all around his magnificent body. He was much bigger than she had imagined him to be, and much more attractive. But then, he wasn't mortal, she tried to remind herself. She guessed that fact accounted for his giant proportions and the mystical light glowing all around him. 'And just where have you been?' she demanded with a yell meant to gain his attention.
Madelyne wasn't sure if mythological warriors could converse with mere mortals, quickly surmised that this one didn't, or wouldn't, because he just continued to stand there and stare at her, and didn't offer a single word in answer to her demand.
She thought to try again, though she found it a terribly exasperating task. There was a Cyclops right beside her, for God's sake, and even if the warrior couldn't speak to her, he could see that there was work to be done. 'Get on with it, Odysseus,' Madelyne demanded, pointing her finger at the monster kneeling beside her.
Damn if he didn't just stand there and look confused. For all his size and might, he didn't appear to be overly intelligent. 'Must I fight every battle on my own?' she demanded to know, raising her voice until the muscles in her neck began to ache from the strain. Tears of frustration clouded her vision, but she couldn't help that. Odysseus was trying to vanish into the light. How very rude of him, she thought.
She couldn't allow him to disappear. Dimwitted or not, he was all she had. Madelyne tried to placate him. 'I promise to forgive you for all the times you let Louddon hurt me, but I'll not forgive you if you leave me alone now.'
Odysseus didn't seem overly concerned with gaining her forgiveness. She could barely see him now, knew he'd soon be gone, and realized she'd have to increase her threats if she was going to get any help from him.
'If you leave me, Odysseus, I'll send someone after you to teach you some manners. Aye,' she added, warming to her threat. 'I'll send the most fearsome of all warriors. Just you leave and see what happens! If you don't get rid of him,' she declared, pausing in her threat to point dramatically at the Cyclops a long moment, 'I'll send Duncan after you.'
Madelyne was so satisfied with herself that she closed her eyes with a sigh. She had surely put the fear of Zeus into the most magnificent of creatures, the powerful Odysseus, by pretending to send Duncan after him. She let out a rather inelegant snort over her cleverness.
She peeked a quick look back out of one eye to see how her threat was being taken, and smiled with victory. Odysseus looked worried. And that, Madelyne suddenly decided, wasn't good enough. If he was going to fight a Cyclops, he'd need to be good and angry. ' Duncan is really a wolf, you understand, and he'll tear you to shreds if I tell him to,' she boasted. 'He'll do anything I ask,' she added, 'Just like that.' Madelyne tried to snap her fingers together but couldn't quite manage the feat.
She closed her eyes again, feeling as though she'd just won an important battle. And all with gentle words, she reminded herself. She hadn't used any force at all. 'I am ever a gentle maiden,' she shouted. 'Damn, if I'm not.'
For three long days and nights Madelyne fought the mythological monsters who appeared and try to snatch her away to Hades. Odysseus was always there, by her side, helping her ward off each attack when she demanded it.
At times the stubborn giant even conversed with her. He liked to question her about her past, and when she understood what he was asking, she'd immediately answer him. Odysseus seemed most interested in a specific time of her childhood. He wanted her to tell what it had been like after her mother had died and Louddon had taken over her guardianship.
She hated answering those questions. She wanted to talk only about her life with Father Berton. Yet she didn't want Odysseus to become angry and leave her either. For that reason, she suffered through his gentle interrogation. 'I don't want to talk about
'When he made me come back from Father Berton's home, he was so horrible. He'd sneak into my room every night. He'd just stand there, at the foot of the bed. I could feel him staring at me. I thought that if I opened my eyes… I was very afraid.'
'Don't think about Louddon now,' Duncan said. He stretched out on the bed as soon as she began to cry and pulled her into his arms.
Though he was careful to hide his reaction, inside he was shaking with rage. He knew Madelyne didn't understand what she was telling him, but he understood well enough. Soothed by his touch, Madelyne fell asleep again. She didn't rest long, however, and awakened to find Odysseus was still there, keeping vigil. She wasn't afraid when he was by her side. Odysseus was the most wonderful warrior. He was strong, arrogant, though she didn't fault him for that flaw, and filled with a good heart.
He was full of mischief too. His favorite game was to change his appearance. It would happen so quickly, Madelyne didn't even have time to draw a breath of surprise. One minute he pretended to be Duncan and the next he was back to being Odysseus again. And once, during the dark hours of the night, when Madelyne was most afraid, he actually changed himself into Achilles, just to amuse her. He was sitting there, in a straight-back wooden chair that was entirely too little for his size and bulk, just looking at her in the most peculiar way.
Achilles wasn't wearing his boots. That worried her and she immediately cautioned him to protect his heels from injury. Achilles looked confused by her suggestion, forcing Madelyne to remind him that his mama had dipped him headfirst in the magical waters of Styx, making all of him invincible, save for the tiny bit of flesh on the backs of his heels, where she'd held on to him so he wouldn't be swept away by the swirling waters.
'The water didn't touch your heels, and that is where you are most vulnerable,' she instructed him. 'Do you understand my meaning?'
She decided he didn't understand at all. His puzzled look told her as much. Perhaps his mama hadn't taken the time to tell him the story. Madelyne sighed and gave him a sad, pitying look. She knew what was going to happen to Achilles, yet didn't have the heart to tell him to beware of stray arrows. She guessed he'd find out soon enough.
Madelyne started to weep over Achilles's future, when he suddenly stood up and walked over to her. But he wasn't Achilles now. Nay, it was Duncan taking her into his arms and soothing her. Odd, but his touch felt just like Odysseus's.
Madelyne nagged Duncan into getting into bed beside her, then immediately rolled on top of him. She propped her head on his chest so she could look into his eyes. 'My hair is like a curtain,' she told him, 'hiding your face from everyone but me. What think you of that, Duncan?'
'So I am Duncan once again, am I?' he answered. 'You don't know what you're saying, Madelyne. You burn with fever. That is what I think,' he added.
'Are you going to call a priest?' Madelyne asked. Her question upset her and tears filled her eyes.
'Would you like that?' Duncan asked.
'Nay,' Madelyne bellowed right into his face. 'If a priest be called, I'll know I'm dying. I'm not ready to die yet, Duncan. There's too much to do.'
'And what would you like to do?' Duncan asked, smiling over her ferocious expression.
Madelyne suddenly leaned down and rubbed her nose against Duncan 's chin. 'I think I would like to kiss you, Duncan. Does that make you angry?'
'Madelyne, you must rest,' Duncan said. He tried to roll her to her side, but she proved to be as clinging as a vine. Duncan didn't force her, concerned he might accidentally hurt her. In truth, he liked her just where she was.
'If you kiss me just once, then I'll rest,' she promised. She didn't give him time to respond but slapped her hands on both sides of his face and pressed her face against his. Lord, did she kiss him then. Her mouth was hot, open, and thoroughly arousing. It was such a lustful, passionate kiss, Duncan couldn't help but respond. His arms slowly slipped around her waist. When he felt warm skin, he realized her skirt had ridden up. His hands stroked her soft buttock and it wasn't long before he was caught up in a fever of his own.
Madelyne was wild and thoroughly undisciplined when she kissed him. Her mouth slanted over his, her tongue penetrated and stroked until she was breathless.
'When I kiss you, I don't want to stop. 'Tis sinful, isn't it?' she asked Duncan.
He noticed she didn't look particularly remorseful over her admission and assumed the fever had rid her of her inhibitions. 'I have you flat on your back, Duncan. I could have my way with you if I wanted.'
