Page 16 of Eris

"I have claimed you. 'Like' has nothing to do with it. For this service you will perform for me, you will have my protection for your lifetime and beyond. I will see you taken to Elysium myself," Eris said, and the vow twisted around her heart.

"I don't know why someone claiming to protect me is working for me right now," Enzo whispered. He leaned over and kissed her gently on both cheeks. "Thank you, Eris. No one has ever tried to protect me before. It's always the other way around."

Eris wanted to curl into his hard heat and lick the flickering pulse at his neck. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Their night wasn't over, and they didn't have time to go where a kiss might have taken them.

"We... We need to go," she said and stepped away from him, removing her hand from the scar. Her stomach clenched with fear as she watched him pull a shirt on. He could have died, and she never would have known him or had a chance to break her curse. She could feel the vow binding them together, and shewouldprotect him from now on. No matter what happened.

Enzo lifted his duffle and grinned at her. "Okay, goddess, let's go say goodbye to Bianca and start our quest."

Eris nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Enzo's hand rested briefly on the small of her back as he closed the apartment door behind them. Bianca's laughter tinkled through the rooms, and Enzo sighed. "You got a man to look after her, didn't you?"

Eris grinned. "Why? Are you worried you're going to end up with a new nonno?"

"Don't even put the idea in my head," Enzo whispered by her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine.

"Enzo, darling, come and meet Claudius," Bianca called.

Claudius was sitting on a chair beside hers and looked comfortable being there.

Enzo looked between them and gave Claudius a level stare. "Don't play cards with her, or she will take all of your money and all of your clothes."

Bianca clucked her tongue. "Do not listen to him, Claudius. I would never take your money. Your clothes on the other hand…"

Claudius and Eris laughed. Enzo just slapped a hand over his face.

"Just behave yourself while I'm gone, nonna," he said and moved to kiss her cheek.

Bianca held his face between her hands. "I have never behaved a day in my life, and I am not about to start now,nipote.Maybe you shouldn't behave either, hmm? Have fun on your trip."

"I will message you if we have any reception at the stops," Enzo promised her. He gave Claudius another stern look. "I'm serious. No gambling. Make sure she eats something proper occasionally."

"She will be in safe hands. So will the bar." Claudius held out his hand, and Enzo dropped his keys into it. "You are Rom's family, which means you are my family too. You don't have to worry about anything. Except for Eris. Always worry about Eris."

Eris smirked. "Wise advice, wolf."

"Eris doesn't scare me," Enzo said and smiled softly at her. "She's claimed me, after all. It's everyone else that needs to be worried."

"Did she now? How interesting," Claudius replied, his eyes full of mischief and delight.

"Time to leave," Eris said and finally hustled Enzo out of the apartment.

Downstairs, he stood by her car and glanced up at the apartments. He looked tired and worried. "I hope she's going to take it easy on him."

"He handled Roman senators at the height of their power. I'm sure he can handle your grandmother," Eris tried to reassure him.

Enzo only shook his head. "That's because you don't know her."

CHAPTER TEN

Eris managed to get Enzo out of the car and into a bed before he completely passed out. They would sleep at Rom's apartment near his ship dock in Ostia for what remained of the night and the following day, supply the ship, and set sail.

Eris was too wired to sleep. The last few days were a blur, and she couldn't quite believe she had a way to finally break her curse. She went to the apartment's small bar and poured herself a drink. She paced the apartment before sticking her head into the bedroom. Enzo was sprawled out and fast asleep as if a group of immortals hadn't turned his life completely upside down.

Satisfied that he was out cold, Eris grabbed her phone and went outside onto the balcony. The sea and sky were still dark, and she let the roar of the waves calm her. As a daughter of Nyx, this was her time. She just hoped that others would be awake too.

Eris dialed Thoth's number and hoped he hadn't abandoned it on some bookshelf in his house of many corridors. Kema was good at making sure he kept it with him, but Thoth was the oldest of them all and rarely gave modern technology much attention.

"Eris? Is everything okay?" Thoth asked, his voice distracted.

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