Even if it's Honey.Especially if it’s Honey.
Charlaine’s eyes slide away and then she sighs. “If she didn’t marry him then what?”
We’re both silent. I turn over her question while Charlaine’s eyes drop to the computer screen and she starts to type away. “If you’re going to go to that party you better go prepared, because you know he’s not going to just let you walk in there and take her.”
Charlaine’s right. The party is just another way to draw me out. Force a meeting between Honey and me. He wants to see what we’ll do when we’re in the same space again and he wants to be the one to control it when it happens. It’s inevitable that we’ll meet, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon. I don’t like that it’s going to be on Zeus’ terms, but the invitation was sent to me purposefully.
There’s intent behind him bringing me back to the Cairn this soon. I want to know what it is.
I pull my phone out when it buzzes. It’s a message from Addie. She’s already lined up a suit and has Taylor at the ready for whatever else I’ll need. The party isn’t for another week. That’s plenty of time to iron out the details of what will happen once I’ve thought this through. I want to go through the layout of the club, think over the space and how it can be used against me. But also where I’ll be able to get Honey alone.
“Even if she did marry him, I’ll deal with it,” I say, because it’s true. Even if she’s wearing that fucker’s ring, I’ll handle it. A marriage to Zeus would be selling herself to the devil, but not even that can keep her from me.
Not when her soul belongs to me.
CHAPTERSEVEN
HONEY
It’s been a week. Seven days and seven nights, or very nearly. This will be the seventh night that I’ve been in Zeus’ world. It’s lonely, cold and I know that I don’t belong. Everyone I speak to tells me yes, of course, in a hushed tone and rushes to do what I ask.
They memorize my preferences when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner. If I pick up a book in the library there are ten more just like it waiting for me in my room, and god, my room. It’s always full to the brim with roses. Blooming and not nearly opened. I don’t mind the roses, those are fine because they bring life into my world. The only time I leave the Cairn is to go dress shopping and that surprises me.
I would have thought Zeus would have someone come to fit me for a dress, but when he leads me out of the club I follow eagerly. It’s early morning outside when we leave, the air is still fresh and cool, it’s crisp on my face and I inhale eagerly.
I turn my face up to the sky and soak in the rising sun as we make our way to the car. I slow my steps, wanting to drag out each and every second of freedom until I hear Zeus’ chuckle. When I open my eyes, he’s watching me. A hand on the shiny black BMW we are about to get into.
I flush at being caught enjoying the morning, but when I open my mouth to speak he beats me to it. “I’ll make sure to bring you up top more often,” he says.
I close my mouth, because it hasn’t occurred to me that I’ve been solely existing within the walls of the club for a week. Well, not really anyway. Every day that passes is just another blur. I haven’t even tried to leave, because the ache inside of me where Law once was, has only grown in size and severity. It cuts me deep, makes me ache to my bones and I don’t quite know what to do with that pain yet.
Then there is the little matter that I am Zeus’ daughter. I definitely have zero idea of what to do with that knowledge. If he wants me near, he’ll make it so, which is reason enough to stick close to Zeus. Or that’s what I tell myself. The cowardly part of me, the one that is scared to death that Law will be waiting for me at my apartment, is louder.
If I leave the Cairn I am putting myself back in play. I’ll have to stick to the decision that I made a week ago. I’ll have to keep away from Law and I don’t think I have that in me.
There are only so many times you can be weak without losing your taste for it. I had been strong enough to leave Christian, but even that had taken time to do. But Law?
Leaving him is like cutting out my heart. I’d done it, but only just barely. The man had taken me on as a job to gain the power and influence of the club and I’d almost begged him to take me with him.
I’d almost left with him when he’d asked me to and the proof of what our relationship was had been laid bare to me. How can I stay away from him when it is just the two of us?
I don’t think I’ll be able to, so I stay with Zeus. He’ll make the decision for me, or at least, his presence will. We drive to a designer store, the higher end boutique type with soft white lights and sales people that dress impeccably and serve you champagne while you shop.
I’d been in this type of store with Law before, but hadn’t felt comfortable then. I still don’t now, not with Zeus perusing the store like he owns it.
“We need something for my daughter,” he says, gesturing to me with a lazy flick of his hand. “She has a birthday tonight. Formal event. Nothing pink.”
The staff leap into action, rushing forward to take my measurements but I am too stunned to really say anything when they start speaking to me. Mostly because of what Zeus has said.
His daughter.
That is too new for me to be able to swallow as easily as he is able to say it but then there is the other thing. My birthday.
My birthday is in September.
“You look just like your father. Such a beautiful family,” the woman taking my measurements tells me with a bright smile.
“A birthday is such fun. How old are you turning?”
