"It's an old legend," Ash said. "When Atlantis was being destroyed, the head librarian of the national archives tried to save as much of their work as she could. It's said that her Shade now oversees the treasures of Atlantis and keeps them safe from plunder."
Katherine indicated the entire group with a wave of her hand. "The Apollymachi are her Shades. We are the guardians and the Atlantikoinonia are the destroyers."
Ash looked at the bag that Tory still held against her chest. "Perhaps in this we should be the destroyers."
Tory shook her head. "I want to know what the book says before we destroy it."
"No one can read it," Katherine repeated.
Tory shook her head. "Ash can."
The women looked at him with surprise etched on their faces.
Justina exchanged a glance with Katherine before she spoke. "Is that why the oracle said to deliver it to the Elekti?"
"Elekti?" Tory asked, not understanding the word.
"It means chosen one," Justina explained.
Tory scowled—that could be rather ominous. "Chosen for what?"
Katherine pushed the sleeve of her jacket back. "Our Order speaks of a man in every generation who bears the Destroyer's grace. He's known by her ring that he bears on his right thumb."
Tory looked down to see a thick gold band on Ash's thumb. It bore the same sun symbol that marked the women's jackets and his backpack. "What are you not telling me?" she asked Acheron.
"Lots." He turned back to Katherine. "So what are your orders now that you've delivered the book?"
"We are to guard Soteria and to follow the orders of the Elekti."
"Why?" he persisted.
"Because it's the will of the goddess."
Ash scoffed at her words. "You should never blindly obey anyone. Take it from someone who knows. Your goddess isn't infallible."
Katherine sucked her breath in sharply. "That is blasphemy."
Ash didn't respond but something in his features led Tory to believe that he knew a lot more about their goddess than he was letting on. "These Atlantikoinonia. They're human?"
Katherine nodded.
Tory was confused by his strange question. "What else would they be? Turnips?"
Ash shook his head at her sarcasm. Though to be honest, it amused him. However, that didn't change the predicament they were in. "Does anyone else know you have the journal?"
"No," Justina said assuredly. "Dimitri wouldn't have broken his word."
He hadn't detected that either. "Then for now, we need to get Tory back to bed to rest."
"I feel fine."
He arched a brow at her protest. "You just had surgery. You need to be in bed, resting."
Tory hated to admit he was right. "Fine. Take me home."
He looked down at the bag and shook his head. "I don't think that's wise given today's adventures. Whoever is after you knows where you live and I for one don't think we ought to make it easy on them. Let the bastards have to search to kill you." He stood up as an attractive blond woman reached them. Dressed in a skimpy black Sanctuary T-shirt with a howling wolf on the front, she was carrying a serving tray.
Pulling her off to the side, Ash talked to her in a low tone.
"No problem," the blonde said. "Follow me."
Ash took the bag from her. "C'mon."
Irritated by his highhanded demeanor and the fact he hadn't asked her opinion on this, Tory followed him to a door not far away. Aimee, whose name was on the back of her T-shirt, pulled out a set of keys and unlocked it. It led to a small room with another door that was locked with a palm scanner.
Tory was impressed by the security. "Get out of town . . ."
Smiling, Aimee opened it to show a large bedroom with no windows. "There's a bathroom through the other door. It's steel reinforced, so nothing's going to pop through it uninvited . . . heavy emphasis on the uninvited part."
Ash inclined his head to her. "Thanks, Aim."
"Anytime." She handed him the key to the outside door. "You can leave this door open so you don't have to use the scanner."
Ash gestured toward Tory. "You want anything to drink?"
"Apple juice would be a godsend."
Aimee nodded. "I'll bring some right up."
Tory headed for the bed as Aimee left them alone. "Can I read now?"
Ash made a low sound of irritation. "Do you mind if I look at it first?"
"Yes, I do." She held her hand out, wanting it immediately. She was desperate to see what all the hoopla was over.
"I read faster than you do," he reminded her.
She made a strong sound of her irritation to compete with his.
Ash paused. In that moment, he wanted to tell her the truth about what was happening and why. Wanted her to know that the beautiful waitress Aimee was Dev's younger sister . . . and a bear in her other form. He had a fantasy in his mind of Tory welcoming him in spite of it all. Of her taking it in stride without freaking out and shrieking. Of her not minding the fact that he was a cursed god.
But he knew better. He wasn't some kid with his first crush. He'd lived long enough to know people and their reactions to things that were radically different was seldom positive.