“And I’m sure that reasoning helps absolve you all of the guilt about removing my memories and lying to me.”
He grimaced but didn’t deny his part. He may not have had a hand in whatever magic they used, but he knew, and that made him part of the problem.
“I don’t know what happened, but the man who brought you back isn’t a good person.”
It seems the god of death materializing in my rooms located on the top floor of my bed-and-breakfast freaked out my resident ghost.
“He’s not a man. He’s a god.”
“That doesn’t make him good.”
I wasn’t sure what Donn’s goal was, but the dates kept him in my orbit until I could unpick his motivations.
“Agreed, but let’s reserve judgment given he’s the only one who can weaken Eloise enough to stop her.”
Harry recoiled at my grandmother’s name, a reasonable reaction to the woman single-handedly trying to start a war between humans and supernaturals by exposing us to the world. She didn’t just want a war; she desired domination. She saw herself as the ultimate leader of the three factions: elementals, shifters, and vampires. But in doing so, she’d garnered the interest of Heaven, Hell, and an ancient god with questionable goals. This would make most people pause and take stock of their actions, but not Eloise Roberts. Her narcissism knew no bounds. I wouldn’t be surprised if she saw herself on a throne ruling angels and demons, which was never going to happen. Heaven and Hell were watching, and each had a representative with various amounts of involvement. While Lucifer took a more active role, Abbadon, the archangel of death and my father, stuck his nose in my business and offered unreasonable solutions, but didn’t step over the line of interference. That came down on my shoulders. How on earth did they expect me to defeat my grandmother while they chained part of my psyche?
Harry’s head snapped to the door as footsteps moved up the stairs. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Yes.” This conversation was between mates, if indeed I could get past this betrayal and remain tied to Hudson for the rest of our lives. We all make mistakes. The old me, the one still ruled by a betrayal of the heart, was terrified that I’d yet again picked someone who would hurt me. The new me was sick of running scared.
Harry hung his head and sank into the floor, passing into Rebecca’s room. Interesting exit.
“I already tried locating her,” Aunt Liz said. “Wherever he’s taken her, it’s either warded or...”
“Not on this plane,” Aunt Dayna finished.
“Lucifer and Abbadon have that covered,” Aunt Liz said.
They sounded upset. Good. I was livid.
“From what you said, she doesn’t appear to be in danger,” Dave reasoned.
“I will tear this world and any other apart to find my mate,” Hudson growled as the door swung open. He froze, and his eyes rolled with a flash of gold.
“No need for violence, Principal. I’m right here,” I said.
Hudson’s lip curled when I used his title rather than our relationship. To be my mate, you had to freaking earn it.
“Cora?” Aunt Liz snapped.
Hudson stepped farther into the room, and everyone pressed against him.
I lifted my hand, making everyone pause. “We need to talk.”
“What happened?” Aunt Dayna demanded.
I leveled my aunts with the Roberts’ stare. It wouldn’t make them cower, but it would communicate my mood better than any words.
Dave folded his arms. “Where did he take you?”
“I don’t owe any of you an explanation, but since I am not a liar, I will tell you that Donn took me to his castle.”
“He has a castle?” Aunt Dayna asked with interest. We ignored her.
“What did he do?” Aunt Liz asked.
“We talked.”
