Chapter 584

"Sorry," he says, I think working hard to be polite and not knowing precisely what level to strike. "But, um...what did you mean when you said that?" He points now towards Tony and Jackson. "When you said they...weren't yours?"

"Oh, look at you, little godling," the Goddess says, moving across the room towards Rafe so fast that I don't know precisely how she got there. Did she...flutter? Or float? Still, the unearthly way she did sends shivers down my spine. But quite suddenly she's standing before Rafe, cupping his face in her hands. “So handsome," the Goddess says, glancing over her shoulder at our mom with her eyes crinkling up with joy to see him, "and so like his father."

Rafe just gapes up at our grandmother, I think forgetting his question.

"Yes, he's good looking," Cora says, after translating for mom who - of course - looks quite proud of Rafe and pleased that the Goddess recognizes it too. "But if you could get to his question, mom?"

"Oh," the Goddess says, dropping Rafe's face and giving a tinkling little laugh. "Those two," she says, gesturing again towards Tony and Jackson. "I didn't give them their gifts. No, I'd remember that."

She takes a step closer to Jackson, who I don't think has blinked once since the moment she arrived. To my shock, the Goddess seems to...sniff the air above him. Then she moves to Tony in the blink of an eye and does the same.

"They have the smell of my ex-husband about them," she says, narrowing her eyes a bit, perching her hands on her hips. "But not...quite strong enough to suggest that the gifts came from Ole Darkie himself..." she considers for a moment, her lips pursed as my eyes go wide to hear her nickname for the God of Darkness.

Then the Goddess turns her head to the side and turns back to Rafe. "Probably one of his children gave these two their gifts? So, undesirable provenance but," she shrugs, grinning between them and wrinkling her nose, “still useful gifts. And also,” her smile deepens as she looks between Tony and Jacks, "you're both very handsome, which is more important."

My mouth drops open a bit further as the Goddess calls my mate handsome, but my expression changes - my face bursting into a desperate grin - when I see that Jackson is blushing.

"The God of Darkness's...children..." Cora says, speaking slowly, trying to put the pieces together, her arms still crossed. "But not your children?" "Oh god, no," the Goddess says, waving a dismissive hand and looking around at the rest of us with clear pleasure. "Not those brats. One of his many affairs, which is why I dumped him in the end."

I just stare at the beautiful Goddess before us, shocked because, I mean...I didn't expect her to be so...casual. So chatty.

But...I guess our moms had to get it from somewhere.

"And you!" the Goddess says, suddenly turning towards Jesse, quickly crossing to him and making his eyes go wide.

"What's happening?" mom whispers to Cora, who fills her in as the Goddess takes Jesse's face in her hands next, beaming down at him.

"Is that why we can see her?" Tony asks, leaning forward towards Jackson. "Because...another God gave us our magics?

Jackson just shakes his head, either not knowing or not willing to respond as he keeps his eyes on the Goddess, nearly unblinking.

"My treasure!" the Goddess says, leaning close to her second grandson and wrinkling her nose at him. "You are very special to me," she says, laughing, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I crafted you as my special protector which..." she peers closer to him and then laughs alittle, "yes, which you've discovered, haven't you?"

“Y-yes,” Jesse sputters out, still staring at her.

"Well, it's a good gift," she says, quite cheerful, straightening up again and patting his cheek. “And a flashy one, which I think suits your personality. Enjoy it" The Goddess looks around now, apparently done with him.

"Wait," Jesse says, leaning forward, trying to catch at her glowing skirts with the tips of his fingers, but they just pass through his hand, insubstantial. The Goddess turns

back to Jesse with interest. "Did -noveldrama

do you -"

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My eyebrows go up as I see Jesse searching for words, because he's usually the most eloquent of us. He gulps hard and then tries again as the Goddess nods to him, encouraging.

“Did I...need to find my mate?" he asks, a little desperate. "To make my magic develop like that?"