Mars, page 10
“It’s this costume,” Zain groaned, frantically scratching himself like a dog with fleas. The couple behind us took a step back, probably thinking he actually had them. I frowned, scratching at a phantom itch that had suddenly sprung up on my arm.
Azai pulled a slim dagger out of a holster at his ankle and held it out to Zain. “Try slipping this up your sleeve to scratch.”
“Are you insane?” I swatted Azai’s hand away just as Zain was about to take it. “At the rate he’s scratching, he will likely impale himself.”
Azai shrugged, and instead of putting it back in his holster, he twirled it between his fingers, whistling a bawdy tune. A tune that he knew annoyed me.
The line began to move, and we all took a step forward. Except for Zain who did a weird shimmy hop while he attempted to scratch a spot he couldn’t reach. Which caused him to smack into the pink-haired woman behind him.
“Sorry,” he tried to say, but his voice was muffled through the costume.
She looked at him in surprise. “Wow, that’s some outfit. It almost looks real.”
I snorted, that’s probably the last thing Zain wanted to hear right now. The woman looked between us, suddenly nervous.
“I meant it in a good way. You look great,” she said, patting Zain’s arm. “I’m Venus, by the way.”
“Hi, Venus,” Mars said. “This poor guy is Zain, I’m—”
A spell went off across the street, distracting Mars. The streak of magic in the air was visible to us, but the humans seemed oblivious. Mars was right. This town did hide magic from humans.
When we turned back to Venus she was frowning and then her expression went blank. After a moment, she looked down where her hand was still on Zain’s furry arm. “Oh, hi. Have we met? I’m Venus. Wait, did I just bump into you? I’m so sorry. I have a terrible memory, but I’m usually not clumsy.”
Mars pursed her lips as she studied Venus. A terrible memory was putting it mildly. How could she forget just being introduced to us?
“No, it’s fine,” Zain said, lifting the bottom of his mask so he could speak better. “My fault entirely.”
“Okay then,” she said. “I just need to talk to Amber who’s already inside.”
“Go on ahead,” Zain said, gesturing her forward.
She thanked him and made her way through the line. At least she remembered who she was meeting. We all looked after her for a moment and I wondered if the spell from earlier had affected her somehow? I sighed. If only that spell could have made Zain stop scratching.
Mars squeezed in between me and Zain and dug her fingers into his furry costume. Zain’s loud moan of relief had more people staring. So much for the costumes disguising us. We were drawing more attention than if we had stayed in our original clothes.
“Good boy,” Mars soothed as she dug her fingers in deeper. “As soon as we get our coffee, we’ll get you out of this horrid costume.”
Yeah. If we didn’t get him out of the fur suit soon, I was worried he might actually turn into a dog. Especially based on the way Mars was cooing at him.
Tucker had somehow gotten ahead of us and was already inside. How he’d managed that was beyond me. Within minutes, he appeared with a tray full of drinks and waved us over. We hurried to him and he handed them out.
“But how’d you get them?” Azai asked.
Tucker grinned. “Privileges of being a cop.”
That worked in our favor, since Mars was the only one with a ticket to get a free coffee. The rest of us would have had to pay. I glanced over at the line, where people were now giving us nasty glares, and then down the sidewalk in the other direction. “We best head out before someone picks a fight.”
“I need to head back to work,” Tucker said. “Do you need me to drop you anywhere before I go?”
Mars shook her head. “Thanks, Tucker. I think we’ll be good if we keep to the crowded streets.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said. “Surely, the spell will have faded by nightfall and we’ll be able to go.”
“If not,” Tucker said, “you can stay at the hotel. The concert goers should be gone by tonight, and they’ll have room.”
“Sounds good.” Mars stretched and rubbed her lower back. “I've gotten used to sleeping in a bed.”
I had to agree with her. I wouldn’t mind sleeping in a warm bed with clean sheets either. After Tucker waved and headed back to his car, I faced the group, bracing my hands on my hips. “Where to?”
“How about a clothing store?” Zain asked, scratching like a maniac. “Because there is something seriously wrong with this costume.”
“Sure,” Azai clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s see if we can find one.”
Tucker came running back up, waving a paper map and carrying the duffel bag we had forgotten in the car. “I know Silver Springs isn’t very big, but there are plenty of places for you to hide until tonight. By then, there should be a vacant room at the hotel.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking the map and bag from Tucker. “We appreciate it, man.”
I opened the map, looking for a clothing store, and found one a few blocks away.
Zain pulled off his hood, sweat pouring down his face. “How far is it? ‘Cause I’m not going to make it much farther.”
“Just around the corner,” I lied. “Let’s go.”
Our luck was holding. We hadn’t seen a sign of Hades or Ares, and we were almost to our destination. The walk was actually pleasant enough that I could almost forget we were supposed to be hiding out. The early fall day was cool, and the leaves were just starting to turn, their colors vivid and bright.
Mars stopped and picked up a bright yellow leaf from the ground. She twirled it in her fingers as she walked. How many years had she been on the run—alone? We could see things from the ether, how people lived and changed, but the sense of time was muted. It could have been a day or a century since we’d made our promise.
My heart squeezed at the thought of all that time she had spent alone. I wished we’d been with her every step of the way. Sure, the spell said we were her protectors and would come to her at her hour of greatest need, but her need hadn’t been for warriors. It had been for companionship, and we hadn’t been called. We couldn’t change the past, but we were here now and that was all that mattered.
Zain swore, and I spun toward him. His hood was off, and his eyes were focused across the street. We all turned to see what he was looking at and found Ares and Hades talking on the corner.
“What are they even doing on this street?” Azai asked. “Do you think they followed us?”
They weren’t looking in our direction, so that theory was unlikely. But it wouldn’t be long before they spotted us. We needed a place to hide and the clothing store was too far away to be an option.
“There’s a pet store just ahead,” I said, pointing at the sign. “We can duck in there until they leave.”
“Perfect,” Mars said, “let’s run for it.”
Instantly in motion, despite our ridiculous costumes, we took off for the pet store. Pushing open the door, we tumbled inside and then crouched, peering out the window around the fluffy pet bed displays.
“Did they see us?” I whispered, accidentally stepping on a small squeaky toy that lay on the floor beside me. The noise drew the attention of a small dachshund that immediately began sniffing and licking my hands.
“Who are you on the run from?” A woman who appeared to be in her late twenties approached from behind us. Her long brown hair swung behind her in a ponytail.
“Oh, no one,” Mars said smoothly, rising to face the woman. “We’re just looking for some flea powder.”
I had to give it to Mars, she thought quick on her feet and Zain didn’t even have to play the part for her story to be believable.
“Flea powder?” The woman’s gaze darted curiously to Zain. “Do wookies get fleas?”
I laughed and patted Zain on the back. “Yeah, my friend seems to be having an issue with his costume.”
“Oh.” Her brows drew together as she leaned in to see, her fingers separating the fur on his costume. “I’m Mercury by the way, but everyone calls me Curie.”
We didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves, because another woman hurried toward us from farther inside the shop. She must have been the owner. “Fleas? Let me see the poor baby!” She crouched down on the other side of Zain to inspect him.
Azai moved over next to me and made sure that the two women weren’t watching us before he whispered, “He’s still out there.”
If we stayed in here any longer, Zain would end up getting a flea bath. I needed to put an end to this before it went any farther.
“No, I’m sure it’s not fleas,” I said to the women, putting out my hand placatingly. “His costume is just itchy.”
As if to prove my point, Zain started stripping right in the middle of the store. Within seconds, he had it around his waist. I guess the itching had gotten to be too much for him. I glanced at the windows in the front of the shop and pushed him toward the back where we could hide behind the tall racks of food and toys.
While on the move, Zain kicked off the rest of the costume, leaving it on the floor behind him. My brows shot up when I realized he wore nothing underneath and he was completely naked in the cat toy aisle. I cringed when I noticed his skin was a mass of red blotches. I didn’t even want to think about his poor cock. It had me clutching my own in sympathy. Why didn’t he at least keep his boxer briefs on?
The owner surveyed him, unfazed that he was standing in front of her naked as the day he was born. “You were right, no fleas,” she pronounced. “It looks like it’s just an allergy to the material. No more Chewbacca costumes for you.”
“He’s really red,” Curie said, leaning in closer. “Are you sure you’re all right?” She sounded genuinely concerned and also not fazed by his nudity. Who were these women?
Mars pushed past her and inspected Zain, then turned to the owner. “Do you by chance have a wet cloth?”
The owner nodded and went into the back to get one. While she was gone, Mars dug through the duffel bag hanging from my shoulder. She pulled out Zain's clothes and handed them to him. He put his underwear on and dropped to the floor with a relieved sigh, setting the rest of his clothes beside him.
When the woman returned with the cloth, Mars knelt in front of him, with various animals around her, while she wiped down Zain’s poor red skin.
“They’re gone.” Azai had come back from where he was standing guard at the front of the store. He looked down at Zain and scrunched his face. “Shit, man, he looks awful.”
Mars sent a glare his way. “We need some hydrocortisone and a cab.” She glanced at the owner. “Would you be able to call us one, please?”
“Of course,” the owner replied. “My name is Calluna if you need anything else before you go.”
“Where are we going?” Azai asked.
“The hotel,” Mars said firmly. “This is ridiculous. Zain can’t continue like this. We’ll be more comfortable there and can figure out how I’m going to deal with Ares.”
Finally . . . the old Mars was back and taking control.
Chapter Sixteen
Mars
* * *
It’d been barely mid-afternoon when we arrived at the hotel, but after taking care of Zain and showering, we’d wrapped ourselves in the hotel robes and passed out watching part of a movie. We hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep the previous night, and we were all exhausted.
When I woke, the soft light of dawn was filtering through the curtains. Looking at the costumes laid out on the couch, I tapped my phone. Should I call Pepper and ask her to deliver my clothes and a few things for the guys? We didn’t get a chance to stop at that boutique yesterday and I never grabbed my outfit from the concert, which was probably still in the wash at Dan’s. Calling her was a risk, but I trusted Pepper.
Hitting the call button, I glanced at the clock. It was barely six a.m. Sorry, Pepper.
A sleepy voice answered. “Hello?’
“Sorry it’s so early,” I said.
“No,” she whispered. “I’ve been worried about you.”
I could hear a couple of grumbles in the background. Oops. I must have woken everyone up. I figured her Vikings would be used to getting up early. Wasn’t that when they used to raid villages? “I’m okay. I’ve got the guys with me.”
“The guys?”
My cheeks heated. I’d told Pepper little about my life when I was younger because I hated talking about the past. “Um . . . well, some old friends from my childhood decided to sign a deal with the Fates . . . and, um, become my warrior protectors.”
“Oh.” The short word was full of a million questions, and I owed my friend the answers to them, but not now.
“Can you help me out?”
“Of course, Mars, anything you need,” she said with a sleepy yawn.
“Can you grab my backpack and borrow some clothes from your guys?” My eyes ran over the bed where they were all still sleeping. “Three sets?”
“Three?” she asked, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “Where are you staying?”
“We’re at the hotel. Do you think you could have one of your Vikings bring it? In case Ares is watching your house?”
I had no idea if Ares was even in town alone. He could have brought some of his own warriors with him. I doubted I would recognize any of them if I saw them. Luckily, her mate was a Viking. He would know how to avoid someone following him.
“Not a problem,” she replied. “Do you want some baseball hats too?”
“Yes. That would be great. I didn’t know you were a baseball fan.”
“Didn’t I tell you?” she half-whispered. “Roar’s obsessed. He keeps bringing the damn things home. I’ll send you a dozen.”
I chuckled. “I don’t think we need that many, but yes, send four.”
“Okay, I’ll wake Skarde and send him over with them.”
“Thanks again, Pepper.” How did I end up with such a good friend? I’d always had to do all this stuff on my own, and here Pepper didn’t hesitate to help me when she knew the god of war was breathing down my neck.
“No worries, Mars. You stay safe, okay?”
We said our goodbyes, and I sat down in the ornate chair near the window. Looking out into the dark woods outside, I wondered if Ares' anger toward me had diminished after all this time? We’d had fights before, but we always made up. What if Pax was right and Ares had found a way to forgive me? I missed my brother. Seeing him again at the concert reminded me just how much.
I popped the last piece of Danish into my mouth and licked the sticky glaze off my fingers. We were all crammed into Dan’s micro car again, with Tobias at the wheel. After Skarde dropped off our clothes, I had fallen back to sleep with the guys, only to be awakened by Tobias pounding on the door. He had not only won big at the casino last night, but he’d also seen the Fates. And thanks to Tucker, he knew exactly where to find us.
It couldn’t be a coincidence that the Fates were in Silver Springs right now. Were they spying on us? Getting a kick out of the mess they had made of my guys’ lives? They couldn’t be trusted. We needed to know what they were plotting and if there were any other surprises in the guys’ contract. There was no guarantee that, once they finished their mission here, they wouldn’t be sucked back into the ether. Which was why we were on our way to convince the Fates to dissolve their contract.
Luckily, before we left, Azai had remembered the free continental breakfast the hotel offered. With no time to waste, we grabbed the food to go before we met Tobias outside.
“We need a plan for what we’re going to do when we see the Fates,” I announced. Based on the GPS, we were almost to the casino, and we didn’t have much time to come up with a solid strategy.
Azai took a swig from his bottle of water, then wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “There is no planning with the Fates. They’re too unpredictable. We just need to be on guard at all times.”
Pax grunted his confirmation, his mouth currently filled with a croissant. I looked at the three men who had come back into my life and allowed me to find happiness again. Now that they were here, I wasn’t about to lose them again. I would do whatever it took to protect them. If it meant I had to challenge the Fates, then so be it.
Tobias snorted as he met my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Those sisters are wild. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like a wild girl in bed, the kinkier the better. I’m just not into their kind of kink.”
Oh gods, why must Tobias find the need to overshare his sex life? I really didn’t want to know what kind of fetishes the Fates had.
“I wasn’t even using my magic while I was there,” Tobias continued, completely oblivious to my discomfort. “Yet they were all over me. They claimed to be huge fans and wanted to know if I could make them hit the high notes in bed. At one point, Lechesis pulled Atropos’ hair to get her away from me. Then Clotho intervened with a solution that they all share me and that was my cue to escape.”
I pursed my lips at the thought of Tobias with the Fates. That was a visual that I definitely didn’t need this early in the morning. Or any time of day, for that matter. Holding my hand up, I pleaded, “Please don’t give me any more details.”
Glancing back to the mirror, Tobias laughed. “I admit I’m not opposed to a foursome. Been there, done that, but I know when to steer clear of crazy. Especially three crazy goddesses. The only reason I was able to get away from them was by promising to bring the rest of the band back to the casino for an encore performance. Hopefully, that stalled them enough to still be there.”
I had never met the Fates in person, but I had heard enough stories about them to know I was better off. You really didn’t want to piss off the person who literally held your lifeline in their hands. But today was the exception. I would sacrifice everything to keep my warriors with me.
