Free Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance by Alana Hart, Sophia Barron

pupils whatsoever. Gran’s green gaze collided with Ben’s swirly blue and silver.
    “Sorry.” Gran’s apology was simple and to the point. Ben’s slow nod suggested acceptance, but his pursed lips convinced Aria he didn’t know the significance of his answer. Aria couldn’t help herself. She gave him a quick, one armed hug, and whispered in his ear.
    “We will get through this. Somehow.” She squeezed his shoulder gently, then dropped her hand back to the table.
    Gran’s eyes slowly faded back to blue, and Ben’s seemed to fade right along with her.
    Delilah cleared her throat, then shuffled closer to the table. She eased into her seat beside Gran then spoke.
    “So I guess that was a bad answer.”
    Gran’s shrug didn’t clarify matters much. “It’s an answer. Arcos was Callista’s son.”
    “Shit. So Faith is a direct descendant of the original Scions?” Gran nodded once in answer to Del’s follow up question.
    “And from her scent,” Ben sniffed the air once for emphasis, “She’s got a direct line to the Gods through Aria and Gramps?”
    Gran’s nod and slumped shoulders and downcast eyes convinced Aria this was a very bad thing. She just didn’t know why.
    “This means Faith is a direct descendent of the gods through both parents?” Deilah’s voice rose higher with each word she spoke. When gran nodded again, misery was hovering in her every movement.
    “And from more than one pantheon,” Gran whispered.
    “We have to go through that door, Victoria.” Delilah said gently. She clasped her hands over Gran’s trembling ones, then continued. “There’s no way to keep Faith safe otherwise.”
    From the rumbles and growls Ben was voicing, Aria figured he disagreed.
    “Fuck that. I’ll protect Faith. She’s my cub, and she doesn’t need to face down the gods.”
    “Faith won’t be going, Ben. But you’re going to have to come with.” Delilah gestured, indicating the whole table. “We all need to go. There is no way we can come out ahead otherwise. Fallen gods or not, they still wield power over their descendants.”
    Aria shivered at the steely anger in Delilah’s tone. She’d bet her last hundred bucks Delilah would do anything to change that. But she couldn’t help wondering why the witch cared enough to face down the gods with them.
    “What about Faith. Who can we trust to watch her?” From the blank looks sent Aria’s way, nobody had any better answers than she did. All her babysitters were unavailable due to Faith’s unique struggles. And from the sounds of it the only other people she’d even consider entrusting Faith to would be charging headlong into danger right beside her.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
     
    Fuck, who was going to watch Faith then, if they all had to confront the gods? Did they all have to go? Aria had to know.
    "Do we all really need to be there? Or can one of you-" Aria glanced between Gran and Del, hoping one of them would help her out. "Stay back and watch Faith?" From the frown on gran's face and the wide eyed panic on Delilahs' that was a no.
    "So, anyone know any good cub sitters? Because that's what we're going to need tomorrow morning." Aria considered just going alone, but wasn't sure that would be a good idea since Delilah was intimidated. Then again, these weren't her gods. As far as Aria was concerned the gods–hell all gods for that matter–could go fuck themselves.
    "I could call Neal," Delilah suggested softly. "He's good under fire, but I’m not sure he’s babysitter, or cub sitter, material. I've trusted him with my life more than once though."
    Aria's mind spun with possibilities. Did she really trust Delilah's judgment of people, could she really entrust her babe to a stranger, and a man. Damn, she wished gramps was still alive, at least he could have baby sat. And Aria would have been sure that not a hair on Faith's head would be harmed or misplaced under his care.
    "I could call your mom. Or you could," Gran