Part 19 (1/2)

”But I'm not tired.”

”I know, sweetheart. But it's what I must do. When you wake up, you won't remember being here, or the Hollow or anything bad that happened today.” Nia pressed her hand to Hailey's forehead and nudged a suggestion of sleep through her palm. ”But you will remember Uncle Thomas, and me, and how much we both love you. Okay?”

Hailey's eyes drooped, then fluttered as she fought the slumber moving through her. She yawned. ”Okay.”

The girl leaned into Nia's shoulder and nodded off. Wrapping her arms under the small body, Nia rose from the sofa.

Thomas reached for her, but Nia waved him off. ”It's better if I carry her through the Hollow since you're a novice at this manner of transportation.”

He shrugged. ”If you say so. What should I do?”

”Stand next to me and put your arm around my shoulder. As my mist rises, you'll feel a change in the air pressure. The best way to handle that is like you would on a plane. Keep swallowing and if it's really bad, pinch your nose, close your mouth and force an exhalation through your sinuses. I promise, it will get easier with time.”

He moved beside her, his hand descending on her back and curling up over her shoulder.

”You ready, Artemis?”

Nodding, the G.o.ddess waved her hands in a circular motion over her desk. Behind her, an alert beeped, signaling she'd engaged the override. ”You have fifteen seconds. Good luck with Mnemosyne.”

Nia called forth a mist as she prepared to move into the Hollow with Thomas and Hailey. As the mist enveloped them, Thomas's form turned to cobalt, the color of partisans. But instead of yellow his core pulsed with a strong dose of silver. Pinp.r.i.c.ks of white light dotted him, just like her lights. Another sign their destinies were tied together.

She navigated back to Thomas's house, materializing out of the mist in his gourmet kitchen. He took Hailey from Nia's arms and carried her upstairs. Mnemosyne arrived shortly after he'd laid her in the bed.

”Haven't I already swept this mortal's memories once?” her auntie questioned.

”Yes, but he's no longer mortal. He's one of us. You're here to see to Hailey.”

Mnemosyne glanced to the bed. ”Ah, yes. I spoke to Artemis about her.” She glided to the bed and lowered onto it, taking Hailey's limp hand in one of hers. Closing her eyes, she pressed her other hand to Hailey's forehead and began chanting in ancient Greek.

”What's she saying?” Thomas's whispered question tickled her ear with warmth.

”She's settling a permanent block on all things supernatural Hailey witnessed today. Her memory isn't gone, just buried very, very deeply.” She took his hand, weaving their fingers together. ”Hailey may experience flashbacks of sorts from today, but they'll seem like dej vu. Nothing more.”

Before Thomas could reply, Mnemosyne stood and dusted her hands together. ”All done.”

”That was fast.” Thomas moved to Hailey's side. ”She's smiling.”

The girl did indeed have a smile tugging on the corners of her lips. She resembled a peacefully sleeping cherub, nestled among the pink pillows adorning her bed.

Mnemosyne turned toward Nia. ”Must go. Have some last minute add-ons left from the debacle at Helios. Next time, you girls should try harder before it gets so far out of hand.”

As if they had any control of it. Pierus would be back. Who knew which Muse would end up on the hot seat next time? If he followed the schedule he'd set this time, they'd have a brief respite while he licked his wounds and plotted the next strategy in his hostile take-over bid.

Struggling to stop the involuntary roll of her eyes, Nia leaned in and accepted a good-bye kiss from the woman. ”We'll do our best, Auntie.”

The air concussed around them as she blinked out without calling the gentling mist.

Thomas swallowed hard and pulled on his ear lobe. ”Will Hailey be okay?”

”She's young. They bounce back quickly.” Nia rested her hand on his shoulder and urged him toward the hallway. ”She's going to sleep for a few more hours.”

Thomas turned on the light on the bookshelf before they exited the room. The door closed with a quiet snick, and Thomas led her toward his bedroom. After easing his door shut, he gathered Nia in his arms and possessed her mouth with a hunger that matched hers. She opened under him, and he swept his tongue in, stroking hers. Where her body molded to his, heat ignited, stirring the flame in her torso and lower.

Breaking apart after the intensely pa.s.sionate kiss, they both panted.

Thomas found his voice first. ”I do love you. And I will for many lifetimes with you, my love.” A chuckle built in his chest, a rumble she felt in her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”As odd as that sounds.”

”Sounds wonderful to me.” Nia tipped her face up, eager for another kiss.

After he'd indulged her, he combed his fingers through her hair. Staring deep into her eyes, he sighed, his warm breath fanning her face. ”A month ago, if you'd told me Doubting Thomas would ever say magic was real, I'd have laughed. Or called you certifiable. But you've made me believe. Your love has stilled my doubts.”

Deep emotion brought tears to her eyes and one leaked out to trickle down her face. ”Love is magic. And my love for you transcends the ages.”

”I'm looking forward to spending eternity with you,” he lowered his head and murmured against her lips, his mouth but a whisper away from her.

Her answer was in her kiss. Eternity might just not be long enough.

Coming Soon - GREED.

G.o.ddesses of Delphi Book 3.

Financial reporter, Polly Thanos, Muse of Hymns, is certain the proposed merger between Delphi's two largest firms spells doom for mankind. Eos Corporation's long-time goal-to provide scientific and philanthropic solutions to the benefit of mortals- is lost in the quest for profits. Her challenge starts with an impossible task-inspire one mortal skeptic to believe in the magic of what if.

Scientist Ian Sommers is researching a healthier way of life for impoverished people. When his boss orders him to pursue a chemical, rather than organic solution, Ian suspects the pursuit of the almighty dollar will lead to delivering poison to the unsuspecting population.

In protest, Ian's prepared to quit his job. But he's shocked to discover the woman he's falling for is an immortal tasked with stopping corporate avarice. As their attraction grows, so does the risk to them and to all humans. Without Ian's help and his love, Polly's faces a world not safe from the by-products of greed-death and disease.

Greed.

”You're late.”

Skidding to a stop in front of her older sister, Polly Thanos dropped the insulated cooler she carried to the ground. ”Hey, when the mayor of Delphi holds a press conference to talk about economic growth and you're a financial reporter, you do not duck out on his speech.” Polly glanced around the covered pavilion where her family had gathered. ”Besides, Zeus isn't here yet, which technically makes me not late. Back off, Calliope. This is supposed to be a fun family gathering.”

”I should be working,” Calliope complained, pursing her dusky-rose lips together.

”Jeez, Callie. We all should be. But we just survived another major challenge. We deserve a little break before the next time Pierus rears his fugly head. Or one of his daughters does. That's why Gaia planned this Labor Day picnic.”

”But as oldest, I have the most responsibility in this entire fiasco.”

”Dramatic much lately?” Polly aimed a mental pinch at Callie's bicep. It was probably not the smartest thing to do, but when one had the gift of being able to move things with their mind, it would be a shame to waste it on simply inspiring mortals. ”You should leave the theatrics to Mel.”

Callie scowled as she rubbed the spot on her arm. Taking satisfaction in knowing she'd successfully nudged her older sister, Polly was more pleased when Callie didn't retaliate.

”Besides,” Polly continued. ”You're only older by two years. And when you've lived six-thousand years, that's kind of like a twenty-year-old saying she's twenty-and-a-half. I'd say we're all equal in this century.”