talked.
“Yes. It got scuffed, but I fixed it.” Or at least she hoped she had. Sabrina prayed it would keep out whatever was outside the door.
“As soon as whatever is out there goes away you need to get out of town.”
“What?” That was the last thing she expected her friend to tell her.
“You can’t stay in the city. There are too many innocent people who might get hurt. I’m also not sure the wards around your apartment will hold for very long. That’s some powerful evil after you.”
Jessica was right. “I’ll head out to Granny’s place.” The small house on the edge of the bayou was the only place she could think to go.
“I’ll join you there as soon as I can.”
“No.” Sabrina was adamant. “I don’t want you or Tilly there.” It made her blood run cold to think of either of her friends getting hurt by whatever was out there.
“You need help or you won’t make it.” Her friend sounded so certain, but Sabrina still wasn’t taking any chances.
“No. Arand and I will manage.”
“Arand?”
“The name of the warrior.”
“Who does he belong to?” A sense of urgency filled Jessica’s voice.
“The Lady of the Beasts. That’s what he said. Do you recognize the name?” Jessica was more up on the gods and goddesses of various pantheons.
“Yes.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “You need to get out of town fast. Take Tilly’s car.” Of the three of them, only Tilly owned a vehicle, but she was generous with it, loaning it to her friends whenever they needed it. “I’ll call her and tell her you’re coming.”
Before she could respond, the line went dead. “Crap.” She scrambled for the closet and grabbed her tote bag, dumping her phone in the outside pocket. There were probably a dozen things she should take with her, but she couldn’t think of a single one.
Shoes, she needed shoes. She’d forgotten all about them earlier the moment she’d seen Arand’s tattoo. She tugged on a pair of sneakers, figuring if she had to run they were the best things to be wearing. It was going to be cool outside, so she grabbed a brown sweater and slipped it on over her tank top.
The noise outside the door suddenly stopped and the silence was deafening. Sabrina crept over to stand beside Arand. “Are they gone?” she whispered.
He waited several long minutes before his body started to change. She stepped back, watching in total awe as the wolf disappeared and the man reappeared. Fur was replaced by skin, paws by hands and feet. His jaw shortened and his teeth became normal until Arand was frowning down at her.
“Who did you call?”
“A friend.”
“No one should know about what is happening.”
“Tough. I’ve been having dreams for a couple of weeks now and strange things have been happening to me.” An understatement if there was one. Her entire life had been crazy lately.
“What things?” He grabbed her shoulders and lightly shook her. He was also still totally naked, and all that exposed male skin was making it difficult for her to focus.
“Could you put on some pants?”
He gave an exasperated growl and a heartbeat later was covered in the same tight leather pants he wore earlier. Leather moccasins covered his feet, and he wore a vest that left his arms and chest bare. “Answer me.”
“I will, but we have to leave.”
He frowned at her. “Why?”
“Because it’s not safe here, and it’s not fair to my neighbors and friends. They didn’t ask for this.” She couldn’t bear being responsible for anyone being hurt.
“Where will we go?” Arand followed her when she went to the front door but placed his large hand on the wooden panel to keep her from opening it.
She met his gaze and wanted to fall into his bottomless black eyes. She wished they’d met under different circumstances, which was crazy. The man was an immortal warrior, and she was an artist who read tarot cards. Plus, she was human. He was only here until the curse was broken.
“We’re going to my granny’s house. Well, I suppose it’s mine now that she’s gone. It’s on the edge of the bayou and fairly isolated.” The humor of the situation struck her and she laughed. She was taking a wolf to Granny’s house. She didn’t have a red cape, but maybe she should wear her red sweater instead of the brown one.
“What is so funny?” His shaggy hair framed his rugged face. He looked tough and totally hot.
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” No way was she going to try to explain it. “We need to get going.”
He nodded and unlocked the door, making certain she was behind him. When he determined there was no one there, he allowed her out and kept watch while she locked the door.
“We have to go to my friend’s house to get her car.”
She started to go around him, but Arand stopped her. “Tell me which way to go, but stay behind me.”
Warmth filled her when she realized he was protecting her. He could have easily left her to fend off whatever demon or evil came her way. Instead, he was going with her and was obviously intent on shielding her as best he could. Maybe he was only doing what he saw as his duty. Maybe it was more. Either way, she was happy he was with her when they hit the sidewalk and started toward Tilly’s house.
Hades peered into his mirror into the other realms and watched Arand and Sabrina scurrying down the sidewalk like frightened mice. He liked the analogy. They were also doing exactly what he wanted them to. It would take too much energy to shield their fight from an entire city, and that might attract the attention of his annoying siblings. Once they were in a more isolated area, he could send in more demons and not have to worry about anyone seeing them.
Perfect.
A few growls, a threat or two and his prey were ready to run. He loved it when a plan came together.
The glass in the mirror went dark. He sat back in his chair, sipped a particularly fine brandy from a crystal goblet and contemplated his next move. He didn’t need the serpent’s help at all in order to deal with the wolf and his woman. No, he was much better off doing it on his own. It showed him how little he really needed Mordecai. Once the war was over and he had ultimate power over the Earth and the Olympians, he would destroy the serpent.
He waved his hand in front of the mirror, wanting to see what Mordecai was up to. He didn’t trust the sly creature. They were too much alike.
The immortal warrior stood on the edge of a meadow staring up at the night sky. Hades couldn’t see anyone else around. Had Mordecai destroyed the Lady of the Beasts?
Hades frowned. He hadn’t sensed any great implosion of power, which would happen when a god or goddess was killed. Then he laughed as the obvious answer came to him. Of course he hadn’t felt anything. The goddess had grown weak during her imprisonment in Hell. She’d used all her power to curse her warriors in her effort to save them and had no way to replenish the energy she’d lost. As a result, she had hardly any power left.
He rolled the goblet between his palms, warming the liquor within. That meant the other gods and goddesses would be weak as well. He was the only one who still went among humans, the only one who many of them still worshipped in their way. His power continued to grow daily.
Satisfied his plans were unfolding as he wanted, Hades let the mirror go dark again. Mordecai would make his way to New Orleans, but he would probably be too late to join in the action. Arand would either be turned to Hades’ side or dead by the time the serpent got there.
Hades could get Mordecai there in the blink of an eye if he opened a portal, but he wanted the serpent to have to work to get there. He’d shown the warrior too much favoritism. It was time to remind Mordecai of his place in the hierarchy of Hell.
But the truth of the matter was he’d come to rely heavily on the warrior over the past few decades. It was
