Daughter Trilogy Bundle (30 page)

Devin huffs as he pulls me tighter under his arm and kisses my head.  I watch her push her thumb into the soil surrounding the plant, and before my eyes, it blooms out full of life.  The wilting process has been reversed, and now the vibrant plant stands with such pride.

And I thought I had a green thumb.

"Make sure to water it.  All earth needs a little water," she says suggestively.

Her underlying meaning isn't lost on me.  He's water, and she's the damn earth. 
Bitch
.

"Thanks," Devin says dismissively.

She's persistent though, just like he said she was.

"I can always come help you out if you find yourself struggling," she provocatively suggests.

Oh hell no
.  I'm cutting that loaded-with-devious-intentions plant to pieces the moment she's gone.

"I've cared for orchids before.  I can handle it," I interject, reminding her I'm sitting right in front of her.

Devin smirks as he relaxes and pulls me into his lap.  She completely ignores me and looks around the room.

"Your homes need life.  They're always so sterile and cold.  This one is different though.  It's a recent change, too.  I can still smell the fresh paint mingling with the remnants of sweat from the painters that is barely starching the air.  The artwork is new as well.  I can smell the hydrangeas dancing off them, and I know you don't have any of them.  What's with all the new styles?"

"I did it for Adisia," he says while staring at me.

I'm stunned.  I had no idea.

"You did this for me?  Why?" I gleam, trying not to giggle foolishly.

"Judging by your apartment, I knew white wasn't going to be too comfortable for you, but I'm not quite the color enthusiast or collective omnivore you are.  I decided this would be a reasonable compromise.  I wanted you to feel comfortable when you moved in," he answers genuinely.

I almost tear up.  I start to speak, but Earth Girl beats me to it.

"She's moving in?" she gasps.

Devin seems aggravated by her rude interruption, so he answers curtly.

"She has already moved in."

Her eyes teem with envy, shock, and a loathsome appetite for my head on a stake.

"Why?" she blares.

"She has to live with someone.  She's new to her powers, and Devin is her most prominent trigger," Ther says as he walks in and shuts the door behind him.

She glares directly into my eyes and fights the urge to do something rash.

"So you train new ones now?  How are you a trigger?" She asks with an ice-cold tone.

Devin pulls me to him a little tighter, and I'm almost in his lap now.

"She was attacked by people trying to get to Devin.  Her protective instincts kicked in and forced her immortality," Kry answers with a nonchalant indifference to the dramatic meltdown Gemma is facing.

She cracks one side of her neck, and her clenched jaw looks as though it
’s about to break in half.

"Why did she feel protective?" she inquires with her ominous tone.

"Because I love him," I answer softly.

Devin lets a small smile escape, and he kisses my head in response to my answer.  Her eyes spread so wide I'm worried she's about to have a stroke.  Then she lets out a laugh, and her eyes relax.  She opens her mouth to speak, but Devin interrupts her.

"Don't.  I've had enough.  You're not going to attack her anymore.  You've had your moment, just leave it alone."

"You know I hate it when you do that.  I should be allowed to speak even if you can see what I'm about to say," she mumbles.

"I can't see it.  That's why I know it's directed toward Adisia.  You can attack me all you want, but I'm not going to let you accost her any further," Devin warns.

Her eyes show her surprise all too clearly.  "What do you mean you can't see it?" she whines.

"Devin can't see anything about or pertaining to Adisia," Ther answers.  "It's pretty cool actually.  She blew up a car before we figured it out and shocked the hell out of him.  I've never seen him caught off guard," he chuckles.

I smile a little as I think of the heated, silent moment we were sharing when I accidentally over stimulated the engine.  He smirks slightly, and his lips cover mine.  He pulls back quickly before the passion calls forth Aphrodite's green eyes.

"You… this can't… why can't you…" she stammers in disbelief.

"She's special," he murmurs with such an adoring tone.

"Well, you should know it won't last.  I know better than anyone that Devin doesn't do love," she scoffs.

Ther and Kry exchange an awkward glance and disappear from the room.  Devin takes a deep breath and sits back on the warm couch, pulling me with him as he does so.

"I do now.  I'm sorry, Gemma."

Her eyes flash from angry to pained in that instant.  She wipes her falling tears quickly, and almost chokes on her emotion as she lights into a tirade.

"You said you couldn't be with anyone like that.  You said you couldn't have a committed relationship.  I've been waiting centuries on you.  I've done everything to be with you.  How can you do this to me?" she cries.

I stand up to give them a moment alone.  I've been there.  I know how much it hurts to lose him.  He frowns slightly as I abandon him, but he knows she needs closure.  I start closing the door, but I hear Devin before it closes completely.

"I love her.  I'm sorry, but I never told you to wait for me.  As a matter of fact, I told you not to do such a thing.  There're people on their way up.  I need to go be with Adisia."

I smile and my eyes lock with his the moment he walks out.  His beautiful smoky eyes are filled with regret and a twinge of embarrassment.

"I’m sorry," he mouths silently.

I just shrug.  I can't blame her for loving him to the point of being obsessed.  That's how I've felt since I met him.

He wraps his arms around me, and Ther's eyes lock with mine as I turn around.  I quickly withdraw from the accidental gaze and stare at the floor while I cringe.

"I'm so sorry," I squeal.

"I'm fine.  Hey, why am I fine?" he questions in shock.

Devin tilts my chin up and stares into my eyes.  A smirk spreads across his face as he answers.

"She's got it under control now - earlier than expected."

I smile a little and blush bashfully under his adoring eyes.  The elevator dings, and Theia steps out with Phillip holding her hand.

"She's got control?" Theia asks in surprise.  "That's excellent."

"Have any others shown up yet?" Phillip asks.

"So far just Kry, Ther, and… Gemma," he says with a lower, sour note.

"Don't sound too enthused with my being here," she scoffs from behind.

"Where are your parents?" Theia asks her.

"On their way.  I was in the area," she murmurs.

Of course she was in the area.  She's my stalker's stalker. 
That bitch
.

"We've got more coming up," Devin adds.

The elevator dings and several men pile out.  They are grungy, oily, and very unpolished to say the least.  They're all staring at me with the Grinch's grin, and I'm starting to feel like the Christmas they would love to steal.

"Easy boys, this is Devin's girl," Ther teases.

"Of course it is.  He always gets the pretty ones, but he doesn't keep them long," one of them gleams.

"I do now, Hector.  Adisia is different, so watch yourself," Devin cautions.

Hector holds his hands up as if he's bowing out gracefully, and then he winks at me when he passes by.  The others keep their eyes on me as they follow him into the padded room.

Theia's smile distracts me, and I see her staring at the picture Devin has proudly displayed in front of the elevator.

"You got your picture made?  You hate pictures," she says with a distant tone as her eyes study the framed photo.

"I did.  That's from Adisia's friend's wedding.  Adisia surprised me with it as a present."

Theia's eyes glance up, and tears begin to form in the corners of both of them.

"She surprised you?  Oh, I wish I had seen that," she chokes out.

Wow
.  This is a really big deal.  I've always thought it was irritating to see a wrapped present and have to wait to find out what was inside.

Devin smiles a little bashfully, and then he kisses the top of my head.  I feel his hand tightening on my shoulder as Gemma walks over to look at the picture in question.  Her eyes burn against the photo for a moment, and then she shakes her head in disgusted disbelief before skulking off.

More people start piling out of the elevator as each descent returns with a new load.  Devin takes my hand to return me to the padded room.

Ther and Kry begin bringing in more chairs from other rooms to accommodate the house full of bodies.

The padded door shuts for the last time when the final person is accounted for.  Theia looks to Devin to start the meeting.  He nods in acknowledgement as he leans forward on the couch to speak.

"This group we've been dealing with is becoming more and more organized.  If any of you saw the news before the minds of the mortals were altered, you know what I'm talking about.  We need answers, and we have to start hunting them before this reaches a limit that requires a rewind.  None of us want that to happen," he asserts.

"How were fifty infected mortals there at once?  And how were they working together?  It doesn't make sense.  Infected mortals go mad before they reach a level where they can work together as an assembly," a brawny man interjects.

"They weren't infected like normal.  This was something far more extreme than anything I've ever seen.  They were being controlled by a greater mind.  I could see it in their eyes - they were enslaved," Devin answers, and his words are met with a united gasp.

"Who can do such a thing?" A redhead asks.

"I don't know, but we need to find out soon," Theia says.

"You can't see them?" Gemma questions, her eyes solely focused on Devin.

"No.  Whoever is pulling the strings is doing very well to keep the curtain fastened behind a vaulted door that I can't break through.  It's blurry at best, and I can't see anything other than the attacks just before they happen.

"Even that is getting weaker as they grow stronger.  There's barely enough time to form a plan.  This puppet master is strong, calculated, and too good to keep playing with," Devin says.

"I don't understand why they released the mortals when they had you pinned down.  They could have forced your hand, or worse, they could have killed you with those numbers and limited maneuverability on your end," Theia almost whimpers with quizzical dismay.

"The puppet master didn't release them.  Adisia did," he says with admiration blooming from his lips.

I look down shyly as all eyes flash to me - the girl they either barely know or don't know at all.

"How?" Phillips asks.

"She used her stare to free them from the captivity they were forced into.  I've never seen anything like it.  I wasn't aware it could be used for such.  I've been trying to reach Persia, but she's gone underground in search of her contacts already."

Kry props against the counter while sipping his scotch before he adds to the conversation.

"Do you think you can train that ability?  We made need it again
… soon.  The way these guys are coming, we'll need an army of able immortals."

Oh crap
.  He's talking to me. 
Damn you, Kry
.

I can't believe he's putting me on the spot with so many people here.  I wasn't planning on being a part of the meeting.  I didn't even want to listen in, but Devin made me.

"I'll do my best." I quiver, feeling like I'm standing naked in front of thousands.

"What kind of stare are you talking about?" Gemma snarks, and then I notice many of the people here are wondering the same thing.

"She's a daughter of Aphrodite," Devin answers quickly.

Gemma's eyes widen in shock, and the unknowing members begin ruffling their whispers of disbelief around the room.

"And you're just now sharing that with us?" she barks.  "That explains so fucking much.  You're not in love with her - she's got you spellbound, you fool."

She glares at me with all the contempt of hell's fury.

"Release him now, you fucking whore," she growls, and the padded door opens at that exact moment.

I glare into her eyes with the same fury.  How dare her!  I would never hold him even if I could.

"Told you this would happen," Deacon laughs as he walks in with a wild-eyed beauty that has to be Camara.

Devin rolls his eyes.  "She's not
holding
me.  I'm not affected like the others by her abilities," he says smugly.

I smile and stare at the floor instantly to hide my blushing cheeks and glowing green eyes.