“All four of you?” I ask, even though I already know the answer to my question. It seems that the gods come down to earth sporadically. They have their fun, and then they head back to their own realm. A bunch of bastards who don’t seem to care about the offspring they leave behind.
He nods once. “Yes. The gods spent a couple of days partying it up with a group of dragon women from our weyr. Here we are.”
Similar to what happened with us. I push out a breath. “We’re twenty-nine.”
“All of you?” West asks, he’s frowning hard.
I nod once.
“How many of you are there?” Maddox lifts his brows.
“There are questions I can’t answer.”
“Can’t or won’t?” West’s jaw tenses.
I shrug. “I can only speak for myself. When Jarrod gets here, he can tell you whatever he feels comfortable divulging. That’s where it ends.”
West shrugs. “We already know that Rage isn’t human.”
“Doesn’t matter what you know or think you know. I won’t speak for the others. I can’t!” I clear that little misunderstanding right up. I keep my eyes locked with West’s until he looks away. There are some things I won’t budge on, and this is one of them.
“That makes sense.” Zale looks over to Maddox. They have a full eyeball conversation in the space of a few seconds. Then Zale looks my way. “My father is Zeus.”
Fuck!
Holy freaking fuck-nuts!
I can’t believe what I am hearing, and yet I can. I knew it. Deep down, I had a feeling inside me. Those gray eyes. His cool exterior. I don’t even need Barrett to talk to know who he’s related to. I’m reeling. I glance at Maddox and then at West. I don’t know about them, though. Chances are good they’re related to someone in our group. It’s almost a given.
I work hard at schooling my emotions. I’m looking at Bolt’s half-brother. His half-freaking-brother, dammit! I take another sip of my juice, fucking ecstatic when I see our waitress appear, because I can focus on something else. Because I have a chance to get myself together before I give a whole lot away. I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve. Right now will be no exception. Avery is balancing several plates on her arms. I jump up to help her as she comes closer. Her eyes are widening again. I notice that her gaze is predominantly on Maddox. I grab a plate just as it’s about to fall off her arm and onto the floor. I manage to avoid touching her. I’ve become an expert at it.
“Thanks.” She blows at a wayward strand of hair on her face. Her cheeks are flushed.
We deposit food in front of everyone, and I sit back down.
“Enjoy.” Avery looks around the table. “Let me know if I can get you anything.” She locks eyes with Maddox as she says the last.
“We’re good for now,” I say, wanting privacy.
I pour just about a gallon of maple syrup over my pancakes and cut myself a large bite. “My father is Janus,” I say before putting a forkful into my mouth.
Maddox puts his fork down with a clang.
Raven’s eyes grow in size. She stops chewing. “God of beginnings and transitions,” she mutters around her food.
“One of the most important gods,” Maddox says.
“Not as popular,” West chips in. Ever the pessimist. “Or well-known.”
“What is your power?” Maddox asks.
Raven is frowning. Her eyes move up in thought. “God of time and endings.” She sucks in a breath. “Two faces…you and your brother. Janus. Jarrod and Stephanus.”
She’s putting two and two together. It’s astonishing to watch. Raven isn’t just gorgeous; she has plenty of brains as well. I find myself selfishly hoping that their car is fucked. That they’re forced to stay for a while so that I can get to know her. I want to know more about the others as well, don’t get me wrong. I nod. “Yes…you’re right. We can look into the future and into the past. I can see ahead.”
She sucks in a breath. “You can?” I see golden flecks around her irises, which are huge right now. “You can see? I mean, actually see?” I watch the delicate column of her throat work. “Do you read people?” she adds when I don’t answer. Raven knows this already. She saw it when she read me yesterday. At this point, I don’t think she told anyone about reading me.
I nod…and then shake my head. She smiles at me, looking at me quizzically. She’s lovely! She has a smattering of freckles across her nose, spilling over onto her cheeks. It’s those eyes, though. Man, oh, man! I clear my throat. “I can read people, but I prefer not to.”
“My sister can see into the future as well,” Maddox says, looking from Raven to me and back again. “That’s something.”
“Oh? How interesting.” I raise my brows and go through the motions of acting shocked. It’s now clear to me that she didn’t tell them what she saw, which endears her to me. I don’t know why, but it does. What happened yesterday is between the two of us. Only us. “I didn’t know dragon shifters had powers.”
She shrugs. “Most don’t…I guess I’m unique.”
I nod. That’s an understatement if I ever heard one. “And the two of you are related?” I ask.
Maddox nods. “Same mother.” I see his eyes soften as he looks at Raven. “I’m the much younger, better-looking one of the two of us.” He winks at her.
She gives him a fake dirty look. “I’m older by a whole year and a half, asshole!” Then she smiles at him. “And I wouldn’t call you good-looking. ‘Okay-looking’ maybe.” She shakes her head. “Using the word good would be pushing it.” She picks up her burger and takes a bite, her eyes dancing with humor.
That’s interesting. Raven had already been born when Maddox was conceived, which means that something must have happened to her shifter father. I’m assuming.
West is tearing into his steak and chips like there’s no tomorrow. He doesn’t seem interested in the conversation.
I take another bite of my pancakes when I spot Jarrod talking to Avery. I already ordered his omelet. I told them to prepare it when he arrives. I’m sure he’s ordering himself a drink. Sure enough, Avery hands him a bottle of water. I see him grab the very top of the bottle, also trying to avoid touching her. Then he walks to us.
“My brother is here,” I announce.
Everyone looks across at him. He gives a wave as he gets closer. “Your car is with Forge,” he says as he pulls up a chair next to me. “He’ll call as soon as he knows what’s wrong with it.”
Maddox’s eyes cloud. West stuffs a huge piece of meat in his mouth, and Barrett grunts.
Jarrod gives me a look. He’s noticed the resemblance. “What did I miss?” he asks me.
“Um…” I say. “Raven is a dragon shifter, and the others are dragon demigods.”
Jarrod lifts his brows.
“Zale’s father is Zeus.”
“Zeus.” He swallows, nodding his head.
“Maddox is Raven’s younger brother. I mentioned who our father is and what our abilities are. That just about sums it up.”
Jarrod leans back in his chair. He uncaps his water and drinks.