Destiny's Three Stars

6

Michael made no attempt to bring up his father or the fact that I lived with the Fates. He kept the conversation light. He really only wanted to talk about me.

Which, to be quite honest, made me nervous. How could I trust him not to tell his father what was going on between the four of us girls? I didn't want them to get hurt in any way. Especially not because of me.

Nona was obviously fooled by his charm. She had three glasses of whine before Morta and I cut her off. I didn't like that she drank in front of Michael, knowing who he was. What if she needed to defend herself and she couldn't?

As I carried the plates to the kitchen, I could hear Nona laughing over something he said. I gritted my teeth and dumped the plates in the sink, making a very loud noise.

Morta walked into the room and leaned against the counter. "Everything okay?"

"I don't like that he's still here. I want him gone and away from me."

"He's not going to hurt any of us."

"How can you say that?"

"The Devil's son doesn't have powers. He's only an immortal."

"I don't want him to hurt any of you."

She walked over and hugged me. "I like that you're worried, Des, but you don't have to be. One of us would have seen any danger if there was any."

"I don't like your confidence."

"Just come talk to him. I really think you'll like him."

I watched her walk back to the living room like everything was fine. I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't. But I followed her in, because I had to be there for them in case anything happened.

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"Are you sure you don't want any wine? It's the good stuff." Michael said, holding the bottle toward me.

"I'm not 21 yet." I said, even though I had already drank before then. I wasn't about to let Michael take advantage of me because I wasn't in my right mind.

Nona tapped my hand on the table. "I'll make sure you get upstairs okay."

Michael's lips twitched but he didn't fully smile. He set the bottle back down on the table and leaned back in his chair. "How long have you lived here?"

"I grew up here. But I moved in with them when I was fourteen."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you move in with them that young? I didn't think that was possible for hum... kids under 18."

"God can do whatever he wants. And he wanted me to live with them."

Nona giggled and took a sip of her water. She made a face. "Where's the wine?"

Decuma sighed. "Nona, why don't you go to bed?"

"And miss Des hooking up with Mikey?" She asked, practically yelling at Decuma.

I dropped my head to my arms on the table and groaned. Only Nona could ruin a date she wanted me to go on.

Michael laughed. "I think your sister is right, Nona."

She glared at him. "Fine. No one wants me here. I'm going to bed." She shoved herself to her feet and fell over, her balance completely shot.

Morta sighed and helped her up. "I'm going with her."

Decuma followed, leaving me alone with Michael.

I took a sip of my water and stared at my barely-touched food. "I'm sorry she kind of ruined dinner."

"She didn't ruin dinner. I'm really enjoying myself."

I looked up at him and he nodded once.

"The sisters are very welcoming. I don't believe the same for you but I understand why you are not."

"Is that your way of trying to be nice?" It sure didn't sound like it. I knew the Devil could be mean and vindictive but he was also incredibly charming. He would do whatever he could to get his way. Who knew if Michael acted the same?

He chuckled. "I mean no disrespect."

"Why did you come here tonight?"

"I wanted to get to know you better. So far, that hasn't happened."

"What do you want to know about me?" I leaned back in my chair.

"Why did you agree to go on this date with me?"

"That's not a question."

"You asked what I wanted to know and this is what I want."

"It's not about me."

"It's your opinion."

I sighed. "I didn't have a choice. Nona made me."

"She made you?"

"She likes romantic things. Which is why she set this whole thing up herself."

"You didn't want to see me again?"

"Not after I found out your father's the devil."

"You shouldn't judge people on who their father is."

"In this case, I can."

He held my gaze. "Just give me a chance, would you?"

"Why should I? So you can kill me?"

"Don't you think I would have by now if those were my intentions?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not letting you win."

He grinned. "I'm up for the challenge."

"You're so infuriating, Michael."

"Morningstar."

"What?"

"That's my last name."

"That's not helping you."

He shrugged. "I can't help that the devil's my father or my last name is the same as his. God is good at putting people in circumstances that aren't exactly fair to them."

I stood up and started gathering up the dishes. He had a point but I wasn't about to admit that he was right. I was just getting started. I wasn't going to admit defeat anytime soon.