Jax cut his elder brother a corrective look, but said nothing. Their other brother Kalias frowned at them both and then turned to face Leo again. He was always master of his emotions, and this moment was no exception; he stared and waited with stoic calm.
Ari looked around among the entire group, aghast. “Aren’t any of you going to say something? Are you just going to gape like idiots? Our king is in trouble.”
“Ari, I will explain,” Leo said simply. Of all the Spartans, Ari’s heart had always been the biggest and kindest.
“Leonidas, you are my king and I swore long ago to protect you,” Ari insisted, eyes shining with unshed tears. “Looking at you right now, I can see you’re in danger.”
“I am dying,” Leo said softly. Bluntly. And he didn’t allow time for reaction from any of them before continuing. “Ares has chosen to revoke my immortality in punishment for . . .” He glanced briefly at Daphne. “Many things. The stand we’ve taken against him, our alignment with our Oracle. He has promised to age me swiftly and painfully—you see the first evidence of that threat in my appearance right now. I would estimate that I began this day as a man of some thirty-five years as I was at Thermopylae. Now, here at nightfall, I am more a man of forty-two or -three years. And so as you can plainly see, I am on borrowed time unless we find a way to counteract this curse.”
Ari spoke again. “What about Eros? His bathing pool is how Juliana became immortal. So what if Ares has touched you like this—his own son can reverse that damage.”
Daphne stood regally and addressed Leo. “My lord, I explored that avenue earlier tonight. I went on an errand,” she said, meeting his gaze significantly. “Unfortunately, Eros says he is powerless to help because his own talents and gifts don’t work on his father. I’m sorry.” She inclined her head and bowed, then sat once again.
So that’s where she’d gone upon fleeing his study, after he’d been such a stubborn idiot, and so harsh with her. She’d left his side to attempt saving his life. He felt his throat tighten up; even at the height of their disagreement, her only thought had been to try to protect him.
Leo struggled to find his voice, knowing that he had to remain strong and resolute for the others. “So that particular solution will not work.” He cleared his throat. “But I have faith; we are an otherworldly lot with many gifts and talents, and I believe we will find a solution. That doesn’t mean I can afford to wait. I will not leave all of you here on Earth with Ares still seeking your blood. Even if I never regain my immortality, I plan to fight Ares and destroy him. If I am on borrowed time, then let me use it to preserve all of you against the vile god. I won’t leave those I”—he swallowed, meeting Daphne’s steady gaze—“those I love vulnerable to him. So we must prepare for battle, and I do mean all of us.” Leo nodded to Jamie Angel. “I need the Shades, not just the Spartans.”
Jamie gave him a determined smile. “You know you can count on us, sir.”
For a moment, no one spoke at all, everyone processing the revelations. But then Ari looked up at him, his eyes still bright with emotion. “Sir, about you aging. I just thought you’d been using good ole Grecian Formula all this time . . . and that maybe, well, maybe you’d just forgotten the last few months.” Ari laughed at his own joke, poking Jax in the side. “
Grecian
Formula? Get it?”
Ajax socked his brother in the arm, muttering something about “irreverent
pousti
” under his breath.
Aristos grew serious again, sitting up tall on the sofa. “I do still have the power of life, my lord,” he pointed out. “Let me try and help you.”
It was such an obvious thought, Leo wondered why it hadn’t occurred to him before now. None of the others had considered the possibility of Ari assisting either, perhaps because more often than not, Ari’s power of death was the one they relied on, not his ability to heal and restore life.
“Excellent idea, Spartan.” Leo waved Aristos over to where he stood. In a low voice, he asked, “What is required for me to receive this gift from you?”
“The problem, sir,” Ari said, scrubbing a hand over his brow, “is I still don’t have quite the proper control over it. As you well know.” Ari gave Leo a sheepish look because his power had recently ruptured the wards that protected the compound. Not only that, in the past months the warrior had burnt out televisions and Wii units, and even caused a brand-new microwave to short circuit.
“You won’t be melting my brains now, will you?” Leo asked dryly. “If I’m meant to die, I’d prefer it not be tonight.”
“Last I checked, Commander, you’re not an appliance or a supernatural barrier, which means we should be all right.”
“
Should
be. How reassuring.” Leo clasped Ari on the shoulder. “I’m going to assume that it’s best for me to sit down—and for everyone else to clear the room.”
Ari grinned. “This is why you’re king and I’m the jester.”
“A jester with the power of life and death in his hands. I shudder to consider the potential ramifications.” Leo shook his head with mock exaggeration, then added, “Oh, and Daphne stays.”
“Of course,” Ari said, a bit of a gleam in his dark eyes. He knew—they all knew—that Leo was in love with their Oracle, even though he’d worked to keep the relationship a secret. Ari had discovered the truth months ago, but Leo had asked him not to share with the others—and he hadn’t. No, Leo himself had given the secret away because he’d been unable to hide his true feelings anytime Daphne was nearby—or far away, for that matter—when he’d mooned like a lovesick pup.
Leo turned to face the cadre. “It seems that our surgeon general is going to operate on me,” he said. “Hopefully he won’t saw off my head in the process. Nevertheless, given what we know of Aristos’s power, all of you should leave until he’s finished working his dark art.” Leo gestured toward Daphne, who had begun, along with the others, to rise and leave. “Daphne, please,” he said simply, and she moved right to his side.
Leaning up onto her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his cheek. “Wouldn’t it be lovely if Ari solved our problem so we could keep our date? The one scheduled for your chambers later tonight?”
“Why do you think I rushed everyone out of here?” he murmured under his breath.
After a moment, the others had filed out of the library, and Ari closed the double doors behind them. It was strange, but now that he and Daphne were alone with the other warrior, Leo’s heart began to beat rapidly. He feared that the process wouldn’t work, and almost as much he feared that it
would
, and he’d begin to hope too soon.
Ari strode to where Leo sat at the antique desk, tensed and waiting. “I’m going to be quick about it.” Ari rubbed his hands together. “Shouldn’t hurt. But can I just tell you, sir? It’s gonna feel mighty good to do this for you. I’m bucking to trounce Ares’s wicked ass. That god is like the Swiss Army knife of evil . . . soon as you beat him at one thing, another screwy plan pops out.”
Ari placed his big palms atop the crown of Leo’s head, his eyes drifting shut. “Won’t hurt at all, sir,” he repeated, his voice more distant, practically humming with energy.
A strange warmth began at the very top of Leo’s head, like warm bathwater, just as soothing. The power that came rolling from that touch, however, was anything but gentle or timid. It was like a roaring avalanche begun by hurling a tiny snowball, growing, expanding, gaining strength.
Leo began to shake so hard in that seat that his teeth chattered, his skin alternately blazing hot and freezing cold. Daphne knelt at his feet, gathering his trembling hands into her steady ones. “It’s okay,” she said soothingly. “It’s just a lot of power to receive at once. But you’re fine. Everything will be all right.”
He swallowed and nodded. His face burned, the skin suddenly tighter, especially about his eyes. He blinked at the sensation, squeezing Daphne’s hands to settle himself. She was his lifeline; he would focus all his attention on her. That way the shockwaves spiraling through his body wouldn’t be so intense.
The sensations changed then, becoming milder as the otherworldly heat began to subside. He didn’t lose the erection, however, and he briefly wondered if Ari had spiked him there as a joke.
“Okay. We’re done! Let’s have a look at you,” Ari said, moving from behind Leo.
The Spartan beamed, whistling. “A regular beauty queen! Damn, I’m good.” Ari gave Daphne a triumphant glance. “I’d say he’s more like thirty-two now that I’ve worked him over, wouldn’t you? Who needs face-lifts when Aristos Petrakos can give you a life lift? Bet I could make serious money in Hollywood . . .”
Daphne beamed just like Ari did, only even more so, and her eyes shimmered with tears. “He’s as gorgeous as always.” She stood, wrapping her small arms about Ari’s massive torso. “Thank you, Aristos. Thank you so very much.”
Ari looked a little bashful and muttered something about going to find Juliana, leaving them alone once again as he vanished through the library’s double doors. Leo sat in the chair, staring down at his hands. Even they looked younger. “Dare I look in a mirror,” he laughed.
Daphne slid onto his lap, kissing him. “No, my love. You need only look into my eyes.”
He felt . . . alive. Like a tiger, with energy coiled and hot inside his veins. He was still highly aroused, but it wasn’t as if the library was the place to do anything about it. He was entertaining the idea of hauling Daphne down to the glass gazebo by the water, when a dreadful thought occurred to him.
This was too easy. Ares would never allow himself to be defeated by any method as simple as this one. How many times a day would he need to ask Ari to revive him? And how long would Ari’s power even remain effective against Ares’s curse?
History and military strategy had taught Leo many things, and chief among them was to be leery of overly simple solutions. They almost always brought even bigger problems. But for now, at least, this cure had given him more time with Daphne—an opportunity he intended to take advantage of before reconvening the meeting.
Chapter 9
L
eo had always been an excellent planner, which could be an immense help in matters of romance, especially when it came to improvising with said plans. After Ari had given Leo what he jovially termed a “life lift,” they’d received an urgent call. Turned out that one of Jamie’s Shades had spotted a demon legion in the historic district, a regular gang, on foot and terrorizing Bay Street.
Jamie and his crew needed to deal with the threat expeditiously, before mortals were harmed or even killed. With Leo’s aging currently arrested, the group had agreed to suspend the meeting for a few hours. And that was when Leo had instigated his plan, one that he’d dreamed up during the long months while Daphne was away. It involved the perfect destination, one that didn’t even require leaving the Angels’ property.
He clasped Daphne’s hand now, leading her through the dark bushes and rangy overgrowth that surrounded the path. He wondered if she even knew about the glass gazebo, hidden down by the winding river. It wasn’t far from the dock, yet it was hidden in the forestlike trails of the Angels’ wandering property, so clandestine that few of their cadre had ever heard of it.
“Where are you taking me?” Daphne asked behind him now. “You’re being so mysterious.”
He laughed, guiding them through a particularly knotty section of the path. “No. I’m simply withholding our destination.”
She squeezed his hand. “Have I ever remarked on your Spartan economy of words? That I’d be fine if you wanted to use at least a few more syllables in daily life?”
“No.”
“Ha! You illustrate my point precisely.”
Leo grinned in the dark. “Yes.”
She swatted him on the rump and he spun to face her. “Careful how you tease me.” He wrapped her close within his arms. “I’m a man of two and thirty now, remember? Younger than you’ve ever known me. And full of raging appetites to match my newfound youth.”
Nothing but the darkness and the night sounds enveloped them, the plants and bushes on either side of the path creating even more privacy—as did the leggy live oaks surrounding them. Spanish moss swayed in the thick night air, some draping almost to the top of Leo’s head.
Daphne pressed close against him. “I can feel those appetites. Most impressive.” She slid a delicate hand and shocked Leo by giving him a single, slow stroke through his pants. His cock leaped at her erotic touch, which she obviously hadn’t expected. Her gaze snapped to his, a little wide and surprised.
He nodded his encouragement, swallowing.
With a coy smile, she stroked him once again—and he leaped again, his groin so tight with desire that he was amazed he didn’t lose himself right inside his combat pants.
“I think I like Aristos giving you some of his power.” Her eyes sparkled as she smiled up at him.
He couldn’t help frowning slightly. “Let’s hope I don’t need to ask for it again.”
Daphne’s smile didn’t fade, but her expression grew slightly somber. She always tried to put on such a brave show, no matter what trouble they faced.
She lifted a hand to his beard, lightly rubbing her thumb along his jaw. “Your beard is as dark as it’s ever been, my lord. Your hair as well. And your eyes.” Her smile broadened. “I have always loved your beautiful, sad eyes.”