straightening her spine, she slipped on her flats and made her way down to the beach. When she reached Zeus, she sat beside him and took in the beautiful sight of the ocean.

“How long have you been awake?” Zeus asked while staring out at the waves crashing on the shore.

“A little while.”

“Watching me from the balcony.”

She faced him and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “If you knew how long why did you ask?”

He shrugged, and she frowned. Something was wrong. He was being too serious. As if sensing her awareness of his mood, he linked his fingers with hers. “I can’t let you go after this is over. Yet, I can’t stay here either.”

Oh. An ache formed in her chest and gut. She’d have to go with him. “Is it possible for me to go with you?”

He swung his head to stare at her. Then his lips lifted in the corners. “You’d come? Leave earth to live in Olympus?”

“I think so. I mean we could come back to visit Angie, Jeff, and the kids, right?”

Too fast for her to track, he tackled her to the sand and rolled so she laid on top of him. “Of course. We could keep the beach house. It’ll be our vacation home.”

She kissed him quick. “I like that idea.”

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled to hover over her. “Good.”

His kiss was soft at first, then he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, and she groaned. Need rose up within her. She wanted him like he was her new addiction.

He broke the kiss and nipped his way down her jaw to her neck. Tingles raced under her skin and desire burned in her belly. Other parts of her pulsed, begging for attention.

She couldn’t let him go. She was falling in love.

Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled him closer and cursed the clothes between them.

“Why are you out here in your nightgown?”

She laughed at the growl in his tone. “I wanted to see you. Plus, I’m not cold when I’m with you.”

He slid his hand up her thigh and under her short nightgown. Flutters of a million butterflies went off in her belly. She cupped his cheek with one hand and wrapped the other arm around his neck. Their tongues danced, sending wave after wave of pleasure crashing over her.

She opened her eyes as a shadow fell over them, then Zeus was yanked away from her and thrown in the air. What the hell? Jordan sat up and found herself staring into the eyes of a dragon. A screamed ripped from her, and she tried to crawl away. She didn’t get far before the beast’s large claw encircled her, squeezing.

He spread his wings and flapped.

Panic gripped her throat. Her screams got stuck. As the dragon rose in the air, she spotted Zeus. Relief flooded her when he stood. He was okay, pissed but alive. Zeus shouted her name. She tried to pry the claw open, but she wasn’t strong enough.

She’d die before handing the pendant over to Drakon and the witch. Reality hit her in the gut. That was exactly what she was about to do. And they’d still get the stone.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at Zeus’s form growing smaller.

“I love you, Zeus.”

Zeus roared. The earth shook under his feet from his anger.

Drakon had slipped past Zeus’s senses and wards and stolen Jordan. The dragon would pay.

He jumped in the air, but before he could shift into a hawk, he was knocked back down. The air whooshed out of his lungs when his back slammed against the ground.

Helena stood over him. Her long fiery red hair blew in the wind and contrasted against her black floor-length gown and cloak. Her dark crimson eyes glared down at him. “We finally meet again.”

He started to sit up but she held a hand out, her palm facing him, and his muscles froze. She’s done something to him. Impossible. No one had power over him.

Then how could this witch?

Opening her other hand, she revealed a palm-size onyx. “This allows me to control a god. I can will you to do anything, tell me anything. Today, I wish you to sleep.”

No! That wasn’t possible. He fought dizziness and pushed against the magic holding him in place. No luck. The harder he tried, the more tired he became.

“It’s worse when you fight.” Helena laughed and dematerialized.

He fell back against the sand and stared at the sky. The only one he could think to help him was the only one who could hurt him.

Hera.

She’d save him. Sure. But would she go after Jordan after learning he loved her?