“You’re leaving so soon?”

Zerina nodded, rising from her chair. “Thank you for lunch.” She refused to feel guilty as a bleak look entered his dark eyes.

“I can—”

“I feel like taking a nap. Perhaps tomorrow.”

She buried her hands in the sides of her gown as she walked to her bedroom, counting the portraits to keep Hades from reading her thoughts. Once in her room, she tried to rest, but her brain refused to stop churning with thoughts of Hades. Needing to expend some of her energy, she decided to go for a swim.

Going downstairs, she wished there were another way besides passing Tartarus each time she wanted to go for a swim. She always sensed his scrutiny, though she hadn’t seen him in human form since Hades had introduced him. She was glad she only sensed the smirk behind that monstrous mask. Zerina bet it was the same smirk he gave each of the women who visited Hades.

“Hi, Maxi.”

The old man didn’t stop digging as she breezed by him. She missed Jinx’s company more and more each day.

She pulled her gown off, leaving the thin slip on. As she was laying her gown down on the large boulder, she saw a hair clip like the one in her hair. Her hand went to her hair, forgetting she had just placed hers in her hair before leaving the bedroom. Obviously, she wasn’t the only female who used the pool.

Zerina removed her hair clasp, leaving it next to the other one.

Counting how many strokes it took to the swim the length of the pool, she hid her thoughts of jealousy. She had to swim it three times to make her anger go away. Then another two to wash the tears that she had shed.

Finally exhausted, she sat down on the rocks, dipping her toes into the water and watching the water lap at them.

“What has upset you?”

Zerina laid her cheek on her knees, her long hair falling to conceal her face. “I’m not.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

His harsh voice wasn’t why she lifted her head. It was because of a sudden spurt of pain.

Putting her hands to her temples, she lifted pain-filled eyes toward him. “Why did you do that? You’ve never needed my permission to read my thoughts before.”

“You have become experienced at hiding your thoughts; that’s how I feel when I tried to read yours now.”

“Then stop trying to read mine, and we’ll call it even.”

“I read everyone’s mind in my domain.”

“I’m surprised one of your concubines haven’t stabbed you when you pull that on them.”

“No one has succeeded in keeping me out the way you have.”

Zerina shook her damp hair from her face. “That’s because they probably consider it foreplay.”

She knew she was right when he sat down on the boulder and stared down at her.

“You take sex too seriously. Do you think your sisters have your hang-ups? If they do, I feel sorry for their husbands, just like I do Odin. Fate raised you to think your pussy is filled with gold. Let me tell you something. It isn’t.” He had risen to stand over her as he ranted.

Zerina scrambled to her feet, not about to take his ridicule toward her, her sisters, or Fate. “You dare to deride my family because I won’t let you use me?” Zerina gave him a bitter smile. “Let me tell you a little something, Hades; you weren’t all that hot in the sack. Maybe I didn’t come back for more because it wasn’t worth the repeat. Can you even give a woman satisfaction without using your powers?” She gave him a mocking sound that sounded like pst.

His eyes grew dark with temper, but Zerina didn’t care. Every emotion that she had experienced since she had met him boiled over until it overflowed and she couldn’t hold back her condemnation.

“Do you even remember if I enjoyed it?” When she saw his gaze flicker, she knew he was trying to remember. “Mother above, help me!” Zerina lifted her hands up imploringly, knowing Mother wouldn’t be able to hear her plea. “You have no desire for me. You just want to add me to your collection.” She dropped her hands back to her sides. “You know why your marriage ended?”

“Shut up, Zerina,” Hades warned.

“It wasn’t because of Zeus, any more than Juno ended my mother’s marriage. It was because you didn’t love Persephone, just as my mother didn’t love Valentine. If you loved Persephone, you would have forgiven her, just like Fate would have forgiven my father. Neither one of you are capable of loving someone with every breath in your body.”

Zerina poked a pointed finger in his chest so hard Hades took a step back toward the water. “Do you even know what it feels like to love someone so much that it hurts to look at them? The way the hair on your arms stands up when they barely touch you? How you want to know what she’s thinking?” Zerina fumed. “Of course, you don’t. You can read them like the cover of a book.

“You have no concept of love. You probably thought you did because you stayed faithful to Persephone. I bet you patted yourself on the back for that,” she jeered. “You think Persephone didn’t figure out you didn’t love her? I can guarantee she did! Just like my father knew! How long did it take you to get over her? With a snap of your fingers? Long enough for you to have another at your knees?

“You want to know why you have a fireplace in every room, even though you live above the fires of Hell? Because no matter how hot it gets, it’s not going to warm that cold heart of yours! You want to get laid? Go fuck yourself!” With a ruthless hand, she punched out, striking his chest where his heart pretended to beat, knocking him back into the water.

When he resurfaced and raised a hand, she knew he was about to punish her. Therefore, before he could complete the swiping motion, she picked up the jewel combs, throwing them at him one after the other and hitting him on his cheeks. When she saw the bright red mark she had left behind, she became sick at herself and him.

“I fell in love with a man who’s not a man,” she said through trembling lips. “I fell in love with a god who’s not a god. Despite everything you’ve done to me, I still love you. Do you think I don’t want to make love with you? I want you, even knowing you have your concubines living in rooms right next to me. I love you despite you mocking me by showing that portrait to me. I even love you despite you sending for Ixcuina and touching her in front of me!”

Zerina picked her gown up off the rock. “Punish me if you want to! You know something? I’ll probably forgive that, too! That’s the type of goddess my mother raised! And I know for damn sure Mother raised you better than you treat women!” Zerina started to storm off, then paused. “And I haven’t met Rhys or Jericho yet, but they’re damn lucky they got my sisters. They’re wonderful!”

She stubbed her toe as she stormed away, ruining her proud exit. Limping, she snarled over her shoulder. “I wish I could be Tartarus for ten minutes. I would beat your fucking ass, shove a fucking shovel up your ass, and tell you to dig yourself out of the shit you tell yourself!”

* * *

Hades watched her leave with astounded eyes. His suit was dripping wet, yet he made no move to make it disappear or get out of the water. Eventually, though, he did walk out of the water, waving his hand once he was clear of it and exchanging his wet clothes for dry ones.

As soon he was immaculate again, he sent for Tartarus.

“I’m going out,” Hades stated when he appeared in his human form.

“You want me to go with you?”

“No. I won’t be gone long. I want Grimm guarding Zerina’s room while I’m gone. Understand?”

Tartarus bowed his head. “Yes, my king.”

Hades flicked his wrist, disappearing from his domain and into one he had never entered before.

When he appeared, the occupants of the room stared at him with their mouths hanging open.

“Is that who I think it is?”

Fate blinked her eyes like an owl as he approached the bar where Destiny was whispering to her sister.

Hades stopped before them, bowing. “Ladies, may I join you?”

The women remained silent as he took the stool on the side of the bar so he could watch both their reactions.

“How did you get in here?” Destiny stared at Fate, who shrugged before turning to Hades.

“You really think that weak spell you gave Broni was strong enough to keep me from entering? It’s no protection from a god of my caliber. May I?” Hades nodded at the whiskey.

“Help yourself.” Fate slide the whiskey bottle closer to him, then waved a hand to have a glass appear next to it.

“Can we ask why you have decided to grace us with your presence?”

“I thought it was time we have a little chat about Zerina.”

Destiny and Fate were regaining their senses from the whiskey they had consumed.

“I was about to return home and ask for Mother’s permission to speak to you again.” Fate’s hand tightened on her glass. “A little bird told me that she is in your domain.”

Hades’ lip curled sensuously as he poured the whiskey. “Which little bird are we talking about? Jinx or Destiny?”

“Does it matter? Is it true?”

“Yes.”

“I want her returned to me.”

Hades narrowed his eyes. “No, she’s mine.”

“You can’t have her.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Do you hear someone telling me no?”

Destiny and Fate tensed.

Dispassionately, he read their minds, seeing the fury and plans to help Zerina escape being planned in their minds.

“There is no one who will dare enter my domain without my permission. Even Mother doesn’t. She may send me a message that someone wants to speak to me, as you did, Fate, but that is the only intervention she will make. And in case you’re wondering, she does know where Zerina is and asked me to keep her safe.” Gracefully and arrogantly, he put their minds to rest that Mother had betrayed them by not trying to get Zerina back.

“If you still think you can get her out of my domain, which I already said won’t be happening, Zerina wouldn’t be able to return. Only a god can carry her back home, and no one would dare thwart me. No one, including Odin or Thor.

“Come join us, Broni, Rhys. I am anxious to meet Zerina’s sister and her new brother-in-law.” Hades didn’t even bother turning around when he felt their presence. In his mind’s eye, he had seen the couple sneakily watching them from the hallway. Fate had telegraphed to Rhys when he had entered the clubhouse.

The couple moved to stand next to Fate, ignoring the hand he held out to them.

Hades’ face grew even more glacial at the snub. He didn’t offer his hand lightly.

“I know your concern for Zerina is overwhelming, but being rude to me will delay your reunion even longer. I wish for us all to be one big, happy family.”

“Family?” Destiny’s sharp screech had a human male and Balder coming into the room at the side of the bar.

“Who the fuck is he?”

“I am Hades, and you are Adam. You are the leader of what used to be a motorcycle club. I have been looking forward to meeting you.” Hades didn’t bother extending his hand to the human.

The male stared around him, seeing the grim expressions on everyone’s faces. Then he reached behind his back and pulled out his gun, pointing it at him. “I’m asking again. Who is he?”

With a flick of his wrist, the gun disappeared from Adam’s hand, settling harmlessly in front of Hades. It couldn’t have harmed him. It was just the point that it had been aimed at him.

“I told you who I am, but I can understand your human mind having trouble wrapping around that fact. Don’t be alarmed; I am not here for you … yet.”

“Is he really Satan?” Adam belligerently squared his shoulders.

Broni sighed. “We don’t call him that.”

Rhys wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist, tugging her closer to his side.

“You must have a small part of Baptist in you from when you were younger. Shame you didn’t remember that when you grew older.”

“Fuck off—”

Adam fell to his knees, crouching in excruciating pain.

Hades stood over the human, sighing regretfully. “I didn’t come here to create drama, but I will if I have to. This is what happens when you mix with humans—they think their disrespect will be tolerated.” Hades buried his hand in Adam’s hair, tilting his head up and backward so he had no choice but to stare into Hades’ eyes. “You ready to apologize?”

“I’m sorry,” Adam choked out through clenched teeth.

Hades released him then straightened his suit. “Good. Now, let’s all play nice and we’ll get along fine. Do you agree?” Hades directed his question at Fate.

“Yes.” Fate waited until Adam regained his feet before asking, “What did you mean by one big, happy family?”

The club door crashed inward as Hades was about to speak.

“You bitch!” Rocque snarled, baring his teeth as he strode toward the group at the bar.

At his yell, the door from the hallway slammed open and two women ran out of the kitchen.

Hades sat down on one of the stools, laughing. Waving his hand, he froze Rocque in place.

Destiny jumped off her stool. “Don’t hurt him.”

“I have no intention of hurting Rocque. I am merely giving him time to cool down. He wants to rip your head off, Fate, so prepare yourself before I release him.”

“I can handle myself. I don’t need your intervention.”

“Fine.” Hades released Rocque as Rhys released Broni, stepping in front of Fate. Rocque bounced off Rhys’s chest.

“Move,” Rocque growled.

“As much as I can sympathize with you, I cannot let you harm my mother-in-law.” Rhys and Balder now blocked Rocque from reaching Fate.

Fate peeked out from between the imposing immortal males. “In case it has escaped your puny mind, I was in the middle of a conservation with Hades.”

“I don’t give a fuck who I interrupted, you man-hating bitch!”

“I don’t hate men. Just men who think their dick gives them a reason to act like we should bow to your demands. It will be a cold day in …” Fate broke off her lament when she realized what she had been about to say.

“Don’t mind me. I’ve heard that before. Zerina said the same thing.”

When he brought Zerina’s name up, the fight went out of Fate.

“I want my daughter back.”

“As I keep trying to explain … Now that everyone is here, maybe I can finish.” Hades waited for their interruptions. When none came, he settled himself more comfortably. “I have taken a liking to Zerina. I still need to meet Cara, but your other daughters do you justice.”

Broni blushed, moving a scant inch closer to him, as were Abby and Zandra. Rhys reached out, pulling her back to his side.

“Thank you. I am very proud of my daughters. Their beauty isn’t just skin deep.”

“I’m aware of that. Zerina’s family is very important to her, and she misses you greatly. Unfortunately, it isn’t convenient for me to welcome visitors into my domain at this time.”

“You’re worried for her safety in Hades?”

“No, I protect what’s mine. I worry about what I cannot control.” He stared at the group that had gathered. “You are losing your opportunity to find the one who has created this mess. I normally don’t care”—Hades shrugged—“because it doesn’t affect me or mine, but now I must take Zerina into consideration at the risk of angering Mother. None of us are supposed to interfere in human lives, but if you all don’t get you heads out of your asses, we are going to be annihilated.”

“Zeus is going to strike us?”

“I don’t know who is responsible. If I did, I could handle it myself before it escalates further, but I don’t.”

“You would risk Mother’s anger?” Fate put out her hand to move Rhys and Balder so she could see him better. “Why? To help Mother or Zerina?”

Hades shrugged. “Does it matter if everyone benefits from my interference?”

“It matters to me.”

Hades met her eyes. “Zerina. If I fail, she will die. You all will.”

“No one has that power but Mother.”

He shook his head. “Fate, you and Destiny … All of us know one action can have a domino effect. It has caught up to us. If it isn’t stopped—which it is already too late—none of us but the most powerful will survive.”

The younger woman started crying. Hades was unmoved by the varied range of expressions around him. The other girl remained quiet, her grey eyes showing not fear, but anger that he was frightening the girl. He must have aroused the protective instincts in Adam, too, who moved to block them from his sight.

“You don’t seem very concerned?” Adam searched Hades’ calm expression.

Hades pushed his glass away. “I’m here. That speaks to the degree of my concern.” He turned glacial eyes toward Fate. “Find Zeus.”

Fate put her hands up in the air. “Everyone is searching for him.”

“If you use the same determination you used to find Zerina, Zeus would have already been found. Even Odin and Rocque are too busy watching out for you both, instead of doing what needs to be done to find him.

“Zerina is fine. She may not be content, but she is alive and well, which is more than is going to be said about us all if Zeus doesn’t intervene.”

“You also could let Zerina go and allow us to concentrate solely on Zeus,” Rhys countered, pulling Broni back again when she tried to step nearer to Hades.

“I could, but I won’t. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not here to spread good will. Zerina is now mine. I don’t see myself giving her back, so Fate and Destiny must accept that fact or they will never see Zerina again. Or …”

“Or …?” Fate snapped.

“Or, like I said, we can be one big, happy family, and as a family, I will allow your visits.”

Fate stood up, moving between the men who had sought to protect her. “It sounds like a win-win situation for you.”

“You’d think so. Unfortunately, I seem to find myself caring that she is unhappy, despite my attempts.”

“Uh, Hades, I hate to bother you, but do you think you could let Rocque go? I’m sure he’s calmed down now.” Destiny placed a hand on Rocque’s arm in case he wasn’t.

Hades waved a dismissive hand at Rocque, releasing him.

“If my daughter is unhappy, you’ve done something to make her that way. Zerina is a loving, gentle—”

“You don’t have to expel the virtues of your daughter. She has taken exception to a few things I may have done.”

“Like what?”

Smoothing down his suit sleeves, Hades didn’t become angered at Fate’s antagonistic attitude.

The human women were watching him like a slug that had crawled out from underneath a rock. While the men were looking at him sympathetically, as if they had made mistakes of their own.

“She found out I have a few concubines … after we were intimate.”

“You bastard!” Fate hissed. “In other words, you fucked my daughter over, and now she doesn’t want anything else to do with you!”

“That about sums it up,” Hades concurred.

“I want my daughter back! Now! You son—”

“I did not come here to be chastised by the mother of the woman I care about.” Hades slicked his sleeve down again.

Fate stared at him, dumbfounded. Destiny didn’t have the same problem.

“You basically want our permission to screw Zerina over?” Destiny jeered. “What happened, Hades? Was the sex better than you expected? Or, knowing my niece, she doesn’t have any intention of joining the ranks of your concubines. Am I right?”

Hades let his silence speak for himself.

“Then find one of those fire pits of yours and throw yourself in it.” Fate regained her composure. While she wasn’t as hot tempered as her sister, she made no attempt to hide her contempt.

“That isn’t an option.”

“I don’t see why not. I’m sure you have more than one,” Fate jeered as she approached him with a mother’s fury. “I have raised my daughters to expect to be cherished by their choice of mates. Jericho and Rhys were slow to realize what treasures they had been gifted with when my daughters fell in love with them. But you? Hades, I must admit, you disappoint me. A god of your standing and intelligence should have been smart enough to recognize the quality of the gem presented to you.” Her scornful ire became more vicious. “When you found Persephone had fucked around on you, did you even care?”

“Watch it, Fate.” Hades stonily stared at her as she moved closer.

“Or what? You’re the one who needs to be afraid of me.”

“Really?” he scoffed at her. “Why in the fuck would I have to be afraid of you?”

“How content do you think Zerina will be to never see me or her sisters again? Having an unhappy concubine can be dealt with by sending her away.”

“Which I refuse to do.” His triumphant smile faltered when she smugly stared at him. Foreboding raced up his spine. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“You’ve been around Zerina long enough; how do you think she will deal with centuries of not seeing any member of her family? That’s why you’re here now, and you’ve only had her for months. You think Zerina will be able to live with the knowledge that she’ll never see us again? That her sisters have probably had children and she won’t be able to recognize them?” Her eyes didn’t miss that his bronze skin had grown increasingly pale. “You’ve already underestimated Zerina once, I wouldn’t do it twice if I were you.”

“She wouldn’t succumb to the light.”

“A goddess or god has never willed themselves to die, and I think it would take centuries of Zerina being without us before she considered, but I could see Zerina taking that option if she had no other recourse. Her body would stay in your domain, but her spirit would return to Mother, and she would be confident that Mother would see to it that she was returned to me. Zerina isn’t afraid of being born again. We already have an old soul in the family.” Fate jerked her head haughtily toward Broni. “What’s one more?”

“I will never permit Zerina to escape me, even in death.”

“You aren’t capable of earning my daughter’s love. You’re too concerned with your own wants and needs. There’s a simple fix to mend Zerina’s feelings, but you’re too fixated on what you want to discover it.”

“So, you won’t help me?”

“No.”

Hades stood up. “Then there is no need for me to waste my time further. It was a pleasure to meet you, Broni.” Bowing toward Broni, he raised his eyes toward Adam. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

Adam shoulders tautened. “I can’t say the same.”

Hades’ lips twitched, moving his gaze to the young woman Adam was standing protectively beside. “I wouldn’t waste what time you have left trying to repay mistakes that were committed by those in your club. The thing I admire about you is your ability to ignore your conscience. Don’t let it fail you now.”

“I have no intention of following any advice you may give, when you came here for a solution to your own problem.”

Hades’ smile broadened into one of pure mockery, his gaze now encompassing the entire group.

“Did I? Or did I try to light a fire under each of you to realize that time is running out. I found myself in a generous mood. Zerina loves her family. I have now allayed their fears and told them that I care about her and no harm will come to her. Is it the outcome they wanted? No, but I’m not Mother—I don’t make wishes come true.”

“Hades …”

“I gave you a warning. Disregard it and you will all perish. As well as Zerina and I. Nothing or no one will be left to grieve over. Mother will become a memory to the few who are left.”

Hades wanted to reach out and shake sense into those staring at him as if he was the monster they believed, one who kept Zerina from rejoining their family.

“I’m not a monster, or a promiscuous god who has no concept of morality. I am always faithful to Mother, and she knows that. You may hate me right now, but I sincerely hope you have enough faith in Mother to heed my warning.”

He turned toward Fate. “Fate, as always, it’s been a pleasure seeing you again.”

Before Fate could once again plea for Zerina’s return, he waved his hand and disappeared, leaving the group in stunned silence.

“That was really Hades?” Broni breathed out, breaking the anxiety that had risen among them at Hades’ warning.

“Broni?” Rhys muttered, jealousy in his tone.

“Yes?” she answered distractedly, searching the room as if Hades would reappear. She missed Rocque throwing Destiny over his shoulder, carrying her down the hallway to their room, while Adam shouldered Abby back into the kitchen.

Zandra watched the men with widening eyes, turning at the sudden gasp coming from Broni when Rhys lifted her into his strong arms before disappearing with her.

“Where did they go?” The young girl stared in confusion at Fate.

“Your friends are fine. I’m sure they’re finding out Hades isn’t the only one with a big … ego.”