Page 14 of Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter 1)
The welcoming smile on Julian's face faded as he caught sight of Hunter.
His jaw went slack.
Amanda turned to see a very similar reaction from Hunter, who stood stock-still.
"Julian of Macedon?" Hunter asked in disbelief.
"Kyrian of Thrace?"
Before she could move, the two men grabbed each other like long-lost brothers. Her arm was snatched upward as Kyrian hugged him.
"Oh gods!" Julian gasped. "Is it really you?"
"I can't believe it," Hunter said as he pulled back and ran a shocked look up and down Julian's body. "I thought you were dead."
"Me?" Julian asked. "What about you? I heard the Romans executed you. Dear Zeus, how can you be here?" Julian glanced down and saw the handcuffs. His frown deepened. "What the... ?"
"That's why we're here," Amanda said. "We got latched together, and I was hoping you could separate us."
"They were made by your stepfather," Hunter added. "Any chance you have a key lying around?"
Julian laughed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. At least this time she's not an Amazon princess with an irate mother demanding parts of your body be removed." Julian shook his head like a father scolding a son. "Two thousand years later, and you're still getting into unbelievable messes."
Hunter gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Some things never change. Care to indebt me to you again?"
Julian cocked his head. "Last time I counted, I was two favors down to you."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about Prymaria."
By the expression on Julian's face, Amanda could tell he hadn't and she was dying to know what had happened. But there would be time for that later.
First, she wanted her arm free. She jingled the chain, hinting.
Julian stepped back and let them enter his house. "You're actually in luck," he said as he led them into the living room.
Grace hadn't moved from her chair where she now held Vanessa on her lap while Julian's gorgeous, blond mother sat on the sofa teasing Niklos with a stuffed doll. A tall, dark-haired man sat beside Aphrodite, holding Niklos in his arms and laughing at the two of them.
The Dark-Hunter sucked his breath in sharply at the quaint family scene. Roughly, he pushed Amanda away from him an instant before Aphrodite looked up and cursed.
Before Amanda could process what was going on, Aphrodite threw her arm out and what appeared to be a bolt of lightning came out of her hand and struck Hunter. The blast knocked him off his feet and threw him to the floor, pulling her along with him.
Amanda landed on top of his chest. She saw the burn on his shoulder and smelled the smoldering leather and skin.
She knew his wound had to be excruciating, but he didn't even react to it. Instead, Hunter quickly removed his sunglasses, pushed her off his chest, and tried to get her as far away from him as he could.
Rising to his feet, he placed himself between her and Aphrodite.
"How dare you!" Aphrodite shrieked while fury contorted her beautiful face. Her eyes narrowed, she left the couch and stalked toward Hunter like a deadly beast of prey. "You know you are not to be in our presence."
Julian grabbed Aphrodite before she could reach them. "Mother, stop! What are you doing?"
She glared at Julian. "You dare bring a Dark-Hunter before me? You know it is forbidden!"
Frowning, Julian turned to look at Hunter. Disbelief was etched on his face.
Hunter glanced at Amanda over his shoulder. "You're about to be free, little one," he whispered.
Aphrodite raised her hand.
Terrified, Amanda realized Aphrodite meant to kill him. No! The word caught in her throat while her heart raced in panic.
Julian caught his mother's wrist before she could blast Hunter again.
"No, Mom," Julian snapped. "Dark-Hunter or not, he happens to be the only man who ever stood guard at my back while everyone else prayed for my death. You kill him, and I will never forgive you for it."
Aphrodite's face turned to stone.
Julian let go of her hand. "I have never, in my entire life, asked you for anything. But I'm asking you now, as your son, help him. Please."
Aphrodite looked from Julian to Hunter. The indecision in her eyes was tangible.
"Hephaestus?" Julian asked the man on the couch. "Will you free them?"
"It is forbidden," he said gruffly, "and you know it. Dark-Hunters are soulless and beyond us."
"It's all right, Julian," Hunter said quietly. "Just ask her not to let the blast go through me and hit the woman."
It was only then Aphrodite noticed Amanda. Her gaze fell to the cuffs.
"Mom?" Julian asked again.
Aphrodite snapped her fingers and the handcuffs disappeared.
"Thank you," Julian said.
"I did it only to help the human female," Aphrodite said grimly before returning to the sofa. "The Dark-Hunter is on its own."
Hunter said a quiet thanks to Julian. Then, he turned and started for the door.
"Kyrian, wait," Julian said, stopping him. "You can't go out there hurt."
The Dark-Hunter's face was stoic. "You know the Code, adelfos. I walk alone."
"Not tonight, you don't."
"If he stays," Aphrodite said, "we have to leave."
Julian looked back at his mother and nodded. "I know, Mom. Thanks again for helping him. I'll see you later."
Aphrodite vanished in a flash of light. Hephaestus set Niklos down, then evaporated, too.
"Julian?" Grace called from her chair. "Is it safe to let go of Vanessa now?"
"Yes," he said.
Amanda watched the sad look on Hunter's face as the twins came running toward their father.
Niklos took a happy detour to her, jabbering as he held his arms out. Amanda picked him up and cuddled him close before kissing the top of his soft, blond curls.
Bouncing in her arms, he laughed and hugged her.
Vanessa made straight for Hunter in true Vanessa form. The little darling knew no strangers. She handed him the half-eaten cookie in her hand. "Cook-ie?" she asked in her broken, baby speech.
Kneeling before her, Hunter smiled tenderly as he took it from her outstretched hand. He brushed a gentle palm over the toddler's dark hair.
"Thank you, sweeting," he said softly before handing the cookie back to her. "But I'm not hungry."
Vanessa squealed and threw herself into his arms.
If Amanda lived an eternity, she would never forget the desperate, aching look on Hunter's face as he held Vanessa to his chest. It was one of such longing. Of pain. The look of a man who knew he held something precious in his arms that he never wanted to let go of.
He closed his eyes and leaned his cheek against the top of Vanessa's head as he balled his fist against her back and held her tight. "Gods, Julian, you always made such beautiful babies."
Julian didn't say anything as Grace came forward. But Amanda saw the anguish in Julian's eyes while he watched his friend and his daughter.
The two of them locked gazes.
Something passed between them, some shared nightmare Amanda knew nothing about.
Julian took Grace's hand. "Grace, this is my friend Kyrian of Thrace. Kyrian, this is my wife."
