The Daughter Trilogy Bundle

by C. M. Owens

  Tad's eyes dance excitedly as he stares me up and down, and I try to fight the urge to vomit.

  "You're far too hot to be from around here," he gushes.

  Sharon elbows him in the ribs, growling her disapproval, and I just roll my eyes at the crude and inappropriate remark.

  Devin walks back over like my real-life hero. No doubt he's been listening in and saw my discomfort. He snakes his arm around my waist while kissing me on top of the head.

  "Sorry it took so long," he says with a menacing smirk, and then he turns to face the gaping mouth of Sharon as she stares with a stupefied and dumbfounded gaze at the beautiful man in love with me. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met," he says with such an innocent tone.

  "I'm… uh… Sharon," she stutters, and she completely forgets to mention Tad.

  "I'm Devin Cole, Adisia's fiancé."

  I've never been happier to rub that in someone's face. I'm deriving the most surreal joy from her gaping disbelief.

  "Oh. I didn't know she was engaged," Sharon mumbles while staring dreamily at my man.

  "Join the crowd," Jake gripes as his eyes narrow at me.

  Sharon giggles in her awkward fashion, and Tad grows restless behind his drooling wife.

  "That's Tad, her husband," I say to mock her slightly.

  She doesn't even acknowledge him as he extends his hand to shake Devin's. I snuggle into Devin, and her eyes stay locked against him as if she's planning their future.

  "I think we should get back to our evening, but it was nice meeting someone who knows Adisia," Devin says while trying to escape her family-planning eyes.

  "You, it's nice to meet too. I mean, it's nice to meet you, too," she stammers foolishly.

  Devin tugs at me, and I willingly leave behind my arch nemesis and her stalker eyes.

  "I don't know why I thought I could leave you unattended for a moment," he teases.

  "Thank you for returning when you did," I utter with exasperation.

  He brushes my hair from my cheek, and his lips brush against mine with such a sweet taste.

  "I love making you smile like that," he says as his thumb rubs over my grinning lips.

  "I love that you love it," I breathe.

  He smiles his pleased grin, but I can still see something in his eyes burning with angst.

  "What's wrong? Are you still upset about not seeing Jake?" I question.

  He tightens his lips before forcing a half smile.

  "Mom said the jet is ready now," he murmurs as he avoids answering my question.

  I sigh a little as I look over to my happy, naïve, and completely mortal brother who has gone back to trying to take home Little Miss Blond.

  He's going to have to hide to stay alive, and I'm going to have to force him to do it. He'll lose his job and possibly his apartment, and he won't even know why he did it.

  "I guess it's now or never," I grumble.

  "I'll get him a better job, a better home, and anything else he loses in transition," Devin assures, apparently reading my mind. He really does know me so well.

  I smile slightly at my wonderful, thoughtful man who is so intent on making my anxiety fade.

  "I thought you couldn't see me. How is it you know my worries?"

  He leans over and kisses me so lightly, and I feel the sincerity of his love for me trickling against my lips.

  "I can't see you, but I know you. I know how you think and how you worry. I see your eyes droop when you have more on your mind than you wish to share, and a tiny frown always appears. I hate seeing that frown. You don't have to worry about anything materialistic in this world, so please don't," he murmurs so genuinely.

  I feel my mouth turning up in a smile as my eyes stare adoringly into his. I still find him too perfect to be real. I'm so entranced, obsessed, and in love with him.

  "That's better," he utters with a smirk playing on his lips as his thumb strokes my smile.

  "That's usually the effect you have on me," I sizzle out with more seduction than I had meant to.

  His lips waste no time pressing against mine, and I feel his breath dancing with mine as his devilish tongue enters my mouth.

  My hands clasp against the back of his neck, pulling him closer, deeper into the kiss. He grips my sides and my insides begin throbbing and begging for this to spin out of control.

  "Wow. You two really know how to draw a bar's attention," Jake chuckles.

  I look up to see every woman ready to throw themselves at Devin, and the eyes of every man teeming with vicious desire for me.

  "Fuck," Devin whispers.

  "What?" I ask softly.

  "I wasn't thinking. Your scent builds when you feel tempted. The mortals don't know to deal with it because it's a seductive rush like they've never felt."

  "Oh gross. Thank goodness it's not affecting Jake." I grimace.

  "He has spent years as your brother, and he has been able to acclimate to you, but his affections are heightened in a brotherly nature, which is what is prompting his over protectiveness. We need to hurry up and get out of here before something happens," Devin explains.

  Then I feel something inside me twisting and turning. My body begins losing all of its energy as the two competing entities inside me struggle for power and drain me of my own life. My body goes heavy and limp from the sudden exhausting war raging within.

  I begin to drop, but Devin's arms clasp around me as he scoops me up bridal style and holds me to his body. Jake instantly starts laughing.

  "I knew she couldn't hold that much liquor. I guess it finally caught up with her."

  Devin's angst-ridden eyes stay focused on mine, and Hale rushes over to inspect me.

  "When did she start feeling weak?" the serious sun panics in a whisper.

  "Just now. She dropped the moment it hit," Devin says through strain, fighting to speak around the lump in his throat.

  "She needs to rest. I'll call Deidra and see if she can help us figure this out," Hale says as we start walking out.

  "Jake," I mumble.

  "I'm here, sis. I'll head out with you," he murmurs through his chuckles.

  He has no idea what is really going on, and he has no idea what might happen to me if I can't force one of these inner bitches to calm the fuck down and go back to sleep.

  Once we're outside, Jake halts before entering the SUV. He turns and an ominous grin spreads across his face. My hair stands up on end, and Devin's face pales.

  Jake's eyes are possessed, and I almost want to scream as I recognize that signature. He looks just like the crazies from the streets the night Devin and I had our first date.

  "The daughter of Aphrodite struggles to hold her balance. That's adorable and perfect," his voice says, but it's not him controlling his words.

  I almost cry as I see the swirls of darkness overcoming him, and I know I have to free him, but I'm so weak.

  "What do you want, Safina?" Devin asserts.

  Safina?

  Jake's brow arches in eerie surprise. "So you've learned my identity? Impressive. Did you think you could keep me locked away forever?"

  "That was our intention," Hale says while stepping up, seeming more like a strong, serious man than a horny teen.

  Jake smirks as his eyes connect with Hale's.

  "Well, if it isn't the sun who held me down while the more powerful entities entrapped me. Ironic how I've been searching all over for you and now here you are. What a fortunate gift," she snarls through my brother's mouth.

  "Here I am, but you're hiding behind a mortal. I wasn't ever hiding. How about you stop?" Hale taunts.

  Jake's eyes narrow as he steps forward and spits, "I'm not fucking hiding, you insolent speck."

  Hale smiles as if he's pleased with the fact he has roused her anger.

  "Could have fooled me. You've ensnared a mortal so you could speak to us. Why not address us in person if you're not ducking out like a coward?" he ridicules further.

  Jake smirks, and now more chills violently surge t
hrough me. Hale is trying to get her to release him by accusing her of being a coward, but something about this feels so wrong.

  "Oh, don't worry. You'll see me soon enough. Until then, let Aphrodite's bitch tell her brother goodbye," she snarks with Jake's voice.

  I scream as Jake pulls a knife from his pocket and holds it to his throat. Hale lunges forward to stop him, but Jake's hands release a power I've not seen.

  The black ashes spring forth and swirl around him, shielding him from the saving grace of my friends.

  I scream as the knife bears against his throat, and Jake's ominous smile spreads as the first bit of blood is drawn.

  I scramble to summon my remaining strength, and leap free from Devin's protective arms.

  "You want me. Not him. Please, just take me," I plead.

  "I never wanted you. It has always been him," Jake says as he points to Devin. "And I only need him to find and kill his precious titan mother."

  More blood falls as the knife bears down harder, and I feel the stirring Aphrodite fighting Asteria for the floor. My eyes flash green, and I yell at Jake.

  "Stop! You will put down that knife," my echoed voice commands.

  "You won't stop me," Jake snarls.

  I strain harder, but she's expecting my power this time, and she's come ready to fight my control. I'm so much weaker now that Asteria is wiggling free inside of me, but I force myself to be stronger.

  I see the hesitation in his hand, and his face shows his straining effort to mimic the face of the puppet master.

  "I said stop! Put it down!" I demand in a stronger voice, my strength building despite all the chaos inside of me.

  Jake's hand starts pulling the knife away from his throat, and the ashes show a weakened spot. Devin leaps through, and rips the knife from his hands.

  "No!" Jake screams, and Devin restrains him in a bear hug.

  I walk over to Jake's eyes and stare into them directly.

  "Stop. You're free," I shout, and I see the possession in his eyes changing to the form of my control.

  I almost cry when I see the successful transfer of power, and he drops limply in Devin's arms, completely unconscious.

  "Let's get him out of here," Devin whispers.

  I see a crowd of people that have congregated in front of the bar, and I nod as we all duck into the SUV. Devin gently rests Jake in the seat, propping him up against the door.

  "It wasn't like my vision. In my vision she was physically there," I murmur as Deacon cranks the car.

  "Your vision wasn't one of material. It was a warning of Safina's return," Hale explains.

  "Who the fuck is she?"

  Hale leans up to answer the question that has driving me crazy.

  "The daughter of Rhea. Rhea was wife to Kronos and the embodiment of hatred's fire. Everyone had always thought Rhea to be the embodiment of wisdom, and we all fucking trusted her. She was nothing more than a puppet master deceiving us for centuries.

  "We thought Kronos was the enemy, when really, he was just her slave. She was able to control an immortal's mind the way Safina can control a mortal's, but unlike Safina, Rhea could only hold one captive at a time.

  "Kronos was our leader, and an ideal target for her plan. We exerted all of our strength to kill him, which was the first war among our kind. We thought he was trying to enslave the mortals to worship us, and we thought he wanted to enslave us to do his bidding. It was never him though - it was always Rhea.

  "She sat back and laughed as we killed the only one alive capable of killing her. She wasn't strong enough to kill him by herself, so she just used him instead, and then let us carry out the dirty work.

  "Her daughter stood by her and aided her in her efforts. We quickly learned we didn't have the strength left to destroy either of them. We thought we were fucked, but Deidra found a way to entomb them in the volcanoes on the earth's surface.

  "We all worked together, and we finally captured the bitches. They've been held in the lava tombs ever since."

  "So is Rhea here, too?" I worry aloud.

  "No. If she was, the world would already be under fire. Safina's strong, but she's also calculated. Rhea is too powerful to give a damn, and she's spent centuries getting pissed. We need to find out how Safina broke free," Camara adds.

  "Did you help entomb Rhea and Safina?" I ask Devin.

  "I wasn't born yet."

  So at least he's not that old.

  "What about Aphrodite?" I ask.

  There's a pause, and everyone seems hesitant to respond. Finally, Hale ends the odd suspense.

  "No. She was the only one not in attendance. She had every right to scorn us. We did nothing when Athena and her daughters started stalking her and her children. We went to ask for her help, and she told us to go to hell. We did," Hale murmurs guiltily.

  "Why wouldn't anyone help her?" I whimper.

  Hale's eyes shadow the ground as more guilt springs free.

  "We were selfish, stupid, and completely uninterested in anything that didn't concern us personally. That shit changes after you've seen what happens when the only ones binding together are the ones trying to dominate. It took us too long to get our heads out of our asses. That's why I'm here right now. Call it an atoning for the sins of my past."

  "Is that why you're all here with me?" I mumble.

  "As I just said, I wasn't born yet, so I missed all the Aphrodite wars - the ancient Aphrodite wars, that is. I have nothing to feel guilty for, but Theia and Phillip-" Devin stops and hesitates.

  He doesn't have to finish the sentence though. The rest of the guilty eyes around me tell me their dark, guilty secret. This is why they've worked so hard to keep me alive. This is why they pledged their allegiance when Gemma sparked conflict against me. They're all trying to atone for their past sins.

  "I see," I murmur quietly.

  The words leave my mouth, and suddenly I feel the excruciating pain of the two bitches fighting inside me once more. I scream as my body contorts, and my eyes flash back and forth from green to white. I scream again as my back cracks, and Devin shouts to Deacon.

  "Pull over! She's fucking dying!" he yelps.

  The tires squeal as the SUV jerks to a halt, and Devin flashes out, pulling me with him. The ground is soft under me, and the grass smells freshly cut. Crickets sound out, trying to drown out my screams, but it's pointless.

  "Come on, baby. You can fight them. Please fight them. They're not taking you away from me," Devin pleads.

  I pant as I try to forge through the horrific pain consuming me, and tears fall from my eyes. Hale's eyes are etched in fear, and Deacon holds Camara as she hides her face in his chest.

  “I can't," I scream, the bloodcurdling tune bringing tears to Devin's eyes.

  "Yes you can. Please fight them," Devin begs as one tear falls down his cheek.

  I cry louder as another stab of pain surges through me, and I begin my silent plead.

  You bitches better stop playing tug of war if either of you want to continue on. I'm the last of both of you, and you're fucking killing me.

  The pain lessens slightly, and I feel my bones popping back into place. Devin's eyes drop free another tear as he sees me starting to heal, but a look of panic spreads when he looks up.

  I follow his gaze and see the dark haired bitches from Athena's womb stalking toward us.

  "Give us the girl, and you can live," the head bitch snarks.

  Hale lowers himself down to whisper to me.

  "You really do have a lot of crazy bitches after you - both inside and out," he says to try and lighten the heavy, monumental dilemma in front of us.

  "You can't have her without going through us," Devin asserts with a feral, protective glare.

  I slowly start to sit up, but the girl pulls a vine from the ground to try and grab me. Deacon slices through it before it can reach me.

  "I don't think so," he taunts.

  "You have no idea how strong we are," she blares threateningly.

  "That
goes both ways," Camara announces as she steps in front of me.

  Another vine springs from the ground, but it's attacked by a similar one. I look over to see Gemma joining us.

  "I think I know how strong you are," she dares. "I've personally never enjoyed how overlooked I was because of your kind."

  Really? This bitch is going to help save me? That makes it harder to hate her.

  "You don't want to start a war with us. I can assure you of that." Gemma's mother threatens from behind us, and I can see Theia, Phillip, and all the others with them.

  Devin looks over to me and kneels to help me to my feet.

  "Well I'll be damned. Ava. I thought you were dead," the vine-wielding bitch scoffs maliciously to Gemma's mother.

  "You thought wrong. I happen to be very alive, and I have quite a few alliances across the board. You should rethink what you're considering."

  The girl smiles as if she's holding a secret in her hand.

  "I happen to have made a few alliances myself, but unlike you, mine are already here," she mocks.

  Swirls of ashes stir around us, and Hale's eyes narrow as he breathes a breath of panic. A ghostly whisper travels through his barely parted lips. One word. One terrifyingly, ominous word.

  "Safina."

  Chapter 17

  Aphrodite's Stand

  The ashes surround the bitches stalking toward us, and there are men following along behind her as well. Their eyes are covered by tinted and odd shaped glasses as a preemptive strike against my power.

  "What are those?" I whisper.

  Devin scowls. "Technology that hasn't been created yet. They've got a visionary somewhere among them, and they're prepared for you," he murmurs back.

  The ashes spread for a dramatic entrance to be made by the girl from my vision. She steps up with her black and orange swirling eyes, and her raven hair sweeps with orange stripes as she smirks directly at Theia.

  I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, and glance toward the SUV where Jake is still passed out.

  Devin squeezes my hand in his, and I feel the fear spreading throughout me. The storm brews overhead, and Safina's attention switches to me.

  "Strike your lightning, spin your winds, and bare your green eyes, bitch. You'll see I've come prepared," she snarks.