Chapter 15
GATLIN
Noise filters through the night air, and I jolt awake. Tense, I ease my hand toward the gun on the nightstand, but the sounds slowly crystalize into Jamison’s British tones. I glance down at Phaedra, her dark hair spilling across my chest, and carefully slip from the bed.
“I’ll be back,” I murmur.
She hums and stretches, then rolls onto her back and looks up at me. “I know…Are you good with this? With us?” Her finger points back and forth between us. Her bright blue eyes are full of apprehension and a slight guardedness I’ve come to expect from her. “We don’t have to tell them right away.”
“The fuck we don’t,” I snarl, unable to hold back the sting of her words.
My voice reverberates in the small room, making me flinch.
I take a deep breath and back it down a notch.
“Sorry. We’re not hiding from anyone. Not the gods.
Or my family. Do you want me to go outside and shout it from the porch? I will.”
Her laugh is soft, but the glassy look in her eyes tells me that it was the right answer. “Old habits. And you’re right. Let me grab a shower, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“I could shower with you,” I offer, wagging my eyebrows. My hand skims across her body, and a moan escapes from her pink lips. “Or we can say ‘fuck it’ and stay here.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she replies with a sigh. “But I want to see them and hear about their visit with Caron.” She slides out of bed and pads toward the bathroom. At the door, she looks back and winks, knowing I’m staring at her.
With a shake of my head, I slip into my room next door and grab a quick shower. Minutes later, I walk into the kitchen and stop in surprise. Mathias is leaning against the counter. His eyes dart past me to the doorway, then return.
“Mathias,” I greet him, walking over to sling an arm around him. “How the hell did you get away? I didn’t expect to see you for another couple of weeks at least.” Jamison snorts, and I glance his way. “What?”
“He’s supposed to be in London running errands for the vampires, but he couldn’t stay away,” Jamison says drily. His voice drops. “Apparently, the mate bond won’t let him go too long without seeing her.”
Mathias, clearly irritated, narrows his eyes at Jamison, then glances at me. “That’s not the only reason. Thought I’d share some intel.” Their eyebrows rise in disbelief. He sighs. “Where is she?”
“She’s taking a shower,” I inform them.
All three glance at my wet hair, and I can see the speculation on their faces. I dip my chin, silently acknowledging the change in our relationship, but don’t elaborate because there isn’t enough time. Explaining what happened in Greece is paramount.
“With one flick of her hand, Hera completely immobilized me. For the first time, I was powerless. Scared the fuck out of me. I thought I was going to have to watch her end Phaedra and not be able to do a damn thing about it. She might have if Athena hadn’t stepped in.”
Mathias curses in his native language, Hawthorne runs a hand down his face, and magic swirls around Jamison’s hands.
“I was already falling for her, but at that moment, everything became crystal clear for me,” I admit gruffly. “Then she went and claimed me. And I didn’t want to hold out for the rest of you to get your shit together.”
“She claimed you?” Mathias asks in a strangled voice.
“She did,” I confirm. “Look, I know we need to talk about us and how we’re going to move forward, but she’ll be down soon, and there is something more urgent.
In that temple, it hit me. We have zero leverage.
Not only do we not know what the gods have in store for Phaedra, but collectively, we don’t have enough power to stop them.
And that’s a scary fucking thought. She’s too vulnerable. We need a backup plan.”
Surprisingly, Hawthorne is the one who nods first. “The war with the gods showed me how difficult it is to eliminate them. Damn near impossible. In order to protect her, we’ll need to stack the deck. How? I’m not sure, but I’ll do some research.”
“Good.” I hear the sound of her sneakers on the stairs. “Damn, she’s coming. Think about it, and we’ll regroup later.”
All three nod, but their attention and gazes move from me to the doorway. Silence descends. Tension fills the air. All three hold their breath. The second she enters; they collectively exhale, and their entire focus becomes her.
Phaedra’s hair is damp, and she’s wearing a bright smile, but it fades the second she sees Mathias. For several long seconds, she drinks him in, her eyes scanning him from head to toe as if she’s trying to reassure herself he’s okay.
“Mathias,” she says in a breathless voice. “How are you?”
Tension makes him rigid. I see his hand clench at his side, but she doesn’t. Not in anger. In need. He wants to touch her.
She tilts her head, her brow furrowing at his lack of response, and his face blanks as if he doesn’t want her to see how she affects him. Internally, I sigh.
“Good,” he finally says.
Phaedra sucks in a breath, and a look of resignation settles on her face. “I’m—” Her words halt when Mathias stalks out of the room. Her jaw tightens, and she stalks out the door after him. I hear the front door open. A minute later she returns.
“He’s gone.” She takes a deep breath.
Anger and understanding war within me, but I force myself to stand down and let them work it out. I motion to the island. “Give him some space. Let him come to you.” I wave a hand toward the barstool. “Sit. I’ll fix you something to eat.”
She drops onto the seat and looks over at Jamison and Hawthorne. “Hi.” There’s a nervous tone to her voice as she looks at their impassive faces. “I heard you had an interesting visit with Mercer’s elf?” She nervously toys with the napkin while she waits for them to answer.
Deflection. Good call. Jamison shifts into work mode and gives an update on what Caron told them.
I slide the eggs and toast onto a plate and set it in front of Phaedra, watching for a second to make sure she starts eating.
A pensive expression settles on her face. “So, I’m the cause for all this. I wonder how Bennett discovered me.”
Hawthorne places his hands on the island and leans down to look her straight in the eyes.
“You are not the cause of Bennett’s delusions.
Nor his obsession.” The way he spits out the last word tells me that pisses him off.
He continues. “Supernaturals have never been happy with the treaty. Someone was bound to come along and start another war.”
She stares at him, hope in her eyes, but the wry curve of her mouth tells me she doesn’t believe him.
Jamison snorts in agreement. “Surprised we’ve gone this long.
” He drains the last dregs of coffee from his cup and sets it in the sink.
He turns and gives her a determined look.
“Let us worry about Bennett. At least we know where to start looking for him. My father—” He stops mid-sentence and begins patting his pockets.
A second later, he pulls a familiar list and spreads it on the counter.
“I’ll be damned,” he says, tapping the sheet. “Bennett’s on the list Charlie gave you. I looked at it but dismissed the name because I’d never heard of him.”
She places a hand on his arm. “We’re spread thin. Don’t be hard on yourself.”
He looks down at her hand for a second, then his mouth firms. “I’m going to find Mathias and have a chat.”
Her brow furrows as he leaves, but she says nothing.
“I still have to create the actual tree, but what did you think of my idea?” Hawthorne quietly asks, his eyes studying her face. I think he realizes she’s trying.
Her answering smile makes him take a half-step closer. “The tree will be perfect. Maybe you should come with me and present it to her.”
Gritting my teeth, I glare at her, knowing what she’s trying to do. “Hawthorne is welcome to join us.”
“Do you really think you should be there?” She returns with a determined look on her face. “Did you tell them what she did to you?”
“Of course,” I reply in a nonchalant tone.
“She called you an abomination,” Phaedra spits out angrily, throwing her hands up when she realizes I’m not backing down. “Do you really think you’ll be able to help if she immobilizes you again?”
I sigh, hating to see the worry on her face.
“Maybe it would be best if I wait outside and let Hawthorne go in with you. Her attitude towards my race might be a little concerning.” That’s as far as I’m willing to go.
Not that I give a fuck about Hera, but I don’t want Phaedra distracted when she’s dealing with her.
I flick a loaded glance at Hawthorne. He’d better have his priorities straight if he goes with her.
He subtly dips his chin in agreement.
She stands and walks over to me. Her hands slide up my chest to the back of my neck before she pulls my lips down to meet hers. With a groan, I wrap my arms tightly around her and give in to the sweetest fucking kiss I’ve ever been given. It’s soft and generous and almost brings me to my knees.
“Thank you,” she says as she pulls back. “I know that wasn’t easy, and I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make the offerings and get out quick.”
“You’d better,” I say gruffly, unable to think about the alternative. “What are the next two items on your list?”
Her nose scrunches up. “Pomegranate and peacock. Hawthorne’s tree will work for the pomegranate, but I need something else for the peacock.”
“The pin won’t be spectacular enough,” I say, remembering Hera’s warning. I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to call Hera out on her bullshit. An idea comes to me. “Why don’t you go with Hawthorne and finish the tree, and I’ll work on the peacock for you.”
A bemused expression crosses her face, but the look in my eyes must convince her I’m serious. “Mmm, a man of many talents. Deal.”
Hawthorne’s staring at me in disbelief, and I narrow my eyes at him. He’s not the only smart person in this room. He holds up his hands in surrender and motions for Phaedra to lead the way.
When they’re gone, I pick up the phone and search for a particular peacock, then I call Jamison. “Where are you?”
“The garage,” he replies with a frustrated sigh. “Mathias left.”
“Without talking to Phaedra?”
“Correct,” he confirms. When I growl in frustration, he becomes defensive. “All of us need to figure this out on our own. Not just Mathias.”
It pains me to hear it, but he’s right. I’m not as worried about Hawthorne or Jamison, though.
I see the way they look at her. My worry is reserved for Mathias.
I don’t know if he’ll be able to get over the role Phaedra played in his life.
As someone who can’t have kids, I can’t fathom what he must have felt when he was separated from his daughter.
All I can do is hope he looks toward the future, not the past, when he makes his decision.
“I know,” I concede, then change the subject. “I need a ride.” A portal will be faster, and it sounds like Jamison needs a break.
An irritated sound escapes Jamison’s throat. “Where to?”
“Polk, Ohio.”
Silence. “What the bloody hell for?”
“I’ll tell you on the way,” I say with a smile as I hang up the phone. As I pass by the study, I let Hawthorne and Phaedra know that Jamison and I are leaving.
Phaedra glances up. “What about Mathias? Is he going too?”
Inwardly, I wince, knowing how this is going to go over, but I try to soften it. “He had to get back before they missed him.”
Hawthorne’s sharp gaze darts from me to her.
She nods quietly but doesn’t comment further.
I give Hawthorne a look, silently demanding he cheer her up while I’m gone, but he turns away. Frustrated, I throw my hands in the air and storm out the door.