“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 reached out 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, giving the 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 private before sliding between the silk sheets of her bed.
There was no laughter in her rooms, no male presence, no one to lighten the burden 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.
Layla jumped off the stage into his arms, winding her legs around his hips. He carried her out of the clubroom towards his bedroom while Broni continued dancing, refusing to acknowledge the men.
It was over an hour before Layla and Rhys returned to the room. He took his seat at the back table while Layla went to the bar and started serving drinks. Her heart heavy, Broni wished she didn’t care the two had just had sex as her legs trembled with fatigue.
“Adam said that’s enough for the night,” Mason said from the side of the stage.
Broni leaned down, picking up her clothes. She dressed before climbing down from the stage, determined to go to the room she shared with Rhys. As she walked between the tables, Tank reached out, jerking her down onto his lap.
“Why did you get dressed again?” His hands went to the bottom of her t-shirt, jerking it off.
Broni struggled against him, feeling his cock underneath her wiggling body.
“Keep that up, and I’ll come in my jeans,” he groaned in her ear.
Before she could stop herself, she elbowed him in his stomach. His hand went to her hair, jerking it back before slamming her head onto the table. Broni was stunned at the brutality of the man’s actions, unable to fight back when he roughly grabbed one of her breasts, pinching her nipple cruelly.
“Let her go,” Rhys spoke above the laughter of Tank’s friends sitting at the table.
“Fuck off, Rhys. You’re not in charge. Why should you be allowed to be the only one to fuck her? You’ve had her and Layla, too. Dee’s with Jace tonight and Becca is fucking Mason. There’s nothing left.”
“If you hadn’t put Nikki out of commission, you would have her. Layla’s not tired; she’s good for another round.”
“Bastard!” Layla screamed from across the room.
“Adam doesn’t want her touched until tomorrow. If you want her that bad, buy her. Then she can be yours anytime you want her.”
Broni gaped at Rhys. She didn’t want the bastard to have control over her.
Tank pinched her breast tighter. “Okay, but I’m going to take a taste to do me until tomorrow night.” His huge hand jerked her head back again.
This time his mouth covered hers, his rank breath making Broni want to vomit, but she held it back, refusing entrance to his vile tongue. However, he bit at her lips until she helplessly opened them to his thick tongue. She started to have a hard time trying to still her rolling stomach. Just as she was sure she couldn’t hold it back any longer, he raised his head, and Broni tore herself off his lap.