Daughter Trilogy Bundle (88 page)

"No.  It's hurting you because you're breaking through barriers.  I've never known anyone to be able to do something like that.  The few glimpses I've gotten weren't enough to help us.  I've never pulled a vision of Safina at all," he sighs.  "You've seen more than any of us would have ever thought to be in the realm of possibility.  Now we know how they're doing it, and that's enough to keep us safe for now," he assures.

"What happens in two days when the army of dead returns?" Kry asks softly.  "Have we come up with anything to take out Van?"

"Not yet," Devin grumbles.

"Two days?" I squeal.  "How is it just two days?"

"You were out for a while, and we've changed locations four times.  That was the first time we've all been in one spot since the jet landed.  I'm sure they weren't far behind," Devin sighs.

I look out the window at the trees swaying in the wind, and I wonder if they're betraying us right now.  The grass whispers to the air, and I try to listen to see if it's sending a message to Athena's pride.  Each flower holds a dark secret, and every leaf that falls is just a messenger.

"I can't even enjoy looking outside right now," I growl.

"Me either," Gemma almost cries.

"Herma is the only one who can do it.  If we take her out, they'll be just as blind to our whereabouts as we are to theirs," I insert.

"Any ideas on how to handle our two day time frame?" Ther asks hopefully.

"Actually, yeah.  We're going to a desert home, which will limit plant life, but there's just no way to make it obsolete," I answer.

"That's not a solution, that's a problem," Kry huffs sardonically.

"Not if we want them to find us," I add vaguely.

"Say that again, please.  I think I missed the part where you were making sense," Jace quickly prompts.

"The army of the dead is Safina's safety net.  She feels like I can't touch her as long as she has Van and his merciless group of terrors staring me down - that's how she plans on taking me out of the fight.  She will come after us anywhere we go.  Let's change the venue, and find somewhere we're stronger.  We'll live in the desert tonight, and I'll explain better.  Tomorrow, we go where Devin is strongest… back to the ocean.  I may need him more than ever to bring me down if all goes according to plan," I murmur with a devious plan swirling in my mind.

"If all goes according to plan?  You're planning on losing control to the point you need Devin more than ever?  That's not a plan.  That's a plan gone awry," Jace worries.

"I'll be stronger than ever if all three wake up at once, but I may need Devin to pull me back just before I go super nuclear.  I want to level them, not everything else," I explain.

"You're scaring me.  Embodying all three could kill you," Jace mutters.

"It would kill you.  It's out of the question," Devin adds, and I can see tears starting to waver on his eyelids.

"It may be our only shot.  I know I can do this, and I want to do this," I assure.

"You can't call them.  They just show up," Camara argues.

"I can try."

"I'm not talking about this right now," Devin growls.  "We've still got two days to figure it out, and that's what I intend to do.  Your option isn't a plan; it's a last resort."

"More like a hail Mary," Jace grumbles.

"Why is it the only time you two can get along is when you're teaming up against me?" I gripe.

"You're safety is all they can agree about, and it's a warranted concern," Camara adds.

"You too, eh?" I huff while rolling my eyes.

"We happen to like you a little, and we'd like for you to stick around," she murmurs with a sardonic touch.

"None of us will
stick around
if I don't do this," I almost whisper to myself.

"We'll figure it out," Devin sighs.

"We need a muse," Kry grumbles.

"Those are real?" I ask inquisitively.

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffs.  "It was a joke."

"Don't be ridiculous?"  I ask in sardonic disbelief.  "Sirens, titans, goddesses, the living dead, and so much more are real.  I rewound time for goodness sake.  How is it so far fetched for muses to exist?"

"Good point," Kry says with a shrug.

"Come here, please," Devin grumbles as he pulls me into his lap.  "Just quit talking about it.  I just want to hold you right now."

I nestle into him, and Ther squeals the tires on the car as he continues his bat-out-of-hell driving.

I feel the warmth of the man that might not be mine for much longer if life follows the trail cut by my vision.  I shiver slightly at the cruel reminder of reality, and Devin's arms tighten around me in response.  His soft lips brush my forehead, and I just live in his perfect arms for the moment.

The house is unbelievable, and
I roll my eyes as we step out.  I spent most of my life learning the value of a dollar - per my mortal parents - and here I am constantly being
wowed
by the unruly expenditures displayed by my immortal circle.

"Eventually this will stop being impressive," Camara snickers.

"I'll believe it when it happens," I mumble.

Devin's hand takes mine, and in we flash to the marble floors and gallant chandeliers.

"You like this don’t you?" he muses.

"I think it's pretty amazing, but I'm not this high maintenance if that's what you're asking," I quickly answer.

He laughs a little as we head up the spiral staircase.

"I know you're not
high maintenance.
  I'm just trying to assess which of my houses you would like the best," he chuckles.

"Any house you're in," I add with corny
oomph
.

He smirks as he blushes slightly, and then he scoops me up in his arms.  I see a door similar to the beach house that is marked with my name.

"Did they make me a room in every one of their houses?" I ponder aloud.

"Probably.  They most likely prepared for the day you would join them.  It's not common for an immortal to find someone their willing to tie themselves to so early on," Devin murmurs, and then his eyes drop as if he's said something that doesn't settle well with him.

"What?" I prompt.

"You haven't really gotten to experience any of the fun things yet.  You've spent the entire time on the run, fighting, or barely surviving.  Now I'm pressuring you to marry me, and you've barely stepped foot into the immortal doorway.  It's the first time I've ever really thought of it, and now I feel a little selfish for holding you back from the experiences you should get to have," he hesitantly mumbles with a guilty and fretful tone.

"You're not holding me back from anything.  I love you, and I can experience the immortal world with you.  It's not like we have to become old married hermits overnight," I chuckle.

His eyes don't change, and I can still see some trepidation in their swirls that confuses me.  It's as if he worries about something else.

"He's talking about the more promiscuous side of our world," Jace provocatively interjects to announce his eavesdropping.  "The partying, the wild sex, the fun that last for days as often as you like without consequence.  Being an Aphrodite, you would definitely have a lot of fun."

"I wasn't speaking to you," Devin growls.

"I didn't say you were.  I was just clarifying what you were neglecting to fully explain," he perkily offers.  Then he turns back to me.  "Once you're immortally bonded, you're bound to that person until death.  Your powers are tied to that person the moment you say yes
.
  There's no going back, there's no divorce, and there's no leaving one another without risking an epic heartbreak that could kill you.  Just ask him," Jace says as he crosses his arms over his chest like a proud devil.

"I don't have to ask him," I mutter as I join the fuming Devin.  I curl into his arms, and my lips threaten to graze his.  "I don't want to be promiscuous.  I don't care if there's a cemented bond formed by our immortal union.  As a matter of fact, it sounds pretty freaking good."

Devin smirks but keeps his eyes lowered.  Jace frowns at my overly enthused attitude he had been trying to sour.  He shakes his head, and I can hear the surging of electricity as he skulks off.

"He's relentless," Devin gripes, and he moves out from under me to go shut the door.

"That he is.  He's convinced I'm meant for him," I exasperate.

"And you?" Devin asks with a hint of worry lacing his tone.

"I know who I'm meant to be with, and it's not him."

Devin smiles gorgeously, and he slowly saunters over to me with mischievously swirling eyes.

"How do you know you're meant to be with me?" he fishes.

"Well, there's the obvious stuff.  The fact you're my strongest trigger is one of the reasons.  The fact fate pushed me into your arms twice is another.  Most importantly, I've been thoroughly in love and obsessed with you since I met you," I seduce.

His grin grows, and then he pulls me to his body as his lips find mine.  I feel the heat blazing through us, and I open my eyes to make sure it isn't blazing out of me as well.  I see smoke seeping from my pores, and I instantly withdraw to throw myself outside on the balcony.

Devin walks up behind me with a touch of laughter.

"If I said you're smoking hot, would it be too easy?" he teases.

I roll my eyes as I pat my arm fervently with my hand to extinguish the lingering smolders.

"This is aggravating.  Now these clothes are ruined," I grunt.

"I'll buy you some more," he teases.

"I'm still waiting on some other things you promised to replace.  We've had this conversation before," I joke with mock frustration.

"Have we?" he seduces with coy indifference before closing his lips over mine.

I hear the fabric tearing as he jolts me forward, and suddenly my legs are wrapped around his waist.  I don't waste time ripping his shirt off, and I feel it pulling through my legs as I toss it to the ground.

His lips move down to devour my neck, and I moan as I tilt my head back to give him full access.

He carries me over the threshold and back into the room I nearly set ablaze.  The soft bed folds around me and the walls shiver in fear when my skin begins to sizzle.

"Careful not to set the room on fire," Devin provocatively dares.

"I have no control," I groan as his lips slowly embroider a seductive pattern against my bare chest.

"Yes you do," he murmurs against my skin.  "Just breathe, relax, and pull it in," he coaches.

"I don't want to," I tremble out, and the bed beneath me begins to blister.

"You have to, baby.  Try
… for me," he instructs, and his lips slide down my stomach as I struggle against the brewing inferno.

"Why?" I moan, and the throbbing is suddenly verging on being unbearable as his lips stroll even lower.

"Because it'll make it that much better if you hold it back and just let me have you without alternative release.  Try it," he seduces.

His words are almost enough to break the dam, but I continue to fight the pleading flames.  I breathe in slowly as his lips slide down my inner thigh, and I feel the heat threatening to emerge.

"Fight it," he cautions.  "I want you to feel everything fully."

How can I fight it when he's talking like this?

His lips begin trekking back up the trail they've forged, and I feel my body begging to convulse from the build.  His lips consume mine, and I forget everything else in the world.  He's all there is.

"Well?" he asks with anticipation
.

"Definitely amazing," I pant.

He laughs a little as he gently places a kiss on my still quivering lips.

"Tell me something I don't know about you," he randomly insists.

"Where did that come from?" I chuckle out.

He sits up to prop against the massive and padded headboard, and I scoot over to rest my head in his lap.

"I want to know everything, and if you're willing to give up your chance to explore the immortal world with a binding marriage, then I want to start planning the things you would enjoy doing with me."

My eyes dance up and down with provocative insinuation, and he laughs while shaking his head.

"I realize that was too easy," he jokes.  "But seriously, tell me something I don't know.  I don't want you feeling like you lost your opportunity to just enjoy the world we live in.  I want it to be special," he says with all sincere sweetness.

I sigh as I sit up, and my eyes lock with his.

"You make it sound as if I'm giving up a million dollars to simply live on the street.  I'm not giving up anything to be with you.  I want to be with you, and I'm excited to do so."

"You say that now, but I'm worried you'll regret it in a century or two when you see how very little you've lived," he pouts.