by C. M. Owens
I smile at her affection, and her arm drapes over my shoulders as we continue our trail to the house. I almost stumble forward when I see the immaculate piece of art towering on the beach.
The sea is almost an ornament next to this impressive beast. The wall-to-wall windows stretch across the entire house - offering no privacy. A long pier leads to the deeper parts of the ocean, and the gallant perks of being immortal are all the more seductive.
"Wow," I gasp again.
"I've got a place similar to this one. We need to go there sometime," Persia murmurs.
"Really? That's awesome," I giggle, but then reality settles back in.
She acknowledges my frown, and quickly shifts to comforting mother.
"He'll be back. They always come back."
"When they're mortal," I whimper.
She squeezes my arm, and Theia opens the massive doors to the impossibly huge home. The pale blues and various greens offer more friendliness than the stark white choices Devin uses.
The furniture matches every cliché of beach themed articles, but it's almost a comforting normalcy.
"I'm going to go swim for a while and clear my head before the others get here," I say to Persia.
"Do you have a suit?"
"No, but I can manage without one," I whisper.
Jace trips and plasters into the sand headfirst, while Kry walks into a palm tree just in front of the house. Ther laughs ridiculously hard as he shakes his head and joins us inside the wide open doorway.
"You just caused a pileup," he chuckles out.
I roll my eyes. "I meant I can swim in my clothes - not naked," I squeal.
Kry shakes his head with embarrassment, and Jace stands with a blushing face.
"I'm glad you're not so juvenile," I huff to Ther.
"Oh I flipped over the railing, but you didn't see me," he snickers out.
Crap.
"I have suits, many of them. I bought them for you. I had planned on poolside bonding in Dallas," Persia giggles out.
I smile as she hands me a bag, and I smile appreciatively before flashing upstairs to change.
I pick a white one with diamond-like trim decking the sides, center, and neckline. The thin strip in the middle is the only thing making this a one-piece, but it's by far the most decent - even though it's anything but.
I wrap a small, red sarong around my waist and jog down the stairs to head to the beach. The guys have already changed, and they're inspecting the island.
I step out, and I see a jet landing.
I guess I just thought I was going to swim.
As soon as the jet stops, Devin and the others flash over to the house. He stops quickly, and his eyes widen when he sees my daring ensemble.
Gemma is right behind him, and I look away quickly as she bumps into him playfully. He laughs a little at her childlike gesture, and I can feel my blood boiling.
If he wants to play this game, then sound the whistle.
I'm good with the adolescent game of jealously, and now I've got the help of Aphrodite.
"The others won't be here until tonight, but you can brief us now if you want," Gemma says with a girly, giggly tone.
"I'll wait. I only want to go over this once," I say as if I'm unaffected by their bullshit flirting.
Devin tosses her a bottle of water, and I can feel the sting of betrayal surging to the front.
Maybe I'm not as good at this game as I thought I was.
My eyes drift down to the ring I've been unable to take off, and I'm startled out of my trance when Hale's serious voice interrupts my silent panic.
"Your ring too big?" he jokes.
I smile at him, and I can see Devin staring at us out of the corner of my eye.
"I'm glad to hear you're back to your normal self," I say to emulation of sun.
"Seeing you in such skimpy attire makes me forget my place. My apologies," he jokes.
I nudge him with my elbow, and he swirls me around.
"He's trying to make you jealous," Hale whispers carefully.
"I know," I whisper back.
He gives me a menacing smirk, and I can tell he's learned my plan.
"Anything he can do, you can do better," he murmurs in a deeply muted tone.
"I know," I mouth.
I strip off the sarong, and reveal the goddess body Aphrodite has reacquainted me with as I flash my green eyes to Hale. He laughs a little, and Devin's jaw clenches before he turns his back on me completely.
"Shall we?" Hale tempts.
"I don't see anyone stopping us," I mock.
Gemma skips over to Devin, and I see her climb onto the countertop to face him. It's killing me to see him with someone he's been with. I hope this is a juvenile jealously game and not real.
I feel arms scooping me up and throwing me over a shoulder. I scream out my laughter as Hale charges me down to the water.
I laugh harder as the water splashes up to warn me of its perfect temperature. He launches me gently, and I splash into the light ocean completely devoid of any tainted residue.
Gemma flashes out with her bathing suit that's too skimpy for her to pull off, and Devin slowly strolls out behind her with his sexy as hell shorts dangling from his waist
He brought those on purpose. Damn him. Now I wish I had chosen a sexier suit.
"Oh hell yeah. Adisia in a bathing suit," Jace jokes.
Hale gives me a wink as he whispers again.
"Devin's going to regret this game when the others arrive. There will be more men than women attending this thing," he murmurs.
"Just remind me not to go too far. I don't want to hurt anyone," I mumble.
He chokes on the ocean water that has just been inhaled into his lungs, and I laugh hysterically at the misconception.
"I meant … mentally… with my powers," I chuckle out.
I feel myself being scooped up again, and I feel the currents colliding with the water. Jace smiles as he pulls me to his body a little too close.
"Down boy," Hale lashes.
His eyes dance menacingly, and I give him a small zap to remind him of the boundaries.
"Careful," I caution teasingly.
"Is that how you want to play?" he says with a dangerously playful tone.
"No," I squeal as he suddenly launches me over his head and sends me splashing into the water.
I can't help but laugh ridiculously hard as I surface, and then I see another jet starting to descend. I thought the others weren't going to be here for a while though.
"That's the Caribbean crew. They weren't too far away," Devin says to Hale.
Apparently he asked a question I missed. Devin's eyes offer me a worrisome look, but then he connects with Hale's eyes again.
Hale nods as if something has been said, but no words ever crossed their lips. He turns to me as Devin flashes to greet the new arrivals.
"Just a warning, some of these people are more like Deidra than us. You'll need to keep that in mind when associating with them. They might take a joke very literally, and they might start a war over something foolish until they understand why you're the Emperian," he warns.
"Actually, I've asked Deidra to keep acting as though she's still such. I don't want this, and if I can't get someone to take it away, then I'll just have them fake it. I don't want someone else getting ballsy and challenging me. When provoked, I can't stop myself, and now I don't have Devin to help me control it. Until I can anchor Asteria, it'll be safer if I stay out of unnecessary conflict," I grumble.
"You know he's here for you when you need him, don't you? He's not going to just let you go off the deep end," Hale says in surprise for my lack of confidence.
"He shouldn't have to control me, and this is just the excuse I need to stop using him as a crutch."
"You may always need him for control. You've been bound to him in the most surreal way. I've never seen anything like it. I'd settle down if I could find that sort of bond," Hale murmurs as he props against the rock beside m
e.
"Are you encouraging her to get back with him?" Jace huffs.
"They're not really apart. She's still wearing the ring," Hale murmurs through gritted teeth.
"What if they're not supposed to be together? What if this is the way things are supposed to work out?" he argues.
"He's her trigger. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Two people have never been more destined for each other," Hale growls.
"I never pictured you as the hopeless romantic type," Jace retorts.
"You're impossible," Hale spouts as he swims away in a furious puff.
"You really have to stop antagonizing everyone here," I exasperate.
"You really have to stop letting them tell you that you have to be with him. You don't have to be with any-damn-body."
My hand slides over to rest on his shoulder as I ready him for the blow he's tired of hearing.
"I love him, Jace. That's why I want to be with him. I know you hate that, and I know you don't understand it, but it's the truth."
Tears well up in my eyes, and he lets out a deep breath before climbing up on a rock that towers over the water. I follow him up, and he motions for me to join him at his side to sit on the jagged surface that stares out over the beastly ocean.
"I do hate it, but I'll back off if it's pissing you off," he gripes.
"Good."
"So, are you into that Hale guy?" he whimpers.
I laugh ridiculously hard, and I see Devin walking back down with the wild assortment of visitors. There are so many insanely dressed guys and girls.
Two drooling bimbos trail Devin, and he offers them polite conversation. He makes sure I'm watching, but he doesn't push the boundaries too far to piss me off to the point of breaking out Asteria.
"Hale's trying to help me make Devin jealous," I finally answer distractedly.
"He'll never fall for a jealously scheme unless you quit gawking at him like a fool."
I blush instantly and cut my eyes toward the sea.
"I didn't realize I was," I mumble.
"Look, pretty boy isn't going to cut it. If you want him back, then you have to tangle with someone he greatly distrusts," Jace adds menacingly.
The sun slowly starts to set, and I know it won't be long until everyone else gets here too. Then all eyes will be on me as I tell them what I know.
"Actually, I think I'm going to take a break from the jealously game. I need to focus more on what's to come."
His eyes drop in a little disappointment, and Persia walks up looking incredible in her suit. Jace's jaw pops open as she struts her Aphrodite strut.
"There you are," she says with enthusiasm. "I finally broke free from Theia. She's a rather high-strung and intense individual," she exasperates.
"Yeah," I chuckle.
She frowns a little as she toys with my wet hair.
"You're scent is starting to build. These men are going to feel tortured, and they're going to do some foolish things if you and Devin don't reconcile," she whispers.
"Scent?" Jace asks quizzically. "Is that her?"
I ignore his intrigue, and my eyes look expectantly to Persia.
"How do you control yours?"
She laughs a little as Jace huffs in agitation.
"I don't have to. It's one of the traits I didn't inherit. You've taken on so many of the wonderful and not so wonderful pieces. I've never seen someone so diverse. It's truly amazing," she adores.
"What scent?" Jace whines.
"I wish I had taken on less. Apparently I wasn't ever meant to control all this. Hale thinks that with Devin being my dominant trigger, I'll always need him to help me. That's going to be a little difficult when he won't even look at me," I grumble.
"What damn scent?" Jace yelps.
Devin and some of the others look up to the rocks after Jace's too loud outburst, and Persia finally turns to face him.
"When Adisia is… frustrated, she expels an intoxicating, seductive, and almost irresistible scent that is far too potent for most to ignore."
He purses his lips as if he's trying to fully understand what she's saying. I roll my eyes and continue our conversation.
"Anyway, I need to learn to be able to control this stuff for myself."
"I heard some of the others talking. Devin threw their stuff onto the jet, and he rushed everyone here. Even the pilots were getting an ear full when he didn't think they were going fast enough."
I smile a little, but then I look to see the swarm of eager girls beckoning for his attention. Devin seems a little less enthused with our game now as well, but he offers me no hope at all when he refuses to look at me.
"Sexually frustrated?" Jace chokes out in sudden shock as he finally catches on.
Persia bursts out laughing, and I blush instantly. Devin's eyes cut back to stare in our direction, but I look away as I try to ignore him.
If I look at him, he'll just look away.
Hale steps over to us and rolls his eyes.
"Really? Do you have to ask?" he mocks.
Jace's eyes widen in disbelief, and then a devious smirk spreads across his face. I instantly shake my head to answer him before he speaks.
"Well, if that's the problem, then I'll be glad to help out," he seduces.
"I'm just going to go… over there," Hale quickly mumbles before flashing out of reach of the enormous wave gushing over the rocks.
Jace is swept away with a startled yell. I almost laugh but tears spring free instead. I wipe them away while staring over the edge at the scrambling Jace.
"Thanks for the warning, Hale," he growls.
Hale is laughing so hard he's doubled over.
"Oh no, you get no warnings and no sympathy from me. Welcome to my world," he chuckles.
I look over to Devin, but his back is turned to me. My eyes glance around for Phillip, but he’s missing from the action. It had to be Devin, so why won't he just speak to me?
"Told you he's not going anywhere," Hale whispers in my ear.
"That just proves he doesn't want someone else to have me. It doesn't prove he still wants me," I rebut.
"You're a stubborn fool, Adisia Titan," he chuckles just before walking away.
The night finally wraps around us, and I see some of the guys sparking a bonfire. I dive headfirst into the choppier water, and casually swim to shore. Persia strides her strokes beside me, and I can see all eyes gluing to us as we begin emerging from the ocean water gradually with only the moonlight casting a glow around us.
"Holy fucking shit," one guy pops out as he drools.
"What the fuck?" another one spouts.
"When did you guys get girls this hot?" a gruff guy asks.
Devin rolls his eyes and turns to take a seat by Kry. They engage in a private conversation, and I huff at his complete indifference to me.
"Hale, are these some of your contacts?" a short guy eagerly inquires.
Hale laughs, and shakes his head.
"No. I wish I had met them first, but these are Devin's contacts," he snickers.
"Devin, dude, you've so been holding out."
"We're here on business, not pleasure," Devin grumbles.
"Well it's sure as hell pleasure now," a mysteriously handsome one pops out as he flashes to be just in front of me.
His hands slide around my waist, and I instantly feel the waves rustling in a threatening roar from behind me.
"Whoa, Dev. Just checking her out. Didn't know you were involved with them," he apologizes.
Them? Does Devin usually have two girls at once? Oh, I hope not.
"The blond is free," Hale says as his eyes dare her to succumb to his charm.
She laughs a little as she struts away and lets the jaws slap the ground behind her saucy shake.
"Wow. I'm in love. I just don't know who with," a guy replies dreamily.
The fire glows against Devin as he does his best to tune everything out and continues his conversation with Kry.
"Well that's bromantic," J
ace snarks. "Two young immortal men talking by the cozy fire."
Kry and Devin both slowly turn their eyes to glare at him, and he laughs in response. I cover my mouth to hide my amused grin, and Devin turns back around after rolling his eyes again.
"You're such an instigator," I try to say seriously.
"Yes, yes I am, and you happen to enjoy my snide, twisted sense of humor on occasion," he whispers.
I let a laugh escape and then quickly turn my back so no one sees my cruel chuckles.
“So, are we sharing a room?" a stranger asks from behind.
I turn to see a gorgeous guy standing dangerously close to me, and I take a step back. Jace steps between us, and the guy shrugs a little.
"Is that your rock on her hand?" the stranger remarks with a menacing grin.
"No," Jace replies vaguely.
"Then why are you standing in my way?" he dares.
Jace's body surges with electricity, and Devin casually jogs down to us to interrupt the standoff.
"It's my rock on her hand, and I need you to focus. We're combining forces, not starting feuds," he commands.
My heart flutters against the walls of my chest to hear him claiming me… well sort of. He claimed my ring.
"Yeah, yeah. Couldn't resist. She's too fucking hot for you to be leaving unattended," the guy scoffs.
Devin's eyes catch mine, and for a fleeting second I think we're going to end this ridiculous argument, but he turns away to return to the group.
I feel the heaviness of my body suddenly causing my breaths to be erratic and painful. He might as well own me because I can't go anywhere.
"So we all know we're here because we've learned something new. If you'll listen to Adisia, you'll see why we've called this assembly and a state of emergency," Theia says warmly to address the restless crowd.
I feel my nerves shaking wildly as I stand in front of the expectant faces confused by my leading this conversation.
No one knows me, and I've barely been immortal for a hot minute compared to them. Devin comes to sit down closer to me, and he waits for my presentation just like everyone else.
"Everyone knows of the rewind, and the fate we once shared. We were under the impression that Safina wanted to kill Theia to prevent her from rewinding time, but it's exactly what she wanted to happen," I rattle out.
