Daimon: Guardians of Hades Series Book 6

him.
Or she could accidentally suffocate him.
He was about to ease back a step too when Cass’s gaze landed on him. He planted his boots to the floor, refusing to let her see that he was afraid of Marinda and what she might do.
Which was apparently nothing.
Marinda opened her eyes and muttered a curse in French. “I don’t feel anything. I can’t do anything.”
When she huffed and threw her hands up in the air, her frustration getting the better of her, Cal’s lime-green and black motorbike slammed into the other one and knocked it over and one of the stone lanterns wobbled and then settled again.
“The hell,” Cal muttered and stepped, appearing near his fallen bikes. He grabbed the racing bike and had it back upright just as Marinda reached him, speaking to him in rapid French, apologising over and over again. He huffed, sighed and gathered her into his arms. “It’s okay.”
Daimon exchanged a worried look with his brothers.
They were going to have to be more careful now. If the enemy got hold of their blood, they could use it to open the gates.
Everyone on the porch turned away and headed back inside, and Keras followed, leaving Daimon alone with Cass, Cal and Marinda.
Cal looked Marinda over and slung his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Cass trailed after them as they headed inside, paused on the porch and looked back at him.
Daimon turned away from her, heading towards the bikes and past them, following the path of steppingstones around the north wing of the house. He needed a moment to process everything, and not just the fact the Erinyes, and therefore the enemy, could use blood to gain powers.
He needed to process how he had reacted at the gate when Cass had come under attack.
Anger simmered in his blood, burned in his heart. Not aimed at her. He aimed it at himself. He tried to reason that he had only reacted like that, leaping in to protect her, because she was part of their team and they couldn’t afford to lose another one of them. They needed all the warriors they could get, and he was man enough to admit Cass was useful in battle, was powerful and capable, kept her head no matter how bad the situation got and did all she could to help and ensure they won.
But it wasn’t the truth.
There was something about her, something that tied him in knots and had him hating himself. He shouldn’t be thinking about her. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his black jeans and touched the pendant on his phone, tempted to focus so he could see Penelope.
Needing to see her.
He had to do something, because the iron-will he had forged over the centuries was beginning to buckle.
He shouldn’t be thinking about another woman, shouldn’t be wanting another woman. He was loyal to Penelope, and that loyalty had stayed strong in the past, when other females had approached him.
So why was it failing him now?
His heart answered that question.
Things were different with Cass.
She tempted him like no other had before her.
He reached the rear garden and skirted the edge of the koi pond, his gaze drifting to the end of the north wing, where the covered walkway extended over the water. He could almost see Esher sitting there with his legs dangling over the edge, his feet almost touching the water, all the colourful carp gathering beneath him as he fed them.
Gods, he missed his brother.
Needed him now more than ever.
He needed to speak with someone, just as he always had whenever he had a problem.
But Esher wasn’t here and he didn’t know where he was.
His blood slowly chilled, his steps faltering as he stared at that spot Esher had loved so much, unable to hold back the fear that rose to grip him, to sink icy claws into him and tear open his heart.
Was Esher in danger? Was he fighting for his life even now? While Daimon stood in the garden doing nothing, waiting for him to come back?
He shuddered as a chill swept through him and huddled down into his roll-neck top.
What was he doing? Esher needed him and he should be looking for him, doing something to bring him back. He should be in the Underworld, leading his father’s legions in their search. He should be there for Esher, doing all in his power to keep him safe from harm.
He clenched his fists at his sides and frowned at the walkway.
He was letting his brother down, leaving him to fend for himself, leaving him alone.
Just as Esher had left him alone.
“Daimon?”
Anger swelled like a fierce tide within him as that female voice pierced his thoughts, shattering his solitude. Never giving him a moment’s peace.
He narrowed his eyes on Cass’s feet where she stood on Esher’s spot, and rage curled through him, had ice forming over his hands as he lifted his gaze to her face and glared at her.
Pain pulsed through him with every beat of his heart, a constant agony that was slowly ripping him apart, fuelling the frustration that mounted inside him each day Esher was missing.
Frustration he couldn’t hold back as he stared at Cassandra.
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone!” He stepped up onto the decking and strode towards her, the part of him that said to rein in his temper easily crushed under the weight of his pain and fear. “You dare come here. Standing on this spot. His spot.”
He was being unreasonable, he knew that as he advanced on her and rather than standing her ground, she backed away.
“I didn’t know,” she bit out, defensive. “I was only worried about you.”
“Well stop,” he barked. “Stop worrying about me. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of everything. I’m sick of this place. I’m sick of—”
He reared away and turned his back on her, breathed hard and tried to rein in his emotions, before he did something he would regret.
Or at