Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(41)

“And just exactly what is he going to remember about last night?”

Kat grinned. “Only as much as he wants to.”

“Okay, that’s diabolical,” Jacky said.

“No that’s ingenious,” Kat countered.

Jacky gave her a dubious look, but they were both too busy climbing over dunes to bicker with any enthusiasm. Then the sandy, grassy mini-hills gave way to a smooth, wide beach that was filled with—

“Seminaked men!” Jacky trilled.

“With swords,” Kat purred. “It is a romance novel!”

“Hey, there’s your boy.”

Jacky’s pointing finger called Kat’s attention to the largest group of men. In the center of the group was Achilles, stripped to the waist and circled by four men. They were in full armor, even though Achilles was practically naked, holding only his shield and a weird-looking short sword.

“Damn, he has muscles on his muscles,” Jacky said. “And I don’t know how the hell he survived those wounds. No wonder they say he’s immortal.”

“Is that what they say?” Kat whispered as they joined the other women who were sitting on driftwood watching the men.

Jacky shrugged. “I overheard some stuff last night. The Myrmidons talk about him like he’s a god.”

“He’s not. He’s just a man,” Kat said firmly, and then tried not to wince as two of the four men lunged at Achilles. She needn’t have worried about him. His reactions were so fast he seemed to belie her words. He dodged aside, spun and smacked both men smartly on their asses with the flat part of his sword. The watching Myrmidons broke into loud guffaws, complete with crude comments. Achilles’ answering grin was surprisingly good-humored and he gestured for the other two warriors to come on. They lunged. Achilles moved to the side and easily parried with his eagle-crested shield. The warriors backed off and Kat realized why his sword looked weird—it was wooden.

“He’s not even using a real sword!” Kat told Jacky.

As if he heard her, Achilles’ startlingly blue eyes looked up from the circling warriors directly to her. Kat saw the surprise that widened his eyes, and then felt the electric snap of attraction that sizzled between them. At that moment one of the warriors struck and Achilles was late in his reaction. The warrior’s sword blade skimmed lightly down Achilles’ chest, leaving a thin ribbon of scarlet, before he slapped it aside with the nonlethal wooden sword. With a growl, Achilles dropped into a crouch. Kat noticed the change in the surrounding warriors at once. The circle backed off and the men who were sparring with Achilles seemed to hold their breath. She watched Achilles take deep gulps of air as he obviously fought against the onrush of the berserker.

Then there was a flash of silver-blond and a tall figure detached himself from the retreating circle. Completely unarmed, Patroklos walked purposefully up to Achilles, making a surreptitious motion to the other two warriors to back off. His smile was clearly reflected in his voice and he spoke nonchalantly, as if he had no idea Achilles was struggling with becoming a monster.

“They say, cousin, that none can beat you in a wrestling match. I say that’s because they do not have the inside knowledge of a kinsman.”

Slowly Achilles’ body straightened out of the feral crouch. Kat saw his lips twitch up slightly. “And what inside knowledge would that be, kinsman?”

“That you are like a great snapping turtle. Dangerous and unpredictable, but helpless when you’ve been pushed on your back.”

As Achilles laughed, Patroklos launched himself at the older man and, just like that, the shadow of the berserker was gone and the men were cheering again as the cousins grappled in the sand.

“If that damn stupid white boy rips open my stitches I’m gonna strangle him.” Jacky stood up, obviously preparing to march into the group of men and pull Achilles and Patroklos apart.

Kat snagged her wrist and pulled her back down beside her. “You are so not going down there to yell at Patroklos in the middle of all of that testosterone and me-Tarzan, you-Jane mentality.”

Jacky stayed seated but grumbled, “I’m gonna be pissed if he messes up those stitches.”

“Oh, relax. Achilles will make sure he doesn’t hurt himself,” Kat said automatically, and then as she continued to watch she realized how right she’d been. They were putting on a good show. The two men were tossing each other around and being highly entertaining, but Kat could tell that Achilles was definitely avoiding Patroklos’s injured shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll just admit it,” Jacky said. “There is something completely sexy about all this warrior machoness. I mean, look at them. They’re all bare chested and muscular and sweaty and oh, so ‘I’m gonna bang my chest and kill the dragon for you’ that it makes me want to let him ravish me.”

“Him?” Kat asked with a waggle of her brows. “Who him?”

“Patroklos, of course. Don’t get fresh.”

“And did you say ravish? Since when could anyone ravish you?”

“Since I turned white.”

Kat was laughing when Aetnia and two other servants approached her. All of them gave a little curtsey/bow.

“Excuse me, Princess.” Aetnia spoke in a low, whispery voice while throwing furtive looks over her shoulder at the group of men. “You should know that we are willing to do your bidding at any time. Simply say the word and we will aid you in escaping.”