Mars was right, and the moment she’d heard the word, it struck a chord within her, lighting her spark into an eternal flame.
But Chuck had sustained his open thread.
He still believed Calliope was divined to be his.As he had all those years ago.
Perhaps his theft was a desperate attempt to divine his own mate.Or sever the bond that was preventing him from finding his own.
How had things become so complicated?
“And just where are we going to find a pegacorn stalker at?”Izzy asked.
Mars grinned as he gazed back at Lorelai, then at Spike and Izzy.Finally, his softened gaze landed on Calliope and Theodore.
“Why, the only place you’ll ever find a horny supernatural on a Monday night.At theDen of Sin.”
CHAPTER10
If only Trickand Shaun could see me now,Theo thought as he stared at the line that was around the block to get into theDen of Sin.He’d never been to asex clubbefore.The only experience he’d had remotely close had been the strip club that Trickinsistedthey went to last year when he discovered Theo had never been to one.And he hadn’t cared for the experience much.It wasn’t anything against the girls, or even the drinks, it just didn’t feel right.
Because it wasn’ther.
He was starting to understand that all the routes he’d taken had been the wrong ones.But they still led him here...to this ominously designed club with an intimidating line, amidst a vampire, a hellhound, a muse and...whatever the hell Mars was.Theo wasn’t certain what his special superpower was.
Though, judging by the way the man was talking to an attendant at the front of the line, he was starting to think Mars’s otherworldly ability was talking.Because when he waved them all over, Theo realized they were, indeed, skipping the line.Which made him feel bold and important, but also guilty.How long had those people been standing there?
But he took one look at Calliope, her dark hair blowing in the air against the setting sun, her eyes dried of the tears she’d shed, though still with faded, smudged eyeliner and mascara and her victory red lipstick, he could not deny she still looked stunning.
Mate.
He’d thought that word the first night he’d met Calliope, felt it in his soul the moment they’d connected.But the idea was whimsical and fantastical because Theodore did not believe in fate or soulmates or bonds forged by unseen forces.Yet, despite his predisposition, he could not seem to stay away from themuse.
Muse.That was what Calliope was—a divine being.Aspirit.A force to inspire and ignite.
Theo could not deny Calliope was quite an inspiration.For every moment he found himself with her, he felt braver, more confident.He felt powerful and alive.He wanted everything Calliope was willing to give him, and he wanted to give hereverythinghe had.His heart, his body, his soul.
Anything you want, Princess.
But Theo could not have Calliope.Not entirely, anyway.Because some winged unicorn had anopenclaim on her.The thought made him angry, jealous, but mostly defensive.
He knew he did notownCalliope.He had no claim on her, either.But Theo still felt threatened.The thread was open and this man—pegacorn—had not only stolen the diviner, but as long as his thread remained open, Calliope would never truly behis.
And Theo realized, as he followed Calliope and their friends into theDen of Sin,that he wanted her to be.His.Forever.
But did Calliope want that?Or would Theo be another open thread, left in earnest, only to be severed years from now?
He didn’t want to think about such things, so he did the only thing he could.He grabbed Calliope’s hand and held it tightly as they walked through the long hallway, into a large room full of activity.
Theo didn’t know where to look, or if he evenshouldlook.There were waiters and waitresses in various states of undress, a stage where a woman was being touched and fondled by two men in various states of bondage and leather.His cheeks heated as he noticed the one man in front of the woman drop to his knees and bury his face in her panties.
“Are you all right?”Calliope asked him.
He squeezed her hand once more.“Just wondering if maybe that spark knocked me out and I’m still laying on the gallery floor,” he said, watching as Spike and Izzy swatted at each other playfully.He noticed the way Spike grabbed his vampire girlfriend, the smile on his face.There was a comfort there, as if neither of them truly noticed where they were.When Spike leaned in and kissed her, Theo looked away.
“Theo, I’m sorry, I?—”
“It’s fine,” he lied.“Totally fine.Finding out you’re bound to an ancient deity who happens to be tied to a mystical horse who stole a rock from the gallery you work at...just a regular Monday for me.”
Calliope swatted his arm.“Mondays truly are the worst.”
