“I could protect you better. What protection could Valentine give? Make them kiss each other until they drop their weapons?” His snide voice insulting her children’s father made Fate regret lowering her guard, telling herself she only suffered his presence because of Broni.
“Leave, Odin, and take your menagerie with you.” Fate motioned to the two wolves that had laid patiently sprawled on the balcony for their master and the two ravens sitting on the parapet, listening to their conversation.
“I’m leaving, but Muninn will stay behind. In case you need help, you may send him for my aid.”
“You’re leaving him to spy on me,” Fate stated angrily.
“He stays or I do; it’s your choice.” Fate could see Odin wasn’t going to budge in his demands.
“Very well, leave him.” Fate rudely gave him her back, determined to show the buffoon she wanted him gone. Her shoulders drooped when she heard his voice behind her.
“He deserves to dwell in my hall. Rhys has earned that right.”
“I plan to give Rhys exactly what he deserves,” Fate said, forcing herself to deny herself the pleasure of a last glance at his body.
“I agreed with your request to give Broni a chance with him on fair ground, but I cannot delay his homecoming indefinitely. I expect to be rewarded another night for my compliance.”
Fate swung around furiously. “I agreed, didn’t I? Do you really think two nights in your bed will change how I feel about you?” she asked scornfully.
“You made your mind up about me long ago, I don’t expect you to change it now.” His lips twisted. “Don’t dread it so much, Fate. You enjoyed it last time, didn’t you?” The bastard dared to mock her, making her want to smack his gloating face.
“Leave, Odin. Go home to Athena. I believe she’s waiting for you.”
“Farewell, Fate. May Zerina be returned soon.” As Odin’s seductive voice whispered through the night, Fate shivered at hearing the promise in his voice.
Fate looked at the raven watching her with dark eyes.
“Your Master is an idiot if he thinks I’ll ever allow him to touch me again.”
Angrily, she left the silent bird, going inside and up the steps. She moved through the quiet castle. Everyone had gone to sleep hours earlier.
Fate stopped outside Broni’s room, silently opening and closing the door behind her before going to the chair beside her daughter’s bed where she sat and waited. When nightmares came, Fate soothed her until they passed. When she was assured that Broni had slipped into a deep slumber, she left her side, returning to the chair by her bed. She then watched over her as she had when she was younger, and the memories of her past life had begun to torment her.
Two of her daughters were home, and it was time to find Zerina. Once that was accomplished, she would be able to turn her complete attention to the one who had started this mess. They had made a dire mistake in daring to harm her house, one they would live to regret.
Chapter 14
Broni woke the next morning with hope in her heart for the first time in a long time. She truly believed that once Rhys learned more about her family and his new life, he would understand Thor’s only option had been to save him and make him an immortal.
Her higher spirits gave her an appetite, so she set out for breakfast, finding Jericho sitting alone in the dining hall.
“Cara is still sleeping?” she teased. Her sister had never been a morning person, unlike Zerina and her.
“You know your sister well.” Jericho grinned at her before a frown took its place. “To give her credit, she hasn’t been sleeping well. She’s worried about Zerina.”
“We are very close,” she stated, taking a seat across from him.
Jericho continued eating his meal while Broni studied him covertly. Cara was the youngest, so Zerina and she had always felt protective of her. Broni remembered Jericho from his time on Earth when she had watched over him. He had fought many battles; some that had turned her stomach. She was happy he was going to marry her sister, though. He had been a force to be reckoned with as a mortal, as a demi-God he would be lethal.
Jericho looked up from his plate, and she flushed, embarrassed she had been caught studying him.
“I love your sister very much.” Broni melted at his words. His harsh face softened when he spoke of her sister, the truth of his confession sounding in his voice.
“I’m glad. I love her, too, and want only her happiness. I should give you a warning, though; she has a temper.” Broni smiled, sure Jericho was more than able to handle her sister.
“I discovered that for myself when she slammed my face into a plate of food.” Broni laughed when he winced in remembrance.
“She threw a perfume bottle at me when we were arguing once. My room stank for a month.” Broni told him of one of her many brushes with her sister’s temper, and their shared laughter eased the tension between them.
Sometime later, they were chatting comfortably when Rhys and Fate entered the room.
“I see you’re getting to know one another,” Fate said, sitting down at the table and then filling her plate.
Rhys didn’t talk as he filled a plate while Fate joined in the conversation about Cara.
They were finishing breakfast when Broni had a summons. The visions could come to her at any moment requiring her immediate response. “I must go. Excuse me.” Broni rose in preparation of leaving.
“Take Rhys with you.” Startled, Broni hesitated at Fate’s suggestion. “He needs to learn our different roles, and what we are capable of. Only by observing will he begin to understand.” Fate’s explanation had Broni nodding her agreement.
“I don’t want…” Broni ignored the beginning of his protest, taking Rhys with her by simply moving to his side and touching his arm.
* * *
Rhys’s words came to an end when he realized they were no longer in the dining hall but a small grocery store. As he studied the few people milling around, browsing the groceries, Broni was standing next to him, intently watching the doorway.
The door opened and two masked men carrying handguns entered, the taller one heading for the male clerk working the cash register.
“Give me the money!”
The clerk shakily opened the register and then started grabbing money out of the drawer while begging not to be shot.
Rhys
stood watching, unable to move. The terror the witnesses were feeling flooded his body at the impending violence he somehow knew was about to erupt. Broni’s hand on his arm was the only thing that steadied him.
The heavier thug kept his gun trained on the customers. Rhys reached to grab the gun from him, but Broni held on tightly to his arm.
“You are unable to touch him. See for yourself.” Broni removed the hand that had been holding him back, walking toward a woman cowering by the shelves. It passed through her.
“They cannot hear us or see us, and there are limits to what we’re allowed to do.”
Suddenly, a young man who had been shopping when the robbers entered the store, grabbed the stockier gunman trying to disarm him. Women began to scream as the robber with the gun trained on the cashier turned and began firing.
While the panicked customers fled toward the doorway, Rhys’s reflexes took over, and he moved to help one of the men who had fallen with a gunshot wound. When his hands passed through the victim, he knew it was useless.
Broni ignored Rhys, concentrating on the struggle between the two men. The robber who had begun shooting ran out the door, leaving his partner behind.
Broni moved behind the man in blue, watching intently when the gunman gained control of the gun, hitting him over the head. He dropped to his knees as blood began to drip down his forehead. The gunman aimed the gun against his temple and pulled the trigger, yet with a wave of Broni’s hand, the gun jammed. The gunman, frustrated, hit the man on his knees again in the temple before fleeing the store.
As the man lay on the ground stunned but alive, sirens could be heard in the distance. Broni kneeled next to him, placing her hand on his temple. Although she spoke quietly to him, Rhys heard her words of comfort, “It is not time for your soul to depart. Know that you are safe until help arrives.”
Broni stayed by his side until the EMTs carried him to the ambulance then she took Rhys’s hand as the ambulance pulled away.
“He no longer needs us.”
Broni took them back to Rhys’s room, wanting to give him privacy after his first visit back to Earth. When she saw the look in his eyes, she wished she had not been so considerate. She decided a quick retreat would be best until he’d had time to calm down. She had known the visit would be upsetting, but she had not bargained on the fury that had risen in him.