Chapter 196 - The truth comes easily (1/2)
”How long have you had this planned?” Russ growled, his hand still pressing against the papers in front of Jos. ”All that shit you said to me back in Maine, it was all bullshit wasn't it?”
Jos let out a long sigh. ”As it has been explained to you. This is the only way to insure what is best for the both of you and myself.” Jos tried to tug the papers out from under his hand. When he wouldn't release his grip, she shot him an irritated glare. ”What do you want me to say? You said it yourself, we are over.”
He snarled. ”Bullshit! You know better than that! Remember I was there that night in your arms when Ry and Poseidon both told you I was forced to say that shit!”
”Russ, keep your voice down!” Jos shot a glance around the room nervously.
”Why? Don't want me to spoil your 'happy celebration' to the man you 'love' this week?” He bit out bitterly.
”NO! I don't want you making an ass out of yourself YET AGAIN!” She replied in a harsh whisper as she leaned over the table. ”After dealing with this possessive crap of yours lately, believe me jumping into another relationship is the last thing on my mind!” She watched as he released his hold on the papers and stood up, leaning over the table with both fists planted on the smooth surface. Shelly growled at her brother as he snarled at Jos. Just as she was sure he was going to come across the table on her, a massive hand clamped down on his shoulder and pulled him away from the table.
Arei pulled Russ into a painfully tight hug as he whispered against the boy's ear. ”Lamia and Selena are on their way to this table as we speak. Unless you want to be turned back into a f.u.c.k.i.n.g lap dog, I highly recommend finding some semblance of decorum and behave like a f.u.c.k.i.n.g man.” Arei released Russ from the tight embrace but kept a hand gripped tightly to his shoulder. He pasted a wide smile to his lips. ”It will be a shame to see the two of you go. I'm glad we got this all straightened out and behind us now, before you guys leave. It's hard to tell when the next time we would have gotten the chance would have been.”
”A shock indeed.” Selena said to Lamia as they approached the two men. Both women inclined their heads to Poseidon before acknowledging Jos and Shelly. ”I must ask, why the sudden change? Just a few days ago the two of you were ready to kill each other.”
Arei held Russ's heated gaze. ”I can't hold the kid's actions against him. He's still too young to understand and know how to handle the pull of Joslyn's curse. The reaction you saw the other night was typical of someone effected by the curse, especially when that individual hasn't yet acknowledged its influence on them.” He released his grip on Russ's shoulder as his words caused the tension in the boy's body to release. He patted Russ's shoulder. ”He and Ry had a long talk about it, and I believe he's learned his lesson well enough now. Isn't that right, kid?”
Russ could only stare at the man and the wide smirk that taunted him.
Ry walked back to the table calling out as his gaze trained on the two council members. ”That was Peg. He said that favor we asked would be no trouble. He said you and the girls could either come over this evening or he and Andy could stop by after they get off work tonight.” He sent the hand resting against Russ's upper arm a knowing look before turning his attention back to his brother. ”Just give him a call later to let him know which.”
”Well as fun as this has been, we must be going back.” Selena announced as she turned away from the group and gave a brief wave over her shoulder.
”Remember, unfiled doc.u.ments are unfiled claims.” Lamia said to Poseidon before nodding toward Shelly then Russ. ”Good luck with the kingdom and your clan, young prince.” She said to Russ before turning away and following Selena.
Selena paused outside the door and glared through the windows at the group still gathered. ”I don't believe a word of that. I'm tempted to contact Zeus right this minute.” They both watched as Arei held his hand out to help Jos up and lead her over to the other three men. Jos gave Ry a quick hug before letting her hold on the kid linger a bit longer, then moving to the god of the sea. They couldn't hear whatever words the god was whispering into her ear, but she nodded and smiled up at him in response. Arei released his brother and joined her by his father's side. He rested a hand on the small of her back as he exchanged words with the god, the man clamped a strong hand to his son's arm in fair well.
”I don't know it all seems sincere enough to me.” Lamia said tilting her head as she stroked her chin thoughtfully. ”If the boy is influenced by the curse that would explain a lot.”
Selena narrowed her eyes. ”Well then that will just add to the kraken's long list of crimes... Using her position as caregiver to seduce the young prince.”
***
Jos fumbled nervously with the drink in her hand, her gaze focused on the beautiful blooming lotus in the mug. Andy and Peg had stopped by and they were expecting Poseidon to return again at any time. Arei and his brother were in the living room area watching sports on the television leaving her, Shelly, and Andy to their own demise in the back bedroom.
”You look troubled... what's on your mind? Maybe I can help.” Andy asked as she shuffled the cards in her hand before dealing them out. They had stacked up some books to prop Shelly's cards on and had worked out a system to incorporate the wolf into the game.
Jos sighed, her focus still intent on the contents of the mug. ”I don't know... what if Arei was right? What if I'm better off not knowing.” She shook her head before finally looking Andy in the eyes. ”I'm not sure I'm ready to face the emotions those memories may drag up.”
Andy sent her an empathetic smile. ”You don't have to drink the tea as frequently if you don't want to. The more you drink the more memories that will come back...”
Jos nodded. ”I thought it would be best to get back as much as I could before the trial starts tomorrow... now I'm not so sure.”
Andy tilted her head in question. ”What all has returned?”
Jos cleared her throat and looked away as she felt her cheeks redden. ”This business with the contract and claiming... it's not the first time Arei and I have discussed it with Poseidon...” She shook her head as she scooped up the cards and arranged them in her hands. ”He was skeptical about me signing it then as well... but the feelings... it seemed like it was for some other reason...” She sent Andy a troubled look. ”Most of the memories are only coming back as tiny flashes while I'm awake, but then it's like my brain is being bombarded with them while I'm trying to sleep. Some of them started before the tea... but I hadn't been able to tell whether it was memories or simply dreams.”
”And now?” Andy asked in curiosity.
Jos shook her head. ”It's much clearer now. It's almost like my brain is playing a movie of a past life while I sleep, giving me tiny flashes of a highlight reel as the events that trigger it are happening.”
Andy smiled brighter. ”What kind of things are triggering it?”
Jos shot a nervous glance at Shelly before turning her focus back to Andy. ”The slightest of touches... certain ways he looks at me or calls me kitten... There's also been things that his father has done that I know I've seen him do before... Same with you and Peg...” She shook her head. ”I remember watching you guys dance together at that ball and thinking... no, I'm sure I'd told Arei that the two of you must be in love the way you danced.”