Chapter 4

5:00 am

Wow! Man, does my body hurt or what?! Layna thought as her amber eyes slowly began to open to see nothing but dark objects. Where the hell am I? How did I get here?! Layna felt the grip of fear around her and couldn't help but begin to panic. Suddenly something moved! It was near what looked to be a hearth! Layna went rigid hoping the thing was just a part of her imagination and would go away if she didn't think about it, but it didn't! It was moving towards her! Layna began to shake with fear now. She had never known of fear because she was always the one doing the scaring.

The creature moved with such grace and yet masculinity. The thing was right next to her so Layna squeezed her eyes closed, maybe if she didn't see it the thing wouldn't be real! Then she felt the wetness of something on her forehead. Oh gods! It's licking me for its feast!! What do I do? The creature purred something that she missed. Layna opened one eye then noticed the light behind the creature. But the creature wasn't something to be feared it was a man! And the so called tongue was a washcloth! Man do I feel like an idiot! Layna stared at the ceiling feeling her cheeks begin to turn red from embarrassment.

The man dunked the cloth into the basin and then squeezed so access water wouldn't soak her. He had short dark brown hair and blue hazel eyes. He looked at her and smiled while wiping her forehead.

"Sorry about the scare there! I was just supposed to be gone for a moment and you were supposed to be up later than now." He said explaining why he was there to Layna. Oh I get it! He was supposed to watch over me while I was passed out!! And he was just wiping the sweat from my brow! WOW! Nice guy! Layna smiled as best as she could feeling her cheek sting from it. That punch was really strong but I didn't think it was that bad! Geez the falcons have gotten stronger!

"It's okay!" Layna said trying not to wince from the pains she was feeling. She relaxed her back but it was still hurting. Wow that attack from behind must have done a better number than she thought it had. Then she noticed the sling her arm was in. She looked up at the man with a puzzled look on her face. He looked over and smiled noticing her face.

"You broke your wing and your shoulder blade. That is the reason for the sling you have on your arm." He replied to her silent question. He placed the cloth on her forehead to help cool her off. She could feel the mugginess of the night all over her face and her bare shoulders. Thank Zeus they had the decency to cover her chest up! She could feel the blackness begin to form in the back of her mind once she realized the scent of the water he had used. It had a strong yet subtle smell to it…like sandalwood does! They were lulling her to sleep with sandalwood! But how did they know she liked sandalwood?

Layna felt her eyes fully close as she laid there taking deep breathes of the scent she loved so much. Layna also felt the pain ebb as she fell back to sleep. No pain was nice to her! Never had anyone but her mother and father done this for her! She always did it for her soldiers but when she needed the same thing done it was like she never existed. But when she was chosen to be the new guardian of Hades castle wow did everything change. It changed to the point she had her mother and father stop announcing it to people.

Layna felt the hand of the man push back stray strands of hair from her face before doing nothing more than watch over her. She felt the bed dip a bit the felt the sling be removed before a new one was replaced as well as bandages she never noticed before. Then another scent caught her…it was the smell only someone of significant power had. It must be the lord saying he wanted her out of the castle because she's too weak now! But what happened next she never knew a god was possible of doing. He stroked her arm!

An hour later Layna woke up once more but this time she didn't feel as sore as she had when she woke up an hour before. Her arm was still in a sling and, her shoulder and back was still sore but not to the point it was excruciating. She also noticed the scent of strength that she had smelt before. Her eyes cracked open so she could see who it was but they couldn't see she was awake. Her eyes opened farther when she saw who was in the chair next to the hearth. It was Hades! The god who wanted her to become a guardian!

Layna turned her head to the side making it look like she was resting still and happened to toss her head to that side. She stared and watched him as he looked at the hearth. She noticed that he didn't have his toga slung over his broad chest. His eight-pack shown in the light and it appeared he had just come from doing something to make him sweat. She glanced up at his face. Gray blue eyes were below perfect eyebrows and resting on high cheek bones. His nose was straight and strong. His chin and jaw were strong as well. His features were like chiseled stone. His lips were what caught her interest most though. They were a shade pinker than his tan skin. Layna inwardly sighed as she watched his hand slide through his shoulder length hair. He had it freely hanging over his face yet it looked good on him especially when she watched how his arm muscles rippled from that small movement.

Those movements are small but they show a lot! Layna returned to watching his face when she realized his gray blue eyes were locked onto her face. She weakly smiled as he stood up and stalked over to her bedside. He gently sat down and began looking at her shoulder. Up close he is more beautiful than Apollo has ever been! And his scent is just as good! A scent perfect of fitting a perfect god! Layna watched him as his brow furrowed then smooth out when he saw it was healing the way it should be. His eyes softened and then were turned on her. He smiled softly then pushed stray strands of hair from her face before stroking her chin and cheek.

She sighed before leaning into his hand and purred. He leaned close and then gently kissed her forehead. She watched as he pulled away then pulled the cloth from the basin and wipe her shoulder before removing the bandages and placing new ones on to it. She watched as his hands, large as they were, smooth the bandages so they were protecting the wounds there. His hands were rough but they never added more strength unless needed to. Layna watched as he worked diligently before beginning to stroke her hair. Lulling Layna to sleep wasn't something people would have done before but having someone do it was what made Layna smile genuinely. Soon Layna was asleep for the third time that day.