Caitlin Goddess of Peace Read online

‘And voted against you and our sons!’ exclaimed Rhea.

  ‘Clearly, a legal alliance was formed as they have half the planet Rulers’ vote of approval.’ He bent to cup his wife’s chin. ‘My love, I have no choice, I will not lose our son to the Ice Worlds. If Pluto cannot stay with us, then we go to war and take over Mercury.’

  ‘Why Mercury? Hades knows nothing about the working of Mercury or vice versa. Hermes will not surrender or swap. I don’t know about this, Cronus. What are our boys saying?’ Rhea’s tone was high.

  Cronus didn’t like his wife upset, but this entire new law was unacceptable, and his sons agreed. ‘Zeus and Poseidon are with me. They believe as I do that Hades will find his feet. Mercury has similarities as it is the first port of call for the deceased. The departed are escorted by Mercury to the River Styx and shipped across to Hades’ Kingdom. Hades will now be on the front line and who better than Hades to advise the new ruler, Hermes of Pluto, on the judgment of their fate before sending them to the underworld?’ He had put a lot of thought into it and was positive he had covered all angles as the Ruler of Saturn. The planets would still run smoothly once the transition took place.

  ‘Yes, Hermes will need help.’ Her lips curled, which showed she was still worried.

  Cronus turned to the mirror and studied the formal attire. ‘He is only a conductor of souls through his planet. Hades is aware he will need to assist Hermes for quite some time, but we feel this is the only choice we have. He too will find his feet in time as we all have. Even gods can change.’

  The grin that spread across her face and a raised eyebrow, made him smile. ‘Well, I’d like to think I have changed a little.’

  She stood. ‘You have, only slightly,’ she said and poked her husband’s stomach teasingly. ‘I will trust you to share with me every detail this time. No secrets.’

  He took her finger and kissed it sensually. ‘I will. I promised last time, no more cloak-and-dagger from me and I meant it.’

  ‘There is no talking you out of this course of action? You will have to go up against Ares, God of War, and Zoren.’

  ‘Yes, wife of mine. Zoren’s army will be difficult to deal with if he dispatches them, but I hear the Cloud Riders are kept busy these days with the Star Worlds, and it would be a stretch to have them handle the planets too. No, I can safely say we will deal with this in-house, so to speak.’ He grinned and teased, ‘Zoren’s team, really, they aren’t exactly equipped to handle us gods.’

  A squeaky door stopped their conversation. It was their most faithful of servants. ‘Sorry to interrupt. Your sons have arrived. I tried to steer them to your chambers as requested, but they have gone straight to the Shangri-la bar. Zeus instructed I get the hell out of there and let them be.’

  ‘That will be all, we are on our way.’ Cronus said with a note of concern as the servant quickly bowed his way out of the room. ‘Sounds like our boys are in low spirits. We must go to them.’

  He turned back to Rhea. ‘I have worked too hard over the years to repair the rift within our families and refuse to have this new law disrupt and separate our Home Worlds!’ He folded his arms stubbornly as he watched the door close, waiting for privacy. ‘No, I will not let this happen to us again!’ His words were sharp and deadly as he kept his notorious temper in check, his worry for the situation apparent. He put out his hand. ‘Come my sweet, and let us work through this as a family.’

  With a lace cloth, Rhea wiped her tears, threw it aside, and took his outstretched hands. ‘Don’t let them spoil that which has taken us so long to mend, husband of mine.’

  He kissed the softness of her lips. ‘Never again.’

  Chapter One

  The Encounter

  Caitlin stood outside a city nightclub. ‘I repeat, my name is Caitlin Warner.’ She had snapped a nail and Caitlin’s tone reflected her mood while giving the required details to the cab company. A glance at her watch left her worried as it was nearly midnight which meant she had been out of it for a couple of hours and was still in a dazed state. Where are my friends? Only minutes ago, she’d woken in the women’s cubical. The throbbing of her head, poor vision and dizziness forced her lean body to slump against the wall of the nightclub. Suddenly not able to stay conscious, she fell forward and collapsed.

  She felt the warmth of a body near her when she regained consciousness. Gradually, the sight of a stranger with a handsome face came into focus. He smiled with eyes that captivated, the streetlight bright enough for her to distinguish the depth and darkness of colour. A dark curl licked at his forehead as he leant down to see if she was hurt. His soft and kind features made her want to stay just a while, even if only to find out his name.

  ‘Are you okay?’ He joined her on the steps where she now sat.

  Caitlin held her breath at the touch of his hands while he felt for injuries. His lips broke into a smile as he turned her hand one way and the other. ‘You are sitting straighter now and appear a bit better. Nothing is broken. I must have caught you in time.’

  Caitlin stretched fully. The sensation of him so close made her light-headed. Trying to stand up, she quickly sat back down, overcome by dizziness once again.

  ‘Not too fast there, love,’ he said calmly. ‘You’ve just fainted. Do you know what happened to bring it on?’

  Caitlin groaned. ‘I think it was something I drank, although I only had a diet cola.’

  She thought him sweet the way worry lines creased his forehead. ‘Are you on your own?’

  ‘No, I was with friends, but they seem to have ditched me, the ratbags.’ She took the phone he handed her, which was now in pieces from her fall on the pavement.

  ‘And you call them friends! Maybe consider getting new ones if they can’t be reliable.’

  She got up and pulled out of his grip. ‘Thanks for your help but I’m fine now. Hope I didn’t inconvenience you too much, but a lecture is a bit more than I am in the mood for right now.’ With a huff, she turned to walk away. I hardly need some well-dressed, probably rich-dude-know-it-all telling me who I should and shouldn’t associate with. She staggered just a little, heading towards the cab that arrived. This wobble had him return to her side, ignoring her rudeness, helping her once more.

  ‘I apologise if I’ve upset you, but you really do need help. Let’s get you into that cab and home first before you fall down yet again.’ This time he spoke so amicably that she gave in and leant against him, her legs unsteady. She was grateful for an arm to rest on.

  In the cab, Caitlin considered the dangers of this stranger, in fact, any unknown person, finding out her address, but, somehow, she didn’t feel this man was a threat to her. She could see he genuinely looked concerned and was merely a kind stranger doing what he must have thought a good deed, lending a hand to a helpless damsel.

  In the elevator that headed up to her small apartment, she suddenly felt embarrassed for her modest lifestyle. Caitlin wasn’t one for possessions and now wished she had listened to her friends and used her money more wisely instead of blowing it on fun.

  She fumbled with her keys, dropping them. The stranger bent and picked them up for her. Propping her up with one hand, he managed to open the door with the other. He helped her inside and laid her on the couch, placing a pillow under her head. Caitlin couldn’t stop smiling at him each time he did something nice.

  ‘Coffee?’ he asked, heading to the kitchen.

  ‘You don’t have to do that, really, I’m fine now.’ She watched him switching on the kettle, ignoring her.

  ‘You already told me you were fine when you walked away from me the first time. I think I am a better judge of whether you are or not. Until I think otherwise you are just going to have to put up with me looking after you. I do promise not to annoy you this time.’

  Caitlin lay back and closed her eyes. She must have dozed off again. It wasn’t until she felt him touch her forehead that
she opened her eyes and realised he had made the coffee.

  She sat up, apologising for only having one sofa as furniture. Unconcerned, he squeezed in beside her and handed her the coffee. ‘I wasn’t sure how you liked it. You didn’t answer me so hot and sweet it is. Hope that’s okay?’

  Caitlin watched his large hands wrap around the cup and for some reason imagined being held by them. She shook it off, trying to concentrate on his conversation. He was telling her he was only in town for the night.

  ‘I was supposed to meet someone at that club bar, but a late conference held me up.’ He leant over, placing his cup on the coffee table. ‘Talk about a fluke that I was there in time to catch you before you hit the pavement.’ He smiled.

  ‘Might have been messy, thanks, Mr…’

  With that, he stood up, taking her cup, ducking her lead to find out a little about him.

  ‘I’ll just clean up and once you’re comfortable, then I must get going.’ His movements were quick, but his boots seemed to make no sound on the tiled floor. She chatted while he tidied up the kitchen, and his interest in her mundane life surprised her.

  Once he finished, she stood and stretched. Her intention was to walk him to the door.

  ‘Now you look better, I’ll head off and let you get some rest.’

  His movement towards the door at the same time had their hands touch lightly, the electricity making them grab at each other, both swept away in a moment neither expected.

  He stared deep into innocent eyes. This is wrong, his mind whispered, but his heart ignored the warning. It pumped rapidly in a wild yearning and with an arm around a tiny perfect waist, he pulled her close. He was unable to stop the magnetic forces that drew his lips to hers, longing to taste those plump pink delicacies that moved to entice him each time she spoke. At that moment he was lost in a magical kiss like no other. He lingered his tongue longer than he should as sexual lust gripped his groin and pulsated through his manhood. He groaned. Cripes, did I just orgasm? His eyes opened in shock. This has never happened before. Is she some kind of witch, putting a spell on me? I must leave immediately. Yet try as he willed it, his lips did not leave hers until he had lifted the maiden and laid her on the bed. In a dreamlike state, he used a poor excuse to leave. She curled her lip at his lame pretext. Her confused yet disappointed stare had him back pedal and he made an effort to make amends for the need to leave so suddenly.

  ‘Look, I have a prior commitment.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘I promise to contact you when I’m in town next, that’s if you still want to see me again.’

  His calm voice told her nothing. He’s lying to get away. Caitlin’s temper shot up as she assumed this was his way of letting her down gently. Me, my home, the kiss, weren’t flash enough for a dude like him.

  ‘Don’t bother lying to me. Just admit I’m not good enough for your kind. Just get the hell out.’ She rolled over, turning her back on him.

  He started to protest, only she put a pillow over her head. ‘Get out!’ she growled at him and heard loud footsteps as he stomped out the front door.

  * * * *

  The next morning Caitlin moaned with the painful throb in her head and remembering the events, added embarrassment to her list of why she wished to stay in bed. There was no reason she could now justify for being so rude to her mystery man. All he did was care for her and give her a kiss. She, in turn, had treated him poorly for his kindness. She had to admit it was a shock to feel like that about him. Caitlin had never been so attracted and kicked herself for not asking his name. Did I tell him mine?

  Getting ready for work, she agonised over his departure that left him nameless. Usually, it was her who backed off and did the hurting. Sadly, she knew how it felt.

  The trip to work made her feel no healthier. Whatever it was, had really bombed her out. The elevator doors opened up to show her best friend, Rory, and his new girlfriend, Bree. Both had that, where did you get to? look.

  ‘Don’t give me that, what happened to you guys last night? I came out of the ladies’ and you were gone,’ Caitlin snapped before they could speak, still peeved.

  Rory’s mouth opened, unsure what to say. She had stumped him at his own game. She knew he would have been rushing to get Bree out as it was the first night she had finally let herself go with him. Man, was she going to make him suffer for doing this to her. They had never been romantic, but this felt wrong, unacceptable!

  ‘We thought you’d left before us. We thought you ditched us.’ Bree’s tone sounded surprised that this was not the case.

  Rory’s arm shot off Bree’s shoulder. The actions showed his annoyance that his sister had let him down. ‘Lisha, you can’t trust that girl! She insisted the stalls were all empty and that you weren’t in there. Sorry Cait, did you get home all right?’

  She sighed. Rory’s sister was a bit of an airhead at times. Lisha wouldn’t think if a door was closed and no one answered, that hey, the person in there may be passed out.

  What was making Caitlin cross was Rory’s behaviour. Rory was Caitlin’s closest friend. It was only now she realised how her indifference towards his more than friendship advances had forced him to look elsewhere. Bree was a newcomer and he had scored with her. Now, as Rory stood with his arm around her, Caitlin felt a pang of jealousy. His tall frame towered over Bree and he looked radiantly happy. His usually gentle light blue eyes seemed to look frosty, and she knew by his tousled sandy hair that he’d most likely woken with Bree and after one more round of lovemaking had come straight into work. Even the sprinkle of freckles across his nose seemed lighter on his handsome face. This revelation that she had lost him for good now, on top of how she felt, broke her heart. She fumbled in her bag and pulled out a tissue.

  ‘Cait, what’s wrong? Did something happen?’ Bree asked.

  ‘How did you get home then?’ Rory had no empathy, demanding answers.

  She sniffed, stuffing the tissue in her pocket. Ignoring Bree, she turned to Rory with the intent to make him jealous too. ’A man helped me. We cabbed it home together and he stayed for a while to make sure I was okay.’

  Rory exploded. ‘What! You did what?’

  ‘I believe someone spiked my drink. I must have passed out on the loo. When I came out, you were all gone. I went out the front to hail a cab and POW; I’m out to it again.’ She rubbed her eyes that were still out of focus.

  ‘You passed out?’ Bree slipped her arm through Caitlin’s. ‘You should go home! Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m still out of it a bit.’ She placed her hand on her head, and the movement forced Bree to move away. She was dirty on both of them and didn’t want anyone to touch her. However, she hadn’t finished stirring up Rory. ‘The only reason I’m not in a hospital is that this man caught me just before my head hit the pavement. Otherwise, I would have cracked it open for sure.’ She forced a grin. ‘The sweetie even stayed and made me a coffee.’

  Rory turned red with anger. Caitlin hoped some of it was jealousy.

  ‘I can’t believe you let a stranger into your apartment! He could have been dangerous! What were you thinking, Cait?’

  Bree tilted her head abruptly up at Rory. ‘Don’t snap at her, she was out of it and needed her friends and where were we? I should have made sure she wasn’t there before I let you drag me off. Geez, Rory! We’re supposed to look after each other when we go out like that. You know what it’s like in some of those nightclubs. We should have known it was out of character for her just to take off.’

  ‘I’m sorry. It was careless of us. But it doesn’t excuse the fact Cait was reckless.’ He was still feeling guilty, but calming down.

  Bree huffed at him, turning her attention back to Caitlin. ‘It’s okay, honey. Ignore him; he’s just his usual possessive pig-headed self with you. You can tell me, I want all the goss and don’t leave anything out about this mysterious man that saved you.’


  Up until now, Caitlin and Bree had been friends. This morning, however, Caitlin didn’t feel like talking to anyone about the way she felt, never mind a mate that had just stolen her best friend. Caitlin glanced in the mirror at the back of the elevator. Bree was tall and generally tied her long dark hair up, but today it hung glossy and sexily down her back. Caitlin cast an envious eye over her figure. It wasn’t hourglass like hers, although the cut of her jeans and the stylish halter-top suited her. Caitlin sighed. Jealousy really changed the way she even saw herself. With no energy to blow-wave her red hair, she’d left it to fall in tight ringlets. Her skin was usually pale, but today it looked as though she’d just seen a ghost. The typical bright sparkle in her green eyes was gone. She turned away from the image, annoyed she was even comparing herself to this friend-stealer.

  ‘Sorry, but it’s none of your business. I’m sure you two don’t want to tell me about what you got up to last night, although I can guess.’

  Rory took in a deep breath. ‘Cait, what’s up with you this morning? Bree was trying to be nice. Don’t take it out on us for what happened to you.’

  Caitlin eyed Rory as he put his arm back around Bree again. She knew her tone was from jealousy as she was in no mood to watch them together. The rat! She had spent twelve years with him. They were best mates and up until Bree arrived in the group it was her he had the crush on. Seeing them together wasn’t easy. Not this morning and not the way she felt. It made her even more annoyed he didn’t get that. She looked at what she had thrown away so easily. Her best friend would not be at her disposal anymore. So I may as well get used to it.

  The elevator stopped. When the doors opened, it allowed Caitlin to make a quick exit to her workstation. The throb in her head and the ill feeling of wanting to throw up had her in no mood to explain. At her desk, her hand that held a glass of water shook. Caitlin put it down and rested her head in the crook of her arm.

  A few minutes later, she heard Rory gruffly organising the staff before sitting on her desk. ‘You aren’t well, Cait, you haven’t any colour in your face and I’ve never seen you with dark rings around your eyes, ever. I’m sorry I was moody with you. I’ll drive you home.’