Page 57 of Curses & Keys
Hawthorne swivels around and grabs my hand. He pulls me over to the temple wall where the key and panel were excavated and squats down. “Like this one?”
Above the carefully dug hole, the Hephaestus’ mark is etched into the Pentelic marble. I hold my palm up to the wall. The size fits. “Exactly like that one.”
Hawthorne laces his fingers with mine and pulls me along the wall. “There are more. Carefully hidden in obscure places. I was trying to understand why the builders would place these tiny emblems everywhere.” He points to several. “Here. Here. Here.”
“We have the original wall. Do you want to see it?” Rupert asks, brimming with excitement. “We thought there might be more panels, so we excavated it. We didn’t find anything but kept the wall. It was going to be donated to a museum when we were finished. All above board, I assure you.”
Hawthorne opens his mouth but then closes it. “It’s your call. We don’t know what will happen… maybe nothing. Maybe something. I remember the world before the gods left, and it wasn’t a good place. Supernaturals were persecuted simply for existing.”
Damn.I never really thought about it from the perspective of the supernaturals. They locked me away during the first ten years of the “war.” The gods fought brutally to keep the human world intact, but when it proved too much, they settled for a treaty and agreed to withdraw from the world. That’s when they decided to make me an offer, which I took. I was the perfectspy. Supernatural enough to blend in if I needed to but human enough that I cared about protecting humans and this world. What if this is leading to their return? A shudder rips through me. I like the world how it is. Without them.
I bite my lip. The wheels are already in motion, and I’m not sure I can stop them. Whatever their plan is… I’m a part of it.
“Yes, let’s see the wall,” I hesitantly agree. “I don’t think their intent is to hurt me. As Gatlin guessed, mygifts…came from them.” I hate that word. Gifts. Maybe I shouldn’t have confirmed Gatlin’s theory, but if I’m right and the gods are involved, I’m going to need their help to figure this out.
The four of them share a loaded look, making me tense, but the small smile on Jamison’s face tells me he’s not mad about it. In fact, he seems sort of happy. Although if Mathias and Hawthorne knew the whole story, they would hate me.
Hawthorne pulls me closer. “Whatever happens, we won’t let you face it alone.”
I lift a shoulder, trying to be nonchalant. “I won’t hold you to that if the world turns upside down.”
Mahogany brows draw together, but Rupert arrives with the wall before he can say whatever he was thinking. I mean it, though. If—when they find out who I am, I know they won’t stay.
Rupert sets the wall down on the stone altar. “Here you go.” Hawthorne and I move closer to the marble slab.
Henry returns with a laptop and quickly disappears again. A second later, one of the members follows him in with a small table. Gatlin, Mathias, and Jamison gather around it to read through the information the society found on the group they sold the panel to so they can compare it with their intel.
I bend over and slide my hand up the cool marble. It’s remarkably well-preserved for its age. As my left hand nears the symbol, it heats up, and the brand appears. Passing overHephaestus’ mark on the marble, a glow connects the two symbols but fades a second later.
“Hmm,” Hawthorne murmurs. “It definitely triggered something.”
“Maybe the brand is a key,” Rupert interjects. “We found the symbol all over the temple. If you pass over the right one, perhaps it leads to a secret door or something.”
Ancient biometrics? Hephaestus’ was always creating something new. Is there something at the temple he wants me to find? In the sketch Doran did, he was one of the gods depicted on the panel. My gut churns as the tug of destiny pulls me in that direction.
Jamison comes over to stand next to us. “We made a connection between the training camp in Greece Gatlin discovered a while back and the group who originally bought the panel. Based on our surveillance, the camp is full of soldiers, though. I’ll need to brief the council in order to get additional security teams assigned so we can conduct a raid.”
“And that means I need to find somewhere else to go for a while,” I conclude with a rueful smile. “Fortunately, I think I know where that might be.” I point to the marble slab and the symbol. “The temple is full of these brands. I need to know if one of them leads to anything.”
Jamison’s brows draw together. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone.”
Hawthorne places a hand on my back. “I’m going with her. From what I know of the gods, I doubt they’ll make this easy to find. Two experts are better than one. And you know I’m quite capable of keeping her safe.”
Jamison gives a decisive nod. “Gatlin will hate the fact we’re splitting up, but it’s the right call. Take every precaution. This group is ten steps ahead of us. If anything appears remotely suspicious, find a safe place to wait it out. We’ll come for you.”
I glance from one determined man to the other. “If anyone wants to know what I think…” Both of them fold their arms across their chests and turn to face me, and I throw up my hands in surrender. “I agree. I agree. Besides, it will be fun having another academic nerd with me on this adventure.” I slide my arm around Hawthorne’s waist, and his face lights up with a broad smile.
Green eyes sparkle with anticipation, like he can barely contain his excitement over visiting an ancient temple. I see why the tabloids follow him around. Elven royalty is only a tiny part of his appeal. The passion he exudes for discovery and the world is intoxicating. He quite literally takes my breath away.
Jamison clears his throat and looks at Rupert. “Besides Henry, not a word to anyone on where she’s going. For her safety, it’s imperative nobody knows.”
Rupert straightens and flashes his fangs in anger. “We’re the last people who would ever put her in danger. Of course, we won’t tell anyone.”
Jamison gives a satisfied nod, then turns to me. “Can you call Maverick? You’ll need a jet for all the gear. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going until you’re on the way.”
“I’ll get Mercer to drop off the supplies we’ll need,” I tell him, my thoughts racing to make a list of everything.
He scowls. “Who the bloody hell is Mercer?”
