Curious, she paused with the water bottle halfway to her mouth then set it down and flung the towel over her shoulder. The vamp was quiet.
"And?" she asked.
"The Oracle didn't tell you you're intended for … greatness?"
Jenn clamped her mouth shut. Sofi had said similar before Dusty almost blew up Florida. Jenn thought little of it at the time.
"I think we'll keep you past the thirty days, just to be sure a certain Grey God does what we want him to," Xander continued.
"Darian?" Jenn asked. "What does this have to do with Darian?"
"She didn't tell you."
"Who didn't tell me what?" she demanded, approaching him and glaring up at him. "Spill it, Xander."
"You're his intended."
Jenn frowned. "His intended what?"
"His mate," Xander said with his slow smile. "Powerful bargaining chip to have you here."
"That's crazy, Xander. She'd never tell you that! Besides, Darian isn't …" … my type. The words died on her lips.
"Interesting," he said. "The Grey God may not think the same."
"No, you're wrong," she said and snatched her things from the floor. "Darian wants nothing to do with any woman after what he's been through." She strode towards the door, fed up with the vamp toying with her.
"What was the second lesson you taught Jonny? Everyone associated with your target is a weak point."
Jenn paused in the doorway of the gym. For the first time since he began his sick games, Jenn felt genuine fear trickle through her. She didn't know if he'd met with the Oracle or not, but his words sounded eerily like Sofi's, who had claimed her destiny merged with Darian's.
"Everyone fears something, Guardian," Xander reminded her.
"And you? What do you fear, Xander?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Exactly what you fear, that what should happen, won't."
She turned to look at him. She didn't expect the Original Being to admit to fear. He manipulated the Black God like a puppet and quietly ran the vamps Jonny wasn't yet capable of managing. He'd let her live, knowing she was obligated to report everything to Damian and powerful enough to be dismissive of any threat she might cause. The idea he feared anything amazed her. In that moment, she almost felt a human connection to the creature with the red eyes.
"What should happen for you?" she ventured.