Atlantean's Quest 5: The Dark King Page 4

  Rachel stifled another giggle. This was going to be the best Christmas party Zaron had ever seen.

  ***

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Taylor's heart pounded so hard she was pretty sure it was about to burst through her double D's and splat onto the floor. She had never heard anything so terrifying as the roar that had come out of Hades.

  When he'd told her to run, part of her...a teeny, tiny part of her that deserved a swift kick in the pants, had actually been excited. But her excitement quickly waned once her commonsense kicked in and she got a quick glimpse of him. Self-preservation made her run. She was still running, but she didn't know where to.

  She still couldn't believe that she'd managed to escape. Hades had moved so fast. If she had blinked, she would've missed him coming off his throne. When she'd looked back all semblance of the man had been gone, replaced by a monster of a cat with fangs that would shame a saber-tooth.

  He’d looked like a liger, but he was so much bigger than those huge cats. What kind of prehistoric beast was he?

  The scratches and screeches coming from the other side of the door were even more frightening than the ear-splitting roar. Her ears were still ringing. At any moment, she expected him to burst through the stone. Even when the horrific noises stopped, Taylor continued on. The guards she passed didn't try to impede her, but they did follow her movements.

  She turned right and stumbled down another hall. Darn cave! Everything looked the same. She continued to jog. Taylor didn't care where she ended up as long as she got far away from Hades. Maybe she should run all the way to the King of New Atlantis and turn herself in. Eros would deport her on the spot, but that was better than being eaten by a Monster Kitty.

  Several of the guards watched her breasts bounce as she sprinted by. Taylor clutched her arms over her bountiful chest and kept moving. She could see the opening of the cave up ahead. She was almost out. Freedom came with the smell of fresh air.

  Two huge guards stepped into her path as she reached the entrance. They didn't bother to pull the massive swords hanging at their waists. They didn't need to, not when their bodies were the size of boulders. Gorgeous boulders, she noted, but boulders all the same. Taylor yelped and ground to a halt, nearly running into them.

  "No one is allowed past this point without an escort into the Walled City," the pale-haired giant on the right said.

  Taylor looked back, but no one was following her. "Hades gave me permission to leave." The lie slipped from her full lips without her feeling an ounce of guilt. When a Monster Kitty was after you, little white lies didn't mean a whole lot.

  The raven-haired man on the left stepped forward. "What is your name, little one?"

  "T-taylor," she sputtered.

  He smiled. "I am called Perseus." He indicated to the man next to him. "This is Kon."

  It was nice to see that not all the men around here were brutes. She grinned at Perseus, whose gaze had dropped to her cleavage. "Nice to meet you," Taylor said, glancing over her shoulder once more. Maybe her luck would hold out for a little while longer.

  As an exotic dancer, Taylor wasn't above using her body to get what she wanted. She inhaled deeply, causing her large breasts to quiver beneath her shirt, then cocked her jean-clad hips to draw attention to her long legs. She tangled her fingers in her red hair and twirled the long locks. "I was worried that there were no gentlemen on this planet. I’m grateful to be proven wrong."

  Perseus stepped closer, his large body crowding hers. "I'm sorry that your welcome lacked warmth, but what can you expect from a Half-being?"

  “Perseus! Watch your tongue!” Kon's alarmed expression made her tense.

  Perseus' affable gaze slid from hers. He scowled at Kon.

  Taylor didn’t know what was going on, but she knew something was wrong.

  "The King has not informed us that you are free to leave," Kon said.

  "I'm sure it's just a miscommunication on the King's part. He was rather busy when I left him." Taylor needed to get by them. She stepped closer and saw Perseus' nostrils flare. Taylor bit her lower lip and gazed up at him from beneath her lashes. "I won't tell, if you won't," she purred.

  She saw indecision in Kon's eyes, but none in Perseus'. He was more than happy to let her go.

  Come on boys, let me pass. Freedom called to her.

  The warriors took a step to the side, then suddenly stopped. Their eyes widened and locked on something behind her. Perseus paled a second before they both stiffened to attention.

  A low growl rumbled next to her ear. Taylor didn't have to look to know who it was. Gooseflesh broke out over her skin and trickled down her spine. If her reaction was due to fear, she could’ve easily ignored the sensation. But it wasn't.

  "Going somewhere?" Hades' warm breath brushed her cheek, sending a delicious shiver through her.

  Taylor's nipples hardened and her back straightened. The warmth rolling off his body felt like someone had left a furnace blasting unchecked during a heat-wave. "I didn't realize that I was a prisoner," she said without looking at him. She didn't want Hades to see the affect his nearness was having on her.

  "You're not." He inhaled, then slowly circled her, using his impressive height to intimidate.

  Okay, so maybe he didn't need the height to be intimidating. His presence alone did the trick.

  Hades' fiery gaze licked at her skin, tightening it, making Taylor hyper-aware of his maleness. She tried her best to ignore her body's reaction, ignore him, but it was like trying to ignore the sun right before it engulfs the Earth. Hades stopped in front of her, blocking sight of the two warriors with his broad shoulders.

  Taylor craned her neck to look into his eyes. At five foot eight, she wasn't a slouch in the height department, but compared to the Phantoms she felt downright puny. Taylor had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. "Then why won't they let me pass?"

  The King stared at her, until the intensity made her look away. This close she could smell the slight musk of his skin and see every ripple of muscle beneath his clothes. Taylor nearly swooned, when she reached his washboard abdomen. And she'd never swooned a day in her life.

  "It's not safe for you to wander beyond the Keep alone," Hades said, then glared at his two guards. "Perseus and Kon know this." His words were mild, but the threat of punishment behind them was unmistakable.

  "Are you saying your city is unsafe?" Taylor knew the question would prick the King's temper. She'd purposely asked to draw his attention away from the guards. As far as she was concerned, they had done nothing wrong.

  As if on cue, Hades' eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line. "My city is perfectly safe."

  "Then why am I not allowed to go into it?" she asked.

  "Yes, Sire," Perseus said. "Why are you keeping her a prisoner, when she is obviously unclaimed?"

  Hades turned on the dark-haired guard. "Are you questioning my authority?"

  Kon's face drained of color and he took a step back. "No, Sire," he said hurriedly before Perseus could respond. He grabbed his friend by the arm and pulled him away. "Tis time we check the perimeter." Kon's gaze pleaded with Perseus to comply.

  Perseus glanced at Taylor once more. "I will act the gentleman that you believe me to be. Until we meet again." He inclined his head and strode off with Kon hurrying behind.

  Hades watched them leave, his expression stony. "As Perseus so rightly stated, you are an unclaimed female. A rarity on our world. On top of that, you're from Earth and Slavers have been sighted. Even if that was not reason enough, I take my vows to other Phantoms seriously. I told Linx that I would protect you and I will...even if that means locking you inside the Keep for your own good."

  Taylor snorted. She couldn't help it. Did he really think that she was buying the vow of protection crap? She glanced at him once more. This time humor replaced the simmering heat in his eyes.

  Hades held out his hand. "Come," he said. "I will give you a tour of the Keep, then you need to get ready
."

  Taylor took his hand, before she registered what she was doing. When she did, she tried to jerk her fingers back, but Hades wouldn't let her go. "Get ready for what?" she asked, allowing him to lead her back inside.

  "The Pit," he said, like that should mean something to her.

  Hello! Earthling here. "What's the—"

  "I'll show you to your room after we've explored the Keep." He cut her off before she could finish the question. "Suitable clothing has been provided." He glanced at her jeans and his nose wrinkled. "If you need anything else, let my Righthand know."

  Taylor glanced at his empty hand in confusion. "I have my own clothes. Thanks!" She hadn't packed much, but she had brought the essentials, day-to-day clothing, workout shorts, and a couple of costumes just in case. It would have to do until she could go shopping.

  He looked at her and his sensual lips tilted into a smile. "I doubt what you packed will be fit for viewing the festivities at the Pit."

  Was he implying that her clothes were trashy? Okay, so some of the things she'd brought might be considered risqué, but they weren't trashy. Jerk! She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. She refused to feel ashamed about her clothing. She glanced at what Hades was wearing. For a King, he wasn't exactly the height of fashion.

  Hades led her past the Great Hall. "We take meals in there and hold important meetings. If you prefer to eat in your room, notify the food preparers." He kept walking, but not before she caught a glimpse of the deep furrows marring the door. "Most of the doors you see lead to guard quarters and strategy rooms." His grip on her tightened as they passed several warriors in the hall.

  Taylor was surprised by his reaction, but didn't show it. Maybe being single here really was a big deal. "Where are they going?" She used her free hand to point to the retreating guards.

  "Shift change." He tracked their movements with his eyes and didn't stop until they were out of sight. "What did you do on your planet?" he asked, when they were gone.

  Taylor felt her face flush. It had to be from the exertion of fleeing. No way was she embarrassed. She'd never been embarrassed about how she made a living. Sure, there'd been times in the beginning, but after the first year of dancing her nerves had past. Maybe it was because the question was coming from a King. She thought about lying, but quickly dismissed the idea. He'd find out eventually.

  "I was a dancer,” she said. “An exotic dancer."

  Hades frowned in confusion. "What does that mean?"

  "Do you know what dancing is on Earth?" she asked. It would be hard to explain, if he didn't.

  He nodded. "Yes, but moving to various rhythms seems quite foolish. The movements don't have meaning and cannot possibly help one in battle," he said.

  Taylor sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought. "There are all kinds of dances on Earth. Some are for pleasure, some are for competition, and then there's the kind I do, which involves taking my clothes off." She swallowed hard. "For money."

  Hades froze. Something akin to disappointment flashed in his eyes before he suppressed it. He didn't say a word. He just continued to stare.

  She'd shocked a King. For the first time in a long time, Taylor felt...ashamed. She tried to explain, but every time the words came out it only seemed to make the situation worse. Hades’ expression grew darker and darker, until Taylor felt her eyes burn. She would not cry. Would not cry. Not here. Not in front of him.

  What kind of reaction had she expected from Hades? A King wouldn't know anything about needing to survive or fit in. His social network was built-in on the day of his birth.

  "I did what I had to do. I will not apologize for my actions," she said.

  Hades' granite expression didn’t even crack, when he said, "Linx did not tell me that you were a sex companion."

  He thought she was a whore. This was nothing new. A lot of people thought the same thing over the years, but none of the accusations hurt as bad as it had coming from Hades. Taylor gritted her teeth and tried to calm down, tried to ease the pain.

  "I am not a sex companion. I get paid to take my clothes off and dance. That's it!" She used her hands to slash the air for emphasis. "No sex! Just dance!"

  Hades didn't look like he believed her, but he didn't say anymore. He simply grabbed her hand and continued on. They strolled out a side door into a large courtyard. Wooden swords, shields, and a ton of other equipment Taylor didn't recognize hung on hooks that had been bolted to the stone. Several large poles lined the wall.

  "This is where we train. One of the places anyway." He glanced at her body. It was obvious that he was thinking about what she'd just told him. "You don't really need this area."

  That's right, what would a whore need with a workout area? Taylor glared at him. Did he think she got this body by sitting on her ass?

  No, he thought she obtained it by lying on her back.

  Kings were supposed to be nice, cultured, polite. This man was judgmental, bullheaded, and beyond rude. Until this moment, Taylor had thought she'd met every type of man that existed in the universe, but she'd been wrong. Hades deserved a category all his own.

  His lips parted in surprise as the thought slipped through her mind.

  Taylor’s scowl deepened. She supposed she should be grateful that he was no longer growling.

  ***

  Hades fought to get his temper in check as she showed Taylor around the Keep. When he'd seen her standing next to Perseus and Kon, talking her way past them, something inside of him snapped. Not only did he want to destroy the two males for drooling over her, which was utterly out of character, but part of him was outraged that she'd attempted to escape him. No one tried to escape him. No one would dare....except Taylor.

  He'd known better than to accept Linx's proposal. Something had told him that the Earth woman would be trouble, but Hades had ignored his instincts because he hated owing anyone, and now he was acting like a cat high on space blossoms.

  The images of her dancing flashed through her mind. He hadn't been trying to read her thoughts, but they'd been impossible to ignore. Now Hades couldn't stop picturing her naked.

  He was relieved that she wasn't a sex companion. More relieved than he should be. If she had been, Hades would have hired her instantly, even though part of him would've found the end of the chase unsatisfying. He wasn't sure where that left him.

  "Why did you run?" he asked, to keep his mind from replaying the naked image.

  Taylor's perfect brow flickered. She looked at him like he'd lost his faculties. "You told me to," she said. "Remember?"

  Hades' grip on her hand tightened. He forced himself to loosen it. Earthlings were weak. He didn't want to bruise her, or worse, break her bones. "It was a temporary loss of control. It will not happen again." He sighed. What had he intended? He wasn't sure, but he knew he had to stop whatever it was. "I didn't mean to drive you away from the safety of the Keep."

  She stopped walking, making him halt, too. "How was I supposed to know that? When someone tells me to run, then turns into a Monster Kitty, I don't pause and ask for clarification."

  Hades couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from her full lips. The woman had a mouth made for kissing, among other things. He felt his cock rise as he wondered what she'd taste like. She was still talking, but he'd missed part of what she'd said.

  What had she called him?

  Taylor flushed under his regard and cleared her throat. "I thought you planned to take me to my room."

  His mouth clamped shut. "Of course, this way." Hades led her down the stone corridor toward his chambers. He'd ordered her put here before he'd even met her. Now he was questioning the wisdom of that decision.

  Several rooms branched off as they neared the end of the hall. He stopped before a door on the right. "You should have everything you need. I'll be by in a few hours to escort you to the Pit."

  "About that," Taylor said.

  "Be ready. I do not like to be kept waiting." Hades strode down the hall without a backwar
d glance. He knew if he stayed that she'd have to be worried about more than a Monster Kitty.

  Hades didn't know what had come over him. He never acted that way around a female. He'd nearly growled aloud when Perseus approached Taylor. He shook his head and shoved the doors to his chambers open.

  The gray stone walls were punctuated by shafts of light. He'd made sure that his chamber would open to the outside. It had taken months of excavation, but it had been worth it. Emerald green fabrics draped his bed and thick furs lined his floor. He strode across them into his bathing area, which consisted of a waste disposal, a modest sink, and a deep bath. With a flick of a switch, water would cascade from a hole in the ceiling and fill the tub or he could simply stand under it to bathe.

  Hades walked over to the copper basin to splash water on his face and gazed into the image reflector. Water dripped from his permanently broken nose to his chin, down the side of his scarred jaw. His blue eyes seemed to glow with a red ring surrounding them, despite the fact that he'd shackled his beast. He gripped the side of the basin and sneered. The action twisted the scar, making him appear even more menacing.

  He grinned at his reflection and noticed that his teeth seemed sharper than normal. Hades ran his tongue over his incisors, nicking it on the deadly tips. Blood filled his mouth. He spit it out and shoved away from the basin in disgust.

  Despite the temptation Taylor presented, he didn't have time for distractions. If Opal was correct, and he had no doubt that she was, Perseus wouldn't wait much longer to make his move. Hades snarled in frustration. He hadn't had many challenges for his throne, but the number seemed to be growing lately even though he was a fair ruler and took good care of his people.

  He scrubbed a hand through his tawny hair. Phantoms were different from the genteel Atlanteans. Their beasts rode them hard to establish supremacy. They were alpha by nature, but there could be only one ruler. His father had ruled for years over the Phantom people. He was well respected and had established a treaty bond with the previous Atlantean King. That bond had kept peace within their kingdoms and remained until both rulers were killed during the last war.