the energy ricocheted through his body.
Footsteps sounded, then a female with brown hair skidded to a stop at the Argonaut’s side and dropped to her knees.
“Max,” the brunette said, reaching for his hand. “Max, focus on me.”
Max... Zagreus pushed to his feet, searching his memory for anything the Fates had said about the male.
Maximus was the Argonaut Zander’s son, a descendant of Achilles. He wasn’t a full-fledged Argonaut yet and was still in training, because...
Zagreus’s memory came rushing back.
…because he had multiple gifts the other Argonauts didn’t possess. And because the Argonauts weren’t sure they could totally trust him yet thanks to the fact he’d been raised by the evil goddess Atalanta in the bowels of the Underworld.
The female Zagreus had just kissed stood between Zagreus and the wannabe Argonaut, the Argonaut’s blade now in her hand, her deadly gaze trained on Zagreus. His focus, however, was locked on the duo at her back.
He didn’t know who the new brunette was, nor did he care. But the unstable Argonaut... He might be a useful prisoner. With his gifts bound, of course.
Zagreus stepped forward.
The violet-eyed vixen lifted the blade in her hand. “Stay back, devil.”
Not slowing, Zagreus threw out a hand. Invisible energy shot from his palm, wrapped around the blade, and ripped it from her grip. He tossed the blade across the room, out of her reach. She gasped and shuffled back, but he was already on top of her, one hand grasping her wrist to pull her toward him, the other in front of her face as he muttered the ancient words that would bind the gifts the Fates had bestowed on her.
Her struggling immediately lost over half its strength, and her features contorted in pain.
He yanked her hard against his chest and glared down at her. “Do not test me, mono mia. Or you’ll wind up like your nosey friend.”
He advanced on the injured wannabe Argonaut, dragging the female at his side with him. She tried to pull away, but he only tightened his hold and promised himself he’d deal with her later.
The wannabe Argonaut stilled and looked up with wide eyes as they approached. Quietly, he whispered, “Elysia, get the hell out of here now.”
The brunette froze where she knelt next to the Argonaut and turned wide, chocolate eyes Zagreus’s way.
Elysia...
Zagreus knew that name as well. She was the queen’s daughter. The heir to the throne of Argolea. And the female Zeus’s Sirens had abducted and lost due to a different meddling Argonaut.
A smile curled one side of Zagreus’s lips as he looked down at the pair. Oh, his day was getting better by the second. These two would make prime prisoners he could ransom to the highest bidders.
He lifted his free hand and was just about to bind the Argonaut’s gifts when the sound of wood splintering and glass breaking filled the club, followed by growls. Familiar growls Zagreus would recognize anywhere.
Two satyrs moved out of the shadows to Zagreus’s left. Ahead, a pack of satyrs spilled into the club.
“Skata,” the female in his grip whispered, tensing beside him.
Zagreus’s jaw clenched down hard. He glanced at the duo near his feet then back to the beasts rushing forward. He’d have to let go of the female at his side to grab the prisoners on the floor, and he wasn’t about to let go of her for anything. From his peripheral vision, he spotted one of the satyrs from the shadows lift a blade and hurl it through the air.
He was out of time. He had but a split second to decide whose future to change forever.
Chapter Three
Max’s eyes flew wide when Zagreus poofed out of the club in a plume of smoke, taking Talisa with him.
He barely had time to wonder where they went, though. The thunder of hooves charging was too close. He shifted so he could see what was coming at them.
Seven, eight… No, ten satyrs.
All stocky and hulking, with shaved heads and thick beards. They wore dark pants to cover their grotesque legs, but their open leather dusters showcased their hairy chests and bulging muscles. And each one held a weapon—a blade, a spear, a mace—intent on doing serious damage.
Shit. This was not good. Not good at all.
Max tensed and tried like hell to make his muscles work. That energy blast had done something to him. His arms and legs weren’t working right, and he knew even if he could find a way to stand, he’d never be able to lift a blade.
“Lys,”