Page 44 of Daddy's Justice

I had found myself missing my phone more and more. I ached to take a photo of Winter and send it to Monica. She would never believe me if she didn’t see it herself, although she’d likely accuse me of photoshopping the picture. I’d love to be able to open my Kindle app and finish the Daddy Dom book I had started. How would I ever know if the billionaire Daddy and small-town barista were going to fall madly in love or if their marriage of convenience was going to sizzle out? I needed to know! Would they have hot marital sex, would he spank her naughty behind, or would they stay far apart?

Dang.

Now I was really itching to have my phone back. I didn’t say any of that to Kara.

“Cool,” was the response I muttered instead.

Edda’s laughter filled the room. She laughed so hard she was crying.

Damn you. Stop reading my thoughts.

“Another cool thing that you can do with your spear is use it to block Edda from reading your thoughts,” Forseti said, standing. “Until you learn to do it yourself. Simply touch the spear and your thoughts are yours alone. Many young valkyrie walk around with their hands resting on the pocket that holds their spears for this very reason.”

I snatched the spear right out of his outreached hand, and the three of them erupted in gales of laughter.

I had all but gotten a headache from blocking out my desire to go see my parents, my true parents, the ones who had raised me, and take away the worry my mother was surely feeling. Now, I could think freely without worrying about Edda hearing me. We sat in the living room for an hour or so, chatting.

They chatted, at least. My thoughts wandered over my plans. I thought of everything I had learned that day. I was stronger than I knew. I could do this. I would do this. The best part was, without even knowing it, they had empowered me to do this.

* * *

Forseti

One of the powers bestowed upon me at birth was that of discernment. I didn’t need my power to realize something was wrong with Morrigan. She seemed preoccupied and distant. She would interject when called upon, otherwise, she was lost in her thoughts. I wish I hadn’t told her about the spear’s ability to block telekinesis, I’d have asked Edda about it.

No, that wasn’t the right answer. Morrigan was mine. She was my little goddess, and it was my job to get her to tell me of her thoughts. Not as the God of Justice, but as her Daddy. I saw the huge yawn she tried to stifle and raised and went to her. Taking her hand, I pulled her out of her chair and into my arms.

“It is time for bed. It has been a long day.”

“Yes, it has,” Morrigan agreed.

“Edda, can you make sure there are adequate defenses set in place?”

“Of course, boss.”

“I’ll clean up from dinner,” Kara volunteered. “And see to the animals.”

“Thank you, Kara.” I made sure to praise my team for their efforts of the day before escorting Morrigan up to our room.

“What is going on, Morrigan?”

“What do you mean?”

“You seem distant tonight.”

“I do? I guess it is because I am struggling with who I am.”

Frowning, I sat in the large oversized chair in the corner of the room and pulled her onto my lap.

“Sweet, I know this is confusing for you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Can you get word to my mother that I am all right?”

“We’ve been over this, Morrigan.”

“Then there is nothing you can do.”

Oh, there was plenty I could do. I could hold her, love her. I knew, as Odin had decreed it to me, that after this was over and we brought Morrigan back, that memory of her mother would be erased from Midgard. In fact, he was going to erase the memories of all who knew any of the valkyries who were brought here. He had been advised by his counsel. I saw the pros and cons on both sides, but the more I got to know Morrigan and the deeper I felt her love for her family, I started to question this plan. Once Morrigan was safely asleep, I would go and speak to my grandfather about this.

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