Chapter 24
“All my lifetimes have been merged into one.”
Broni fiddled with the ibuprofen bottle. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw your attack.”
“My mother showed you or were you there?”
“Your mother.” Broni could just imagine that encounter.
“I see.” She was sure her overprotective mother would have been furious, unable to strike at the humans that had been the ones to have hurt her. “I’m sorry, that must have been uncomfortable for you.”
“She didn’t say anything that I didn’t deserve.” Broni refused to acknowledgethe regret in his voice.
“How long will you be staying?”
“As long as I wish. It has been agreed that I can stay here while I serve as your replacement.”
“Why would you want to come back to Earth?” Broni questioned.
“You.”
With that answer, Broni was finished with this discussion. She started to rise from the table.
“Since when do you run?” The arrogant remark had her resuming her seat.
“I wasn’t running, Rhys. I haven’t anything to say. I don’t believe I had anything to do with your decision to come back to Earth. The man you are now doesn’t even know me.”
The warrior sat forward in his seat, pinning her with his gaze.
“I might not be the Rhys you fucked,” Broni winced, “but believe me, I was there. Not only did we share the same body, but the same emotions. I felt it as much as he did when you opened your legs and heart to the stupid man who was too grief-stricken to take what you offered. I am not.”
“I’m not offering you anything,” Broni said angrily. “That time has come and gone. I don’t want you any more.”
“Who did you want, Broni? Rhys or me?”
Broni remained silent. Truthfully, she had wanted Rhys because she’d known the warrior’s soul was buried inside.
“I’m sorry I was so long in appearing, but you can’t blame me for not wanting to join another battle.”
“You saw this one coming?”
“I did, and it’s going to be longer and bloodier than any I have fought before. I have served Mother for centuries, and I am tired of the bloodshed. Therefore, I was not anxious to fall in love with a woman who will be in the midst of it all.”
“Let me take that worry from you then. Go back to Odin’s castle.”
Rhys reached out, taking the tube of antibiotic cream. Opening it, he squirted some on a large finger before reaching forward, smoothing it on the scratches on her cheeks.
“I’ve decided you’re worth fighting another battle for.”
Broni’s mouth opened and closed. “You arrogant dick, the decision isn’t yours to make. I have decided that I don’t want you any more.”
“Then you need to change your mind back,” he said simply.
“Do you really think I want a whore-hound like you?” Broni pointed her finger at his chest. “I didn’t mind being used for sex. Stupid me thought that I could let you see I cared about you, that I was willingto ignore the fact you would never care about me the way I cared about you. Do you know why?”
The warrior shook his head.