The Untamable

Chapter 6

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They flanked me from both sides as we made our way through the mansion. It almost felt like they were leading me to an execution.

"Where's Leo?"

"Oh he's gone to his special place."

I scowled up at him. "Are you humoring me?"

"Oh it's not in his head. It's very real." Taurus grinned. "Don't worry so much Goldie. He comes in and out of there. Mostly to meditate and calm. Cancer's visit didn't sit very well with him."

"They don't get along?"

"They do." Taurus nodded. "He wasn't very happy when we wanted to throw a party in your honor."

Taurus almost made it sound like Leo didn't want me here. If I didn't want me not here either, I might have been a little hurt. As it were, we entered the parlor to find the rest of the banished gods milling around a raven haired deity in their usual white coattails, but red shoulder adornments instead. When I entered, he looked up and smiled widely. Some of my apprehension faded when he stood and held out a hand to me in greeting. "I'm pleased to meet you Storm Walker. We were just talking about you."

Feeling easier as he smiled down at me, I couldn't help return it. "Good things I hope?"

"We tried to restrain ourselves," Scorpio muttered dryly.

I ignored him and sat down when the God of Cancer offered me a chair. "I do apologize for springing this on you, but I felt we really did need to thank you for all you're doing for Leo."

Again I was a little uneasy with what they were suggesting. "Filing and paperwork mostly."

"Oh it's much more than that," Cancer shook his head. "Leo seems brighter, almost fully restored. We are grateful for whatever help you are offering. I can only do so much in his absence; we really do need him at full power and back at the Ministry. His presence alone gets so much done."

It was then that I recalled Taurus' words. How Leo was powerful. How only the Almighty could hold him back if he ever unleashed his full power. But defiling a goddess. That had been the reason he'd been thrown down to our world. To be honest, I hadn't even had the courage to bring it up with him. But if he was getting better and was almost ready to return, maybe I should have asked him. Or maybe ask Cancer. He seemed so nice and normal.

But I couldn't.

The door to the parlor was slapped open and he strode in imperiously. "Let's get this over with."

"Good of you to join us Leo," Cancer smiled amicably.

I opened my mouth to greet him, but his eyes never even sought me out as he stood in the door way, one hand on his hip, hair slanting across his face as he glared at Cancer. "We're still here."

"For once," Scorpio was on his feet first, "I am with the Lion on this. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back to our lives."

Leo's brow darkened as he looked at the other god still sitting with me. "Still here," he scowled.

Cancer's smile faded a little as he stood and offered me a hand graciously. It was a nice change. I had gotten used to Leo's brusque arrogance. "Let's go Miss Walker, before my angry friend decides to ditch us for a dalliance instead."

If the others noticed, they didn't comment. Leo's jaw hardened, but his eyes remained impassive. "Yeah. My weekend is waiting in my bed. You lot better not keep me late."

Something clenched tightly in my chest and I cleared my throat to disguise the soft heave of breath I drew. It was a game. Some part of me screamed that Leo was just living up to his name. Of all the time we'd spent together, he had never had a muse anywhere near his room. It was irrationally female of me to feel jealous. Not only was he beyond anything I could have, I had nothing to be jealous of.

But the stupid human heart continued to ache.

The party itself was a lovely dinner set up in the beautiful dining hall of the mansion. A few emissary gods came and went through the evening almost as if the night was one of free mingling. I was introduced to a stern looking god with a nearly violet ponytail. He was Libra as I found out unfortunately. His violet eyes seemed to follow me, narrowing as they examined my simple blue dress and tight ponytail. I saw him speak with Cancer who merely smiled at him in response and pat his shoulder. Eventually Pisces and Gemini explained that he was Cancer's counterpart for the department of punishments. It was his job to keep things in balance. To see that justice was done.

His job was an important one, but I didn't like him.

What was worse, Leo never once came up to talk to me.

If I had been another woman I would have lamented that he didn't want to speak with me.

I stood by the door sipping on a glass of wine and bid my time. Finally, he wandered around the room and came within arm's length.

His surprise was nearly palpable as I reached for his wrist with one hand, and for the doorknob behind me with the other. He didn't get time to protest as I dragged him out of the room, hopefully inconspicuously. Outside the hall was silent as I pulled him away from the door and into an alcove with a big leafy planter. "What the hell is your problem?" I hissed silently.

For a moment, he stood there, his wrist still in my hand, his mouth slightly parted in shock before and auburn eyebrow arched. "How very forward of you."

When he invaded my personal space, trapping me against the curving wall of the alcove, his hands braced on the white plaster, I mustered up my resolve and shoved him back into place. "Cut it out. I'm not falling for your façade. You've been ignoring me all evening as if this was my fault. You think I wanted to sacrifice a nice restful night of sleep, my first since I met you and your incessant need to call at odd hours? What gives!"

Surprise melting into irritation he crossed his arms and looked down his nose at me. "You think you're important enough for me to personally ignore?"

"Enough." This time it was his space I invaded and glared up at him, relishing the widening of his eyes and the part of his mouth. "No more male posturing Leo. No one else is watching. This is me. The woman who has been listening to you barking orders about paperwork and filing and coffees you never need. The woman who's food you've been stealing. You have emptied my fridge, thank you very much. I survive on toast and water now! I think we're beyond the point where you prove to me what an asshole you really are, because I'm already wise to you."

His caramel eyes became cold and guarded. "You know nothing about me."

"I know that there's no weekend waiting for you in your bed. I also know that your constant need to prove you're a womanizing jerk is tiresome. What I don't know is how you managed to get yourself evicted from heaven for something that has no meaning to you."

For a moment I saw fear chase hope in his eyes before he scowled and looked away, a hand running through his hair. "Meddlesome Goldfish."

"Fess up."

He watched me with growing interest for a few seconds before his mouth twisted into a smirk. "Clever girl. Fine." My heart was about to do cartwheels when his hand closed around my wrist and he pulled me through the hallway. "But not here."

"I'm not the fly to your spider."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to defile you. I've had plenty of opportunity if I wanted."

"How very lucky I am."

"Just shut up and follow me. Loud mouth woman," he muttered shaking his head as we headed for the door to the mansion. My feet smoked to a stop, when he opened the door into complete blackness. Head snapping around, he frowned at me. "What?"

"Taurus said no one can follow you in there."

An eyebrow rose. "No one I want."

This time when he pulled, I let him draw me to the door and then through it.

Eyes adjusting to the blackness and then the sudden flare of light, I gasped as the scene spread out in front of me.

There was no way to describe it.

I had never seen more beautiful scenery. We stood in a field of the most beautifully fragrant marigolds, a rolling brook in the distance, a tall leafy giant of a tree with an old rope swing, and a splash of orange, gold and blue in the sky. "Is this heaven?"

There was a soft chuckle behind me and I felt him move beside me and lower himself into a clear patch of grass. "Actually, this is a part of your world. A secluded part of Kashmir. Parts, your warring, haven't defiled."

I blinked down at him. "You are such a hypocrite."

Yanking me down beside him and languished there in the setting sun like it was second nature for him to be there. "I am what I am."

We were silent for a while. Each absorbing our surroundings in our own way. Eventually he chose to speak. "I didn't defile the goddess as everyone seems to believe."

"I'm starting to see that."

He slanted his eyes to me and snorted. "You see a lot apparently."

Wrapping my arms around my knees, I watched him patiently.

Scowling he ran a hand through his hair and continued reluctantly. "She kept insisting she was in love with me." He waited for me to interrupt, but I only shook my head and he sighed. "I told her what I told you. That there was no such thing, that it was pointless human drivel and she kept pushing. Eventually I just got tired of it, so I made her fall in love with a human instead. Just to get her out of my hair."

"And that defiled her, how?"

"Not in a way anyone understood. She was stripped of her rank and powers. She went a little mad after that."

I frowned. "I don't follow."

"Gods are forbidden to love one human exclusively. That defeats the whole purpose of our benevolence."

I stared at him. "Are you saying…"

"We cannot fall in love. So you see," he shrugged and lay back against the fragrant grass, "I am right not to believe in something I cannot do anyway."

I sat there teetering on the edge of protesting, but what? There was nothing I could say. For him to lay it bare like that I suddenly had no idea what to say. And as the dull ache in my chest began to build, I realized why.

It was all kinds of stupid to fall in love with Leo, the Wild Lion of the Heavens.

When we returned to the dining room, many of the party goers had left. Leo and I stayed silent. I smiled politely. He stood gazing out of the window, his jaw hard.

Nothing was spoken between us, but I had a feeling he knew what I wanted to say.

Perhaps it was beater we kept the distance for now.

I thanked Cancer and let Taurus and Gemini walk me back to the door that lead me back home.

"Libra is on to you."

I froze with my hand on the doorknob. Turning to Gemini's softly spoken warning, I met his eyes. "I've done nothing that requires his scales of justice."

Taurus' eyes were sad as he smiled. "Perhaps not deliberately. But do not worry Goldie. We've held him off this long. You can have until it's over."

Something prickled behind my eyes. I had this insane need to slap him or hug him. I couldn't decide. I turned and wordlessly went back to my own world.

The day beyond went by as usual. Monday morning had me helping Sara prepare for her big date. Leo called on me once or twice and when I showed up late to tell him what I'd been doing, he insisted we visit the couple one last time.

"There's no point left to prove Leo."

"Even so. We've got to see this to the end."

I grit my teeth, unhappy with how everyone couldn't stop talking about 'ends.'

We took a seat in the darkness in the highest row above the stage. Below us, the mp3 player was playing 'Moonriver' and Sara was pouring Sean some wine. It still felt wrong to intrude on them and I told Leo we'd leave at the first hint of skin.

"Goldfish, you cheated."

I rolled my eyes and returned the programs back into the pockets of the seats in front of us. It was like he had to touch everything. "I only made a suggestion for the venue! Stop it!" I smacked his hand and glared when he reached for another one.

"You're giving her an advantage."

"He's going to propose to her, I'm just setting the stage. The planetarium is closed, and it's a beautiful starry night."

"Meddler."

Leaning back in my seat I watched Sara and Sean talk softly. "This coming from the god that nearly got them arrested for indecent exposure," I whispered acidly.

"At least that was fun to watch."

"It's just a picnic, we can go."

"No, no, we must endure through this nonsense to complete our bet."

I stilled beside him. "I didn't bet anything."

Turning his head, he watched me, his honey eyes nearly black in the darkness. "Didn't you?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Satisfied with rendering me speechless he went back to watching the couple on the stage. "We should have brought popcorn."

I put my head in my hand. "Only you would be thinking with your stomach at a time like this."

"Mmmm, well now you're right. That should prompt something other than hunger for food."

I looked up startled as Sean pushed my friend onto her back.

"Dear god, enough." Rising out of my chair, I nearly yelped when he caught my hand. "Stop," I hissed. "I can't see this!"

His teeth gleamed in the dark, eyes still on the stage. "I can. She's got her tongue down his throat and he's touching her left breast."

"Shut up!" I muttered and blushed futilely pulling on his fingers so he could release me but his grip was like iron manacles. "Let go! I don't need a play by play."

"My, but she does make lovely sounds."

That was when I heard the soft muffled cry. "That doesn't sound happy." Spinning around I looked down on the stage to see Sean pinning Sara's wrists above her head, the other hand wrapped around her mouth. "Oh my god, she's struggling."

Leo frowned. "I thought she was caught in throes of…"

"No she's not!" I ran to the steps that would lead us down. "Leo! Stop him!"

Leo sighed and stood up as I thundered down the steps. "And I rest my case."

Sean looked up in surprise as Leo stepped out of the darkness of the seats and stalked up to him with crystal clear intent. "What the…"

"I did not think with all the blessings of prowess and skill, you would have to force a lady."

"Storm!" Sara scrambled out from under him and ran into my arms where I stood beside Leo. Her eyes streaked with tears, her lipstick smeared, I held her tightly, my own body shaking when I realized what almost happened.

"Shhh," I whispered into her hair. "It's okay. You're ok."

"How did you know to come back?"

I watched Sean come up to his feet before Leo. "Later Sara, we'll talk later."

"Back off pal. This has nothing to do with you."

"I'm afraid this woman's wishes are my business and it and seems she wishes to have nothing to do with you." Leo smirked and looked down his nose at the once beautiful man. Now with his eyes ablaze and sneering face he looked nothing like the man we'd worked with.

"This is between me and Sara, so I suggest you piss off."

When Sean moved to bypass Leo, the tall auburn haired god shoved him back in place.

Sean's eyes caught fire. I saw the intent even before he could turn it into action. Reaching out I slid my hand on Leo's shoulder and I heard a sharp snap of his fingers. His punch stopping in midair, Sean cried out as his knees gave out under him and he was down on the stage almost as if in prayer.

"You dare raise your hand to me." Leo's eyes were turquoise as he bore down on the man, his hand now firmly around mine. My other arm wrapped around Sara as Sean stared up at him in horrified awe. "Did you think you would be fit enough to touch a hair on my head you sniveling little insect."

"P…please!" Sean sputtered, straining against the hold Leo had on him.

"Leo," I tugged on his hand. For a moment, his eyes were wild and untamed as they turned to me, but then they seemed to waver and go back to their warm honey gold. He nodded and took a step back, but his hand was still wrapped tightly in mine.

I met Sean's eyes. "You will hear from our lawyer tomorrow morning Mr. Preston and if you take one step towards Sara again, I will gut you where you stand."

Leo's even were feral again. "One little brain massage. Just for good measure. What do you think Goldfish?"

"No."

He arched an eyebrow. "You realize I only asked in jest."

I didn't know what he meant. Did he mean to joke about it, or that it was joke that he wanted my approval. Either way, I shook my head and gestured down to the shaking woman in my arms. "First thing's first. And our mortal justice isn't that elusive either. It is better not to let it go too far or he'll end up in the nut house."

"He would be deserving." The god sneered down at the trembling human who recoiled and shut his eyes, tears now running down nose as he groveled there.

"Leo," my voice held warning and he seemed to scowl and heed it. "I think we need to get her home."

His eyes ran over us once before looking down at the sniveling man. "Fine." With a squeeze of my hand and a snap the world changed around us.

I blinked startled when I realized he'd returned us to my apartment and Leo was nowhere in sight. With a sigh, I rubbed Sara's arms. "Feel like a shower?"

She nodded with a soft sniff and I propelled her gently to the door. "I'll get some coffee going, then maybe we can order some take away. I'll leave a change of clothes on the bed. Come outside when you're dressed."

Sara turned and wrapped her arms around me tightly. "Thank you," she mumbled again and again.

I hugged her back.

Memories of my first encounter with Leo in the throne room flashed before my eyes. A flash of the panic slanted through me. The possibilities. The consequences. And I knew what Sara was feeling. The balance really was off sometimes. The world wasn't right side up many of the times.

And yet, I'd come away from that place with Leo into something different. Much more…something.

Sara and I took the night and the next day to recover.

Leo never called me once.

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To be continued…