Chapter 9

Nine

Niko

T here are no words to describe how good this woman feels or how attached to her I've become in such a short time. She thinks she can't love, but I'm certain she's mistaken. Having lived a long time, I'm wise enough to know that telling her how to feel is of no use. My biggest obstacle right now is the damned ticking clock that I set in motion. Time is running out.

She stares at me from the now clean and covered Jeep's passenger seat. "How did you remove your horns?"

"It's a glamor. A witch taught it to me long ago and it has served me well. Since it's only for show, it doesn't work for hiding my legs. The loose trousers and a cane to indicate some infirmary is enough to keep humans from asking questions." I turn into the parking lot of the large bookstore in a neighboring town.

She tugs her black tee shirt down over the top of the jeans she changed into. "I've never been out in the human world. I stay in my woods and when they pass through…"

"You seduce them." I'm not in the dark about the nature of my nymph.

Shrugging, she blushes. "I have. Though, not in some time. I decided a few years ago that I wanted to find a way to defy my father." Her laugh holds no humor. "I couldn't even manage to get myself clothes."

Reaching across the console, I take her hand. "Looking in the rearview is of no use. Look at all that is before you, Astra." I point to the large green letters above the store's double doors.

She laughs and nods.

Once we enter, she stares at the aisle and tables filled with books. "I had no idea it would be so much."

I stay close without crowding her as she flits from one table to the next, each with a different genre of books. When she looks at one longer than another and seems conflicted, I put it in the basket I'm holding.

A man with gray hair and a white golf cap pulled down low on his forehead stops next to me. "Were you injured in the war, son?"

"No, sir. I was in a car accident. It's been a while. I'll likely always have a limp." I shrug as if it's of no concern.

He slaps me on the back. "You still managed to catch the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

Not even men in their seventies or eighties are immune to Astra. I look up to find her and she's not at the shelf where last I saw her. "Speaking of which, I'd better find my lady."

The man chortles and walks toward the history section of the store.

Panic rises in my chest as I search each row. Wishing I'd taken her to a small indie store, I curse. Reminding myself that Astra is not fragile and if she left it was of her own accord, I still continue the search. In the back of the store, I find her sitting on the floor surrounded by half a dozen books with astrological signs on their black covers.

She looks up with bright, excited eyes. "These books are fictional romances based on our stories ." She whispers the last two words. She holds one up to me. "I'd like to read this one."

Crouching down, I gather up all six and put them in the basket.

Blushing, she stands and gapes at the overflowing books. "You shouldn't buy me all of those. You'll spoil me."

Pressing my lips to her temple, I inhale her floral scent. "That is my devious plan, sweetheart."

"To lure me in with books and other gifts?" She smiles, but there's hesitation in her tone.

Leading her toward the checkout, I say, "To see to your happiness despite knowing only you are in control of such things."

"Am I?" It's only the faintest whisper, but I hear her.

I pay for her books, then take her hand while balancing the cane and heavy bag in the other. "What would you like for lunch?"

"I always see the tourists eating sandwiches served on long baguettes. Can we try those?" She looks all around the area where shops line the street and a mall backs up to the bookstore's parking lot.

"I offer you the world, and you want a sub." This woman brings me pure joy in all things. She only knows of her magical allure, but even without magic, she is spectacular.

A fter dinner we lie on the couch and I borrow one of the books she chose while she reads another. Tucked in the crook of my arm, she pores over the pages. "They got so much wrong, but it's very entertaining."

"One should never let the truth get in the way of a good story." I wink when she stares at me. "Mark Twain said it first, but I think he had it right."

With a laugh that sets my pulse thrumming, she nods.

If this were to be my life, I would be perfectly happy. Astra in my arms and all the things we'll discover about her as she finds her own dreams, I would be sated.

She shifts and pulls something from her pocket. "I've been waiting to read the last one."

"Do you want me to leave the room?" It's personal to write a letter and unconventional for a letter to be read in the writer's presence. A shiver of unease shoots up my spine.

"Only if you want to. I've liked each letter very much." She opens the envelope and unfolds my letter.

Dear Astra,

This will be my final letter as the day draws near for me to journey south to you. It will be a longer trip as I have to use certain magic to cross the border between our countries. It's not as if the border patrol has seen a satyr before. However, I know a witch who has conjured the required "passport" for me to get to you.

My longing has not waned, though my worry over your feelings has increased exponentially throughout the last five months.

I wish you would have written. It seems strange to feel as if I know you, yet I've had no words from you. Perhaps you worry I won't care for the voice of your writing. None of it would have mattered. I was smitten from the moment I first saw your picture. Not in the way nymphs can seduce people. My connection to you is far deeper and is magic of another kind. The oldest kind.

I am yours. Nothing will change that.

Niko

The air seems to leave the room in a whoosh, then silence follows.

Astra carefully folds the page before asking, "What kind of magic were you referring to?"

It's too soon. She's not ready to hear this, but lying is unacceptable. "I believe you are my true mate, sweetheart."

"Do such things exist for nymphs?" She shakes her head. "I don't believe they do. Certain creatures like the manticore are doomed to only have one love that binds to them for life."

"Doomed? Do you think finding your one true mate is fatal?" I put my book on the table and lean away to look her in the eyes.

She clutches the letter to her chest. "I don't know what I believe anymore. I can tell you what I know, Niko. I'm not capable of returning your affection. I'm cold as the stones that built these mountains. There is nothing in my heart and you can only be hurt by wanting more than temporary sex and companionship from me."

The pain in my chest feels as if someone has split my rib cage open with an ax. "I don't believe that's true, any of it…" I have a dozen more things to say to show her how wrong she is.

Someone or something pounds on the front door hard enough to shake the hinges and rattle the windows.

We both jump to our feet. My instincts take over and I push Astra behind me, blocking her from whatever danger is at the door.

"Father." Panic vibrates in her voice. "He never leaves his compound."

"How do you know it's him?" I have my hand on her hip, keeping her behind me.

"I know."

Nocturn's bellowing voice vibrates the windows almost as thoroughly as his pounding. "Open this door before I tear it off its hinges."

"Stay behind me." I go to the door and open it. "There is no need to approach as if this is a battleground, Nocturn." I remain blocking the threshold with Astra at my back.

"I want a wedding and I want it tomorrow." His eyes are bloodshot and his skin red with rage. He's a few inches taller than me, but not as broad.

I have no doubt he has magic that could be dangerous.

Astra yells in a voice full of anger and panic. "I'm not getting married just because you want something. It's my life."

"What is this obsession with a quick marriage about?" I force myself to use a civil tone in hopes the other parties will follow suit.

"My reasons are my own! Marry her or leave these woods and I'll marry her off to someone else." His neck bulges, and he raises his fist in the air. "The troll in the cave north of here is looking for a wife. He'll know how to keep you in line."

It's not lost on me that he's implying I cannot do the job. It never occurred to the demigod that I have no wish to control his daughter.

"I'm not some toy for you to maneuver on a chessboard." Astra sounds as if she's close to tears.

"That is exactly what you are, daughter. Mine to do with as I please." He raises his hand and blue lightning crackles in the palm.

I grab his wrist and hold him at bay. "Don't."

"How dare you?" Nocturn pulls his hand free. "Are you going to marry her tomorrow?"

There's no opportunity to look into Astra's eyes and see how she feels. All I can do is rely on what she has said. "She doesn't wish it, and I will not force her hand."

Nocturn spits on the front porch in front of me. "You shame the gods' lineage inside you, boy. If you want her, you should take her."

"That is an old-fashioned idea and not how I wish to gain the love of a woman."

Astra's sharp intake of breath makes my heart contract. Why did her father have to show up now?

"Love," Nocturn scoffs. "That's for humans."

Telling him that I disagree would do no good. "Why don't you come in and we can discuss this calmly? I'll open some wine."

"Very well." He steps through and narrows his eyes on Astra. "You have made a mess of this."

"You shouldn't have kept the arrangement from me. Maybe if you had given me Niko's letters when they arrived, we wouldn't be at odds. Secrets and plots are all you know. Why do you want me to marry so urgently?" While her voice is strong and sharp, she backs away, keeping her distance from her father.

It warms my heart that the letters mean something to her.

"If you like him now, just marry him, but it must be tomorrow." He mumbles something that I can't quite make out.

"Pardon me, Nocturn, what was that?" I would swear I heard the word "wager"

in his mutterings.

"Nothing." He stares at me. "Marry her tomorrow or face my wrath." He lifts that hand again.

"I don't answer to you." I narrow my gaze on the magic pooling in his palm. "You would be unwise to attack me in my home, Nocturn. I will not like it."

He looks at his daughter. "I'm not losing to Prede. Marry him!"

"No," she cries. Her eyes widen and she braces for the impact of his strike.

I step in front of her just as the bolt of blue light shoots from Nocturn's fingers. The magic burns through my chest and my knees hit the floor.

With another scream of denial, Astra runs out the front door.

I grab Nocturn's wrist to keep him from chasing after her. Fury rushes through me as I absorb his spell. I don't know what effect the magic might have had on Astra, but I feel pain, and push back with my grandfather's power. "I warned you."

Eyes wide, Nocturn backs up a step while surrounded by a red bubble of my weakening spell. He drops to his knees then falls to his back. "What is this?"

Rising, I stand over him. "It's a bit of your own medicine, sir. You cannot bully me or Astra for the sake of some bet you made with another demigod. What a foolish and childish man you are."

The bubble grows smaller until it pushes inside Nocturn. His powers diminish and he's just a man, at least for now. I can't help the small amount of pleasure I experience from taking him down a peg.

"You don't understand. Prede said I had no power, not even over my own child." He gets up slowly and winces at his ordinary aches and pains.

"You once called Astra spoiled, but it's you who is the brat. Now she's run off in the middle of the night. I will promise you this, Nocturn. Should any harm come to her, I will make it my life's work to destroy you. Go home." I storm out of the house and start searching.