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That makes sense. Time traveling, fire magic, superhuman abilities, and bodily manipulation. When she did come into her full powers, she would be magnificent. And she had made earthquakes happen a couple of times, too. Before I could ask Oisín for his opinion on that, Diana and her family came back to the table.
“Nonna has some ideas on finding Dad Number One,” Diana announced.
Ha, neither of her Dads are number one. I wouldn’t even give them the courtesy of calling them number twos,Mal linked me. Ha, that was ashittyjoke…
Everyone turned their attention to Nonna. She leaned forward, commanding attention much like her granddaughter did. She reminded me of a sterner version of 80s Cher, with her curly black hair and badass Brooklyn attitude.
“Diana said that Damon keeps finding her using blood magic. I say you all start there. If that doesn’t work, you can find Diana and Oisín’s other siblings. I’m sure they’re out there somewhere, and he had to have kept in touch with at least one. Every parent has a favorite child,” she whipped around to Angie and Diana’s surprised faces, “Except me. I love all my children, and grandchildren, equally.”
“Those are good places to start. Thanks, Nonna,” Desmond said, topping off everyone’s glass of wine and killing the bottle.
“I could use Diana, Michael, or Oisín’s energy to help me get a vision or flashback of Lucifer,” Azazel said. “That’s a safer plan, although not an entirely accurate one.”
“I have an idea, too. I think we need to figure out when the last time Lucifer was seen publicly was, or find out from Michael when they spent time together last. Then I can time-hop us there and explain to him, in just enough detail that it doesn’t change the timeline, that he has to meet us in present day, at Fortuna’s Garden,” she said.
“Absolutely not,” Desmond and Bash said in unison.
“Diana, way too much can go wrong, with the timeline and your safety,” Desmond said. “Your father is unpredictable and may not believe us.”
“Agreed,” Bash growled. “I’m already worried sick about you, and I don’t need this on top of it.”
She could hop back in time and never return again. She’d be trapped. Can you imagine her surviving in ancient Greece? They’d eat her alive,Voice cackled.
“No. You could get stuck in the wrong time period. Not every time period was safe for women. I should know, since I came from one,” I offered.
“I don’t think that should be our first plan, and I see where Desmond, Bash, and Ares are coming from,” Azazel said. “But I think if we run out of options, there are ways to arrange your idea so it’s less dangerous and keeps the timeline intact. Let’s put a pin in it and see what happens.”
“Agreed. Let’s exhaust every option possible before we even think about doing that,” Mal said. “It’s a great idea, princess, but you being in one piece is more important.”
“Okay,” she huffed, rolling her eyes. “It’s a solid plan, though, if everything else fails and we’re shit out of luck.”
“Language at the table,” Nonna reprimanded her. She pointed her salad-filled fork at her granddaughter, with adon’t fuck with me, fellaslook on her face I had only ever seen on my own mother. “I don’t care what you say in your own home with your men, but the table is family time.”
“Yeah, Di. Family time,” Charlie sassed.
“Especially since our meals together are going to be limited. I’m leaving for Italy at the end of the week,” she announced as her glance swept down the table. She took a sip of her wine, and continued. “Diana, I don’t want you or Angie worried about me while you’re trying to save the world. I have family and friends there who can keep me safe.”
“That was something I planned on bringing up with you after dinner tonight. Things are going to get ugly sooner rather than later, and I want to make sure you’re safe. Diana cares about you so much…” Desmond said to Nonna. He got up and sat in the empty chair next to Diana. Her eyes welled, and I could tell she was about to burst into tears. “Red is a psychopath, and he plays dirty. I wouldn’t put it past him to get to you via your family. Nonna going into hiding is in her best interest.”
“She can always stay with my cousin, Nostra,” Judas added. “His compound in the Italian Alps is locked down like Fort Knox, and he can give us updates every day. You can even use our enchanted mirrors. We haven’t used them since FaceTime and Zoom were invented, but they work the same way. If you’re both standing in front of them, you can see each other and talk. It’s encrypted too, so only you two are privy to what you’re saying.”
“Little Goddess, I love having your nonna here with us, but I think she’d be safer in Italy,” I added. “And she would be with her people, surrounded by pasta and prosciutto…and cheese, wine, and fun little donkeys she can ride. Italian people have all the good food.”
“Ma, I support your decision,” Angie said. “But you better talk to us every day. If not, I’ll fly over there and find you!”
Diana gave Nonna a weak smile. Both she and Angie hugged her, and the sight sent a pang of pain through the mend in my heart.I wish my family felt that way about me.
“Don’t act like it’s my funeral. You still have a few more days left with me. I want to help you with the blood magic ritual. I’m going to get a good night’s sleep so I’m fresh and ready for the morning,” Nonna announced before she said goodnight to her girls and left the table.
“Yeah, I am, too. It’s late,” Diana murmured.
“I’ll walk you to bed,” I said as I picked Diana up bridal style and took us toward our suite. I had the feeling she needed me, and I would always be there for my Little Goddess, no matter what.
Chapter 21
I would usually hate being carried like a fucking doll, but Ares’ strong arms were the only thing holding me together. As soon as we got to the suite, I broke down, sobbing so hard I thought I was going to forge a river that would wash us away. We’d end up like those stupid people who go tubing and get carried too far downstream and end up getting lost in the woods.
Ares sat us down on my bed, cradling me against his chest on his lap. “Shhhh, it’s going to be okay,” he cooed as he ran his fingers through my hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”
