Free Immortal Dynasty by Lynda Haviland

From the doorway, he quietly relived the moment he’d first seen Shaila. Like a fierce sentinel, she’d stood entombed in golden splendor for eternity. Now, all that remained was a dusty granite platform.
    She’d said she was Anunnaki. If he hadn’t already heard the legends of the alien race from his grandfather, he would have known of them through the ancient Summerian artifacts he’d studied in the past. The word literally meant those who from the heavens came.
    His life would be a lot easier if they had just stayed out there in the heavens.
    “Good afternoon, little Darius.”
    The room turned dark, as pure hatred clouded his vision. The voice echoed across the room from the shadow of the staircase. It was deeper now, but still recognizable as the one that haunted his darkest nightmares from childhood. A nightmare he could never seem to outgrow. Darius reined in his anger and tried to quell the lurching in his stomach.
    “As you can see, Therion,” Darius felt his teeth grind on each word, “I’m not so little anymore.”
    Damn. He was already being sucked into Therion’s head games. Time to regain the upper hand. Darius hooked his thumb over his belt, the silver buckle resting coolly against his palm. His fingers ached to free the two throwing knives hidden inside it and bury them deep in Therion’s dark eyes. Instead, he strode across the room straight toward his enemy.
    Therion was every bit as tall and muscular as rumors had said. Darius smiled inwardly, thinking that fate had apparently evened the score in that department. He now stood eye-to-eye with his enemy. What Therion had in bulk and brawn, Darius was certain he could make up for in agility in outmaneuvering the big man.
    “You’re looking pretty fit for a retired colonel.” He looked like He-Man in a Hugo Boss. “I love what you’ve done with your hair. All those cute golden spikes. The messy look is still in. Maybe you could go into acting, now that you have all this free time.”
    “Still the same snide little wimp.” Therion sneered, revealing perfect teeth framed by that perfect face. “Careful, your jealousy is showing. Sorry for your loss.” Therion’s eyes trailed slowly across Darius’ head.
    When he was growing up on the streets, nobody ever told him to cut his hair. His long ponytail had turned into a perfect tool for Therion’s gang to implement pain. After moving in with Papa Shadi, he’d shaved it all off as a break with his past. It never grew back.
    He squashed an impulse to rub Papa Shadi’s medallion for strength. Instead, he turned away from Therion dismissively, feigning interest in the solar boat display. He could feel the big man’s eyes watching him.
    “I want her back. Now!” Even with a deep voice, Therion sounded like a petulant child.
    Darius turned to face his accuser, noting the ill-concealed disgust in those black eyes. “Her?”
    “You know damn well.” Therion closed the space between them in seconds. “Bring me back my statue. She’s mine!”
    Before Therion could get too close, Darius grabbed the big man by the throat with one hand, holding him at arm’s length. He held his other palm up, ready to strike if necessary. He felt blood pulsing furiously underneath Therion’s skin. Gritting his teeth with the effort, Darius nearly roared from the rush of adrenaline. “You would do well to keep your distance.”
    Light glittered off of something around Therion’s neck. Darius reached for it, drawing it out from under the silk shirt. At the end of a gold box chain hung a blue lapis lazuli bead. His stomach lurched, sick with the sudden onslaught of memories. He could almost feel the bruises again from the beating he’d suffered from Therion’s gang over twenty years ago.
    Therion’s throat vibrated with laughter. “I hope you like it. I wore today just for you, in honor of your visit.”
    Darius tightened his grip. Distracted by the necklace, he wasn’t prepared when the strange gray doorman