“It’s also an excellent way of getting some alone time, everyone will think you’ve disappeared to have hot make-up sex. Okay, I’m heading back to Haven Bay. You should straighten up here and follow. Make sure you send Great-Aunt Dottie a text thanking her for the use of the apartment and rave about how romantic Florence is.”
“Hey, did anyone follow up on Qetesh’s lair?” Nico’s hands clenched involuntarily into fists every time he forced himself to say her name.
“Elijah sent in a team. Deserted. The only thing left was a playing card on the floor, a joker.”
“That would have been left by Vaia, the Fate. She has a deck of cards that she constantly cuts, it looked compulsive. What do you suppose her role in all this is? She did help by dropping tons of information and pointing out the safest exit.”
“When Elijah and Copper went hunting the Fates in Greece a few weeks ago, the tavern they like to operate their gambling empire out of was deserted. The place wrecked. My web can’teven begin to speculate what is going on with the sisters. If you come across Vaia again, be cautious. She might be an unwilling guest, or she might be in this up to her eyeballs.” Darcy drummed her fingers on the table, a sure sign she was frustrated at the all too many unanswered questions that still remained regarding this Cabal of Deities determined to rule the Earth. “I can tell you this much, Hathor, she’s high up the food chain when it comes to this plot. I’m thinking second or third tier. I get you want to eradicate Qetesh from all the planes of existence, but it would be very helpful if we could take either her or Neith alive. Get them to spill a few of their mother’s secrets.”
“I’ll try my best.” Nico slowly unclenched his fists.
“If we capture her, perhaps we can convince her to remove the curse as well.” Gigi proposed.
Smoothing down the pleats of her mini skirt, a small smile lifted the edges of Darcy’s lips. Gigi and Nico froze, no sudden moves. “I can be very convincing. Once I’m alone with people in little windowless rooms I find they invariably prove very, very helpful.”
Yikes. Darcy’s happy place daydreams were about torturing people. Gigi cleared her throat. “Look, I don’t mean to rain acid on your parade. But are you, Elijah and Patricia sure we should go ahead with the baby shower? I’m worried some of our relatives will get hurt in the melee, quite possibly from friendly fire knowing our lot once chaos breaks out.”
“It will be, yes, chaotic, but I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Hmmm, something still wasn’t sitting right with Gigi. “You know, I can’t remember the last time you and Nell agreed upon… Seriously? This is about your mother, isn’t it? Darcy! I’m sure if you sat Aunt Sarah down and explained that a bunch of deities are plotting to take over the world she would totally—”
“What fantasy world are you living in? We’ve postponed this baby shower seven times already. Twice because somethingcame up for Nell. Three times because of Double-wide’s commitments. Do you know who she blames for those postponements?”
“You?”
“Of course she blames me.”
“But if you explained—”
“Gigi, do you remember when we were twelve and my brother Simon went on that school skiing trip in New Zealand and broke his leg? Who did Sarah blame? Me, even though I was home. When I was sixteen she accused me of having something to do with ruining her wedding anniversary plans with my father because it rained non-stop for the weekend. And when Nell chose to live in Sydney rather than commute during her medical residency who do—”
“Okay. We get it.” Sarah and Darcy had butted heads pretty much from the moment Darcy made an appearance in the delivery room and tried to slug the midwife. “Although I was there when you did that rain dance, so I’m not sure you’re completely innocent in regards to that particular incident. But why is Nell agreeing to go ahead with it? She must be terrified that something might happen to the baby, surely?”
“Yeah, that’s the other thing I should probably warn you two about. Nell’s angry. And acting kind of irrational.”
“Angry?” Gigi couldn’t recall a time she’d ever witnessed gentle healer Nell be more than mildly annoyed. “Irrational?”
“She wants Hathor, her daughters and all their supporters dead. Wiped from existence. Look, when I’m the one trying to be the voice of reason and convince Nell we should take people alive for questioning, then you know we’re in trouble. I would appreciate it if on the day you guys kept a close eye on her.”
“It’s going to be chaos. Speaking of which, have you told Apep and Maat what’s going on?”
“Cara’s getting Apep up to date right now. And Drum said he’d speak to Maat. They’ll be two more wild cards on the day. Though I expect Apep wants to squeeze the whereabouts of his no-good asshole sons out of Hathor. And I’m guessing Maat will just smote anyone who looks at Nell wrong. It’s going to be a very challenging day.”
“To be fair, there’s almost too much going on, plus we’re supposed to be catering the event.” Nico pointed out. “When the chips are down, where do you want us?”
Darcy took a moment to admire the pristine condition of her boots, idly letting her magic zip across her inner web. Her magic doing its best to factor in all the players, and their various agendas. Unfortunately, there were still too many variables, too much unknown. But a few pure notes travelling down the lines did give her hope that the day wouldn’t turn out to be a complete debacle. “Protect Nell, from any threat, including herself. Sunny and Nell will be your number one priority on the day.” Standing abruptly Darcy smoothed down her skirt. “I have to jet. I know I’m asking a lot here.” Darcy’s clear blue eyes sizzled with cold burning fire. “But these power hungry twats are after my soon to be born niece, and if they manage to get close to her, harm so much as a hair on her precious head, then I’ll forget about playing nice, being restrained. The world will burn in ice and run with blood until everyone of them is dead, their souls destroyed and their bones ground to dust, with no hope of reincarnation.” The very idea bringing a smile to Darcy’s lips.
Gigi and Nico gripped hands under the table and held very still. That smile of Darcy’s was a rare one. Sixty-four. Darcy’s - off the leash, head to the bunkers – smile.
“Darcy?” Gigi really wanted her cousin to stop smiling like that.
“What? Oh, yes. So, in the meantime, I can count on you two, right?” Pleased when the duo hurriedly nodded their heads.“Excellent.” With a twirl Darcy stalked away, headed to the Transportal located near the front door, disguised as a coat closet.
Gigi felt like she’d just survived a category four cyclone. Taking two big cleansing breaths, gathering her wits and concentrating on the problem, or now several problems at hand. She had a baby shower to get ready for that was potentially going to be a free-for-all smack down with Goddesses, cult followers and hired contract killers. She and Nico couldn’t go further than ten feet from one another or he might turn into a golden zombie robot. Not to mention they’d been directed to be a loved-up public distraction by Darcy and really sell their faux romance.
And then there was the biggest problem of all. The one Gigi hadn’t had a moment yet this morning, given their rude awakening, to come to terms with. She’d spent the previous night, all night, having awesome sex with Nico Yanez, and the problem? She didn’t want to stop.
Fuck. Nico released a deep breath. He felt rattled to his bones. Darcy’s unexpected arrival. All the information she’d unloaded. He was related to a God of Fire? What did that even mean? He felt trapped. A baby’s life was on the line, along with a lot of the Southern Sanctuary inhabitants, he couldn’t cut and run. Hah, he wouldn’t get further than ten feet before he started glittering and drooling. Not that he wanted to run, no, he wanted to punch, tear and decimate. He should team up with Nell, they’d wipe the floor with these manipulative conniving Lurve Goddesses.
