“She’s coming across as extremely erratic. Showing up personally at the Olympus party was pretty ballsy. Desperate even, as interacting with you brought her out of the shadows.”
“Maybe she thought there’d be no risk. She just assumed I’d buckle under at her touch. She couldn’t know about you and your muting magic. And maybe she’s not that au fait with micro recording devices.”
“I’m worried what she’ll do next, aren’t you? There are only three more of Apep’s meet and greet parties for Copper planned. Three more events for her to spoil, and create enough chaos that she can take another shot at your sister, and you.” Gigi’s eye widened suddenly. “Qetesh must sense you and the ring are tied, but can’t possibly know why you haven’t buckled under. She was either very sure her mere presence would be enough to send you over the edge, or she’s getting desperate when it comes to bringing you, you specifically Nico, over to her gold loved up side.”
“Oh, shit, I’m her back up plan to get to Copper, aren’t I? Fuck if that bitch doesn’t want me to kill my own sister.”
“You need protection at the next party. Just in case she tries to kidnap you. If you get too far away from me—”
“I might be vulnerable to Qetesh’s power and fall under her control. Mierda. Do you know of any Enforcers who would rock a Hawaiian shirt and can mix a mean pina colada?”
“No, I have a much better idea. And bikinis will be the attire for the day.”
***
Damn, that was such a cool idea, Gigi was totally going to steal it for Great-Aunt Rose’s one hundred and second beach birthday bash. Admiring her two younger sisters lofty ‘Gidget-style’ white blonde bee-hives and attached ringlet ponytails.
“Love the hair.”
“Thanks.” The twins echoed one another, both grinning, patting their sky high do’s.
Gigi wasn’t the only one admiring her sisters, every God, lesser deity wanna-be, and more than a few Goddesses were eyeing Chase and Brynn with interest. That was the problem when you looked like the living embodiment of Disney’s Elsa, times two. Gorgeous, slim yet with some curves and stunning violet eyes. Fairytale princesses come to life, both currently rocking 1960’s bikinis. Brynn’s blue with big white flowers. Chase’s pink with red dots.
“Sorry we’re late.” Brynn looked a little peeved for a moment. “But the guards at the entrance insisted upon frisking us for hidden weapons.”
Oh, Merciful Lady, Gigi prayed they’d left them alive. Or maybe not. You tangled with her no longer baby sisters, recently turned twenty, you got what you deserved. They might look like damsels waiting for a prince to come along to romance them,but they were in fact diabolically smart with a vengeful side of humour that typically only her extended family appreciated.
“Where’s our body that needs protecting?” Chase’s gaze sweeping over the crowd that had gathered on the grass and sandy palm covered atoll that had sprung up especially for this occasion.
Oh to be a party planner with a God as a client. Locations could be manufactured from thin air. As was the cooling breeze, the gently lapping clear idyllic ocean and the massive tiki bar off to the side and the covered thatched open structure next to it, where the food had been laid out across three massive wooden tables.
“Surly dude, only one in all black, at our two o’clock.”
“That’s your new boyfriend?”
“Nico Yanez? You’re dating Nico Yanez?”
“Where have you two been? This has been like a thing for over a week now.”
“We had exams.” The twins were studying in Germany. “And then there was a party to celebrate the end of exams and then another party to celebrate that party.”
“We don’t generally keep up with the Sanctuary grapevine, it’s generally all, blah, blah, the cats, blah, blah, Darcy blew up Great-Aunt Alma’s car with a rocket launcher.”
“Same old, same old.”
“But now we discover our sister is dating a hot Latino bar owner. Go you.”
Gigi rolled her eyes, little sisters could be so annoying. But also great, when they dropped everything to help out last minute acting as bodyguards for your faux boyfriend, that you may or may not genuinely have the hots for.
Suddenly Brynn paled. “Uh-oh.”
“Double uh-oh.” Chase looked pale also.
“Problem?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
