Page 21 of Left Hand of the Divine
“Yep,” he replied. “My guess is it has something to do with your little trip into Zeus’ little Vault.”
My name was printed on the heavy card stock in bold letters, the writing steady and firm. Purposeful. I flipped it over and found a gold seal on the back with a lightning bolt embossed in it.
Shit.
That was Zeus’ symbol. We were in alotof trouble.
Rafe and Rayne inched closer, sensing my unease through our bond. It was usually comforting to know that they were there for me, but I couldn’t help feeling guilty. They were all going to be in so much trouble because of me.
“What is it, Roux?” Thane asked, his voice calm and steady.
“It’s from Zeus.” I couldn’t drag my eyes away from the little symbol, dread rising in my stomach the longer I stared at it.
“I can’t imagine any good will come of that,” Thane mused. “What does it say?”
I broke the seal, the crack of the wax loud in the stone chamber. I glanced up at Hermes and found him watching me like a hawk. “You’ve delivered your message. You can go now.”
“Spoilsport,” he replied with a pout. “But I know when I’m not wanted. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”
And with that ominous warning, he disappeared in a cloud of glitter, and I was left with the others holding a piece of paper that felt heavier than it should have.
“We all made the choice to go with you,” Rafe said, accurately guessing my thoughts.
“We will all face this together,” Magnus added, his face solemn and serious. At that moment, he looked like the King that I knew him to be. I sometimes forgot that he ruled an entire species of supernaturals. When we’d been together, I’d spent more time with him behind closed doors where he could be free from the gaze of the royal vampire court. He’d been fun, and quick to smile, but recently he seemed to have lost himself to duty and the demandsof others. Slowly losing himself, piece by little piece, until I barely recognised the man in front of me.
He’d got some of that spark I loved back after reuniting with the twins, but it didn’t help the heartache I felt every time I looked at him.
I unfolded the paper, took a deep breath and read the words from the King of the Gods.
Roux. Be at my temple at the rise of the next sun, or fate may deliver a consequence to your loved ones that would be unspeakably macabre. Do not disobey my command.
Yours, Zeus.
Well, shit.
Chapter Seven
Roux
“So, what do we do now?” I folded the letter and shoved it in the side pocket of my combat trousers. I’d read it again and worry myself into an anxious spiral when I was on my own later. Nobody else needed to witness that hot mess.
Thane pulled a smaller wooden box out from his coat and walked over to Prometheus. “I believe this is what you’re after.”
Prometheus eyed the small box in Thane’s hand like it might leap off his palm and bite him. In all the fuss of getting out the Vault and dealing with Erebus, I had completely forgotten about the deal Thane made with Prometheus to find his key. I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t nervous about the consequences of giving Prometheus the key to his release. What was going to happen to everything in the Vault? Add to that the fact that I’d brought Erebus with me and there was no longer a Master down there; I worried that all manner of dark things were going to escape.
I glanced at the mysterious Primordial and found him watching me, an intensity in his gaze that shook me to my core. I hitched abreath as heat flooded my system, flushing my skin. A whoosh of air rushed past my lips as my core tightened beneath his watchful gaze.
“Roux?” Atticus whispered, his words brushing against the shell of my ear. “You’re trembling.”
I ripped my gaze away from Erebus and looked up at Atticus. His eyes, full of concern, traced the lines of my face, and his fingers wrapped around my wrists, circling over the delicate skin there. Everything was suddenly oversensitive, and the pads of his fingers as they dragged across my wrist felt like they had a direct link to my centre. Desire fired along my nerves, like little jolts of pure electricity and pleasure, causing an orgasm to curl and tighten until I was on the verge of cumming in front of everyone.
I snatched my hand back and took a deep inhale, trying to calm the sensations rushing around my body. Gods, I couldn’t think. My mind was fuzzy, my mouth dry. And was it hot in here?
Atticus flinched, and pain filled his gaze.
“Sorry,” I blurted. “I—I…”
What the hell was I supposed to say?Sorry I snatched my hand away, but I was about to come because some Primordial God was staring at me.I didn’t think that was quite going to cut it.
