Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“Oh, I was forgetting about her paralytics and potions. She should work with Theo as well. Imagine what the kid will be able to do with all his thorny prickles if we can add poison into the mix.”
“Darcy, seriously?”
“Yes. Seriously. These babies were born with magic. Magic that will more than likely just keep growing stronger. Heredity and the suped-up Net over the Sanctuary could mean we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg regarding what they’re capable of.
You’ve seen what they can do up close and personal.
That day at the Library could have gone much worse.
What if Sunny hadn’t recognised Riordan as family?
What if she’d just lashed out? The fallout would be indescribable.
The entire Sanctuary impacted. The McKenzie family would be inconsolable.
And Nell would undoubtedly be crippled by guilt for pretty much forever.
And what sort of legacy would Sunny grow up with?
And what about Asher’s antics? You don’t think I haven’t heard about Uncle Gunther losing a few digits?
That’s okay, Gunn is a demi-god, he can regrow shit.
But what if Asher targets someone else, or one of the other babies?
It’s bad enough Nico was caught in the crossfire and got a dancing fairy wooden figurine to the back.
And he’s still paying the price, what with the complications and everything. ”
“Excuse me? There were complications during the surgery to remove it?” Oh Heavens Above.
Why had no one said anything? Oh, of course, the family still thought she and Nico were an item and that Gigi would know all about it.
No wonder they’d all been asking about his health. “Is he okay? Where is he now?”
Ah, planting seeds, you had to be careful when doing so, didn’t want to overplay her hand. Darcy shrugging in disinterest, taking a sip of whiskey.
“Darcy!”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“He’s one of your secret liaison deputies for a start. Injured under your watch.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s fine. Last I heard he’s holed up on his boat, recuperating, probably taking some me time, reassessing his life choices and all that crap.
All I’m saying is, if you’re not fast enough to get out of the way of a flying fairy figurine fired from a makeshift cannon, cobbled together by a seven month old, then maybe it’s time to get out of the espionage game. ”
Nico was on his boat? No wonder the family had been asking after his whereabouts.
She’d thought they’d been making sly digs, trying to get all the dirt on her and Nico, but her family had been genuinely enquiring after his well-being.
“You’re the one who press ganged the two of us into the spy game in the first place.
Don’t you feel any remorse? Any responsibility? ”
Sighing, Darcy searched deeply for the corresponding emotions Gigi was enquiring after, but came up blank. “No.”
“He could be in serious pain. Maybe there’s permanent damage.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. It was just a little bit of blood loss, and a corresponding dip in blood pressure.
It wasn’t like he died on the table or anything.
” All true, Darcy had read the surgical transcripts.
The surgeon had had to request more gauze and Nico’s blood pressure had dropped two minor points at one stage.
But see, the best way to manipulate people, Darcy had always found, was to use the truth, and kind of suggest that she was lying her ass off.
Nico had almost died on the operating table? Suddenly Gigi felt faint, quickly taking a big gulp of whiskey, yikes, at least the burn helped negate the sudden queasiness assailing her.
“I really don’t know why you’re acting all… hyper about it. You guys only partnered up to help identify more deities involved in this world ending plot. That fake relationship you used as cover was only pretence, wasn’t it?” Tap. Tap. Darcy kept slowly methodically tapping the side of her glass.
“Yes. Yes. Of course it was.”
“Although, I presume the fucking was real.”
Gigi tried her very best not to wince. Of course Darcy knew about her and Nico hooking up.
She’d been there in Florence, knew they’d shared a bed.
Thankfully, Darcy wasn’t a gossip, mainly because she didn’t care.
“I really don’t want to talk about it.” There, that should end that conversation, new topic please.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am. Usually when one of you lot is heart-broken then—”
“I’m not heart-broken!” Okay, that came out a little high-pitched and defensive. “I’m not.”
“Cool.” Darcy shrugged her shoulders infinitesimally, looking nothing but disinterested, that finger of hers though, tap, tap against the side of her glass.
Crap, knowing Darcy she was testing out some type of new torture technique. Gigi would not mention it… she wouldn’t. “And will you stop tapping that bloody glass in time with Nico’s heartbeat.”
Ceasing the tapping, Darcy made the effort to scowl slightly, and the award goes to.
“Nico’s heartbeat? Why in the hell would I be tapping that out?
This is my annoying tight assed honey of a meld mate’s heartbeat.
Slow and steady, except when he’s being mauled by our female relatives and having his t-shirt ripped off. ”
“Oh, well…” Gigi didn’t know what to say, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Do you hear Nico’s heartbeat?”
“No. Yes. Maybe.” Did she? Even now? Frantically taking another gulp of whiskey. That soft rhythmic beat. It was so ridiculous, but it was like she heard that reassuring thud, thud, via her soul. So stupid.
Hold on, maybe the beat had nothing to do with Nico. Maybe somehow Hathor had gotten her hooks in, despite saying Gigi was impervious to her machinations. “Have I been cursed?”
“Yes. Finally. That’s the word. Cursed. Thank you.
Being in love, so sappy. Falling in love, gah, gag me with a chopstick.
Cursed by love. I am so using that.” Darcy placed her still pretty much full glass down on a nearby coffee table and made as if to get to her feet.
“Well, that’s everything, you’re all caught up.
What’s with that look on your face?” Easing back down, her reluctance wasn’t fake.
“You knew you were in love with him, right?”
“Yes.” The word barely above a whisper. “But I don’t know what to do about it? He doesn’t even believe in love. And I’m not going to keep sleeping with him, when I’m in love and he’s not. That’s just sad, right?”
“See, and that’s why Hathor couldn’t touch you. You know what you deserve, and you won’t settle for anything less. Go you. And you definitely don’t want to be with such a blatant liar.”
“Liar?”
“Doesn’t believe in love? Please, if anyone is a card carrying member of the beating bleeding heart brigade, it’s Nico Yanez.
I mean, you don’t drag your mentally unbalanced brother around for ten years trying to find a cure for him if you aren’t capable of love.
Or travel back in time five hundred years in search of your kid sister, risking everything.
Sure, he had a bad break-up. But whose ex hasn’t turned out to be a half hybrid jaguar creature in service to a human sacrificing power hungry asshole?
Been there, have the commemorative t-shirt. ”
“It was a little more than a bad break up. She killed his parents and everyone else on that boat, they were his family.”
“And he snapped her neck. In many circles they call that closure. He didn’t get all sappy and sobby over it.
Even better, he didn’t become a manwhore and hold all women accountable for the actions of one.
Okay, it’s a little weird he hasn’t dated since.
But I think I’d be a little wary and picky too if my last love turned out to be a lying, conniving, half human, who’d thrown in with a Cabal of Deities to rule the Earth and enslave all the survivors. ”
Sometimes when Darcy spoke, it was better to tune her out, otherwise nightmares would be pretty much guaranteed. “He has major trust issues.”
“You’re one to talk. What about all the little traps you set.”
“Me? I do not set traps, do I?”
“Please. You so love playing with their tiny male minds, respect by the way. Dropping oh so casually into conversation how many doctorates you have. That you’re an Elemental Mage.
All your charity work. And that you own your own business.
Building it up single handedly. Expounding on all your world domination plans for your empire.
And how you’re working towards getting your masters belt in a multitude of martial arts. ”
“Oh, my Goddess, I’m an asshole braggart?”
“Please, if a man had achieved everything you have by your age, he’d be singing his own praises from the top of every mountain.
No, you’re exceedingly matter of fact about your achievements.
Which just pounds many of those weak willed jealous idiots egos into dust. What about Nico?
How did he react to the fabulousness that was you as you dropped all your little bombs? ”
“Once we got over his over-protective macho big brother act, he was full of praise and very supportive.”
“Sounds like just the type of guy who’ll always have your back.
” Darcy rose, smoothing down her skirt, noticing for the first time the splatter of blood on her t-shirt.
It reminded her of the Rorschach tests she’d done ad nauseum in her early childhood.
Hmmm, did that look like someone’s head exploding, or someone being disembowelled? Either way, cool.
She had things to do and places to be, problem was that off key twanging in her web was still riffing away, threatening to give Darcy a headache.
She hated matchmaking. Everything about the endeavour was just so emotional.
Emotions were stupid, beyond stupid. Look what had happened to her when she acknowledged them, melded and mated, it was embarrassing, and yet wonderful. And damn it, she wanted that for Gigi.
“You know. Maybe he’s not just holed up on that boat of his recuperating.
Maybe he’s busy getting it seaworthy. Perhaps the call of the treasure hunting life has proven too strong.
Pity, I know the Great-Greats will miss drooling over his tight ass.
Hey, you could cater the bon voyage party. Small solace, but ker-ching, right?”
“You’re leaving?”
“I have a surly Valkyrie and a know-it-all Goddess to wrangle into doing my bidding.” Darcy was about to do one of her trademark exits, all sass and snap but something caught her eye, holding her attention. Now that was weird. “What the hell is that dress doing to Canary?”
“Cuddling?”
“Hah, right. If I were you I would definitely be wiping down that counter with bleach once they’ve finished… cuddling.” And with that Darcy twirled, skirt snapping outwards, heading for Gigi’s Transportal.
Following Darcy’s departure Gigi stared out the large picture window at the sparkling blue seas and the seagulls riding the wind currents overhead.
Her apartment suddenly quiet and very empty.
And this… this was going to be her life, her very long life, sitting here alone in her apartment, with nothing but her growing Chocolate and Cookie Empire to keep her warm at nights.
Merciful Lady, even her magical construct pet poison testing bunny and her steel wool fugly bridesmaid dress would be out performing her in the sex stakes. Because, if she couldn’t have Nico Yanez, and she really, really wanted him, then there wouldn’t be anyone else for her, ever.
Nico… was well Nico. It had been so easy with him. Talking about nothing and everything. Sharing cooking duties. Testing out new recipes together. Squabbling over clean up duty. Planning catering events. And snuggling into all that heated hardness of him following a bout of mind blowing sex.
And he got her, all of her. One time, during sex, he’d mumbled a compliment about her marketing skills, her intelligence, and how gorgeous her ass was, all in one breath. Gigi had never come so hard in her life.
And she felt the same way about him. Yes, he was gorgeous. But she admired his strength of will, his determination to protect everyone around him, and Nico’s ability to deal with her eccentric family, without hurting their feelings. Plus, bonus, he genuinely appeared to care about them.
She was a goner, it was official. Nico Yanez was and would be forever the only man for her.
But he didn’t believe in love. Though, yes, Darcy did have a strong argument, he loved his siblings, and if he was capable of loving them, then maybe, he might fall for her.
No fall, was the wrong word, cursed by love, but in a very good way.
Was she really going to do this? Confront him?
Try and convince him to keep seeing her?
She had to try, even if he was leaving the Sanctuary to return to his former treasure hunting career, they could work something out.
Meet up in pre-arranged Ports. But if she didn’t try, then she would be the one cursed by a broken heart until the day she died.
First, though, Gigi had to shower, find the perfect outfit, and maybe drink a gallon of coffee, that whiskey had gone straight to her head.