Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Izzy
When I teleport back, I find myself on the lawn outside our castle. The lights are blazing inside and I can see people moving around. I start toward the house, eager to make sure that everyone is okay--to heal Van and Mr. Time and Brenda from the effects of the aging, and to check on Reid.
But then I stop. For a few seconds, I stay outside, the cool night air caressing my face. I put them all in so much danger because I trusted Thea. Are they mad at me? Do they still love me?
There’s this small, childish part of me--the rejected child carrying her trash bag from home to home--that can’t quite trust they still want me after a mistake like that.
And….was it entirely a mistake? Did I manage to snatch the box from Thea despite her best efforts or…did she let me take it?
I’m sure everyone else sees her as a villain right now, and maybe that’s the right way to look at her. She’s done horrible things. I shouldn’t take one or two moments that seemed tender as more than they really were. Maybe it was just another trick.
Oh, Loki, you’d think I’d be a little harder to trick with you around.
His voice is a purr in my ear. Let me loose, and no one will ever trick you again. You’ll be the ultimate trickster, not the naive, foolish little girl you are now. You’ll never put your friends in danger again.
I know he’s a manipulator, I know I can’t trust him, but for a second, it seems like a relief to let him take over.
The front door opens, and Wilder stands framed in the doorway, his powerful, muscular body limned by the light spilling through the open door. He calls over his shoulder, “She’s out here! She’s fine!”
Then he runs across the lawn to me. His face is worried as he grips my shoulders. “You’re okay. I was so worried.”
“I was right behind you,” I say. “Mr. Time? Brenda? Van?”
“We got them out of there in time, and the effects are already reversing,” he promises me. “Don’t tell Van this, he’s cocky enough, but he’s going to be a total DILF one day. You’re a lucky woman, Izzy.”
My thoughts were so dark just a moment ago, but Wilder makes me laugh, and he smiles in response, dimples appearing under his chiseled cheekbones when he grins that big, earnest smile.
“Reid?”
“He’s fine. You should come see for yourself.” He frowns. “Why did you teleport out here, anyway? What’re you doing by yourself?”
I shake my head, trying to shake away the question, but Wilder’s so intent and kind that I can’t pretend around him. “I misjudged Thea…I thought we could trust her.”
“She’s your sister,” he says, his voice understanding.
“I put everyone in danger….”
“Izzy,” he says, and he suddenly wraps me up in a tight hug.
I wrap my arms around his muscular waist, taking comfort from his body that maybe I don’t deserve.
“When are you going to trust us that you don’t have to be perfect?
Yes, we know you see the best in everyone, because you saw the best in all of us.
Always have. Even when we didn’t deserve it. ”
He leans back so he can see my face, cupping his hand on my cheek. His gaze on mine is affectionate. “We all love you just the way you are.”
He’s so sweet that relief floods through me, and I could cry. Being loved like that is the most amazing thing.
“Van will probably have something sarcastic and shitty to say,” he admits, “but he feels the same way.. He just can’t stop…Vanning.”
“We love him anyway,” I finish.
“Yes,” he admits, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “Even though sometimes I do want to kick his ass. Just recreationally, though. I always do love him.”
He puts his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him as we head toward the house.
The two of us walk inside and I see Van, sitting on the couch looking sullen. His blond hair has widow’s peaks and there are lines around his gorgeous blue eyes, but Wilder is right, he’s still gorgeous.
I might just have a happy lifetime with these handsome men, at every age, ahead of me, if we can keep control of the gods forever.
Reid rubs his hand through his hair absently as he paces. When he sees me, his face brightens with relief.
“Sorry,” I say, realizing that they were all worried for me. “I teleported just outside.”
“We’re going to have to go put an end to this once and for all, you know,” Aiden says, the words seeming to rush out of his mouth.
“We will.” Mr. Time sags against the doorway, and even though he looks so old and tired, my heart leaps when I see him.
My grandfather, still alive. He holds out his arm to me, and I rush to him.
When he loops his arm over my shoulders, the scent of his aftershave washes over me, warm and comforting.
He gives me a squeeze, and I’m not sure if he’s comforting me or I’m holding him up.
Maybe both.
Mr. Time goes on, “Our missing piece should be delivered in the morning.”
“That changes everything,” I say. Then I hesitate, chewing my lip, thinking of how much danger my men were in today. “If you’re willing to try to take their powers and not just kill them. If not, I’ll go alone.”
“Oh, knock it off,” Van grumbles. “You know we’re on your side, Izzy. Even if you’re too damned nice.”
His words light a warm glow in my chest, but I don’t show that.
“You are the cutest grouchy old man,” I tell him.
He cocks a finger at me. “Then come sit on Daddy’s lap.”
I let out a laugh; I can’t help it. No matter how dark things get, these men light up my world.
“Let’s get some rest tonight,” Mr. Time says. “We’ll take turns keeping watch, because they might attack when they think we’re weak. We’ll strike as soon as we can. Without their gods, they’ll just be…twisted people. Maybe they can even be redeemed.”
He doesn’t sound hopeful, but he squeezes my shoulders one more time. As if maybe my hope is contagious.