Night of the Tiger(65)

“It wouldn’t take much to turn the tide and sink the world into darkness forever. Kill a few strategic people in power, throw in a drought or disease and the world would tumble into darkness.” He sighed and shook his head. “That kind of despair feeds Hades’ power, making him stronger. Unless someone stops him.”

Aimee shivered at the thought. He was right. The world was closer to the edge of destruction than it realized. Hades wouldn’t have to do much to push it past the point of no return.

She knew when he said someone he meant himself, his fellow warriors and the Lady of the Beasts. “Do you think the goddess is still alive?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation on his part. “I don’t think he would have killed her, not until he knew our final fate. If she were dead, he’d have no possible hold over us if we ever escaped his prison. Hades is nothing if not smart. He plays every angle, never missing any possibilities. It’s his greatest strength. Plus, it’s no small feat to kill a goddess. That would definitely send a ripple through the cosmos, and the last thing Hades wants to do is attract attention. Not until his plan is complete.”

“Why haven’t the other gods realized what he’s up to?”

Roric shrugged. “Who knows? The gods and goddesses spend much time bickering amongst themselves. Hades keeps himself removed from them most of the time so they know little of what he’s truly up to. Plus, he has a long history of doing favors for them when they ask. He’s built a lot of power that way.”

“Smart.” Hades might be the devil, but you couldn’t fault his strategy. She could almost admire him for it. Too bad he didn’t use his powers for good instead of evil.

“Very,” Roric continued. “The others fear him and are happy enough to have him stay away from them.”

“Not smart,” she pointed out. You’d think a bunch of immortal gods and goddesses would be a little sharper than that. “How does the saying go? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

“Exactly.” Roric glanced around the room, ever watchful. “Now that there are few humans worshipping them—although there are still pockets of them around the world—the Olympians don’t spend much time paying attention to this world. Hades knows this. In fact, it’s what he’s counting on.”

“Hmm.” Aimee busied herself pouring up a fresh cup of coffee, adding sugar and stirring before carrying it to the table. “If he’s thought of everything, how do we defeat him?”

“Like all of us, his greatest strength is also his greatest weakness.” Roric leaned forward, his pale blue eyes pinning her to her chair. “He thinks he has considered all the possibilities, but he has not. He does not understand concepts such as loyalty and honor. He thinks always of himself and advancing his personal power, never of the greater good. That’s a flaw most of the Greek gods and goddesses possess. They’re selfish and grasping, and it ultimately led to their decline.”

Aimee breathed a sigh of relief when Roric glanced aside. The man was intense, and when all that power was aimed her way it was scary and more than a bit arousing. Her panties were damp and she ached deep in her core. She wanted him.

She supposed it was the animal magnetism he exuded. It was a part of him—primitive and basic and utterly enthralling. She took another mouthful of coffee, doing her best to ignore the little pangs of pleasure jolting through her veins.

Roric looked pensive now as he stared at the scroll that was laid out on the table, studying the foreign words she couldn’t understand. A flash of intuition made her ask her next question. “Does the scroll mention me?”

Muscles flexed and rolled in his shoulders as he tensed. His jaw clenched as he gave her a brief nod. Shivers raced over her skin, but they were no longer due to pleasure. They were solely brought on by fear.

“What does it say?” She had to know.

“Hades says that he will let me talk to my Lady, briefly, if I hand you over to him.”

The few sips of coffee she’d taken felt sour in her stomach. Hades didn’t miss a chance to try to divide and conquer. Roric was watching her intently, but there was no sensual heat behind his gaze, only cold calculation. Once again, she felt like prey being stalked by some great beast. She didn’t like it.

Pushing aside her coffee cup, she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. “And what have you decided?”

Roric swore in what sounded like several different languages. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, but there was no doubt in her mind he was turning the air blue around them. He stood, braced his hands on the table and loomed over her, looking large and fierce. “I have said I will protect you.”