Dream Warriors 2: Ryder Read online

  “Meagan also said something about Morpheus. Does Gareth have her convinced Greek mythology is real?”

  “You don’t believe in myths and legends?”

  Those damn dimples melted her insides and turned her knees to rubber. It wasn’t right for a ghost to be so appealing. “I don’t believe in Zeus and Apollo, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

  “This could be a quick conversation.” Ryder chuckled. “Zeus is my father, and Apollo -- though he’ll never admit it -- is my half-brother.”

  Sheri just stared at him.

  The microwave dinged, disrupting her stupor. Needing something normal to occupy her befuddled brain, she retrieved the mug and plopped a teabag into the steaming water. He didn’t expect her to believe ... But his words rang true.

  Pulling out a chair, she sat at the kitchen table. Ryder passed through a chair across from her and sat as well. She gaped. His smile turned sheepish. “I’m a mirage, remember.”

  She took a slow, deliberate sip of tea, her mind whirling. If it weren’t for Meagan and the Gareth-possessed Justin, Sheri would simply accept her own insanity. “Just for the sake of argument, let’s say that the myths are true.”

  “I never said myths are true. I said I’m the son of Zeus. Much of mythology has been twisted and corrupted through thousands of years of --”

  “Okay, let’s stick with the basics. If you’re the son of a god, why are you so powerless in, what did you call this, the Waking Realm?”

  “Have you ever heard of Hera?”

  “Wasn’t she married to Zeus?”

  “That depends on the day.” She didn’t return his smile, so he went on. “Zeus has a wandering eye, to say the least. His frequent infidelities outrage Hera, and she finds creative ways of dealing with his lovers.”

  “I remember now. She turned them into trees and animals and constellations.”

  “And dreams.” He paused meaningfully. “Hera turned my mother into a dream and banished me to the Dream Realm. Not even Zeus could restore us.”

  Sheri rubbed her temples. Was it easier to accept that she was talking to a ghost, or a mythological character? Either way, she should probably be medicated.

  “You said you were trapped in the Dream Realm, but your mother was turned into a dream. Isn’t that the same thing?”

  He shook his head, and sadness clouded his eyes. “A dream never changes. It’s rather like a memory. I located her in the Dream Realm once, but she didn’t see me. She’s repeating a sequence of events that took place before my birth.”

  “Is she aware of what she’s become?” Good Lord, was she feeling sorry for her delusion? This couldn’t be good.

  He glanced down at the tabletop, a bittersweet smile curving his lips. “Not even Hera is that cruel.”

  “Who was your mother?”

  “A nymph. One of many Zeus seduced. The historians grew bored recording them all. Her name would mean nothing to you.”

  “Historians.” She nodded, fighting back a nervous smile. This was all so ridiculous. “Are all Dream Warriors sons of Zeus?”

  “Each has his own story. I’m telling you mine.”

  “Hera banished you to the Dream Realm, so Morpheus offered you a job?”

  “It’s a bit more complicated than that.” He shook away the sorrow and met her gaze, his expression edged with impatience. “Morpheus had a falling out with his brothers about the time humankind spread across the earth like wildfire. Morpheus was left with a domain too vast to manage on his own, so he recruited me.”

  “Recruited you for what? What exactly do you do?”

  “Each assignment is different. I do whatever is required of me.”

  She arched her eyebrows. “Was last night required of you?”

  “I heard your comments to Meagan and couldn’t resist.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He had the most kissable mouth, and, heaven help her, he knew how to use it! “Is this where you try to convince me you found no pleasure in my touch?”

  “I may embellish to others, but I try very hard not to lie to myself. You heard a passing comment whispered to a friend and used it to manipulate me.”

  “I used it to stimulate you.”

  “I don’t see the difference.”

  “Before I ever touched you intimately, I asked for an invitation, and you offered it freely.”

  Chapter Three

  Deep in the heart of the Underworld, Chaos lay alone in his massive bed. Hovering between sleep and wakefulness, his body tossed while his mind echoed his father’s warning. Your precious Delilah will disrupt this world in ways we can only imagine.

  In a moment of rash defiance, Chaos had released the succubus from her pit. He hadn’t imagined Delilah’s true power, had only known her escape would infuriate his father. Hades had been outraged, all right. He’d commanded Chaos to locate the succubus and return her to the Underworld.

  For the past human month, Chaos had hunted her with ruthless determination. Still, she remained a step ahead, taunting him with her handiwork, with the victims she left behind.

  And then she’ll come for you!

  Torches cast wavering light across the decadent chamber Chaos called home. Ebony, crimson, and gilt, the room accented the coloring of its occupant. Chaos surrounded himself with splendor in an attempt to forget what lay beyond the palace walls. His father might be the ruler of the Underworld, but Chaos had no use for the dead.

  His bedding disintegrated, leaving him sprawled upon his back, naked and stunned. He struggled against the unseen force which held him down, spread his arms and legs until he spanned the surface of the bed.

  Cloying and sweet, the scent of jasmine and cloves swirled around him, caressed him, aroused him. Desire twisted through his gut. His skin tingled. His shaft rose.

  “Release me!” He tossed his head, panting harshly. “I’ll not be --”

  The fragrance intensified. Invisible fingers explored his chest, stroked his abdomen, wandering ever closer to his burgeoning erection. Was he dreaming? Or was Delilah really here?

  The unseen hand closed around his shaft, and Chaos went wild. He bucked and thrashed, tugging against the invisible restraints. Helpless! He couldn’t move, could only feel what she wanted him to feel. Firm pressure, scalding heat, she took him to the edge of orgasm, then stopped as he let out a frustrated roar.

  “What’s the matter, darling?” Delilah solidified beside him, her nimble fingers still encircling his shaft. “You certainly enjoy playing with others. Don’t you enjoy being the toy?”

  “Release me.” He snarled; his gaze locked with hers.

  She’d chosen the form he liked least, the better to annoy him, no doubt. Slender to the point of frailty, she sat with her legs folded in front of her. Her sheer blue garment matched her flashing gaze and the highlights in her sleek black hair.

  “Why have you been following me?” One of her dark brows arched quizzically.

  Her hand slid up his length, her thumb rubbing his ultra-sensitive tip. Chaos stifled a groan. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing how her touch tormented him. Besides, if he held still a bit longer, her tormenting touch would -- She pulled her hand away.

  “You teasing bitch!”

  “Did you miss me?” She grinned. “Or did Daddy tell you to drag me back to his moldering kingdom and the pit awaiting me there?”

  “I missed you.” Fury made his voice terse, belying his words.

  She laughed. “Sure you did.”

  What was wrong with him?! She was here. All he had to do was contact his father and put an end to this chapter in his life. Projecting his thoughts outward, he sensed nothing but an endless void.

  “Where are we?”

  Moving between his thighs, she cupped his balls in one hand and stroked his shaft with the other. “I’m a succubus, you fool. Where do you think we are?”

  He was dreaming. She’d trapped him in her domain. Again and again she took him to the edge of climax, denying his body
release. When her hand no longer amused her, she took him in her mouth.

  Clenching his teeth, he endured her sensual torture until his jaw ached as badly as his balls. His groans turned to curses, his curses to screams, as she intensified his need. The heated swirl of her tongue was the cruelest pleasure yet. She licked and sucked, always pulling back at the last possible moment.

  Chaos trembled, hating her -- needing her.

  “You’ll never find me, but I can visit you again and again.” As she spoke, she climbed on top of him, straddling his hips.

  Yes, oh, please, yes!

  She positioned him at her entrance and stared into his eyes. “Is this what you want, my darling?”

  “Yes!” The word escaped on a moan.

  Her hot, wet heat enveloped his engorged tip. He cried out, then moaned, turning his face to the side. She had no intention of letting him come. There was nothing but cruelty in her bright blue eyes.

  “Will you stop following me?”

  He squeezed his eyes shut, his body throbbing unmercifully. She knew any promise he uttered would be a lie. When Hades gave an order, no one disobeyed. Inch by agonizing inch, she took him into her core. She dragged her body up just as slowly, and took him deep again.

  Chaos clenched his fists, his body arched, tense.

  “Leave me alone.” She whispered the threat against his lips. “Or next time I’ll bring friends.”

  * * * * *

  Chaos stood outside his father’s office, shaking with fury and humiliation. Two human weeks had passed since the succubus first visited him. Each time, her torment worsened, her tactics grew more perverse. At first Chaos used the nightmares as motivation. The sooner he caught her, the sooner his torment would end.

  The latest event changed all that. He knew when he was bested, when it was time to seek reinforcements. Dragging several deep breaths into his burning lungs, he raised his hand and knocked.

  “Enter.”

  Hades looked up as his son opened the door. “Why aren’t you hunting Delilah?”

  “Because she’s hunting me.” Chaos crossed to the chairs in front of the massive ebony desk and sat, not trusting his legs to support him. “I need your help. I can’t fight her alone. I had no idea ...”

  Folding his arms across his massive chest, Hades stared at him. “What is she doing? What, specifically, brought you to me?”

  Chaos explained as vaguely as possibly the nature of her torment. “Three nights ago, she made good on her threat. She arrived with others. One was a hideously deformed creature, the other --”

  “I understand.”

  “No, you don’t. This began three nights ago. I just awakened now.”

  “She held you hostage for three days?”

  Chaos stiffly inclined his head.

  Hades stood and moved around his desk, resting his hand on his son’s shoulder. It was a rare and much needed show of affection. Chaos accepted it gladly.

  “I can’t help you, son. The Dream Realm isn’t my domain.”

  He stared into his father’s glistening eyes, dread twisting through his ravaged soul. “I can’t go to them for help.”

  “Would you rather face Delilah again?”

  * * * * *

  The past two weeks had been some of the most enjoyable days of Ryder’s life. Sheri fascinated him. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor kept him entertained. He’d only appeared to her twice in the Dream Realm; generally he just watched her sleep. The first time, she’d allowed him to kiss her, and he hadn’t pressured her for more. The second encounter had been more heated, but ended far sooner than he would have liked.

  He wanted to touch her, taste her, and spend the entire night making love to her. Why was he courting a mortal he might never see again? And he was courting her, flirting, endearing himself to her.

  Shaking away the troubling thought, he strode into the Great Hall of Morpheus. The Dream Master turned from the reflection pool as Ryder entered and motioned him across the hall. “Have you become clairvoyant? I was just going to summon you.”

  Ryder’s steps faltered. Surely Morpheus didn’t mean to reassign him. Two weeks ago he’d wanted nothing more, but he and Sheri had unfinished business now.

  “What can I do for you, sir?”

  “Has there been any unusual activity surrounding your mortal female?”

  “Define unusual.” He’d avoided this meeting for two weeks. He didn’t want to cleanse Sheri’s mind of his memory any more than he wanted to leave her. In fact, going back to the way it had been before would be worse than leaving her.

  “The Fates sent a message to me. Do you realize how unusual it is for them to seek out anyone?”

  Kane strode into the hall, his practiced nonchalance ruined by the curiosity gleaming in his dark eyes.

  “You summoned me, sir?” Kane joined them beside the reflection pool.

  The Dream Master’s form rippled as he turned to face Kane. “The incubus has yet to reemerge, but there has been a vicious string of attacks by a succubus.”

  “You believe they’re connected?” Kane tilted his dark head, managing to look bored despite the interest in his gaze.

  “They always work in pairs. I presumed the incubus was the stronger, but it’s possible I was wrong.”

  Ryder grinned. “Can we have that in writing?”

  The Dream Master ignored the playful jeer. “Have any male employees at the Carroll Foundation complained of --”

  “The incubus is controlled by his sister. The true power lies with the succubus.”

  Ryder turned toward the arched entrance as the nearly forgotten voice echoed through the marble hall. It had been centuries since Chaos had ventured beyond the Underworld.

  “What is he doing here?” Kane asked.

  Chaos was generally more trouble than he was worth, but Hades kept him on a short leash, and everyone was happy. The conflict between Kane and Chaos was intense and personal. Kane refused to speak of it, and Ryder saw no reason to pry.

  Ryder glanced between his friend and Chaos as their unexpected visitor made his way across the hall. Looking to his master for permission, Kane silently drew his sword. Morpheus shook his head. Kane kept his sword in hand.

  “I have a proposition.” Chaos sounded uncomfortable, almost resigned.

  “What do you have that could possibly interest me?” Morpheus casually moved in front of Kane.

  “A mutual enemy.”

  “And the proposition?”

  Chaos folded his arms over his chest. “This is between you and me. Dismiss your warriors.”

  “If this involves the dream spirits, my warriors stay.”

  Fidgeting visibly, Chaos accepted the condition. “For reasons I will not explain, I released the succubus.”

  “The creature who calls herself Delilah?” Morpheus sounded aghast.

  Chaos nodded.

  “You intentionally set her free?”

  Again he nodded.

  The red in Morpheus’s aura intensified, warning those who knew him to take cover. Morpheus advanced. To his credit, Chaos stood his ground.

  “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

  “Delilah herself is helping me understand the true scope of my folly.” Chaos cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “My proposition is simple: information for protection. I will tell you everything I know about Delilah, if you assign one of your warriors to protect me in the Dream Realm. She has been -- attacking me for weeks.”

  “You’re getting exactly what you deserve.” Kane snarled out the words.

  Tense silence descended as Morpheus paced the length of the reflection pool. Hissing out a frustrated breath, Chaos turned on the ball of his foot. “I knew this was a waste of time.”

  Morpheus immobilized him with an upraised hand. “You are not her only victim.” He released Chaos and resumed his pacing. “Give me a moment to think.”

  “I’ll protect this piece of shit when it snows in the Underworld.” Kane stomped
from the hall, forcefully sheathing his sword.

  “Spoken like a true diplomat.” Morpheus chuckled as he faced Chaos. “I have a proposition of my own. If you want the protection of a Dream Warrior, not only will you share your information, you’ll help us catch her.”

  Chaos blanched. “I’m bartering for your protection, not offering myself as bait.”

  “You’ll be protected by the son of Zeus. That’s more than you deserve.” Dismissing Chaos with a scathing glance, Morpheus turned to Ryder. “If you thought the incubus was vile, you better brace yourself for Delilah. You’re the only one still assigned to this case. The choice, my friend, is yours.”

  Chapter Four

  I’m sick of this, Delilah. Let’s move on!

  The rat-infested motel reminded Delilah of the Hall of the Dead. The stench of mildew and decay comforted her, made her feel ... closer to Hades. Fury rushed in on the heels of her melancholy. How could she spare Hades so much as a thought after all he’d done to her?

  Strengthening her telepathic link to her brother, the succubus rubbed a blood-red crystal between her forefinger and thumb. Zared was a formless haze in the Waking Realm. They were dream spirits. This was not their natural environment. After eons of painstaking practice, Delilah had gained a level of control unlike any other succubus. She could move through the Waking Realm, manifest her image, and compel mortals to fall asleep. Still, with all her power, she could only materialize fully in the Underworld and the realm of dreams.

  “You bore easily.” She closed her fist around the crystal and floated across the room. “My business with Hades is far from complete.”

  Your business with Hades ended centuries ago. Why do you refuse to accept it?

  “He left me in a pit to rot, cut off from my only source of energy. Am I to forget those agonizing years and simply walk away?”

  I brought you energy. You were never close to starvation.

  “I was alone! He sealed me in a cage like an animal.”

  While he frolicked with his wife. That’s what this is about, isn’t it? Hades spurned you and ... By all that’s unholy, D. You’re not still trying to win him back, are you?