Unchained: An Eternal Guardians Novella by Elisabeth Naughton Read Free Book Online Page A

Their bond was strong and real and deep.
    His gaze drifted back down to Natasa. To her flame-red hair. Hair that was as red as Keia’s.
    Urgency pushed in again. He needed to find Keia. Couldn’t go on waiting. Why the hell hadn’t she appeared to him yet?
    Natasa eased back and looked up. “We came out to invite you to dinner tonight.”
    His daughter was speaking to him but he could barely make out her words. All he could think about was the witch.
    “ Pateras ?” she asked. Then, “Titus?”
    Footsteps sounded close, followed by Titus’s quiet voice. “He’s blocking me. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.” Then louder, “Prometheus? Dude, are you feeling all right? You don’t look so good.”
    Prometheus blinked several times and finally focused on his daughter’s worried face, then looked past her to her mate’s narrowed hazel eyes. Titus stood behind Natasa, his hand resting on her shoulder, the ancient Greek text that marked his and all the Argonaut’s forearms visible in the lamplight.
    The male wasn’t wearing his ever-present gloves. Titus had the ability to not only hear others’ thoughts, but to pick up their emotions through touch. That ability, Prometheus knew, was one Titus had always considered a curse. But with Natasa he liked knowing what she was feeling. One look at his daughter’s face told Prometheus she was feeling fear and confusion...all because of him.
    That knowledge jolted him out of his trance. Fixing a relaxed look on his face—as relaxed as he could manage considering his focus remained locked on Keia—he smiled. “I’m fine. How are both of you?”
    Natasa’s worry fled, and she reached for her father’s hand. “Good. Titus has to leave on a mission in the human realm with the Argonauts day after tomorrow so we thought we’d cook dinner for you tonight. It is your birthday, you know.”
    His birthday. He’d totally forgotten it was his birthday. At his age, one didn’t celebrate birthdays anymore. Especially when one’s life was as empty as his. A birthday was just a reminder of the passing years and the life he wasn’t living. But today he wanted to celebrate. Just not with his daughter and her mate. He wanted to celebrate with Keia.
    A renewed urge to find her rushed through him. To see her. To touch her and taste her. To make sure she was okay. If she wasn’t going to come to him, he needed to go to her. He’d go back to the gazebo. Find a way to contact her. There had to be something in that gazebo that could draw her back to him. He didn’t know what but maybe if he used his Titan powers he could—
    “ Pateras ?” Natasa said again. “You’re starting to worry me.”
    Prometheus blinked again and looked down at his daughter. But inside, his heart was racing.
    “No need to worry.” Grasping Natasa at the biceps—careful not to graze Titus’s fingertips in the process—Prometheus pressed a kiss to the top of her head and released her. “Thanks for the invite but I actually have plans tonight. And I’m already late so I should get going.”
    “You do?” Natasa’s brow lowered as Prometheus stepped around her and Titus. “With whom?”
    “With a female.”
    Surprise and approval lit Natasa’s eyes as she looked up at her mate, then back at Prometheus. She knew he never made plans. “Who is she?”
    Stopping at the threshold of the library, he looked back. “A witch. And before you say anything, I know what I’m doing.”
    “I’m sure you do. Have fun, I guess.” A wry smile spread across Natasa’s lips. “And don’t do anything stupid.”
    Before he knew what he was doing, he smiled back. “I won’t.”
    And he wouldn’t. Because what he planned to do with Keia wouldn’t be the least bit stupid. It would be hot and wild and, if she let him, mind-meltingly satisfying for both of them.
     
    * * * *
     
    She couldn’t keep doing this.
    The reality of Circe’s situation was a heavy weight on her shoulders as she focused her powers