“Fate had it prepared for you.” Surprised, Rhys turned to Jericho who remained in the doorway. Had Fate decorated the room knowing beforehand that he would be arriving?
He silently walked forward, pulling the drapes back from the window. The dark sky highlighted the bright stars, yet it was daylight outside.
“You get used to it. We still have dark during the nights and sunlight during the days, but the sky remains the same. It’s how they watch humans. To them, it’s like one big television showing different channels all at once.”
“They watch us?” Rhys turned to Jericho.
“Constantly. It’s their favorite pastime. Be warned, they know everything that happened between you and Broni while she was on Earth.”
Rhys’s face turned red, and if it was possible, his anger increased.
Jericho looked back at him sympathetically. “I was angry when I found out, too, but Cara didn’t let me stay angry long.” The harsh face softened when he mentioned Cara—Jericho was obviously in love with his fiancée. Rhys’s stomach clenched at the realization; he had been in love with Deena like that, and his anguish returned as his thoughts fell to her.
“I’ll leave you alone to get some rest. If you need anything, Broni is in the room next to yours. Fate felt you might be more comfortable in asking her if you wanted something.”
With that, Jericho closed the door, leaving Rhys to his grim thoughts. Staring at the sky, all Rhys saw was the bright stars twinkling back at him. Their beauty seemed closer than on Earth.
He refused to be embarrassed that a roomful of strangers knew he had fucked Broni. Still, it was an uncomfortable feeling knowing her mother and father were aware they’d had sex with no emotional attachment from him to their daughter. With the club’s behavior toward her also having been witnessed, he was sure her being made to strip hadn’t cast him in a favorable light, either. He was shocked they’d even welcomed him into their home at all. Rhys refused to dwell on the thoughts of Broni at the clubhouse, though.
He knew from the moment he had decided to bid on Broni she would be trouble. Now, he was being denied eternity with Deena and his boys because of her. If he had minded his own business, he would still be on Earth with Adam and the rest of the Dark Highwaymen. I also would probably be dead like the rest of my friends, he reluctantly acknowledged to himself. It still didn’t change the fact he resented the decision had been made for him. He would learn what he needed to learn to live on his own then leave Fate’s home and Broni behind at the first opportunity.
Chapter 13
Broni sat quietly at the table, smiling at her sister, Cara. She was sitting next to Jericho, and every so often, her hand would stray to touch him, as if assuring herself he was still there. Her mother was teasing Jericho and even Destiny was laughing, having a good time. Odin and Valentine were sitting next to one another. Broni had to hide her amusement as the two glared at each other, each jealously wanting her mother. Her father had lost her while Odin was still trying to catch her.
A servant was pouring wine into Odin’s goblet when suddenly the woman sat down in his lap, kissing him passionately. The stunned God didn’t react for several seconds before attempting to extract himself by lifting the woman off, holding her by the waist to keep her from him.
“Stop it, Valentine,” Fate ordered at her grinning father.
“I was just trying to make him feel more at home.” Unabashedly, Valentine picked up his wineglass saluting a furious Odin, while the embarrassed servant fled the room.
Broni couldn’t help smiling at her father’s behavior. She had missed her family terribly. Their antics restored her sense of equilibrium as nothing else could have.
Rhys, on the other hand, sat quietly, watching her with tightened lips. Broni lowered her eyes to the plate of food before her. She didn’t have to be told he blamed her for being made an immortal. He made no effort to hide his anger, and his attitude wasn’t endearing him to her mother, who was sitting tensely at the head of the table.
The others tried to draw Rhys into their conversations, however he remained aloof. Odin ignored the attitude, persisting until Rhys finally responded, drawn into a lengthy conversation with the God. Broni wasn’t surprised at Odin’s presence, her mother had already advised her of the concession made for her benefit. Broni watched as the stiffness left Rhys’s body, finally allowing him to forget his resentment long enough to finish the meal. Fate caught her worried look and smiled gently in reassurance. Broni wanted nothing more than to fling herself into her mother’s arms, crying until all the sorrow was cleansed from her soul.
She gathered herself, rising from the table after dinner. She then followed along behind the other members of her family as they moved into the other room to discuss who could have been responsible for the attack in the Hallway of Death and the destructive events on Earth.
“Morgana was a mere pawn. The council will take that into account when they pass judgment, but her punishment will be harsh,” Fate said, sinking down onto a plush chair. “We were supposed to believe she was the one who attacked you and your sisters. However, when she showed up at Jericho’s house to kill Cara, whoever is behind the attack hoped we would believe that she’d acted alone.”
“You have no idea of who attacked us in the Hallway of Death?” Broni questioned her mother.
Destiny waved her hand. “Take your pick; we have many enemies.”
“Zerina has disappeared,” Fate stated grimly.
“How is that possible?” Cara asked, shocked. “She can’t just disappear.”
“It would take considerable power, even more to create the Drearien, and there are only a few realms that are invisible to my eyes. Even Mother cannot find her.” Fate turned to Odin who also had the power of sight—the ability to foresee the future.
Odin frowned severely at Fate. “Do you question if it is I who has taken her?”
“No,” Fate said wryly. “I am well aware of your desire to have Zerina home as soon as possible. I was merely questioning if you have seen anything in your visions.”
“No.” Her mother stiffened in her chair when Odin shook his head at her. Broni could tell he was lying, yet remained quiet.
“Does Rocque have enough power to achieve this feat?” Destiny asked suspiciously.
“No. Whoever is doing this has managed to become very powerful, hiding their skills from all of us, but Rocque is able to communicate with any living thing. He may have seen something that will give us a clue to her location. I will talk to Rocque and Hades,” Fate added, as if it was an afterthought.
“Why Hades?” Broni questioned, studying both her mother and Odin.
Hades was Odin’s brother. Odin wasn’t hiding his interest in Fate, so she couldn’t imagine he was too happy for her to be near Hades, whose sensual appeal was impossible for any woman to fight, the only one immune was his own mother.
“Need my company?” Odin volunteered.
“I don’t believe so.” Odin’s displeasure was obvious at Fate’s refusal.
“He has the power to hide Zerina and Mother would protect her son,” Fate said pensively. ”She’s blind to her children’s faults.”
Broni threw her mother a warning look, she didn’t want Odin made angry. Her mother closed her mouth when she correctly interpreted her warning.
Broni wondered just what was going on between her mother and Odin since she had been gone beyond their agreement. The tension between the two was obvious. The handsome God never took his eyes off her mother, and Broni had caught the hint of jealousy in his voice. Her mother was used to being in charge, even with her father. However, as much as she loved her mother, she didn’t see her coming out the winner in any battle with Odin.
* * *
Fate stared at the stars with a frown watching the dark cloud. It was growing larger. What had begun as a tiny speck was now spreading.
“It will begin again,” Odin spoke softly, knowing her fear for Zerina was uppermost in her mind.
/> “Yes.”
The war that would bring an end to the world was at hand. It had been briefly delayed by Mother, but events foretold since time had begun would see their fruition soon. Several of the immortals would die, among them Odin and Thor. Everything that she had done to prepare her son for was beginning. She prayed to Mother for all her children’s safety.
As if reading her thoughts, Odin tried to give her solace. “You know the future changes constantly.”
“Your own visions foretell of your and Thor’s death.”
“That was before you gave him to me to raise and train. Why have you never told him?” He leaned against the pillar, crossing his arms over his massive chest.
“He needs strength for the battles he will face, and your warriors are epic in their prowess in battle. I did what needed to be done to prevent my visions from coming true. I had to try…” Fate’s voice broke off.
“He is a fine warrior. No one can best him,” Odin bragged, proud of his son.
“That’s what they said about Achilles.” Fate’s eyes went back to the stars. “I pray you are right.”
“I am.” Odin, as always, was confident.
Fate added an extra prayer it wouldn’t be his downfall.
Weary, Fate was tired and wanted her bed. “Go, Odin.”
She could tell her order angered him.
“You have not asked Valentine to leave,” he stated harshly.
“Nor will I allow him in my bed, if that is what concerns you. Valentine does not want me. He merely waits for Zerina’s return and wants to be here to protect us from whomever seeks to destroy my family.”