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“I think the problem is morewhyhis feet were pointed the wrong way. My invention works as intended; it just can’t account for people being clotheslined,” Tink grumbles.
“Good as new, Essos.” Callie lets him go, and he flexes his arm.
“Until the next thing.”
“Keep tinkering,” I joke, and Tink gives me a flat look that eventually teases into a smile.
“Where is Tink these days?”I ask, poking at the material of the vest.
“He’s…otherwise occupied, but I…” Essos looks away from me.
I grab his face and turn him to look at me. “You what?”
He blows out a breath before meeting my gaze. “I had him make you a few impenetrable garments. We’re going to the mortal realm, where there are actual zombies. I’m not going to bring you there to be an extra on the set ofThe Walking Dead. What do you even want from the mortals?”
“I want to see what damage is being done. I want to see how we can help. Cat wants to go and see her family. I want to see mine.”
“Oh, Daphne. Your parents are safe. I moved them from the Underworld the night of the Calling Ball.”
Embarrassed to admit I wasn’t even thinking about those parents—my biological ones—I blush. “I meant Phil and Melinda. They’re the closest thing I had to parents when I was a mortal.”
Now Essos is blushing. “Of course. Will Zara be joining us as well?”
“Yes.”
“Right. We should get this over with before I change my mind.”
* * *
When I walkinto the dining room, Cat is stuffing a croissant in her mouth. Xavier is standing close to her like they might have actually been talking before I entered. His stormy blue eyes flick to me and my husband, who is right on my heels.
They are not alone, not by a longshot, and I shouldn’t be surprised that our friends have rallied around us to make this journey. Zara is with Helene, while Kai, Dion, and Finn study the weapons on the table. Most surprising is Cassius, who is also surveying the weapons. He selects a small dagger and hurls it in my direction. Halfway to me I form it into a rose, and it drops to the ground.
“Try that again, and I’ll make it so you can never look in a mirror again,” Essos tells him with deadly calm.
“Why? Going to fuck my face up that badly?” Cassius challenges. “Relax. I was just testing her reflexes. We need to know if, as a born-again goddess, she’s more vulnerable or less.”
Xavier watches the exchange with interest, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“No, fuckface, I’ll make it so you’re unable to see your reflection, always wondering if there’s something stuck in your teeth. I wonder if that will make the God of Vanity wither away…”
Cassius straightens from where he was leaning against the table. “You couldn’t possibly do that.”
“I’m a child of the God and Goddess Supreme. My siblings and I all have untold powers. Is that something you really want to test?”
The room around us is silent as they stare each other down. Perhaps working with my ex is a little more than Essos can bear.
“Enough. If we’re going to do this, we should go now,” Xavier says. He reaches for Cat but seems to think better of it, placing his hand in his pocket to try to cover up the move. Cat bites her lip and looks around at the group. I can watch the internal struggle play out on her face. After yesterday, I expect her to come with Essos and me, but instead, she steps into Xavier’s arms. Surprise lights on his face, and his arms fold around her quickly, like he won’t let this chance pass him by.
“Aren’t we going to talk about our plan?” I ask, looking up at Essos, and he shakes his head.
“No, because if we talk about this, I’m going to change my mind. I’m trying to remain a man of my word, but you’re making it exceedingly difficult.”
“We spoke last night,” Finn tells me with a playful grin. “After someone went to sleep. We’re going to divide and conquer. Half to Cat’s family and the other half to Zara’s. Daph and Essos to her parents.”
“Absolutely not.” I make myself a little breakfast sandwich, heaping eggs on top of a sausage patty and an English muffin. “In every horror movie, whenever anything goes wrong, it’s because they decided to separate. I’m not interested in one of you turning into the red shirt of this operation. We stay together, all of us. Pick where we start, but being apart is not an option.” I inject as much finality into my tone as I can before taking a savage bite of my food.
“We’ll start at Zara’s house then,” Helene says.
