“Fuck, Indie. How did we get here?”
“I don't know. And I don't know how we're getting out, but I have to have faith that we will.”
“You might. Those hounds are . . .” He shook his head. “They're determined. And I've heard stories of other hounds andtheir mates. I think Michael made a mistake in threatening you. But he was desperate.” Jake flinched and then Michael took over. “I think our boy could use a break,” Michael said. “How about a roll in the hay, Indie?”
“Fuck you, Michael.” I turned away and went back to watching TV. I'd gotten used to his casual threats. They came whenever he was bored and wanted to mess with Jake and me. But I knew he wouldn't go through with it. It just wasn't worth it.
“They're not coming,” Michael said as he sat down beside me. “And they're the only ones who could get you out of here. Jackie certainly can't. So, you might want to rethink your attitude. Get on my good side and life will improve significantly for you.”
“Again, I say, fuck you, Michael.”
He laughed and laid a hand on my thigh. Sliding it up and down, easing closer to my crotch, he leaned in to whisper in my ear, “You know, it excites me when a woman fights back, even if it's just with words. I'm liking you more and more, Indigo.”
I turned to meet his stare. “I don't believe you. You know what I think, Michael? I think you prefer men.”
Michael grinned and sat back. “Not sexually, no. But I'm not what they call homophobic. Your implication doesn't offend me. Now, back to your rebelliousness. Maybe it's all those years I spent in battle on foreign shores, but I like an unwilling woman.” He licked his lips. “One that fights me instead of weeping. Ugh, the weepers are so pathetic. Hardly worth the effort.”
“You are the lowest sort of filth,” I said. “You must have been in the worst section of the Underworld.”
“It's called Tartarus, bitch,” Michael growled. “And you have no idea what torture is until you’re there. So don't you fucking judge me for escaping.”
“I don't judge you for escaping,” I said. “I imagine anyone would if they could. What I judge you for is being a depraved soul, weakened by evil to where all you can do is succumb to it. Every day you spend on Earth only makes you more of a victim and a villain, Michael. I think you know that.”
Michael stood up and snarled, “Do you think I care?”
As he strode out of the room, I said, “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Chapter Thirty-One
As soon as Michael was gone, three huge hounds appeared in the room. They just appeared out of thin air, standing right before me.
I yipped and lurched back. But then I caught my breath and jumped to my feet. “You're here!” I threw my arms around the neck of the closest hound.
The other two canines shifted into Gage and Gideon. I glanced at them, grinning, and even spared a second for a quick ogle at their glorious nudity. Then I let Garret go so he could shift, and I went into Gage's arms. From Gage, I went to Gideon, then back to Garret in his man form.
“We've been here the whole time,” Gideon said.
“Watching over you,” Gage added.
“Waiting for that motherfucker to leave you alone long enough for us to get you out of here,” Garret finished. Then he grinned. “They always forget that we can go invisible.”
“I did too!” I cupped his cheek. “You've been here the whole time?”
“Yup.” He grinned at me. “We came back immediately. There was no way we’d leave you here alone. So we've beensleeping here in shifts. We even steal their food and use their bathrooms, but no one notices.”
I laughed and pulled the other two into our hug. “I'm so sorry for ever doubting you.”
“You don't apologize to us,” Gage said sternly. “We're the ones who got enchanted.” He shook his head. “I can't believe a spell like that worked on us. We're supposed to be immune to that kind of shit. It had to be an Olympian's spell. I suspect Apollo convinced Aphrodite to cast it.”
“Whoever created the spell, it didn't last long,” Gideon said. “An hour maybe. And then we realized that we'd been victims of a magical attack. That waitress was one of Silas's slaves. He chose her because of her coloring.”
“She kind of looked like me,” I said.
“Not even close,” Gage growled. “She's nothing compared to you.”
“Correct response,” I said primly, then chuckled. “Now, how do we get out of here?”
“Well, you can't go spectral like us,” Gage said. “But we can guide you out.” He shifted back into his hound body, then went transparent.
