Page 103 of Distinctly Daray
“I’m also grateful that our sisters understood the tragedy we prevented and handed us the lightest of sentences,” Fate commented.
“It helps that Folly has angered everyone with any moral integrity,” Death growled. “With so many against her, few were willing to hold us accountable for going to Earth and confronting her.”
“I wish I knew where she was,” Eternity fumed. “I’d break whatever rules stood in my way to have another chance to stop her.”
“She won’t get away again,” Life remarked. “No one will allow it. We would trap her in theTier’llomenpermanently before we’d put her in a prison she can escape.”
TheTier’llomenwas constructed by their mother to settle disputes and decide punishments for rule-breaking goddesses. It randomly selected ten goddesses and plucked them immediately to attend to the issue. No goddess would visit there willingly as nearly everyone had stepped out of line at least once and had faced punishment.
“The problem is how long it took us to find her the first time,” Fate said. “And I fear her power continues to grow thanks to her vile decision to siphon from others. There is no way to know how long it’ll be until we encounter her again. What havoc will she create until then? We are helpless, and I hate it.”
“All we can do is remain vigilant,” Death stated. “We must protect our realms and planets to the best of our abilities until she makes her next move.”
“And trust no one else but those closest to us because we don’t know how many she has recruited to her cause,” Eternity added.
Fate decided she’d keep a far closer eye on the angelic realm and Earth to ensure Folly didn’t hurt any of her creations or those of her dear sisters. It reminded her not to set asidethe notion of bringing an angel to Earth to prove they weren’t evil, as some of the extended D’Vaire clan had joked during a previous holiday celebration. Perhaps if she united an angel with someone in Council, it would build a bridge to allow both populations to defend each other.
Of course, the problem with that was that it was impossible to travel in and out of the angelic realm. It would be difficult enough to explain to her sisters that a single angel had made it off the realm, let alone to suddenly have a virtual highway between the two places. But Fate was intelligent. She’d think of something. First, she had to figure out if there was anyone on Earth who’d match up perfectly with an angel.
Their worlds were so vastly different that she wasn’t even sure if it was an option. Or maybe not every Earth population the goddesses had created were so dissimilar to the angels. Fate had to remind herself that her race was modeled after one full of gay male warriors. Maybe the right candidate was already patiently waiting for an angel and that was why he remained single.
Fate grinned. But could she do that? What consequences would she face, and would they be worth it? Fate needed to give that aspect the most amount of thought before she did anything. While she wasn’t given to rashness, she’d made her fair share of mistakes in the past.
Not that she was willing to admit that aloud to her sisters. But no one was perfect, and matebonds had failed. She closed her eyes, and disappointment filled her as the loveless couples who were already bound filled her mind. She supposed another question she needed to pose to herself—and perhaps her closest sisters—was if it was worth finding a way to break any of those bonds.
Fate scooted down in her chair and wondered if a goddess’s work was ever done. Certainly not hers. The weight of billions of lonely souls tugged at her daily. Fate couldn’t worryabout all these contemplative scenarios. She had couples to match. Ones that could be completed without breaking rules.
But sometimes bending a rule was entirely too much fun to be ignored.
Chapter 35
Victor pulled his ham out of the oven and smiled as the honey-baked scent hit his nose. A second later, his senses were delightfully overwhelmed by sunflowers and cinnamon. Setting the tray with the ham on a trivet, Victor turned and brushed his lips with Keegan’s as he handed the fallen knight a bowl of mashed potatoes. Keegan walked off with a grin, and Victor cupped Phillip’s face to kiss him.
They shared a smile, then Victor gave the sentinel the salad for the table. With joy in his heart for the two beautiful men he loved and the family he’d gained so many years ago, Victor sighed happily. Although he wanted to luxuriate in all the gifts Fate had granted him, he had a condo full of hungry men to feed.
So, Victor eased his ham to a serving platter and didn’t bother arguing as Arvandus plucked it from the counter to carry it away. Victor moved to grab the goblet of wine he’d filled for himself, but Brynnius beat him to it and placed it on the table for him. Although Victor was paid to be the housekeeper, every Daray put in their fair share of work to keep things running smoothly.
With nothing left to do, Victor headed for the table and took the empty chair to the left of Phillip. Keegan was alreadyseated on the sentinel’s right, and Victor winked at both Cinder Lords. Victor jumped a second later as Baxter’s palm banged the tabletop.
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Baxter demanded.
Chander scowled. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Did you put salad in your bowl without Alaric threatening you?”
“I do not threaten Chand,” Alaric stated firmly.
“No, because if he did, Chand would flatten him,” Arvandus snickered.
“No one can flatten a sentinel,” Alaric drawled confidently.
“I don’t know, I think a couple sentinels in here get flattened on a regular basis,” Baxter scoffed.
Keegan frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I could be mistaken, but it is Baxter, so I doubt I am wrong. I assume he is speaking of something s-e-x-u-a-l,” Vellerynd remarked with a roll of his cobalt eyes.
“Okay, who taught Vel to spell that?” Baxter asked. He waggled his blond brows. “And you’re right. I know I get flattened by Ben regularly.”
