Nocked for a Loop Read online

  Arion lifted her eyes and Christian saw the unshed tears in them. He gave her hand a tiny squeeze before letting it go.

  Straightening, he turned to Zeus. “I have found Callista’s perfect match.”

  As if she no longer had the strength to stand under the pain in her heart, Callista moved to the divan where Arion sat and sank down. Her pretty features were downcast and her skin was pale. With her head bowed, she looked totally beaten.

  Arion took her sister’s hand in a show of support.

  Christian lifted a hand, palm up and the magic scroll dropped into it from thin air. He didn’t immediately offer it to Zeus. “Before I give you this, Majesty, I would explain the trail I followed to reach its conclusion.”

  Zeus inclined his head in agreement.

  Christian started to pace before Zeus, his handsome face creased in deep thought. “When setting my parameters for defining the goddess, Callista, I initially applied a combination of attributes, which I culminated from a variety of sources. Your interpretation of her strengths and weaknesses, her vision of herself and my own initial observations. I then added your special direction as to what you expected in a mate for Callista. Using these parameters I found two very likely candidates.” Christian looked toward the door and Philander and Dinos were suddenly standing there.

  Arion narrowed her eyes and realized they were simply visions of the two gods, not the actual gods themselves. She turned to see her grandfather’s reaction to the choices. She was surprised to see that Zeus was frowning slightly.

  Christian continued. “As you can see, they meet the strict parameters we set…barely. But each was missing an important component.” He turned to look at the vision of the two young gods. “Philander is missing your granddaughter’s discernment and gentle nature.”

  The vision of Philander popped away and Callista smiled.

  “The god Dinos is missing what I now consider to be your granddaughter’s finest trait and one which we did not at first consider when setting the parameters for the search.” Christian turned to Zeus. “He is missing the warrior spirit that infuses your granddaughter to the core.”

  Dinos popped away and Zeus’ eyes widened with surprise. “What nonsense is this!” He roared.

  Christian stood his ground. “Majesty, if you would allow me to continue?”

  Zeus was obviously fuming but he finally inclined his head.

  Christian turned to the doorway and Callista appeared. But it was a different Callista from the one they were used to. This Callista wore a warrior’s breastplate, shaped for a woman, over a gown of white. She had a metal band around her red-gold hair and she held a petite sword in one hand. “This…” Christian stated with a lift of one hand toward the vision, “is the true Callista. A warrior goddess in the style of Athena. And this…” Christian turned to Zeus and offered the scroll, “is her true match.”

  Callista gasped as Leander appeared beside her vision.

  Zeus’ roar of outrage caused the room to shake. Marble dust filtered down upon their heads and the two goddesses nearly fell off the divan. But Christian stood tall before the angry god, his legs spread wide and his hands clasped behind his back. He looked ready and willing to fight the battle that needed to be fought for Callista’s happiness.

  At that moment Arion knew she was in love.

  When the room stopped moving, Christian continued. “Your Majesty, true love needs no permissions to survive. Your granddaughter was willing to give up all and leave Olympus to be with her warrior. She would have fought you to the mortal death to keep her heart intact. This is a strain that runs deep in her. It is much stronger than any superficial parameter such as quality of birth.” Christian walked over to Callista and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. At that moment the real Leander appeared and Christian handed the tearful but smiling goddess off to him. Then he went to pull Arion to her feet, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I must also tell you, Majesty, that I love the goddess Arion with all my heart.” He looked down at Arion and she gasped with pleasure and happiness. “And I fully intend to spend whatever time the Fates will allow with her.” Christian looked at Callista and Leander. “Shall we all retire to Earth to live out our days, Majesty? Or do you bless these unions?”

  Zeus’ face turned purple and the room began to rumble again. Everyone braced for the worst. But, incredibly it never came. Zeus’ body began to quake and quiver and a roar of laughter finally emerged from it. “By the gods! Cupid, you have performed the impossible feat. Sweet Arion has always spurned true love, fearing it as she would a poisonous asp. Callista would ever deny her fighting spirit. You have discerned the true natures of both of my granddaughters where even they could not.”

  “You have my blessings and more. It is about time these goddesses learned who—and what—they are. Good work, Cupid!”

  Callista ran to her grandfather and flung herself into his arms, ecstatic in the knowledge that she would marry her true love.

  Christian turned to Arion and touched her soft lips with his own. “I am sorry to speak for you in this, lovely Arion. I would fully expect you to tell me to bugger off.”

  Arion’s laugh was the finest music. “Why would I tell the man I love to bugger off!” She leaned in and kissed him with her exquisitely soft lips. “Marry me quickly, Cupid, or I shall have to hold you as a naked hostage in my rooms until you do.”

  Christian pulled her into his arms with a laugh. “Don’t tempt me, goddess. I’ll dally just to enjoy the fruits of your punishment.”

  Her joyful laughter was just a foretaste of what was to come as two young, immortal couples began an eternal journey filled with joy and love.

  About the Author

  Award-winning author Sam Cheever mixes in a little fun, a little magic and a little real-life spice to create her sexy fantasy characters. Sam’s fun-loving creations fight their way through a dizzying array of dangerous challenges without letting little things like the end of the world, angry, manipulative gods, evil dark world denizens, or killing Furies dampen their zest for life and hot love!

  The author loves to chat with readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].

  Also by Sam Cheever

  Nocked Over

  Also check out the author’s books at Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com):

  Dancin’ With the Devil 1: ‘Tween Heaven and Hell

  Dancin’ With the Devil 2: ‘Tween a Devil and His Hard Place

  Dancin’ With the Devil 3: ‘Tween Heart’s Fire and Devil’s Delight

  Dancin’ With the Devil: ‘Tween Hopeful and Hopeless

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

  www.ellorascave.com