Chapter Eighteen
“Mother!”
In her embarrassed surprise, Payton gripped Dailey’s head, smothering his face against her mound to shield herself.
His breath was hot against her sensitive folds, making her shudder, and his strangled voice was lost to the pounding in her ears.
No matter how old one is, being caught in a compromising position by their parent is totally mortifying.
Pink tinged Mae Hawthorne’s fair cheeks, but her China-blue eyes held amusement as they lingered on Dailey’s perfect, sculpted ass.
“Don’t be embarrassed, darling. A healthy sex drive is natural for those from our bloodline.
But you’re running on empty, and you need to recharge. The ocean will help you with that.”
Releasing him with a light shove, Payton snapped her fingers and clad herself in an airy robe.
His passionate protest drew her attention back to him. His seductive gaze hypnotized her as the air around them grew thick with his desire.
“None of that!” Her mother clapped, and the sharp noise pulled Payton’s head back around. “Your nymph is out of control, and if you don’t reel it in, you two will literally hump to death.”
Before a protest could form on Payton’s lips, Mae pulled from her elemental source. Droplets rose from the sea and created a sigil in the space between Dailey and them. The symbol flared brightly, sizzling as it worked in accordance with the spell’s design.
“Hm. The Trickster’s magic is terribly strong, isn’t it?” she murmured.
Flattening her palm, she held the existing enchantment in place, then sketched another with her opposite hand.
Similar in design, the lines lit and crackled, like a flame along a dynamite fuse as it raced for the explosive.
A wall of water rose from the sea, creating a thin barrier between Dailey and Payton.
But the height and width made it impossible to breach.
It struck her that she was woefully unprepared to utilize her new Titan abilities. When all this mess with the Trickster was behind them, Payton intended to train.
“There, that should hold him for a few minutes,” Mae said, her tone stating her satisfaction. She dusted off her palms. “Now, let’s get down to business.”
The lust-fog clouding Payton’s mind dissipated, leaving her horrified, not only by being caught in flagrante delicto but also because they’d lost control, knowing the consequence of their actions should they have sex. What was it about being close to him that triggered her reckless behavior?
“Can’t he walk through it?” Payton asked.
“No. Though liquid, it’s solid. You can, however, toss him his clothes.”
She did, marveling at how easily they passed through to the other side. “Can I cross it?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it, or my spell will be for naught.”
With a heavy sigh, she faced her mother. “What’s all this about?”
“Your skin is too dry, and your heat signature is high,” Mae said gently. “Come. Let us soak a bit to rejuvenate.”
“I do feel hotter than normal. I assumed it was the sun and, well, Dailey’s um…” Her cheeks warmed until her face felt like it would combust at any moment. No amount of water was cooling her down. Chernobyl had nothing on her!
“I’m certain his ministrations helped, but I believe you’re transitioning, as Elara did. The enchantment contained within the footwear is causing your power to develop faster than normal.”
“Wonderful. Is there an underwater lair for people like us to cool off?” she asked dryly.
Her mother’s smile suggested Payton’s humor hadn’t gone unnoticed. “There is, right off the coast of my home, but you refused to visit.”
“Truly?” Payton blatantly disregarded her mother’s underlying hurt. She wasn’t the one who abandoned her parents; it was the other way around. “Like an Atlantis or something?”
“Or something,” her mother agreed, holding out her hand. “Would you like to go there, or use the ocean here?”
On the other side of the wall, Dailey seemed to regain his wits and drew on his underwear.
His expression screamed that he wasn’t happy about the interruption.
Whether self-directed or at the interruption, Payton couldn’t say, but she was feeling the exact same way.
At least she’d received some satisfaction; he’d be suffering with blue balls soon.
“How did you know about all this?” she asked as they strolled to the water’s edge.
“After Elara’s incident, Storm Bringer contacted your father and suggested creating an early warning system for when your body went through the change. She didn’t want you to suffer as your sister did.”
“Why did no one tell me?” Although she didn’t mind the help, it was annoying that no one thought to include her. “I’m a grown adult, able to judge when something is off inside.”
Mae compressed her lips, then blew out a breath. “Darling, I hate to be the one to point this out, but you didn’t know. That’s why I’m here. You are reaching the red alert stage.”
“Well, maybe the next time you and Father decide to procreate, you should think about informing your children what they are,” Payton snapped. “It would’ve been nice to grow into our power instead of having it hit us like a ton of bricks.”
“You’ll feel better when you cool off, dear.”
Would she?
Doubtful.
Her parents had disappeared at a formative time in her and Elara’s lives, leaving them bobbing like corks in an endless sea of the unknown and unwanted. Her hurt wasn’t going away overnight because they happened to show up now to take responsibility where they hadn’t before.
The waves lapped against her calves, and as she walked farther out, her shoes changed to flippers. She had to smile. Hermes, bastard that he was, had thought of every footwear contingency.
On the other side of the wall, Dailey stalked her. Similar to a caged tiger pacing its enclosure, looking for a way to get to the tasty morsel on the other side.
She shivered.
“I wish you still loved me,” she whispered. Hell, she wished anyone besides Elara and Rowan cared about her. Truly cared, the way lovers or parents or a grandmother were supposed to, by putting her needs first.
The ocean floor grew brighter as one of her stones lit.
“What is it you were thinking, dear?”
“About unconditional love and how I wished it existed for me,” she confessed.
Tears filled her mother’s eyes as she cupped Payton’s cheek. “Oh, you silly girl. You are loved unconditionally.”
“No—”
“Yes,” Mae said, cutting her off. “Yes, Payton, you are. Your father and I didn’t leave because of anything you’d done.
Were you a trying teenager? Of course. But your fire made you more lovable, not less.
” She brushed back a lock of Payton’s hair from her eyes.
“I adore both of my daughters equally. So does your father. We left for your safety. Your father is hunted for what he is, and he didn’t want to bring those enemies to your door. ”
“We needed you!” she cried raggedly. “We needed guidance.”
“I was weak. You and Elara are so much stronger than I’ll ever be. Able to walk away from what doesn’t serve you. Me? No. Rupert owns me, heart and soul.”
“No one should own anyone, Mother,” she stressed. But her gaze drifted to Dailey, where he entered the ocean.
“Not in the literal sense, no. But I gave my love to him decades ago, and he’s treasured it.”
“But not the daughters you gave him.”
“Payton—”
“Can you please leave me alone?” she begged. “Just until I have more time to come to terms with all of this.”
“You should know about your other half.”
“Elara has told me enough to survive it.” Payton squeezed Mae’s hand. “I’m not rejecting you. It’s too much while I’m dealing with the fallout of the boots.”
“Did you ever consider now, more than ever, you will need to address your emotions? If I’m not mistaken, they are part of the Trickster’s lesson plan.”
Shit! Her mother was right! Once again, Payton had wanted to avoid the conflict and tuck away the old hurts. Yet, her insecurity was the biggest problem, making her the target of everyone’s desire.
“Okay, let’s deal with this before Dailey conjures an asteroid to take us out in his frustration.”
Mae looked disconcerted, casting him a wary glance. “Is it a real possibility?”
“Yes,” Payton said succinctly. Perhaps she was going for shock value, but her mother should be aware not everything was fun and games. The world didn’t bend to Rupert and Mae Hawthorne’s whims.
“Oh, my.”
“You said you were weak, that Father owns you, heart and soul, and you feel Elara and I were able to survive on our own. But what mother does that? What mom and dad jet off, leaving two teenage daughters on their own with no parental guidance?”
“A terrible pair,” Mae admitted with a catch in her voice. “But it wasn’t your fault, Payton. We love you as much as two selfish parents are capable.”
“You freely admit to being self-centered twats?” she asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Tears brimmed in Mae’s tragic blue eyes, spilling over to trail down her pale cheeks. “Yes, I freely admit it if it means you can find peace with yourself and know you were always cherished, always wanted.”
“I’m not, though, am I?” Payton cried. “You, Father, Flo, Dailey… No one could see the real me. Not even Elara did until recently.”
“How many times do I have to tell you before you will listen? None of it was your fault.” Mae sandwiched Payton’s face between her palms. “Hear me, darling girl. Rupert and I were selfish. We couldn’t see the real you because we didn’t seek to know you.
If we did, losing you and your sister would’ve been impossible to bear.
We had to keep an emotional distance for our own sakes, knowing one day we’d be forced to leave you to your own devices. ”
“And Flo?” Payton’s throat ached from suppressed sobs. “Why couldn’t my own grandmother give a shit?”
“She did. She gave you and Elara jobs, trying to show you the value of making your way in the world. But at the same time, she set up trust funds, allowing you the freedom to run from your own wedding, remember?”
“We thought those were from you and Dad.”
“Oh, we created one for both of you, but those were a contingency, only should you need them.”
Again, anger exploded in Payton’s chest. “We did need them! Elara and I struggled to pay our damned rent.”
“No. That’s not right. Your apartment was paid for. … oh.” Rage clouded Mae’s visage, and the waves around them grew forceful. “Mary-Alice Cobb. That… that… bitch! Just wait until I get my hands on her!”
Roughly twenty-five yards away, the water grew choppy, churning from a source below the surface. It gained speed as it circled, creating a deadly whirlpool.
“Uh, Mother. If that’s you, I’d suggest pulling back your anger.” She pointed. “Otherwise, we might drown.”
“We can’t drown. We’re water nymphs.” Mae blew out a breath and unclenched her fists. “Your fiancé, however, might.”
“Ex-fiancé.” And Goddess, didn’t it still sting to have lost the dream of forever with him? “What did the wicked old witch do?”
“The apartment was leased through her husband’s holding company and paid for through the Hawthorne trust for as long as you girls cared to live there.”
“But, we didn’t live in Witchmere back then,” Payton said.
“No, Harvey Cobb has properties all up and down the coast. Rupert watched to see where the two of you ended up and made sure you found places in the best areas of town.”
“We always thought it was dumb luck.”
Mae smiled.
“Okay, so back to Mary-Alice… Once we arrived in Witchmere, she knew us as your daughters. And because we were charged an exorbitant amount for rent, we were swindled,” Payton concluded grimly. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I can’t believe she’d hate me so much she’d do such an evil thing to you and your sister.
” Mae was clearly dismayed by the events of the past, but her deeper emotion soothed Payton’s residual anger.
Knowing her parents hadn’t left them to struggle made the world of difference, despite their absence.
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” she promised. “In the meantime, how about you tell me how long I need to soak before I’m able to resume my day?”
“Not long.” Her mother cocked her blonde head and studied her through thoughtful eyes. “Your energy is lighter. What did I say?”
“You provided for us. All this time, we believed you left us stranded. It’s nice to know you didn’t.”
Her flippers lit again, flaring brightly as if to say, “One issue resolved, a hundred more to go.”