Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Deal’s off? Lying in his king-size bed in the presidential suite, Damien set down his phone and tossed his head back on the down pillow. The dragon must’ve slammed the baby-daddy door in Jac’s face last night, which meant Cimil wouldn’t help Sky. And it wasn’t like he had any leverage with the winged lizard. According to Jac’s text, the monster simply did not want offspring. Period.
If Damien believed he had a unique angle to argue with Dash, he would, but who was he to lecture anyone about the obligation to carry on one’s genes? Damien was basically a male spinster, who reveled in his bachelorhood. My life’s the best. I am the epitome of happiness.
So.
Happy.
He stared blankly at the gold-leaf ceiling, the early morning light sifting through a gap in the maroon curtains as he reminisced over the blissful moments he’d shared with Sky, along with the mistakes he’d made.
Like killing her. Her death was why he hated to throw in the towel, but maybe it was for the best. He’d only agreed to try to sway the dragon so that Sky could get another chance at life, one she might be more careful with next time.
Did he also secretly wish she’d grovel at his feet, regretting her mistake of throwing away their relationship, and then perhaps get a swirly tattoo of his name across the small of her back in remembrance of his heroic actions?
Maybe.
Damien sighed, feeling a weight in his chest. Is this how teenagers feel? All lovesick? Because when it came to relationships, that was probably his age. He’d lived a long life, yes, and he could kill just about anything with his pinky, but when it came to love, Damien was a rookie.
That didn’t mean he did not understand loss—his past was littered with it—but he had never been forced to navigate the complexities of dating. Sky had been his first relationship after breaking free of Willa, so perhaps he needed to accept it for what it was: practice.
Practice makes perfect. He really should consider trying out more people. Then again, my heart is fairly rancid. It would make more sense to go back to the way things were before Sky. Just him, tailoring, and nothing more.
“Sky, if you’re listening, I am sorry, but I cannot get you a new body.” It was difficult to admit failure, but he had to be honest. As well as honorable. “And you should know that my intentions were not entirely selfless. I wanted you to see what a mistake you made, throwing away a relationship with a man who truly cares for you.”
“I know,” said a faint voice to his side.
He turned his head to find Sky’s wispy outline lying next to him. Had she been here all night?
She continued, “But I didn’t want you, my sister, or my nephew getting mixed up in all the SBP business. It was my job to protect you, and I failed. Failed at everything.”
He rolled over to face her. She still had her dark hair in a ponytail, accentuating her oval face and large expressive eyes. So beautiful. Of course, it had been her large ass and curves that had first caught his attention. Nothing like a well-nourished woman. Something men had found very enticing back in the day.
“Yes, you did,” he said. “Spectacularly. But that does not make your efforts any less noble.”
“Thanks.” Her nearly translucent cheeks caught a faint pink hue. “I’m sorry I laughed at your hip thrusts last night.”
“Forgiven. Stripping was never my calling anyway,” he said.
“At least you’re an excellent tailor.”
“Thank you.”
“And you’re also good at all that saving-people stuff.”
He didn’t know about that. “I solve problems. Sometimes it helps that I’m older than most. More experience.”
“Oh, stop. You’ve changed MF’s and Maxton’s lives. You changed Bonbon’s and Gorgonzolina’s, too. You gave them a home and a sense of belonging. Then there’s Pet.” She paused. “Never mind. There’s no helping that one, but at least you tried.”
Tried to get rid of her. Pet simply wouldn’t leave. “Why are you being so nice and not making demands of me? Are you going to kill me now so Amelia and Miguel will be freed?”
Sky chuckled. “No, but I do think we should go home today and stage your death. After that, I’ve decided to move on. Permanently.”
She wanted to end her soul? His heart sank. “You do not wish to have another chance at life?”
“I followed Jac earlier when she met up with that Dash guy,” she explained.
Damien wondered why Sky would follow Jac, but it didn’t seem germane to the conversation.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Something Dash said made a lot of sense. He said that the time of dragons was over, and it got me thinking. Maybe my time is over, too.”
“You are not a dragon, Sky. You’re a journalist whose life ended prematurely because I allowed a sex fairy to distract me while driving a very large SUV.”
“True. But if I’d stayed dead that first time, Amelia and Miguel would be fine. They’d be safe. Instead, they’re locked up in some SBP warehouse.” She sat up and whisked away a phantom tear.
He sat up, too, wishing there was some way to make everything right for her. Watching her suffer killed him. “That is not your fault.”
“Isn’t it?” She arched a dark brow.
“All right. Yes, it is, but that does not mean you should give up on life.”
“Damien, if I return, I won’t be able to resist going back to SBP and getting revenge. I know I won’t. They took the people I love. They murdered me. Not to mention all of the humans they harmed testing their new body program or the creatures they tortured for parts.”
He understood her feelings. He’d be angry, too.
“Well,” he said. “if you change your mind, I am happy to continue being your anchor.” As a ghost, Sky could not remain in the world of the living without one.
“Thanks, but once my sister and nephew are free, I have to go. It’s not fair to dangle my hotness in front of your nose all the time.”
Sky was putting him first. He’d never had anyone do that.
He looked at the gap in the curtains, finding it difficult to say how he felt. He would miss her.
“What about Amelia and Miguel?” he finally asked. “What will you tell them?” They would be heartbroken to lose Sky again.
“The truth. I never should’ve returned, and now I have to make things right.”
Damien wanted to respect her wishes, but at the same time, he didn’t agree. Maybe she’ll change her mind after she saves her family.
“So, what’s the plan when we return to LA?” he asked. “How shall I die for you?”
“I was thinking you could drive one of your cars off an ocean cliff. The authorities will think the sharks got your body or you were taken by the current.”
“Which car?” He frowned.
Sky gave him a disapproving look. “Does it really matter? We’re talking about the people I love.”
Well, he didn’t have “people.” He had cars. “Fine. I’ll use the delivery van.”
“After I’m gone, would you look in on my family from time to time?”
“I will.” She really didn’t even have to ask.
“Thank you.” Sky leaned close and kissed him, pumping her energy outward so he could feel the faint touch of her lips.
He reached his arms to embrace her, but she faded away.
“Sky?”
“She gawn.” Pet popped out from behind the headboard, fanning her tiny face. “But that was hawt!”
“Shut up, Pet.”
“I will if you let me lick it.” Her gaze stuck to his groin.
“Leave, or I’ll buy the Barbie chastity belt I found online and make you wear it.”
“Ha! I already have one, and it only covers two holes, so joke’s on you!”
He did not want to ask why she owned one. It would only lead to some vile sexscaped story he could not unhear.
He got up and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Strange how empty his chest felt inside. Sky was going to move on, and then he’d never see her again.
He lowered his head, feeling that emptiness spread. Christ, I need to talk to that dragon . He had to make one more attempt to convince the creature to breed.
His phone rang in the other room, and he heard Pet answer. “Heya, Votan! When do you need that follow-up on your prostate?” she said and then paused. “Well, yes, I know your exam wasn’t voluntary, but you’re never too old to take care of your health.”
Dear gods. Damien went into the bedroom and snatched his phone from Pet’s tiny hands.
“Hello?” he said.
“Tailor, why haven’t I received any updates on your search for Cimil?” Votan did not sound happy.
Damien toggled through the options in his mind. He could lie, but if Votan found out, he would not be very forgiving. Then again, if Damien disclosed Cimil’s whereabouts, he’d lose the chance to make one last-ditch effort to help Sky. It was a question of saving his own neck versus keeping the door open for Sky. For a body she does not want, though she might change her mind.
Damien cleared his throat. “Votan, I was going to call you later today. I have a lead on Cimil, but I need more time.” That last part was true.
“Well, stop jerking off so much. That should free you up.”
“That’s a big request, sir, but I’ll see what I can do to resist my stellar manhood.” For the record, Damien hadn’t touched himself in weeks. After his breakup, his dick was sad. Like it has a bad cold, only without the sneezing.
Votan continued, “All right, well, keep your eye on the ball, tailor. I’m schedule to depart in three days.”
“I am on it.”
“Where are you now?” Votan asked.
Why did he wish to know? “Dallas.”
“I am sending Belch to assist you.”
“The god of wine and tightie-whities?” No…
“Yes. And tailor? Make sure he stays out of trouble. I promised his mate, Margarita, that he would stay busy. Apparently, retirement is too boring for him, and he keeps organizing pop-up wine tastings. At Target. In the boxed-wine section. They’re threatening to sue.”
“Sue?”
“I think the DJ and free spankings scare the customers away,” Votan said, dead serious.
Damien had known Belch for years. The god often got smashed and then lost his clothes. One year, Damien sold over two hundred thousand dollars of custom-made underpants to the guy and an equal amount in trousers. However, after his mate, Margarita, came along, Mr. God of Wine straightened out and stopped drinking. Mostly.
That god was born to party. And vomit.
The odd thing was that before the gods retired, they’d all had a run-in with the demon king, who was now exiled back to his world along with all demons. Damien didn’t have the details, but the king had imprisoned the gods, and they escaped through a demon portal. Then the tainted, demonic energy of the portal jumbled up their powers. Votan had inherited the Love Goddess’s powers. Cimil supposedly had Votan’s gifts of Death and War. Damien did not know what Belch got, but apparently, he still loved to party, just like Cimil still enjoyed creating mayhem.
Perhaps at the end of the day, the gods were who they were regardless of becoming infused with new powers. Votan still busts balls like a war god, that is for certain.
“It’s really unnecessary to send Belch,” Damien said. “He’ll just get in the way with his quest for fiestas.”
“You need all the help you can get stopping Cimil. The last thing anyone wants is war. Even if I love war with all my heart. Gods, I miss it.” He sighed.
See. There it was. He “loved” war. Not liked, considered it his duty, or even enjoyed war. Votan loved it.
The love, death, and war god.
So if Damien was right, that would make Cimil the underworld, death, and war goddess. Not good. She’d been dangerous enough when she’d just been in charge of punishing wicked souls.
“I must go now,” Votan said. “Emma is packing for our ancient Pompeii trip, and I know she’s going to leave me with nothing but loincloths.”
Votan hung up.
What is wrong with these deities? The answer was everything.
Damien needed to tread carefully from here on out because Cimil was more dangerous than he’d realized. Unfortunately, she also held all the cards.
Someone really needed to end her for good.