The Dragon's Vamp(30)

“By the Gods I still get no respect.” Triton grinned as he stepped forward, hugging them both. “Talk to the ’rents, aunts and uncles. It wasn’t easy convincing them.”

When one of the others stated he wanted the orb, Rhys tried to grab Mari as she broke free. She stood there facing down what he assumed were twelve of the Greek gods.

“Oh you think so, huh ass hole!” Mari snarled. “This is going where my parents say. What are you going to do, Zeus, when you need my help the next time? I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to sit there and laugh my ass off at the lot of you!”

“You couldn’t have contained him without us,” Zeus replied.

Rhys stepped back as Mari laughed. “Not liking the sound of that,” he whispered out the side of his mouth at Triton.

“You stupid imbecile, I’m half ancient. I didn’t need your help or didn’t you notice that white light that came out and encompassed all of yours, pushing you out? Yeah that was me! I can’t believe none of you came to help me when I needed it! I’ve been there for you every single time, every time! I’m done! I’m holding a grudge and I don’t know for how long!”

Rhys smiled as she turned her back to them and stormed over to Triton and himself, the others leaving quickly. “Well I guess you told them,” he chuckled.

“I sure as hell did,” she said smiling.

“Well, at least we took care of all the water attackers on our way in,” Triton said.

“Yes you did,” Rhys chuckled. “Is that Pele of Hawaii?”

“Yeah, we’ll be taking a short vacation here. You know she’s always wanted to see Alston.” Triton grinned.

* * * *

Rhys snuggled, bringing Mari’s back closer to his front. “So it’s over for good?”

“Yes, unless he finds a way to break free of the orb, but that’s pretty much impossible. And then there’s the safeguards put into place where the orb is secured.”

“I thought you were dead. I had a horrible gut wrenching feeling tear through me.”

“I almost was. I’ve never been that close to death before. All I could think about was you and losing you.”

Rhys met her gaze as she rolled over. Lowering his mouth softly to hers, he breathed in her sweet essence, his lips gently caressing her soft skin. “I don’t ever want to go through that again, Mari. I thought I was going to die when I thought I’d lost you. I didn’t care who I was fighting, I was going to make him pay for what he’d done; for taking you away from me.”

“I don’t even want to think about what Evan Roven’s going through.”

“I’ve talked with Drake. They don’t blame you. They know you arrived as fast as you could and they were all fighting the darkness trying to keep him away from Livi.”

“But Sofia was pregnant with his child and now they’ve both been taken from him forever.”

Rhys wrapped his arm around Mari as she leaned into his side. “I know, baby.”

“Livi’s going to blame me and herself. I’ve felt her anger toward me, and she won’t answer any of my calls.”

Rhys sighed softly, kissing the top of her head. “Drake and Kalana are aware of Olivia’s state of mind and are taking care of everything. She’ll come around when she realizes no one could have stopped Sofia’s death.”

“Kalana told me Evan’s thinking of stepping down as Alpha and giving the position to Drake, that’s how heartbroken he is over the loss of his mate.”

Rhys held her to him, pressing kisses along her temple as she cried softly. “We cannot change what has happened, love. We can only live through it the best we can and strive for a better future.”

“I know.”

“I love you, Mari.”

“I love you, Rhys.”