by C. M. Owens
"Why would she want a rewind specifically?" an unfamiliar face growls.
"Because it's weakening their tombs," I explain.
Gasps rattle out around the room, and everyone looks to each other for some sort of further explanation. Devin leans back to absorb the information, and I see everyone else turning pale.
"She's trying to release Rhea, and the rewinds are weakening the power that holds them. If she succeeds, I think we all know the new fate we could suffer," Theia adds. "With the power it would have taken to rewind a month, it's possible Safina is close to finishing her goal. For now she's backed off, but she's scared of the Aphrodite in our new ones."
"Why do you think this?" a woman asks.
I take a deep breath before answering, "The first time we faced her, she told me I had ruined everything even though they were winning effortlessly at the time-"
"I remember that," Devin interrupts. "I didn't give it any thought until just now."
"Then, when we faced her again - she was in the body of a mortal - but she said it happened. She realized we knew too much when I transformed in front of her eyes and controlled my power. She knew there had been a rewind, and it's exactly what she was waiting on."
A still silence falls over the entire room, and everyone takes a minute to try and digest the overwhelming new information. I can tell by their pale faces this is a bomb.
I slink down beside Jace, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder for a comforting embrace. Devin's jaw clenches slightly before he stands to walk out.
Kry, Ther, and Hale follow him, and then slowly the rest of the room breaks off into packs to begin strategizing.
I feel so ridiculous. I have no idea what to do or say from here, and Persia walks over to pat me on the arm.
"If you're still hiding from your newly acquired Emperian title, then this is where you exit. Deidra is expected to select a group to stay and represent the families. Theia will be representing hers, and she and Phillip have asked me to stay. She didn't think you wanted to," she whispers to only me.
"She's right. Just fill me in later," I grumble as I stand up.
Jace puts his hand on my back, and then he speaks in a calming tone when we get outside.
"I told Hale I'd help him grab some more wood for the fire. You okay?"
"Yes, no, hell no. I'll be fine for now though," I whimper in a pitiful laugh.
His eyes droop, and he sighs before flashing away. A chilling scent breathes against my neck, and I feel a sickness creeping over me.
"You again?" I murmur.
The stranger from earlier moves to be in front of me. His eyes dance as his amber liquid sloshes in a clear glass.
"So why is it that Devin's girl is being escorted around by every man but him?" he smoothly leads.
"Because Devin is mad at his girl right now. Please go away," I growl.
"If he's mad, then he'll end up in one of their beds tonight," he says menacingly as he motions to the swarm of girls clapping at Devin's heels. "That's his signature card after all," he continues.
I tense up as a lump rises to my throat, and I feel an arm draping around my shoulder with a bit of protectiveness attached.
"Not anymore," Kry says threateningly. "Adisia is his fiancée, not the typical relationship. Go bug someone else and quit trying to interfere, Slash."
Slash smirks and winks at me before strolling away with nonchalant indifference. I feel my body slightly trembling as Gemma giggles her way over to Devin. I've never seen her so happy, and it's killing me.
"He loves you. Stop trying to act like you don't know it," Kry scolds.
"Stop acting like he's not trying to make me feel as though he doesn't. Look at him. He's letting Poison Ivy hang all over him," I gripe as I motion to Gemma.
"He's doing no such thing. He couldn't give a damn about Gemma," he snorts.
"He told her about us," I growl.
"Ther told her, not Devin. Devin was playing it down so she didn't get her hopes up," Kry explains.
"Ther?" I startle out.
"Yeah. Have you not noticed how completely in love with her he is? He tells her way too much, and this time it bit him in the ass because she thinks she has a chance again," Kry mumbles.
I knew that bitch was lying.
"So much for her just being his friend."
"Oh, she was trying to be the friend who tells him it'll all be okay, but it's just to aide in her attempts to woo him. He told her he loved you, and this wasn't a breakup."
"Why didn't he tell me that?" I mutter.
"Why didn't you ask?" he counters, and then gives me a stern nod before walking toward the bonfire.
I take a deep breath, and I finally summon the courage to close the gap between me and everyone else.
"Oh wow. What's that smell?" a guy murmurs dreamily.
Crap.
"We've got an Aphrodite here, and sometimes she smells a little too good to be true. Just ignore it please," Deacon chuckles as he motions for me to join him and Camara.
I smile at the friendly faces that have been missing from the day. Camara leans over Deacon's lap to whisper to me.
"Devin was in such a rush we didn't have time to ride with him here. We had to take the other jet. He's really worried about you and Jace."
"There's nothing to worry about," I sigh.
"Well, he doesn't seem to think that," Deacon scoffs. "He actually told me to take the other jet when I told him I needed five minutes. He never leaves me behind," he pouts.
I let one edge of my mouth corner up in a smile, and then a girl stands up with an all too giggly tone considering the dreadful revelation of the possible doom she's just heard.
"Let's play a game. It's simple. You think of anything you would do if you were mortal right now. Most of us didn't get to enjoy the technology or the dangerous fun the world offers today, and this is a way to express things you never got to do as a mortal or things you just never got around to. I'll start. If I was mortal, I'd ride a rollercoaster," she giggles loudly.
"This is lame," Ther scoffs.
"Just do it," she growls.
He rolls his eyes and lets out a surly grunted reply. "If I were mortal, I would go skydiving."
"See?" she laughs. "As an immortal, we never get to experience the life and death rush of the simple things. Who's next?"
"If I were mortal, I'd plant a garden. I never felt the appreciative labor of love that took time and effort," Gemma beams.
"You go Devin," Gemma insists.
His eyes flash to me for a second, and then he smirks with a reminiscing glow.
"If I were mortal, I'd get drunk."
Cheers erupt as the men all clank glasses. It is hard to get drunk these days, and Jace hands me a glass of clear alcohol as if on cue while he sits down beside me.
"If I were mortal, I'd sleep as long as I could," Jace adds.
Everyone cheers again and clanks glasses. Then the girl turns to me with a suspicious eye.
"And you?"
"Her name is Adisia," Devin interjects smoothly, and my heart flutters once more at the small bit of acknowledgement he offers.
"What would you do?" she insists.
"I just turned immortal, so I really don't miss anything yet. I've had the experiences I wanted to have, as well as some I didn't want."
"Oh don't be a sock in the sand," she pouts. Sock in the sand? "There's got to be something you wish you had done," she urges.
"Well, I suppose if I were mortal I'd get a tattoo."
"A tattoo?" Deacon chuckles.
Devin lets a curious eye drift to me, and Hale shakes his head.
"Well I would've never guessed that. What tattoo do you want?" Kry snickers. "A heart maybe?" he teases.
I roll my eyes, and I see Devin stifling a grin.
"I don't know. It's just something I was always afraid I would regret. Now I wish I had just done it before needles broke against my skin," I laugh.
"Well, I can tattoo you if you wis
h," Hale pops off.
"Really? How?" I inquire.
"It's more branding than tattooing. I've done several on people. Any tattoos obtained during mortality heal when immortality is gained. Most want that signature back, and it's something I can imitate. No needles or ink, but it's still pretty cool," he adds.
Devin shifts uncomfortably, and I smile with a touch of excitement touching my eyes.
"Let's do it," I giggle.
"Now?" he questions in surprise.
"Yeah. Why not?" I urge.
"Okay. Where do you want it?" he asks curiously.
"The bedroom," I say mildly, and drinks sputter out of mouths as soon as I let that insinuating comment fly.
"I mean the tattoo," Hale says through his hysterical laughter. "Where do you want the tattoo?"
I blush a feverish glow, and Devin's teasing grin is being hidden behind his cup.
"I'll show you when everyone isn't looking," I mumble.
Devin's eyes widen, and his cup lowers to show his fading smile.
Hale smirks deviously and acts as though he's tipping an imaginary hat to the crowd. I can hear the discomfort in Devin, and I grab Hale's hand to flash with him to the house.
"Please tell me you want this on your chest. I've been dying to marvel at that incredible work of art again," he teases.
I roll my eyes at his incorrigible crudeness. "No. I want it here," I say as I pull my ring off and rest my left hand in his.
"Your ring finger? That's the big mystery place we needed privacy for?" he grumbles in disappointment.
"Yes. It's the tattoo I wish to remain a secret. Can you keep your lips sealed?"
"I suppose. If you give me a peek at the goods, I swear I will," he chuckles.
I nudge him playfully, and then I grab a paper and pen before carefully crafting sketching out the design I want.
"Where do you want it?" he asks while staring down at my sketch.
"Here," I murmur while placing my hand in his and pointing out the exact spot.
I hear the sizzling of something as he clasps his hand over my area of choice, and I giggle rather than wince when it tickles.
He smirks lightly, and then he with draws to reveal his masterpiece to me.
Tears fill up in my eyes as my mouth falls from its giggling posture to a trembling mess.
Oh. Wow.
"Did I do something really wrong or really good?" he worries.
"Really good," I say as I wipe away a few stray drips.
"You know this is just as permanent as a mortal tattoo?"
"Good."
I stare at the name of the man I love wrapped in the waves in the shape of a ring on my finger. I slide my engagement ring back on, and it allows only a peek of my new secret when you look under the gallant jewel.
No one will be looking past the gem though. It'll be my secret, and whether Devin ever takes me back or not, I'll always have something to prove I belong to him.
"Thank you, Hale," I murmur softly with tears still staining my eyes.
"You're going to make me tear up if you keep acting like this," he grumbles in an emasculating huff as he hugs me.
I laugh a little, and he kisses my forehead before walking out of my room.
I stare out at the dispersing crowd around the bonfire, and I see Devin walking in beside Kry. I sigh in relief when I see Gemma pouting on a log next to the sparse remnants of the fire.
Maybe tomorrow will offer a better view of the world.
Chapter 11
Raising Hell
"Stop splashing me," Gemma gripes at Ther.
Poor Ther.
Now that I know he's into her, it's sort of sad to see the way she completely dismisses him.
"Play chicken with us," he whines playfully.
"No," she barks.
Bitch.
I can't stand around watching him throw away all his dignity to a girl who doesn't deserve him. She's so fucking cold.
"Ther, I'll play," I offer kindly while dropping the small, orange wrap from around my waist to fully reveal the skimpy bikini bottoms.
"Really? Do you know how?" he asks curiously, not even acknowledging the slinky contraption I had to talk myself into wearing in public.
"Yeah. You sit on a guy's shoulders and try to push off the other girl."
He laughs patronizingly, but I have no idea why.
"Not mortal chicken. Immortal chicken. You use your powers while sitting on someone's shoulders. Your base is not allowed to use any of his powers though. You'll be on your own, and Lana knows how to work the water almost as good as Devin. She's the reigning champ," he playfully warns.
"I didn't say I'd beat her, I just said I'd play," I giggle out while letting the ocean water meet my waist as I wade out to him.
"Great. Strap up," he says before diving under the water.
He shoots up under me, and my legs rest on his shoulders as he stalks toward the brawny guy holding Lana up.
She smirks at me, and then she starts to look a little worried.
"Please don't go white eyes on me," she whispers.
"No worries. I'm keeping that quite," I laugh out.
It's not like I can do it on command anyways.
She exhales lightly, and then the water rushes at me as her first attack is released.
The wind around me saves me from the crashing tide as it whirls it back at her. She barely maintains her balance, and now all eyes are glued to us as the battle of two goddesses becomes a feat worth gaining admittance to.
I feel the tiny bikini I'm wearing threatening to pull apart as I swirl a rushing spiral at her, and again she almost falls. The water around me tries to suck me in, and I feel a little help aiding me against her currents.
"No cheating Devin," she scolds.
I smile to myself, but I dare not look around. He doesn't say anything, but I can feel him smirking from somewhere behind me.
Another bursting wave flies in, and suddenly we're both knocked off our bases.
I laugh as I surface, and Lana joins me as she snickers while climbing into the arms of her base. Apparently he's more than a chicken partner, though most immortals are rather promiscuous.
"That was awesome," Ther chuckles while wrapping me up in an appreciative hug.
I bounce around in the water to chase the waves, but I plow into a firm, delicious, salaciously incredible body.
Devin's eyes are burning into mine when I look up, and my skin starts sizzling against his. I slowly slide my hand off of him, and I start to turn away in order to avoid the almost painfully erotic tease. But he grabs my hand, and my throat closes up in panic.
"What's this," he says curiously as he stares down at the tattoo peeking out from under my ring.
I rip my hand free with a flush of embarrassment starting to cover my face. He only saw the little bit of a wave creeping out, but now his curiosity is piqued.
"It's nothing. I need to go see if Persia needs help with setting the table," I mumble in a distracting effort.
I flash out of the water before he can say anything, and whistles erupt as my strut slows.
I roll my eyes at the juvenile pile of boys and make sure all my body parts are safely covered by the thin black shards of fabric strategically placed to just hide the necessities.
"Wow," Jace murmurs as he strolls up with dripping wet hair and a seduced grin. "I'm regretting taking a swim on the other side of the island with Hale now."
"You're incorrigible. You know that, right?" I chuckle while wringing out my hair a little.
"I know, but I'm pretty cute when I'm relentless," he teases.
I roll my eyes at his arrogant remark, and Hale trips over one of the bonfire sitting logs as he catches sight of my skimpy attire.
"Damn," he grunts as he wipes the heaps of sand from his face.
"I know, right? Why did you make us go to the other side?" Jace gripes.
Hale's eyes shoot over to Devin almost involuntarily and then back to Jace.
&
nbsp; "I just thought it would be cool to see the other side. I didn't know she was going to be wearing that," Hale stammers with bedazzlement.
Did Devin ask him to take Jace out of the picture for a while? Is that why Hale looked at him before answering?
I'm just being overly analytical and hopeful. I need a drink - a strong, get-an-immortal-drunk sort of drink.
"So, I'm seeing at least ninety percent of your body, and I don't see a tattoo. Where'd you put it?” Jace dares, his eyes swirling with more than immortality.
I laugh a little as I start backing toward the house, my eyes playing with his desire.
"A lady never tells," I tease.
His jaw drops, and his eyes dart to Hale with almost a scolding glare.
"Really?" Jace gasps.
"Really what?" Hale says with a shrug before realizing what Jace is thinking. He almost laughs before shaking his head. "Believe me, the place she chose was a huge disappointment."
Devin's eyes narrow, and I turn back to escape the intrigue I've provoked amongst the curious boys.
Hale laughs while keeping my secret, and I smile victoriously as I strut into the dining room that could second as a party hall.
"This place is enormous," I marvel in a gushing tone.
"Yes it is," Persia agrees. "Like I said, I have one similar. I can't wait to show you some of my favorite places. I was thinking we could get away for a couple of days if you want," she chirps hopefully.
I sigh a little as my eyes stare out the window to find the man I'm desperate to feel pressed against me again. He's talking to Hale, and I'm praying my secret stays safe.
"I don't think that's a good idea right now," I murmur.
"Because of the impending war or the man you can't live without, but to whom you won't apologize to,” she pries.
I huff a little. "Both. And I've tried apologizing. If he wants me, he'll come for me. He always does," I utter in a near whisper.
"Well, maybe you should use your inherited charm to show him how irresistible you can really be," she suggests.
I laugh wildly at her very un-motherly advice. Then I decide to make myself useful and start setting up the dishes as Theia strolls into the room.
