Page 23 of Where A Goddess Belongs

“He’s Mal.” Den growled. “We’re not taking him.”

“Then I’m not leaving.”

Kari was left speechless again, until she took a good look at the way the girl was staring at the man on the floor.

“Den.”

His brows rose as he stood, shaking his head. “No way.”

“Please.”

The quiver in Emelia’s voice must have reached Den because he sighed and stood. And even though he didn’t look as strong as he normally did, he slung the other man over his shoulder.

“Let’s get the hell out of here before he wakes up and tries to kill me again. Vaffanculo, your brother’s going to kill me. And then he’s gonna kill this guy. Fair warning, Eme.”

“Thank you, Den.” The girl turned back to Kari and fear showed in her eyes again, even though she didn’t flinch as she curtsied. “Lady.”

Kari wanted to sigh but she reined in the urge. They’d sort all of this out when they were all safely away from here. Which meant heading back downstairs and collecting the rest of their people.

Kari hoped like hell nothing had happened to Jacoby. If he’d been hurt...

All bets were off.

*****

Jacoby saw Kari and Den leave the room and breathed a silent sigh of relief, even though he hadn’t completely neutralized his father yet. Jacoby’s father was a powerful Malandante and Jacoby had known he’d be a tough opponent. He’d been betting on the fact that his father wouldn’t kill him outright. That he’d have a few minutes, at least, before the man realized how much of a danger Jacoby was and decided he needed to die. But that time was fast winding down. His father’s gaze narrowed as he stared at Jacoby, realization showing on his face. “You’ve gotten stronger. No, that’s not right, is it? You’ve been strong, you’ve just been hiding it. Bravo, son. Too bad it won’t do you any good now.” “You’re not going to win this one.” Jacoby knew the wolves were taking care of the other men behind him, but he also knew those men weren’t the real threat. That was his father. “Surrender and we’ll leave. You don’t have to die.” “Oh, I don’t plan on dying. And I think you’re going to be disappointed if you think your sister’s going to leave with you. She’s not going to leave everything she knows to follow you. I’m her father. She’ll do what I say. Especially when I control the man she loves.” Well, shit. He should’ve let the wolves deal with his father so he could get Emelia. “She won’t stay. Not with you.” “Oh, but she definitely doesn’t want to go with your little goddess. We’ve told Emelia exactly what’s going to happen when the deities get their hands on her, how her life will never be her own again. We offered her freedom and the chance to rule. You offer her a life of servitude. Which one do you think she’ll choose? She’s no longer the foolish little girl who worshipped you.” “So you brainwashed her.” “No. We just told her what she needed to hear. It helps that most of it’s true. The goddess isn’t going to give up her mantle. Not without a fight. Emelia knows Akuhvitr will probably kill her.” “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I probably know more about it than you do. Your sister’s seen what happens when someone tries to take the mantle. It’s not pretty.” “Emelia’s not stupid. She knows how much danger she’s in with you. She’ll leave.” “Then I guess I’ll just have to take the option away from her.”

His father pulled the trigger a split second before Jacoby realized he was going to do it. He wasn’t taken off guard, but he was slow enough that the bullet got away from the gun before he could stop it.

Jacoby felt the punch as it hit him in the chest, felt the delayed burn even as he directed his power out and away from him. Surprise spread across his father’s expression as the strength of Jacoby’s spell hit him. He’d been practicing the spell for months, refining it, for this moment.

He used rage to fuel it, the rage he’d kept bottled for years. What had started as anger at his father for his neglect had become a honed blade. He had a single-minded purpose and that was to take his father out. No matter the cost.

Ignoring the pain from the bullet, he concentrated on the metal of the gun. Then he forced it to do what he wanted.

If you were watching closely, you’d think the gun was melting. It wasn’t. It was deconstructing, becoming a liquid that seeped into his father’s skin and into his blood.

His father’s expression was puzzled at first, but not concerned. Until it hit his blood.

And then his expression changed. He grimaced at the first twinge of pain. His eyes narrowed and his mouth flattened. The hand he still held out in front of him shook and he looked at his arm as if it’d become alien, not something that was a part of him.

His mouth opened as if to scream but nothing emerged. Jacoby felt nothing as he watched his father contort as the burning metal spread, pumping through his body and arrowing straight to his heart.

“Jacoby.”

He heard someone call his name, but he had to watch. He had to stand witness to what he’d done. What he’d become. Because this was who he was now.

A killer.

“Jacoby. We need to go.”

Kari’s voice. Calm, warm, steady. He heard no fear, no condemnation. Though he deserved it. Look what he’d done to his own father.

“Jacoby.” Her voice was closer now and he felt her hand land on his arm, a comforting weight he didn’t deserve. But he didn’t pull away. “You’re hurt. You need medical attention. Please, sweetheart. Come with me.”

Hurt?

He looked down and saw the spreading bloodstain on his shirt.

And then the pain he’d been blocking hit him like a freight train. It took his breath away and left him gasping. And falling. But he never hit the floor.

Then everything went black.

---