Page 22 of Damian

Georgia’s gaze sweeps across each woman in her care. Her story is one of countless others. She’s just like me—forced into servitude and stripped of her identity all her life.

Each woman here has a story of pain and survival carved into their faces and bodies.

They have endured unimaginable hardships. Finally, their physical suffering has ended. The emotional pain will take longer.

When none objects to my daughter’s request, Shay and Priscilla head back toward their mates.

“Can I go with you? Just to look?” Niki calls after them.

While my girls gather sustenance for everyone, I continue answering questions.

Georgia eventually looks at Tara to boldly ask her, “What’s your story?”

Tara inhales deeply. With her arms crossed, and a major attitude laced with sadness, she tells everyone her story. “I’ve known my mate all my life. Only I’m eighteen and he’s fifty-eight. The ticking is just one way for us demigods to know who our mates are. Despite Helios’ mark and blessing at the mating ceremony, he claims I’m too young. I need to live more.”

“I’m only eighteen. Will that bother my mate?” the one Georgia called Irida worries.

Tara shakes her head. “Nikolaos has watched me grow up. I believe he’s struggling to see me as a woman and not a child. Your mate will only see the woman he’s been waiting for his whole life.”

All the ladies gave us their names throughout the evening, but I’ve never been very good at remembering names.

Damian and I exchange a glance, knowing that this is just the beginning. Together, we will help all of them, and these women will finally find the peace and happiness they deserve.

Anjal and Jayce arrive. Both have two deer across their shoulders. While the girls carry bags of items, the other men probably shoved into the guys’ arms when they learned the women hadn’t eaten in days.

They will never go hungry again. Not if I or their mates have any say in the matter.

Soon the smell of freshly cooked deer fills the air. The aroma triggers a glimmer of hopefulness. The women’s faces, once etched with despair, now show signs of relief and anticipation.

Chapter 14

Emjay

“The child I held in my arms who chased me through the dirt and asked too many questions is all that remains of the past I left behind.” ~ Emjay

While the women prepare the meat for their first meal in days, Georgia pulls me aside.

I let go of Damian, yet his sight remains with me while we sit on a log pulled in from the forest to serve as the only seating in the labyrinth.

“How have you aged?” I want to slap myself for speaking without thinking.

Georgia laughs.

“The next witch, Whitley, was a servant of the father of shadows. She thought cursing me with infertility one night while I fed her would cause me pain. It’s the greatest gift she could have given me. No one ever touched me because I never ovulated.

“I was just twelve when she uttered the curse over my body. I lived in terror for the next six years that one of the bulls would kill me when they realized I would never bear children.

“Only they pitied me and made me the honorary mother of all the ones who survive.”

I hold back tears that threaten to spill.

“Is that why your clock isn’t ticking like the rest of them?”

Georgia shrugs. “Knowing I can’t have children, I’ve never thought about wanting them. The relief I’ve enjoyed every day is all that I’ve needed. It’s made this life bearable.”

I nod and reach for her hand.

“What about you? Why do you look over sixty when you have a stud of a mate who looks at you like the most precious thing he’s ever seen?”