Just His Taste (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Tuesday Evening—Mt. Olympus

Statues of heartbroken lovers, those who had loved and lost, littered the entryway into Anteros's sort-of-enclosed home. Pillars created a structured form, but no walls hung anywhere. Anyone could see through the house, see whatever the owner was up to, if they so chose.

Ava, though, couldn't take her eyes off the forlorn sculptures in the foyer. She could relate a little too much.

Lovely,
Ava thought as she and Andres waited in the foyer of the god's home.

Paintings done by both mortals and Anteros himself—of love lost, or love unreturned, hovered in the air, a kind of wall divider between the spaces. Just being around the art depressed Ava.

Probably because her feelings for her charge were getting less and less proper. She knew Jason's file was wrong, but what she didn't know was who that other spot in the file had been.

What if that woman was worse than Tessa?

Ava didn't know if she could stomach Jason being with someone worse than Tessa. She didn't know if she could stomach Jason being with anyone who wasn't her.

A problem, for sure.

Yet, was she just as bad as these paintings? A love for someone who didn't return it? Sure, she and Jason had been intimate, but did their connection mean to him what it was starting to mean to her? Times were different. A hundred years ago, if two people were intimate, it was because they were in love.

Now, though, so many had such a cavalier attitude toward sexuality. Granted, Ava had this same attitude, or had for a long time.

Or had she really?

Was that part of Cupid's magic? To make her think intimacy didn't mean anything?

She didn't know.

Andres elbowed her, drawing her out of her musings because Anteros had appeared in the foyer.

“Andres,” Anteros greeted them with a smile. “A pleasure.” He really was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. Though unlike many gods on this plane, he didn't dress in a traditional toga, but a black T-shirt and pants, his hair pulled back at the nape of his neck. He looked more like he belonged in the sixties, reading poetry at a coffee shop, than in the Realm.

Andres bowed. “Yes, always.”

Anteros glanced at Ava. “And, it's Miss Fay, isn't it? Avalynn Fay?”

“Yes,” Ava said, bowing as well.

The god's eyes flicked from Ava to Andres.

“Please, you come with purpose.” He gestured for them to enter his home. “Let us see what brings two fairies to my door.”

They followed Anteros through his home into a space filled with more statues—these white, but again, depicting longing and love lost. Ava tried not to stare at the forlorn faces, dread filling her gut.

What if he couldn't fix this?

What if he could?
She didn't know which would be worse.

The god materialized chairs, and Andres quickly explained about the file and Ava handed it to the god.

Anteros looked the file over, running his fingers over the HEA page, just as Andres had.

“Yes, I can feel it.” He shook his head. “Cupid has been busy.”

“Cupid?” Andres asked.

Ava inhaled a breath.

“I always recognize my brother's power.” He glanced at Ava. “Would you expect anyone else?”

Ava shook her head.
Of course it was Cupid.
She felt so stupid for not thinking of it sooner.

Was he just trying to ruin her life? Shooting her with his love potion, messing with her cases, and now changing her latest file?

Why was he doing this to her?

Anteros studied her for a moment, and Ava wondered what Cupid had told him about her.

Now you're just being paranoid.

Anteros sighed as he moved his fingers around on the pages. “This will take more magic than just me. Cracking it open is the hardest part,” he said. “Both of you will have to help.”

“Whatever I need to do,” Ava said.

Anteros glanced at her, a strange twinkle in his eye. “I'm sure you will.” He waved his hand again, and a pedestal appeared between the three of them. Anteros laid the file on it. He gestured for Ava and Andres, and as the god put his hands on the edge of the file, Ava and Andres followed suit.

Anteros whispered a few words, and magic surged between the three of them.

Magic had never “felt” like much of anything to Ava—something that she wielded without thinking about it. Now, though, combined with the power flowing through the two men, the energy shocked her, sent ripple upon ripple of surges through her. She forced herself to channel it where it needed to go.

She could see the edging of the natural file's magic, as well as the hard, cold magic that Cupid had wielded over it to twist the outcome. It felt like they were trying to crack granite with a rubber chicken.

The more the three of them poured into the file, the more it remained charged with Cupid's manipulation.

Like it couldn't be healed…

The thought made Ava sick, and her concentration started to waiver.

“Enough,” Anteros said, letting out a breath. Andres did the same, and they both looked rather disheveled.

“What did he do?” Ava whispered, rocking her head back and forth to stretch her neck.

“He did what he does,” Anteros replied. “It is far easier to charm this kind of magic than to uncharm it.”

“So what now?” Ava asked, collapsing on the chair.

“Somehow make your charge see reason and continue his attempts with the listed HEA. Find him his happy place with her,” Anteros said.

“No. That's not happening.” She absolutely wasn't going to do that. Hell, she'd wind up having to stay with Jason for his entire life, and even when—

Wait. Maybe that was not a horribly bad thing… She would be with Jason for the rest of his life.

She shook off the thought, because she knew better. While that may have appeal now, her trio would never get closure, and that could prevent Christy, heck, even Lilly, from retiring like they should.

While there was appeal in staying with Jason—and who was to say there wasn't another potential out there for him—she couldn't leave her friends hanging.

“Then you will be forced to stay with your charge until he finds an HEA.”

“No. I can't do that to my trio. There has to be a way to fix this, to bring this closure.”

Anteros smiled. “Good.”

She raised her eyebrow and glanced at Andres, who wasn't paying attention. He stared at a small image he'd manifested, and if Ava wasn't mistaken, it was Lilly.

Ava cleared her throat.

Andres blinked. Then glanced at Anteros and Ava. “I am sorry. But I need to go. There are a few things I need to take care of.”

“Of course. Go, and take care,” Anteros said.

When Andres disappeared, Ava turned back to the god. He looked far too smug. “You said ‘good'. Why?”

“Because I wanted to see what you would say.”

“So you can fix it?” Ava asked.

“Yes. We made some cracks in the magic. It will take a few days, but it can be broken through.”

“Do you need me to help you?” Ava asked.

“No, but I would like a favor.”

Oh great. Here we go.

“What?” Another god to owe a favor. Not what she wanted today.

“I want to know why my brother is so fascinated with a little fairy named Avalynn Fay.”

She blinked. “He likes pink?” She gestured to her wings.

Anteros's eyes roamed over her. “That is possible. But I think he likes red better.”

“Yeah. Uh-huh. Okay. So what do you want, Anteros?”

“Tell me everything. Your relationship with my brother, and why he's so interested in you and your cases.”

“No.”

“Do you not want my help?”

“Of course I do.”

“So tell me.”

She stared at the floor, trying to buy herself some time to think. Not that it worked. “You're on the Council. If I tell you, it could cost me everything.”

“Now those are the kinds of stories I like.”

“I'll go back. There's not a lot going on with Roark and Stephanie right now,” Christy was telling Ava just outside the healers' ward. Ava had gone to Lilly when her friend called, even though it interrupted the story she was telling Anteros.

It was a good thing too. Anteros hadn't looked pleased. Nor did he when he collected Cupid shortly thereafter, breaking up the fight between Cupid and Andres. What they were fighting about, Ava hadn't known, but it had been pretty funny watching Andres punch Cupid. However, what wasn't so funny was seeing Lilly get hurt. Right now, Lilly was inside the healers' ward, supposedly resting, but Cupid had shown up, with intent to speak to her.

Well, he'd better be apologizing,
Ava mused. He better be apologizing to
someone
.

She doubted Cupid
meant
to hurt Lilly. After all, it was a good moment. Lilly's charge was finally getting somewhere with his HEA. Now it was going to be up to Christy and Ava to make sure that Lilly's HEA wound up okay.

So far, it was looking good, though. Much better than it had been earlier today. Lilly wasn't horribly happy with the turn of events, but it seemed to be working.

Ava put her hand on Christy's arm. “If you need me to help out, I can.” Like she'd be able to do much with Jason, anyway.

She needed to stay away from him, at least until the file was fixed. Part of her wanted to run down there, spend as much time with him as possible, before sending him on his road to happiness. Was she being selfish?

Yeah. And she knew it.

It was better that she was here now, making sure that Lilly was okay. Especially since Cupid had shown up—with flowers, of all things—to apologize to Lilly.

Friggin' jerk.

Ava sighed.

“Things not going well?” Christy asked.

Ava crossed her arms. “My file is messed up.”

Christy's brow furrowed. “Your file?”

“We have it under control,” Andres said, appearing in the hall with the two of them.

“That's good, I suppose,” Christy replied, though she didn't sound like she was convinced. “If you need my help, though, please don't hesitate to ask.” She reached over and touched Ava's arm.

Guilt washed through Ava because of how much she was keeping from her friend. Part of her wanted to spill everything, but pride kept squishing that little bit of humility down.

“Christy, just focus on your charge. I can help Ava with her situation,” Andres said.

“Yes, sir,” Christy replied as Andres walked into Lilly's room. Just as the door shut, she rolled her eyes.

“Like he's got anything on his plate besides her,” she muttered.

Ava snorted. “He does spend an awful lot of time annoying her.”

“Yes he does,” Christy replied. She stretched her arms. “Look, I'll go down and pop in on Lilly's charge until she's feeling better. The healer said it was just a sprain, so she should be out and about in a few days.”

“A week,” Ava said.

“Did you hear the healer say that?”

Ava shook her head. “Wrecked my motorcycle. I was here for a week, almost.”

Christy's brow furrowed. “When did you do this?”

“The day we started this trio.”

“But I saw you at the wedding. Which, by the way, is probably not the best way to start a new trio, wandering around looking hotter than the bride.” Christy waggled her finger at Ava.

Ava smirked. “You might have a point. It happened after.”

“Why didn't you call?”

“Because she's too damn proud,” came a male's voice.

Ava jumped and spun around. Seriously, one would think after being in the Fairy Realm for three centuries, she'd be used to people just popping up all the time. Or that she'd be able to sense them coming or something.

Evidently not.

“Oh hi, Duncan,” Christy said, hugging her brother-in-law. “How are you, darling?”

“Good, sis,” he replied. “Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to speak to Ava.”

“What's going on? Does this have to do with her file?”

“Yeah,” Duncan sighed, “you can say that.”

“Oh, okay. If you need me, just holler,” Christy said and disappeared in blue sparkles. Then reappeared a moment later. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, Duncan. Ewan wants to do a barbecue on the beach in a couple weeks. Family thing.”

“Great,” Duncan said, though his eyes remained dark. “Shoot me the details later.”

“Perfect!” And with a wave, Christy disappeared again.

Duncan shook his head. “I hope that's not another blind date.”

“You too, huh?” Ava asked.

“She doesn't ever stop trying to bring people together,” Duncan said.

“Nope, she doesn't,” Ava replied. She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So what's up? Today hasn't been uneventful, and I'm really tired.”

“Yeah, about that.” He put his hand on her arm.

“Duncan?”

“You are officially being seized, your powers muted until trial.”

All the blood in her brain rushed to her feet, and dizziness washed over Ava. “What for?”

“Indecent behavior with a charge,” Duncan said.

Ava's entire world shattered. Her stomach dropped to the floor, and she thought she might throw up. This was what she'd been afraid of.

Like a flash, everything that was about to happen flashed in her mind—there'd be a trial. All of Christy's and Lilly's hard work with their charges would be for nothing. Christy might not be able to retire on time because this stupid thing would remain open.

Her friends were going to be screwed because she'd been selfish and wanted her charge.

Jason…

But what if she didn't get kicked out? What if the Council put her in a cell for the rest of her life? What if Jason had no protection from Cupid? Then he'd wind up having his heart ripped out by some crazy person who didn't realize what an awesome guy he was, because Cupid was enough of an ass to purposely do that to him.