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I hadn’t stopped thinking about what Athena had said. Protection from the Sons of Hell meant it was likely that my brother and Priest wouldn’t like whoever this man was.

Dimeter I could handle. I had spent his whole life making sure he was afraid of me. It was the others that would follow him. Phoebe would insist on coming with Priest, so I knew she would have him covered.

Frank was really just a big teddy bear. I could talk him down.

King was the wild card. He could be very protective, but also very understanding. I just never knew which way he would lean.

It might be wise to put in a call to Bailey. Give her a heads-up, and maybe she could detour him when Dimeter tried to rope him in.

Then again, maybe I was just over thinking it. Sure, Dimeter would want to check this man out. And I would let him. Just because Lucille said he was the man the universe had chosen didn’t mean he wouldn’t have secrets.

It also didn’t mean that things would be easy. As much as I wanted him to see me and fall instantly in love with me, I knew Athena was right when she said it wouldn’t be that simple.

Maybe I would get my heartbroken while we were getting to know one another. Then Dimeter would definitely want to do the brother thing and bring his scary friends with him.

He often forgot he was the youngest. That I was the older and wiser sister who was capable of taking care of myself. I had been doing it for thirty-four years just fine.

Everybody knew the beginning of a relationship could be rocky. Compromise was warranted and well, ok, so maybe I wasn’t great at compromise. But all those other times weren’t the one that the universe had laid out.

Duncan wasn’t the man the universe had chosen for me. And I hadn’t been willing to compromise on that. So, I got my heart broken. Phoebe had been willing to send Priest then, and a smile touched my lips as I thought about how much love my family had.

We pulled up to the ball, and the car stopped. While we waited for the driver to open our doors, I turned to Athena and said, “It’s too bad Devlyn and Gator couldn’t come. We would have had a lot of fun.”

“Believe me, after what he wore to the Orlean wedding, they wouldn’t have let him in the door.”

“It was that bad?”

“It was that loud!” Athena laughed.

We stepped into the ballroom and gasped. It was beautiful. Everything was decked out in silver and white. The chandeliers shone throughout the room and the white sheer fabric that draped the walls sparkled with tiny gems.

The polished wood floors gleamed as the lights fractured. Athena and I entered in awe of the magical feel.

“I had no idea it would be like this. It’s so ethereal. So magical,” I whispered.

“It is a magical night.”

I glanced at my sister and smiled. She was right. It was a magical night. My night.

We moved about the room talking and laughing with people we knew. The guest list was exclusive, but I knew that the man I was destined to meet was here.

I could feel him.

I scoured the room for any hint of recognition when suddenly my eyes landed on someone I never expected.

“Athena.” I grabbed my sister’s arm. My voice barely heard above the music and chatter. My heart began to beat at a quick rhythm while my hands became clammy with perspiration. I rubbed them together quickly before reaching out and taking a glass of champagne from a waiter as he passed.

“Sister.”

“I can’t do this. I can’t meet my intended tonight. Not with Duncan here. Why is he here, Athena? He lives in Boston.”

“Freyja, calm down. We live in New York and yet we are here.”

I glared at my sister. “Duncan is part of the Irish Mob,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low. “I sincerely doubt the Mob takes time out to go to Mardi Gras.”

Athena raised a brow at me. Her arms folded over her chest and she tapped her foot. She was waiting for me to understand something. Only I didn’t understand anything.

I would never be able to give my attention to my intended if Duncan was here. My mind would be on him the entire time.