Demetrius’s brow lifted. “What for?”
As Isadora came around to stand at Demetrius’s side, Orpheus said, “I’ve located the warlock. Since I can’t be in two places at once, I need your help keeping him immobilized until I get back.”
“Back from where?” Demetrius asked.
“The Underworld.”
“You’re going after Gryphon,” Isadora breathed, relief flooding her veins as she pressed a hand against her throat. “We can get the other Argonauts to help you. It—”
“No,” Orpheus said in a hard tone. “No one else. I don’t want them there.”
“But—”
“No one else,” he said in a louder voice, cutting her off. Then to Demetrius, “Just you. You owe me too.”
Regardless of the fact Demetrius did owe Orpheus for saving her life—they both did—Isadora knew her mate would agree because he wanted Gryphon back as much as Orpheus did. All the Argonauts did, but Demetrius especially. He partly blamed himself for what had happened to Gryphon in that warlock’s chamber at Thrace Castle.
Demetrius pushed off the mattress. “When?”
“Now,” Orpheus answered. “He’s in Corinth.” He gave Demetrius the coordinates. “You can meet me there?”
Orpheus could flash on earth. It was one of his gifts. But Demetrius couldn’t. Which meant he’d have to open a portal back to Argolea, then another to Corinth.
Demetrius reached for his coat from the chair where he’d thrown it when he and Isadora had stepped into the room. “Are you sure he’ll still be there by the time we arrive?”
Orpheus’s eyes darkened. “He’ll still be there. He’s gathered a new horde of witches and is knee-deep in training.”
“Wonderful,” Demetrius answered. “You sure you don’t want the other guys to tag along on this? Remember the last time we tangled with Apophis’s witches?”
“These ones won’t be anywhere near as strong. And Apophis will be weak right now. You’re the only one I need.”
“Think again, daemon.”
Skyla stood in the doorway wearing a white long-sleeved button-down cinched at the waist, with a dark belt and a pair of pants that looked three sizes too big. Her hair was tousled, eyes shadowed from lack of sleep, and the intensity in her gaze told everyone in the room she wouldn’t be forgotten.
Or left behind.
Isadora watched Orpheus’s scruffy jaw tighten and a scowl creep over his features. Her first impression in the great hall had been right. There was definitely something going on between him and the Siren. Something that went well beyond predator-prey and hinted of involvement.
She’d asked herself several times why Orpheus hadn’t eliminated this Siren right from the start. Sure, she was every male’s wet dream, built and beautiful, but Orpheus wasn’t one to be easily swayed from his goal. Isadora knew that better than anyone. And she’d had her first inkling of an answer when she’d seen the Siren’s reaction to the news that Orpheus’s brother was trapped in the Underworld. Now she knew for certain there was some kind of connection between these two. His look didn’t say You can’t tag along because I want to kill you but looked more like I don’t want you around because you could get hurt.
And Isadora couldn’t help it. She grinned. Oh, these stupid males and their twisted sense of heroics. Demetrius had tried that protective bologna on her and look how well that had kept her away. Judging from the headstrong Siren blocking the doorway, there was no way Orpheus was getting out of here without her.
And knowing that, Isadora’s estimation of the Siren went way, way up.
“Go back to bed, Siren,” he growled.
“I would,” she tossed back, “but it was suddenly too cold for my liking. Lucky for me I found these clothes in a box up there. What do you think?”
Demetrius and Isadora exchanged glances, and from her soul mate’s what the hell? expression she knew he was noticing their connection too.
“I couldn’t care less about what you wear,” Orpheus ground out, “and I don’t need or want you or your help.”
Skyla didn’t answer. Only smiled sweetly, which, Isadora guessed from Orpheus’s locked-jaw reaction, was way out of character for her.
Orpheus looked at Demetrius. “Are you ready or what?”
“Ask him if Maelea told him where the entrance to Underworld is located,” Skyla said to Isadora.
“Fuck,” Orpheus muttered.
Skyla grinned wider. “No thanks, daemon. Not right now. Maybe later, though.”
To Isadora, Orpheus said, “Go get Maelea for me, would you?”
“I wouldn’t bother,” Skyla said. “She doesn’t know where the entrance is. And this time I’m not lying. Persephone purposely hasn’t told her for safety reasons. It’s common knowledge if she crosses into the Underworld to see her mother, Hades has the right to strike her down. On earth she’s safe.”