Poseidon glanced to Kiiara as they drove along the deserted dirt road. She was in the passenger seat of their Jeep rental, bobbing her head to a country song playing on the radio. It had taken her twenty minutes to find a station she liked, and it had been nerve-wracking to listen to static as she switched from channel to channel, but seeing her now, smiling and belting words out of tune was worth the irritation. She was so incredibly beautiful it made his heart ache.

He had spent the early morning hours by her side in the hotel room, battling an internal war. He wanted to ravage her body and claim every part of her as his own, but that was the selfish bastard inside. If they had sex, it would be nothing more than that. Kiiara didn’t belong in his world and never would. It wasn’t fair to use her in such a manner. And the truth of that shocked him to his core at the same time it resonated within.

Not that Poseidon was above using women for pleasure. He had done it countless times, but he didn’t want to take advantage of Kiiara. She deserved better. So instead of coercing her to give into his needs, he took a long cold shower in hopes of deflating his rampant lust for the sexy mortal.

Unfortunately, seeing her now, he needed an arctic blizzard to suppress his raging desire. Tight jeans hugged her heart-shaped ass he remembered squeezing, and a tight blue t-shirt clung to a lush bosom he itched to explore. A fabric tie bound her long hair with several strands blowing across her freckled nose. The inexpensive sunglasses she bought at the hotel gift shop only added to her sex appeal.

Why the hell did he bring her along? She was more a liability than an asset, and he could barely focus on what he needed to do. After they visited Tavi, he had to take her home and forget all about the mortal. He didn’t understand the strength of her appeal, but it was massive to take any of his thought processes away from the one issue that should matter at the moment, finding his Trident.

Thinking about Tavi reminded him he needed to prepare Kiiara. “So, I must warn you about the female we are visiting,” Poseidon announced and reached over to turn the music down.

Mirrored lenses looked his way. “I’m all ears. Lay it on me,” she remarked and twisted in the bucket seat to face him. He didn’t have a clue what being all ears meant but she had no idea how badly he wanted to lay on her. Clear your mind, asshole, he chastised.

“Her name is Tavi, and she is a descendant of the three Erinyes. She’s very powerful,” he explained.

“More powerful than you?” Kiiara asked with a slight lift to her mouth. He loved how she enjoyed teasing him about being a God.

“Hardly,” he replied with a wink. “However, Tavi does possess the ability to know when she is being lied to, and when that happens, she can crawl inside your mind and cause you to go mad,” Poseidon said and reached over to remove Kiiara’s sunglasses so he could see if she was paying attention. He needed to know she understood the severity of what he was saying.

Kiiara’s sky-blue eyes met his, and he was momentarily lost in her gaze. He hated her control over his emotions. Weakness and vulnerability were negative, and he rejected the idea of feeling them. It must be the connection to her water sign that beckoned him, he amended. He felt as if she dangled a key in front of him. One that opened the box to his deepest desires that only she could fulfill.

Poseidon tossed the glasses to the center console and looked away from her captive gaze. “Just remember, don’t lie. Even a small one will provoke her craving to slither through your head,” he barked.

“Okay, I got it. No lies. Geez, what’s your problem? You’re so angry all of a sudden,” Kiiara muttered and reached down to retrieve her glasses. She put them on, and when he didn’t respond, she reached to the radio and turned the volume to blaring.

He didn’t know how to answer her question. She was right. He was angry. And it was her fault for being too sexy and beautiful and smart and alluring for any human being. And that was the crux of the matter. Kiiara was mortal, and he wanted nothing to do with that headache.

Poseidon stayed silent as the Jeep rambled along the dirt road. Finally, they reached a point where the road ended near the base of a mountain.

“You didn’t tell me to pack warm clothes. Please don’t say we’re hiking to the top,” Kiiara remarked, and her head looked to snow-capped mountains.

“No. Tavi’s dwelling is nearby. You won’t be uncomfortable in what you have on,” Poseidon said as he jumped from the Jeep.

Kiiara followed, grabbing her backpack from the rear seat and slinging it over her shoulders. He could tell she was skilled in the way she carried her equipment and credited her military background for her confident swagger as she walked towards the mountain.

“Come on, Aqua-Man, let’s do this,” Kiiara yelled over her shoulder and picked up her pace.

“Why must you insist on calling me by anything but my actual name?” he asked as he easily caught up to her while remaining a few steps behind so that he could appreciate the sway of her backside.

Her unbecoming snort echoed through the wooded area, and he shook his head. He would never get used to that awful sound.

“I guess it’s a bad habit. Marines always have nicknames. I don’t think anyone in my unit even knew my first name,” she admitted with a shrug.

“And what was your nickname?” he asked curiously.

“Well, mostly I was called Stanford, my last name, but over time I adopted Nailed It,” she muttered and kept walking.

Several moments passed, and Poseidon blurted, “You can’t just leave that unfinished. I must know the meaning behind Nailed It.”

Kiiara’s cheeks flushed red and her mouth twisted. She waited several long seconds then exhaled a sigh. “Well, for two reasons. One of them I’m very proud of, and that was because I hit every target with one bullet. No need to fire twice so…you get it…right? Nailed it.”

She continued walking, and he was dying to hear the second reason for her nickname. He was about to demand it when she said, “The second reason was more a joke between the men. Let’s just say it had to do more with wanting to nail me,” she clarified and rolled her eyes.

Before he could stop the words, he growled, “Were any of them successful?” The thought of any man bedding this female had him exploding with jealousy.

She stopped and looked his way. “I told you before I’m not that easy. If you’re asking if I’m a virgin, the answer is no. I’m a grown-ass woman, for fuck’s sakes. But I never slept with one of my fellow Jarheads, thank you very much,” she huffed and narrowed her eyes at him.

Poseidon threw palms up, surrendering. “Fair enough. Please do not make me the next victim of your nickname, unless the latter meaning would apply,” he suggested.

Kiiara reached out and smacked him playfully on the arm. “In your dreams, Fish-Boy,” she teased.

“I would love to tell you about my dream last night,” he husked and reached out to wrap arms around her small waist, pulling her flush against his body and halting their progression. He needed to taste her sweet lips again and leaned down slightly.

He felt her tremble before she squirmed out of his hold. “Maybe later. Let’s get this meeting with Tavi off our list first,” she advised and adjusted the pack on her back before resuming her trek.

Poseidon knew she was right, but her rejection stung, nonetheless. “Yes, the sooner I locate Hain, the sooner we get back to our lives,” he snapped then stomped past her.

He could see the cavern up ahead and quickly made his way up the rocky terrain. He needed to rid himself of the beguiling female before she was etched in his mind for eternity.

Minutes later, the two of them were standing inside the small space. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. It was damp and musky in the cave, and he felt a bead of moisture land on his forehead, dripping from overhead. The only light came from the opening leading out of the cavern.

“She lives here? It’s so small,” Kiiara whispered.

“Not here. Here,” Poseidon replied and walked to the back wall and gripped a large tree limb jutting from the dirt.

* * *

Kiiara watched in confusion as Poseidon pulled the oddly-shaped wood downward. Instantly, a hidden door slid open, revealing a much larger space.

He walked through the opening, and she followed, staying close to him. One thing she had learned since meeting the Greek god was that nothing was as it seemed and what she knew as reality didn’t exist where he was concerned.

Immediately, the sound of rushing water bombarded her, but it was too dark to make out the source. She reached out and grabbed the end of Poseidon’s t-shirt, letting him lead the way.

From her limited view, the interior was quite spacious but didn’t seem habitable. Kiiara squinted, trying to see better. It took several minutes while she blindly followed his direction for her eyes to adapt to the surroundings before she could make out shapes and sizes.

There were numerous rock ledges along the walls that reached to the ceiling. Glowing red eyes on the ledges snagged her attention. They were small and she prayed whatever they belonged to was friendly and stayed put.

Without warning, Kiiara’s footing gave way, and she tumbled to the ground and began free-falling. A hand latched onto her wrist just as a scream left her throat. Looking down, she could see her body hovered several hundred feet over a large pool of water.

Below her was a massive waterfall, threatening to take her over its edge to certain death. Her weight lifted, and, the next thing she knew, she was laying on the cold hard ground, and Poseidon was beside her, arms wrapped around her waist.

“You okay?” he asked and reached to caress her cheek. Her body erupted with desire from a simple touch from this man. She had no idea why he drew her to him, but it was maddening.

“Yes, I think so. Holy shit, that was scary. Thank you for grabbing me. I would’ve been a goner for sure,” she admitted and looked over the dangerous cliff.

“I knew the waterfall was here but it’s been a long time and erosion has taken much of the earth since my last visit,” Poseidon explained as he stood and helped Kiiara to her feet.

A loud screeching interrupted their conversation, and Kiiara cupped her ears with both hands. The shrill sound was deafening. Moments later, countless birds swooped from the ceiling and swarmed around them.

As the birds neared, Kiiara could see they had metal beaks. They hovered overhead, bodies in an upright position while their wings flapped so fast Kiiara could barely see them. All of a sudden, feathers flew from their figures and hurtled towards her and Poseidon. One pierced her arm, and Kiiara cried out in pain.

Looking down at the feather, she realized it was also metal, and the sharp tip burned her flesh. Kiiara pulled it out, then crouched low, protecting her body as best she could. Her hands continued to cover her ears as the deafening sound continued.

“Tavi!” boomed Poseidon, and Kiiara peeked to see him pull out an object and shake it. Where the hell did he get that? It sounded like a rattle when he shook it, and, suddenly, the small winged creatures scattered back to their nesting spots.

The high-pitched noise halted, and Kiiara carefully stood, brushing dirt from her jeans and hands. Her eyes darted about, looking for signs of whoever this Tavi was. Noise overhead had her neck craning to see a large form circle above them, wings outstretched. Was this another bird, because, if so, it was the biggest fucking one she’d ever seen. She imagined its metal feathers were lethal.

Within moments, the figure landed several feet from where they were standing. Kiiara strained to focus and wished she hadn’t when the details sharpened. Tavi was a tall, lean woman with pale, pasty skin. She was dressed from head to toe in sheer black strips of gauze, exposing her small breasts and sex. But it was the serpents sprouting from her head and the blood dripping from her eyes that had Kiiara wanting to run from the cavern screaming for her life. The woman was downright horrifying.

“My, my, what do we have here?” the woman purred, and Kiiara’s body instantly responded to the melodic sound. Against her will, Kiiara’s nipples hardened and moisture pooled between her legs. What the hell was happening?

Laughter echoed, and Tavi’s yellow eyes glowed brightly. Her black wings flapped slowly behind her, and Kiiara didn’t miss their razor-sharp edges. “Ah, you bring me a mortal, Poseidon. How thoughtful of you. Shall the three of us have some fun?” she cooed and rubbed a hand across her breast.

The act caused Kiiara’s nipple to pucker as if she rubbed hers instead, and Kiiara unwillingly arched her back in need. This woman had complete control over her body, and there wasn’t a fucking thing she could do to fight it.

“Stop, Tavi!” roared Poseidon and the arousal disappeared as quickly as it began. “I did not bring you an offering. She is mine and mine alone,” he declared and pulled Kiiara to his side.

What was the crazy, sexy God saying? And why exactly did he bring her to this woman if he knew she was capable of such manipulations? If he were using her as a pawn, he’d regret it. She was nobody’s pet toy, and she didn’t give a shit who he was.

“Tsk, tsk, what a shame. And here I was getting all excited,” Tavi murmured, and several of the snakes on her head slithered down her torso.

One wrapped around her breast while the others continued across the thatch of hair between her legs and wrapped around her upper thigh. Tavi moaned from the snakes’ attention, all the while staring seductively at Poseidon.

“I need your help,” he said flatly.

“You wouldn’t be here, otherwise. Tell me your woes, my ocean lover,” she encouraged, and Kiiara watched several snakes stand upright on her head, their eyes glowing yellow like Tavi’s.

Kiiara wondered about the term. Did she mean ocean lover because he was the God of the Seas or because they had been lovers at one time? Surely, he hadn’t, she thought, and then recalled the unwanted arousal she had felt and knew it was possible he had been with the woman.

“I’m looking for Hain. Has he been here recently?” Poseidon asked.

Simultaneously, the snakes hissed, and when their forked tongues darted out, Kiiara noticed they were metal, as well. Meeting Tavi got even creepier. What was with all the metal beasts? Did she have some power over steel? The woman was one strange being. On the other hand, strange was Poseidon’s middle name so she shouldn’t be surprised.

“I haven’t seen that scoundrel in years. He stole my sacrificial dagger the last time he was here, and I haven’t heard from him since. He knows I’m bound to this cavern for a hundred more years, but when my curse is lifted, all of Hell will rain down on that merman,” Tavi snarled, and Kiiara watched more blood trail down her face.

Kiiara wondered about the bloody tears. Did she feel more than anger towards Hain? Had he broken her heart, leaving her a scorned woman? Matters of the heart cut deeper than any stolen, sacrificial dagger.

Poseidon ran a hand through his beard and sighed. Kiiara knew this was one more stop that left him no closer to finding his weapon. She wished she could do more to help. He had emphasized time was of the essence, and the more time that passed, the more likely Hain had connected to the trident’s powers.

“The bastard stole from me, as well. Do you have any idea where Hain might be?” Poseidon inquired.

The snakes stilled, and Tavi took several steps until she was face to face with Poseidon. Kiiara felt small when she realized Tavi was close to his height. She was inferior amongst these immortals. The woman wrapped one arm around Poseidon’s waist and rubbed against his chest.

“I might have an idea where he is. What’s it worth to you?” Tavi purred and hiked a leg around Poseidon’s hip, and ground against his groin.

Kiiara’s eyes shifted to Poseidon. His eyes glassed over and he swayed just a bit before leaning down towards Tavi’s mouth. When the woman’s mouth parted, Kiiara lost all control.

“No! Stop it, you bitch!” Kiiara screamed and rushed to shove Tavi away. Poseidon shook his head several times, and Kiiara saw focus return to his gaze.

Tavi’s cackle filled the air. “Ah, this is rich. I thought you were joking about the mortal belonging to you. It would appear she is more than a mere slave,” Tavi scoffed, and her snakes hissed as if laughing, as well.

“I don’t belong to him, and I’m nobody’s slave,” Kiiara spat, hands fisted at her sides.

“Watch it,” Poseidon mumbled under his breath.

“If you don’t belong to him then you are in love. What a fool you are, mortal,” Tavi taunted.

“I’m not in love with him!” Kiiara shouted.

Before Kiiara could blink, two things happened. Tavi appeared right in front of her, and her head received a blast of pain that sent her crumpling to the ground.