Neith, otherwise known as Belinda Forrester, no telling if she was still using that alias, had to have hired the first intruder. Same for Gigi’s second intruder, the shadow ninja. There had been brief talk of rescheduling the baby shower to the weekend following his appearance. But Drum couldn’t swing the date. But for this woman, Vaia, a Fate, it seems, there must have been a time when it was a real possibility and both Neith and also Qetesh had sent poisoners in.
Both had failed. But Nico had touched the ring Qetesh was using to control Aploonius, that curse, connection, shifting to Nico. And somehow Qetesh sensed Nico, and that he was somehow different, hot-to-trot? No, fire touched.
Vaia was still talking. “You only stumbled across the perfect trojan horse, thanks to the intelligence I provided. But when it comes to sealing the deal with Mr tall, dark and scowly, I don’t think the fault can be laid at my feet. Perhaps you should call Mummy after all, I bet she could bring him over to the gold and sparkly side with nothing but a blink of her beautiful eyes.”
Okay, Gigi didn’t like where this conversation was going. On the other hand, Qetesh appeared to have forgotten she wanted Gigi dead. Demetrious, standing only a few feet away, looking lost and confused. The demi-goddess must have some kind of psychic control over her followers and had halted Demetrious quite literally in his tracks.
Clearly Qetesh didn’t like or allow her followers to have too many thoughts of their own. Or, perhaps by making them hers, Qetesh burnt out their thought processes. Meaning all they did now was exist to be in her presence, adoring her. But capable of very little else unless controlled by clear directions. Interesting. And potentially useful.
All the while Nico had been working on trying to tear his shackles apart Gigi had been discreetly trying to prise open Canary’s carrying basket, which had gotten a little smushed, and the belt on one side twisted so the case wouldn’t open. She prayed Qetesh and Vaia would keep talking, she needed just a little more time. And besides, all the intel they were dropping was seriously good.
“Bring him to me.” Qetesh clicked her fingers imperiously.
Demetrious almost leaping forward to do her bidding. Stepping up behind Nico, applying the tip of his sword to the back of Nico’s neck. “Arise.” Nico had little choice but to do so. “Move.”
Nico shot the demi-goddess a grumpy - you’ve got to be kidding me - look and began shuffling awkwardly forward. The chain linking the shackles scratching the wood flooring with every half step he was able to take. Qetesh’s cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. Vaia very obviously biting her lip to keep from smiling or perhaps cracking a joke.
Finally Nico halted, at the edge of the raised dais. The chain too short, he couldn’t manage the step. Qetesh smiled at him, her beautiful features turning almost painfully luminous, as if she was edged with a golden gleaming light. Her followers all issuing an adoring sigh in unison. The vain bitch had made them do that. Hah. And just look at Nico’s face, Gigi was now biting her own lip to keep from laughing. Mr Grumpy pants was giving her the incredibly unimpressed world weary - I’ve seen it all, done it all, and you are failing to measure up – look he had mastered.
Qetesh’s glow dimmed infinitesimally for a moment before redoubling in strength. Ouch. Gigi averting her eyes, that was bright, too bright.
“Okata, a little warning would have been nice before you hit the high beams.” Vaia blinked and then blinked some more.
Nico didn’t flinch, blink or recoil. He just continued staring at Qetesh as if she was nothing more than inconvenient seaweed wrapped around his anchor. Qetesh’s glow dimmed to an acceptable level once more as she walked towards Nico, putting a little sway in her hips and tightening her shoulders, barely covered breasts front and centre. Close enough now, she reached out, cupping his jaw.
“Kuat’s get, always such a trial. Ixchel warned us about you and your siblings. But until I began dealing with your stubborn ass, I had thought her telling tall tales. And yet here you stand, defiant, angry. You’ve held out longer than any before you. Gladiators. Generals. Heroes. But I’m irresistible in the flesh, you’ll crumble to your knees and beg for my favours before the day is over. Thank the hearth you’re gorgeous, I’m going to enjoy having you at my beck and call. How are you at pedicures?”
“Que te den por culo.”
Gigi’s Spanish was a little rusty, but she was reasonably sure Nico had just advised the demi-goddess to go fuck herself.
Qetesh slapped Nico’s face lightly in reprimand. “Such a beautiful mouth spilling such filthy words. Soon, very soon, only my name will fall from those lips in adoration. You will beg me to accept your words of love. Shed tears if I choose to ignore you.”
“You can take your love and shove it where the sun don’t shine. It’s nothing but smoke and mirrors.”
“Oh, darling.” Qetesh leaned in closer, staring deeply into Nico’s eyes. “You’ve known love, haven’t you? In the past. Dark love. Rough. Needy. Consuming.”
“That was nothing but lust and lies.”
“Don’t you get it? That’s what love is to some people. And once you’ve loved once, I can make you love again.”
“Never.”
“Love me, Nico.” Qetesh lowered her lips down onto Nico’s, kissing him with avid urgency and passion.
Gigi scrabbled at her belt and Canary’s cage. With Nico distracting Qetesh she could really focus. Except Nico didn’t look like he was defying Qetesh’s advances. If anything, it looked like he was kind of enjoying the kiss. That rat bastard. Even as she watched now, unable to look away, fear clenched Gigi’s gut as a tidal way of glimmering gold swept up Nico’s frame, sinking into his skin, changing his hair. It was golden now, and even curlier. No. No. No.
“How you coming with freeing that bunny of yours?” The words whispered out the corner of Vaia’s mouth.
What? Oh, yes. She needed Canary free if she were going to get out of here. Tearing her gaze from the still kissing Qetesh and Nico, Gigi yanked and pulled desperately at the belt. Yes. The belt coming free. Lifting it up she could see the problem, twisting the cage one way and the length of belt the other.
“You need to leave by the balcony. Trust me.”
Trust, Vaia? Did she? Trying to get a brain fried Nico to leave Qetesh’s presence would be hard enough, but convincing his dazed ass to clamber out on a balcony, probably impossible.
“He’s not gone on her. Not completely, you just have to get close to him and stay close. Remind him who he is.” Vaia’s words barely above a whisper.
Cracking open Canary’s cage, Gigi lifted him out. His soft furry light weight a soothing balm, calming her. Save Nico. Exit via the balcony. Okay. “You could come with us.” She offered, lifting Canary up, pointing him like a gun.
