"Kyrian of Thrace?"
Before she could move, the two men grabbed each other like long-lost brothers. Her arm was snatched upward as Kyrian hugged him.
"Oh gods!" Julian gasped. "Is it really you?"
"I can't believe it," Hunter said as he pulled back and ran a shocked look up and down Julian's body. "I thought you were dead."
"Me?" Julian asked. "What about you? I heard the Romans executed you. Dear Zeus, how can you be here?" Julian glanced down and saw the handcuffs. His frown deepened. "What the... ?"
"That's why we're here," Amanda said. "We got latched together, and I was hoping you could separate us."
"They were made by your stepfather," Hunter added. "Any chance you have a key lying around?"
Julian laughed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. At least this time she's not an Amazon princess with an irate mother demanding parts of your body be removed." Julian shook his head like a father scolding a son. "Two thousand years later, and you're still getting into unbelievable messes."
Hunter gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Some things never change. Care to indebt me to you again?"
Julian cocked his head. "Last time I counted, I was two favors down to you."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about Prymaria."
By the expression on Julian's face, Amanda could tell he hadn't and she was dying to know what had happened. But there would be time for that later.
First, she wanted her arm free. She jingled the chain, hinting.
Julian stepped back and let them enter his house. "You're actually in luck," he said as he led them into the living room.
Grace hadn't moved from her chair where she now held Vanessa on her lap while Julian's gorgeous, blond mother sat on the sofa teasing Niklos with a stuffed doll. A tall, dark-haired man sat beside Aphrodite, holding Niklos in his arms and laughing at the two of them.
The Dark-Hunter sucked his breath in sharply at the quaint family scene. Roughly, he pushed Amanda away from him an instant before Aphrodite looked up and cursed.
Before Amanda could process what was going on, Aphrodite threw her arm out and what appeared to be a bolt of lightning came out of her hand and struck Hunter. The blast knocked him off his feet and threw him to the floor, pulling her along with him.
Amanda landed on top of his chest. She saw the burn on his shoulder and smelled the smoldering leather and skin.
She knew his wound had to be excruciating, but he didn't even react to it. Instead, Hunter quickly removed his sunglasses, pushed her off his chest, and tried to get her as far away from him as he could.
Rising to his feet, he placed himself between her and Aphrodite.
"How dare you!" Aphrodite shrieked while fury contorted her beautiful face. Her eyes narrowed, she left the couch and stalked toward Hunter like a deadly beast of prey. "You know you are not to be in our presence."
Julian grabbed Aphrodite before she could reach them. "Mother, stop! What are you doing?"
She glared at Julian. "You dare bring a Dark-Hunter before me? You know it is forbidden!"
Frowning, Julian turned to look at Hunter. Disbelief was etched on his face.
Hunter glanced at Amanda over his shoulder. "You're about to be free, little one," he whispered.
Aphrodite raised her hand.
Terrified, Amanda realized Aphrodite meant to kill him. No! The word caught in her throat while her heart raced in panic.
Julian caught his mother's wrist before she could blast Hunter again.
"No, Mom," Julian snapped. "Dark-Hunter or not, he happens to be the only man who ever stood guard at my back while everyone else prayed for my death. You kill him, and I will never forgive you for it."
Aphrodite's face turned to stone.