Her affection for the family held her hand at removing the female child until her father was given a chance to beget the child who would one day step into his shoes.

Then, with an aching heart, she called them both to Heaven together. However, they weren’t together long before the female soul was sent back to Earth. Mother made certain this time that the gifted soul would be protected by a fierce warrior and a mother who loved and appreciated the nature around her. Just as important, she would be guided by a family member who would teach her how to use the gift, tempered by the personal costs she would ultimately pay throughout her lifetime.

Mother watched the offspring left on Earth with a careful eye, seeing the same qualities and commitments to those they loved as the ancestors who had fought for her in her greatest time of need.

Finally, her patience and planning were about to come to fruition. The seven brothers had the powers of demigods, the stars were aligned to where she needed them and, crucial to her plans, they had the strength of will and courage to protect the rewards she was about to give them. The culmination of her plan hinged on their ability to convince their rewards to love them.

Love was the only variable out of her control. They would have to earn the love on their own without her help or Valentine’s gift.

Yes, it was frustrating for her … So many variables could go wrong … She had made so many promises. Mankind’s fate was on the line yet again—there was a battle looming on the horizon, and those seven demigods were the only way to bring order back to the mortal, and the immortal realm. She was now at the hardest part of being Mother. All she could do was watch and trust her demigods prove their valance. It would hurt her deeply if they failed, because she was at an impasse. She couldn’t interfere, despite all her immense power, held in the palm of her hand. It all hinged on the most basic of human emotions …

Love.

Prologue

Prologue

She could hear the monster coming.

Alanna shuffled to the side to hide behind the curtain, praying she wouldn’t be found in the dark room. Dread filled her with each step she could hear outside in the hallway.

“Please, don’t come in here … Please, God,” she prayed silently to herself, the prayer freezing in her mind when she heard the sound of the doorknob being turned. Terror held her mind and body paralyzed, as if she were in some Matrix glitch, waiting for what would happen next while knowing she had played this game too many times not to know the penalty of being the loser.