“You look tired, sister.”

Destiny glanced at her sister as they shut the doorway to the Halls of Death.

The humans and immortals who were waiting for their return were searching their faces for signs of their failure or triumph at finding Zeus.

For the last two moons, they had gone out every day, going to each doorway, searching for the elusive god. Their failure written on their faces when they returned to those who waited.

When her eyes met Rocque’s, disappointment filled his face.

“I wish we had better news for them. Rocque wants to return home. He hates living in the confines of the clubhouse.”

Fate nodded grimly. “I’m surprised he hasn’t made you return home with him. He’s lasted much longer than I thought he would.”

“He’s just as devoted to Mother as we are.” Destiny brushed a weary hand across her brow. “If Achilles and Apollo hadn’t been protecting Mother, her cupid servants would have succeeded in carrying her away.”

All the immortals, gods, and goddesses felt the attack when it happened, reliving the horror and the relief when they were stopped. Afterward, all had gathered and promised to band together to find Zeus and now Merlin, who had disappeared after she had been attacked, then disappeared to their own realms in fear.

Suspicions had everyone distrustful of each other. Destiny knew she could only trust those she was staring at right now in the clubhouse. The biggest surprise to her was Adam. Being mortal, his years in the military had enabled him to maintain control of mortals who had sought sanctuary within the compound’s gates. Even Rocque, Rhys, and Balder had listened to his advice. The women felt protected by the strength of his command that kept them from panicking as the world around them came to a stop and survival came down to what food they had managed to scavenge.

The two women took chairs at a large table.

“No luck?” Adam’s harsh expression showed he already knew the news was bad.

“No.” Destiny laid a hand on Broni’s trembling one. She wished Mother would reconsider her niece’s punishment and send her back to the safety of Fate’s castle.

Adam’s chair scraped across the wooden floorboards as he stood, placing his hands on the table. “If finding Zeus is important, why can’t the woman you say is in charge find him? What are we supposed to do? We have enough food for a few more days, and that’s with us rationing what we have left. What are we supposed to do?”

Those seated at the table who were immortal could sympathize, but they didn’t have any answers.

“We have to go out scouting for food or move our base.” Rhys’s thoughtful voice had Adam shoving himself from the table.

“The women and the children won’t make it.”

Abby came from behind the bar at the angry outburst. “Yes, we will. The women, like me, aren’t as helpless as you think! You have enough guns and weapons; you and your men can teach us how to use them. Believe me; if someone tries to harm me or Zandra, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in them.”

Adam snorted. “You couldn’t harm a fly.”

“Try me.” Abby defiantly shouldered her way through Rocque’s men to take the spot Adam had vacated. “We’re not afraid to go out to help search for food, or move bases where food is easier to get. What scares us is you all standing around, twiddling your thumbs and making decisions for us as if we don’t have any say.”

“She’s right; the women should be trained to protect themselves,” Destiny broke into the argument. “If they are going to have to take the repercussions of what the men do, the least they should be able to do is participate.”

Adam and the other men at the table didn’t appear happy at her defense of Abby.

“Rhys?” Adam looked toward Rhys, searching for his advice.

“I agree also. We could use their help in taking turns on watches. I’m not happy with Broni going on scouting missions, and certainly more women will be targeted while trying to gather food. If they see we have more women, they will try to breach our compound even more. But if we train the women, they will be able to protect themselves better when we’re away. It will allow us to take more men with us.”

“You happy with that?” Adam switched his gaze from Rhys to Abby.

“For now,” she agreed. “At least until we learn how to use the guns and can prove ourselves capable of doing more.”

“It’s not that I don’t think you’re incapable. I just don’t want the women put in the position of grabbing a can of carrots or getting raped.”

Abby blanched, moving away from the table, but Adam caught her arm.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean …”

She stiffened, but didn’t pull away. “I know what you meant. It’s okay. I don’t expect you or anyone to walk on eggshells every time the word is used or mentioned. I’m not the same woman who Jace and Broni had to rescue from Tank and the Road Demons. They may have raped my body, but they didn’t break me. I won’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that I spend any part of my day thinking about them or what happened. I was terrified when I was being hurt and humiliated by them, but I have years of loving memories before and after them to not give them that power over me.”

Destiny felt a surge of admiration for the woman who refused to see herself as a victim. It was a quality that she admired the most about human women. The pain of her rape hadn’t broken her spirit, instead giving her strength to overcome her fears and the tragedy of losing her family. No, Abby wasn’t a victim. She was a victor.

She didn’t miss the look between the man and woman. She was sending him a silent message that Destiny had no problem interpreting. She was laying her heart out for Adam to see, telling him she was ready to move on and she wanted him to take part of it with her.

When Abby saw that Adam had received her silent message, she went back behind the counter, asking Zandra to help her get something out of the storeroom.

Destiny smirked. “She told you.”

“Yes, she did.” Adam knew when he was beat. “Rhys and Balder can sort through the weapons and make a pile of the ones we can use to teach them how to defend themselves.”

When the men left, Rocque prevented Adam from going with them. “My wolves and I will go out tonight, scouting for the areas where you can find food. We can move faster and save you and your men time from fruitless searches.”

“I won’t turn down your help. Thanks.”

Destiny was surprised at Rocque’s offer. The only reason that he had remained at the clubhouse was because her and Fate had been working together, trying to find Zeus in the different dimensions. She had promised to return each time, and for Mother’s sake, he had agreed.

She could tell he and his wolves were getting restless in their human forms and were ready to return home.

After they ate the sparse meal that the immortals didn’t eat to save the human’s rationing, she went to the bedroom that Adam had given to them. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was ready to leave also. She wasn’t finding it any easier to stay in the close confines of the clubhouse than Rocque did. She was used to being alone, doing her duty to Mother alone. To find herself with Rocque as a constant companion at night was beginning to wear on her nerves. Every movement he made was carried with the sensual beauty of a predator.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she braided her long hair to keep her eyes from straying to him. Looking through her lashes, she saw him remove his jeans and T-shirt as he prepared for bed.

“Did you say something?” Rocque asked as he placed a knee on the mattress.

“No,” she choked out.

“I thought you said something.” Lying down, he bunched a pillow under his head.

“No, I didn’t say anything. When are you leaving?”

Rocque gave a yawn. “In a few hours, if you blow that candle out and let me go to sleep.”

Destiny finished braiding her hair then blew out the candle.

“I want to go with you. It will be faster—”

“No. I want you to stay here until I come back.”

“Why?”

“My wolves and I need to run.”

Hurt washed over her that he didn’t want her tagging along. “Fine.” She rolled to her side, giving him her back.

“Destiny …”

“Go to sleep,” she snapped.

She heard a sigh of frustration, but Rocque didn’t say anything else. She realized he had already fallen asleep. The man could fall asleep at the speed of light. She lay stiff in the dark, counting the minutes, then the hours before he awoke.

When she felt the movement of the mattress, she knew he had woken and was getting dressed. Destiny pretended to be asleep, hearing the creaking of the door when it opened.

“Stay safe, woman. I want you here when I return. When I come back, I want to show you my favorite spot.”

Her pretense of sleep vanished. “I have no desire to see anything you want to show me.”

“Too bad. Get your sleep; you’re going to need it.”

The door slammed shut before she could reply.

Bunching a pillow under her head, she fumed at his arrogance.

Breathing deeply, she inhaled the scent that lingered on the pillow. In her anger, she hadn’t grabbed her pillow but the one Rocque had used. Burrowing her cheek against it, she breathed in his musky scent.

“Be safe, my love.” The whisper filled the room.

Closing her eyes, she imagined herself running with him and his pack in the form of a wolf, doing what she couldn’t do in real life. Dozing off, her imagination turned into a dream of making love to him. Tossing fitfully on the bed, she awoke the next morning just as tired as when she had fallen asleep.

Rising, she saw herself in the mirror over the dresser. She looked just as young and beautiful as she had over centuries, only her eyes reflected the weariness within her soul. Her soul was tired of the responsibilities of mankind’s fate. Now adding the burdens of the fates of the gods, goddesses, and the immortals, she was doubting her ability to find Zeus.

How was he escaping her, Fate’s, and Mother’s notice?

She felt as if she were failing them.

Seeing no answer in her reflection, she left her room, finding Fate waiting for her, looking just as tired.

“You ready?”

Fate nodded. “Any ideas where we should search today?”

“No. You?”

“Let’s just pick a door. We can’t get worse luck than we’re having now.”

Destiny stopped, waving her hand when Fate’s words had her thinking out aloud.

“Is it bad luck? Or deliberate? He has the power to change his appearance; could we have seen him and not known?”

“No, we would recognize his soul. We’re not one of the goddesses who can pretend he’s someone else.”

“But would we? What if someone put a spell on him, camouflaging him?”

The women took a seat at a nearby table, upset with themselves that they hadn’t thought of it before.

“So much time has been wasted.” Destiny thought of how many doorways and dimensions they had searched in vain. He could have been right in front of them, a spell concealing him.

“Not necessarily. We know that Morgana is in Hades and won’t have the ability to accomplish hiding him. We had our suspicions that Merlin was involved with Morgana, so Odin was watching him before Zeus’ disappearance. That was how Mother’s attack was prevented. Odin placed extra guards on her.”

“Who’s left?”

“Loki and Jinx. We’ll have to go to Mother to ask permission to speak to Loki.” Fate stood up. “You coming?”

“No, you don’t need me to speak to Mother. Let me know when you get permission, and I’ll go with you.”

“You don’t want to leave him, do you?”

“If I go with you, Rocque will believe I’m breaking my vow. He’ll be back tonight. Hopefully, Mother will give you permission and we can go see Loki and Jinx tomorrow.”

“Sister … we don’t have time to lose. You should come with me before it’s too … late,” Fate tried to give a hint of warning.

“It’s already too late. I thought I was as strong as you.” She shook her head sadly. “I’m weak. I love him. I can’t find comfort in another man’s arms when he’s the one I want.”

At Fate’s troubled expression, Destiny gave a bittersweet laugh. “If anyone can beat destiny at my own game, I can.”

“I’ve told myself that numerous times.”

“Does it work?”

“No.” Fate brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Good luck. And enjoy your night.”

Destiny hugged her sister. “You always could outrun me.”

“It hasn’t been your fate you’ve been running from. It’s been yourself. I haven’t been any braver than you. Perhaps it’s time for us both to quit running.”

Destiny gave a half-smile. “I don’t know how wise it is, but I agree.”

Releasing her, Fate left.

Destiny decided to go back to her room and rest until Rocque returned. However, as she passed Adam’s room, the door swung opened and she came face-to-face with Abby. Looking through the open door, she saw Adam sleeping naked on his bed.

Abby blushed scarlet, quietly closing the door.

“Have fun?”

Abby’s blush intensified. “I wanted to be back in my room before Zandra wakes.”

Destiny moved aside, motioning her forward. “Don’t let me stop you. We don’t want to confuse an impressionable young girl.”

Abby started down the hallway as if she were on fire, but stopped before entering her and Zandra’s room. “Destiny?”

“Yes.” She went to stand in front of her door across the hall from Abby’s.

“Can I ask you for a favor?”

Destiny’s face became detached. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I will be able to do it for you.”

Abby bit her lip. “Could you mention to Broni to ask Rhys to keep an eye on Adam when they go scouting?”

Destiny’s face cleared. “Of course, but you’re close to Broni; why not ask her yourself?”

“I don’t want Broni to tell Rhys I asked. He may tell Adam, who would be furious at me.”

“I’ll talk to Broni when she wakes.”

“Thank you.” Abby turned her doorknob, going inside.

Destiny stared at the closed door, falling backward across her own door. Images had flashed through her mind of Abby’s future.

Putting her hand to her mouth, she bit down on her knuckles to prevent herself from making a sound. Searching for her own doorknob, she blindly opened her door then lunged inside, managing to close the door behind her before falling on the bed.

Some women had all the luck where men were concerned, and then there were women like Abby who had no luck at all.