Blood of Zeus (Blood of Zeus #1) - Meredith Wild Page 0,85

disarming. I finally overcome my curiosity to manage an answer.

“I’m Kara.”

“Kara.” He lifts an eyebrow before giving me a quick once-over. “Hmm. That’s lovely. You’re very nice.”

I cross my arms over my chest. He chuckles softly.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a compliment. My wife keeps me on a tight leash these days. Besides, I came to see Maximus. Is he home?”

I blink a few times. “Oh.” I open the door wider and let him pass through.

He saunters in with a casual air about him that makes me wonder if he’s been here before—or several times before.

I remember that Maximus is still sleeping just as he proves otherwise and sits up in the bed. His hair is mussed and his eyes are tired, but they’re just as striking as ever. I allow myself to enjoy the visual of his chiseled chest above the sheet he knots around his waist before he marches toward us. Except he doesn’t look too thrilled with our sudden company.

“Who are you, and what are you doing in my apartment?”

Oh shit.

My heart beats up my ribs again. If Maximus doesn’t know this man, who is he? He said he wasn’t here for me. I believed him. For some reason, I still do…

The man tucks his hands into his pockets, making no move to leave. “My, my, my, Maximus Kane. How you’ve grown.”

I feel the shift on the air as Maximus’s alarm twists into confusion. It takes over his face, freezing his bold features. “Excuse me?”

“You…don’t remember me?”

“Should I?”

The man shakes his head again, some of his good humor fading. Already, I pick up on the disappointment he’s fighting to hide.

“My dear brother must have tinkered with your memories.” He blows out a tense breath through his nose. “Of course he did. It doesn’t matter.” He waves his hand gracefully. “Not right now, at least. We can resolve that, given a little time.”

But Maximus isn’t reassured. “You need to leave,” he growls.

The man ignores him. Blatantly. He takes off his hat and walks toward the window I’d occupied moments ago. “Aren’t you curious about who I am?”

“If you think we know each other, you must be a lunatic off the street, because I’ve never seen you before in my life. This is your last chance. Get the hell out, or I’ll remove you myself.”

The man laughs at that, shooting his deep-blue gaze back to Maximus. “I don’t think so.”

Maximus flares his nostrils at the challenge. I can sense he’s ready to snap into action seconds before he does, crossing the distance to this strange visitor. The man doesn’t recoil. His expression doesn’t change. He barely moves except to raise his hand when Maximus is a mere inch away.

I scream when Maximus is launched backward so hard and fast that the couch he lands on is also sent several feet back. He’s breathing hard now. When he looks over to me, we share a silent exchange. What the hell just happened?

“How did you…”

Maximus’s voice is barely a whisper, but the man hears it.

“Because I’m a god. That’s how.”

Maximus grips the couch cushion and leans forward. His gaze is flared. His chest is still heaving.

The stranger drops into a leather chair, crosses his legs, and rests his chin on his fist. “We have a bit in common, you and I. Incomparable strength. The ability to miraculously heal.” A soft smile returns. “And calling forth the weather with our passions, it would seem.”

“The weather.”

The man rubs his fingers together absently. Tiny bursts of electricity snap from them. He seems oblivious to the anomaly, his attention instead pulled to the storm-battered trees lining the front of the apartment complex.

“That was quite the storm you whipped up last night, my boy. Thank goodness. Otherwise I might have never found you.” His gaze lands on me next. “Must have been quite a night.”

I bite my lip, which does nothing to stop the flush creeping up my cheeks. He has no idea…

“Who. Are. You?” Maximus grits it out, straightening himself to standing once more.

The man twirls his hat on his knee. “Well, you could call me Dad. But seeing as you have no memory of me, maybe we can start with Zeus. Though the people around here look at me a little strangely when I introduce myself that way. How about Z? That has a modern ring to it.” His smile broadens. “Yeah. I think I like the sound of that.”

Maximus pales. Fists and unfists his hands anxiously. Shakes his head but says nothing. He simply