Light of the Spirit Page 7

  “And I intend to be the one to open the door for him.”

  She poured amber liquid over the ice and offered him a glass. “Why are you telling me this? I could go directly to our new leader with this conversation.”

  “If you ever cared for my father, you won’t.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she swirled her drink in the glass. “Do you think it was your father I cared for? Or his money?”

  Hell if Ted knew, but he was fairly certain of one thing… “You were fond of his power.”

  She raised a sculpted brow. “Smart boy.”

  Ted took a sip of the drink and chuckled. “I’m hardly a boy.”

  She came closer, looking up at him from under her thick lashes. “Are you a man now, Teddy?”

  Pamela was a heady mixture of temptation and danger, and suddenly, his blood was pumping below his belt. “More of a man than Mikolas Leandros.”

  She took another step toward Ted, her breasts almost touching his chest. Almost. Her voice was a throaty whisper. “Man enough to deliver Kronos into this world?”

  “Fuck yeah.” He slid his arm around her waist and tasted her lips.

  Her free hand slid up his chest, setting him on fire as he devoured her mouth. The sweet brandy mixed with something spicy, just beyond his recognition, something rare and ancient.

  When she pushed him back one step, he already ached for her.

  She ran her tongue along her teeth, sizing him up. “Bedding me is not going to free Kronos.”

  “No.” He took another sip of the drink, praying the cool liquid might quench the fire she had just stoked in him. “But I have a plan. I need the Greek’s Mercedes tonight. I was hoping you could pay him a visit and keep him occupied.”

  After he said the words, a vision of Pamela tangled in satin sheets with Mikolas filled his head, and he hastily added, “If you slipped some tranquilizers into his drink, we could use the car and leave it back at his place. He won’t even realize it was gone.”

  “I could.” She finished her drink and set the glass on the bar. “But I want something in return.”

  His pulse thumped in his ears. “Sure. What’s that?”

  She came closer, her floral musk intoxicating. Rising on her toes, her lips brushed his ear as she whispered, “Make Zeus weep for the loss of his daughters. There is no greater pain for a parent.”

  “Yes.” He nodded, trying to bury his eagerness. “We will. Just make sure Mikolas is knocked out.”

  “Oh, he will be.” She went to the door leading out of the library. “You can show yourself out, no?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer. Once the door clicked, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Holy shit. What the hell was he doing?

  He ran a shaky hand through his hair. Pamela had been his dad’s mistress. Was she old enough to be Ted’s mother?

  But more importantly, did he even care?

  He finished his drink. No. He didn’t give a rat’s ass. Since he’d dated Trinity in college, no other woman had lit a fire inside him.

  But Pamela just had.

  She’d kindled an inferno.

  By the end of his shift, Cooper’s body ached, but his mind was pleasantly clear. There hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary on their calls today. A few weeks ago, he would’ve been hoping for the chance to save a patient, to get a heart beating again, but right now, ordinary was soothing.

  Back at the station, Cooper showered and changed while Nick rambled on about his truck not passing the smog test and the cost of his catalytic converters being a racket.

  Cooper was barely listening, though. Once he had his shoes on, he grabbed his bag. “Catch you later, man.”

  Nick looked up. “Set your alarm this time. I’m not going to swing by your place and drag your sorry ass out of bed.”

  “I’ll be here.” As he turned to go, Garcia was entering the locker room.

  “Apollo! Save any lives today?” he asked.

  Cooper’s nickname had a whole new meaning now, but he tried not to act any differently. He just shook his head. “Only transports today. No trauma.”

  Garcia opened his locker. “Gotta come on the night shift with me. That’s where the action is.”

  Every couple of months, they flipped schedules. Cooper would be back on nights soon enough.

  He clapped Garcia’s shoulder. “Sorry, man. I’ve got a better offer tonight.”

  Garcia chuckled and called after him, “Don’t break too many hearts, Apollo!”

  Cooper sent a text to Lia to be sure they were still on, and then he pulled into the grocery store. He went inside and stared at the flowers. Why was he here? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d brought a woman flowers, but the idea that they might make Lia smile encouraged him.

  What kind would she like? It was too late to call his grandmother, but that was probably for the best. He wanted to do this on his own.

  He quickly wrote off roses. They were too serious. Next, he looked at a bouquet with purple flowers. They were pretty, but when he read the tag, he put them back. Forget-me-nots weren’t what he was looking for, either. Then he noticed a bouquet of sunflowers surrounded by a forest of daisies. He caught himself grinning. They were bright, like the sun. Like Lia.

  Perfect.

  He grabbed the flowers and went to check out when the back of his neck started to throb. Frowning, he paid and reached for his phone as he headed for his car.

  He hit Lia’s number and held his breath.

  “Cooper?” she answered.

  Just hearing her voice relaxed him, but his birthmark was stinging now. What was it she’d said about the other Guardians’ birthmarks hurting when their muses were in danger?

  “I’m on my way over now.”

  “Oh good. I just finished with the improv group. I’m locking up.” Keys jangled in the background.

  “I’m right around the corner. Can I pick you up?” he asked, trying to keep the concern from his voice.

  “Um, okay. I do have my car, though.”

  “I know.” His damned birthmark was burning up. Something wasn’t right. “Just wait for me. I’ll be right there.”

  Ted stayed in the shadows outside the improv theater as the Make ’Em Laugh marquis went dark. That was Bryce’s signal. Sweat ran down Ted’s face behind his father’s Kronos mask. The borrowed robe still carried his father’s scent, bolstering Ted’s commitment. Besides, he was only the distraction.

  He looked toward her car. She wasn’t crossing the parking lot to it yet.

  What the hell?

  In the distance, on the other side of the lot, an engine revved. Bryce was ready.

  So where was the Muse of Comedy?

  Ted crept out of the shadows searching for something to draw her out. She ran a neat shop, he’d give her that. The Dumpster was locked, and he couldn’t even find a stray soda can to roll her way.

  Shit.

  Suddenly another car pulled into the lot, and Ted scurried back into the darkness. The car door opened, bathing the blond paramedic in light from the overheads. He had to be one of the Guardians.

  Ted’s hands trembled as he fired a text off to Bryce.

  Target is now the paramedic. Go.

  The guy got out of the car, flowers in hand. He started for the door, and Ted stepped into the yellow glow of the streetlight.

  The man froze, frowning. “Who are you?”

  “The Golden Age of Man is returning,” Ted said. “Sacrifices must be made.”

  A black Mercedes without its headlights on raced toward him. The paramedic spun at the last second, but it was too late. His body smashed into the windshield and flew over the car as Bryce plowed through the lot. He stopped the car by Ted, but he didn’t get in. Not yet.

  A woman screamed, running to the fallen man. Tears streamed down her face as she looked over at the car. That was what Ted had been waiting for. She’d tell the police about the Kronos mask and the Mercedes.

  The windshiel
d was shattered and the front fender and hood were crunched from the impact. Ted got in the passenger side, and Bryce gunned it. They’d leave the borrowed, battered car back at the Greek’s place. The cocktail Pamela had given him should keep him sleeping until sunrise.

  Maybe Detective Malone would wake him up.

  Ted grinned and turned toward Bryce as he removed his mask. “Back roads. No one can see the damage to the car.”

  Bryce nodded, handing Ted his mask. “Think he’s dead?”

  “I don’t know.” Ted stared out the window. He’d spoken the line about sacrifices a million times. It was true: they did need to be made in order to free the Titans from their prison in Tartarus. But deep inside, he still couldn’t commit himself to killing. Death was something he’d never be able to wash off. Besides, Bryce was trained and conditioned for the job; Ted was the brains.

  But knowing that didn’t make him any more comfortable. He ached to get home to a hot shower.

  “We want him dead, right? So he can’t protect the muses?”

  Bryce’s voice yanked Ted from his thoughts. “Doesn’t matter. We just want them to tell the police what the car looked like and that they saw the Kronos masks. The detective will have to check with Mikolas, and when they see his car, he won’t have an alibi. He’ll be done. I can take over Belkin Oil and the Order of the Titans, and we can finish what my father started.”

  Bryce’s leather gloves squeaked as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “And my name will be up there with yours. We’ll be immortalized forever.”

  Ted nodded. Bryce would probably not live to see that day, but Ted was keeping that knowledge to himself.

  CHAPTER 8

  The Mercedes peeled away as if the driver hadn’t just hit a man. She raced to Cooper’s side, scraping both knees as she slid on the pavement. “Cooper? Please be okay… Cooper?”

  He groaned. Thank the gods.

  “I need to call 9-1-1.” She patted her pockets. Her phone. Shit.

  Lia scanned the dimly lit parking lot. Finally, she spotted it on the ground at the curb near the back of the theater. “I’ll be right back.”

  She started to stand, but Cooper grabbed her wrist, the strength of his body heat surprising her. It didn’t burn, but it also wasn’t comfortable. She turned back to find him…glowing.

  Lia dropped to her knees again, her heart racing. “Cooper? What’s happening?”

  He didn’t reply. His eyes closed, and tremors in his muscles vibrated all the way up her arm. She glanced at her cell, wishing she could stretch far enough to reach it. Dammit.

  Suddenly, her knees started to tingle. She shook her head, a tear spilling down her cheek. “No. Don’t you dare heal me while you’re nearly unconscious in my parking lot.”

  His voice rumbled, his eyes were still closed. “Let me be your Guardian.”

  “You come first, right now.” Her voice cracked as she noticed the blood seeping out from under his head. “I’ve got to call 9-1-1. Now.”

  His eyes opened, and the light radiating from him intensified. “I can’t…contain…it… Too…much power.”

  Cooper’s body shook, seizing the way it had when he had brought Reed back to life. Lia struggled free of his grip on her wrist, about to race for her phone, but Cooper went still.

  Eerily still.

  “Cooper?” She cupped his cheek. He was burning up. “Wake up, Cooper!”

  He didn’t move. She stumbled to her feet and raced for her cell. With trembling fingers, she opened the screen and called 9-1-1.

  “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked.

  She knelt at his side again as Cooper stirred.

  “Hit and run.” She gave them the address as she rushed back to his side. “He needs an ambulance.”

  His eyelashes fluttered open, and his blue eyes met hers. “I’m okay.”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re not.”

  “They’re on the way,” the dispatcher said. “Can you find a pulse?”

  “He’s conscious.”

  “Keep him still until the paramedics arrive. He could have a neck injury.”

  He rested a big hand on Lia’s thigh. “My neck is fine.”

  She rolled her eyes and answered the dispatcher. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t move.” The line went dead. She looked at her phone and then at Cooper. “Great. My battery just died.”

  He took her cell from her shaky hand. “We need to talk before the fire department gets here.”

  “Okay.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “You were…you were glowing like a human nightlight.”

  “I was?” He tried to look around. “Sorry about the flowers.”

  For the first time, she noticed the daisies and sunflowers that were littered around her parking lot. “Were those for me?”

  “Yeah.” He started to sit up, but she pinned his shoulders. “No moving, mister.”

  He covered her hand with his. It wasn’t hot anymore. “I’m fine.”

  “You were hit by a car, glowing, and burning up like the sun on a summer day. Then you had a seizure. None of those things equal fine.” A smile crept up on her. “You’re the paramedic here. You should know the definition of fine better than I do.”

  He chuckled and winced. “Okay, I’m a little sore, but whatever was broken is mended now.”

  She sat back on her feet. “You’re a horrible patient.”

  “First responders always are.” He glanced at her legs. “How are you knees?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I haven’t checked, but I’m guessing I won’t even have a bruise.”

  “Good.” Sirens sounded in the distance. “We don’t have much time.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I think the light I saw today was Apollo.”

  “Like the Apollo?”

  He nodded. “Sounds nuts, but I think so.”

  A fire truck pulled into the parking lot, followed by an ambulance, bathing them in red and yellow lights. “I don’t think he understands I’m human, but if I can’t figure out how to make him understand, he’s going to kill me while he tries to help.”

  Lia glanced over at the fire crew and paramedics. “That’s why you were so hot.”

  “I think so.” He swallowed. “How am I going to explain my broken skull being healed already?”

  “Miracle?”

  He groaned. “We work in science, not miracles.”

  “You have a better answer?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “You can’t tell them a Greek god healed you before they got here.”

  The paramedics rushed over with a kit and a gurney. Lia stepped back to give them room as they went to work taking his vitals. Two police cars rolled in, and a uniformed officer got out and headed her way. Then a familiar face got out of the other car.

  Nate instructed the officer to secure the crime scene and came over to her. “Are you all right?”

  “Shaken up, but we’re alive, so I’ll put it in the win column.”

  He looked at Cooper and the floral debris. “Your date?”

  “My Guardian.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Does he know?”

  “Yeah.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he realized how dangerous a job it would be.” She met Nate’s eyes. “He’s the paramedic who saved Reed at the fire. Seems his ability is healing.”

  Nate dropped his voice low. “So he healed himself?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “He thinks he had help.”

  Nate pulled out his notepad and jotted down a couple of things. “Tell me everything you remember.”

  Ted’s adrenaline rush hadn’t lessened much as he drove home. Bryce parked the Mercedes in Mikolas’s garage right where they had found it. They’d both been wearing gloves so there weren’t any fingerprints in the car, and they’d grabbed the Kronos masks before they left.

  Everything had gone according to plan, except that they hit the paramedic instead of the muse. But maybe he was one of the Guardians from the prophecy. If
they managed to eliminate a few more Guardians, it would be easier to get to the muses.

  Either way, the mission was successful. Nothing would implicate him, and Mikolas could very well be in prison without bail by morning.

  Ted parked his car and went inside.

  “Is it done?”

  He spun around to find Pamela in his kitchen. The lights were out, but she had a candle and two champagne flutes on the counter.

  “How’d you get in here?”

  She plucked a glass from the countertop. “This was your father’s beach condo while you were away at college. You apparently never changed the locks.”

  He put his keys in the dish by the door and headed to the kitchen. He wasn’t sure if he was more unsettled or turned on by her surprise appearance in his condo.

  “I didn’t realize my father gave you your own set of keys.” He took the second glass.

  “Oh, he gave me whatever I wanted.” She took a slow sip of champagne, her dark eyes on his face. “I hope you’ll follow in his footsteps.”

  “I’m not my father.” He knocked back a mouthful of champagne without savoring it, aching for the numbing buzz.

  Her lips curved into a sexy smile. “I can see that.” She came closer, running a red fingernail up the buttons of his shirt. “Did you get me what I asked for? Is another muse dead?”

  “Not yet. But once you encourage the Order to reinstate me as leader, you’ll have it.”

  “You don’t give me orders.” She placed the crystal flute back on the marble counter, all traces of her smile gone. “I answer to only one being in this world: Kronos. No other.”

  He moved in, sliding his free arm around her waist. He drew her to him, her curves igniting his senses like a wildfire. “We want the same thing, Pamela.”

  Her breath teased his lips. “Do we?”

  “Yes,” he whispered, aching to taste her.

  Pamela ran her finger along his jawline. “Tell me.”

  “The muses will die for killing my father.”

  “And to punish theirs.” Her words were a caress, and then her lips fused to his.

  Cooper glared at the fluids dripping into the IV, but there was no escaping it for now. His miraculous recovery was already raising eyebrows. The less fuss he made, the sooner he’d get out of there.