Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance (12 page)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Anger boiled through Ben’s veins when he saw the fear and the hatred these gods aimed at his mate. Damned if anyone’s going to hurt her on my watch. Bear snarled defiance at the fearful gods.

Move, now.

The bear’s growled command sent Ben darting around Aria without thought, physically blocking her route to her adversaries.

When the word ‘throwback’ left Aria’s mouth all hell broke loose. Lances of magic flew through the air. Ben’s eyes burned and watered from the brilliant glow of deadly spells flaring in the air. Arrows of light slammed into his shoulders and he fought to stay upright, keep shielding Aria. Bear roared in anger and defiance, then rushed to defend their mate. Ben’s skin prickled, bones and muscles shifted as the bear burst free from within.

Ben roared and rushed toward Apollo. The god stood poised to throw another light spear. Ben could see the tip tracking his mate as she scuttled backwards across the slick marble floor.

Fuck that. Nobody hurts mate.

Bear roared again and rose to full height on their back legs, then charged the god with claws rending and tearing. The magic weapon disintegrated. Apollo grunted when their shoulder slammed him backwards.

Keep going, bear
, Ben cheered.

Together they drove the God back, step by agonizing step until they pinned him against the marble wall. The god’s hands couldn’t pierce Bear’s thick hide but his pounding fists left enormous bruises with every strike. Ben lost count after four. Bear shrugged off the pain and leaned into Apollo. He leaned with all his weight until the god gasped for air.

Magic rocketed around the room and flashes of light cast random patterns on the wall behind the god. The stink of magic burned Bear’s sensitive nose. The beast wanted to rend and tear this upstart creature for daring to attack their mate.

Where’s Aria?

Ben’s question was enough to get Bear to glance back toward the last place he’d seen Aria. Colored runes embedded in a wall of light surrounded her.
Delilah’s wards
, Ben thought. Bear huffed approval.

Strong wards. Mate safe
.

Bear’s approval of the wards, and confidence in Aria’s safety surprised Ben. He could feel the beast’s attention turning back to Apollo. Back to getting answers and destroying any threat to their mate. Ben managed to sneak in a second look toward Arcos and Delilah. That glimpse confirmed the pair had Diana contained. At least for now.

Good
, Bear huffed. Then the beast wrenched control of their senses away from Ben once more and drove forward as if he were trying to run through the wall. Bear grunted, and his control slipped a bit when the god got a lucky hit on their nose.

Back off a bit
, Ben suggested to his bear.

The beast eased off on pressure just a hair. Apollo’s face was rapidly turning a fascinating, painful-looking shade of purple.

Good,
Bear growled.

Need answers,
Ben suggested. Bear passed a smidge of control to Ben, just enough for human speech.

“Throwback. Explain.” Pain tore through his throat like ground glass as the bear took control a shade too early. Apollo’s eyes were wide, hands raised high.

At least we got our point across, Bear.

Ben felt bear’s agreement, suppressed his shock as the beast voluntarily eased back into the recesses of their mind. They twisted with the pain of too many shifts, too close together as his human side took over. Ben straightened, slow and carefully as he returned to his human form. He wrapped one hand lightly around Apollo’s throat. His gaze crashed into the god’s silver one, demanding an answer, an explanation. Anything.

Finally, whispers rose and became clear words, foreign words Ben couldn’t understand. Not at first. He studied Apollo’s face, searching for any hint of meaning in the foreign words. Finally the god’s voice shifted, and the language was familiar

“Throwback means she might as well have descended directly from one of us.” Apollo’s voice was tight with strain.

Ben’s stomach curdled, and his bear roared a loud
No.
Their cub was nothing like these creatures. No fucking way. Bear grumped and reminded Ben the cub was unusually skilled. Still, the thought that one day she could rival the powers of the Gods had Ben shivering in fear.

“How is that even possible?” Ben fought back his bear’s angry need to rend and tear everything in sight.

“Sheer stupid chance? Random genetic selection? Your humans have more ‘scientific’ insight into heritage than we’ve ever bothered with.” The god’s voice was hoarse and raspy.

“So Arias’ babe, she’s basically a god? At least as far as strength and power goes?” Ben shuddered at the damage a toddler could do with that kind of power.
Please let it be something she grows into.

Apollo shrugged and gasped raggedly before composing himself. Ben managed to convince his bear to back up a step and really focus on the god’s answers. And on what the god didn’t say. “I’d have to see her in person to be sure. But the likely answer is yes.”

Chills coursed up and down Ben’s spine at the not-so-subtle request they bring Faith here. No fucking way. Once they left, Ben was making damn sure they all avoided this place like the plague.

Arcos’ triumphant roar distracted Ben from considering just how they were going to contain Faith’s powers without divine help. Ben felt his jaw drop when he finally made sense of the blurs of motion across the room.

Arcos, still in his bear form, stood tall and strong on his hind legs. Then he slammed his front paws down on Diana’s chest. Ben could hear the bones snapping plain as day.
Damn, Not good, not good at all.

“One god falls, another rises,” Arcos bellowed as he flowed smoothly from bear to human.

Damn, I’ve never been able to shift that effortlessly.
Bear roared, insulted at the implications. Ben got the sense that his bear would rather fight tooth and nail with him for a lifetime than merge to the depth required to match Arcos’ skill.

We’re all fucked if he follows through on his threat,
Ben thought. His heart sank as another realization hit home. Aria was fucked regardless. How the hell was a human supposed to raise a godling? How was his mate supposed to actually survive to their cub’s adulthood with all her necessary bits and pieces still attached? The vague memories stirring in the back of Ben’s mind suggested that historically the god’s had a nasty habit of offing their parental units. Aria wouldn’t stand a chance as a human. Hell, Ben wasn’t sure he would stand a chance once the cub was full grown.

Bear roared, making Ben’s skin itch and shiver. No way were they letting any threat near their mate. Not even Faith. Shit, seemed like they were all screwed unless the cub kept her presumably gentle ways. Best case scenario, somebody was losing an eye or something.

That dark thought sent Ben’s attention back toward Aria. Had Faith ever hurt her? He looked for any hints of old injury. He didn’t see any scars or missing toes or anything.

Maybe they’d lucked out and done the impossible? Maybe their cub was the nonviolent type? Bear’s skeptical huff rocked Ben back on his heels. Maybe not. Regardless, as soon as they finished with Apollo they were going to be glued to Aria’s side.

The god shifted against the wall. The slight movement jolted Ben’s attention back to his original purpose. Apollo’s sly look, and the way his gaze skittered away from Ben’s, sent alarm flaring through Ben’s chest.

The god was hiding something. Something important. Ben felt his bear slip into the forefront of their senses, searching for the scent of lies. The beast puffed in frustration. The god wasn’t exactly lying, but he was hiding something. Maybe there was more to the story?

Ben called his bear closer to the surface, despite the head to toe migraine it caused. He borrowed Bear’s claws, felt them push through his fingertips. His hand snapped back up to the god’s neck. He gripped just tight enough, then slowly pressed the long deadly claws just enough. He stopped when Apollo flinched. Ben could sense Bear’s satisfaction as he watched the blood bead beneath their sharp claws.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Ben growled, then increased the pressure of his grip. The claws dug deeper, and he watched carefully. No need to let the enemy escape into unconsciousness without answering the question.

Apollo’s rapidly purpling face and gasping breaths convinced him to ease the pressure just a hair. But he brought the other hand up and pressed the corresponding set of deadly claws lightly against the god’s taunt abdomen. No fucking way he was leaving without giving then the answers they’d come for.

The panicked silver gaze locked onto Ben’s face. Bear could smell the fear, watched curiously as the god’s eyes flew wide. The fear scent transmuted to outright panic as Apollo realized just how very mortal he was in this moment. Ben kept his face still as stone. He didn’t dare show a hint of the fire consuming him. Bear needed out. Or in. The beast didn’t care, but he couldn’t take much more of this back and forth shit. If they didn’t find the truth soon, Ben knew he’d lose control of bear.

“Throwbacks –“ Apollo coughed, drew in a deep breath. Ben felt the rattle in the god’s throat beneath his grasp. “– more powerful than gods.”

Shit, what?
Bear’s delighted snuffle confirmed the god’s words were pure unadulterated truth. Ben’s arms fell to his side and his whole body stiffened in shock and fear. Stronger than the gods? Hell, they were both doomed if the cub got out of hand. He could just imagine the fallout from a teenage temper tantrum…scorched earth wouldn’t begin to describe the hell he’d made his own mom’s life.

Ben searched for Aria, and his panicked gaze collided with hers. Damn, their mate was one hell of a mama bear. As he watched, she turned toward him, squared her shoulders as though settling an impossible load on her shoulders. Her face was calm, almost resigned as she readied herself. Maybe together they could actually handle the coming storms? Aria nodded once, short and grim.

Ben sighed and returned that nod, slow and determined. Then he coaxed the bear back into the crevices of his mind and dropped his arms, freeing the god. He barely noticed Apollo’s suppressed shiver. Ben turned and stalked toward Aria.

Ben didn't dare breach the glowing wards that still encircled her, but he did scoot as close to her as he dared. So close that the wards burned his skin. But he refused to move, hell he'd withstand any pain to stay beside Aria.

Ben faced Arcos. He could feel Aria turn in sync with him. Over sensitized ears caught the barest hint of her voice through the wards. He glanced over to her, curious. She looked like she was shouting, but the wards contained almost all the sound. Ben pursed his lips, felt his eyebrows rise in a question. Aria must have understood his wordless gesture, because she turned to face him full on, and slowed her speech just a bit. It looked as though she was saying either 'stop him' or 'save him'. Ben couldn't hear enough to confirm one or the other. He glanced back towards his father, only to see the giant silver beast bend low over the fallen goddess, and wrap his muzzle around her throat.

Shit! What's the penalty for offing a god these days?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Aria smacked the wall of light imprisoning her. The light flared brighter under her palms, and the runes inside the wall moved like living things, snaking away from her touch.
Good, at least I’ve made an impression on something.

She leaned in until her nose pressed against the wall, completely focused on Arcos. The wall turned everything amber, as though she was peeking through stained glass. Arcos’ deadly intent was plain. His whole body shook with rage, with a visible need to destroy.

Is he trying to behead her with his teeth? Fuck, if someone doesn’t stop him were all–hell the whole town’s–fucking toast.

Blood poured down the fallen goddess’ neck.
Screw it. This is not fucking happening on my watch
. Aria fisted her hands and hammered against the wall with all her strength. The barrier dropped under her fourth strike, sending her stumbling forward into the bright multicolored world. A high pitch keen drilled into her ears. Aria clamped her hands tight over them, trying to block the painful sound. Her gaze focused on the elder shifter. Arcos stood frozen over Diana, and blood still trickled from her wounded neck..
Gotta distract him, give her a chance to escape.
Aria lowered her head and charged Arcos. Her body slammed into his shoulder.
Oof.
Pain bloomed through her, and she felt like she’d run head long into a brick wall. A furry, growling brick wall. Her assault hadn’t even budged the great beast, but one silvery eye did slant toward her. Aria didn’t stop for thought, just knelt down beside the bear’s giant skull. She clamped one hand tight over his nose, and prized his extended jaw with the other.

“Open,“ she growled under her breath. If she could make him loosen his grip even a hair, they could salvage this situation. Aria fought a giggle when she saw the bear’s eyes flare wide.
What the hell is he scared of?
Or is that surprise?
She’d never seen Faith look like that in shifted form, but then Aria was far from an expert in bear body language. A loud roar sounded behind her, then the marble vibrated beneath her and the clap of claws smacking marble sent a jolt of fear through her. She jerked, and her nails left bloody furrows across Arcos nose. The beast snorted, and huffed and his nose twitched.
Does he need to sneeze, because of a scratch? I can use that!
Aria reached for her pocket and snagged her home made pepper spray. She aimed the spray as best she could and depressed the nozzle. Her eyes closed reflexively, and the burst of liquid set even her nose to burning. The bear in front of her snorted and growled. Aria opened her eyes, hoping she’d struck gold.