"And that has always been your problem, Stryker. I believe in family forever. As they say, blood is thicker than water, and in the case of Apollites, it's even more true."
If only he could believe in that. But it had never been proven true in his experience. All family did was provide an inroad for enemies. "When has my family ever stood by me?"
"I think the real question is when have you ever stood by them? I would have been there for you. Forever. But you never gave me the chance."
In spite of the hurt and betrayals of his past, he was piqued by her words. He wanted so much to have someone he could trust beside him. Just once. Only Urian had been there for him, and it was why he'd been so angry when he'd learned that Urian had kept secrets from him. That his son had gone behind his back . . .
Did he dare trust Zephyra? "I'm giving you that chance now."
Zephyra stepped away. "It's too late. Too many centuries have passed. There was a time when I lived only to hear a kind word from your lips. But that ship sank under an assault of bitterness that no amount of charm or guile will recover."
Stryker dipped his head down to where their lips were almost touching. "The fierce rhythm of your heart tells me that you're lying. You still want me."
"Don't mistake my wrath for lust. It's your blood I want, not your body."
He didn't believe that. Not for a minute. "Tell me honestly that you're not thinking even a little bit about what I look like naked. That you're not remembering the way we made love to each other."
She reached down to carefully cup his erection in her hand. "You're a man, Stryker. I know that's what you think about." She clenched her hand tightly, making him gasp and double over as pain ripped through his groin. She sank her nails into his scrotum. "But I'm a woman, and as the great poet so cleverly wrote, hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. Consider me your personal hell." With one hard jerk, she stepped away.
Stryker wanted to blast her, but his body hurt so much that all he could do was glare at her as she turned and left him alone in his room.
"This isn't over, love," he growled painfully. He was going to reclaim her and make her beg for his forgiveness. No matter what it took, he would have her. Then he would kill her himself.
CHAPTER 6
"HOW'S HE DOING?"
Tory looked up from where Ash was lying on the bed, resting, to meet Savitar's lavender gaze. Strange, she could have sworn his eyes were green earlier. . . He was out of his wet suit and dressed in a pair of white linen pants with an open beach shirt that showed off his sculpted torso. His long brown hair was swept back from his handsome face.
"War tore him up pretty badly, but—"
"I'll live," Ash said, rolling over to look at them. He propped himself up on the pillows and then brushed his black hair back with his fingers. "Believe me, I've had worse beatings. Just not recently."
Tory gave him a chiding stare. "I don't know, you did get run over by a car not that long ago. . . ."
Ash snorted as he laced his fingers with hers. "In my defense, I was preoccupied by a certain"—he gave her a meaningful glare—"human having a near-death experience. That doesn't count."
Savitar ignored his jibe. "Well, the good news is we routed him. The bad news is—" Ash finished the sentence for him. "He'll be back."
Savitar nodded. Tory swallowed as fear seized her. "Should we start making preparations here?"
Savitar looked completely offended by her question. "Punk-ass won't come to my island. He knows better. You don't tap on the Devil's shoulder unless you're willing to dance to his tune."
Ash cleared his throat and gave Savitar a droll stare. "Actually, Tory, there's a reason the island moves all the time. Sav is a bit paranoid, so the island is heavily shielded from paranormal types. You can't get to Neratiti without a special invitation from our host, which is why Alexion brought you here. We knew it would be the only place War couldn't get to. Me and mine have a standing invitation that doesn't extend to the rest of the known universe."
Savitar bristled. "And even if he could find it, he wouldn't dare bring his loserness here. I'd kick it back to the Stone Age," Savitar said with humor dancing in his eyes. "And don't knock my paranoia, grom. It's what saved your hide, now isn't it?"
"Yes, and thank you."
Savitar inclined his head to him. "You're welcome. But don't get into trouble again. Your mother has turned nagging for pain into an Olympic sport and she's been making my head ache over you. I'd tell you to go let her sit on you until you hatch, but I don't want the world to end. Suck ass though it is. However, if the nagging persists, I might change my mind and take you to her myself."
Ash laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. So any leads on who woke up our new friend and told him to come play with me?"