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Fate stared at the twinkling sky. The beauty ofit was not what held her attention, instead she watched her daughter. Her fingers tightened on the balustrade when she felt a movement behind her.
“You are not allowed in my home,” Fate warned him.
Odin moved to stand by Fate, deliberately blocking the sky with his height. A finger reached out and traced an imaginary line from her throat down her breastbone, left bare from the cleavage of her gown.
“You’re looking especially beautiful tonight.” His large hand reachedout again, this time cupping the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to his muscular body.
Fate felt dwarfed by his size, fighting against the intimidation that he was trying to instill within her. Stiffening her body, she jerked away from him, moving a distance away to resume her study of the sky.
“I was informed of Cara’s return home.”Out of the corner of her eye, Fate saw him lean casually against the balustrade, his arms crossed casually across his chest.
“Our bargain will not be met until all of my daughters are home.” Fate was well aware of why Odin had decided to show up at her palace.
Odin grinned at Fate’s tart reply. “Will they also have a tag-along?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Cara is soon to be wed to a demi-God. Did none of the Gods meet with your approval?”
Fate angrily took a step toward him. “Are you suggesting that I endangered my daughters to find them husbands?”
Laugher erupted, turning his sensual face almost boyish with the charm of the sound. “Not at all, but I am certain that you would take advantage of the situation to find them husbands you deem appropriate.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Now, now. Don’t bring my brother into this.”
Fate narrowed her eyes, givingthe buffoon a look that any sensible God would take as a warning. No one had ever said that Odin was a genius, however. She would have her revenge on his clumsy attempt at humor. She would win in their battle of wills. Odin was never going to get in her panties ever again, even if she had to fight her own desires to thwart him.
“Your brother would never be smart enough to kidnap my daughters.” As the words left her mouth, an idea formed that she should have thought of earlier—much earlier.
“Why are you here, Odin?”
Odin shrugged, remaining silent.
“Your brother wouldn’t take my daughters, but he might know who did.” Fate looked at his impassive face. “You came here to help me?” Fate could not keep the incredulity out of her voice.
Once again, Odin moved near her, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I am becoming impatient to have you again. I have no problem in giving you my help to achieve my own goal.”
Fate turned around, a faint blush coming to her cheeks. She had agreed to spend a night in his bed in payment for his aid in getting her son, Thor, to agree to speak with her.
“That sounds more like the Odin I know.” Slapping his hand away, Fate glided away from him, moving towards the doorway.
“And love.” His whisper followed her inside. For all his power, Odin was not permitted inside her home without her or Mother’s approval. Her anger at Odin’s duplicity had angered her into giving Fate the added protection of keeping him at bay.
Fate wearily climbed the steps to her room, worry and fatigue forcing her to rest to gather her strength. As she passed Cara’s bedroom, she heard her daughter’s laughter and a male groan in response. Smiling, Fate continued to her room, softly closing the door behind her.
Dismissing her waiting servants, she removed her gown then took a relaxing bath in privatebefore sliding between the silk sheets of her bed.
There was no laughter in her rooms, no male presence, no one to lighten theburden she carried on her shoulders of not only her daughters’ lives but of billions of others. Loneliness filled her chest, and tears she no longer knew how to shed filled her eyes as she turned on her side to gaze outside her balcony doors to the sky that waited once again for her attention. Always waiting…
Chapter 5
Broni danced on the stage, thinking vengefully that she hoped her enemies would find her. Dee and Layla danced beside her tonight as the men yelled vulgarities at them.
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t lift her sword to save not one in the room. Well, except for Dee, Nikki, and Becca. Maybe Layla. Then the woman threw her a hate-filled look and Broni crossed her off the short list of those she would try to save. She hoped whoever was after her would deal with Layla first, then Tank. It was a close tie for who she despised most.
Rhys staggered drunkenly to the stage. She had known she had seared open his pain today, but that didn’t ease the agony in her gut when he motioned Layla to him.
