Red Mortal by Deidre Knight Page B

touched you like this—his own son can reverse that damage.”
    Daphne stood regally and addressed Leo. “My lord, I explored that avenue earlier tonight. I went on an errand,” she said, meeting his gaze significantly. “Unfortunately, Eros says he is powerless to help because his own talents and gifts don’t work on his father. I’m sorry.” She inclined her head and bowed, then sat once again.
    So that’s where she’d gone upon fleeing his study, after he’d been such a stubborn idiot, and so harsh with her. She’d left his side to attempt saving his life. He felt his throat tighten up; even at the height of their disagreement, her only thought had been to try to protect him.
    Leo struggled to find his voice, knowing that he had to remain strong and resolute for the others. “So that particular solution will not work.” He cleared his throat. “But I have faith; we are an otherworldly lot with many gifts and talents, and I believe we will find a solution. That doesn’t mean I can afford to wait. I will not leave all of you here on Earth with Ares still seeking your blood. Even if I never regain my immortality, I plan to fight Ares and destroy him. If I am on borrowed time, then let me use it to preserve all of you against the vile god. I won’t leave those I”—he swallowed, meeting Daphne’s steady gaze—“those I love vulnerable to him. So we must prepare for battle, and I do mean all of us.” Leo nodded to Jamie Angel. “I need the Shades, not just the Spartans.”
    Jamie gave him a determined smile. “You know you can count on us, sir.”
    For a moment, no one spoke at all, everyone processing the revelations. But then Ari looked up at him, his eyes still bright with emotion. “Sir, about you aging. I just thought you’d been using good ole Grecian Formula all this time . . . and that maybe, well, maybe you’d just forgotten the last few months.” Ari laughed at his own joke, poking Jax in the side. “ Grecian Formula? Get it?”
    Ajax socked his brother in the arm, muttering something about “irreverent pousti ” under his breath.
    Aristos grew serious again, sitting up tall on the sofa. “I do still have the power of life, my lord,” he pointed out. “Let me try and help you.”
    It was such an obvious thought, Leo wondered why it hadn’t occurred to him before now. None of the others had considered the possibility of Ari assisting either, perhaps because more often than not, Ari’s power of death was the one they relied on, not his ability to heal and restore life.
    “Excellent idea, Spartan.” Leo waved Aristos over to where he stood. In a low voice, he asked, “What is required for me to receive this gift from you?”
    “The problem, sir,” Ari said, scrubbing a hand over his brow, “is I still don’t have quite the proper control over it. As you well know.” Ari gave Leo a sheepish look because his power had recently ruptured the wards that protected the compound. Not only that, in the past months the warrior had burnt out televisions and Wii units, and even caused a brand-new microwave to short circuit.
    “You won’t be melting my brains now, will you?” Leo asked dryly. “If I’m meant to die, I’d prefer it not be tonight.”
    “Last I checked, Commander, you’re not an appliance or a supernatural barrier, which means we should be all right.”
    “ Should be. How reassuring.” Leo clasped Ari on the shoulder. “I’m going to assume that it’s best for me to sit down—and for everyone else to clear the room.”
    Ari grinned. “This is why you’re king and I’m the jester.”
    “A jester with the power of life and death in his hands. I shudder to consider the potential ramifications.” Leo shook his head with mock exaggeration, then added, “Oh, and Daphne stays.”
    “Of course,” Ari said, a bit of a gleam in his dark eyes. He knew—they all knew—that Leo was in love with their Oracle, even though he’d worked to keep the relationship a