Chapter XLII
Demi
In a daze, I stared at my father and everyone around us, who seemed to be frozen. Mouths gaping open mid-scream, eyes wide with terror. As if time itself had paused for everyone but us.
“Rectified your mistake?” I questioned. “What do you mean?”
My father cautiously approached us as if the space between us were hallowed ground.
I clung tighter to Roman, still a tad salty about this quest and the fact that it felt like my father and Zeus were gambling with my life. Talk about letting it get down to the wire. I was just glad Roman had said whatever magic words my father and Zeus needed to hear.
“My darling daughter, I have failed you twice.”
“Twice?”
My father hung his head, wings folding in close to his body.
“Yes. After your mother and I discovered she was pregnant with you, Apollo sought me out and gave me a prophecy. One I was reluctant to heed, as there is still bad blood between us stemming from the Daphne situation.”
The Daphne situation was the reason Zeus had passed his law forbidding gods from meddling in each other’s love lives.
The story goes that my father made Apollo fall madly in love with Daphne but also made Daphne repulsed by him.
It drove Apollo mad for a time, and all because he’d mocked my father. Gods’ egos were fragile things.
I swallowed hard. Prophecies were never given lightly. They carried weight, consequences.
“What did the prophecy say?”
My father’s voice was uneven as he spoke.
“It foretold that you would have a love inside you so pure it could heal the hearts of this world. But if your heart failed to find its other half by the full moon in August of the year you turned thirty, your gift and heart would be lost to the world. And there was a caveat—I could not help you. You had to discover this gift, your divinity, and even your soulmate on your own. So I had a choice to make: become mortal and live the rest of my life as a human with you and your mother, or stay away until the time you found your way back to our world.”
The impact of his words hit me.
“You could have lived as a mortal with Mom and me?”
Father reluctantly nodded.
“I am ashamed to admit that I was too much of a coward to give up my immortality. Even though the thought of staying away from you and your mother killed me, I selfishly chose to leave you. To break your mother’s heart.
My only justification was that I was doing it for your well-being and that someday you and I would be reunited. But in reality, it was for myself.”
Roman pulled me closer, his brow furrowed. He disliked this tale as much as I did.
My eyes and throat burned. It hurt to know my father hadn’t chosen me—or my mother. My mother, who was his true love. How do you walk away from that?
“I know you are disappointed in me, and rightfully so,” Father said, his voice heavy.
“I have regretted the choice since the moment I made it. When your mother died, I had to intervene, even knowing the consequences of introducing you into my world before you found it yourself. I knew I was risking your heart and even that of your soulmate’s.
But I had failed you once, and I couldn’t do that again.
But I never imagined it would lead you to lock your heart.
I failed to recognize that when the prophecy warned of your heart being lost to the world, it meant to you as well.
And I realized too late who your soulmate was.
And so I failed not only my daughter, but my godson. ”
His eyes turned to Roman, silently pleading for forgiveness.
“For years I watched the animosity between you grow, and I knew why. My actions prevented you from meeting when you should have in the mortal world. In a place where your souls would have recognized each other. I placed you both on the wrong path. And in doing so, I unnaturally tore you apart.”
He breathed out a breath full of regret.
“When something so pure is torn apart, it breeds disharmony—sometimes even hatred as in your case. You ended up blaming each other without knowing why. And while you were both suffering, the world was losing the light it needed—you, my daughter. So I begged Zeus to help me undo my mistakes. He was growing weary of the world’s decline, and so he agreed to send you on a quest that would not only give you a chance of falling in love, but also help your soulmate recognize you for who you are.
Neither of us wanted the world to lose the gift I had stolen from it.
We didn’t want you to lose yourself. That would have been the greatest tragedy of all. ”
“You might have mentioned the soulmate part,” I spat.
“Daughter, you already knew who your soulmate was,” Father said kindly. “But you didn’t want to believe it. Not that I blame you. The blame lies with me. But tell me—would either of you have believed me if I had said it outright?”
A look passed between Roman and me that said there was no way in Hades—uh, hell.
“That’s not how soulmates work. You must discover each other on your own.
And you would have, had I not intervened in Demi’s life or had I been brave enough, like you, Roman, to give up my godhood.
You have proven to be the better man. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for Demi. For the world.”
Father bowed to Roman again.
“Now, if you would not mind, I would like a word with Demi in private. Then you may have her to yourself—though I suspect once Zeus starts time again, you will have a great deal of explaining to do.”
Roman brushed his lips over mine, his voice steady.
“She’s worth all of it. Even if I lose my show.”
I knew he meant it. But I prayed it wouldn’t come to that—especially after I’d humiliated myself for ratings and made Cassie look like a harlot on national television.
I didn’t want to leave Roman’s side, not now that my heart was once again my own and I could feel all the feelings again. It was as if the world had gone from black and white to color. And all I wanted to do was get lost in Roman and love him and be loved by him.
But I supposed I should talk to my father.
Even though I was hurt by his latest revelation.
Not only had he left me, but he’d also intervened in my life when he shouldn’t have, and it had cost me Roman.
It had cost me my heart. I couldn’t believe that he was the one who had unnaturally torn us apart.
I’m not going to lie: I had kind of been hoping it was Psyche’s fault.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed the tip of Roman’s nose. “By the way, I love you.” It felt amazing to say those words after so many years of not being able to utter them out loud.
“I love you,” he responded reverently.
“We have a lot of catching up to do when this spectacle is all over.” I waved my hand around at all the frozen people, many with ridiculous expressions stuck on their faces. Cassie would be murderous if she realized how she looked right now. I wouldn’t mention it.
“I look forward to it,” he groaned.
“Me too.”
I regrettably left his side, and my father offered me his hand. I stared at it, reluctant to take it. Our relationship had always been complicated, but now it felt more like a labyrinth of wounds. It was going to take a lot of sessions with Hestia to find our way out of this maze.
“I am sorry, daughter. So deeply sorry.”
He dropped his hand.
But something inside me wanted to throw him a bone.
He was my father, after all. So I strung my arm through his, and it was the first time I felt a true connection with him.
Maybe because there were no longer any secrets between us.
It hadn’t been only me shutting him out.
He had closed a part of himself off too.
A part he was deeply ashamed of. I could feel that now.
Father smiled, gratitude filling his features as he gently rested his hand over mine.
He led us toward the edge of the forest, tucking his wings back to hide them.
Like dyeing his hair, he did it to make me feel comfortable.
For all his faults, he did love me, in his own way. How had I never seen that?
Before speaking, he paused, his gaze sweeping over me.
“The light inside you is back. You look more like your mother than ever.” His voice cracked with emotion.
“Did she know about the prophecy?”
“Most of it. I was too cowardly to tell her that if I gave up my godhood, I could stay with you both. She would never have asked me to, but I regret every day that I didn’t. I lived a half-life without you in it.”
“Why did you intervene? You couldn’t wait?” My voice broke. “My nana would have taken me after the accident.”
“I should have let her,” he admitted, “but your mother begged me to take you. She said you needed me, and I couldn’t bear to leave you again.”
I blinked, stunned. “What? You spoke to her after the accident?”
“Just briefly,” he cried. “I arrived before the emergency personnel. I held her in my arms one last time, and her final wish was that I care for you. She made me swear I would.”
My throat tightened, the world tilting. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“You never seemed to want to talk about that night, and I knew you resented me. I didn’t want you to resent your mother too. And I hated myself for intervening in your fate. But I so desperately wanted to know you. I’d already missed so much.”
“So where does this leave us?” I asked.
He drew a breath, his eyes searching mine.
“I hope you’ll consider resuming your position at the Bureau.
Perhaps we could start with a working relationship and see where it leads.
I don’t expect forgiveness, but I would love the chance to be part of your life.
And I think you could teach your father a thing or two about love. ”
Funny, when this quest first began, all I’d wanted was to retreat to the immortal world and hide.
I’d wanted to return to the Bureau, to protect mortals from love.
But now . . . I wasn’t so sure. I still wanted to help people—but truly help them.
I needed to figure out how. How could I be the best goddess of love I could be?
I knew that a relationship with Roman meant facing the real world—the press, and my past in a very public way.
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I’ll think about it. But . . . if I did accept your offer, I’d want a raise. And a better office for Cassie.” I smirked.
“I will give you anything you wish,” Father replied.
“Well, I’ll let you know. I’m probably going to be a little busy with Roman for a while.”
“Rightly so.” He gave a subdued grin. “I am glad you found each other. You will do great things together for the world. You will bring it hope like it has not seen in many years.”
“No pressure,” I said dryly. But even as I joked, I felt the truth in his words. Roman and I were meant for this.
“Daughter,” Father whispered. “I know you may not believe this, but I love you. And I am sorry I didn’t give up the world for you when I had the chance. You and your mother were more than worthy. It was me who wasn’t.”
I swallowed hard, my heart aching. But I found a man who was willing to. And that’s all that really matters.
I didn’t know what else to say to my father except, “I should probably get back to Roman. We have an episode to finish. And I’m sure there will be some hell to pay for this.”
“I could intervene,” Father offered.
I considered it for a heartbeat, then shook my head. “That’s okay. I think Roman and I need to let it play out. We chose these sacrifices for each other.”
“You are wise, daughter.” He kissed my cheek. “We will speak soon.”
I nodded. We needed to. And besides, I couldn’t deny Hestia a few dozen more sessions.
I had a feeling that sherbet-orange giggling chair would be waiting for me, and her almond butter cookies with a hint of ambrosia were impossible to resist. Maybe now, with the truth uncovered and my heart restored, we might actually make progress.
“Goodbye, Father.”
“Goodbye, daughter,” he said, his voice carrying with it a plea that it not be the end.
It wasn’t. But I had a beginning to start—with Roman.
I all but ran back to the dais and into Roman’s arms. As soon as he wrapped me up, the world righted itself, and time began to tick again.
The crowd’s chatter rose, and harp strings swelled to a fever pitch. Cameras zoomed in, catching every breath, every glance.
Roman leaned back just enough to meet my eyes, a smile flickering there.
“I just have one question for you. Are we a match?”
I didn’t hesitate. “A perfect match.”
And then, with a grin, I added, “One might even say . . . a match made in the heavens.”