Lord of Destiny (The Dragon Demigods #6) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,14
car? I have two spare bedrooms, and Stephan lives in a huge-ass house all by himself.”
I feel both pride and embarrassment. My house is huge. It’s ridiculous! It took me so long to figure out what I wanted to do with my life that when I finally did, and started making big money right off the bat, I went a little OTT.
“Why would you help us?” West’s eyes narrow on Jarrod.
All of them are looking at us. Their eyes are clouded with uncertainty…with distrust. Even Raven. I guess I can’t blame her. I can’t blame any of them. They don’t know us at all. “Some say that Janus fathered Zeus,” I say, looking at Zale. “That would make us related. Cousins.”
He frowns. “Half-cousins.”
Raven shakes her head. “That’s not the general consensus. It’s doubtful that you’re related.”
“The gods are an incestuous bunch of sex-hungry assholes,” Jarrod says. “Chances are good there’s some crossover.”
“I agree,” I say. “Even if we aren’t related, we’re the same.”
Maddox nods once, and Barrett grunts in agreement.
“Why do you know so much about Janus?” I ask Raven. It’s not really a pertinent question, but I want to know.
Her cheeks turn red.
“For a while, Raven was convinced that she was a dragon demigod, too,” Maddox says.
West smiles. “I remember those days.” He looks at her with what I can only describe as affection. He pushes out a laugh. “You were pissed off when you got your scales.”
“Hugely pissed off.” Maddox chuckles.
Raven blushes, and I’m fucked if she doesn’t look even more beautiful.
“Let me guess,” Jarrod says, “you could shift in seconds?”
She nods. “Yep, I can shift in a split second. I am, without a doubt, a full-blooded dragon shifter. Maddox and I look very much like my mother.” She shrugs.
“That’s not entirely true.” I stick my foot in it. I shouldn’t know anything about it, since I haven’t seen their mother. Only, I do know something about it because I know Rage. I can see plenty of similarities. “I mean, you’re tall, and you’re petite.” I gesture to Raven. “You have the same eyes but different facial structures.” I’m saying too much, so I force myself to shut the hell up. “You’re welcome to crash with us while your car is being fixed.”
“It’s not like we have a choice,” West mutters.
“What he’s trying to say is, thank you, that would be much appreciated.” Maddox smiles.
“A huge help,” Raven adds.
“It would be nice to stay in a house instead of a shitty motel,” Zale says.
“Then it’s settled.” Jarrod nods.
Avery arrives with the check, which I take from her. “Pay on your way out,” she says with a smile.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“If this arrangement is going to work, Raven and I are staying with you.” West points at Jarrod.
“Excuse me,” Raven stands, her chair scraping, “you don’t get to decide where I sleep, what I do…or how I do it.”
Definitely water under this bridge!
West seems to deflate in front of us. “Don’t say that, Raven. I’ve told you a hundred times how sorry I am. What do you want me to do to prove it to you? Just say it. Anything! You can’t keep punishing me for one mistake. It was an oversight.”
“An oversight. Are you kidding me?” She shakes her head.
“A mistake! I wish you would get over it. Forgive me so that we can move on. It’s been six months since—” His jaw tightens.
“I have forgiven you, West. And I desperately want to move on.” She looks at me. “I’ll stay with you, Stephan. West can bunk with Jarrod. I would prefer it if we were in separate—”
“That’s bullshit,” West speaks under his breath. He stands as well. All of us do as the tension mounts. “Who’s going to look after you, Raven?” He glares at me, his eyes blazing. “We don’t know these guys. Not really! I’ll be fucked if I’m letting you out of my sight.”
“Well, that’s too damn bad, because—” Raven’s cheeks are red.
“I’ll look after Raven. She’s my sister,” Maddox pipes up, trying to defuse the situation.
I can feel my scales rub. I’m trying not to clench my hands. This isn’t my argument. It isn’t my place. I have to bite my tongue.
Raven puts her hands on her hips. “I can take care of myself. I’m a grown woman who is older than the two of you.” Her eyes haze over with hurt. “If it’s okay, I’d like to stay with you?” She locks eyes with me.