Chapter Two

 

 

“Pandora, are you listening?” Straton growled.

I looked up from the pool in the center of our living room. The wood planks that covered the dirt and roots of the massive tree we lived within were cut away in a circle, to reveal the enchanted well of clear water beneath. Tinker Bell, the first fairy who had befriended us on Neverland, had led us to this place and showed me the well of magic within it. The water was sweet and clean, perfect for many uses, but mainly, I enjoyed staring into it. Because the pool showed me Earth.

Technically, I was on Earth, but Neverland was completely cut off, and the pool was like a window to the world of the humans. I could watch them grow, suffer, love, and survive the horrible things I'd set free from the jar. Not only that, I could look forward in time, and see where they were headed. I especially loved learning their words. I suppose it was because of the curiosity and wisdom I'd been blessed with, but I've always enjoyed learning new things and especially new ways of communicating. Words are wonderful.

“I don't want to train today,” I whined.

“Pan,” Drakon called from the kitchen, “you know how much Straton wants you to be able to defend yourself.”

“I know, and stop calling me Pan,” I growled. “You make me sound like a cooking vessel.”

“You are perfectly aware that 'Pan' means 'everything,' Ms. I-Love-Words,” Straton crouched before me, his muscles bulging out even bigger than they were normally. “Stop vexing Drakon.”

All of my guards were muscular like really muscular. They were Greek warriors; it kind of came with the territory. But Straton had been the commander of his little group, and he was the buffest of the bunch. He also had a pair of the bluest eyes I'd ever seen, and a jaw you could slice tomatoes with. I swallowed past the dryness in my throat and looked back into the pool.

“I wasn't trying to vex Drakon,” I said as I fluffed a pillow beneath me. “I was hoping to vex you.”

Drakon's laughter drifted out to us; rich and as sweet as one of his desserts. Dear gods, he was a master in the kitchen, and it made me wonder what other hungers he could fulfill. Drakon was just as handsome as Straton, but his hair was a shade lighter, and his eyes were green–a deep, emerald green. He had a face that women had wept for as we sailed away. I'm serious; there were wailing women at the dock, screaming Drakon's name when we left Greece. I didn't blame them either.

“That's wonderful.” Straton rolled his gorgeous eyes. “Just lie there and vex me then, and when one of Kadmos's men come upon you in the forest, you won't know what to do.”

“I shall scream for you.”

“Pandora!” Straton snapped. “You know how much they hate you. If they get their hands on you–”

“What?” I sat up. “They can't kill me. They may have carried in Hatred and War, but they didn't bring Death.”

“There are a lot of things worse than death,” Praxis said as he came down the wooden stairs. “And those men will try them all on you, Pan.”

“Not you too?” I huffed.

“I'm sorry if we want you safe,” Praxis growled.

“No, I meant; not you too about the 'Pan' thing.” I got up and went to see what Drakon was cooking.

Not that I wanted to leave the combined heat of Praxis and Straton. Praxis had hair as light as Straton's was dark and pale blue eyes that were usually alight with mischief. It made him a perfect foil for the stern Straton, and I had spent many nights at sea admiring the two of them conversing together.

“They're right, Pandora,” Erastos called from his bedroom above us. “Go and train.”

The tree had several floors inside its massive trunk, and each of my five guardians had his own. My room was on the top floor, and it was also where I kept the jar. This was in case an enemy made it into the tree. They'd have to get past all of the warriors before they reached me. It also meant that I had to pass each of them on my way to bed at night. Talk about sweet torture.

I know I must sound like a pervert, but you need to understand; I was made to tempt men, and I was also made to love them. I had a heart in me that wanted to love so badly that it hurt, and other parts of me ached for more erotic reasons. I had been married for only three months when I opened the jar; just barely an introduction to sex, and it had been with that fool Epimetheus. Now, I was stranded on a magical island with five, gorgeous, muscle-bound sexpots, and it was messing with my well-being.

Erastos was the most sensual of the warriors, and the one whom I had the biggest shot at seducing. Because he'd probably seduce me first. He'd already made some comments that had me blushing and hopeful. So, I should have concentrated my attention on him and given up on the rest of them. But as much as Erastos's dark curls and even darker, bedroom eyes appealed to me, I couldn't help being attracted to all of them. They were lost to the rest of the world anyway; maybe I could convince them to make due with what they had: mainly, me. I had been shaped to resemble a goddess, after all. That should make them happy.

But warriors could be weird about things like not sleeping with the woman they were guarding.

“I'm not training today,” I shouted back at Erastos before I leaned into Drakon's side, pressing my breast into his arm as I pretended to simply be inspecting his food. “What delicacy are you making for us today?”

“Lemon and basil chicken,” Drakon's voice sounded strained, and his arm tensed.

Yes! Result!

“Mmm,” I purred and licked my lips, “it smells delicious.”

“So do you,” he muttered under his breath.

“What was that, Drakon?” Akylas, the last of my guards, came striding into the kitchen.

“Nothing,” Drakon glanced at me with lust-filled eyes.

My heart started to race as I leaned closer.

“That looks fantastic!” Akylas slid his arm between us and stole a piece of chicken.

When he drew his arm back, he did so smoothly, rubbing it into me. I looked up at him in pleased surprise and found his turquoise gaze as hot as Drakon's. Akylas winked at me and slipped the food into his mouth. I watched his full lips move, and then his tongue swished out and licked a bit of sauce from them. I nearly fainted.

“Can I speak to you two?” Straton was suddenly in the kitchen doorway, giving the three of us a hard stare.

Akylas flicked his dirty-blond hair back, over his shoulder, and smirked as he sucked his fingers clean. Then his hand snuck down to squeeze my ass before he left.

“Sure thing, Commander,” Akylas said. “Come on Drak; Pan can watch supper for a few minutes.”

“Stir it slowly,” Drakon said as he handed me the spoon.

I took the spoon from him, my fingers sliding over his, and he inhaled sharply. I looked down and saw his cock straining at his breeches.

“Go on then, I've got it,” I said as I slipped in front of him, acting as if I was getting into position to stir the food while I rubbed against his erection.

“Dear fucking gods,” Drakon groaned, his hand going to my hip briefly, and pulling me back against him.

“Drakon!”

Fucking Straton, always ruining my fun.

Drakon left, and I started stirring the food, contemplating why I, a woman formed by the hands of gods, always seemed to have the worst luck with men. I took the pan off the fire, and eavesdropped on Straton telling Drakon and Akylas that they couldn't get involved with their ward; I was blessed by Dionysus himself, and he had given me to them to protect, not fuck. I heaved a huff and headed toward the back of the kitchen, where a trap door led to a tunnel which led above ground.

I'd had enough of this bullshit. Maybe I could meet a nice Indian boy.