Daughter Trilogy Bundle (70 page)

"What's this for?" I ask curiously.

"Yours was a little outdated, and I know you love taking pictures.  I
’ve seen your apartment," he teases.  "I want our homes to be full of pictures from our life."

"You're more of a minimalist," I remind.

"Not when it comes to you and me," he smolders as he kisses me softly.

Damn.  He's so good.

"Oh good grief," Deacon gags.

"You should be taking lessons.  I'm starting to think Devin is the real son of Helios," Camara swoons.

Deacon and Hale both flash her a scolding glare, but she ignores the petty men.  I giggle lightly under the adoring eyes I've loved for so long.

"Do you not like it?" he asks.  "You seem disappointed."

"No.  I love it.  Thank you.  I guess it just caught me off guard," I almost pout.

"Were you expecting this?" he snickers as he slides my engagement ring onto my hand.

I gasp a little as I notice the band is now imbedded with not only blue and green, but diamonds are there to represent the white of Asteria as well.

Tears start to trickle down, and my arms clasp around the back of his neck.

"Thank you," I giggle out as the tears finally fall.

"Did you miss it?" he chuckles.

"I just miss having proof I'm going to be married to you," I say with a nervous laugh as I wipe away my tears.

"Marry me now, and I'll put another band on that hand," he entices.

"I want to wait until I'm immortal," I remind.

"I don't.  Marry me now," he murmurs against my lips.

I smile as I kiss the tempting mouth, but then I shake my head rebelliously in the middle of our delicious moment.

"You know my only stipulation.  Help me get my immortality back," I offer.

He sighs a little, but a little grin emerges.  He's always loved a good chase.

"I'll change your mind," he teases.

"It's been a while since I heard that," I chuckle.

"It's been a while since you made me say it," he snickers out before kissing my forehead and pulling me to him.

The others all roll their eyes, and they begin slicing up the cake.  Camara walks over with a pint of ice cream and two spoons.  Devin smiles as he takes it from her.

"The cake was for tradition's sake.  I know you're not a fan, but I also know you love ice cream.  So, I acquired your favorite," he says so sweetly, and I can't help but attack his lips a little more fervently.

His hands grip lightly against my face as he cups it and his body heats instantly as the kiss deepens.

"We have to stop," he cautions as his eyes point to my side.

"I'll deal," I murmur before my lips move over his again.

He chuckles under his breath, and then he pulls me back slightly.

"I'll stock the entire freezer of every place I own with ice cream if this is the reaction I get," he teases.

I laugh a little, and then the goofy lightheadedness hits as the plane threatens to start.  The others clear the cake, and Devin buckles me up very gently before the takeoff.

I lean into him, and I was right.  I will be asleep before the plane even leaves the ground.

"Where are we going?" I yawn out.

"Chicago."

The luxurious jet offers me a comfortable resting place, and Devin's lips offer me a sweet kiss before the sleep consumes me completely.

Chapter 8

Begging back immortality

"Devin, please.  Just hear me out," I plead.

"No.  Absolutely not," he asserts adamantly.

"You're being completely unreasonable," I huff as I wobble around on my crutches in the Chicago penthouse.

"Adisia, it was a dream," he says quickly.

"It was an epiphany.  It's a beautiful plan with very minimal risk."

"Minimal risk my ass.  You could be killed the instant we come into contact with them," he yells.

"What's going on?" Jace interjects as he joins us and glares at Devin.

"Let them be.  This is just the pick me up I needed," Deacon chuckles.

Devin's eyes cut toward the warlord, and Deacon just snickers all the louder while going back to the newspaper in his lap.  Then he cuts his eyes back toward Jace when Deacon seems subdued.

"Adisia wishes to join us when we go hunt the sirens," he growls.

"Hell no," Jace says promptly.

"Oh, now you're on his side?" I gripe.

"Yeah.  It's a pretty obvious choice.  You're still mortal," he murmurs with heavy condescension.

"The only way I can I can ever be immortal is if I feel the need to protect Devin.  I can't protect Devin if there's nothing to protect him from," I harp.

"I'll throw a few zaps at him," Jace pops out a little too eagerly.

Devin's eyes narrow and I huff as I rebuff his useless suggestion.

"It won't work.  I have to know he's truly in danger."

"I promise I'll make it hurt," Jace murmurs with more menace.

Devin takes a step toward him, and I lift a crutch leg to his chest to halt him from doing anything foolish.

Men are such egomaniacs.

"Put them away.  We don't have time for a pissing match." I scold to both of them.  "I'm sick of falling shattering like glass.  I'm ready to get my strength back, and this is the best way to do it."

"Sirens are too risky," Jace says more seriously.

"Besides, we could find another way for me to trigger your powers," Devin says hopefully.  "Just because it triggered out of your protectiveness doesn't mean it's the only way."

"It's the only way we know for sure works, and I'm sick of waiting.  I'll have one foot in the mortal grave if we continue on at this pace," I growl.

"You're not going with us, and that's final," Devin admonishes.

"So I'm going to stay here all alone while you head off to wherever?"

"No.  Persia is going to stay here with you.  Mom and Dad will be two apartments down with some of the others," Devin quickly explains.

"Why is there such loud arguing right now?  I've still got jetlag," Gemma growls as she props up on the bar holding her head.

I suppose immortals aren't immune to everything.

Devin rolls his eyes and turns his back on me as he walks to grab a glass.

"Devin, please.  If I don't hurry up and become immortal, I'm going to die a mortal," I whimper.

He winces, and Jace walks over to me shaking his head.

"When you faced the sirens, they were babies.  They've fed numerous times by now, and they're going to be stronger than your mortal body can withstand this time.  The shrieks should have folded your body in half last time.  I still don't know how you survived, but you wouldn't last against them now for sure," Jace murmurs with more angst.

"You don't know that.  We have Hale.  We'll be fine.  Sirens die under the sun's touch, and Hale loves to shine," I grumble with some mockery laced in my tone.

"I can hear you.  These rooms aren't padded," Hale yells from a distant bedroom.

"Help me out, and I promise to defend you the rest of the day," I quickly add, hopefulness in my tone.

"Tempting, but hell no," he scoffs as he joins us in the decadent room.  "Sirens aren't toys.  We can withstand their screams for longer than you, but they can still kill us too.  This could go wrong on too many levels to chance."

Crap.  I'm getting teamed up on.

"The bitch daughters of Athena have already found me in the one place they were never supposed to be able to find me.  The sirens spawned in my place of
refuge
.  How much riskier can it get?" I retort.

My right crutch suddenly betrays me when the pin snaps and it crumbles.  Devin's arms are around me before I even have time to fully start to fall, and he scoops me into his arms.

"You're in no condition to keep traveling either.  We'll have to follow their trail until we finally lock in on their pattern.  You're staying here," he says with more gentleness.

He gently places me on the couch, and he goes to drink his early morning scotch as Hale hands me my cup of coffee.

Oh he pisses me off sometimes.

"I don't like chasing after danger, but sometimes it's a necessary evil," I counter with a little more of a whiny tone than I intended.

"What if Ther kept her showered in the light while we're holding them off?" Jace asks in an attempt to help me in my quest.

"That would just protect her from their grip rather than their screams," Devin sternly rebuts.

"What if we find a silencer or a strong breath catcher?" Jace suggests.

I spew the coffee from my mouth, and Devin's eyes fill with pain as he flashes to me and pulls me into his lap.  His lips gingerly console the ones on my face trying to quiver.

"No breath catchers," Hale murmurs softly.

"What did I say?" Jace pops off sardonically.

"Adisia was almost killed by a breath catcher who betrayed us," Kry explains with a sigh as he walks into the room.

Gemma slowly sips on her coffee with her eyes focusing on the counter.

"Gemma saved me just in time," I add in a near whisper.

"Barely in time," Devin winces.

Her eyes show a little disappointment in his comment, but she takes it in stride as she sips her brew a little softer.

"Why did she try to kill you?" Jace asks in confusion.

"She was in love with Devin," I grumble, and his arms tighten around me in response.

"She was a psycho bitch unable to divide fantasy and reality.  I had fortunately smuggled in plants to play with because I feel lost without them.  I heard the bitch ranting, but I didn't know she was killing Adisia until I heard the wheezes.  The moment I realized she was dying, I was there," Gemma says while glaring directly at Devin, her eyes scolding him for his earlier comment.

He doesn't seem impressed by her answer, and I feel like I'm missing something.  They've probably argued about this numerous times in my absence.  I'm sure Deacon has thrived on their constant conflict.

"Why did you have to
smuggle
in plants?" Jace asks in bemusement.

"Because she also tried to kill Adisia," Devin says with a clenched jaw.

"What?  And you're letting her stay here?" Jace yells as he springs to his feet.

Vines shoot up from the small plant on the counter and dare him to try something as electricity simmers over the surface of his body.

"She also died beside us before the rewind," I explain.  "It's a long story with very different, somewhat less psychotic details."

Her eyes narrow at me, but she shrugs when she assesses my comment to be fair, given the situation.  Jace doesn't back down, and I'm almost worried earth and electricity are about to collide.

"I can't believe you claim to love her, and yet you're keeping
her
in the same place as Adisia while she's a helpless mortal," Jace admonishes while pointing at Gemma.

"Hey," I say in a higher octave, offense in my tone.

"Sucks don't it?" Hale chirps snidely while he enjoys the moment of the insults not being thrown at him for a change.

I roll my eyes, and Deacon quickly pops into the conversation.

"Gemma has proven herself since.  She's just as dedicated to this as anyone else."

Jace rolls his eyes, and the currents swirling his body creep back in.  Gemma's vines turn back into the harmless tulips in the small pot.

It's amazing at the life she can bring to such a small plant, but then again, she's a goddess - a dangerous goddess.  I'm just as worried as Jace for my safety around her, but I can't say that aloud.

"I think Camara's right.  It's starting to sound like Devin's the son of Helios instead of that guy,
” Jace growls while motioning to Hale.

"And now we're back to dissing me," Hale pouts.

Devin doesn't smirk like I expect.  He actually acts a little disappointed by that assessment.

"I never meant to do this to anyone.  I never knew how bad it could hurt to love and lose until I met Adisia.  If I had known, I wouldn't have been so cruel in my dismissals," he almost mumbles.

Gemma's eyes water and I feel as though she's gotten the closest thing to an apology she'll ever get.

Devin's hand tightens around mine, and he moves me closer to his body very gently.  He nuzzles his head into the back of my hair, and I respond by leaning back into his perfect body.

"I don't see why you let her play with her plants in the open if you're worried about Adisia.  It's obvious she doesn't want to play by the rules," Jace adds.

"I need plants.  I connect with them on a different level than your foul mind could ever understand.  You just shock things and sizzle when you're mad.  I feel as they feel, and I live through them.  Sadly enough, these plants are the best friends I've ever had," she reprimands.

"That's because you refuse to connect with anyone else," Ther pops off.

Her eyes lift to Devin, but she quickly shies away before speaking.  "Not everyone."

So much for the notion of her being over him.

It
’s beginning to look more and more like she's still obsessed with him.

"I need a drink," Jace grumbles.  "You guys are pretty twisted.  I remember why I fly solo now."

"How long have you been on your own?" I ask curiously as he clanks the ice into the cup.

"I lost count a few centuries ago.  My parents were killed in a stand of with the Athena Sheilas.  The few contacts we trusted ran away with their tails between their legs and up their asses during the fight.

"I was left for dead, but then a mortal family found me and drug me to their home.  They never had a clue who I was, and they were astonished when my body healed so quickly.  I snuck out, and began my life as a loner.  My only mission has been to find the daughter of Aphrodite, and now I've found two."

"Only one can kill Safina," Hale mutters lowly under his breath.

"That's the one I'm supposed to be with," Jace almost whispers, his eyes staring down at his glass.

Devin's jaw clenches tighter, and I can tell he's starting to worry that Jace's persistence is going to be a greater issue than he had anticipated.

Deacon snorts derisively before spouting, "Why is it you're so convinced you'll be with Adisia?"

"My mother's visions were always very precise and accurate.  She saw me with the daughter of Aphrodite."

"First of all, no one besides Persia can see Adisia - not even Devin can see her, and he's the strongest visionary I've ever known," Deacon rebuts.

"Mom could see more at the end than she's ever been able to see.  Her last vision came just before her last breath.  I don't doubt that she saw exactly what she said.  I was to stand beside the daughter of Aphrodite," he asserts definitively.

"That could mean something completely different than what you're insinuating.  We all tend to stand by Adisia, but Devin will be her only mate.  Fate has brought them together twice, and both times they fell in love.  I think that in itself is evidence enough to disprove your poorly constructed theory."

"I'm not going to argue with you about this.  I know what she meant by it, and eventually you'll see.  Destiny overrules fate," he murmurs before walking off.

I lean into Devin's warm arms, but he withdraws from the contact as his phone buzzes in his pocket.

"You got it?" He asks secretively as he leans away from me and flashes outside.

My hearing seems to have declined because I can't hear him once he's on the balcony.  A dull ringing erupts when I try straining to hear, and I almost feel sick when I snap out of the moment.

"Adisia?  You okay?" Deacon asks worriedly.

"Yeah."
I think.

I stand up and use the one good crutch to hobble into the kitchen.  I start pulling down various ingredients to make a sandwich, and Jace returns to join me.

"I'll help you," he says as he scoops me up and places me on the bar.

My eyes dash to see if Devin just saw that, but he's still engaged in a mysterious conversation that my ears refuse to hear.

I start scratching just behind my right ear when it feels like something is crawling on it.  I shiver a little at the alarming and terribly unwelcome sensation, and Camara comes to inspect me.