Page 7 of Where A Goddess Belongs

Chapter Three

Kari could tell something had changed. Jacoby had returned from making his rounds looking even more tense than he had before he’d left. He’d pulled Den into the tiny galley kitchen, where they’d held a quiet, intense conversation she hadn’t been able to overhear. Which led her to believe one of the men had a little more magic than she’d thought. Maybe more than anyone knew. Otherwise, the Mal wouldn’t be wasting his powers guarding her. It was obvious the Mal thought she had very little power left or they would’ve set more than two guards on her. It pricked at her pride that they thought so little of her. Which was ridiculous. She should be happy they’d underestimated her. It’d make it easier for her to slip away. The problem was, she didn’t want to slip away without Den and Jacoby. She wanted them to come with her. From her spot on the couch, where she was pretending to watch some mindless show about tiny little houses with more amenities than any mansion she’d ever been in, she wondered what had put that look on Jacoby’s face. Den hadn’t had time to tell him about their little scene in that same spot about an hour ago, so that couldn’t be the problem. Not that she thought it was a problem. She was hoping it would happen again, like soon and including Jacoby. Sighing, she propped her chin in her hand and gave up any pretense of watching television. Those two were much more interesting than anyone she’d ever met before. Which was odd because she’d been around for a couple thousand years and had met millions of people in her lifetime. So what was it about these two men? On the surface, they were handsome, of course. But she’d met some of the most beautiful men in the world throughout her life. What set these two apart? Den had the whole he-man protector vibe going for him, which, she had to admit, appealed to her more than it probably should in this day and age. Then again, she was a goddess so she could do as she damn well pleased. And she usually did. Jacoby... He was still a mystery to her. Respectful to a fault but she could tell he wanted her. Or maybe she was reading something into his behavior that just wasn’t there. On the outside, he seemed like the perfect Mal soldier, quiet and dutiful. But there was something else about him, something that made her want to dig beneath the surface and uncover all of his secrets. Because he had secrets. They shadowed the depths of those dark eyes and made her want to pull him close and pet him until he told her everything. As the Goddess of Healing, this wasn’t uncommon for her. They didn’t call her Lady of the Singing Heart for shits and giggles. It was her nature to want to heal her people, to take their emotional pain and distress and leave them happier than she found them. But what she felt for Den and Jacoby went beyond wanting to heal. She wanted so much more, something she’d never felt before. Which made her want to dig inside herself and find out why. But first, she wanted to know what they were discussing because it certainly seemed intense. They leaned toward each other, as if they were keeping their voices low, but Kari knew one of them was using some sort of spell to keep her from hearing their conversation. And if that wasn’t interesting enough, Den was doing his fair share of the talking. He was usually the one to listen, while Jacoby talked. It’d been almost five minutes and their conversation didn’t seem to be abating. In fact, she thought it might actually be picking up speed. Jacoby was shaking his head as Den leaned back, his hands spread on the counter behind him, making his arm muscles bulge. Damn, she really wanted him to use those arms to lift her off her feet and hold her against the wall and fuck her until she couldn’t see straight. Or maybe he could hold her against Jacoby while they both took her. Oh, the images in her head. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start to drool. And how embarrassing would that be? Pretty damn embarrassing, considering she was a freaking goddess. Jacoby turned to look at her just then. She was sure he’d only meant to glance over and make sure she was still watching TV. But their gazes caught and held. His held a stormy indecision that made her own gaze narrow in contemplation. He stared at her for several long seconds before he shook his head, inky dark hair falling over his forehead and his mouth flattening into a straight line, and tore his gaze away. Slashing a hand in front of him, he responded to Den, who shook his head and said something that made Jacoby’s jaw tighten even further. Whatever they were arguing about, it was intense and they weren’t in agreement. They kept going back and forth, shaking their heads in alternating turns. Deciding she’d had enough of being left out of the conversation, she rose from the couch and made her way to the kitchen, where both men went silent and still as soon as she stood. With a snap of her fingers, she spelled the cameras in the room to loop the last ten minutes of footage. If anyone was watching, they’d see Den and Jacoby talking in the kitchen and her watching TV on the couch. It took more magic than she’d expended in days and she knew it left her vulnerable in a way she didn’t like to be. But she had the feeling the situation had changed and time had run out. “Don’t you think it’s time to fill me in on the plan?” The men exchanged a glance before Den straightened away from the counter where he’d been leaning and closed the distance between them. She let her head drop back so she could maintain eye contact, her lips curving in a smile she’d been told was irresistible. Den’s gaze dropped to her lips for several long seconds before he dragged it back to meet hers. “Do you need something, Lady Kari?” She let her smile widen and watched the heat in Den’s eyes burn hotter. “I need to know what’s going on. I’m sure you know I’m not stupid—” “No, Lady, we—” “—and I realize that something’s changed. I’d like to know what that is. I may be able to help.” They both looked at the camera in the doorway at the same time before staring at each other. Den tilted his head to the side, his eyes widening. Looking at Jacoby, she caught him shaking his head. But she didn’t think he was responding to Den’s silent question. He just looked frustrated. Finally, Den said, “Things have.” “Den.” Jacoby’s terse tone cut through the air like a blade but Den never broke eye contact with her. “They’re sending our replacements Monday. Which means if we’re going to get you out, we have to do it soon.” “For fuck’s sake, Den. You’re gonna get us all killed.” Now, Den turned to Jacoby, his expression darkening. “It’s now or never, Jack. We either do it or we don’t. But we both know we can’t not do something. We’ve run out of time.” There was an undercurrent in his voice that clued her into the fact that other pieces were in play here. She’d never been a chess player. She didn’t enjoy games that didn’t involve sex or wine or even ping pong balls and those cute red plastic cups filled with beer. Hell, she couldn’t even finish a game of checkers without getting distracted, which usually meant flirting with her opponent and ending up in bed. She was an unapologetically sexual creature who took emotional pain from those who needed her and sloughed off that pain with sex or alcohol. She barely ever looked beyond the pain to the resulting causes because if she did, she wouldn’t be able to function. Her heart just couldn’t take it. It’s why she’d never settled down with any one lover for more than a couple of years. The mortals died eventually and the immortals... Well, mostly they were dicks. These two men had piqued her curiosity and she wanted more of them. So whatever problem they were having, she needed to help them solve it. If she could. “Tell me what’s going on. I may actually be able to help.” Jacoby’s scowl deepened as he shook his head but Den caught and held her gaze. “It’s not just you we need to get out. My mom and Jack’s sister need to disappear, too.” The plot thickened. “Why?” “Because my mom’s sick and we know of only one person who has the same illness who was actually cured. No one else has survived.” His jaw tightened and he swallowed hard before he continued. “And Jack’s sister...she needs to get away before the Mal make her into a monster.” “Why would they do that?” Jacoby and Den exchanged another one of those looks that expressed a whole lot more than any words could. Finally, Jacoby inhaled sharply and let it out on a sigh. “Because they think she’s your replacement.” Kari’s mouth dropped open for several seconds even though she really didn’t know what to say. Her replacement? She blinked as the world around her went a little dim. Maybe it spun, too. Reaching for the nearest flat surface to hold herself up, she instead connected with warm flesh. Jacoby had reached for her, sticking out his hand to catch her before she toppled over. Which had been a very real possibility. My replacement. She knew what had happened with Katene and Lucy. Lucy had been the Etruscan Goddess of the Moon until a few years ago when she’d given up her mantle of power to the young Etruscan shifter who’d been born to take her place. I’m being replaced. What if I don’t want to be replaced? Did she even have a choice in the matter or would she simply lose her powers one day and be...just another nameless face on the street. “Lady Kari?” She swallowed hard, trying to keep up with her boomeranging thoughts but her brain wouldn’t settle. Would she be mortal? Would she have any magic? Would she have to get a job? What would she even do? She didn’t have a clue. She wasn’t trained for anything. She couldn’t do anything. She was useless— “Kari. You need to breathe or you’re going to pass out.” Jacoby’s low, worried tone finally got through the haze of panic that had descended on her. Her gaze connected with his and she found herself a little steadier. Sucking in several long, deep breaths, she realized Jacoby had hold of her hands and was squeezing them tight. Not painfully, just tight enough for her to feel safe. “Damn it.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Den run a hand through his already tousled hair, his expression angry. Not at her, at himself. “Den.” He met her gaze, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have let my fucking mouth run—” “I glad I heard it from you and not someone else. Really.” She released one of Jacoby’s hands to reach for Den, grabbing the hand that was about to run through his hair again. She wanted to smooth those ruffles.

Actually, she wanted to make more of them while they were naked in a bed but they’d deal with that situation later. Right now, she had more on her plate than she’d expected.

She needed to figure out what they were going to do because, no, she couldn’t leave her successor in the hands of the Mal. No matter what else happened, that had to come first.

“Where is your sister?”

“In New York City.”

She turned to Den. “And your mother?”

“The Hamptons.”

She thought about the logistics for a few seconds, thought about who she knew she could trust with this information.

A few names came to mind but only one she knew wouldn’t ask for anything in return and had enough leverage to actually make this all work.

“Do you have my cell phone?”

Jacoby shook his head. “Why?”

“Because I know someone who can help us pull this off but I don’t exactly have his phone number memorized.”

“What’s his name? Can we find him in the phone book?”

She almost laughed but then realized it wasn’t a bad idea. Unless you actually knew who you were looking for, the phone book was fairly anonymous. A perfect hideout for those who didn’t want the wrong people to find them.

“Actually, I think so. But we need an actual phone book. One made of paper. Find me one from Reading, Pennsylvania, and I think I’ll be able to find us some help.”

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