“Throwing a tantrum is not the best way to get my attention.” The silky voice caught Ree off guard.

“Where have you been?” She whirled to glare at the tall red-headed god.

“I was busy.” Brigid walked past Ree and looked down at the remaining bits of her statue. “I kind of liked that one. So many of the others look nothing like me.”

“Why didn’t you protect the people on this island?” Ree spit the words out, barely able to keep from teetering over the edge of rage.

“We were preoccupied.” Brigid narrowed her eyes and Ree felt very small.

“Preoccupied?” Ree asked. “Too busy to come down and save the people that put their trust in you?”

“Preoccupied,” Brigid asserted. Loki and Ares made sure we couldn’t come to the island when we felt the warning.” Brigid’s eyes flashed with fire. “Once the Council of Gods is called, we cannot leave. Not for anything.”

“Then how did Loki and Ares rip down the shield?” Ree tried to keep hold of her anger, but it wouldn’t listen to reason. “Why is some council more important than the people of this planet?”

“You’re assuming it was Loki or Ares that caused the shield to collapse.” Brigid placed her hands on her hips. “It is not your place to question how the council is run.” She turned and leaned over to brush some of the shattered statue off of the tree roots before taking a seat. She folded her long legs in front of her and still managed to look dignified. “But considering your position, I can understand your frustration.”

Ree felt a sliver of relief at her last sentence. Maybe she would finally get some much needed answers. “If it wasn’t Loki and Ares then who else could it have been? Could it have been another god that has joined them?”

“The dark gods could just as easily have attacked this island while we were in Council. However, I cannot rule out Loki. He has many talents and being in more than one place at a time is among his skill set.”

“You want to keep this planet, right?” Ree looked at Brigid, her mind focused on forcing them to get more involved.

“Yes.” Brigid looked at Ree with guarded eyes.

“Then you need to forget all of the rules you have in place for gods. No one else is paying attention to them. You need to start being more invested in the outcome.” Ree stared at Brigid, not showing a reaction when a heated wind ripped through the clearing, causing the goddess’s hair to whip angrily.

“Do you know how hard it is to keep all of the gods from fighting? To keep them from destroying the Earth themselves? There is a reason we have rules.” Brigid stood up and walked toward Ree, her eyes flashing with lightning. “You may be immortal now, little Alastriana, but you are not a god. You have no right to tell me and my brethren how to do things.”

“I’m the Alastriana.” Ree embraced the power and let it wash out of her. The green energy clashed with the smooth blue glow of the goddess. “You made me to protect your planet. To protect the people of this world.” She took a step forward and felt her energy melt into and over the goddesses’ power. “You created me to protect all of you.” The green energy crept along, devouring and absorbing the goddess’s power. The green energy began to pull at the goddess’s feet, feeding on the substance that made Brigid a god.

Brigid looked at Ree with narrowed eyes. “You were created by us. You are ours.” Suddenly, Brigid’s power disappeared and her eyes softened. “Because we need you.” She sighed and brushed away some of the dirt on the root next to her and motioned for Ree to sit. Ree hesitated, still angry, furious with everything that had happened in the last few weeks, she could barely keep from exploding. After a moment, she let go of the power and tried to swallow some of her anger. Taking slow steps, she claimed the seat next to Brigid and rested her head against the trunk of the tree.

“Then why aren’t you helping me?” Ree cut her eyes at the goddess.

“I know it doesn’t seem that way, but we are helping you, Ree. We’re doing everything we can to make sure you win.” Brigid leaned back next to Ree and folded her hands in her lap. For just a moment, the goddess lost some of the otherworldly sheen and looked like a tired woman who’d been working too many jobs.

“You’re right. It doesn’t seem that way.” Ree picked up a twig and ran it through her fingers. “It feels like you guys are set on making me your puppet. Trying to take away and kill everything that makes me human.”

“You aren’t human anymore, Ree. But I know what you mean.” Brigid looked at her and frowned. “Many of the gods only see you as a tool. But a few of us are working to make sure you have everything you need. Try to understand that for a long time, the gods thought nothing was on their same level. They will always think they do not need humans.”

Ree bit her lip to keep from bringing up the mess with Roland and Paden; to not point out all of the times they could have helped or intervened but hadn’t. Thankfully, Brigid kept speaking, so there was no empty silence for Ree to fill with her angry thoughts.

“The fact is, we can’t be seen intervening. We can’t do anything the dark gods could use to try and overthrow the final verdict. We have to maintain our stance that the battle remains between the chosen warriors.”

“Looks like the bad guys are getting an awful lot of help. From both sides.” Ree threw the stick down on the ground and turned to face the goddess. “I’m not losing any more people. You guys need to step up and start working to protect the innocent. I have enough on my hands that and I shouldn’t have to worry about the safe zones not being safe. I’m going to fight my brother. To the death. And I’m going to fight with everything I have in me. But you guys need to start making sure I have someone backing me up. My team isn’t going to be able to function if you keep letting our families be murdered. On your land.” She stood up and rubbed her hands on her jeans. “Step up and fight back. You ask that of me, and now I’m telling you. Show them you’re not letting them break the rules either. They are laughing at you. At your laws and the lack of conviction you are showing. If you want to keep this planet and its people the way it is, then you need to act like you care.”

Brigid stood up and looked down the trail leading to the house. “I will work to keep the island protected. Leave it to me. For now, you need to get your head on straight and focus on your plan.”

“You know what our plan is?” Ree let her hands hang limply at her side. “You think it will work?”

“I think it’s smart. Of course, Athena wouldn’t have been so set on making you her kin if you didn’t have a brain for strategy.” Brigid looked back at Ree with an amused smile. “I’m going. Don’t break any more statues if you need me. Just call. I’ll be listening.” With that, the goddess snapped out of existence. Ree sat back down on the root and looked at her boots. The soft sound of feet running down the path brought her attention away from the dirt on her shoes.

Paden rounded the bend with a frantic look on his face. As soon as his eyes landed on her, relief washed over him. He slowed down when he took in her expression and came to sit next her. He braced his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, turning slightly so he could look at her.

“I felt Brigid come to the island.” His voice was steady and even, but she could feel the worry just underneath the surface. “Looks like you made an impression.” He nodded with head toward the gritty residue of the statue.

“You could say that.” Ree snorted and leaned back against the tree. “We… had words.”

“Ah.” Paden looked down for a minute. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How is Melanie’s mom?” Ree sat up and looked at Paden. She wasn’t fine, but she didn’t want to talk about herself.

“She’s going to be fine.” Creases deepened near his eyes and mouth for a minute. “They are really upset about Ellie.”

“We all are.” Ree looked back at her feet and fought the sudden onslaught of tears.

“It isn’t your fault, Ree.” Paden’s warm hand cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.

“It definitely feels that way.” Ree shook her hand and stood up, out of Paden’s reach. “I should have left someone to guard the island. It was stupid to put my trust in the gods that keep screwing us over.”

Paden stood up and walked to Ree. He turned her gently so he could see her face. Slowly, he reached up and wiped an escaped tear away. “They should have been paying attention. What did Brigid say?”

“That they had been in a council meeting and by the time she was able to leave, it was too late.” Ree shook her head, but Paden didn’t let her walk away from him again. “A council meeting kept them from protecting the island. Protecting the people that had put their trust in them. Ellie…” Ree choked up and stopped, unable to finish her sentence for a minute. “God, Ellie had already given so much.”

“She saved her daughter. Ellie did some kind of magic that kept the Dark Ones from entering the room, even after they busted down the door.” Paden leaned down and touched his forehead to Ree’s. “She died doing exactly what she wanted to do. Ellie would never have wanted to live if it meant Kay and Mel were hurt instead.”

Ree nodded her head and sniffed. Paden wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Rain began to fall from the sky, but they didn’t move. It matched how Ree felt in her heart, it was right that the sky would cry over the death of Ellie. The world would be a sadder place for the loss.

“Let’s go back to the house.” Paden leaned down and kissed her head.

“Why? We’ll just get rained on there too.” Ree snuggled closer to his chest, wanting to soak up his warmth.

“The gods rebuilt the house. I was just finishing up healing Melanie’s mom when the house righted itself. One minute it was destroyed and the next it was just as we left it.” Paden squeezed her a little tighter. “We need to figure out what to do with the… to make arrangements for the ones that didn’t make it.”

“I don’t want to go to the house. Anywhere but the house.” Ree shook her head against his chest. She didn’t want to face the dead bodies waiting for them. She didn’t want to look at their blank expressions.

“Okay.” Paden let go of her, but slid his hand down her arm and twined his fingers around hers.

Chapter Sixteen

Ree didn’t question him when he started down the path, heading away from the house. She didn’t care where they went as long as she didn’t have to face everyone. She tucked her wet hair behind her ears and blindly followed Paden while tears fell down her face. Had her brother been here? Killed Ellie? Someone who had baked him pies and cookies as a kid? She hadn’t been drained. Ree hadn’t noticed any teeth marks when she had moved Ellie’s body.

Paden pulled her with him down the trail, before veering off the path and heading toward a small pond. Just past the trees were tiny stone houses. He opened the door to the first one and led her inside. They were small, but cozy, and had obviously been used not that long ago.

Paden took her to a chair before going to the fireplace and arranging the logs. She watched him quietly as he built a comfortable fire. When it was blazing nicely, he came back to her and picked her up before sitting back down with her in his lap.

“What are these?” Ree laid her head against his chest.

“Groundskeepers stay here.” Paden’s voice rumbled out of his chest and she nuzzled closer to him.

“It’s funny, you know?”

“What?” Paden moved so he could see her face.

“That there are groundskeepers. Why would the gods need groundskeepers?” Ree shivered and Paden pulled her closer.

“I suppose it was their way of giving victims a place to be productive while they were protected.”

“Huh. I told Brigid she needed to care more about the victims.” Ree stared into the fire, but didn’t really see the flames.

“What else did you tell her?” Paden’s voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper.

“That someone had made her look like a fool and she needed to step up and prove them wrong.”

Paden’s heart stuttered for a minute against Ree’s back, and his mouth opened in a frustrated groan. He didn’t move though. He kept her firmly pressed against his chest. “Ree. She could’ve killed you.”

“No. She won’t kill me. Not yet, anyway. I pointed out they made me because they needed me. They better start listening to what I have to say or things aren’t going to go the way they want.” Ree sat up so she could look at Paden. “I’m done being their tool. If they want me to do what they couldn’t, then they need to start respecting me.”

Paden’s eyes were bright with something Ree couldn’t quite understand. It was warm, whatever it was; pride and something else. He touched her cheek and pulled her face to his. Very gently he kissed her, his lips a whisper of a touch, before drawing back, just enough to speak.

“You are so incredibly brave. You’re right, they should respect you.” He kissed her before pulling back slightly one more time. “But please, don’t piss off any other gods unless I’m there with you. Promise.”

Ree turned so she was straddling his lap and ran her hands over his chest, before raising them to wrap around the back of his neck. “No more pissing off gods unless you are there with me.” She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his. His warm, soft lips parted immediately and she slid her tongue in to find his. The smell and taste of him were intoxicating. His hands ran down her back to cup her bottom, gently squeezing before shifting her on his lap. She groaned into his mouth, enjoying the warm sensation of him pressed against her body. She shifted gently, moving her hips so she could feel his response, and he groaned deep in his throat.

“Promise me, Ree.” Paden’s voice was a low growl. “I can’t think of you being hurt.” His hands moved to bunch in her shirt and she was overwhelmed by the need to feel his hands on her skin. Ree leaned back and looked into his hooded eyes while she slowly pulled her shirt over her head. Her cheeks burned slightly in excitement; she felt bold and daring, but the look on his face was worth it.

“I promise.”

She threw her top on the floor and leaned forward to kiss him again. Paden’s hands skimmed up from the edge of her jeans to and trailed lightly over her back, finally stopping on her shoulders. Their kiss deepened, and it was as if, suddenly, all the careful barriers they had in place crashed down around them. She couldn’t get enough of him; she wanted all of him.

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