The Revelation (Pandora's Harem 1) A Reverse Harem Tale(12)

A distant cackle teases my ears as a second blast of air, this time far more arctic in temperature, comes down at me with gale-like force. My feet literally track backward and I step on Leonidas’s boots. But he braces my body so I don’t fall and take the four of us down on the sidewalk. Wouldn’t Ker love to see that.

I tighten my clutch on the container at my chest. Gathering all my strength, I battle the wind and get moving again.

Chaos can try all she wants to aid Ker. And maybe that’s why she’s lured me in, she is the mother of Nyx, the Greek goddess of night, who bore Ker, Thanatos, and Moros. But I won’t cave. And she should know that about me after having taught me for three years.

My Spartans and I make it back to the apartment in one piece, but I admit my nerves are rattled and I don’t enjoy feeling this way. I am going to need a better plan next time I leave home, as the war between me and Moros is definitely a go now. He risked a lot today by sending Ker to the bakery and Thanatos to my apartment. Which leaves me to believe I must be getting close to learning something about my missing box.

I stare down at the cupcake container clutched to my breast. It no longer has a pulsing aura, and I can’t detect anything moving around inside the see-through pink top. My shoulders droop.

“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Leonidas says, reaching out and taking the package. “It was probably a decoy, arranged by Moros to see what you’d do. Hope hasn’t been killed.”

While I’m relieved at the news, I don’t like being toyed with, and the gods are starting to push my limits. First it was Zeus with his damn box, along with the other gods and goddesses who created me, then in this lifetime there’s Chaos, once again Zeus, only now with his book instead of his box or jar or whatever the hell he actually had given me, and now Moros and his miserable brothers. And I for one, will not put up with these taunting antics dispensed by Olympus’s pompous residents.

“Careful, Sweet Cake,” Ares warns. “Don’t let those bastards rile you up. It will only cause you more grief and take your focus away from the real concern.”

My flirting Spartan has a point. But it doesn’t make me feel any less used by the gods. “I want my cupcake.” I take off my vest and hang it up on the brass coat rack and head into the kitchen. My three warriors follow.

I grab the tea kettle from the stove and bring it over to the sink and fill it with water. “Ker and Thanatos might have upped the ante today on behalf of Moros, but I will not let them ruin my birthday. We’re having our cake and our tea.”

“I drink coffee,” Ares says from somewhere behind me.

I spin around, teapot in hand.

Lycus elbows Ares, his move surprising me.

“Tea will be fine,” Ares says with a bit of a frown gracing his lips.

I gaze at the wolf. He’s vastly different from flirty Ares, and calm, collected, and always in charge Leonidas. But there’s something very enticing about the quiet Lycus. Between his deep, dark brown eyes and that brooding air of his, he makes my heart skip a beat. So, too, does Ares and Leonidas, but for different reasons. If anyone would have told me yesterday that I’d wake up and learn I’m the infamous Pandora, will summon three immortal Spartans as my protectors, and also find the trio irresistible, I’d have told that person they were off their rocker.

But here I am, now firmly entrenched in the world of the gods and flocked by three sinfully sexy guardians who I have a feeling are going to get me into a whole heap of trouble. And I don’t think that trouble will be reserved strictly for tangling with the Olympians.

Lycus takes a seat at the kitchen table and rips the string tied around the box of cupcakes. Leonidas and Ares join him.

I place the kettle back on the stove and get the tea going.

“Have a seat,” Ares pats the chair between him and Lycus.

The wolf doesn’t comment, but he dives into the cupcake in his hand like a ferocious animal, devouring it in two bites. I can’t help but stare.

“What?”

I grab a napkin from the wrought iron holder in the center of the table and offer it to him. “You have icing in the right corner of your mouth.”

He shies away from me, instead licking his lips.

“Still there,” Ares says.

I reach up and go for Lycus’s mouth.

He grabs my hand, wraps his large fingers around my wrist. “Don’t.”

A zap of energy shocks my skin as his grip tightens around me. It zooms through my flesh, into my blood and bones. The scent of pine fills my nose. All three Spartans smell good, though I don’t believe I prefer one over the other.

A pop sounds at the sliding doors leading to the balcony. I think it might be a bird hitting the glass.

“Don’t move,” Leonidas says.

I turn my head and there it is, plain as daylight, a bobbing, gray orb. It looks similar to the form Ker took while we were at the bakery, but much smaller.

It backs up, then thrusts straight for me, its circular form blasting into my chest.

I gasp. I’m lightheaded and the room is spinning.

Lycus lets go of my wrist and leans forward just as I fall into his embrace.

Turning twenty-one is starting off with a bang.





Chapter 6





I passed out. Totally, flat out, fainted for several seconds, or so I think it’s only been that long. I really don’t know. I’m moving now, I believe it’s Lycus who’s carrying me because I can still smell a faint trace of pine, but I also detect hints of citrus and sage, and since I’m keeping my eyes closed in an attempt to lessen this frickin’ dizziness, I don’t know for sure. Though it doesn’t really matter. I’d feel just as comfortable in the arms of Leonidas or Ares. I feel the same for each of my three Spartans, despite only knowing them for a few hours. Gods, but that sounds so demented. Who can fall for someone, much less three someones, in less than a day? And here I’m thinking Chaos is the one who’s lost her marbles.