He nodded. “I think we have our answer.”
“But how did he get this into our library?”
Gabriel frowned and reached for the book, referring to the details scribed in the front of the tome. “It’s been here since my mother was regent. I’m guessing it was a gift from Hades with strings attached. After you escaped the fire dimension, he decided to pull the string.”
Gods, she was tired, but this couldn’t wait. “Stand back,” she said, moving to her shelf and grabbing the stone vessel of the goddess’s tears she’d had Leena bring her from Rogos. It was useful in scrying the future but also strong enough to destroy almost anything. She dribbled it carefully over the golden book and watched it melt into a pool of molten metal before evaporating into a puff of foul-smelling smoke.
After a moment of silence, her father reached over and grabbed her hand. “Just because he was your bait doesn’t mean the feelings you felt for each other weren’t real.”
“Do you think Hermes or one of the others will try to use him to get to me?”
“Maybe.”
She closed her eyes. “I could time jump back and take him with me, but I’m too tired and weak.”
“Then eat and sleep,” he said. “Time will still be there when you wake up.”
She nodded. “Yeah, it will be. But he has a life there, Dad. It’s one thing for me to follow him to Earth. I’m practically useless here.”
“That’s not true.”
She shook her head. “You don’t need me.”
“You’re wrong about that.”
“I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to end it once he knew how he was used.”
“You’d tell him?”
“I’d have to.”
“I thought you said he was willing to die for you.”
“He was.”
“Then trust in that. No spell can fake love, Charlie. Not real love.” He helped her to her feet, and they returned the tears to her shelf before heading for her room. “Lie down. I’ll order you up some food.”
“I thought you had to get back to Mom?”
“Let me worry about that. I’ll send a falcon.” He tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead. “Close your eyes. I’ll have Rachel wake you up when she delivers your meal.”
Her lids blinked shut, exhaustion drawing her under. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Charlie, a hell of a lot more than I love being right or than I love the traditions of this kingdom. I’m sorry I forgot that for a second.”
And that was what she loved about her father. He was strong, firm handed, and forever the warrior, but he didn’t hold back his emotions or his apologies when it mattered. Another wave of tears came over her. She was so hungry and tired. But under his watchful eyes, she drifted to sleep.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
The light coming off Hermes wasn’t just bright, it burned, and Liam kept his arms crossed over his eyes against it. What else could he do? He wasn’t packing heat like Kara, and even if he was, what weapon would work against a god?
At least he knew Charlotte would be okay. She’d jumped, leaving him in a whoosh of feathers and a brush of startled air. He tried to feel good about that, but her absence was soul crushing. She wouldn’t be back. She couldn’t. Not now that the gods were waiting for her and watching him.
Gradually the light faded, Hermes reducing to the same pinprick of light he’d arrived as. “I will deliver the message,” his voice boomed. Then he was gone.
“Fuck! Did you see that?” Spencer dug his fingers into his remaining hair. “Tell me you saw that! The wings and the glowing. The coin. Mom, what was with the coin?”
