JASON

I don't like this new information. Revenge. The others have left to ready for the day, but I'm still here staring out at the blue water. I check my phone for the hundredth time but still nothing from Nestor. Sighing, I know what I should do but I can't, not yet. It will be the last resort, asking them for help. I was the lucky one. I was what they had meant to create, the hunter. I've done my job for thousands of years, but I also have done what I knew was right. I found as many of the others that I could, and those that I could help, I did. The others, well, they either went to the Elysian Fields, or I put them down. So many wasted lives because of the Gods’ meddling and disregard.

I hate the killing, but often they beg for it. Their lives in the human world are often ones of misery and torture. I've often asked if Hades and the others care what happens to their creations when they throw them away. Perséphone has hinted that maybe they do, but that angers me more. Clenching my fists, I turn and look at the temple pillars that make up part of my house. This place is one of many they used to dump the children, the unwanted. It was where they left me the day I was sent out on my mission. A gentlewoman found me and help me understand this world. Others weren't so lucky. Each time I took in their memories, my anger and resentment grew. I hate that I need to deal with them at all, but I do to be able to take the children someplace safe. They haven't created any new experiments in years, or so I hope.

Nestor was one of those that I helped. I set him up with his hotel, a place for travelers of all kinds. He is the son of Hecate and Khonsu. Khonsu is the Egyptian God of the moon, and he watches over travelers at night. Hecate is the Greek Goddess of crossroads and protects travelers from evil. Nestor inherited powers from both his parents and can sense any traveler in need. I pray he can sense Emma. Nothing, no word from him yet. I scroll to his name and tap it, my nail dragging across the skin on my thumb. Over and over, it digs in, a growl rumbling in my throat. A cool hand covers mine, halting the self-inflicted pain. Staring at it, I realize even her skin is pale, like moonlight. Glancing up into Raven’s eyes, I see understanding. Nestor's cocky voice drags my attention from her. Disconnecting when I realize it is his voice mail, I turn to face her.

"You care for her. More than you wish to admit. Do the others know?" Voice quiet, she glances behind us.

"Why would you think I cared for her more than I would any friend of those I love?" I don't care for the way she sees too much.

"Honestly?"

"Of course." My lips part slightly, and I raise my eyebrows.

"I see it on my own face lately." Again, her gaze moves behind us, pausing on the Druids.

“I see. Which of the brawny Scots is it that you fancy?" I chuckle, thinking of all the women who have found themselves drawn to the two men. I should have guessed they would intrigue a valkyrie who has spent a thousand years searching out great warriors. Sean and Michael are some of the best men I have ever known. It also doesn't hurt that they are, as Aislin has said, hot Highland hunks.

"How would one decide?"

My eyes widen, and I bark out a laugh. "I wouldn't know."

"Please don't say anything. I will keep your secret about Emma, although I'm pretty sure Aislin would be very happy indeed to hear.”

"I haven't even met Emma. I've only ever seen her picture and heard her voice."

"I know a little of your powers. What did her voice tell you?"

"It told me everything."

"I think that's your answer."

My gaze follows her as she moves away. The Druid's eyes are on her. Michael's are filled with interest, and Sean's are filled with blatant heat. My lips slowly curve. I can understand her dilemma. They are two halves of a whole. Walking toward the group, their voices reach my ears, and my power flares. Pausing, I glance at her with my eyebrows raised, and she furrows hers in question, but I just grin. Yes, this is going to be interesting. A grumble draws my attention. My head turns, and both men are glaring at me. I raise my palms up and chuckle, moving away .

Aislin grabs my hand when I near her. "Anything?" Her hope beats at me.

"No. Not yet, but he will call. What about you did you find anything about our elusive neighbor?"

"Only that he bought the property fifty years ago." She let the information drop, and my head flinches back. Fifty years. When I left. When I ran. Her hand grips mine tighter; she knows that's when I left. She just doesn't understand that I was running from what I did. My head shakes slowly as I try to pull away. The others slowly turn to face us. Sean's eyes are quartering the area looking for danger, Michael shifting in front of Raven. For one instance, annoyance flickers in her eyes but then they soften. Jerking my hand free, I ignore the long, pained look Aislin sends me before she turns into Kai's embrace. I can tell he is speaking to her, soothing her hurt feelings. Spinning away, I stalk to my car, throwing myself in, I turn it on and gun the engine, rocks spraying the area as I once again run from my past. I glance in the rearview and see them all gaping.

My skin feels tight, my knuckles white on the steering wheel, face hot, and as the images from so long ago race through my mind, I slam on the brakes as nausea beats at me. Bowing my head, I lay my forehead on the wheel, dragging in great breathes. I jump when the passenger door opens and Kai slides in.

"Aislin wanted me to check on you." Silence. I refuse to look up, watching him from my peripheral. He is relaxed, just waiting. Leaning back in the seat, I close my eyes, swallowing. I startle myself when my fist whips out and punches the dash. He simply raises a brow, waiting still. The minutes tick by. Sighing, he opens the door and climbs out. Before he closes the door, he leans in, "You need to tell someone. It will continue to eat at you."

"You have no idea."

"Someday I will tell you about my village, and maybe you will tell me your secret. Or maybe like me, you will find someone to hold your secrets for you like Aislin holds mine." His hand comes up to stop my response, "Before you say something stupid like you could never tell anyone and they still love you, that's what love is -- knowing you darkest deeds and loving you just the same. Just think about it. I will tell them you are fine, just needed some time." He closes the door gently, before shifting and flying away. Thank god for his ability to hide; a massive bronze dragon would freak people out these days.

I realize my phone is ringing. I want to ignore it, but it's Nestor. "Hey, I've been waiting. What did you find out?"

As he talks, I leave the past, well, in the past. I can't change what I did. What's happening to Emma, I can change, and I will change. My heart is pounding as he finishes. We have a possible location. Looking around, I throw the car in gear, and realizing I had stopped across from the asshole’s driveway, I use it to turn around and race up the winding road to my house. Sliding to a stop, I jump out running to the door. It flies open as I reach it, and they are all standing there. The men look ready to kill someone, and I realize they were.

"Shite, ye fucker, ye scared us." Michael swears and I see the gun in his hand, and Sean had a knife in his. Kai shrugs. He had known it was me because of his dragon senses. Aislin's face was expectant; she knew I wouldn't have returned if it hadn't been important.

"Nestor called, and we have a possible location." I pause.

"Well, spit it out, man." Sean's patience is paper thin.

"Let's go inside, just in case." I push through the crowd and head to the garden. They follow, moving to the couches. I'm not surprised to see the Druids flanking Raven, and the look on Aislin's face says neither is she.

"It seems one of the properties owned by Mr. Ekdíki̱si̱ is an island. Nestor found out that it has had a lot of activity on it, with people traveling to it this past week. He wasn't able to find out if Emma is there, which could mean that she isn't or that she was unconscious when she was taken there." Aislin's eyes glisten as she blinks rapidly. Kai squeezes her shoulder, and she looks up, refusing to let the tears fall. "Nestor gave me the locations, so we need to get ready and go. He has a boat waiting for those of us not flying." I look at the Druids and they nod once before standing and moving to their rooms.

"I will travel with you on the boat," Raven says as she follows the men, going to ready herself.

"Looks like it's up to you guys to scout ahead." I give them the coordinates of the island and Aislin puts them on her phone.

"Yes, we will go ahead, but we will wait for y'all to make a move. I don't want Emma hurt."

"We will try to obtain a count of people and then will circle back to you," Kai assures her before turning. They stride away, moving out the door. Moments later, a shadow falls over me. Looking up, I see the massive bronze dragon circle once before flying east.

The others return in moments, and we all climb in the SUV. I drive as fast as possible to the marina. Nestor is waiting for us, guiding us to a cigarette boat. Sean and Michael put four large black duffels in while Raven climbs in and moves to take a seat.

"I can come with you. I can help," Nestor offers.

"No, stay here and try to find out more. I don't believe this will be the only place he has set up to hold people. Someone has to know more." I start to turn but look back when his hand grasps my shoulder.

"You know who knows more or who can at least find out more."

"Not yet. I can't contact them yet. Hades doesn't care what happens to his 'children.' He certainly won't care about one human woman."

"What about Perséphone or the Fates? Those bitches claim to know everything." Anger leaks into his deep voice.

Scoffing, I reply, "Even if they know, they won't tell. You remember how they are... 'Don't want to change your destiny,' such utter fucking bullshit."

"God, I hate them, all of them. I will keep looking. Keep your phone on." My head nods once sharply before I jog to the boat. The others are impatiently yelling at me to hurry. We are pulling out of the harbor minutes later.

The coordinates programmed in the boat's navigation take us northeast, racing along at ninety miles per hour, bouncing over the calm sea. At this speed, we should reach the island within the hour. We are fifty miles out when the sun is suddenly blocked. The mighty dragon shimmers into view, and I slow the boat before stopping it altogether. Aislin slides down his wing and lands softly between the boys, each reaching to steady her. Kai shifts in the air, hitting the deck hard as he lands.

"We were able to count ten armed guards outside, and I guarantee there are more inside the structure. They also seemed on very high alert, watchful, stressed. Something has either warned them of our arrival, or something has happened there." Kai shares a look with me, one that says he's worried about what we might find. My stomach tightens.

"She has to be okay," she pleads. Her voice washes over me, and I feel her dread and despair.

"Kukla, she will be. I promised you we would find her, and we will." I pour my power in it to send her reassurance and watch as she calms. Kai nods slightly, mouthing ‘thank you.’ I push the throttle forward, shoving it as far as it will go. The others grab onto the boat sides to steady themselves.

As we draw near, they all tense in readiness. Raven pulls a sword from somewhere, while Sean and Michael check their weapons, passing a nine-millimeter to Aislin. As the island comes into sight, we slow and circle around to the side away from the dock, Kai guiding me in. As soon as the water was shallow, we drop the anchor and leap out. Trudging through the shallows, we make our way to shore, except Raven, who glided over the water on her golden ivory wings.

We all move to the rocks at the base of the house.