A small tendril of hope takes root in my stomach, the damning emotion growing and growing until it has sprouted into a magnificent tree. I can scarcely believe what I’m hearing.
They didn’t betray me.
But…
All of us immediately turn to stare at Helio, much to Ray’s bemusement. He’ll be able to know innately if Ray is telling the truth using his gifts. He once told me it’s a feeling in the center of his chest, something indescribable. That feeling dictates whether a person is guilty or innocent, and if it’s the former, what the punishment should be.
When the God of Karma nods, eyes glimmering with suppressed emotion on my behalf, I just barely stop myself from sagging against Desmond in relief.
A stupid part of me wants to cry as emotions assault me from all angles. Intermingled with them is that pesky guilt once again. This time, I’m easily able to decipher where it stems from.
How could I have believed that they would betray me? That they were behind this entire mess in the first place? It makes me feel like a shitty sister for seeing the worst in them when they always saw the best in me.
“You’re acting weird,” Ray says slowly, carefully, eyes poring over my face. “Why are you acting weird?”
“Because I’m happy,” I sob, launching myself into his arms. He stumbles under my weight before reluctantly hugging me back.
“There, there,” he whispers awkwardly as he pats my back, and I stifle my laughter. Because Ray and comfort? They go as well together as peanut butter and dog shit.
“Okay, enough of that!” Desmond, of all people, quite literally rips me from my brother’s arms, a smile firmly in place. I really need to talk to my men about their jealousy issues.
Though, at the same time, the demented bitch inside of me kind of likes it. And when I say kind of, I mean she spreads her legs like a hussy and constructs a neon sign that says, “Open for business.”
I know some women won’t think this, but I adore their caveman, possessive attitudes. Call me twisted or fucked up, but it’s the truth. I like knowing I can get under their skin in a way no one else has ever—and will ever—be able to. I like knowing that they're mine just as much as I am theirs. A bond like ours? It can’t be replicated, no matter how much a bitch like Athena tries.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Avery begins conversationally, flashing my brother a charming smile. And though his features are a bit softer, a bit kinder, a bit more angelic than my other mates’, I have no doubt that if they ever hurt me, Avery would kill them. He’s fucking fierce and borderline psychotic when it comes to protecting the people he cares about.
Normally, Ray would smile back, but this time, he merely glares at his best friend, his lips as sharp as a dagger.
“Actually, I very much would mind you asking,” Ray seethes. “You traitorous cunt—”
“What’s the name of your girlfriend?” I interrupt, knowing where Avery was going with his question.
Ray refuses to break his tense stare off with Avery. I have a feeling that a bloodbath between the two is imminent, capable of wreaking havoc and mayhem on the unsuspecting population. I’ll have to warn my God of Death not to use his powers on my brother.
Huffing out a breath when Ray doesn’t respond, I dig into his pockets and remove his phone.
Tate hisses, glaring at where my hand rests, but I merely give him a dull look.
“Really, asshole? He’s my fucking brother.”
In response, Tate flips me off.
“You could’ve just asked,” Ray snaps, not tearing his gaze away from a scowling Avery. It’s one expression I’ve never seen on my lover and best friend. He’s always so happy and up-beat…even when he’s murdering people. And though I see anger emanating from his eyes, I also see hurt, so prominent that I nearly choke on it.
He’s upset that he doesn’t have my brother’s approval to date me. Despite regaining his memories from our time in the Realm of the Gods, he still considers Ray one of his best friends, and he’s hurt that Ray doesn’t trust him enough to date me.
I make a promise to myself that I’ll talk to Avery about this at a later date as I type in Ray’s password.
“One, two, three, four,” Desmond snorts, staring over my shoulder at the screen. “Really?”
Ray finally tears his gaze away from Avery to glare at Des.
“Fuck you. And seriously, Em, what do you want with my phone?”
“I just want to see…” I click on his photo icon and freeze when I see the most recent picture, taken just last night. My lungs suddenly seem incapable of taking in air, and my heart roars in my chest. Desmond, still behind me, freezes before releasing a muffled curse. Helio leans close as well, his dark beard scratching against my shoulder as he stares at the picture with me.
“Is anyone going to tell us what’s going on, or do you want us to guess?” Tate asks, irritated.
“It’s…it’s her.”
“Are you talking about my girlfriend?” Ray demands, lunging forward to take the phone from me. “Do you know her? Why are you acting so fucking weird?” The last statement is said as a low grumble as he shoves his phone back into his pocket.
But despite the picture no longer being in front of me, I can still see her face. Her mousy brown hair and elfin features. Those keen eyes usually hidden away behind a thin pair of glasses. Her lips pulled back into an easy-going, familiar smile.
Rebecca.
My best friend.
A goddess.
And apparently, my brothers’ new girlfriend.
If there’s one thing life has shown me, it’s that there are no coincidences. There’s no way for me to deny it anymore, and I try to swallow around the lump of betrayal that had crawled its way up my throat like a disgusting, hairy spider.
Rebecca is the goddess
