Warrior Queen - Karpov Kinrade Page 0,23

think of me as him, because I’m not him anymore.”

He relaxes a little, enough to smile, anyway.

“There, I missed that,” I say, standing on my tiptoes to pat his cheek.

He catches my hand in his with a rueful twist of his sexy lip, and just like that, some of the awkwardness melts and a shade of the play I’d always enjoyed with him returns. I guess, he just needs a little more time.

“Let’s discuss battle strategies with Homer, shall we?” I ask, looping my arm through his.

We head out through the monsters, running the gauntlet of greetings from them all, and finding Homer, commence about discussing our plans.

Not long after, Mirk appears in our midst. “Clay has yet to arrive,” he says, looking quite pleased. “I spoke with Persephone and she’s getting her army ready as we speak.”

“I can’t believe it, but we finally beat him,” I grin.

“Persephone is riding to meet you,” Mirk says. “She should be here soon.”

“And Nefeli?” I ask, squinting up into the darkness.

“She flew further on, to see if she could find Clay.”

I don’t like the thought of her out there, all alone. Doubtless, Clay has those capable in his army who could detect her, even in the darkness. But then, she was Apollo’s bird. She’d know that.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” I ask as I whistle for Cerberus. “Let’s go and meet her.”

We’re one-third of the way through the valley when I see Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. The geeky side of me is thrilled to see one of the Greek legends in the flesh. She’s everything I’d imagined her to be, and more. She looks her part in form-fitting body armor, a warrior queen, riding a white Pegasus with a braided mane. And she’s gorgeous, tall and slender, with long blonde hair and a nose with a sexy little pointed tip and a heart-shaped chin. When she smiles, her whole face lights up in a way that makes you simply stare. She’s got the ‘It’ factor in spades, and looking at her, it’s not such a mystery why Hades cheated and tricked her with those pomegranate seeds.

With a cautious eye on the army of monsters behind me, she swings down off her winged horse and faces me. For a Greek goddess, she wears so little jewelry, just a gold chain with a sapphire pendant the size of a quail egg. She waits for me to jump off Cerberus’ back before taking a step and stretching her hands out in greeting.

“Welcome, Lily. The Underworld owes you a debt,” she says, dipping her chin in gratitude. “We’re readying for Epimetheus’ attack—or Clay, as you call him. He would have taken us completely by surprise if not for your timely warning. Doubtless, he would have won, but now, thanks to your efforts, he’ll walk straight into a trap.”

It’s quite the speech, but she’s fun to watch. When’s she’s done, I smile. “I’m glad we made it in time, but there’s a lot to do. We’re ready to plan with your generals. We can’t take chances. He’s cunning and crafty.”

“Yes, we will plan,” Persephone replies graciously. “But first, you must eat, and rest, too. I’ve sent the ravens to search for Clay’s position, and the Mysteries of Paestum are here to advise. He won’t escape our nets, I assure you. So take what rest you can, you and your army. You will fight a better battle fed and rested.”

It’s only logical, so I agree. And I can see enough faces lighting up in my monster army at the mention of food to know it’s time we rested. “Then, lead on,” I say.

“The House of Hades is not far.” Persephone sweeps her hand in a broad gesture toward the way she came.

It’s when she says his name that I recall she’s just lost Hades. “My condolences over the loss of your husband,” I say.

“Thank you.” She accepts my sympathies with a nod, but her face is shuttered, and for the life of me, I can’t read her expression.

She heads back to her horse, but not before glancing back over the monsters with a smile of apprehension. I can’t really blame her. I’ve brought the finest collection of the most dangerous beasts in history right to her door, and she’s handling it with the utmost elegance.

I jump back on Cerberus as she wheels her horse around to lead us down the narrow, twisted valley, and through a vast, arched gate made of obsidian. We file through slowly and