men would run from, something that we fear more than anything else. We are to face it, defeat it. But the thing I feared above all else was being without you. Last night I faced that fear. I defeated it. I gave myself to you, without reservation, hopeful for the future. Don't you see, Layel? I don't need to slay this beast. I've already won the gods' challenge.'
A riddle. Just as Hestia had said. He stilled, his eyes widening. Delilah had done it. Had truly done it. And she'd done it without him. The foolishness he felt at not having figured it out himself was no match for his pride in the woman who had. His woman. Grinning, he turned and hugged her close. Her arms wrapped tentatively around him, and the small gesture warmed his heart.
'Very good, my child. Very, very good. And so a winner has been declared,' a laughing voice whispered through the trees. 'Ah, but do not fear, vampire, nymph and dragon. No one need die this day. The losers shall be spared, as each of you proved useful in some way. And I know what you are thinking, vampire. I told you otherwise before. But how could you have faced your worst fear if there were no consequences for your actions?'
With the words, the monster disappeared, though its roar continued to echo throughout the mountain. Tagart and Broderick whipped around, confused, searching. 'Where did it go?' they panted in unison.
Each of the five gods appeared in a blazing cascade of lights. As Layel blinked against their brilliance, he saw that only Hestia was smiling.
The goddess faced Delilah. 'Amazon, you have surpassed my expectations. Of all the warriors, you have displayed the most strength, courage, endurance and wit. At any point, you could have given up, yet you persevered, determination your beloved companion.'
'Not true! My dragon displayed the most strength. You cheated,' Poseidon growled at the goddess.
'As did you,' she replied smugly. 'Do you honestly believe none of us heard your meeting with the dragon last eve? You told him exactly what his greatest fear was, and still he failed to understand. The Amazon is unquestionably the winner of this game. And that means I have won our game, as well.'
Ares clenched his fists so tightly blood ran from his palms.
Artemis regarded them coldly, as if the outcome didn't affect her one way or another.
Apollo was popping his jaw, the glow around him more diminished than before.
Then they each nodded in reluctant acknowledgment.
War cries abounding, an army of nymphs suddenly burst past the trees, and stopped. The roars became gasps and snarls. Layel raced forward, his goal to protect the nymphs, his friends, from the gods. But before he reached them, the gods repositioned themselves, beside him one moment, blocking his path in the next. Layel ground to a halt.
'Valerian,' he called.
'Layel,' the nymph king responded. 'What's been going on? How can we—'
Hestia waved her hand at them and they disappeared as quickly as they'd arrived. 'Good riddance.'
'You,' Apollo said to Broderick, as though there had never been a disruption. 'I have a task for you, nymph. As I am no longer welcome inside Atlantis, I feel the need to return to the surface world. And there is something you can do for me there. The least you can do, really, since you did not win me this contest.' The two vanished. At least Broderick had appeared amenable.
'And, you,' Poseidon added, pointing to Tagart, eyes narrowed. 'You cost me sole claim to Atlantis. For that, you will be punished. And then you will exist simply to amuse me.' They, too, disappeared.
'And then there's you,' Ares said to Layel. 'Victory could have been ours, but you chose to put love first.' Despite his words, there was no anger in his voice. 'I would punish you, but you seem to have saddled yourself with a permanent mate. That is punishment enough, I'm thinking.'
A mate was not punishment, Layel thought. A mate was a reward. But he gave no protest as Ares, too, vanished.
For several heartbeats, there was silence. Then a female sigh echoed. 'Enough distractions. I will now award Delilah's prize.' Hestia merely blinked at them and they were suddenly standing in front of the Amazon camp, a cliff rising in front of them. The women obviously couldn't see them, for they were readying for war, unconcerned by the vampire in their midst.
There was the young girl, the one who had been locked in the dragon cage what seemed an eternity ago. To Layel's delight, she was leading a scowling Brand by a chain, as though he were nothing more than a pet.
'Lily,' Delilah said. She reached out stiffly, as though the action were automatic rather than heartfelt.
'Delilah,' the goddess said, stopping her in her tracks. 'As you know, my precious, you have earned a boon. What would you like? Name it, and it's yours. Remember, your sister Nola is out there, perhaps in pain.'
Layel's jaw clenched. Low blow, he thought. Remember your promises, he projected to Delilah. Remember my promises. Please remember. During their night of passion, he had vowed to help her search for Nola, and he would. However long it took. He would not rest until her sister was safe. The boon wasn't needed for that. Would she remember? Would she care?
'Or I could give Layel back his mate,' the goddess continued. 'That would please him, I think.'
Layel locked gazes with Delilah, letting all of his love pour from him.
'May I ask a few questions first?'
'Of course,' the goddess replied magnanimously.
'What happened to the nymph army?'
'The army was returned to Atlantis, healthy and whole. If your fellow competitors Broderick and Tagart are lucky, they will someday follow suit.'
Delilah nodded, satisfied. 'Since you have already agreed to spare Layel's life, I ask for my emotions,' she said, and Layel sank to his knees in relief. 'I want my emotions returned. My love for him.'
'I planned to return them anyway,' the goddess surprised Layel by saying. 'After you chose your prize. Logic aids us so much more than sentiment, after all. Besides, mere emotions don't seem a large enough reward for your efforts. Is there nothing else you would like?'
'Loving Layel, being with him, is what I desire most. But as you are giving me that, as well, I ask for Nola's safe return.'
Hestia studied her a moment, then nodded. 'Very well. All that you have named, you shall have. But not all at the same time. Nola has much to learn first.'
A moment later, Delilah's body jerked and she screamed in pain, just as she'd done the night before. All Layel could do was gather her close and hold on to her until the throbbing subsided. Finally she collapsed, panting, sweating.
'Thank you, thank you,' he said, raining kisses all over her face. 'Thank you for remembering. Thank you for loving me.'
Her violet gaze lifted, piercing him. 'Does some part of you wish I'd asked for your mate's return?'
'Ah, but you did ask for exactly that. You are my mate. My greatest prize.'
Slowly she grinned. 'A prize,' she said with wonder. 'Me. It's what I've always wanted to be, what I secretly dreamed of each night in camp and every time I saw other creatures holding hands and basking in each other.'
'It's what you've always been, what you will always be.' He kissed her forehead, her nose and then her precious lips. 'We will never be parted again, I vow it. We can live in my palace or I will be your eternal slave at the Amazon camp.'
Her eyes widened. 'You would be my slave?'
'I am your slave, love.'
Now those widened eyes filled with happy tears, her smile brighter than the sun. 'I would love to live in your palace. To have you all to myself, no war or battle-training to distract us. Maybe, though, we can visit my tribe upon occasion.' She looked down, as if it was too much to hope for.
'Anytime you wish. The girl, Lily, can even stay with us when we return, if your queen will allow it. Perhaps she can help us practice our parenting skills.'
'Oh, Layel.' She kissed and nipped at his face. 'I would like that. And I think Lily would, too.' Her head fell back and she laughed, a sound of true joy. 'We'll have to deal with her new slave, though. Are you sure—'
'My quest to kill the dragons is over.' He shrugged sheepishly. 'But perhaps I will torture Brand a wee bit. Or perhaps he will prove useful as we rescue Zane and Nola. Because if I know my Amazon, you will not be content to wait for Hestia to send the girl to us, just as I am not content to leave my soldier in torment.'
