His expression was sympathetic. "Hades is a complicated man. Being King makes him more so. It takes complicated men time to sort through their emotions. Do not give up on him. You have me and the Phantom people behind you, pulling for your success."
"Thank you." Taylor grinned.
"No, thank you." Kon gave her a short bow.
***
Hades called an abrupt end to his meeting. There was no use even pretending to pay attention. He ordered his men out, then returned to his chambers and summoned Linx. Hades did his best to hide his impatience, but something must have shown in his demeanor because the wily cat stopped in the middle of the room and looked at him.
"What's happened? What has you so tense, Sire?" Linx's lips twitched in amusement. "I could guess, but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun as you coming right out and telling me."
"Nothing," Hades said. "Now state your business."
Linx's brow furrowed in confusion. "You called me, remember? You told me to get here right away. I've come to pick up Taylor like you asked," he said. "After I received your message, I went directly to King Eros. He is eager to meet her. So eager that he's scheduled an appointed to do so tomorrow. He intends to make his decision about her future before the gathering."
Hades didn't know what gathering he was referring to and didn't care. He had much to think about before he entered the Pit tonight. He didn't have the time, nor the inclination to explain himself to Linx.
"You’ll have to wait or better yet, come back tomorrow. Taylor is currently unavailable." Hades picked up a random document off his desk and pretended to read it.
Curiosity overrode self-preservation, causing Linx to step deeper into the room. "What do you mean she's unavailable? She's still here, isn't she? Nothing has happened to her."
"Of course she's here. Where else would she be?" Hades' mind flashed to her in the bloody chamber and his stomach recoiled. Thankfully the blood hadn't been hers. But it could've been.
"Just checking." Linx’s expression was deceptively lazy. "I thought for a minute that you were going to tell me that she was gone."
She nearly had been. Even now the fear threatened to claim him. Hades resisted the urge to go to Taylor's room to check on her. As it was, he'd stopped by twice while she slept just to poke his head in the door to be sure she was safe.
Linx watched him closely. "When might she be able to see me?"
"As I said, she won’t be available until tomorrow," Hades said, doing his best to keep the aggravation out of his voice. "I'm afraid you and the Atlantean King will have to wait."
Linx’s gaze turned calculating. "Why tomorrow? What's so important about tonight? I know you're not telling me something."
Hades took a deep breath and tried to rein in his temper. Wasn't shouldering the blame for what had occurred enough? Must he explain himself to the warrior? He needed to think, to plan, to ultimately decide what course of action he would take. Hades couldn't do that with Linx filling his ears with nonsense.
"Tonight Taylor is otherwise engaged," he said.
Linx blinked. "Doing what? What could possibly occupy her so thoroughly that she doesn't have time tonight to speak with me?"
Hades stood, nearly knocking over his chair. "This may come as a surprise, but not everything revolves around you and your needs," he said. "Taylor has other commitments tonight. Commitments that cannot be rescheduled."
"Sire, I think you need to explain what's going on," Linx said. “You called me here to come get her. I came right away. I deserve an explanation. What has changed?”
A red haze covered Hades' vision. "Perhaps you should rephrase that 'statement'."
Their gazes held for a few seconds, then Linx slowly looked away. "What am I suppose to do until tomorrow?" he asked.
Hades' eyes narrowed. "Attend the challenge in the Pit like everyone else in the Kingdom."
Linx's chin shot up. "Sorry, Sire. I didn't realize. Who's challenged you now?" His bored tone wouldn't remain so for long.
Hades let the silence stretch.
"Obviously a fool who's never seen you fight," Linx added to fill the quiet and perhaps soothe his temper.
Hades thought about not telling him. It would be worth it just to see the look of surprise on the cat's arrogant face. If he thought the challenge would remain a secret, then he would've, but Hades knew word of Taylor's folly was already spreading throughout the Kingdom. No way would Linx remain oblivious for long.
When it looked as if Linx's curiosity might burst, Hades spoke. "Actually, the fool
has
seen me fight. To the death no less," he said.
Linx balked. "And they still wanted to challenge you?"
The King nodded. "Evidently, yes."
"They must have a death wish," he said.
"I am not entirely certain of their motives, but I do have my suspicions."
"I suppose going to the Pit is one way to kill an hour," Linx mused.
Hades tilted his head. "I doubt that this particular challenge will take an hour. In fact, I'd be surprised if it lasted for more than five minutes."
"Five minutes!" Linx snorted. "Then why bother?"
Hades met his affronted gaze. "Taylor didn't give me much of a choice."
For a full minute, Linx just stood there too stunned to say anything, then he shot forward and leapt upon Hades' desk. The King caught him around the throat, stopping his charge. He shook the feline in warning, his claws raking his vulnerable neck.
"You cannot allow a human female to fight in the Pit," Linx gasped as Hades squeezed.
The beast rose inside of the Dark King. "Do not tell me what I can and cannot do in my Kingdom, Warrior or you might find yourself facing me in the Pit next."
Linx paled, but remained undeterred. "She's a woman!" he spat.
"I am well aware of that fact, Phantom. It's quite hard to miss. Now stand down." Hades shoved Linx back, but like most cats when he fell, he landed on his feet.
Linx shook his head. "I will not let you do this. I cannot."
Hades' brows rose to his hairline. "Excuse me?"
The warrior rubbed his throat as if to remove the claws that had been there only moments ago. "What I meant to say is that King Eros will not be pleased when he hears about this."
It was a thinly veiled warning. One that did nothing to deter Hades from his course.
His eyes narrowed. "That sounded suspiciously like a threat against the Dark King. But I must be mistaken, because I know you would never do anything like that without expecting a swift response."
"No, Sire. It was no threat." Linx swallowed hard to choke down the lie. "But I am saying that it's wrong for you to accept a challenge from a female. Especially a human female, who is under your protection."
The King glared at him. "You've met Taylor Shelley. You knew her on Earth, while you were courting your mate. Did she strike you as tame in any way?"
"No." Linx shook his head. "Not in the least."
"Then what in Zaronian fires makes you think that I have
any
control over what that wildcat does?" He grit out, then ran a hand through his hair in frustration. If he'd had control, she would never have been kidnapped by Slavers. No, if he had any say over her whatsoever, she would've never left his bed. That was his biggest mistake. One Hades planned to rectify tonight.
Linx conceded his point, then quietly said, "I cannot let my mate's sister die in the Pit. Tabby would
never
forgive me."
Hades re-stacked the documents on his desk. "Who said anything about dying?"
How could Linx even think such a thing? He might be the Dark King, but he wasn't a monster. Hades had never killed a woman in a fight in his life and he didn't intend to start tonight.
The tension between them grew. "Death is only one of the ways to lose in the Pit. Or have you forgotten?" His voice was pitched low, but it held an edge, an edge they both heard.
Linx's eyes widened, then widened some more. "You can't mean...Surely you wouldn't...Not in front of everyone." He blew out a heavy breath. "She's human," he said as if that should explain everything.
"Yes, she is." Hades gave him a feral grin. "But you forget that I am the Dark King."
***
The pounding of the drums beat at her nerves. Taylor had only brought a couple of her old costumes with her when she'd left Earth. She'd made sure that she'd grabbed her favorites. And now she was glad that she had. She stared at her reflection and slowly ran her hand over the red and white sequins.
Beneath her short skirt and cropped top were a matching red thong and tassels. She didn't bother with a bra. Her tactic for tonight was to distract for as long as she was able. Since the audience in the Pit consisted mainly of men, nudity was a safe bet to do the trick. Taylor had no idea if Hades would immediately shift into Monster Kitty form or if he'd fight as a man.
She hoped his cat came out to play. She'd prepared for that possibility, not for the other. As scary as he was in his Other form, his human form scared her more. Taylor wouldn't be able to hold him off for long, but she didn't need long to get her answer. His actions tonight would tell her how he truly felt.
She rechecked her skimpy costume and her makeup, then slipped on her high heels. "Shatter his control. Shatter his control," she repeated the words, until they became her mantra.
Taylor knew what would likely occur if she succeeded. She'd seen Pitticus in action after he won his challenge. And though it had embarrassed him to no end, she had confirmed her suspicions with Kon. He’d given her an abridged version of Phantom mating rituals just in case the tone in the Pit moved from sex to something else. It wasn’t a lot of information, but it was enough.
Was she really going to go through with this? Could she do this? It was one thing to strip before an audience, quite another to have sex.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," she said.
Kon poked his head in. "Are you ready?"
"No," she said honestly. "But let's go anyway."
He nodded and held out his arm for her to take. Taylor slipped her hand on top of his and allowed him to escort her to the Pit. The drumming grew louder upon their approach, making her even more jumpy.
"Everything is as you requested," Kon said, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.
"Good," she said. "Were you able to get the spray bottles?"
He pulled a container out from a side pocket. "There are others in the Pit, when this one runs out. I've placed them near the poles. Are you sure you just want water in them?"
"As opposed to what? Acid?" Taylor glanced at him.
He grinned. “There are certain plants that can disrupt a Phantoms’ senses.”
She laughed. "I appreciate the thought, but water will do nicely, thanks."
"It won't stop him," Kon said. “It won’t even slow him down.”
"I know." The bottles weren't meant to stop him. They were just one more way to distract the King and draw out the challenge so she could get her answer.
They reached the entrance to the Pit. The drums suddenly stopped, but her heart continued its cadence.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here,” she said, staring at the packed arena.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Kon asked. "No one will think unkindly of you, if you've changed your mind."
Taylor was sure his tone was meant to be soothing, but it was hard to miss the concern in his voice or the worry that she might back out. Kon obviously didn't know her well. None of them did.
They looked upon her as a human. And to them, human was synonymous with weak. But Taylor was determined to show them that despite her human 'handicap' that she was strong. Strong enough to challenge the Dark King and walk away unscathed...she hoped.
A roar of excitement filled the arena as Hades stepped into the Pit. This time he wasn't wearing the leggings he'd had on when Perseus challenged him. His chest was bare and so were his long legs. Taylor's gaze rose and she squinted.
What was he wearing?
It looked like a
loincloth
.
The King took a step forward and the material split all the way to his hips, revealing his nakedness.
Taylor gulped. Heaven help her. She'd never seen anything so smoking hot in her life or anything so tempting. How could she be expected to fight with all that lusciousness on display? Her fingers itched to touch his hipbones and feel the flex of his muscled thighs.
She obviously wasn't the only one who'd dressed in hopes of distracting their opponent. The King looked like he'd stepped out of her darkest fantasies. Taylor had to fight the overwhelming urge to run across the arena and jump on him.
Kon released her. "Good luck! That is what the Earthlings say, right?"
"Yep! Thanks! I'll need all I can get." She stepped into the Pit. The crowds' volume rose to deafening. “Winner take all,” Taylor murmured under her breath.
***
Hades couldn't pull his gaze away from Taylor. For a moment, he'd feared that she had changed her mind and that he'd have to give chase. But after a breath, she'd released Kon and stepped into the Pit.
When the light hit her, her clothing sparkled like a shooting star. Every step made Taylor glisten. Her endless legs were encased in those silly high shoes that she insisted on wearing. Her short skirt barely reached the top of her firm thighs, while her shirt played peekaboo with her mid-drift, giving him tantalizing glimpses of her flawless bare skin. Hades had no idea what she was wearing, but he knew that he liked it. A lot. And he'd like it even more, when he peeled it off.
His gaze moved to the stands. Howls and roars filled his ears. It appeared that most of the warriors appreciated Taylor's scraps of clothing, too. Hades growled at the audience and caught Linx's wry grin. The warrior was seated front and center, giving him quick access to the Pit. The cat obviously didn't trust him to keep his word.
Hades shrugged off the unwanted distraction and glanced at the poles situated around the Pit. What would she need with those? It wasn't like Taylor could lift one and hit him with it. And this wasn't a
dancing
challenge. At least he didn't think so.