War's Passion (Sons of War) Read Online Free Page A

direction. “You invited them here? What the hell were you thinking?”
    Seth sighed as if bored, which only pissed Markus off more. “Gwen doesn’t have faith in Aphrodite anymore. Her ‘sister’ said it stems from the attack on her parents. So I figured we’d bring them here so that you could explain things so Gwen wouldn’t freak out and run.”
    A burst of laughter almost made Ty fall off his barstool. Markus ignored him and fixed a hard stare on Seth, not missing the fact that Seth said Markus could explain to the female. Why in Hades did everyone think he’d be better suited to handle the woman? “What makes you think she’ll listen to me?
    “Because you’re the leader. Everyone listens to the one in charge.” Seth shrugged.
    Markus took a step forward then stopped as something dawned on him. Aphrodite’s concern for the female was too real. Not that it shouldn’t be, but the gods never showed their feelings to them or anyone else. It was a sign of weakness. Yet the goddess came to him and, even as she told him to watch over Gwen, she held a plea in her eyes.
    “Aphrodite said Garrick is looking for her.”
    Seth nodded. “We gathered that. I also think that Aphrodite shielded Gwen during the attack.”
    “How so?”
    “It’s just a hunch, but why else would Garrick kill her parents and not take Gwen with him?” Seth had a point.
    “That makes sense. She could shield Gwen from his sight and not come into direct contact with her.”
    “That ’s why I told Elle to bring Gwen over for dinner tonight. We need to show her she can trust us. Trust that we aren’t the monster Gary is.” Seth smirked once, certainty ringing in his words.
    Markus shook his head at the nickname Seth had given Garrick after their banishment. “Very well. I’ll go tell the nymphs that we’ll be having guests.”
     
    ****
     
    Garrick paced the open space of his living quarters inside the command center of Imperial Order—the organization he’d created to bring down the Sons of War and the gods. He grew more impatient with each day and minute that passed. The idiot Imperial in charge of capturing Gwen and bringing her to him had failed, again .
    Now the bitch had packed up and left town. To make matters worse, she’d burned down the house she’d lived in—successfully preventing him from using a locator spell. “Damn it!”
    “ He was weak.”
    Garrick jerked his gaze to the female lounging on his sofa. Ashlynn, or Ash as she liked to be called, was one of the few female descendants he had working for him and one of his best hunters. That didn’t surprise him, considering she was related to Artemis, goddess of the hunt.
    “Apparently,” he growled. “ That female is a second generation, like you, and will be very useful to me when her powers are unlocked.”
    Not only would her power of persuasion be beneficial, so would her ability to make men lust after her like crazed animals. That kind of power was just what he needed to start another war between mankind and the gods.
    This time the descendants would prevail and Garrick would rule both worlds.
    Ash prowled like a cat toward him. A sensual smile curved her full lips and she ran a finger down his chest to the top of his jeans before leaning close. “I’ll find the female for you.”
    Before he ’d told her no, that he wanted her close to base. Now, he was out of options. “Very well, Ash. You can go.” Looping an arm around her waist, he jerked her forward so her breasts pressed against him. It was too bad their clothes were in the way. “Be warned, love. Do not betray me.”
    She took his bottom lip between her teeth and sucked before releasing it then stepped out of his embrace. “Why would I do that?”
    Garrick growled low as he watched her sway out of his quarters. Why, indeed?
    All females betrayed their lovers sooner or later.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Gwen fidgeted with the hem of her blouse while she waited with Elle in the stone entry of