1

POSEIDON POINT

Darkness settled over their shoulders, comfortable and cold. The moon rose, low in the sky at half power, and a dense fog coated the sea, which lapped at the dock with a soft sucking sound. The brothers shared a small shiver of pleasure and stretched outward, their jaws clicking in succession as their human skin fell away, freeing their ghostly forms.

Father had banished them to this island centuries ago. A punishment, to keep them from the sea, to keep them from him, from Mother. He hadn’t understood their bond, their ability to craft their situation to match their needs exactly.

He hadn’t known, hadn’t guessed that it was never the sea they wanted, but the storm.

And the storm needed to be fed.

The oldest brother, their leader, imbued with height and brimming with power, gestured, and the green glow of his hand following his movement like sea fog trailing a lost ship.

The body floated forth, a bluish tint of something long frozen covering its skin, and it settled in the gap among the brothers, where two had been, but now was nothing.

The remaining four brothers raised their hands and placed them on the body, the power of the storm crackling under their hands. Less without the might of their departed two, but still more together than separate.

Loki’s son rose under their fingertips, electric currents running through his body, reanimating his arms and his legs, awakening the buried god power resting deep in his frozen veins. The brothers drank their fill, until each glowed ghastly green. Once sated, they laid the body back on its bed of ice and dismissed it with a flick of a finger.

“The plan has changed, brothers.” The oldest’s voice vibrated through the others, inaudible to the human ear, speaking in the tones of the storm.

Two brothers nodded, their bone-filled jaws widening. “She must die.”

But the fourth brother, the smallest, the youngest, did not speak.

The oldest stepped forward, growing in height, in bulk. “We will drink her power until she is no more than a husk.” Arktos leaned in, capturing the gaze of his brothers. More than brothers they were. One did not function without the others.

But the youngest averted his gaze.

“You doubt our power, Aphrodisios?”

“Never, brother.” Aphrodisios did his best to add form to his spirit, to match his brother in height. “But it is not the plan. It is not what is wise.”

“You fear her,” the oldest stated.

“I fear nothing.” The words slashed from his mouth with the force of a lightning strike. “But there are larger plans in play. This is bigger than revenge. We must stay the course and be rewarded with eternity, power, restoration.” Aphrodisios could almost remember what they once had, who they had once been. He could almost remember the feel of morning light warming his skin.

Before the curse, before their unspeakable deeds, before their banishment.

“Pretty words that mean nothing,” the other two brothers grumbled from the sidelines.

“I thank you for the compliment,” a new voice said from the shadows.

The brothers formed a line, without thought, forming an impenetrable barrier without any need for communication.

A form walked out of what had been nothing, a play of moonlight and night and the spray of the sea.

“For beautiful oration is the speech of the gods,” the form continued, “and honeyed words have power.”

His form, like theirs, existed on an ethereal plane, unaffected by the elements of the physical world. But their forms were spirits, while his was a projection of his earthly self. Not here, not really.

“Ari Fawkes, you are no longer welcome.” The oldest of the four Sons of Poseidon stepped forward, blocking Ari from his brothers.

“Oh, I strongly doubt that. Missing some of the family, is that right, boys?” Fawkes circled his finger, pointing out the gap in their ranks, the vulnerability.

A wave of irritation flowed through the brothers.

“This is what happens when you stray from our plan. Piper Prince is not to be trifled with. This situation requires delicacy. Hard for you, I know.”

“Your plans are your own, Ari Fawkes. If you require delicacy, perhaps you should find some courage and come here yourself.”

Fawkes raised his head, and the smile that spread across his mouth was not kind, not joyous, not comforting. It was cruel, tilted askew at the corners, a smile that held a knowing of what was to come.

“Courage? You really have not listened, have you, daimones proseoous? It is not my time, but soon.” At this, the projection focused his gaze on the youngest. “As long as you are successful.”

“Piper Prince must die,” the oldest repeated, but his radiant form had lessened.

“Yes, she must,” Ari agreed. “But my way. Not yours, mine.”

The youngest brother nodded his agreement, and the rest of his brothers soon followed. They were one mind, after all, and could not exist in discord with each other.

Once he had the brothers’ recommitment to his cause, the projection of Ari Fawkes faded. The brothers slowly left the dock, donning their human skin once again.

The moon rose in the sky, a shade darker than before, and the mist of the sea washed away the fog, leaving the night cold and clear and quiet.

But in the distance, far away and beyond human sight, almost at the limit for the mind’s eye of Loki’s son, lightning bolted from the sky and burst into the shadowed sea.

2

PIPER

Ipinched my bedroom’s ancient lace curtains between my fingers and peered outside at the unnatural storm. Thunder growled, low and drawn out, and pressure thickened the air, making the already humid island feel like we were swimming through a submerged feather bed.

“Lightning shouldn’t be green,” I murmured and pulled my sweaty shirt away from my sticky skin. “If it’d rain, maybe this heat would break.”

Bernard’s voice came from behind me. “The Sons are grieving.”

“And plotting how to kill me and get the necklace.” Though really, the Sons had promised death without dying, a threat I didn’t want defined, much less carried out.

He reached past and pulled the thin bedroom curtain closed. “They make their plans, we make ours. Narfi won’t be their prisoner much longer.”

I nodded and checked my phone—something I’d been doing every ten minutes for the past two days. Still no messages from my little sister, Rainey.

I’d been pushing for action, resolution, an end to Narfi’s entrapment and the Sons’ terrorizing of Muse Island. The Sons needed to be stopped. Narfi needed to be saved. And I needed to get back on track with finding my birth parents and a cure for Rainey’s cancer. But we’d been stuck at the safehouse for two days, waiting on the lightning storm and making our plans.

“Let us try again,” Bernard said with a nod.

I fisted my hands on my hips. “I’ve already fried your lamp, cracked your mirror, and put a burn hole in your rug. How much more property damage do you want me to do?”

“Power is not easily controlled. You must teach it to do your bidding, or it will become the master.”

“You sound like Seshat.” The goddess of the written word who had conjured me an office, gave regal speeches, and intimidated me a little.

Bernard raised an eyebrow and waited.

I wanted to reach into my luggage and pull out the necklace that my strange confidante, Angelie Geminoa, had given me before her death. The one the Sons had demanded. The one that seemed to boost or focus my power. But Bernard was insistent that I not rely on a necklace we didn’t know enough about yet.

“Fine.” I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and held out one hand. I didn’t know if that’s how it was done, but crossing my arms like I Dream of Jeannie didn’t seem the way to wield my kind of magic.

Focusing on my mark, I tried to surrender—but not all the way. When I’d truly surrendered, big things had happened. Scary things. Things that led to immortal beings killed.

By me.

My lungs tightened. My gut clenched. I pushed out a stream of power, and…poof. When I opened my eyes, the pillow on my bed was smoking.

Bernard hmmed.

I dropped my arm with a sigh. “I know I need to train, but how is me destroying your decor piece by piece helping? We should at least be training outside.”

“We cannot risk exposing you, Piper. You know that. Now try again.”

The front door slammed.

Bernard tensed, his genie magic flaring his tattoos to bright blue. “Stay here.” He left, shutting my door softly behind him.

A few moments later, voices echoed up the staircase. Male voices.

Straightening my blouse, I went into the hallway and carefully made my way down the stairs on the sturdier wood planks tucked under a well-worn rug.

I stopped halfway down at the sight of Finn thrusting a hand at Bernard. “Tartarus, Bernard. You’ve known Bett for years. You’re seriously going to keep her out because she infiltrated the Sons to protect a faerie?”

Bernard stood with his arms crossed. “Her presence may upset Piper.”

I cleared my throat. Finn’s gaze jumped to mine.

Those impossibly green eyes never failed to catch me off-guard. I’d once thought they were fashion contacts, but no, those emeralds were his own irises.

“Where is Bett?” I asked. She wasn’t in the entryway.

“Can’t get past the fence,” Finn protested, “unless you tell your guard dog to stand down and let her through.”

Bernard growled.

Bernard’s family had laid protection and glamour spells on the property that took hold at the fence line. Only Bernard or a relative could add someone to the spells’ guest list, so to speak.

I stepped between them and laid my hands on their chests. “Take it easy, gentlemen.”

As soon as my palms hit Finn and Bernard, a tingle ran up my spine. This was a rare opportunity to compare their physiques, hands-on research purely for the sake of curiosity. I was a scientist after all. My conclusion? Bernard was bulkier, Finn was sleeker—but both could make it into a Muse Island Men calendar.

I dropped my hands. “I’m fine with Bett coming in.”

Not that I trusted Finn’s friend, the goddess Bastet. The last time I’d seen her, we’d traded threats and she’d run off into the forest. But given her recent proximity to the Sons, Bett knew more than she’d let on. As soon as I got her alone, I’d get the information. Somehow.

Bernard went outside to retrieve Bett, leaving me alone with Finn. He scanned me down to the floor and back up to my eyes. “You’re looking well. The bare feet are a nice touch. Saves you from losing any more shoes.”

I ignored his reference to the two—just two—pairs I’d lost since arriving on the island. “Did you get the blueprint?”

“Have you ever seen me with a backpack before?” He tilted his head toward the canvas bag at his feet. A roll of paper peeked out of the top.

“A simple yes would suffice.” I narrowed a glare at him, ignoring the way his mouth quirked up at the side and the hint of a smile line teased the corner of his lips. Completely. Ignoring.

“Piper Prince.” He tsked. “Where would be the fun in that?”

Footsteps thudded on the sidewalk, and the door swung open. Leaving me without the opportunity to give a proper retort.

Bett entered first, sans-frizz and looking like she’d stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. “Thank you for getting me into this exclusive club, Finn,” she purred, her sarcasm as sultry as her saunter.

Bernard followed, clicking the door closed behind them, his white shirt almost see-through with humidity and sweat. Thunder growled again, and Bernard flipped over the seven deadbolts.

Bett shook her head, making her long, black ponytail sway against her back. “What good are deadbolts going to do against the Sons?”

“Nothing wrong with extra precautions,” Bernard said as he pulled off his sopping wet shirt. Revealing more tribal tattoos underneath that ran the length of his torso.

Finn rolled his eyes. “Stop showing off, Mr. Universe.”

“Or not.” Bett stepped closer to Bernard and ran her fingernail down the front of his muscled chest.

“Excuse me,” he muttered and bolted upstairs, presumably to change in his own room.

I sighed at her. “You realize that made him really uncomfortable, don’t you?”

She pulled out a fan and whipped it at her face, making her own modeling-shoot breeze, and looked me up and down. “Don’t presume to understand the lifelong relationship I’ve had with my men.” She passed by Finn, brushing her hip against his.

Power crackled at my fingers.

Finn’s attention fell to my hands, and he gave me a confused, what are you doing look.

I clasped my hands into fists and took a deep breath. Much as Bett deserved a good zap from someone, I would not be the one to give it to her. At least not for flirting with Finn.

Maybe for making Bernard uncomfortable.

“I’ve set up Planning Central upstairs,” I directed, before Bett could take command of the room.

“Planning Central?” Finn asked. “This, I gotta see.” He picked up the backpack with one hand and waved for me to go first with the other.

I took the lead, with Finn and Bastet following me to my bedroom. I hastily crossed the room and flipped the singed pillow. Bernard had already removed the lamp and mirror.

“Wouldn’t this make more sense at the kitchen table?” Bett’s words held a dry duh.

“Sure, but I like to have everything at my fingertips. Inspiration often hits in the middle of the night, and I wouldn’t want to make Bernard uncomfortable by running downstairs in my nightie.” I didn’t bother looking at her, but her soft growl told me my comment had found its mark.

Finn pulled out the blueprint of Poseidon Point, and I nodded to the antique desk off to the side. We stretched it out on the salt-warped wood and tacked it down with smooth green and blue sea glass found on the beach.

All the while Bett pierced me with her cat-eyed stare. She’d acted like she’d known me when I was a child, but I didn’t remember anything about her. And one would think, given her Helen-of-Troy-Meets-Cleopatra looks, I’d remember.

Bett’s attention suddenly focused on the other side of the room. Did she see evidence of our training sessions?

I tracked her gaze to the book under my bed. My bones buzzed. I’d rather her see the smoked pillow than that book—less to explain. But thankfully, the spine wasn’t facing out.

“Cognitive psychology book,” I lied with a shrug, then hurried over to slide out Numerology and the Stars by Ilde Fawkes and tuck it into my nightstand drawer.

I’d been reading the book, written by the mother of my former patient Ari Fawkes, little by little in the middle of the night or when Bernard left the house, even for a few stolen minutes. I needed concrete answers before I presented my theories—something drilled into me from years of schooling. Plus, something about this book felt private. Like it needed to remain a secret.

Bernard joined us, now wearing a T-shirt that read Muse Island Resort Dance-off.

With all hands on deck, Finn nudged Bett, who’d taken the cozy spot next to him. “Let’s start with what Bett knows. She wants to save Narfi as badly as the rest of us.” He aimed that last tidbit in my direction.

“I have no doubt.” It was not my fault my tone sounded drier than the sand that sneaked in from the beach.

She licked her lips. “The Sons are at their weakest at high noon. It’s why they run so many happy hour specials at Poseidon Point. The more magical beings that surround them, the better they can support their power at its weakest point.”

I held my hand up. “What do you mean by ‘support their power’?”

“The Sons feed off magical energy.”

My lip curled. I wrapped my arms around me and rubbed at the sudden prickles on my arms. “Like parasites?”

“In all your sleuthing and run-ins with them, you didn’t figure that out?” Bett cocked her head, her question dripping with too-stupid-to-live.

“Excuse me if I’m still learning how all this”—I gestured a big circle with my hand—“works.”

“And whose fault is that exactly, Piper Prince?” Her voice went low and flat, and her braid flicked as if it were a cat’s tail, about to pounce.

I jerked back. Blinked. She thought it was my fault our parents took us from the island and gave us up for adoption. That was not even logical.

“Bett,” Finn murmured as he stroked his hand down her back. Magic popped from my fingers and sparked against my leg.

Was Finn really into her or just trying to calm an excitable cat?

“Anyway…” She tapped the blueprint with one perfect fingernail. “We need something to clear out Poseidon Point, and they’ll be forced to lower their defenses to conserve power.”

Bernard sighed heavily. “Word among the genies who work there⁠—”

“Are enslaved there,” Finn interjected.

Enslaved? I knew genies were low in magicka hierarchy, but slavery was a whole other level of awful.

Bernard paused, his face tense and solemn, and then nodded. “They say the Sons have tripled the protection spells.” He drew three concentric circles around the property on the blueprint.

“I can knock out one.” Bett gestured to the outer circle. “Goddess power.”

Finn nodded across the desk. “Piper and I should be able to knock out the remaining two with our combined power.”

I lifted my gaze to him. “From what you’ve told me, my power is stronger because it’s untethered. Couldn’t I break down at least one on my own?” Exploding a barrier wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Finn’s skin paled. “Your power is unfocused. Working with me, we can target it much better.”

It sounded more like Finn didn’t trust me to be on my own. But if so, why wasn’t he training me, helping me to focus that power?

I turned to Bernard, swallowing my disappointment and doing my best to keep it from showing on my face. “Can you glamour up a diversion to clear the resort? Cut off the Sons’ energy supply?”

“Yes, but I cannot hold it indefinitely. We will have an hour or so to break through.”

“What about other genies on the island? Would they help?”

Finn straightened. “We can’t ask them to do that.”

Bernard stared at his feet. “Most of my kind are bound by their servitude.”

My stomach pinched. “Servitude? So that part of the genie myth is…?”

Bernard nodded, his tattoos now gray. “All too true, I’m afraid. Finn gave me my freedom as soon as he took over the resort. He is one of the few masters on Muse Island to do so.”

I glanced between Finn and Bernard and studied the deep notes of respect I’d witnessed between them. They went deeper than I’d realized.

“I understand.” I didn’t, but any future plans to free the genies would have to wait. I planted my finger on the blueprint right at the front entrance. “All right, so we have a plan to knock down the protective barriers around the place. Any ideas how we get in? Or where they’re keeping Narfi?”

Bett sighed and yoga-stretched, as if saving Narfi was a huge inconvenience. “They’re keeping him in the warehouse in a meat locker.”

I froze. My heart played topsy-turvy with my stomach. “Wait. What?”

Bernard took a step away from her.

Even Finn backed away. “You’ve known where he is this whole time?”

Bett shrugged. “It’s not like I could do anything about it—it’d blow my cover.”

“Why are you willing to blow your cover now?” I crossed my arms and studied her body language, her facial expression.

Her eyes widened slightly, her shoulder bumped up. Suspicious signs of a witness about to lie. “Because my cover was only needed as long as the Sons were indestructible. With you destroying two of them, they’ve weakened. Still powerful, but not invincible.”

All true. So what was she lying about?

“Actually, you would be a great diversion,” she said. “I deliver you to their front door while Bernard and Finn sneak in through the back and rescue Narfi.”

Bernard’s tattoos flared, Finn’s hands fisted. “Absolutely not.” They said, in unison.

Bett held her hands up. “Okay, okay. Bad plan. I’ll go.”

We all looked at her.

“Me showing up and demanding all their attention wouldn’t be unheard of. I’ll keep them occupied with some pressing matters, while you three play heroes. With the barriers down, you should be able to sneak in and get out with Narfi, undetected.”

“You can keep them occupied for an hour?” I cringed as soon as I said it. I’d left her wide open for an inappropriate remark.

“My dear, it is well within my abilities to keep a man occupied all night. An hour will be no trouble.”

Finn sighed. “I don’t like it, but it’s our best bet.”

She chuckled. “Best Bett? Nice pun.”

He wrapped an arm around her. “If you get into trouble⁠—”

“I’ll go goddess on them. Besides, a cat always lands on her feet.” Bett settled onto the nearby desk chair like it was her personal throne. “In two days, there’s a full moon. Meaning that day, at high noon, the Sons will be at their weakest point. They’re already advertising their best drink special of the month to get ready.”

I nodded. “Two days then.”

Finn’s phone dinged with a message. He pulled it out of his pocket, and his whole demeanor changed. Outside, thunder grumbled and lightning cracked, turning the bedroom an underwater green for a few flashes. Seeming to mirror Finn’s new mood.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Message from one of the other Protectors,” he muttered. “She found a dead guy on the steps of her Muse’s sanctuary.”

Bett sucked in a breath. Bernard crossed over to Finn and gripped his shoulder.

I was missing something. “That’s awful. Did you know the man?”

Finn shook his head, and a tear marked a trail down the corner of his eye. “A dead body on the steps of the Muse Thalia’s sanctuary. The Muse of comedy and poetry. Her name means to flourish. She’s the opposite of death.”

I looked to Bernard, still not understanding.

“It’s like poison, Piper,” Bernard said. “For a Muse to be presented with something so in conflict to their core essence. Like tragic death at the steps of joy incarnate.”

Bett stared at some invisible spot on the far wall. “The Muse Thalia has been poisoned.”

Finn swiped his hand across his face. “And another of Muse Island’s inhabitants, who should be safer here than anywhere else in the world, has been murdered.”