Free Only in Her Dreams by Christina McKnight Page A

understand you, Zeus. Guy and Maxim are loyal to you, just as their father before them. They will not let Hades get his hands on Erebos.” She sighed.
    “But what will they give up to show their continued loyalty?”
    What, indeed!
     

Chapter 12
     
    Darius leaned against the side of the house just outside the gate his men had entered. His stance remained casual, not wanting to alert any passing car of his nefarious intent. The men were taking longer than expected, but this would likely be their last chance to infiltrate her house.
    A crash sounded from above and a storm of glass rained around him. He quickly straightened and shook the shards from his jacket and looked up. Before he could focus his eyes on the roofline, a heavy weight knocked him to the ground.
    He pushed the heavy weight off him as the shape also scrambled to get away.
    “My apologies, Master,” Alexander whispered.
    “Ever heard of a door?” Darius grasped the downspout connected to the house to regain his footing.
    “Yes, but I was unable to use it. May I suggest we leave, straight away?”
    “Things didn’t go as planned?” Darius asked, traversing through the girl’s front yard in the direction of their vehicle.
    “No, Master.”
    “Where are the men?”
    “While I searched the upstairs, a skirmish broke out below and the men were injured.”
    Darius and Alexander slipped into the old Pontiac parked along the curb several houses down. They started it and cruised toward their old abandoned house, not waiting for the others to catch up. They’d find their way back. His men were a resourceful, independent lot.
    “By the girl?” He wanted to throw his hands up in surrender. Fucking useless! The lot of them.
    “James was taken out by the girl, but the other two were ambushed by your brother.”
    If that’s a smile crossing his face I’ll wring his neck! Darius thought as he worked to keep his temper under control.
    “Guy’s here? He’d never leave the safety of Erebos.” Fan-fricking-tastic!
    “No, your twin was there with the girl.”
    “Maxim? Impossible.” His knuckles turned white as his grip on the steering wheel tightened.
    “It was him, Master. But I was able to escape.”
    “Obvious from your presence here.”
    “That is true.” Alexander fished a rectangle object out of his jacket and held it out to Darius. “I believe I found what we seek--the girl’s weakness.”
    Relaxing his grip, he accepted the smooth metal frame. With the small amount of light entering the car window, he was able to make out the girl in the picture. She posed in a white dress and a huge smile. Next to her stood a tall, auburn-haired man. The image appeared fairly recent, while the portrait taken the night before had been older. She’d matured nicely.
    “I believe it is a wedding picture, Master.”
    “Tell me something that’s not completely obvious, you moron.” The wheels spun in Darius’s head. They’d found it, now they needed to find the man in the picture. “Was he in her house?”
    “No, there was no other, except the girl and Maxim. I checked each room.”
    Maxim--alone with the girl? Well, isn’t that nice and cozy.
     
    # # #
     
    The glass had been cleaned up, the window boarded, and Lucessa was tucked safely in bed. While he didn’t want to leave her, it was imperative he return to Erebos and update Guy. Maybe he’d be able to sort out what Darius was up to. Maxim returned to the guest room and mentally prepared to give Guy bad news.
    He closed his eyes, quashing his need to stay close to Lucessa and thought himself to Erebos. The jump went smoothly, his molecules scrambling and reconnecting with ease. He took form outside his brother’s study, where the door stood slightly ajar.
    “Maxim, what news do you have for me? The girl is safe, correct?” His brother’s voice echoed from deep in the room.
    Pushing through the door, Maxim entered his brother’s domain. “It is not good news, brother. Darius is desperate.