“So what changed things?” I asked, motioning vaguely in the direction of the villa.
“I finally wore him down. I was quite determined in my pursuit, but still it took most of two decades.” She smiled broadly then.
“Damn. Twenty years?” I laughed despite myself. It was too easy to forget this was my father we were talking about.
“Oh yes, but some males are worth the wait.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I said.
“Because I need you to understand that our relationship isn’t just a fling.”
I stiffened. “I never thought that.”
She nodded, accepting that. “But I also want you to know that even though Tristan has been my lover for ten years, he is still in love with your mother.”
I squirmed. “You don’t have to say that—”
“Don’t I?” She raised a brow.
“No. I didn’t know my mother. And until a week ago, I thought Tristan was dead. I have no emotional attachment to either of them. So save your breath if you’re worried I think he’s betraying Phoebe.” I paused, remembering what Tristan told me earlier. “Besides, Tristan believes he was manipulated into falling in love with my mother. I find it hard to believe he continued to carry a torch for her once Valva told him.”
“Your father is a complex man. Believe it or not, he feels things deeply—so deeply he shoves the emotions down and refuses to analyze them. If you asked him, he’d probably say he never loved her. But I know he did—and still does. Every time we make love, I see her ghost in his eyes.”
I sighed deeply. “I already told you, Tristan’s life is none of my business.”
“If you really think that, why are you here?”
“I’m here because I need his help to avenge my sister’s death,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “The sister he had no interest in beyond helping him pay Cain back for that f**king love spell that set us all on this collision course.”
“Is that what you think?”
“It’s what I know, Nyx. He had fifty-four years to find Maisie and me, but instead he chose to hunt down the boogeyman.”
“He tried to keep up with your lives. With Maisie it was simple at first because of Orpheus.”
Remembering what Tristan told me, I nodded. “Orpheus kept him updated on her. At least until Tristan stopped communicating with him.”
“Tristan knew that if Cain found out he still had ties to Orpheus, he wouldn’t be safe. So he cut off all contact to protect his friend. You have to understand that.”
On some level I did. Still, it didn’t make the truth hurt any less. Someone was watching over Maisie while I fended for myself against Lavinia.
Nyx grimaced. “But after he lost Orpheus as a contact and you killed Thomas, he still tried to keep up with both of you. He’s even got a photo album filled with pictures.”
“Whatever,” I said. “An album doesn’t make someone a father.”
“That’s true. But I’d like to ask you to give him a chance to do that now.”
“Why should I?”
“Because it may be the only chance either of you will have.”
“Look, Nyx,” I said, rising and brushing my damp hands on my jeans, “I appreciate what you’re saying, but it’s not that easy.”
She took my hand and squeezed it. “It’s not that easy for him, either. I know he’s… difficult. But he honestly believed he was doing the best thing for both of you.” The conviction in her eyes made me feel sorry for her. She was clearly in love with Tristan, but from what I’d seen, he treated her like shit. What’s worse, she didn’t even realize that he was as driven by the need for revenge as I was—more, given how long he’d been going after Cain. He wasn’t trying to protect Maisie or me. He was biding his time until he could use one of us to make Cain pay for f**king him over.
Kill her, that seductive voice whispered. Put her out of her misery before she finds out Tristan doesn’t care about her. Before he uses her like he wants to use you.
A white-hot spot of pain bloomed in my temple. My conscience, probably. A warning, definitely. Killing Nyx might erase my debt to Asclepius and prevent Cain from ambushing us, but I wouldn’t escape with my soul intact. Maybe I’d lost my edge, but I also was shocked to realize I didn’t miss it all that much, despite the ramifications.
I removed my hand from her grasp. “I need to go.”
Nyx sighed and stood. “Thanks for listening.”
I nodded and turned, but I felt that to just turn my back on her now would be cruel. I stopped and said, “Not that it makes much difference, but I’m glad you never ate that apple.”
She stilled. “I never said I didn’t eat the apple.”
My stomach sank. “What?” I whispered. If she was telling the truth, that meant Nyx was no longer immortal.
Which would explain why she needed Asclepius’s vest. As the pieces clicked into place, relief flooded me that I’d won the battle against the old, bloodthirsty voice in my head.
Nyx nodded. “Tristan found me after I’d eaten half of it. He didn’t stop me from becoming mortal. He just stopped me from becoming dead.”
I blew out a long, slow breath. I might regret my next question, but part of me wanted to hear her side of the story Asclepius told me. “How have you managed to stay alive all this time? I mean, no offense, but your lifestyle isn’t exactly safe.” I tried to keep my tone curious, light, but it came out sounding all squeaky.
A twinkle appeared in her eye. “Remember how I told you Tristan put me in charge of research?” When I nodded, she continued. “I ran across this ancient rite to implore the god of healing for help. I did the ritual and he made me this.” She opened the top three buttons of her blouse to reveal the vest. The golden chain mail winked in the firelight. “As long as I wear it, I am immune to all weapons.” She ran a hand over the golden links. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
My heart picked up speed. “What did the god ask for in return?” I prayed she’d offer some explanation that would prove Asclepius was lying so I’d be off the hook.
Her eyes skittered away from mine. “A simple blood sacrifice, nothing more.”
My heart sank. Dammit. So Asclepius had been telling the truth about Nyx running out on her bill, so to speak.
“Dealing with the gods is dangerous, Nyx.”