Daughter of Asteria (The Daughter Trilogy) (21 page)

goddesses letting some power escape.

I was supposed to find him, just like I was supposed to find Devin, though I don’t know why I was

guided to Jace.

I can’t tell him right now though. He’d probably think I was crazy or pathetic for claiming

something like that after he just revealed such a thing.

“What are you going to do when you find her?” I ask curiously.

“Be with her, and help her any way I can. That’s what my mother told me to do. She said I was

fated to stand by her side in everything. She told me I would be the one to do what no other could.”

My eyes widen a little.
Oh shit. He’s talking like he thinks he’s going to be with her… er… me.

“Oh. What if she’s already with… someone?” I pry.

“She won’t be. My mom said I was fated to stand beside her. I think that speaks for itself,” he

says with a shrug. “I’m not looking to settle down with anyone, but I can’t just overlook my mother’s

vision. Why are you so curious, and why am I telling you all of this so freely?” he blabs.

“I just like knowing a person’s motives and aspirations. You’re telling me because I pose no

threat, and it’s obvious you’ve needed to talk to someone for a while about all of this. Do you not

have a group or an alliance somewhere?”

“You do know a lot, but no. I stray from groups. Too many things can go wrong if one person

turns on you. I don’t find it worth the risk,” he explains.

“I see how that could be a deterrent.”
Crazy bitches have tried killing me from inside the group.

“You would be safer with a group though,” I encourage.

“I might be, but I’ve survived a long time on my own. I can continue on living as I have. There’s

a sense of freedom outside a group you can’t find inside one.”

“There’s a strong connection from inside you can’t find outside,” I counter.

“You know a lot about this portion. I’m assuming a group saved you, and you learned from

them,” he quickly interjects.

I laugh a little as I nod. “You’re good,” I lie.

“I knew I’d figure it out eventually,” he smugly replies.

He slowly lifts my shirt, and I flinch when his fingers lightly graze my side. His electric touch is

a little too stimulating in my vulnerable circumstance, but I love Devin too much. I miss him so much

it aches, and I’m dying to call him. I regret having ever been so short with him.

Jace smears a thick cream on my waist, and I can feel the cool conflicting with the heat as the

concoction melds to my skin.

“That feels good,” I mumble through a moaned sigh.

He smiles a little as he continues his circular pattern, and I feel the new tingles of his electric

hands.

“You’re leaking,” I giggle out.

He blushes lightly while letting a bashful grin slide play across his lips.

“Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I’ve already sparked against you several

times, and I’ve gone much farther with girls than that without so much as showing a little static,” he

gripes in embarrassment.

“You have sex with mortals? Isn’t that dangerous with the infections and all?” I gush in disbelief.

“You’re group told you a lot of our secrets,” he almost gripes. “But yeah, it’s dangerous if you’re

careless. It’s an easy affliction to fix if you catch it early on. I always have, and I’ve never had to

clean up a mess.”

“You can fix them yourself?” I ask curiously.

“Yeah. I can pull the infection out, and I can adjust memories as well. I know how to block

visions, and on occasion I might catch a glimpse of something myself,” he says proudly.

“Can you see me?” I ask curiously, almost a little smugly, knowing it’s very unlikely.

“That’s the thing. I can’t control the visions. They just come at random, but I’ve never seen

you,” he says, laughing out the last bit.

He has no idea why I’m asking that, and he thinks it’s some sort of come-on judging by his eyes.

“Can you see someone’s memories?”

“If they open their minds to me or if they’re having a nightmare. The nightmares are a way into a

stubborn mind. I usually try not to see someone’s memories though. I’ve got enough shit going on in

my head.”

I laugh lightly, but it’s cut short by a sudden yawn. He puts a small pillow in his lap.

“Lie down, and I’ll finish treating some of the wounds around your face. There’re several that

need these little butterfly things.”

“Band-Aids?” I laugh out.

“Yeah,” he chuckles.

I do as he says, and I yawn again as my eyes flutter shut. It’s been such an exhausting day and by

far the worst birthday of my life.

Chapter 7

One Hot Mess

I wake up with a slight crick in my neck, and I realize I’m still lying in Jace’s lap. His head is

tilted back, and his eyes are still closed as he continues his slumber. I sit up and tug on his shirt to

wake him.

“Oh, wow. I see a lot of sunshine out there,” he grumbles while squinting.

“Not a morning person,” I chuckle.

I’m usually the one griping about the early hour. Devin is always so perfect in the mornings.

Devin… Oh no.
I have to find a phone.

“I have to call Devin. He’s probably out of his mind with worry right now,” I panic as I jump too

quickly to my feet.

I cry out slightly, and grab my side while doubling over. My ankle almost gives way under me,

and it’s all I can do to stay upright.

“Easy. You have to be careful. We probably need to take you by a hospital, and let them take a

look at you,” he cautions.

“No. I don’t go to hospitals,” I grunt through the pain.

“Well, we’ll find a doctor’s office then,” he counters.

“I’m fine. I just need a minute. I forgot about my wickedly banged up ribs and my stupid ankle,”

I gripe.

“I’ll see if I can find you something else to wear then,” he murmurs helplessly as he tries to think

of a way to help me.

“I really don’t care what I look like. I need a phone,” I urge.

“Okay, okay. We’ll find a phone,” he concedes. “Sheesh. You think you’d be a little upset with

the guy considering he didn’t tell you happy birthday, and you sat in a local pub all alone eating ice

cream,” he utters.

“He’s probably in an absolute panic. I should have tried harder to call him last night,” I guiltily

add.

He grabs his keys and walks over to help me steady myself.

“I can carry you,” he offers.

“I’m fine. They’re just cracked and sore, but I might need you to be a little bit of a crutch

because of my ankle.”

“Why were you eating ice cream?” he asks randomly.

“Huh?”

He laughs a little at my puzzled offering and opens the door for me to step out first.

“I’ve been curious why you were sitting at a local pub eating ice cream. It’s what drew me to

you, and I never did ask,” he murmurs with intrigue.

“I thought Mrs. Doubtfire’s sizzling pass is what drew you to me. Was that a ploy?” I tease.

He chuckles mildly while shaking his head. “Absolutely not. That was just the perfect excuse to

talk to you. Now, the ice cream,” he prompts, and I shrug a little.

“I’ve always hated cake, so when I was a child my mother would buy me ice cream instead - not

ice cream cakes, just ice cream.

“As I got older, I started sharing the tradition with my best friend. She’s away on her extended

honeymoon this year, and I’m sure she forgot all about me due to that little fact. I thought I would

share a bowl with Devin this year, but he forgot just like everyone else,” I pout.

“And you’re not pissed at him?” he asks with a subtle hint of hope dangling in the undertones of

his question.

“I was, but then some crazy freaks tried to kill me. Life and death situations tend to bring about

some perspective. He’s been incredibly busy, and I haven’t exactly been making life too easy on

him,” I mumble.

“Why did he send you to Ireland? How did you know you were in the vortex?”

Before I can answer, I smell the most wonderful scent in the world, and tears spring to my eyes as

I see Devin walking into the apartment building we’re walking out of.

Sheer relief floods his tortured face, and my tears pour freely. I can barely put any pressure on

my ankle, but he flashes to me before I even have to try to get to him.

He pulls me to him, and I squeal as too much pressure reaches my abdomen.

“Oh, baby. What happened to you? Were you there? Were you in the house?” he panics as he

pulls me back to examine my tragic appearance with a horrified expression retuning to his face.

“No. I was there just before the collapse though,” I sniffle out like a blubbering fool. “You found

me.”

I’ve done so well to not fall apart, but now that he’s really here, I just can’t hold it back anymore.

“I always find you,” he breathes as he carefully scoops me up.

“My ribs, Devin… my ribs,” I strain out through the excruciating pain.

He instantly puts me back down, and he pulls up my shirt to examine the discolored travesty on

my stomach.

“Damn it. Who the fuck did this to you?” he demands.

“Sirens,” I murmur quietly as I notice people starting to stare.

“He’s immortal?” Jace yelps out too loudly, his ashen face used to emphasize his shock as he

interrupts our reunion. He turns his attention to Devin, and his eyes burn against him with fury

tainting his icy blues. “You can’t be engaged to a mortal. You know how fucking dangerous it is.

How dare you!” he yells.

“Jace, people are looking,” I quietly caution, my eyes darting around to all the unwanted

attention.

People are whispering loud enough to hear as they try to figure out what is going on.

“I don’t give a damn. I’ll clean it up later if I have to. Adisia, you can’t be with an immortal this

way. It’s too dangerous,” he warns.

Devin’s eyes narrow and he finally realizes what I’m wearing.

“Who the fuck are you?” he blares.

Uh-oh.

“I’m the guy who picked up the slack while you were off letting her get torn to fucking shreds.

You put her in danger, and I fucking saved her life,” Jace snarks.

Devin flashes to him and throws him against the wall by his throat, the wall cracking and crying

out against the unexpected force.

Jace retaliates as he shocks him with a low voltage warning strike, but Devin is resistant to such

light waves.

He’s been dealing with me for too long, and my seductive waves have aided him in building a

tolerance. Jace is fortunately holding back though, not hitting him with a deadly strength. I’ve seen

those currents more amped up.

I scream out when I foolishly try to run over to them, and then I collapse to the ground when my

ankle folds under me.

Devin and Jace instantly flash back over to me, forgetting their fight, and I cry loudly as I swat at

both of them.

“Stop it. Devin isn’t hurting me, and Jace did save my life last night,” I scold while trying to

gather up some dignity in my completely broken state.

I hate being so fragile.

Devin scoops me up and holds me on my unaffected side. I continue to sob lightly, and Jace’s jaw

tenses.

“Adisia, you don’t know like I do. You spoke of infection last night, what do you think will

happen if you stay with him?”

“You haven’t told him?” Devin asks quietly as his lips graze my forehead.

“No. I didn’t know how to. It sounds sort of crazy, and he’s looking for the daughter of

Aphrodite because he’s supposed to help her,” I explain.

Devin’s lips purse, and Jace’s eyes shift around in confusion.

“What’s going on?”

I tighten my lips to a thin line, noticing all the eyes still on us. I don’t know how to tell him I’m

the one he’s looking for. Hey, maybe it’s Persia he’s looking for. She’s single.

“Jace, we need to talk, but I don’t want to do it out here,” I murmur as I lean against Devin’s

perfect chest.

He kisses my forehead again, and I feel his guilt radiating from his body as his face contorts in

disbelief while staring at the numerous wounds I’m covered in.

“Let’s go back up to my place,” Jace mumbles

Devin follows behind him as chokes a little on his overwhelming emotion - the reality of my

mortality suddenly crashing down on him.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I let this happen. You were supposed to be safe.”

“You didn’t let this happen. It’s not like you could have seen this coming. I’m alive. That’s all

that matters,” I say softly.

He’s careful not to jostle me at all, and I nestle into him as he sweeps through the doorway of the

less than appealing bachelor pad.

I stifle a grin as his eyes take in
all
of the small apartment, and he fights hard not to comment as

the tart taste of insult rattles around in his mouth. He almost acts scared to sit down, but he finally

does, and he keeps me in his arms while resting me on his lap.

He strokes my hair gently as the heat from his breath, still heavy in complete dismay, warms my

face.

“Well, we have privacy. What’s going on?” Jace urges as he plops down with his eyes narrowing