I wondered silently why he was free when his brothers were not. There was something strange about Atlas. He was beautiful, like an angel, but part of his mannerisms shocked me, made me wonder if he was hiding something. If he was truly a Titan, he wouldn’t be able to roam the world or use power as he did.
He put his sword back in his belt. I was stunned into silence. I wanted to help, to show him El was just, that things would be okay, but even I wasn’t blessed with knowledge of the future.
Everyone depended on me, on my wisdom. So I pushed further. “Atlas, if your brothers — the other Watchers — if they wanted to fight for our side, would you join them or abandon them?”
“I would have no choice but to join.”
My heart nearly broke at the sadness in his eyes.
“Will you give me a chance to speak with a few of the others before you make your decision?”
The rock moved beneath me. Atlas pulled me to a standing position and looked me in the eyes. “Are you good, Athena, or do you mean me harm? I want to trust you, but something tells me not to.”
“I’m a Seeker, Atlas. You can trust me.”
“And you truly believe that in the end we will be justified?”
I swallowed and gave a firm nod of my head.
“Then you may speak with them. But a warning, Innocent One. I see much danger if you choose to travel this road. I may be free, but I am still a prisoner here on Earth. He has made it so, but my brothers, they are slowly awakening, waiting for the right moment to strike. I do not want you walking into a trap, but there will be no other way for you to speak to them. Do you understand?
“Thank you,” I said. “I understand.”
Atlas pulled out a piece of paper. “The location of the rest of the Titans you may speak with. Careful, Thena, this isn’t a fieldtrip, nor is it one of your adventures. Remember, trust no one. Even the Light can bring in Darkness.”
I closed my hand around the golden paper.
And everything went black again.
“Thena!” The scream was so loud my head pounded in response.
Could nothing in my life be normal?
“Thena.” It was Adonis’s voice. I would know it anywhere, just like I would know my reflection in the mirror.
Why was he so frantic? So worried?
“Yes?” My voice was groggy. I needed caffeine more than air.
“Don’t you ever do that again, do you hear me, Athena? Never again.”
I felt something stroke my face. It was warm and so nice. I opened my eyes. Adonis was holding me in his lap, looking a lot like a worried mother hen. I grimaced as I tried to move.
“I’m back.” I weakly threw a triumphant fist into the air, noting the giant scowl on Adonis’s face. “Right then, so how did I disappear?”
Seth appeared on Adonis’s right. “Yeah, about that…” He stole a glance at a fuming Adonis. “We didn’t know Atlas was going to take you. It’s my fault. I—”
“Of course this is your fault!” Adonis roared, a few curses escaping his lips. “How are we supposed to protect her if we aren’t with her!”
Never in all my years had I ever heard Adonis swear. The man felt guilty when he had to watch me kill anything and was enraged when anyone used foul language. Most of all, it was against a Seeker’s character to be so crude.
“I’m fine,” I said, patting Adonis’s arm. “Really, it was a good meeting. He wouldn’t have hurt me.”
“He could have hurt you, Athena. I wasn’t there. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I—”
“Adonis, really, I wouldn’t lie, and it seems I’ve been successful with the Titan’s gatekeeper. Atlas is going to allow me to see a few more of the Watchers to plead our case.”
Seth exhaled and shared a guilty look with Adonis. “That’s good news, Athena. What did he say? Anything specific?”
Something told me to keep our conversation to myself. Seth’s face was too eager, and it wasn’t something I felt safe telling him. If I was being truly honest with myself, I would admit I didn’t feel safe telling much of anything to Seth, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand why. Obvious reason being that he was a fallen angel, but there was something more.
I couldn’t help but think of Seth when Atlas talked about masquerading. Sometimes Seth seemed perfectly normal, other times I felt… bad around him, and I didn’t know why. My emotions were confused in his presence. I felt unsure of myself, and I was never unsure of myself. Maybe that was why.
I shrugged in his direction. “It’s not important. What’s important is that I’m going to go visit the others. You guys coming?”
“You know where they are?” Seth’s eyes took on a fiery tint. I could have sworn I saw something predatory flash across his face.
I turned away, not wanting to reveal my emotions and doubts. “No, but I have Atlas.”
“He’s here?” Adonis roared, looking around the room in a frenzy. I’d never seen the man so blatantly violent or upset. A muscle twitched in his jaw as he clenched his teeth. His eyes darted around the room.
“Easy, killer,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. “He’s not here, but I do have a map.”
“An atlas?”
“Sort of.” I winked.
Seth approached me. “Let’s see this map of yours.”
I snapped my hand away from his grasp. “I’d rather keep it in my possession, if you don’t mind. Now, who’s ready for an adventure? My clock says we only have three days to find the rest of the Watchers before the rendezvous in the park.”
“At least let us see the map, Thena.” Adonis crossed his arms over his broad chest. “We need to know what we’re up against.”
“Bring warm clothes.” I smiled cheekily and waited to gauge Seth’s reaction. Nonplussed, he merely shrugged and walked off to his room, muttering about insipid females and their inability to trust men with directions. Maybe he was harmless after all.
“So…” I gulped and folded the map into my back pocket. “Adonis, earlier when we were, er…” Yes. Brilliant, Athena. You’d think a girl gifted with wisdom would know how to talk to a man.
But Adonis was a god among men, chiseled and perfect. All cockiness aside, he was absolutely breathtaking. I wanted to hate him, but the only negative feelings I could muster up were that of guilt for his apparent worry over my disappearance.
Abruptly, he reached out and pulled me into his body. Without words, he leaned down and brushed a light kiss across my forehead. “If you ever leave me again, I will hunt you down and kill you myself, do you understand?”
I squirmed in his hold, trying to get more comfortable in his giant arms. “When did you become so violent?”
I felt him sigh. “I’ve always been violent, always protective. I’m just very controlled.” Something white flashed in his eyes, before they went back to normal.
I laughed and regretted it as he stiffened. I looked up to meet his gaze and realized he was anything but amused at my apparent mockery of his control. When had Adonis ever showed control in anything, especially considering his enticement of others?
“You really don’t know?” His eyes seemed sad.
I bit my lip and struggled for an awkward laugh. “Know that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me? Know that you’re ticked off at my disappearance?” I patted him on the chest “Yup, I know. So stop worrying.”
He rolled his eyes and released me, muttering another uncharacteristic curse under his breath.
“So what are we all waiting for?” Seth plopped three duffel bags onto the nearby couch, jolting Adonis out of whatever freakishly foul disposition he was in.
“Right then.” Adonis grabbed all three bags and made a beeline for the door. “Coming, Thena, or are you still traumatized from your little adventure?” He smirked devilishly and lifted a quizzical brow.
Ridiculously good-looking men should not exist. El should have snuffed them out long ago.
“Fine.” Teeth clenched, I gr
abbed the white leather jacket that Seth held up, looking bored out of his mind. All I wanted was a bit of normalcy from these two, and what I got was two anger and hormone-ridden half-breeds.
“Ah, adventure,” Seth boasted, clapping his hands as he followed Adonis and me into the hallway.
Chapter Twelve
I pushed past the guys, stuck in my thoughts. I didn’t want to walk with Adonis, considering his recent cursing and cryptic talk, and there was no way I was going to walk with Seth. Ever since my return from the sky, as I was going to refer to it, Seth had been acting strange. One minute he wanted to know all about my little talk with Atlas; the next he was brooding and temperamental.
Case in point, as we walked down the obnoxiously long hallway to the outside entrance of his apartment building, he couldn’t stop scowling at me or asking me pestering questions about the map.
It was enough send me over the edge that Adonis had so pleasantly brought me to after our conversation. Naturally, I snapped at Seth to leave me alone. Adonis gave him a manly shrug as if to say, Yes, she is moody at least eighty percent of the time. Deal with it.
So then I led the way with both men behind me, which technically was where they belonged, considering I had the map, and they had nothing but duffel bags and bad attitudes.
I hated to admit that in my current state, it was probably safer for everyone if the handsome men of my misfortune let me walk ahead. I zeroed in on the hard metal door a few feet away and finally unclenched my fists.
“That’s it,” Seth said from behind me.
Idiot. Of course, that’s it. There is no other door. I rolled my eyes and was thankful that he couldn’t see the scowl on my face. With a grunt, I kicked it open, nearly sending the six-inch-thick piece of metal off its hinges.
“Was that really necessary, Thena?” Adonis murmured by my shoulder. The crisp, sweet scent of him washed over my senses for the third time that night.
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth. “It was necessary.”
I stepped into the old tunnel and shook my head. The thought that we were actually near the underground bus station of Seattle never once crossed my mind. Nordstrom’s stood to my upper left and Westlake Center was behind me. Really, I had to commend Seth for his genius. Not only was his apartment at the perfect location, but it had access to every underground route in the city, not to mention bus access to the airport.
“This way,” I said, walking toward the blue line.
“I’m sure we could have figured that out, Thena,” Adonis muttered under his breath.
I whipped around. “Are you going to be giving a running commentary the whole trip? Because it’s not going to be some short flight to Vegas, like Seth here is hoping.”
We both looked at Seth and his dejected face. Did he really think a Titan would hide only in large cities full of sin?
The look on his face told me he did.
“So, where are we going?” Seth pulled out three bus passes and winked. Stupid man and his planning for worse case scenarios.
I smiled, giving adequate time for a long dramatic pause before answering. “Alaska.”
“Alaska!” both of them yelled at the same time. One was outraged, the other invigorated. You can guess which was which.
“Mt. McKinley.” I swiped my pass and boarded. “The Denali, to be exact.”
Seth cursed, which I expected; he is Fallen after all. “The high one?”
“That exact one.”
Adonis was silent next to me; it made my muscles tense. He seemed pleased to be going to Alaska. As Seekers we’ve been all over the world. It got repetitive and boring, but I was almost positive Adonis had never set foot in Alaska. I’d bet my life on the fact that he’s more thrilled than he’s willing to admit.
“Fun.” Adonis looked out the window.
I didn’t miss the curve of a smile plastered on his perfect lips.
****
The airport was busy as usual, and I didn’t want to take any chances we would get noticed by any Phantoms or Seekers. Our mission was top secret for a reason. But how do the three of us, relative giants and gods in our own right, trounce through the airport without getting ridiculous stares from both the female and male sex?
“Costumes,” I said, once we’d gotten off the bus.
“I’m sorry. Did you say costumes?” Adonis glared at me.
Too bad, I was used to his glares; it was his kisses that nearly killed me.
“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “Costumes.”
“For all of us?” Seth asked, looking disgustingly intrigued.
“No, just for you two.”
Adonis rolled his eyes. “Why?”
“Because I can pass as an international supermodel, whereas you guys just look like…”
“Perfect male specimens?” Adonis finished.
Seth grinned. “Gods among men?”
“The perfect man?” Adonis added.
“No, no, I’ve got it.” Seth cleared his throat. “The—”
“Stop.” I snapped. Several people glanced in our direction. I coughed and gave both of them my meanest glare. “You’re posing as NBA basketball players, okay? Now put the warm-ups on and we’ll be off!”
Adonis immediately began taking his shirt off.
I started sweating.
Seth unbuttoned his jeans.
“Stop! You can’t just undress in public!” Am I yelling?
“Chill, Thena.” Adonis winked. “Seth’s got it covered, don’t you, Seth?”
Seth grinned. “Sure do.”
“Do I need to ask what Seth does and does not have covered?” I pleaded.
“Nobody can see us, Thena. He used to be an angel so he does still have some use. He’s making a small shield. It only lasts for a few minutes, so we need to hurry.”
“Right then, I’ll just…” I snapped my mouth shut out of embarrassment, as both men continued to strip off their clothes and add new ones.
Great. I was officially back to the whole “God is punishing me” theory by the time both suited up in the latest sport fashions. They dumped their clothes into the duffel bags and high-fived one another, before falling into step beside me.
I desperately tried to ignore the stares from people. I couldn’t tell if it was me or Adonis, or Seth for that matter. All I knew was the texting universe of Sea-Tac was going to blow up today, after seeing the three of us together. Maybe it would have been safer to hire a private plane. Then again, it would have taken too long. This was absolutely necessary for the time being.
We walked to the airline kiosk and purchased our tickets. The lady who checked our bags looked like she was five minutes away from either screaming or passing out. It was bad enough she choked on her gum and needed aid from Adonis before being able to proceed with our luggage. It didn’t help matters that Adonis touched her arm.
She would probably spend the rest of her life trying not to wash the spot his fingers had grazed.
By the time we reached security, Seth was in full-fledged Seth-mode: signing autographs, talking about his time playing overseas, and gaining phone numbers from adoring fans. Humans were so stupid. They saw a hot guy in workout clothes who’s twice their height, and even though they’ve never heard of him, they want to sign their lives over to him in blood.
Adonis appeared bored, but then again, that’s Adonis. Everything bored him. In fact, he probably bored himself. As we made our way up the line the crowd seemed to get thicker and thicker.
A dark-haired man came up beside me in the other line. Something told me he was off. Not normal. I nudged Adonis. He looked at the man then back at me and shook his head. The man looked at me, straight into my eyes. A cynical smile formed on his lips. He gave me a wink that made me want to take a shower and throw a knife at him all at the same time.
“Relax, Thena. It isn’t a Phantom, just some guy who thinks you’re hot.” Adonis began rubbing my shoulders.
The man looked at Adonis and shook his head before
concentrating on the line in front of him.
“It’s impossible that you don’t know how beautiful you are, Thena. Sometimes I wonder if you’re at all aware of the effect you have on the male species.”
“Just the males of the human species,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Adonis’s hands paused on my neck; he lifted my hair, exposing the skin below my ear. He traced the spot with his finger, outlining the side of my face, before leaning down and whispering, “All species, every male, no matter his origin.”
He pulled away. The chill I felt reached all the way down to my toes. I reached up to touch my ear and noticed that it was wet. I whipped around to face Adonis. “Did you just lick me?”
He hovered over me. “I did say all males, didn’t I?”
“Miss? Miss, you can step through now.” The security guard called at me, but I was too stunned to move. To my utter embarrassment, Adonis grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me around, so I could walk in the right direction.
“Thanks,” I mumbled under my breath, as lead-filled legs took me through security. That was the reason I didn’t let Adonis walk ahead of me. In all the time I’ve known him, he has never acted so… well, I didn’t really want to say it, nor did my brain allow me to accept the possibility that he could potentially be attracted to me.
I whipped around with a frown firmly in place, as Seth and Adonis breezed through the security. Seth kissed a girl on the cheek, and I swear, if we didn’t get moving, I was going to pull a knife on him.
“What?” he said, grabbing the duffel bag. I fought the urge to curse as I led the way down to our gate.