Daughter of Asteria (The Daughter Trilogy) (32 page)

he commands.

My heart flutters against the walls of my chest to hear him claiming me… well sort of. He

claimed my ring.

“Yeah, yeah. Couldn’t resist. She’s too fucking hot for you to be leaving unattended,” the guy

scoffs.

Devin’s eyes catch mine, and for a fleeting second I think we’re going to end this ridiculous

argument, but he turns away to return to the group.

I feel the heaviness of my body suddenly causing my breaths to be erratic and painful. He might

as well own me because I can’t go anywhere.

“So we all know we’re
here because we’ve learned something new. If you’ll listen to Adisia,

you’ll see why we’ve called this assembly and a state of emergency,” Theia says warmly to address

the restless crowd.

I feel my nerves shaking wildly as I stand in front of the expectant faces confused by my leading

this conversation.

No one knows me, and I’ve barely been immortal for a hot minute compared to them. Devin

comes to sit down closer to me, and he waits for my presentation just like everyone else.

“Everyone knows of the rewind, and the fate we once shared. We were under the impression that

Safina wanted to kill Theia to prevent her from rewinding time, but it’s exactly what she wanted to

happen,” I rattle out.

“Why would she want a rewind specifically?” an unfamiliar face growls.

“Because it’s weakening their tombs,” I explain.

Gasps rattle out around the room, and everyone looks to each other for some sort of further

explanation. Devin leans back to absorb the information, and I see everyone else turning pale.

“She’s trying to release Rhea, and the rewinds are weakening the power that holds them. If she

succeeds, I think we all know the new fate we could suffer,” Theia adds. “With the power it would

have taken to rewind a month, it’s possible Safina is close to finishing her goal. For now she’s backed

off, but she’s scared of the Aphrodite in our new ones.”

“Why do you think this?” a woman asks.

I take a deep breath before answering, “The first time we faced her, she told me I had ruined

everything even though they were winning effortlessly at the time-”

“I remember that,” Devin interrupts. “I didn’t give it any thought until just now.”

“Then, when we faced her again - she was in the body of a mortal - but she said
it
happened. She

realized we knew too much when I transformed in front of her eyes and controlled my power. She

knew there had been a rewind, and it’s exactly what she was waiting on.”

A still silence falls over the entire room, and everyone takes a minute to try and digest the

overwhelming new information. I can tell by their pale faces this is a bomb.

I slink down beside Jace, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder for a comforting embrace.

Devin’s jaw clenches slightly before he stands to walk out.

Kry, Ther, and Hale follow him, and then slowly the rest of the room breaks off into packs to

begin strategizing.

I feel so ridiculous. I have no idea what to do or say from here, and Persia walks over to pat me

on the arm.

“If you’re still hiding from your newly acquired Emperian title, then this is where you exit.

Deidra is expected to select a group to stay and represent the families. Theia will be representing

hers, and she and Phillip have asked me to stay. She didn’t think you wanted to,” she whispers to only

me.

“She’s right. Just fill me in later,” I grumble as I stand up.

Jace puts his hand on my back, and then he speaks in a calming tone when we get outside.

“I told Hale I’d help him grab some more wood for the fire. You okay?”

“Yes, no, hell no. I’ll be fine for now though,” I whimper in a pitiful laugh.

His eyes droop, and he sighs before flashing away. A chilling scent breathes against my neck, and

I feel a sickness creeping over me.

“You again?” I murmur.

The stranger from earlier moves to be in front of me. His eyes dance as his amber liquid sloshes

in a clear glass.

“So why is it that Devin’s girl is being escorted around by every man but him?” he smoothly

leads.

“Because Devin is mad at
his girl
right now. Please go away,” I growl.

“If he’s mad, then he’ll end up in one of their beds tonight,” he says menacingly as he motions to

the swarm of girls clapping at Devin’s heels. “That’s his signature card after all,” he continues.

I tense up as a lump rises to my throat, and I feel an arm draping around my shoulder with a bit of

protectiveness attached.

“Not anymore,” Kry says threateningly. “Adisia is his fiancée, not the typical relationship. Go

bug someone else and quit trying to interfere, Slash.”

Slash smirks and winks at me before strolling away with nonchalant indifference. I feel my body

slightly trembling as Gemma giggles her way over to Devin. I’ve never seen her so happy, and it’s

killing me.

“He loves you. Stop trying to act like you don’t know it,” Kry scolds.

“Stop acting like he’s not trying to make me feel as though he doesn’t. Look at him. He’s letting

Poison Ivy hang all over him,” I gripe as I motion to Gemma.

“He’s doing no such thing. He couldn’t give a damn about Gemma,” he snorts.

“He told her about us,” I growl.

“Ther told her, not Devin. Devin was playing it down so she didn’t get her hopes up,” Kry

explains.

“Ther?” I startle out.

“Yeah. Have you not noticed how completely in love with her he is? He tells her way too much,

and this time it bit him in the ass because she thinks she has a chance again,” Kry mumbles.

I knew that bitch was lying.

“So much for her
just being his friend.
”

“Oh, she was trying to be the friend who tells him it’ll all be okay, but it’s just to aide in her

attempts to woo him. He told her he loved you, and this wasn’t a breakup.”

“Why didn’t he tell me that?” I mutter.

“Why didn’t you ask?” he counters, and then gives me a stern nod before walking toward the

bonfire.

I take a deep breath, and I finally summon the courage to close the gap between me and everyone

else.

“Oh wow. What’s that smell?” a guy murmurs dreamily.

Crap.

“We’ve got an Aphrodite here, and sometimes she smells a little too good to be true. Just ignore

it please,” Deacon chuckles as he motions for me to join him and Camara.

I smile at the friendly faces that have been missing from the day. Camara leans over Deacon’s

lap to whisper to me.

“Devin was in such a rush we didn’t have time to ride with him here. We had to take the other

jet. He’s really worried about you and Jace.”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” I sigh.

“Well, he doesn’t seem to think that,” Deacon scoffs. “He actually told me to take the other jet

when I told him I needed five minutes. He never leaves me behind,” he pouts.

I let one edge of my mouth corner up in a smile, and then a girl stands up with an all too giggly

tone considering the dreadful revelation of the possible doom she’s just heard.

“Let’s play a game. It’s simple. You think of anything you would do if you were mortal right

now. Most of us didn’t get to enjoy the technology or the dangerous fun the world offers today, and

this is a way to express things you never got to do as a mortal or things you just never got around to.

I’ll start. If I was mortal, I’d ride a rollercoaster,” she giggles loudly.

“This is lame,” Ther scoffs.

“Just do it,” she growls.

He rolls his eyes and lets out a surly grunted reply. “If I were mortal, I would go skydiving.”

“See?” she laughs. “As an immortal, we never get to experience the life and death rush of the

simple things. Who’s next?”

“If I were mortal, I’d plant a garden. I never felt the appreciative labor of love that took time and

effort,” Gemma beams.

“You go Devin,” Gemma insists.

His eyes flash to me for a second, and then he smirks with a reminiscing glow.

“If I were mortal, I’d get drunk.”

Cheers erupt as the men all clank glasses. It is hard to get drunk these days, and Jace hands me a

glass of clear alcohol as if on cue while he sits down beside me.

“If I were mortal, I’d sleep as long as I could,” Jace adds.

Everyone cheers again and clanks glasses. Then the girl turns to me with a suspicious eye.

“And you?”

“Her name is Adisia,” Devin interjects smoothly, and my heart flutters once more at the small bit

of acknowledgement he offers.

“What would you do?” she insists.

“I just turned immortal, so I really don’t miss anything yet. I’ve had the experiences I wanted to

have, as well as some I didn’t want.”

“Oh don’t be a sock in the sand,” she pouts.
Sock in the sand?
“There’s got to be something you

wish you had done,” she urges.

“Well, I suppose if I were mortal I’d get a tattoo.”

“A tattoo?” Deacon chuckles.

Devin lets a curious eye drift to me, and Hale shakes his head.

“Well I would’ve never guessed that. What tattoo do you want?” Kry snickers. “A heart maybe?”

he teases.

I roll my eyes, and I see Devin stifling a grin.

“I don’t know. It’s just something I was always afraid I would regret. Now I wish I had just done

it before needles broke against my skin,” I laugh.

“Well, I can tattoo you if you wish,” Hale pops off.

“Really? How?” I inquire.

“It’s more branding than tattooing. I’ve done several on people. Any tattoos obtained during

mortality heal when immortality is gained. Most want that signature back, and it’s something I can

imitate. No needles or ink, but it’s still pretty cool,” he adds.

Devin shifts uncomfortably, and I smile with a touch of excitement touching my eyes.

“Let’s do it,” I giggle.

“Now?” he questions in surprise.

“Yeah. Why not?” I urge.

“Okay. Where do you want it?” he asks curiously.

“The bedroom,” I say mildly, and drinks sputter out of mouths as soon as I let that insinuating

comment fly.

“I mean the tattoo,” Hale says through his hysterical laughter. “Where do you want the tattoo?”

I blush a feverish glow, and Devin’s teasing grin is being hidden behind his cup.

“I’ll show you when everyone isn’t looking,” I mumble.

Devin’s eyes widen, and his cup lowers to show his fading smile.

Hale smirks deviously and acts as though he’s tipping an imaginary hat to the crowd. I can hear

the discomfort in Devin, and I grab Hale’s hand to flash with him to the house.

“Please tell me you want this on your chest. I’ve been dying to marvel at that incredible work of

art again,” he teases.

I roll my eyes at his incorrigible crudeness. “No. I want it here,” I say as I pull my ring off and

rest my left hand in his.

“Your ring finger?
That’s
the big mystery place we needed privacy for?” he grumbles in

disappointment.

“Yes. It’s the tattoo I wish to remain a secret. Can you keep your lips sealed?”

“I suppose. If you give me a peek at the goods, I swear I will,” he chuckles.

I nudge him playfully, and then I grab a paper and pen before carefully crafting sketching out the

design I want.

“Where do you want it?” he asks while staring down at my sketch.

“Here,” I murmur while placing my hand in his and pointing out the exact spot.

I hear the sizzling of something as he clasps his hand over my area of choice, and I giggle rather

than wince when it tickles.

He smirks lightly, and then he with draws to reveal his masterpiece to me.

Tears fill up in my eyes as my mouth falls from its giggling posture to a trembling mess.

Oh. Wow.

“Did I do something really wrong or really good?” he worries.

“Really good,” I say as I wipe away a few stray drips.

“You know this is just as permanent as a mortal tattoo?”

“Good.”

I stare at the name of the man I love wrapped in the waves in the shape of a ring on my finger. I

slide my engagement ring back on, and it allows only a peek of my new secret when you look under

the gallant jewel.

No one will be looking past the gem though. It’ll be my secret, and whether Devin ever takes me

back or not, I’ll always have something to prove I belong to him.

“Thank you, Hale,” I murmur softly with tears still staining my eyes.

“You’re going to make me tear up if you keep acting like this,” he grumbles in an emasculating

huff as he hugs me.

I laugh a little, and he kisses my forehead before walking out of my room.

I stare out at the dispersing crowd around the bonfire, and I see Devin walking in beside Kry. I

sigh in relief when I see Gemma pouting on a log next to the sparse remnants of the fire.

Maybe tomorrow will offer a better view of the world.

Chapter 11

Raising Hell

“Stop splashing me,” Gemma gripes at Ther.

Poor Ther.

Now that I know he’s into her, it’s sort of sad to see the way she completely dismisses him.

“Play chicken with us,” he whines playfully.

“No,” she barks.

Bitch.