She had never feared for her safety in her own home, however Rhys was terrifying the way he moved toward her with menacing intent, and Broni began praying.
* * *
Fate blocked the stairway.
“Leave them!”
“Move,” Destiny demanded.
Fate placed a detaining hand on Valentine’s chest while using her body to block Destiny.
“Broni has to learn to handle Rhys without our help.”
“She will be able to handle him quite easily when I am through with him,” Valentine threatened grimly.
“The bastard is going to fry,” Destiny promised.
“I am her mother and know better than you exactly what will take place in that bedroom, but interference at this time will only delay the inevitable confrontation that will take place between the two.”
Broni’s aunt and father struggled to regain control, both wanting to give aid to Broni’s request. However, Fate would allow no interference, and anyone who would dare go against her, never fared well. Fate new they had to leave them alone; their future depended on it.
“I really loathe that man, Fate,” Destiny acquiesced in defeat.
“There is someone that Destiny dislikes more than me?”
Rocque’s voice distracted Valentine from pushing past Fate.
Destiny instantly turned her unspent anger on Rocque. “I said MAN, but if we were talking mutts, you would rank right up there.”
Rocque gave her a saturnine smile. “Fate has asked for my help in locating Zerina, and your attitude will not gain my aid.”
“I thought he is supposed to be in dog form?” Destiny questioned Fate.
“Mother gave Rocque permission to speak to me. He helped Cara when she was human, and I was hopeful that he may be helpful in finding Zerina.”
“I will do what I can. Zerina will be my highest priority.”
Destiny’s eyes narrowed. “Lay one hand on my niece, and I will personally neuter you.”
“I grow tired of your insults and threats, Destiny.”
While Fate merely watched Rocque move closer to Destiny, Valentine moved to stand by her, placing himself between the two. Rocque’s lips curled in amusement at the protective move.
”Do not worry, Valentine; Destiny is well aware of my intentions toward her.”
Destiny took a step back, immediately surrounded by Fate and Valentine. “I am thankful that what you want holds no power in this realm. Like my sister, I have no desire to be dominated by an arrogant male whose ego has been inflated by the sluts you have bedded.”
“I am quite sure my ego cannot be matched by Achilles. Is pretty boy keeping you satisfied?”
“At least he walks on two legs,” Destiny goaded.
“Odin may enjoy pursuing your sister through eternity, watching while she marries another, but I will not suffer the same outcome. I intend to have you as my wife, one way or another.” Rocque stated his intentions with a determination that had Fate smothering a smile, knowing how her sister would react.
Fate looked over her shoulder at Destiny’s angry face.
“Make your move.” Destiny stepped between Fate and Valentine, well able to fight this battle on her own.
Rocque’s indolent attitude disappeared in an instant, his royal lineage becoming apparent. “Very well,” Rocque snarled. “Go near Achilles again, and I will tell Mother exactly who your future mate is. You will be wedded and bedded before anyone can interfere.” His threat rang true. “But don’t worry, Destiny, I will let you run a little longer. After all, I am a wolf; I enjoy the chase.”
Fate tried to silently convey a warning to her headstrong sister. Destiny mistakenly believed the future was her playground and she could out maneuver Rocque. However, she failed to take into account that he was an experienced predator, biding his time for the best time to strike. She would try to aid her sister as long as she could, but Fate could not keep the feeling away that maybe, this time, Rocque was one step ahead of them both. Odin and Rocque were friends; if he aided Rocque, then he would have an advantage over them.
The only futures withheld from Fate and her sister were their own. Therefore, for now, it was to their best advantage not to antagonize the two men. Let them waste their time on the chase. When they no longer needed their help, Fate had a plan in place so neither man would achieve their goal of possessing them.
Fate had confidence her plans would work because who knew better than her what the future held?
Chapter 15
Broni quickly realized her family wasn’t coming to her aid when she was backed against the heavy door with Rhys’s hand at her throat.
“Were you there when my family was murdered?”
“I am only called when I am meant to change the outcome. Your family was not meant to be saved. It was their time, Rhys. I am so sorry.” Tears and compassion in her face tightened his grip on her throat.
“I do not want your pity.” Rhys forced himself to release Broni.
Before he could turn away, Broni confessed, knowing he would inevitably find out if he gained powers. “I was there.”
Rhys’s fury returned, but before he could grab her again, Broni moved quickly away from his reach.
“I knew how much you loved your family, and I did not want them to be alone. I was there, but I couldn’t change their fate. I calmed their fears, though. They felt no pain, Rhys. No fear. They just went to sleep.”
“You could do all that, but you wouldn’t save them? You fucking bitch!” Agony distorted his features, bringing back painful memories for Broni of her own death in another lifetime by men who had the same look of vengeance.
“I could not.” Broni put out her hands, pleading for his return to reason. “It would have meant my own death. Mother would have been angry. Even her friendship with my mother would not have allowed such a transgression to have been forgiven.”
“Better you than them!” Rhys yelled, beyond reason, and Broni’s head snapped back as if she’d been slapped. “My wife and children are worth a hundred sluts like you.”
Broni stiffened, facing Rhys proudly. “I am aware of your feelings for me, but what I was going to say, if you’d let me finish, was that even if I had saved them from Shelton, Mother would not have been thwarted. They would still have died within hours, if not a few days. There is no cheating death. They still would have died, just without the comfort I was able to provide.”
Rhys’s hands tore at his hair as he turned away, moving to sit on the bed where he buried his face in his hands. “I cannot live without them.”
Broni hurt for him. She went to him, falling to her knees in front of him and wanting to give comfort without being sure if he would accept it from her. Uncertain, she laid her hands on him.
“It has been five years, and the pain just gets worse. I miss my children’s laughter and hugs. I miss my wife’s voice, even the perfume she wore. I miss lying beside her at night, holding her while she slept.”
“I could help with that,” Broni suggested tentatively. “I know it is not me that you want, but you would at least not be alone.”
Rhys looked at her with disgust. “You could never replace Deena.” He took her hands and removed them from his thighs.
Broni blushed. “I did not mean that I could ever replace her, Rhys. I would merely comfort you so that the nights would not be so unbearable.”
“Why would you care?” His sharp lawyer mind finally started clicking into place. “Why would you be at my home when my family was murdered? If, as you say, it was not meant for you to interfere, what purpose did you have for even being there? Do you often go where it is not for you to change the outcome?”
Broni rose stiffly to her feet, but didn’t move away. “No.”
“Then why the exception? You said you knew how much I loved them. Had you been watching us?”
“Yes.” Broni blushed, not meeting his eyes.
“How closely did you watch us?”
Broni shrugge
d. “Some. Immortals like me become bored through the centuries; sometimes we watch certain mortals.”
“We were your fucking entertainment?”
“No! It wasn’t like that, Rhys.”
“Then how was it?”