Page 8 of Flirting with Death

"It has been in the making for years, honey," my mom replied. A twinkle was in her eyes as she placed the cheese in front of me. I had always wanted the kind of love my parents had, but I pushed it down deep, knowing or thinking it wasn't for me. I still wasn't sure it was. Losing people you loved hurt more.

After some small talk as we all tip-toed around the hurt, I decided it was time to tell them about Apollo’s visit and the missing muse. They let me talk, each of them gave me their full attention.

I folded my napkin in my lap when I finished, and my mom inhaled. “I’m not sure The Order will like that.”

Here was the hard part. “Mom, I am doing this. You lost your say when you–” My words caught, and I swallowed, the food in my stomach felt like it was turning sour.

“Honey, I didn’t mean to hurt you. If I could go back and change the past, we would find another way. It won’t happen again.”

She was right at least about that, Bellamy was gone, she couldn’t exactly kill him again. But she was trying, right? That was what this dinner was about?

“Raiden needs to be with you on this one,” my dad ordered. At least this time I knew he could handle himself.

I wrapped my fingers around Raiden’s and smiled over at him. “Yeah, he will.”

“So what do you need from us?” My mom linked her fingers together on the table and watched me.

That single question went a long way in telling me they had my back even if The Order would disagree. For the first time in weeks, I felt almost normal. Sure, it wasn't an instant fix, and it would probably never be the way it was, that’s what happens when you lose your innocence as I had, but it was a step in the right direction.

And when I said my goodbyes, Raiden followed me from the house. When we returned to Fantasia, the party was in full swing. Supernaturals danced and let loose in the only sanctuary they had. Instead of joining them tonight, I moved over to a booth with Raiden, and we watched them.

My opinion of most of them had changed. If I was honest, the change had started when Brook was in trouble, and I saw how hard the Fae fought to save her. But recent events really hit it home. They were like humans, each one with a vastly unique personality and not all bad. A flash of blue skin and a tail had me sitting taller. My breath caught in my chest as I strained my eyes through the fake fog for another glimpse of what I thought I saw.

Raiden sat forward, his gaze scanned the area for danger. But I wasn't looking for danger. I thought I had seen Bellamy. A demon with blue skin came into view, but it wasn't him. I sagged back into the booth as a fresh wave of sadness coursed through me. Rai caught on when he saw them, and he rubbed my shoulder, pulling me close. He might not have liked him, but he accepted I had developed feelings, not that I had let myself explore them.

"Lex should have been back by now," I muttered.

"Time moves differently in Tartus. It could be days before he is back."

CHAPTER 5

Tyler

The lock clicked on my car as I strode across the parking lot to the store. I searched the area on high alert with the knowledge of the newest threat. If they were going after the hunters' family and friends, I could be on that list. I couldn't stop living, though. Getting milk and bread was a normal part of life. This much anxiety shouldn't be happening. But, of course, I was born a male in a family of women superheroes.

No matter how hard I tried to be something more, it never felt like enough. I was a firefighter so I could save people like my sister and mom. It helped the feeling of inadequacy, but it never eliminated it. I loved my family, but I wanted to be a hero, too. Like Raiden, he was one of the strongest people I knew, and if I swung that way, my sister would have some serious competition in the romance department because I would have wooed the shit out of him. But women were the only thing on my radar.

As if the thought of beautiful women conjured one, a woman with a perfect body stepped in front of me. I could sense the otherworldliness about her, even before she spoke.

"Tyler Orion," she said. "You are a hard one to find."

I scratched the back of my neck and shrugged. "Not really." Sure, have a conversation with the woman that knows your name, because that was smart.

Her tinkling laugh sent goosebumps flying down my spine. "I've been told you want to be a hero."

I glanced back at my car, it wasn't too far away. I could probably make it to it and get away before she could catch me. How embarrassing would it be to be kidnapped and rescued by my little sister? I took a step back as I watched her for any sudden movements.

"I'm good with not being a hero. Honestly, that was just a teenage fantasy," I said as I retreated.

"I'm Clio. My sister is missing." She followed me step by step as her thin dress billowed in a nonexistent air.

"You are talking to the wrong Orion. I only save people that are caught in fires." The cool metal of my door pressed against my back, and I ran my hand over the surface for the handle.

"She very well could be caught in a fire," Clio murmured. "I am the muse of Heroic action, and I need a hero."

"I'll tell my sister you're looking for her," I promised as I found the door handle and quickly swung the driver's side open and slid behind the wheel, punched the ignition, and threw the car in reverse without looking. I flew from the parking lot like hell hounds were nipping at my heels.

Checking the rearview mirror, I let out a sigh of relief when I didn't see anyone following. Fuck. My palms were clammy, and my heart still raced in my chest. And I actually had wanted that. Holy shit, had I been wrong.

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