Daughter Trilogy Bundle (53 page)

He sighs lightly, but cedes to my wishes as he puts me down.  I smile to thank him, but I can tell this is a begrudged concession to say the least.

He gently intertwines his fingers with mine and steadies his pace to match my mortal one as we make our way to be with the others.

"I love you, baby," he coos.

"I love you."

He kisses me lightly as we all pile into the elevator.  I smile when he pulls me into his arms once again, even though I know it's because he's scared to let me go.  I feel the same way.

We reach the outside and the air brushes across my face with hope.  I whisper to Devin as low as I can.

"Everything has stayed the same, just in a different pattern with detail tweaks.  What's the point in rewinding time if everything stays the same?"

"Shh," he cautions.  "Not here."

I nod as we walk through the streets, and our group keeps looking over our shoulders.  Devin turns into a restaurant and scoops me up.

"No chances."  He smirks.

Suddenly, we're flashing through doors, tunnels, and so much more.  My mortal eyes can't assess the quick changing scenery the way my immortal ones could.  Everything is a blur, as incoherent sounds and images swish past us.

He halts as we stand in front of the familiar building - one of his other New York homes.

He puts me down and takes my hand as we walk in to see the friendly faces greeting us.  Devin nods very calmly and cordially to them as we step into the elevator.

Then he pulls out his phone to call someone else.

"Sheila, hey
… I'm doing well.  Thank you.  I need a favor.  I'm going to send you some sizes, and I need you to acquire a very assorted wardrobe collection for a young woman… Yes she is… Thank you… Yes, she'll need that sort of stuff as well… Essentially, she'll need everything any woman needs on a daily basis… Thank you… I'll text you the address to bring it to… Thanks."

"Starting all over, but it's still the same thing.  Just like everything else," I mumble, fear sinking into the depths of my tone.

We step out into his apartment, and he holds my eyes in his before I even look around.

"Not everything has to change.  Not everything needs to change.  We only have to worry about the parts we want to change.  We've lived through rewinds before, and we did change the outcome.  Stop worrying about it.  We've got excellent experience," Devin encourages.

Theia pats my arm, which is unusual.

"We've never repeated the same thing we wanted to change.  You have to trust us to control the outcome, and steer it in a new direction.  They can't see the past they don't know exists.  Now we have the advantage.  We're not walking into a trap with a blindfold on," she assures.

"This time we know their counters for us.  We also know they've been studying us for a while.  We know the puppet master, and we know they've enlisted a strong bloodline to block my visions.

"She told me my eyes had caused her a lot of hard work, but she doesn't have the ability to block.  We need the person holding their secrets, and then we can see every move they make," Devin adds, anger lacing his tone as his jaw clenches shut.

"What good does it do us to know their counters?" I ask.

"Because now we can compensate.  They don't know all of our assets, and they aren't prepared for centuries of contacts.  There's a reason we made a few friends over the years," Devin says smugly.

I half smile as my eyes finally examine the unfamiliar surroundings of the apartment I once lived in.

The cold, whitewashed walls offer no warmth with their sterile appeal.  Very calculated and colorless art tries to decorate the already dull appearance.  The harsh metals intimidate rather than welcome.  The white leather couches are far less inviting than the warmer tans that once stayed here.

Devin puts his arm around my waist as he kisses the top of my head.

"Sorry, baby.  I wasn't expecting for this to happen this go around," he murmurs as he motions to the statuesque room.

"I think we have more to worry about that a color scheme right now," I mumble.

"I don't think you should have to change the way you are for someone else," Gemma chimes in quietly as she stares out the window.

"I'm not changing.  It's called compromise.  It's what you do in a relationship," Devin growls.  "I'm allowing you to stay because we need everyone here, and you did redeem yourself by showing up and fighting beside us.  If you insist on making such rude comments though, I will reinstate the rule we put into place where you get zero face time."

She rolls her eyes as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"I did more than fight beside you.  I died beside you," she pouts.

"You did, and that's why I haven't said anything, but don't think that means you can go back to your malicious attacks on Adisia.  I mean it," he warns again.

She doesn't say anything as she continues staring out the window.

I scowl at her back.  Right now I feel weaker in comparison to her, and it makes it much harder to tolerate her.  Before, I felt powerful, and I felt as though I could handle anything she threw at me.

Now, I feel as though she'll bide her time until she can find a way to be rid of me.  I wanted to die of my own accord, not by her jealous hand.  After Devin said what he did about following me to the grave as he follows me in life, I don't want to die at all.

"So, what now?" I say to break the awkward silence that has set in.

Kry walks over and props up beside me.

"Now we get on our phones and start preparing for war.  It's going to take us a while to track down all of our contacts, and some are going to need to be talked to face to face."

"So everyone leaves to go speak to their contacts, and I stay here," I pout.

"No.  Everyone goes everywhere together," Kry interjects.  "Personally, I don't particularly care to be killed again," he grumbles.

"Nor I," Theia says as she pours a glass of amber liquor.

"I think that's one thing we can all agree on.  We'll make a schedule after we've made every call we can," Devin instructs.

"Do you think it wise to drag a mortal around with us?" Gemma scoffs.

"Gemma," Devin threatens.

"I'm not taking a shot at her.  I'm merely stating the obvious.  Her mother has already voiced concerns on the same matter.  It would leave us with a very exposed and obvious weakness while in the field," she counters.

"Adisia is going," Kry snorts.  "Get the hell over it.  When she does change, she'll be anything but a weakness.  She's the only person to ever kill someone as powerful as Safina by herself.  She damn leveled the world.  We had to entomb Safina and Rhea because we weren't strong enough to kill her.  Do you even realize who you're pissing off right now?  It's something to think about," he mocks.

She swallows hard as the realization comes to her.  She hadn’t thought about what I could do to her if I get pissed enough after I regain my immortality.  She walks over to sit on the uninviting couch as she flips through her contacts.

"I'll see how much longer my parents are going to be," she says dryly.

"Actually, hold off on telling them about all of this.  My mind is aching from reliving the memories.  For now, let's just concentrate on all the outsiders," Theia murmurs while gripping her head.

Gemma nods, and then she resumes her task at hand.

"I'm going to go grab a room before the herds get here and take all the good ones," Kry murmurs.

"It's Devin's home - they're all good," Ther chuckles as he walks over to grab a glass.

I pull out the vodka - because I'm not ready to join them in drinking scotch - and I pour my own glass while drowning it in orange juice.  Devin smirks as he sees the diluted beverage, and I shrug.

"I'm not ready for the strong stuff yet.  But I can get drunk much easier than you," I tease.

They all laugh a little, and even share a twinge of envy for my weak ability.  Devin kisses my citrus flavored lips and smiles as he tastes the alcohol on my breath.

"I don't know that I've fully been able to appreciate a drunken version of you," he quips.

I blush a little as I smirk.

"I don't believe you have either, but we'll remedy that tonight.  I'll show you my favorite thing to do while I'm drunk," I seduce.

Devin smiles his wolfish grin, and Kry coughs lightly as he returns to the room.  Gemma snorts while rolling her eyes to show her disgust.

Theia and Phillip groan a little at the distasteful comment I hadn't intended for them to overhear, and my face radiates red.

Devin's eyes are burning into mine though, and I instantly forget all the embarrassment I feel.  His perfect lips call to me, and I very deliberately take a step closer.  The shattering sound of bulbs bursting above us makes me smile rather than shriek.

I look up at the shattered remnants and sigh, "Finally.  It's about damn time I had a spark."

Everyone chuckles a little, and Devin's lips trace over mine.

"I'd forgotten how hot she was even while mortal," Ther grumbles.

"Yeah, me too," Kry groans.  "At least she's not walking around in a skimpy swimsuit and stilettos this time," he teases.

I throw a stress ball at his head, and he flashes to the side to avoid contact.  I roll my eyes as they chuckle at my expense.

Even Devin doesn't bar his amusement as he snickers at Kry's joke.

Damn men.  Damn Camara for giving me those heels.

"You're cute when you're embarrassed," Devin plays.

"You're cute when you're being playful," I say in a seduced and seductive manner.

He kisses me lightly.  His scent is so amazing.  I smile as it engulfs me, and his strong arms pull me in tighter to his body.

"Let's play then," he whispers, but if I can hear it, then so can everyone in the room.

He starts laughing as unimpressed frowns scold him, and he shrugs innocently.  He pulls his glass to his lips, and genius strikes me.

"Let's move your bed to the padded room," I say bluntly as I take another sip of my drink.

Devin strangles slightly on his drink and sputters it back into his glass, while Kry's glass splatters to the ground.

I blush instantly when I realize what my comment insinuated.

"I meant so we can have some privacy.  I can't hear when you whisper too low.  Just a little low.  My hearing isn't quite as developed as last time, and I can't whisper low enough for no one else to hear.  You're all pretty dirty-minded, for the record," I scold.

"You're a daughter of Aphrodite.  You've broken beds, and we won't even mention how you desecrated the ocean floor to avoid breaking a boat.  Forgive us for being a little presumptuous," Kry chuckles.

I can feel the fever flooding my cheeks as Devin's parents move out to the balcony to continue their phone calls.

"I think I can take care of that," Devin says with a snicker as he and Kry disappear into the bedroom to fulfill my request.

Ther fidgets awkwardly beside me as he avoids eye contact.

"Everything okay, Ther?" I giggle out lightly.

"I think I'm going to go help them," he stammers.

"I'm still mortal; no Aphrodite draw," I assure.

"Oh there's a draw, and I'm definitely going to stay away from it.  Devin will drown the light out of me if I don't," he nervously chuckles out.

"Damn straight," Devin teases.

Ther smirks and winks at me before he flashes into the bedroom.  Persia smirks as she struts over to me.

"Your draw is much stronger than mine apparently.  They've barely noticed me, and yet they're completely smitten with you while you're still mortal," she giggles.

Gemma snorts again, and walks out to join Theia and Phillip on the balcony.  Kry yells out from the bedroom.

"Not smitten.  We're not smitten," he laughs.

"Sure you're not," she teases.

Kry walks around with wide eyes.

"We're next to a very large body of water, and we're locked up with her fiancé who happens to be a descendent of Poseidon.  We're not smitten," his tone and eyes warn.

Devin laughs incredibly hard from the bedroom, and my cheeks blush for the awkward attention I wasn't quite so showered with the last time - at least not to this extent.

"I'm going to go get some rest," I sigh.  "Mortals need more sleep than immortals."

I yawn to prove my exhaustion.

"Of course, dear," Persia says while kissing my head and hugging me.

I stop as I'm passing Kry, and I wrap my arms around him, startling him.

"I'm glad everyone's okay, including you," I murmur with tears staining my eyes.

He hugs me back and kisses me on the top of my head.  "Thanks for saving us all."

I smile as I pull back, and Ther walks over to hug me as well.  He wraps me up in his arms, and Devin props up against the doorframe, wearing his low jogging pants and an adorable smile.