Chapter 4

Hades

I dropped my head into my hands. Here I was, sitting on the tongue of a massive clam, alone in a room that smelled heavily of flowery perfume and dripped with chains of pearls and prisms of radiant crystals that cut through walls of coral, and I wondered all over again if it’d been worth it.

I was used to the disdain of my family. Used to the side-eye glances and even, at times, disdainful looks.

I was Death.

I dealt in it.

Lived among it.

It was not a life I’d chosen for myself, but it was one I’d grown to respect and appreciate through the turning of the centuries. But to be so easily discarded, to be told that I could not return to my own realm, my people, made me seethe. Made me murderous.

I clenched my fists, breathing heavily.

I was a god, yes, but one against many. Alone, even I didn’t stand a chance. My touch could not kill any of them. Hurt them, yes, if I choose it. With Cerberus by my side, I might have at least stood a chance of defending my gates, but with him gone, I’d known I’d had little choice but to submit.

The indignity of it infuriated me most.

Suddenly the pressure of the room tightened, as though the water were being suctioned up by a vacuum. I glanced up in time to see the waters spiral pink and then shimmer with gold.

Aphrodite stood before me as a pillar of water, her curves more luscious and sensuous than ever. The undulation of water had always held a strange fascination for me.

“What?” I snapped the instant she’d finished forming.

Planting hands on her hips, she gave me a kittenish pout. “Now, Death, is that any way to speak with a friend?”

“Why are you meddling here?” I asked, in no mood to play nice.

She rolled her eyes. “I should think it obvious. The two of you are snapping and sparking like a wildfire burning out of control.”

I narrowed my eyes.

A gentle current swayed through the tips of her hair, causing them to swirl like charmed snakes around her face.

“And you just can’t help yourself. Well, Love, I can assure you that the very last thought on my mind is engaging with Calypso. I have bigger problems.”

She scoffed. “You’re an idiot, Hades. Of course, I always thought you were. You had Persephone. You lost Persephone.” She flicked a wrist. “You are lonely by your own doing.”

She had no idea what she was talking about. I’d never wanted or asked for the other Olympians’ friendship. They could go burn in Tartarus for all I cared.

Huffing, she crossed her arms in much the same pose Calypso had taken earlier, but somehow, it failed to make much of an impression on me.

“She is smitten with you.”

“She is a virgin goddess. I hardly think—”

She snorted. “A problem she seeks to rectify immediately, I’d imagine. Look, Death.” She curled her lip. “I recognize lust when I see it, and that woman plans to make you scream her name.”

Chuckling because the thought actually made me not so angry at all, I leaned back on my hands in a relaxed pose. “I’d not kick her out of my bed.”

Her eyes darted around the lush room. “Her bed. And you might find her to be a bit of a spitfire.”

“I know this.”

I vividly remembered the clawing at the back of my head with that kiss. Gods, that kiss. I almost groaned thinking about the salty, sweet taste of her tongue. The absolute power of her. She’d barely even given me a taste of it, she’d held so much of herself in check, but I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t craved much more than a sampling.

My groin tightened, but then I thought about the teases that Athena and Artemis were. How they made sport of making us sweat, making us males believe they’d be virgin goddesses no more, only to then turn around and mock and laugh at us for thinking we’d ever be good enough for either of them.

I glowered. “She’s a cock tease and nothing more.”

Her lips curled into a crooked smile, and her eyes twinkled like cut gems. “Whatever you say, Hades.”

“Why are you here, Aphrodite? Answer me once and for all.” I grew tired of her silly games and only wished my rest.

This day had been hell, and the next two weeks would only be worse. I knew they’d not find Persephone. All fingers would come pointing back at me, and a thousand years of torment was what awaited me.

I was tired and in a foul mood.

“Because I like her. And enthusiastic as she is, I do not think she quite knows what she’s doing. When the rest of us took bodies, Calypso stayed in her primordial form, remaining so for almost her entire life. She knows little of how to be human,” she finger quoted. “She is ancient, but in many ways she is naught more than a young woman—a young woman suddenly aware of her sexuality and her desire for relations. Be patient with her.”

I frowned. I was very aware of her dichotomous nature, both the power that nestled inside her tempting body and the woman that spouted such nonsense I couldn’t help but laugh in confusion.

She was both old and young. Her words were ridiculous. But her touch burned me to my very core. I’d not been touched the way she’d touched me in many lifetimes.

Blood rushed between my thighs at the thought of laying her down beneath me and filling her body with my heat and need.

I clenched my jaw. “In two weeks, I leave. I don’t know what you expect me to do for her. If she does truly wish to shed her virginity, then perhaps she should consider one of the other gods.”

But the thought of any of them—Zeus, Apollo, or even Poseidon (who’d once been her betrothed)—made me want to throttle them all and toss them into the River Styx.

Betrothal meant nothing to my kind. Zeus was married to Hera and still found time to sire at least a thousand bastards a year. Poseidon was rumored to be sleeping around with a bevy of selkies, and Apollo...well, he wasn’t much competition. Unless Calypso suddenly sprouted a one-eyed snake, the God of the Sun would hardly notice.

Swiping my tongue across my lips, I still tasted a salty hint of her on them.

I glanced up when I felt the heavy press of Aphrodite’s eyes. Her smile was broad.

“Do you not know, God of the Underworld, that still waters run deep? The sea can bring life and redemption. Remember that.”

“Yes, and it can also drown a man.” I thinned my lips.

She chuckled. “She is a tempestuous beauty, to be sure. But no one ever said falling in love with the Sea came without its share of hardships.”

“Falling in love,” I scoffed. “If she wishes to bed me, that I can accommodate, but nothing more.”

She shrugged. “Your funeral. Anyway, beast, gotta jet. Hephy’s making me eyeball stew for dinner. Mm.” She rubbed her stomach, laughed, and disappeared in a glittering shower of gold dust.

“Bloody women.”

~*~

Calypso

A hand grabbed my ass and squeezed.

I squeaked, jumping nearly off my tail fin at the rough treatment to my now-throbbing backside. Twirling, I nearly snapped the human man’s hand off but then remembered I was in disguise.

Grinding my teeth, I gave the male a waspish smile. I knew him well. He was a troll of a man. One of the maidens had brought him down to sire a child late last year, but still they’d made no fry yet.

Jeffery, as he was called, was a short, round man with boring brown hair but pleasant-enough-colored eyes—a soft green, his most attractive feature to be sure—but he had the manners of a pig.

He was always sneaking about Nim’s castle, harassing the staff.

“Jeffery,” I snarled, “don’t ye belong back wi’ Merida? Last I checked, she were headin’ for home.”

Jeffery, the scoundrel, smiled a pudgy-cheeked smile and shrugged. “She can do as she pleases.”

He had a willing maiden and yet here he was, day in and day out. I hadn’t mentioned him to Nim yet, mainly because while he was a rat, the man was harmless. But now he was annoying me.

I aimed to teach him manners and didn’t want my daughter-in-law involved in what would surely be a bloody affair. Bruce, I was sure, was quite hungry today, my poor little beastie.

My head was full of visions of evisceration when the doors of the kitchen were flung open and a heavily pregnant Nimue waddled in.

My heart was full to bursting to see her thus. I’d never dreamed that someday I’d actually become a grandmother. I’d felt the life pulse of the babes and knew something my Nim did not.

She was having twins. One boy, one girl. One would only ever have human form, but the boy, the boy was a changeling. The first mer-male born since Sircco eons ago.

Of course, I couldn’t tell her these things, as she had no idea who I really was, and then the peg would be up, as they say.

Was it peg? Oh well, whatever.

As she swiped at her long hair, Nimue’s eyes found mine immediately.

“Janita!” She smiled serenely.

The pregnancy had her fair skin glowing like porcelain. She’d already been lovely, and now I could only find her doubly so.

“You are here. I’d hoped you worked a shift today.”

I curtsied quickly. “Consort.”

Her smile quickly vanished, however, when she spotted Jeffrey. A twitch of her eyebrow was enough to make the vermin scuttle off.

My Nim was steely to the core. Human she might be, but pirate’s blood ran through her veins, and the power of the Sea was at her disposal. No man was fool enough to mess with her.

Grabbing my hands, she gave them a quick squeeze once Rat Face had gone. “I’m famished, and I’d hoped to find you here.”

Grinning, I turned and lifted a basket of food from the coral counter, dangling it happily before her.

There were perks to being me, namely that with a mere thought, I could create a masterpiece of foods. None in the kitchens knew that my divine creations hadn’t truly been made by my hands. I was a master at remaining hidden when I wished to be.

“I’ve made all your favorites, Consort. Mashed cod with parsley flakes. Steaming lobster bisque, and kelp drop biscuits.”

“Mm.” She groaned, rubbing her massive belly. “I hope you brought some for yourself.”

I chuckled. “I’ve already eaten, my lady.”

“Well then.” She latched her arm through mine. “Come join me as I devour this sumptuous feast.”

Glancing at the rest of the staff, she nodded her head.

Every maiden within Seren had fallen prey to Nim’s charms. She simply had that effect on others. I was well pleased with my son’s chosen consort.

In the hall, we passed Sircco. I glanced off, pretending to straighten an already straight picture frame on the wall.

“Beluga,” Nim murmured his name softly but with a wealth of love behind it.

I fought my grin. I thought that tonight, while I was drowning Apollo’s mansion in saltwater and extracting my revenge on Jeffery the rat, I might spare a moment to surprise my children with a little bauble. Nim was rather fond of my golden pearls.

Sircco wrapped her in his arms, nuzzling the side of her neck, and I experienced a soft pang of longing.

I wanted sex because of what they had.

I wanted the intimacy of their shared words. The union of their souls. How they seemed to innately know the thoughts and wants of the other.

“Are you to sup, then?” he asked her softly.

She nodded, brushing at a curl of hair on his cheek. “Yes. Will I, um...see you later?”

I was now pretending to dust off my tail. They were meeting up for sex. See, sex was wonderful. How could I not want that?

He tried to mask his answer by whispering it in her ear, but nothing was hidden to me within my waters.

“As long as you promise to wear those wicked fishnet stockings you found the other day.”

Fishnet stockings? What in the world were those? And how could I get my hands on some?

She tittered. It was really rather adorable. And then, with a gentle swat to her rear, Sircco swam off, acknowledging me briefly with a short dip of his head.

“King.” I curtsied.

Nim’s arm was once again threaded through mine, and before I knew it, she’d dragged me into their massive dining chambers, which we had all to ourselves, as was the case these days.

Nimue had decreed that she wished to take her lunches alone. But for some odd reason, she always allowed me in on her private time.

“Sit.” She pointed to the seat beside hers at the head of the long driftwood table.

I sat, twiddling my thumbs as she began to unpack her basket of goods. I smiled as her eyes grew big. Holding a fork in each hand, she looked like a child as she gazed longingly at each plate.

“I hardly know where to start. You spoil me rotten, Janita.”

“Ah, it were nuthin’, m’lady.” I batted away her words while inside, I beamed.

She happily munched for a while, and I didn’t interrupt her. I wished her to eat her fill. She had my twins to care for, after all.

But once she began grazing, I figured she’d eaten as much as her stomach could hold, and I spoke up. “My lady?”

“Hm?” She looked up, finally setting down her forks. She’d very nearly demolished all three plates of food. What could have easily fed four had just barely been enough for one very ripe consort.

“I wish to speak frankly, if I may.”

“Of course, Janita. You know you can tell me anything you wish.”

I dipped my head. “Thank you.”

Suddenly nervous, I drummed my fingers and swished my tail back and forth. I wasn’t a complete novice when it came the idea of men, but there was so much about them that felt lacking to me.

Swallowing a deep breath, I rushed out, “I’ve found myself a male.”

“Oh.” Her rosebud lips quirked into a small “o.” “That is wonderful. Is he handsome?”

My eyes widened with enthusiasm. “Excessively. He is—” I almost said his name and then realized that would open me up to far too many questions “—lovely. He’s got great, wide hands.” I splayed mine open. “Fingers that can really grip my arse, you know.”

She pressed her lips together, then gave a small cough before waving her hand. “Bone. It is nothing, continue.”

I frowned. I never left fish bones in my meals.

As if realizing my thoughts, she was quick to say, “Oh, no, not from your food, dear. Cook fried me up a plate of fish earlier, and I’ve been coughing all morning trying to get it loose.”

I thwacked her back hard at least three times.

She grunted, falling forward and planting her hands on the table.

“Good?” I asked, ready to thwack her again if she should need it.

“Oh no,” she looked up at me with eyes now watering and gave me a thumbs up. “I think you got it for sure.”

Nim cleared her throat, grunted, and then nodded. “Yup, definitely gone now.”

“Good. So anyway,” I sighed, “he’s hawt.”

She laughed. “That’s the best kind. What are his lips like?”

I brushed fingers over my own. They were soft and sensitive, but I remembered what his had felt like. Hard, claiming, dominating. “They are fuller on the bottom than the top. But he knows how to work them well, if that’s what you mean. My body turned to lava when he touched me.”

“Oh my. Tell me more.”

I smiled, setting farther into my chair. “Well, I wish to claim him tonight. I want to straddle his cock and ride him till the morning, that is.”

She choked again, and I lifted my hand, but she quickly shook her head. “No, I’m good, love. I’m good.”

“Are you sure? Fish bones can be quite tricky.”

“Quite. But I’m all for riding a lovely cock. What exactly is the matter? Because I sense you have a question.”

I drummed my fingers. “What are fishnets, and why do men like them?”

“Ah. I see.” Leaning back in her seat, she rubbed her belly a few times before saying, “Men are visual creatures by nature. You don’t really have to do much to excite them. Just show up, preferably naked, and they’re like putty in your hands.”

“Mmhm.” I nodded, deep in thought. But that still didn’t explain why Sircco wanted her in fishnets. “But—”

She held up a finger. “You clearly overhead my king referring to my fishnets.”

I didn’t blush. Why should I? There were no secrets uttered within my waters I did not know. I shrugged.

“You see, when a couple has been together for a while as the King and I have, sometimes we wish to get creative to keep the spark alive.” Glancing over her shoulder, she leaned forward and whispered, “Sircco and I play games all the time. Sometimes I tie him up to my bed and give him a few lashes to rev him.”

“Wow.” I breathed. “And he doesn’t get angry about that?”

She laughed. “Not with the types of lashes I gave him. It’s important that for every sting there is also something tender to help ease the pain. He generally likes a gentle rub or a kiss.”

“Mm. Yes, I could see where that might work.” I imagined Hades stretched out before me with a whip in my hand, and I felt such a flutter of white-hot need that it was an effort to remain in my seat much longer.

“But not all men enjoy that type of game. You have to figure out what your man enjoys, Janita.”

Feeling a little as though I’d just been shot back to square one, I glowered. “And how am I to know what he likes?”

“Ask him.”

“Ask him?” I snapped my fingers. “Just like that?”

“Yes, of course. Just like that.” She winked. “Believe me, men are quite willing to talk about sex. It’s one of their favorite pastimes, after all.”

“Mine too. When I finally have it, that is,” I said dreamily then looked up at her. “What type of questions should I ask? I’ve seen men and women ride each other like mules. I’d imagine he’d like that.”

“Oh yes, I’m sure so.”

“And I saw a woman once stick a carrot up her man’s—”

She cleared her throat again as a fierce blush rose to her cheeks. “I can imagine. And you never know, your man may like that, too.”

I nodded. “Okay, so I ask him. Got it.”

“Buy yourself a few outfits. Play dress-up for him. Men usually like that.”

“What kinds?” I really should have brought a notepad, there was so much information to remember.

“Well, pirates are a fantasy for some. I happen to have some great clothes if you need any.”

We were about the same size—prepregnancy, that was. I was just about to ask her for some when I realized that technically she thought I had a tail and wouldn’t need a skirt or pants, but I couldn’t imagine simply walking up to Hades with only a top on and my pearl exposed to the world.

But then again...

“In fact,” she clapped her hands, and almost instantly a maid appeared.

“Yes, m’lady.” The chubby maid with coal-black hair dipped low.

“Buella, can you please run to my chambers and pick out a set of my old pirate clothes. The best set I have, the um...magenta and gold one, I think,” Nim said after eyeing me a quick second.

“Yes, mum.” Buella was gone in an instant.

Nimue turned back to me with a smile. “It’ll only take a minute. I do hope that once you’re done sexing him up, you’ll bring him by to meet us, love. We would all very much enjoy meeting the man finally good enough for our Janita.”

I laughed. “Oh, I’m not sure about good enough. He’s thoroughly disreputable and debauched, which makes him absolutely perfect for me.”

Our grins matched.

Buella returned only a few moments later carrying a wrapped bundle in her hand.

“Set it just there, Buella, thank you.” Nim pointed at my spot on the table.

The maiden set it down, curtsied one final time, and then swam off.

Pushing back my chair, I dipped my head at the Consort. “Well, I’m to shove off now. I do believe my work here is done.”

“Oh, yes, go shove off.” Nim tapped her jaw. “And remember, have fun.”

Grabbing the package, I nodded. “Oh, and one last thing before I forget. I like you very much, Nimue. Truly. Frogs of a feather we are.”

She cleared her throat again before giving me the thumbs up. “Yes, we are, Janita. Now go make your debauched male thoroughly happy.”