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The five gods look around nervously, their eyes darting to one another. My father scrubs the back of his neck before explaining.
“We honestly don’t know. There isn’t a specific time I can think back to where we were created or born. Almost as though the fates imbued us with both our powers and memories already established.” My father explains, his gaze softening as he takes me in. “Perhaps there is a power higher than even us that is pulling all of our strings like puppets, but if so, I haven’t met them.”
My skin tingles, and I feel almost overwhelmed with this new information. I’m not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t that. A chill crawls up my spine at the thought that even these powerful gods were created by someone—Someone with enough power to imbue them with this magnitude of power that allowed them to alter the course of other realms.
My father smoothes a hand over his brow, attempting to straighten the now seemingly permanent wrinkle there. He moves his gaze over the men before his glare settles on Adrian.
“Why couldn’t you just leave everything alone? I had a plan. The events were unfolding exactly as I planned. Why did you have to go and fuck everything up?” He berates Adrian, laying into him, allowing him to take the brunt of his frustration. Even though it wasn’t his fault, it could’ve been any other god that brought me to the academy on that day.
I open my mouth, about to tell my father just that when Adrian interjects, “What was I supposed to do? What would you have done in my situation? Not only am I tasked with finding those with godly powers, but she’s my mate. Did you really expect me to walk away from my mate? Would you have?” Adrian bristles, his voice rising with every word he utters. The outburst shocks me at first. Having previously taken all of the words hurled at him from my father, his top finally burst.
“No, I wouldn’t.” The words come out so softly, I’m unsure he meant for anyone else to hear him.
My heart leaps as Adrian’s words finally register. At him calling me his mate. Sparking a flicker of hope in my chest. Hope that I didn’t completely fuck everything up. Hope that maybe we can get back to where we were.
Maybe we can build something even better, now that my scared little chicken heart finally experienced what it felt to lose one of them. That I’ve finally admitted to myself that I can’t go back to who I was.
These four gods, despite only knowing them a few short weeks, have irrevocably changed me. I can’t go back to the old Liv. The one that went off partying every weekend. The one that hooked up with random guys. Ghosting any that got too close as a defensive mechanism. Earlier at the resort was proof of that.
My brows knit together, unsure whether I should go to Adrian at this moment. The words between us feel so fresh, so raw. I wiggle my toes in my sandals, about to make a move when he makes the decision for me. Stomping off into the kitchen without a backward glance. Freezing my footsteps before I can even take a step.
I see him pause just within earshot. Needing to hear the rest of the conversation but not wanting to take the chance of me coming to him. I purse my lips, reminding myself that it was my own actions that led to this, despite the sting of rejection I feel, the pain triggering my walls to inch up.
“If only you had just opened that letter.” I hear my father mutter under his breath. I tilt my head, looking at him sideways. Not having a clue what he’s talking about.
“Letter?” My mind struggles to remember that day, the events jumbled up with the life-altering news I received.
My father opens his palm, and an envelope appears a moment later. The beach club logo is clearly displayed on the front. I inspect the paper, the surface wrinkled, as though someone crumpled it in their fist and later smoothed it back out. I narrow my eyes on the page and reach out to accept it—the memory coming back to me as I feel its weight in my palm.
I rip open the golden embossed seal stuck to the back, a folded paper tucked within. My fingers wrap around the thick page, sliding it out. The moment it’s free from the envelope, a sheen of golden magic washes over me, coating me from head to toe.
“It’s a protection charm. It was meant to shield you and your powers.” My father explains. “It won’t do anything now that your powers are activated,” he adds. I look up to see Mateo mid-step, his enraged gaze trained on my father.
I open the page reading the words scrawled on the page,
Dear Olivia,
Happy twentieth birthday. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to celebrate with you. Some buffoon at the office insisted he had an urgent matter that couldn’t wait. I will make it up to you, I promise. Thank you for being the best daughter a father could ever ask for.
Love,
Dad
I look at the buffoon in question, and I tuck away the paper before he can see. Knowing it would only serve to further instigate the two adversaries.
My mind moves to the day of my twentieth birthday. So many events added up to lead me to this fate. If Mateo had chosen a different day, my father would have been there himself. He likely would have cast the same charm on me, and I would’ve been completely unaware. I may never have met these four gods if he was there to shield me from Adrian the moment he sensed his presence.
Even if I had opened the letter, I might not have met Adrian, may not have been brought to this academy, discovering my true heritage, my true purpose. I felt so different when I first got my powers. Like a missing piece had been found. I almost missed out on that. On the feeling of being complete. On meeting these guys or gods that have flipped my universe upside down.
“I won’t let them use my daughter as a chess piece, and the same goes for you.”
The conversation snaps back into focus at my father’s words. Obviously missing some part while lost in my thoughts. I blink, finding my dad staring at Mateo pointedly. His look sends a clear warning.
“Trust me, I wish she wasn’t related to you, you pompous prick.” Mateo laughs scornfully. I huff out an indignant breath at the two—squabbling like toddlers. I thought we had moved past this. “Now I see where she gets her stubbornness from.” Mateo quips. I bristle at the slight, stepping up to stand at my father’s side.
“That’s rich coming from you. Mister throws knives around the classroom and doesn’t understand why I wouldn’t want you to come back.” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest in defiance.
“Well, you lot better fill me in on every detail of the Ascension, so I’m prepared to stand against those vultures.” My dad eyes them expectantly, quirking a brow. He breaks the building tension. Well, for me at least, Mateo is clearly amused by my sudden outburst, looking nowhere near as irked as I feel.
Before anyone can respond, a crash sounds at the door. Adrian jogs back into the sitting room, confirming my suspicions that he remained just within earshot. The door whips open. The thick carved wood slamming against the wall sending an echoing bang throughout the room.
From this angle, all I can make out is a male figure before the guys all step in front of me, shielding me from the potential threat. I huff out a breath of annoyance and peer around Maximus’ shoulder, as is now becoming customary.
“Sir, they’re here.” A male voice sounds, his form still shrouded in shadows.
