Mars, page 11
I was surprised when Tobias pulled up to the front entrance instead of finding a parking spot. “You’re not coming in with us?”
Tobias shifted in his seat so he could see us better. Which wasn’t really necessary, since we were all practically sitting on top of each other, anyway. “And run into the psycho sisters? No thanks. I promised Dan I would take him shopping. But there is one thing that I wanted to tell you before I leave.” There was a dramatic pause before he continued. “I officially quit the band. Well, that is, I quit after they invited me back. I’m done being used by them, and it’s time I moved on.” He extended his hand to Zain. “Thank you for the unintentional part you played in making me realize those shifters were a bunch of tools.”
The smile that split Zain’s face was blinding. And I swore I saw the shimmer of tears in his eyes, though I would never let on that I’d seen them. Clasping Tobias’s hand, Zain replied, “With a voice like yours, you’ll do just fine.”
Tobias’s brows shot up in surprise. “You heard me sing?”
“I heard you singing in my head when I was in your body.” While still holding his hand, Zain gripped Tobias’s shoulder. “You have a real gift, and that has nothing to do with you being an incubus.”
Tobias’s voice trembled. “I really appreciate that.”
I felt my own eyes flood with moisture watching their exchange, and my heart swelled with pride. My initial regret about coming to Silver Springs was starting to fade as I realized all of the positive things that had come out of being here. Not only did I get my warriors back, but I’d also expanded my family to include Tucker, Dan, and Tobias, and in different ways we had changed their lives for the better.
Azai cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “I hate to break up this tender moment, guys, but we really need to go before the Fates get bored waiting and find some other poor soul to dig their claws into.”
“Azai is right,” I said. “Thank you, Tobias, for everything. And good luck.”
We exited the car and I inhaled a calming breath, preparing myself for our meeting with the Fates.
Zain arched a brow when he went to lace his fingers with mine and found the sticky residue from my Danish. I lifted a shoulder. “I forgot to grab napkins, and all I had was my mouth to clean them. It was either that or Azai’s pants.”
Zain’s tongue darted out, skimming his lip. “You had one other option.”
Distracted by his tongue, I almost forgot to respond. “Umm . . . What was that?”
He leaned over, his mouth brushing my ear. “I could have licked them for you.”
That simple sentence destroyed my panties, and based on Zain’s smirk, he definitely knew it. I would have to find a way to make him pay later. And I would make him pay, my mind already devising multiple ways that I would torture him in bed.
We finally made our way to where Pax held the door open for us, waiting with a knowing smile. Of course he’d heard Zain’s proposal, and with the heat simmering in his eyes, he would have offered the same assistance. But my hands weren’t where I wanted their mouths. There were other places that needed immediate attention. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time. Putting a lock on my Pandora’s Box until later, I focused my attention on putting one foot in front of the other.
Once inside, flashing lights, the music from slot machines, and raised voices filled the room. This place was a sensory overload.
From our vantage point by the door, the guys began to search this side of the room for any sign of the sisters. Which made this the perfect time for me to find the restroom. Even though I preferred Zain’s idea of how to clean me up, I needed to wash my hands. Spotting a sign to the right, I said, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the restroom.”
Azai went to follow, but I held my hand up. “I don’t think I’ll run into Ares in the women’s restroom, Azai.”
He glanced at Pax and Zain, who looked like they might protest me walking two feet alone, but they both surprised me when they nodded their approval.
“Be right back,” I called over my shoulder as I pulled open the door.
I hurried and washed my hands, not wanting to keep the guys waiting any longer than I had to. I could just see the three of them barging in to check on me.
As I was drying my hands, a woman with long brown hair entered. Her emerald green eyes lit up when she saw me. “You look like you’ve been ridden hard and hung out to dry.”
My jaw fell open. She couldn’t possibly be talking to me. Though, technically, I had been ridden hard last night and several times this morning. I had years apart to make up for with my warriors. Still, how could she possibly know any of this? Unless she wasn’t speaking literally. Which meant I looked like a hot mess.
I already knew that I was the only one in the bathroom, but I still foolishly checked behind me in case someone had magically appeared. When I confirmed I was most certainly alone, I glanced in the mirror, wondering what I may have missed when I got ready this morning.
Aside from the circles under my eyes, I thought I looked the same as usual. My hair was a little mussed but nothing too horrible, considering I barely had time to run a brush through it after Tobias woke us up and rushed us out the door.
The woman appeared next to my reflection in the mirror. She waved her hand around the fancy bathroom. “This place has a new spa that’s opening up soon. I’ve been reading about the services, and I think you could benefit from them too. If you order the Spank Your Ass massage, you get a free Jizzum facial. It will tighten your pores and brighten your skin. At least, that’s what I read. I plan to get one as soon as I can. Personally, I need a massage to straighten out my spine after riding my dragon.”
Riding her dragon?
I had no idea which kind of riding she was referring to, but I wasn’t about to ask.
She pointed to a brochure on a side table that had a woman lying on a lounge chair with slices of cucumber over her eyes. That did look relaxing, and I deserved some pampering—minus the Jizzum facial—after the weekend I’d had. Though, I hoped the massage didn’t mean I would have to get my ass spanked. I would rather save that for the bedroom.
The spa would have to wait for later. I needed to get back to the guys before they came looking for me. I took one more look in the mirror, self-conscious about my appearance. To think I was only worried about sticky hands earlier. I was a goddess, for fate's sake. We always looked flawless.
“Umm . . . thanks for the suggestion.” I grabbed a hair tie out of my pocket and pulled my hair into a messy bun. It was the best I could do for now. “I’ll think about it. I’m meeting someone, but I will definitely try to come back when it opens.”
The woman beamed at me. “I think this place can help limber you up for whoever kept you busy today.” She winked at me. “Ask for Jupiter if you’re there any time in the afternoon. I’ll be sure to pop in after bingo at the retirement home upstairs.”
While Jupiter’s intense energy might have offended others, I didn’t really mind. I liked her. She didn’t mess around and got to the point.
With a wave, I exited the bathroom and looked around for the guys, but they weren’t where I left them. My pulse began to race as I scanned each person in the casino. They would never leave me unless something went wrong.
I didn’t want to leave my spot in case they came back, but I was too anxious to wait for them. What if they needed me? I felt my magic simmer just below the surface, ready to be unleashed. I took a few steps and caught a glimpse of Zain just past one of the slot machines. I picked up the pace, opening my mouth to call out to him, then froze in place when I saw the rest of the guys and who they were talking to.
Hades and Kari.
I clenched my fists, my magic rolling over my hands, ready to jump in and fight my uncle. I hated that I would have to do this to Kari’s boyfriend, but I didn’t have a choice.
And then Pax laughed at something Hades said. Not the kind where you are laughing at someone, the kind where you are laughing with them.
Hades must not know the guys were with me. If he did, they wouldn’t all be laughing right now. The guys were probably trying to buy time for me to escape without being seen. I turned, about to walk away, when another thought struck me. I could be the one to protect them by leaving them behind. At least until I could figure out how to reconcile with my brother. Then they wouldn’t have to be in the middle of my fight with Ares.
My chest tightened, and I could barely suck in a breath. Could I really walk away from them? It nearly destroyed me the first time, and while I cared for them back then, I wasn’t in love with them like I was now.
But they would be safe and alive. Sacrificing my heart for them was worth it.
Chapter Seventeen
Zain
* * *
The dice rattling and card shuffling were the least of the sounds assaulting my scout-honed ears. I tried to keep alert, even as Pax and Azai talked to someone Mars had said was our enemy. Hades was calm, placid even, his mate at his side.
We’d known him well back on Olympus, and I had always thought he cared for Mars, but clearly he had sided with Ares on this one. All of Olympus had, to my eyes, because otherwise why wasn’t Mars more well-known? The humans said that Ares and Mars were just two names for the same god, and as much as they liked to whisper, no one had breathed a word about there being twins in all this time. It was as if Mars didn’t exist. Had they erased her because they believed her dead? Or because Ares really did want to kill her and he wanted to make sure no one knew she still existed?
To say we were surprised to find Hades there would be putting it mildly. By the time we’d seen him, it had been too late to avoid him. Apparently, our warrior skills were a bit rusty, which was why I was now surveying the casino like my life depended on it.
It certainly hadn’t been my idea to be honest with Hades about why we were in Silver Springs. Yet here was Pax laying all of our cards on the table with the god of the underworld.
“Wait.” Kari looked at Hades, frowning. “You’re telling me that the Emily I went to the concert with the other night is really your niece Mars?”
“The one and only,” Hades replied, dragging his hand through his perfectly styled hair. This was the first time that I had ever seen him distressed. Unless he was a really good actor, he seemed to be genuinely upset over Mars.
“But you never mentioned that he wanted to kill her, Hades.” She smacked his arm. “How could you stand by and allow that to happen? You’re her uncle. You should have protected her.”
Hades released an aggravated breath. “I couldn’t protect her, because I only just found out that she thinks her brother wants to kill her.”
Kari fisted her hands on her hips. “Well, does he?”
“Not at all. Of course he was pissed at her but not enough to kill her.”
I glanced at Pax, who looked thoughtful over what Hades was saying, then shifted my gaze back to the restroom door. How long did it take Mars to wash her hands? Then again, I had no clue why women always took forever in the bathroom. I would give her another minute, and then I was going in after her.
“So he’s never really wanted to kill her?” Azai asked.
Hades shook his head. “Not that he’s told me. He’s blamed himself because the last words spoken to her were in anger.”
I studied Hades' face, not sure if I believed him. Mars had been so certain that Ares would never forgive her. I flipped my knives in my hands, and a guy passing in a tailored suit jumped back.
“Weapons aren’t allowed in here,” he muttered, glaring at me. He was soft, the way all of these modern people were soft. I had no clue how they fought any wars at all.
I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist. It had been too long since someone had challenged me. Leaning in, I ran my knife under his chin, feeling the rasp of his whiskers against my blade. “And who’s going to make me?”
“Zain,” Hades warned. “It isn’t nice to play with the humans.” There was a playful undertone to his warning that said he’d really like to join in.
“Why not?” I pressed the knife point to the cleft in the man’s chin, and his eyes bugged out like some cartoon character.
“It attracts attention,” Azai said, slapping my hand away.
The man fled as soon as the knife was gone. That would teach him to bring his tiny balls to a knife fight. Gods, it had been too long since I had this much fun. I grinned at Azai, flipping my knife in my hand. Then Hades caught my eye, his smile answering mine.
I snorted, remembering the games we used to play with the people around Mount Olympus. Hades would pretend he was too old, but whenever we started, he’d join in. They were just boyish pranks for the most part, and no one ever really got hurt.
“Hey, where’s Mars?” Azai said, looking around.
How much time had passed since we started talking with Hades? Hopefully, she wasn’t wandering around looking for us. I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off the door. Idiot. How were we supposed to protect her if we kept getting distracted?
“She should still be in the bathroom,” I said, gesturing across the room.
“Oh, I can go check on her,” Kari offered.
Hades' mate seemed kind. She proved that the moment she defended Mars to Hades and if Pepper trusted her, then so did I. For the first time in a long time Hades seemed truly happy and Kari had him wrapped around her finger. Which was something I had never thought to see in my lifetime for him. I had always liked the god. I hoped what he said was true about how Ares felt about Mars, then we could put their disagreement behind us and finally go back home.
Kari came running back from the bathroom. "She's gone."
"What do you mean she's gone?" I asked, lifting my knives. I glared at Hades. "Was all this playing nice a distraction so Ares could get Mars alone?"
Azai let loose a colorful stream of curses and ran for the ladies room, Pax and I on his heels. Hades' denial trailed after us, but I didn't care what he had to say. Mars was alone and in danger, and we had neglected our duty.
We grabbed everyone we ran by, asking if they’d seen someone matching Mars’s description. One guy literally growled at me. I swore when another tried to kiss me and I shoved him away.
I touched the arm of a passing woman and was about to ask if she’d seen Mars when the woman’s face twisted in annoyance. “Hey, get your hands off me,” she ordered. She had on short shorts over fishnet stockings. Her crop top revealed a stomach tattoo of a possum wearing a top hat. I wasn’t sure what the meaning behind the strange tattoo was and I wasn’t about to ask.
“I just wanted to know—-”
She glared at me and sweat broke out on my forehead. I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to raise my knives. “My goddess— My girl— My woman is missing.”
Her hands were fisted at her sides, and she looked ready to punch me. I had no idea what I had done to piss her off. “You think you own a woman?”
I scratched my neck, confused by her question. Why did I feel like I needed to choose my words carefully with this one? “Well, we’re involved, but I’m kind of her protector.”
She raised her fists, and there was no doubt in my mind that she was about to start a fight with me. “Like a pimp?”
A pimp?
I caught myself glancing down at my outfit, worried that I had somehow unconsciously dressed like Tobias this morning. Thankfully, I was still wearing the joggers and t-shirt that Pepper’s mate Skarde had brought me.
“No, no. Not that kind of protector!” I needed to get away from this angry woman fast. I was better off searching for Mars on my own. Without waiting for her response, I turned and strode away.
I caught up to the rest of the guys, and we tore apart the women's bathroom, but other than a few screaming women, it was empty of any clues. Covered in toilet paper and hair spray, we left the bathroom before the women inside found something else to throw at us.
Pax pulled us to a stop once we were outside the casino. "If we assume she wasn't taken, where would she go?"
“But what if she was?" I asked.
Pax flung his hand out. "Then there would be a battle happening right here in the lot, wouldn't there?"
He was right. Mars would have fought back and would never have gone quietly. If she had left on her own, why wouldn’t she have told us? My heart sank. The only reason that made sense was that she didn't want to be with us. As soon as she'd had a chance, she'd taken off. Had we been a burden to her this whole time? Had she wanted to find the Fates alone so that she could find a way to get rid of us?
"How about the hotel?" Azai asked. "Or Dan's house?"
"Let’s try Peppermint's first." Pax turned back to the casino door, and Azai and I followed. "We can get the address from Kari."
"What if she left because she didn't want us?" I asked softly, voicing all of our fears.
They both looked at me grimly.
"She couldn't . . ." Azai’s big shoulders slumped, unable to believe it could be true.
Pax crossed his arms over his chest, forehead furrowing. "If we find her and she really doesn't want us, we’ll deal with it then.”
I nodded. For now, we just needed to know she was safe.
Chapter Eighteen
Mars
* * *
I ran blindly through the casino, not stopping until I exited through the front doors. My hands clutched to my chest, I stood on the sidewalk gasping for air. I needed to get it together. This was the right decision to make and I needed to face Ares on my own. The guys had sacrificed enough for me already, and I couldn’t continue to be a burden anymore.
“Mars?”
It took me a minute to realize someone had called my name. I lifted my gaze to find Tucker standing next to me, his eyes full of concern.
