Daughter of Asteria (The Daughter Trilogy) (46 page)

“This is a journal I started years ago to help me remember anything that might have seemed

insignificant at the time, but could help us now. The truth is, without a grave-raiser, there’s not too

much we can do. Van will go straight for you the moment you’re in sight. The moment his eyes

penetrate yours, you’ll be lost in fear before you can even strike,” Theia sighs in dismay.

“We’re still talking gloom and doom,” Devin’s voice chirps from the entryway.

His eyes narrow at Jace when he sees me propped against him, and he walks over to sit in the

chair across from us.

“I thought you were asleep,” I murmur softly.

His jaw tenses before he says, “I see that.” His eyes flash between me and Jace, and then he

motions for me to join him. “It appears I can’t sleep too well without you anymore,” he grumbles.

I smirk a little as I free myself from Jace and walk over to fall into the open arms waiting for me.

Devin’s lap is warm and welcoming, and I snuggle into his shirtless body.

“Forget your shirt?” Jace scoffs.

“Forget she’s mine?” Devin retorts.

“Yours? Last I checked she was still wearing one ring, not two,” Jace growls.

“I think we’re all a little tired,” Theia exasperates in interruption. “Let’s not start arguing right

now. There’s more at stake here than pride.”

Devin’s not worried about pride. He just hates Jace because Jace thinks he’s supposed to be with

me. I love Jace in a completely platonic way. I feel a connection with him, but not the kind he wants

me to.

“I’ve slept too long, so I’m not tired at all. Would it be rude of me to ask for your journal?” I ask

Theia.

“I don’t have anything personal in it. It’s strictly war related stuff. My eyes have crossed from

reading it for so long. You’re welcome to it,” she offers.

She hands it to me before Phillip flashes to her side. He tugs at her hand as his eyes show more

fatigue than he can bear any longer.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow. We need rest,” he urges, and they disappear before anyone can say

anything else.

“Mom’s right. We’re all tired, and it’s impossible to think at all when we’re this tired. We need

to rest,” Devin adds.

“It’s hard to sleep when we know we’re looking at the mortal equivalent of World War II,” Jace

huffs while rubbing his eyes.

“World War II was my bad. It had been a rough couple of days when I sparked that conflict,”

Deacon snips. “This is going to be far worse than that for them and us,” he continues.

I roll my eyes at the warlord’s claim, and then Devin scoops me into his arms as he stands.

“Well, it’s going to be impossible to fight a well rested army of dead when we’re the ones looking

like zombies. Get some sleep, and we’ll start fresh tomorrow. If nothing else, we’ll find a better

hiding ground,” Devin asserts.

“We can’t hide from the army of the dead. Van has stared into her eyes now. He can find her at

any time,” Camara sighs.

“Then we’ll make the others play catch up at least,” Devin fires back.

I wriggle free from his arms to touch my toes to the floor. Jace stretches as he rises to his feet

and pats my arm as he walks by.

Devin’s jaw tenses again, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply pulls my hand in his before

tugging me toward the bedroom.

“Why do you encourage him?” he whispers, and it’s too low for anyone else to hear.

“What do you mean?” I ask innocently. “You think I’m encouraging him to chase me because I

leaned against him? He’s just a friend,” I murmur with a touch of guilt.

“Would you like it if Gemma and I were curled up on the couch together?” he snarks.

Hell to the no.

“I’ve never fucked Jace. You can’t say the same about her,” I gripe.

He flinches at my callous remark and then shuts the door to the bedroom behind us.

“You wouldn’t like it if any girl was curled against me the way you were him,” he adds.

“No I wouldn’t,” I admit. “I’m sorry.”

His arms fold around me, and he tilts my chin up with the tip of his finger so that his lips have a

better angle at mine. The soft fire sizzles into my mouth, and his watery douse sends steam

throughout the room.

“Just remind him you’re mine,” he murmurs gently against my lips.

“I do… frequently,” I mumble with such a seduced breath.

His lips close over mine more fervently, and I feel his hands gripping me almost too tight as

something behind me explodes from the impact of my body being shoved against it from the violent

seduction.

I scramble to pull my shirt off, and then something catches my eye to subdue the fiery moment.

“What’s that?” I ask curiously as I grab his left hand and pull it to me.

He smirks as he carries me with one arm around my waist as we make our way back over to the

bed. He flips on the lamp to cast a better light for my inquisitive mind.

Tears fill my eyes, and I gasp when I see my name mixed with fire on his ring finger.

“As cheesy as it might sound, I decided to let everyone know I was yours for eternity as well.

Call me a copycat, but I found it to be a very endearing idea. I had planned on you seeing it when we

made it to the ring exchange, but you didn’t even get to make it down the aisle,” he sighs.

A few tears escape from my eyes, and his thumb strums them away while his lips spread in such a

genuinely pleased smile.

“I love you, babe,” he says so softly.

“I love you,” I giggle out as more tears fall. “We’ve got to get through this because I have to be

your wife.”

His eyes soften, and then suddenly his lips are claiming mine again. He pulls me beneath him,

and he doesn’t waste time with any foreplay.

I can feel his desire, his ferocity, and his need for me burning against my skin. The unbidden

thought of the hopeless war springs to mind, but Devin’s intoxicating breath brings me back to the

fantasy world we love escaping into.

For the moment, I’m just his.

Chapter 15

Counting Down

The sands sweep over the desert floor as my churning winds stir them. I’ve read Theia’s journal

from cover to cover at least four times, and I’m still nowhere closer to figuring out a way to stop the

three threats aimed at me.

Safina is strong, and I’m the only one capable of killing her. The daughters of Athena have lethal

poison that I personally know will lead to a burning death.

Then there’s Van. He was brutal, merciless, and horrific when he was a mortal. The thought of

him having unlimited capabilities is terrifying - more so when I still don’t know how to kill him.

Everyone’s enemies will be in attendance, and no one will be safe from the ensuing massacre if I

can’t figure out a way to piece the puzzle together in time. I feel so sick. I wasted days being

unconscious, and now tomorrow will end the suspense one way or the other.

Devin stirs lightly, and I smile barely before turning my gaze back to the desert. The brave

balcony extends far out over the desert floor, and it offers me a break from the starchy room.

I feel so claustrophobic when I’m this close to revisiting an impending death.

Warm arms wrap around me as Devin joins me on my perched hideaway. His lips graze the top of

my head before he turns me to face him. His swirling Poseidon blue eyes offer insight to his dreadful

anxiety that matches mine.

“Tell me it’s all going to be okay,” I murmur.

“It is. I’m not going to lose you. I don’t care what I have to do, I’m damn well going to marry

you. We’re going to have a long, incredible eternity. One day we’ll have a daughter, and we’ll raise

her without looking over our shoulder. This will end all of that. All of our strongest adversaries will

be in one place at one time,” he says very convincingly.

I smile a little at the depth of his promise, and then I nestle into his chest before sighing out, “I’d

settle for a moment of peace before the next storm.”

He pulls me back and tilts my chin up so my eyes are forced to stare into his glorious ones.

“You aim too low. We’re going to have it all. I’m going to make sure you have it all,” he softly

adds.

His lips seduce mine, and he scoops me into his arms before sitting on one of the balcony chairs.

We stare out at the desert together, but he doesn’t seem as impressed as I am.

“You don’t like the desert?” I speculate.

“Not really,” he says with a turned up nose. I laugh a little, and he continues, “There’s barely a

drop of water. It makes me feel a little… impotent,” he snarls.

I laugh a little harder, and then my bedroom door squeaks open. We look up to see a timid Slash

acting uncertain about whether or not he should come any closer.

“What?” Devin barks.

“We’re ready when you guys are. We’re taking the jets to the port, and we’ll be on the water the

rest of the way,” he trembles out.

“We’ll be down in a minute,” Devin says in a calmer tone.

Slash disappears quicker than he appeared, and then Devin lets out a smirk and a touch of

laughter.

“You enjoy torturing him, don’t you?” I muse.

“He kissed my girl with my face on. The punishment is going to be brutal for a while,” he

chuckles.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stifle my grin.

“I knew it wasn’t you. I know your taste, scent, and incredible heated touch. I think he was pretty

well punished the moment I realized the trick being played,” I add.

“Gemma hates the fact you knew and she didn’t. It proves to her all the more that you and I were

meant to be,” he smolders. His lips briefly play with mine before he continues with, “I love the fact

you knew.”

“Do you?” I seduce.

“Very much. It excited me in a completely arousing way,” he dares.

“I know numerous things to excite you in that sort of way,” I provocatively murmur.

My lips graze the side of his neck as I turn to straddle him. His hands grip me at my hips as he

jerks me forward. I don’t give into the temptation to kiss him as my lips continue their neck

seduction.

“I’ll never tire of you’re incredible lips,” he moans in a near whisper.

I smile against his neck, and then my lips trail to meet his longing ones. He pulls me tighter

against him, and I can feel his passion seeping through his skin. The kiss erupts into a torrid attack.

“They’re waiting,” I breathlessly remind.

“We can be quick,” he counters with a hot, menacing tone.

I moan into his mouth as he lifts me and carries me to the bed. My wind pulls the doors to the

balcony shut, and I feel his sculpted, masterpiece of a body sliding across mine.

They can wait.

“What took you guys so
long?” Ther asks innocently.

“Really? You want to go there?” Kry murmurs sardonically with a smile.

“Oh… Never mind,” Ther murmurs while blushing.

“You two are animals,” Camara chuckles, and the irony is obvious considering the
wild
woman

behind the remark.

I laugh a little, and Devin kisses the top of my head as he chuckles a bit as well. He pulls my

hand in his to lead me to the car, and Ther beats Kry to the driver’s seat.

“Dude, I’m totally faster,” Ther chuckles out.

“You’re totally a jump-starter,” Kry snarks.

Although the air seems light, I can feel the heavy, worrisome anxiety radiating from everyone.

Devin’s arm pulls me closer to his body, and Slash warily joins us.

“Sorry. The other vehicles are full,” he mumbles.

“You drew the short straw, eh?” Kry laughs.

“Something like that,” he grumbles.

“Don’t even look at me,” Gemma scolds as she barges past him to climb into the third row.

“Wasn’t gonna,” he retorts.

Ther’s eyes never waver from the rearview mirror until she’s completely seated. He quickly

looks away when she looks up to catch his spying.

“How far to the dock?” she barks.

“We’ll be there in a few hours, so chill,” Kry snaps.

“I’m just ready to sit still for five minutes,” she gripes.

“So are we all,” Devin exasperates.

Suddenly inspiration strikes. Slash, Gemma, me, Devin… I piece it all together, and I’m baffled

by the insane genius of it.

“I know how to beat them,” I gasp.

“What?” Kry says in confusion.

“I know how to beat Safina and the others,” I gush.

“How?” Devin muses with a hint of skepticism.

“Call Theia and the others. Put them on speaker. I’m too excited to wait,” I exhale in relief.

“Ther,” Devin addresses.

“Got it,” Ther answers to the unspoken request.

“Hello?” Theia says very mildly.

“Theia, I know how to beat them,” I roar.

“How?” she insists.

“It’s risky, but I think it’ll work.”

“Tell me.”

I smile as the plan dangles in front of the eager ears, and everyone waits for my startling

revelation.

We step onto the mind-blowing
yacht, and Devin’s hand is still tightly fastened to mine. Theia

and the others weren’t as excited about the plan as I was. It’s the only thing anyone has come up with

though, and it may very well work.