There was a whisper of movement, a quick intake of breath. “Kyros Theopolis? I thought you’d gone back to Greece.”
“The truth is far worse.” And it was. Not that he would ever tell where he’d actually been. “Will you receive me tonight?”
There was a pause, and then the voice answered good-naturedly, “When have I not received you, cousin?”
***
“You are a beauty, aren’t you?”
Cassie closed her eyes and tried once more to project herself out of this dark, creepy place, away from the equally dark and creepy man before her. It didn’t work.
Maximilian laughed. “Nothing short of death will allow you to escape those chains, Cassandre. They were created especially for the druids, to punish them for their misbehaviors.” He fingered one of the golden bindings. “Chains of Hera. A gift from a goddess jealous of her lover’s fornication with man. Only three currently exist, and I have them all.”
Cassie resisted the urge to spit at him. She didn’t care about stupid chains, and jealous goddesses.
“Where is my mother?”
“Ah. Evelyn and I have…unfinished business,” he replied with an evil gleam in his eyes.
She went cold at those words. Cassie could sense the aura around Maximilian Cronin, and it was mostly evil. Greed. Power. Deviance. They all clung to him like second skins.
“If you hurt my mother….”
His brow lifted, and a mocking smile touched his lips. “What will you do, Cassandre? If I hurt your mother, what exactly can you do?”
He paused as if waiting for her answer, and Cassie focused hard and tried to call her powers once more. Nothing. She felt as she had before she’d discovered her druid heritage, before she’d been taught to use her powers: human.
“I already warned you of that, Cassandre. Those chains are powerful. They render druids powerless. Hera was particularly vicious when it came to your people. I guess she didn’t like the reminder that her husband was unfaithful. Hell hath no fury like a goddess scorned, eh? I believe she was the reason for the saying, or was it one of her daughters?”
As he languidly contemplated that, Cassie hissed, “What do you want?”
Maximilian chuckled. “I want you to resurrect your people, but you already knew that.”
Yes, she did. What she didn’t know was how the hell he’d found them. The attack had been completely unanticipated. Trackers, dozens of them, entered her room through a bolt hole, with Cronin leading the way. Cassandre had screamed for Evelyn, who’d immediately begun attacking them. Cassie had called on her powers as well, effectively holding them off until her mother arrived and started blasting trackers, and screamed for Cassie to run. She hadn’t wanted to leave, but Evelyn had been adamant. So adamant that somehow her mother had projected Cassie into the hallway. From there, she’d followed her mother’s command, and run.
“How did you find us?”
“An old friend came to me in my hour of need. He, too, is anxious for the druids to be resurrected.”
Cassie swallowed. An old friend? Anxious for the druids to be resurrected? A light shiver ran over her body.
“Who?”
Maximilian’s eyes narrowed, before he smiled as if he were having the most wonderful time sharing information with her. “Not that it matters, Cassandre, but you’ll soon find out anyway. His name is Alexander—Lord Alexander—” The grand wizard broke off at her look of pain before he clucked his tongue and laughed. “So you are acquainted with Alexander? Was that how he knew exactly where you lived? Of course.”
Cassie schooled her features, but she was hurt. She’d trusted a druid she’d been warned against, and now not only she, but Evelyn would suffer for it. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she bit the inside of her cheek. Her mother had been right. Why hadn’t she listened? Because she was stupid! Graduating with honors didn’t mean one had common sense. When had she become one of those girls, fooled by a pretty face?
“Release my mother.” Her voice was lackluster. She just wanted her mother freed. Evelyn had tried to warn her. She shouldn’t be punished.
Maximilian lifted a brow. “And why would I want to do that?”
“Release my mother, and I’ll willingly do whatever you say.”
Lifting his free hand to his chin, Maximilian appeared to contemplate that. “That is an appealing thought, but I think I’ll keep Evelyn, at least, until your sister arrives.”
Cassie immediately began struggling against the chains. Not Vivienne. “You don’t need her, just me.”