Blood Never Lies (Mark of Mars) Read online

  “I was teaching them the meaning of no,” she grinned. “It’s a hard thing for men to understand.”

  “I do worry about you. What are you doing this side of town?”

  “I was looking for your guys. I forgot where the merchant’s house was.”

  “For such an intelligent woman, you really have no sense of direction.”

  “Before you rip me apart too much, I got you a present.” She passed over the wristband.

  “Cool,” he beamed and let her attach it. “My first Roman artefact that I actually own.”

  She linked her arm through his. “Let’s go find Sextus. I need the sanctuary of the Laumus estate.”

  By the time they arrived back at the merchants, the small cart had been filled with amphora of wine. “A week’s supply?” Jenna queried innocently.

  “Gaius told me I’d need it with you staying,” he retorted.

  The journey back was fairly uneventful. “How do you negotiate the price of olives?” Jenna asked.

  “I name my price, the merchant names his. Over the course of a few goblets of wine, we agree on the price, somewhere in the middle.”

  “Let me guess, the stronger the wine, the cheaper the olives?”

  “You’re starting to understand Roman business in the province.”

  Jenna was happy when they arrived back at the estate. Although Rome was the big, dangerous city, she was fairly well protected there, not down to Marcus but because she was a temple handmaiden. Here she was just a lone woman out on the streets. Perhaps she wouldn’t make that mistake again. She studied the pin she’d bought Amelia . She missed her friend and hoped her life was ticking along nicely, that she wasn’t too bored.

  Something woke Jenna during the night, she could have sworn she heard her name. Staring out the window onto the gardens below, the moonlight was reflecting off the lake. Again, she thought she heard her name, it was the faintest of whispers. She was definitely losing the plot, but the sight of the cool tranquil lake drew her in. Climbing out the window, she headed down to the lake, not for a swim but to dangle her feet in. Sitting down at the base of Mars’ statue, she dipped her legs into the water. Bliss. Flopping against the statue, she let out a heavy sigh.

  “What I would do for some advice right about now,” she exhaled.

  “On anything in particular?” a voice behind her made her jump.

  Jenna scrambled to her feet. “Who’s there?”

  “The one you’ve been talking to.”

  “I’ve been talking to a statue.”

  “Exactly.” The statue flashed gold then a shimmering figure stepped out from behind it. “Mars, at your service.”

  Jenna’s jaw dropped open as she stared at the vision before her. It had to be a vision, her brain announced. The Gods weren’t real. But then wasn’t she trying to prove they were. But vision or not, he was beautiful. As perfect as the statue, but with gleaming black hair, golden eyes and a physique to die for.

  “I have to be dreaming,” she murmured. It was the only logical explanation.

  “Of course, my lady,” he showed brilliant white teeth.

  Jenna approached him and ran her hand over his magnificent chest. “Impressive. Yet warm.” She glanced up at his face. “You don’t mind me touching you?”

  “You are at liberty to touch me wherever you please,” he grinned mischievously.

  “Behave,” Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Your reputation precedes you.”

  “And what reputation would that be?”

  “You tend to put it about a bit.”

  “Put what about?” his brows furrowed.

  An English expression, Jenna giggled. “You aren’t known for being celibate.”

  “Really?”

  “Did you not father the founders of Rome?”

  “One lover from a few hundred years ago.”

  “And many others in between no doubt,” Jenna giggled.

  “Are you daring to taunt a God?”

  “A beautifully built God,” she sighed appreciatively.

  “You are delightfully built too. Do I get the pleasure of running my hands over you?”

  Jenna felt herself get all warm and flustered. This was a dream and a half. “You are almost as bad as I imagined.”

  “Now, my dear, are you going to tell me what you summoned me for? Believe it or not, Gods do have to sleep.”

  She flopped back down on the grass and indicated for him to sit. “I need to decide on my future, but the decisions I face are difficult.”

  “You will have to give me a little more to go on.”

  “I am not from Rome. I came to study but instead fell for a high profile figure. He threw me aside when he found out I was disfigured. My dilemma now is whether I stay in Rome and face the humiliation of running into him regularly or head back home.”

  “What makes you think you are disfigured?” Mars sounded horrified.

  “The look on his face when he saw my birthmark said it all.”

  “The arrowhead on your shoulder could not be more beautiful.”

  “How do you…?” Jenna was stunned.

  “I am a God, and you bear my mark upon you. That is why I answered your call.”

  “Well, now you know my dilemma. Do I stay or go?”

  “Stay. I have to insist upon it. The man in question serves me, and I think you might have misunderstood his reaction.”

  “No, it was fairly clear.”

  “Men can react strangely when caught off guard. You should give him another chance.”

  “I do not hold much faith in the male race, so when that brittle faith has been shattered, it is virtually impossible to mend it.” She stood up and started to wander around the lake.

  “How much faith do you hold in a God?”

  She gave a small laugh. “Faith and Gods is a tricky question. You are so different from mine.”

  “You have your own God?” Mars’ voice was just a little sharp, alerting Jenna to tread carefully on this subject, even though it was her dream.

  “I am not about to discuss religion with a God from another faith.”

  “And I thought I was the God that held your heart.”

  Jenna laughed. “Excluding the ego, you are the perfect male specimen.”

  “Ego?”

  “You need an entire temple just to house it,” she retorted.

  “I should vaporise you just for uttering such a comment,” he snorted.

  “But you can’t because you are in my dream.”

  “Dreams do not always flow as the owner wishes them to. Now it is getting late and I must return you to your room.” He swept her up in his arms.

  She gave a soft squeal, she was only wearing a small, thin shift. “I am more than capable of walking.”

  “Who said anything about walking?” his golden eyes twinkled.

  All Jenna remembered was flash of golden light and a feeling of slight nausea, then she was back in her room.

  “Wow, that was seriously cool,” she breathed. “Can you travel anywhere like that?”

  He nodded.

  “Could you take me to Olympus?”

  “Only immortals can set foot in Olympus.”

  “Convenient,” she sniffed. “How about Athens?”

  “Yes, but I cannot take you into any of the temples apart from my own.”

  “What would happen if you went inside one of your siblings’ temples?”

  “They would get rather upset and challenge me.”

  “Aren’t you virtually unbeatable?”

  “You’ve not met my sister Minerva. She fights dirty.”

  “I like the sound of her.”

  “You two have remarkable similarities. Now I need you to sleep.”

  “Will I see you again?”

  “You only ever have to call and I will come.” He laid her down on her bed. “Unless war is breaking out, then for obvious reasons, I am needed elsewhere.”

  She reached up and touched his cheek. He was truly beautif
ul. “It’s been a pleasure, Mars.”

  “The pleasure was all mine, my lady,” he leant down and kissed her.

  At least she thought he did, but she drifted off into such a deep sleep, she could no longer remember.

  Mars was feeling particularly pleased with himself, as he returned to Rome. He had got to spend time with Jenna, and in his immortal form. Nothing could be better than that. He would have changed her mind about Marcus in the next few days and she would be more receptive to a visit from him. Soon she would be back by his side in Rome.

  “You’re looking smug, brother,” Minerva flounced into his study. “I take it you’re starting to clean up your mess.”

  “Yes. Jenna will be back shortly.”

  “So what did you do?”

  “The place she is staying has my statue. She got a better response tonight than she usually does.”

  “You appeared in your immortal form?” Minerva was shocked.

  “Yes. And she was quite taken with me too. Admittedly, she thought she was dreaming, but it was a good starting point for when she has to know the truth.”

  “I have to hand it to you, that was quite a genius move.”

  “I’m not altogether stupid. I have discovered that winning Jenna over is like planning a very complicated military strategy. And I’m rather good at that.”

  “Welcome to the battlefield of love,” Minerva laughed.

  Mars shivered. “You know that word frightens me to death.”

  “But it is what you will have to do if you ever want Jenna to wear that band.”

  He poured himself a large goblet of wine. “I’ll cross that issue when it comes. But for now I am happy to remain happily in lust.”

  “Men have no romance,” Minerva sat down on the chaise.

  “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Mars grunted.

  “No. With Jenna out of Rome, I find myself at a loose end. I figured if I annoy you enough, you’ll make sure you don’t mess up bringing her back.”

  Mars picked up a scroll that had been delivered and unravelled it. The news made him smile. He did not have many mortal friends, but Laurentius Maximus was one. He was Envoi to Athens and had been gone a good few years. He was due to return with his wife Octavia shortly.

  “I wonder what her world is like,” Minerva mused.

  “Are you still here?” Mars grunted.

  “Yes. Can you even imagine what the world is like in two thousand years?”

  “We have been around close to eight hundred and it has not changed too dramatically.”

  “They have time travel. I think that is quite an advancement.”

  “I’m pretty sure they do not have us as their Gods anymore.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Jenna let slip something earlier, about not being of our faith. That and she is often asking father about proof of our existence.”

  “Curious. But then that is perhaps why you have been life matched with a time traveller, to ensure our existence for millennia to come.”

  “I still don’t understand how the Oracle could foresee a time traveller.”

  “You’re male, you couldn’t possibly understand what does through a female’s mind,” Minerva sighed.

  “As you’re sitting there irritating me, you can be of use,” an idea flickered in Mars’ head.

  “How so?”

  “I’m going to take Jenna to the Parthenon tomorrow night.”

  “And you want access to the most glorious building there?” Her amusement echoed around the room. “That will cost you heavily my dear brother.”

  “Whatever happened to siblings sticking together?”

  “That vanished centuries ago.” She stood up to leave. “You will owe me a monumental debt for this.”

  CHAPTER 8

  Jenna awoke again with a start. The moon was up and light flooded into her room. She slipped out of bed and gazed down towards the lake. She had had the most amazing dream about Mars last night. Was she awake now or was she continuing that wonderful dream? There was only one way to find out. If Mars appeared when called, she was dreaming again.

  Climbing out the window, she made her way back down to the lake. The night air was beautifully cool and millions of stars filled the sky. Leaning against the statue, she ran her hand down his arm. “Are you in the mood for mortal company? Unless you’ve already found it elsewhere.”

  Her heart fluttered as a flash of gold lit up the area around her. “I would rather spend my time with you than anyone else.”

  “Smooth talker,” she smiled, studying his wonderful physique. He was a God in every sense. “Do you always make such an entrance?”

  “No. But sometimes it is fun to show off.”

  “Like taking me to Olympus?”

  “Nice try. You know that is off limits. Unless you marry me, then I could let you enter.”

  “Careful, I might take you up on that offer, then your many liaison would have to cease,” she flashed him a mischievous grin. “I don’t like to share.”

  “A dilemma indeed. How are you progressing with your own problem?”

  “My problem?” she was quite oblivious to anything with him standing so close. He smelt heavenly. It really wasn’t fair that one man could be quite so deliciously perfect. But he wasn’t technically just a man, he was a God. And one that had a habit of consuming her thoughts totally.

  “Are you going to forgive the Marshall?”

  “I don’t know. It will depend how I feel when I see him again. Now did you not promise to take me to Athens?”

  “I did, my lady.” He reached out and took hold of her arms.

  A few hazy seconds later, Jenna spun around barely believing her eyes. She was standing in the middle of the Parthenon. Right in front of her was Athena’s temple in all its glory, not the crumbled ruin it was in her time.

  “Wow, that is amazing.” She raced forward into the building, which was obviously deserted at that hour. The walls were intricately decorated but it was the huge statue of Athena that brought a lump to her throat. The Goddess was awesome.

  “You are admiring my sister?” Mars’ voice made her jump.

  “I thought you couldn’t enter your siblings’ temples.”

  “I might have offered my sister a large bribe to let me enter.”

  “You would do that for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you,” he murmured.

  She felt herself redden a little. She headed out the other side and stared down at the city below her bathed in moonlight. “It all looks so serene.”

  “Has Athens changed much in your time?”

  “Yes. It is very built up and noisy.” She glanced back at the temple. “Much of the exterior of Athena’s temple still stands.”

  “What of my father’s?”

  “Not as much,” she winced.

  “And mine?”

  She looked at him a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry, but I do not know where your temple is located.”

  In a flash of gold, they were standing on the steps outside it.

  “You are located right in the heart of the city.”

  “That is generous of you. I would put say the location is a quiet back street. As you might have realised, my sister took centre place here. I was not greatly admired.”

  “But you have made up for it now. Rome is yours.”

  “Yes it is,” he smiled. “What else would you like to see?”

  “You in full battle armour,” she responded.

  “Hmmn, that is a dangerous request.”

  “How so?”

  “When I put my battle armour on, it signifies I am going to war.”

  “Where do you keep your helmet and shield?”

  “In Olympus, of course. Now I have an idea.”

  Another flash of light and Jenna was standing in a marble pergola above Rome. “The city seems so calm when it sleeps.”

  “It is at its most dangerous at night time.”

  “Tell me about
it,” she murmured. “When you ride your chariot into war, how many horses pull it?”