“Sorry to have wasted your time.”
The men glanced around, confused—like they’d just been tricked. That’s when Adriana stepped in. With a flick of her hand and a whisper, their eyes glazed over. Seconds later, they were smiling like they’d just nailed their interviews.
“Thank you,” I said to Adriana and Cai. “Any leads on who Demi might’ve fallen in love with?”
I was still chasing that mystery.
She’d clearly made contact with him—and she was upset it wasn’t working out.
Or was she?
The way she’d acted on her date with Jonas had thrown me off completely.
Adriana flipped her golden hair, strands shimmering like they’d been spun from sunlight. For all I knew, they had been.
“Nothing on my end.”
“I’m still looking, brother,” Cai said, patting my arm.
He was older than me by centuries but looked just as young—maybe younger, thanks to his eternally smooth face.
Both he and Adriana were purebred gods. Not a drop of mortal blood among them.
“I really appreciate all your help.”
A look passed between my siblings.
“What?” I asked.
Adriana smirked. “We just fear you’ve gone mad, little brother.”
I dragged a hand through my hair. “You might not be wrong.”
“Why all the trouble for this woman?” Cai asked.
I almost said, “Because I promised her and her father.” But that wasn’t it. Not really. Flashes of Demi filled my mind.
The first time I saw her on TV when I was a teenager.
Our runs where we’d shared our secrets with each other.
Her voice reading to my daughter.
Her laughter while baking cookies.
The way every cast member leaned toward her, drawn in by her warmth.
The way she offered consolation, encouragement, healing—because she knew exactly what their hearts longed for.
Someone as rare, as beautiful inside and out, as she was deserved her heart back. Deserved true love.
“She’s special” was all I could manage.
“You love her,” Adriana said as a statement, not a question.
I shook my head too quickly, too hard. I couldn’t be in love with her. Yes, I cared for her. Desired her. But . . .
“That would be foolish.”
