Daughter of Asteria (The Daughter Trilogy) (23 page)

“Who is this cat?” Kry pops off while tossing his thumb in the direction of my Aussie hero.

“He’s a son of Zeus, and he’s the one who saved Adisia,” Devin grumbles.

“A son of Zeus? You could come in handy if you can quit being so rebellious against us. What’s

the point of being here if you don’t want to be?” Hale interjects.

“I’m here for Adisia,” Jace answers quietly.

I can see the fury starting to burn in Devin’s eyes, and my fingers intertwine with his to remind

him that he’s the one I love.

I understand a little better now. It’s not Devin’s fault his exes go so rogue. He doesn’t entice

them. I’m not enticing Jace, and he’s not even my ex. I’m glad Devin’s not treating me the way I’ve

treated him in these situations, though I would deserve it.

I suppose I look to tragic to be angry with though. His guilt is overriding his rage.

“Where are the others?” Persia asks to shift the tension.

“I’ve segregated us from them. I’m worried there’s a leak somewhere because Jace was tracking

the daughters of Athena around the border of the vortex for several weeks. They knew she was there,”

Devin says with a hint of dread.

Persia’s eyes darken, and she sits down shaking her head.

“There’s not a leak, it’s just me. They were looking for me because my trail had led them there. I

shouldn’t have gone with you to take Adisia to the vortex,” she says with tears filling up in her eyes.

“You’re the other Aphrodite?” Jace pops out.

“She’s my mother,” I answer quickly, and Persia’s smile forms slightly.

“Nevertheless, I’d still like to keep us segregated. I don’t want to risk Adisia’s safety, and we

don’t know how nice some of these guys play with mortals,” Devin asserts as his hand tightens against

mine.

The sound of elevator doors sliding open draws my attention. A short, balding man steps off with

a bag. His eyes widen in horror when he sees me all cut up and gimped.

“My word. What happened to her?” he spouts.

“Hit and run,” Devin lies.

“Why didn’t you take her to a hospital?”

“She’s scared of hospitals,” Devin says softly as he strokes my cheek.

Persia’s eyes lower as pain, guilt, and regret fill them. She stands to walk away, and Devin shifts

over for the doctor to examine me.

“Where’s the worst of the pain?” he says with a stiffened posture.

“My ribs and my ankle,” I grunt out as I pull my shirt up to reveal the siren’s masterpiece of

destruction.

“Yes. I can see how this could be the worst,” he gasps. “It’s possible there could be some ribs

broken. She needs an x-ray.”

“They’re just cracked,” I interject quickly. “I know the difference.”

“You’ve had broken ribs before?” Devin says curiously.

“I’ve had both,” I murmur vaguely.

“I’m afraid that’s not exactly the best way to judge, dear, but I can’t force you to go anywhere.

Let me take a look at your ankle.”

He cautiously lifts my ankle into his hands, and I squeal when he squeezes too tight. Devin’s jaw

clenches, and he fights to restrain himself from tearing apart the good doctor.

“This is probably just a sprain, but again, I think an x-ray would be wise. If it worsens, you’ll

have to take her in,” he instructs.

“If it worsens, I’ll buy whatever supplies a doctor needs to tend to this,” Devin quickly adds.

I smile at the overzealous reaction Devin tends to always have. The doctor seems a little caught

off guard by the unreasonable response from the man who looks too young to have that much money.

“How fucking rich are you?” Jace huffs.

Devin smirks smugly, and answers his question with mysterious silence. I almost laugh, but then

I quickly remember how much that hurts to do.

“I’m going to wrap her abdomen and her ankle. I’ll prescribe her some pain medication to go

along with the anti-inflammatory. She’ll also need some antibiotics. Keep her leg elevated, and try to

keep her off of it as much as possible. She’ll need crutches or a wheelchair for travel, and be gentle

with her side.”

I grimace as he tightens the bandage around my ankle and waist. He applies some medicine to my

cuts, and then he checks my eyes and ears.

“Did you suffer any hearing problems after the accident?” he asks curiously.

My mind flashes back to the wet liquid oozing from my ears when the sirens concentrated their

shrieks. I cringe noticeably, and Devin’s hand squeezes mine. It had been blood.

“Yes. It’s a little better now though,” I offer.

“Do you see something wrong?” Devin worries.

“It looks as though something tried to rupture her eardrum, but if she’s not experiencing any

problems, then I suppose it’s not a threat,” he murmurs with a little distraction. “Well, I think that

just about does it,” he says while standing and buttoning his bag back up.

“Thank you,” Devin says as he shakes his hand.

The elevator doors open again, and Hale steps off with crutches. I hadn’t even noticed that he

left.

He props them against the wall, and Kry walks over to take the prescription paper from the

doctor’s hand before disappearing into the elevator. The doctor follows in behind him, and Devin

returns to my side.

“I figured you’d need something to help you get around,” Hale says with a proud tone.

“Thanks. I prefer crutches to a wheelchair,” I murmur appreciatively.

“Ah man. I didn’t even think about a wheelchair. That would have been awesome,” he teases.

Devin rolls his eyes, and then bends to kiss me on the forehead as Gemma and Camara return with

my plate of food.

I scarf it down as though I haven’t eaten in years. Jace leans up on his elbows as he speaks with a

less antagonistic tone.

“I should probably stay here and try to clean up some of the sirens before they get too strong.”

“You’ll be killed if you try to take them on alone. I’m already working up a plan of attack,”

Devin counters.

“I’ve got electric bursts. I’ll knock their numbers down,” Jace pops off smugly.

“We’ve got a son of Helios,” Devin retorts.

Jace’s eyes widen, and Hale smugly plops down and puts my feet in his lap. Devin narrows his

eyes, and Hale gives him a playful shrug.

“You heard the doc; she has to keep èr foot elevated,” he teases.

Devin just rolls his eyes and heads over to pour a glass of scotch.

“You’re a son of Helios?” Jace finally releases in disbelief.

“In the flesh,” Hale releases proudly.

“I thought you were supposed to be some sort of irresistible thing to women,” Jace argues

suspiciously.

Hales eyebrows dance menacingly as he arrogantly replies, “I am.”

Camara laughs a little and Deacon’s eyes narrow at her when she blushes noticeably. I just roll

my eyes, and then cringe when Gemma does the same thing - rolling her eyes at the exact same

second.

“So, are you keeping your mojo locked up right now?”

“No. Why?” Hale asks casually.

“Because the women aren’t exactly clawing each other’s eyes out to get to you,” Jace observes.

Devin lets a smirk slide out, and Deacon bursts out laughing.

“I hate this guy a little less now,” Kry chuckles.

Hale’s eyes glare at Jace, and he doesn’t hide the offense he’s taken to his comment.

“For the record, Camara is teetering, Gemma is just a bitch, and Adisia has to be broken or

something.”

I roll my eyes again, and Devin’s smirk grows.

“So it’s a slow burn then? You gradually seduce them into your web,” Jace pokes.

Hale’s eyes narrow further as Deacon doubles over in laughter. Hale shakes his head before

throwing his hands up at me.

“Why did you bring him along? I catch enough hell from these assholes,” he gripes.

I laugh a little, and then I offer him a sympathetic smile.

“Don’t be so mean to Hale. He’s sensitive,” I tease.

“You too, eh? Unbelievable,” he grumbles as he mocks a sulking pout.

He flashes me a grin before carefully maneuvering my feet out of his lap. He puts a pillow where

he had been sitting, and props my damaged foot up along with my good one.

I smile as he leans down to kiss my forehead and pats me on the shoulder.

“Glad you’re back to give me hell,” he says with a little more seriousness.

“I’m glad I’m back too,” I say with a stinging tear trying to break free.

Devin returns to me and sits down to wrap his arm around my shoulders. I lean against him, and a

girly grin slides over my face.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and I huff when he has to withdraw from me.

“Hey… Great. We’ll be there as soon as we can,” he says to the other person on the line.

I look up, and he pulls me back to him. “The jets are ready now, and you’re clothes are on their

way up.”

“Thanks,” I murmur while trying to stand.

He flashes up, and he scoops me into his arms with swift gentleness.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he lightly scolds.

“I’m going to go borrow someone’s makeup and change clothes. I’m tired of looking like a slab

of warmed up death,” I chuckle.

“You don’t look like death. You look like someone who has had the shit beat out of them, and I

promise there won’t be an ash left of a siren when we find them,” he growls.

I smile lightly, and Hale cracks his neck from side to side.

“Aye. I’ll make sure of it,” he adds.

“I still can’t believe you’re a son of Helios,” Jace comments skeptically.

“Dude, what’s your glitch?” Hale scoffs.

“I just always pictured a Helios so much… stronger looking,” he says as though he’s thinking

aloud.

I giggle a little, and Hale slaps his forehead in exasperation.

“Great. A new comedian for the tour. Just what I need,” he grouses.

“He’s much stronger than he looks,” Devin kindly interjects.

Hale looks a little surprised, but relieved. I know it has to suck to always be the punch line.

“I’m going to take Adisia to the bedroom to change. Bring her clothes when they get up here,”

Devin says pointedly toward Camara.

“Yeah. No problem.”

He gingerly carries me to the room, and his lips gently graze mine the second we’re finally alone.

It feels as though he’s worried I’ll break if he kisses me too hard, but it’s probably because my

upper lip is
cut. I’m actually a little grateful for his soft touch considering how very fragile I feel.

“You’re going after them?” I ask worriedly as he starts the shower.

“Of course. Did you think I would let them roam free after doing this shit to you?” he asks with a

slightly offended tone.

“I just don’t want you to leave me,” I whimper.

His eyes soften, and he pulls my lips to him with a little more vigor. I wince when my cut lip

splits a little more, the tang of my blood slightly invading our moment.

“Sorry,” he mumbles with a grimace.

“It’s fine. I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t trust you even after I said I did, and it was stupid. I

spent the entire time making you feel bad for sending me away when you were just trying to keep me

safe. Now it’s been almost a month since I got to see you, and I’m a wrecked mess,” I grumble in

frustration.

He lets a triumphant smile laced with pity and a little guilt slip free, and then he shakes his head.

“I love you, baby.”

“I love you,” I pout.

He scoops me up and places me on the edge of the shower as he starts to undress me. I catch his

hand to halt his action.

“Let me do it,” I almost plead.

“I can help you,” he rebuts.

“Let me hold on to the last bit of dignity I have left, please.”

He smirks a little and then frowns.

“Are you going to be able to take a shower with your ankle in that shape?”

“I managed by myself last night,” I huff.

“That’s good to know,” he almost grumbles.

I giggle a little, and he just lets out a huff of a laugh at my amusement before walking back out.

I stare in the mirror
in disgust. The makeup has offered a slight mask to cover the dreadful

wounds on my face, but it has in no way hidden them all.

The yoga pants are a little loose, and Devin’s going to be furious when he learns I’ve lost weight.

I can’t help it though. Misery hates food, and I was miserable for over a month.

He’s only seen me in the baggy shirt and boxers up until now. This shirt that
was
my size covers

some of the looseness in the waistband of my pants, but it’s obvious that it’s supposed to fit better

than it does as well.

Crap. Why does he have to know my sizes? I could have gotten away with this if he had to ask for

them.

“Adisia?” Persia murmurs as she walks in.

“I’m ready. I just finished up with your makeup. Thank you for letting me borrow it.”

“Of course. You don’t have to ask to borrow anything. What’s mine is yours,” she offers without

hesitance.

I smile appreciatively, and she helps me flee the vanity stool. Her free hand hands me my

crutches, and I frown as I wobble onto them.

“I hate crutches,” I growl.

“You’ve used them before?” she asks sadly.

“Yeah,” I gripe.

“What happened?”

“Long story. Is everyone else ready?” I question to change the subject.