Wicked (Eternal Guardians #9) - Elisabeth Naughton Page 0,55

Zagreus. Or you, even with your box.”

Pandora’s mind rushed back over everything she knew about the Argonauts, her unfocused gaze skipping around the room. They each had unique gifts—one per warrior, though none were as strong as any of the gods. None but—

Oh shit.

Her gaze snapped back to Tohr. “Maximus.” The one the goddess Atalanta had kidnapped as a child, raised, and trained. The one, rumor had it, who possessed the power of transferability—the ability to take on the powers of any being he faced. “You found the Argonaut Maximus?”

“We didn’t find him. We captured him.”

The semantics were of no interest to her. But this—the Argonaut… This was a game changer.

She fought from smiling so she didn’t give herself away. These idiots had no idea what they’d found.

She fixed an impassive look on her face and turned toward Tohr. “I want to see him.”

Tohr huffed. “You? Why? I thought all you cared about was Zagreus.”

She tamped down her excitement and forced a scowl for the satyr’s benefit. “If he really is an Argonaut, he was probably looking for the Argolean female you let get away tonight. There’s no way he’ll help you.”

“There is if we force him.”

She rolled her eyes. “Forcing him will get you nowhere. Argonauts are fiercely loyal. They’re heroes, for fuck’s sake. It’s in their DNA. But I can help with that.”

“How?”

She lifted her chin, a subtle movement that also straightened her back and pushed her breasts out, just a touch. “I have my ways.”

The satyr’s eyes locked on her chest. He might be stupid, but he was still male. And too dumb to know he looked like an even bigger fool, lusting after her when there was no way in hell he would ever get the opportunity to touch her.

His glazed eyes slowly lifted from her chest to her face. “You’re going to fuck him into submission, aren’t you?”

“Only if he’s lucky.” She grinned. “And his fuckability is dependent on whether or not I think he can secure what I—what we want,” she corrected so the idiot wouldn’t cue into her plan. Her smile faded. “Meanwhile, your life and the lives of your so-called men are riding on the decision you make right now. Take me to him and live, or don’t and find out just how powerful my box truly is. The choice is yours.”

The satyr stared at her with a vengeance she knew he longed to let loose. Tension crackled between them. A tension that only amped her adrenaline and made her more convinced she’d win this battle.

Oh, he may think himself a strong being, but deep down he knew he was no match for her. The biggest mistake he’d ever made was being fooled by her good looks and damsel-in-distress act when she’d first found his gang. The second was falling for her ruse and stealing her treasure back from that fool of a Titan, Epimetheus.

He pushed away from the wall and stalked past her. “He’s in the abyss.”

Knowing she’d won, Pandora turned to follow. “Of course he is.”

She wanted a shower. Wanted one night’s rest. But this was too important to ignore. And her disheveled appearance would only help her where she was headed next.

“Did you take any personal belongings from him before you threw him down there?” She followed Tohr into the dimly lit corridor.

“Only his blade.”

Perfect. “I’ll need to see it before I meet him.”

Tohr stopped at the end of the hallway and glared down at her. “The blade is mine.”

“I care not for the weapon. I simply need to hold it.”

“Why?”

Gods, he really was an idiot. She didn’t feel like explaining but she needed to get this show on the road. “Because personal objects have energy. Energy that connects them to their owners. And I need access to that connection so I can turn him.”

Tohr’s eyes narrowed. “You just said he was fiercely loyal. Even if you fuck him senseless, you can’t turn an Argonaut.”

She fought from rolling her eyes and worked for patience. “He’s mortal. And I was built to fool mortal men.” Look at you, moron. “He’ll turn, trust me.”

Tohr stared at her another long beat, then finally shook his head and moved down another corridor to their right. “Whatever. But if you kill my prisoner, I’m gonna be pissed. I need him to help me take that castle.”

Pandora smiled as she followed the satyr. Tohr’s singular focus was conquering Ehrendia and rebuilding the torture palace he’d encountered under Zagreus years ago in the Yucatan. He was