Loved (House of Night Other World #1)(14)

She was sorry she left Z to clean up her mess. Well, more precisely, her mother’s mess, but she had to get away from all those watching eyes before they saw through her thin facade—before they saw her hurt.

If they saw it they would film it. And then her mother would see it.

A normal mother seeing her daughter’s pain and embarrassment would feel sorrow, remorse even—and would probably try to make things right. Or at least that’s what Aphrodite supposed normal mothers would do—should do. She wouldn’t know. She’d never had a normal mother.

Her mother—the ice queen socialite—would use her daughter’s pain. She’d figure out some way to exploit her. Again.

“She’d try to. I’m not a scared kid anymore who wants her mommy’s love and approval.” She spoke slowly, emphatically, tasting each word. “She might still be able to hurt me, but she can’t use me.”

Aphrodite had come to the corner of Twenty-First and Peoria. She paused, unwilling to turn left toward the Tulsa Rose Gardens and step out of Darius’ view. She looked back. The group was dispersing. Darius was striding so fast down the sidewalk to her that Z and Stark almost had to jog to keep up.

Aphrodite drew several deep breaths—in for four counts—out for four counts. She willed herself to relax. Darius was her Warrior. They shared a bond through which he could feel her emotions, and the last thing she wanted was for him to feel how badly her mother could still hurt her.

Aphrodite refused to give Frances LaFont that much power.

Darius rushed up to her. He said nothing. He simply pulled her into his arms and held her close. Aphrodite allowed herself to cling to him—to inhale his warmth and his scent—to be immersed in his unconditional love.

“Are you okay?” Z was panting as she hurried to Aphrodite, gently touching her shoulder and brushing back her hair.

“I’d forgotten what an awful bitch your mother is,” Stark said, not unkindly. “That musta sucked for you.”

Aphrodite tilted her head, her chin resting against Darius’ chest. “It did. But, not surprisingly, it’s far from the worst thing my mother has done to me.”

“You stood up to her,” Z said. “You were totally adulting. I’m so proud of you.”

“We’re all proud of you,” Darius said.

“You sounded super smart, too. Damien couldn’t have done better,” Stark said.

That made Aphrodite’s lips lift in the beginnings of a smile. “Promise me you’ll tell him that.”

“Oh, I won’t have to,” Stark said. “Between the cameras and the cell phones that recorded every second of that, everyone is going to see you putting that ice bitch in her place—over and over again.”

“Hey, want to make a fake Facebook account? We could pretend to be a good ol’ Republican Okie named Billy Bob Johnson. His profile pic will, of course, sport the stars and bars. Every time someone posts a video from tonight we’ll share it with your mom. It’ll drive her crazy,” Z said.

“That does sound like fun. We could also share cute cat memes with her. She hates cats.” Aphrodite’s smile became real.

“That’s it. She officially has no soul,” Z said.

“Oh, that was official a long time ago.” Aphrodite tiptoed to kiss Darius before stepping out of his arms. “Okay. I’m better now.”

“Sure?” Z asked.

“Sure.” Aphrodite glanced behind them. “What’s taking them so long to leave?”

“Did you see all those cameras?” Z shook her head. “I don’t get how your mom’s ridiculously early announcement could pull that much press. And why did she stage it in the park? I mean, she wasn’t even far from Neferet’s …” Z’s voice trailed off.

“Do you get it now?” Aphrodite asked.

“I do not. Please explain,” Darius said.

“She’s coming after the House of Night. Her comment about revoking our lease wasn’t prompted by me. She’s running on a platform of fear.”

“And the best way to create fear is to give it a target, and then make up a bunch of bullpoopie and put it out there on the Internet.”

“Not a good time for Neferet to be stirring,” Stark said.

“Like there’s ever a good time for that?” Aphrodite said.

“Well, yeah. A good time would be several hundred years from now after Z and I have peacefully died curled up together in our sleep and are frolicking in Nyx’s Grove in the Other World,” Stark said.

“So, you mean when she’s someone else’s problem,” Z said.

Stark kissed her on her forehead, smack in the middle of her crescent moon. “Yep. Exactly.”

“Can’t say I disagree with that,” Darius said.

“I hear ya, handsome.” Aphrodite took Darius’ calloused hand in hers as they turned and began down the sidewalk that framed Peoria Street. “But first, let’s stop and smell the roses.”



“Hey, I meant that rose comment to be metaphoric. I admit I’m crappy at figurative language, but not this crappy.” Aphrodite was staring, dumbfounded, at what should have been deserted, winter-sparse gardens with rose bushes all tucked in mulch for a frigid sleep.