CHAPTER 15
Clio jumped out of the truck and ran to the others, who were huddled around the empty Water Wonderland parking lot. The seasonal attraction closed after Labor Day. Mel cradled her infant son, Noah, her face red and swollen.
Nate was stoic beside her with his arm around her shoulders. His voice was cold and detached as he scanned their circle. All business. “Thanks for coming. Maggie was playing on the swings at our condo complex when Pamela showed up. Before Mel could scream, she paralyzed her. She fell to the ground with Noah crying in the stroller. Pamela then threatened to do the same to Maggie if she didn’t come quietly.”
Clio’s eyes brimmed with tears. Maggie was only nine years old, but she’d already survived so much trauma. She deserved better. Clio wanted to rip Pamela’s heart out. How could she go after a little kid? Maggie wasn’t a muse.
Mel wiped her eyes. “She said if we didn’t comply with her demands by midnight, she’d drop Maggie off the edge of the platform for the Diablo waterslide.”
Clio’s stomach clenched. The Diablo was an eighty-foot high slide. That platform was over five stories above the ground. No one could survive that fall.
Her pulse pounded in her ears. “This doesn’t make sense. Hurting Maggie isn’t going to punish Zeus. Why go after children?” Clio’s voice was strained, and Mason stroked her back, his warm hand a gentle reassurance.
Regret and anger flashed in Nate’s eyes. “Because she wants something from us.”
Clio frowned. “What could we possibly have that she needs?”
“She wants Mason.” Nate’s gaze moved from Clio to her Guardian. “I’m not sure how to play this one. I’ve never negotiated a hostage release with an immortal before.”
Clio caught Mason’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “I don’t understand.”
“I do.” Mason squeezed her hand back. “She knows I’m your Guardian, and she knows the rules. If she had taken you, my crazy strength would kick in. If she takes someone else…I’m just a carpenter. Same goes for any of the other Guardians, plus a child is easier to control.”
Nate cleared his throat, finding his voice. “Maggie is just a tool to her. A bargaining chip.”
“So we’re just going to hand over Mason?” Clio’s head pounded. “She’ll kill him.”
“No, she won’t.” Mason stared at Clio, ignoring the others, his eyes full of rage and bitterness. “She thinks she has the upper hand.”
And then Clio understood. He was going to shift. “No.”
Mason ground his teeth. “There’s no other way.”
Nate frowned. “What’s going on?”
Clio turned and then realized she’d promised not to spill Mason’s secret. “If we let Mason go out there alone, he’ll die.”
“And if we don’t—” Mel’s voice broke “—Maggie will.”
Mason pulled Clio into his arms and whispered against her ear. “I love you. There’s no other way.”
“There has to be.”
Mason loosened his hold on her and looked over at Nate. “How much time do we have?”
Nate checked his phone. “It’s ten to midnight.”
“Okay.” Mason nodded. “I’ll do it.”
“Please, Mason.” Clio’s throat closed, her heart tearing in two. “We’ll find another way.”
“There’s no time. Come with me, darlin’.” He took her hand, leading her away from the others.
The gate at the entrance of the water park was open, the lock keeping the winter crowd out was in a twisted heap on the ground.
“Please don’t do this.” Clio’s voice trembled. “This isn’t the way our story is supposed to end.”
He cupped her cheek, the moonlight glinting in his watery green eyes. “You’ve read more history books than I have, but even I know that the loves that change the world don’t usually get happy endings.”
Her vision was blurred by tears. “I will not say good-bye. I won’t. There must be something else we can do.”
“This is the only way, darlin’. Pamela is out there right now, thinking she’s outsmarted us. She knows how this Guardian thing works, and she’s pissed that I hurt her. This way she thinks she’s getting me out there alone without my gift of inhuman strength. She won’t be expecting the wolf.”
“It won’t matter. She’ll paralyze you, and then she’ll—” She couldn’t finish the sentence. She fisted her hands in his shirt. “I’ll go with you.”
“No.” He kissed her forehead. “Stay safe. Wait here for Maggie and get her back to her mom.” His gaze locked on hers. “I’m a Lycan through magic, Clio. Whatever magic she uses to paralyze her victims shouldn’t work on me once the wolf takes over. The curse will protect me. I’m sure of it.”
“But what if you can’t find your way back?” Her vision blurred through the tears she struggled to hold back. “I need to tell you something.” She stared up into his eyes. “Do you remember the old man who came to see Erica and the baby in the hospital? The one with the purple hat?”
He nodded. “I remember.”
She lowered her voice. “He’s Zeus.” Mason’s shoulders tensed, but other than that, he didn’t respond. “He thinks his only hope to stop Kronos rests in the fact that Kronos doesn’t know Zeus is in our world. If he helps us, he’ll lose that advantage, so I couldn’t tell anyone.”
“Not even me.” He frowned, clenching his jaw. “So why are you telling me now?”
Her chest tightened, her heart aching as she memorized every curve of his face. “Because I asked him to lift the curse on your bloodline. He can’t do that either.” She wrapped her arms around Mason’s neck, holding him tight. “I can’t lose you.”
His strong arms embraced her, his fingers sliding through her hair. “I love you, Clio. You’ll never lose me. The wolf inside me loves you, too. You’re his mate. He’ll watch over you. Keep you safe when I can’t.”
She drew back, a tear finally rolling down her cheek. “That’s not the same.”
“I know. Fate stacked the deck against us.” He rested his forehead against hers. “If there were another way, I’d take it, but there isn’t. If I saved myself and not this little girl, I wouldn’t be worthy of your love. I’m going to stop Pamela. And then you’ll be safe and so will Maggie.”
He kissed her, his tongue diving past her lips, urgent as she clung to him. He stumbled back. “Dammit.” He raked both hands back through his hair. “I don’t want to go. Please know the last thing I want is to walk away.” Pain lined his eyes as he backed away. “Stay safe for me. I love you.”
Before she could respond, the air shimmered around him, and right before her eyes, his body contorted. It wasn’t like in the horror movies with painful bones snapping; it was a fluid shift, like an artist had simply repainted him. No torn clothes. No clothes at all. Mason was gone, and a wolf stood in his place.
The giant sable-colored wolf with bright-green eyes shook his entire body before taking a few steps closer to her. A sob erupted from her throat. He had Mason’s eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” she whispered. “Please be careful.”
“Time’s running out, Guardian.” Pamela’s voice echoed through the night. “I’m losing my grip on this little girl.”
Maggie screamed, and the wolf bolted into the darkness. Clio looked back toward the parking lot, then at the water park gate again. Pamela was at the top of a dry waterslide. No wolf, even a magic one, was going to be able to climb up there.
Clio wiped her tears and gritted her teeth. No one was going to swoop in and make this better. No one was going to save her or Mason.
Screw it. She had nothing to lose anymore. She wasn’t letting Mason go without a fight.
Clio slipped through the open gate and jogged farther into the park. Sheltered behind the ticket booth, she fired off a quick text to Nate.
I followed Mason inside. If you can give us some backup without tipping Pamela off, bring it.
Mason was right. Pamela hadn’t selected Maggie as her hostage at random. If she had taken a muse, it would have alerted her Guardian, awakening his special gift. By taking Maggie, the men wouldn’t stand a chance against Pamela.
But she didn’t know that the one she demanded in trade had been cursed by Zeus.
Clio ran around the edge of the courtyard, sticking to the shadows. Finally, the top of the big waterslide came into view. Bathed in moonlight, Pamela held little Maggie by the shoulders, scanning the ground below.
Shit. The only way up was a ladder. Clio’s heart raced. The wolf wouldn’t be able to get up there. Somehow, she needed to get them down.
Pamela’s voice carried through the empty park. “I guess he’s not coming.” She knelt to Maggie’s level. “Don’t feel bad, though. You were going to die even if he did show up.”
“Take me!” Clio yelled, stepping into the open.
Hopefully, Philyra would jump at the chance to kill another muse, especially the one who got away.
A deep, dangerous growl rumbled from behind Clio. She glanced over her shoulder at the wolf’s piercing green eyes. “You can’t get up there,” she whispered. “I’m trying to get her to come down.”
She had no idea if the wolf could understand her. Was Mason still conscious somewhere inside its spirit?
“Some Guardian.” Pamela cackled. “Did he turn tail and leave you to rescue the girl?”
“I’m the one you want, anyway.” Clio kept her eyes on Maggie. “Let her come down the ladder, and I’ll go with you willingly.”
“And how do I know this isn’t a trap? If you’re in danger, your Guardian gains an impressive amount of strength. Prove he’s not here.”
“He’s with the others in the parking lot.” Adrenaline coursed through Clio’s veins, her hands trembling at her sides, but her voice was strong, her resolve unshakable.
Maybe Mason had been right about there being a lion inside her. All the strong women through history, the women she’d studied for years, inspired her. She might die tonight, but she’d do it on her own terms, saving a little girl and the man she loved. She’d have no regrets.
“Come down and check for yourself if you’d like,” Clio shouted.
Pamela paced the length of the platform. “You come up here.”
“So you can kill both of us? No way.” Clio balled her hands into fists. “Maggie comes down unharmed, and I’m all yours. Otherwise, no deal,” she called out a little louder. “You have powers. Use them on me if you need to, but I’m not going up there until Maggie is safe.”
The wolf growled again.
“Stay there,” Clio whispered. “I’ll be fine. Save Maggie.”
Pamela waved her hand, and a gust of power washed over Clio, knocking her to the pavement. Air puffed out of her lungs, and stars lit around her vision when her head struck the ground. She couldn’t move or speak, but she could still see and hear.
Above her, Pamela pushed Maggie closer to the edge of the platform. “Stupid muse. Why would I capitulate to a mortal’s demands? Now you can watch the girl die, and then I’ll deal with you.”
No. No. No. Clio struggled to break free of the spell, to regain her mobility, but even her fingertips remained still. Tears burned her eyes.
A single shot rang out, knocking Pamela on her ass.
“Down the ladder, Maggie! Now!” Nate ran toward the slide, both hands on his Glock.
Pamela got up again, lifting her hand above her head. Another shot. This one hit her leg. Crazed laughter filled the night. “Your mortal bullets can’t stop me.”
Maggie raced down the ladder as fast as her fourth-grade feet could take her. Clio silently urged her on while Nate made his way to the base of the ladder.
At the edge of Clio’s vision, the wolf crouched beside her, his breath hot on her legs. Waiting.
Pamela jumped from the platform, landing on her feet on the concrete below. With a flick of her wrist, Nate collapsed in a heap before he could fire another bullet.
Pamela came closer, scooping up his gun in the process. “I wonder how it would look for your daughter to be killed by a bullet from her daddy’s gun?” She took aim, and while her attention was focused up the ladder, the wolf launched into action.
Time slowed as he knocked Pamela to the ground. The gun fired, and Maggie screamed. Clio struggled to see the girl and breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed Maggie still clinging to the ladder.
Pamela grappled with Mason, screeching in fury as the wolf snapped at her. Mason had been right: as many times as Pamela flailed her arm, the wolf could still move. She scrambled free of him, gripping a wound on her shoulder and limping away, favoring the leg Nate had shot.
The wolf stalked her, snarling.
Meanwhile, Maggie started back down the ladder. Clio struggled to move her fingers and toes. Vague tingles were all she got in response, but it was enough to give her hope. The magic was wearing off.
“What are you?” Pamela snarled as she backed into a fence. “You can’t kill me. I’m immortal.”
Clio had no idea if that was true, but she was grateful Pamela couldn’t paralyze him. Mason had a fighting chance.
Maggie looked down, wiping her eyes with one hand. “Daddy?” she whispered.
Nate didn’t move or respond.
Clio fought to get words out. They were guttural and slurred, but close enough. “He’ll be okay.”
“Clio?” Maggie looked over at her and sniffled. “You’re awake.”
“Hard to move.” Sweat beaded on Clio’s brow. Battling the magic took more concentration than she’d expected. “Run. Your mom. In the parking lot.”
Maggie came down two more steps and stopped. “You’ll help my dad?”
“I will. He wants you safe.”
The little girl’s curls bounced as she raced down the rest of the ladder. She hit the ground running. Good.
Clio’s arm twitched. She focused all her strength on the limb, fighting the paralysis. She dragged herself a few inches toward Nate. Progress.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
Pamela was right behind her, gripping her forehead and her chin. “Call off the wolf, or I snap your neck.”
Clio forced her words through clenched teeth. “Epic mistake.”
The wolf raced toward them, leaping over Clio with his teeth bared. His jaws snapped closed on Pamela’s throat as they both fell backward. Clio rolled on the ground, closing her eyes as Pamela’s head rolled free of her shoulders.
The second Pamela threatened Clio’s safety, she’d sealed her fate. The wolf and Mason were one. The inhuman strength the gods had given Mason to protect Clio as her Guardian had carried through the wolf.
Clio sat up, gasping. The paralysis was gone as quickly as it had come on. Pamela’s magic fizzled along with her immortality.
Nate groaned, rolling over. “Where’s Maggie?”
“She ran to the parking lot.” Clio rubbed the knot on the back of her head. “Are you all right?”
He got up on one knee. “I think so.” Nate grabbed his gun off the ground and lifted the barrel, aiming it at the wolf. Clio stepped in front of the animal, and Nate frowned. “You saw what it did. If that thing runs out the gate, a lot of people are going to get hurt.”
“No, they won’t.” She looked over her shoulder, and the wolf came to her, standing at her side. She rested her hand on his thick neck. “It’s Mason.”
Nate lowered his Glock. “You’re shitting me.”
“No.” Clio blinked back tears. “Look at his eyes.”
Nate holstered his gun. “Mason’s a werewolf?”
“A Lycan.” The wolf nudged her with his head. “He’s a direct descendant of King Lycaon. Zeus cursed him and all his sons to be wolves.” She raised her hand for the wolf to sniff it. He nuzzled into her palm, and she ran her fingers through his coat. She turned to look over at Nate. “Lycans.”
Nate raised a brow. “Why isn’t he shifting back?”
“I don’t think he can.” Clio kept an iron fist around her wounded heart. Mason sacrificed everything to save all of them. She wouldn’t allow herself to fall apart.
“Why not?” Nate came a little closer.
“The way Mason explained it, the wolf is sort of like a drug, and eventually, the man is lost to the curse, to the wolf. And he can’t find his way back.”
“Can he understand us?”
She shrugged, her voice wobbling. “I don’t know.”
Nate crouched down until he was eye level with the wolf. “Hey, Mason. If you can hear me, we’ll get you back. If anyone can find a historical loophole, it’s Clio.”
The wolf chuffed, remaining at Clio’s side.
Nate straightened up, his gaze on Clio. “You were crazy to face Pamela again. But thank you. We wouldn’t have saved Maggie tonight without you.” He squeezed her shoulder and jogged toward the parking lot.
Clio sank to her knees, wrapping her arms around the wolf’s thick neck. She buried her face in his fur, grateful and heartbroken all at once.