We’re fucked. Their faces say they agree with me. “We need to figure out a place we can go. Let’s be honest, we are going to lose people. A lot of people, most likely. That means we aren’t going to have the power to stop him.” I lean forward glancing past them to the house before continuing, “Nowhere on this fucking planet will be safe.”

“Where? Another planet? Another dimension? I think he was right about what this thing will do to Cora. I know my dragon and I would fight until death for Aislin, and you would for your women too. I don’t think there is anywhere we can hide,” Kai whispers angrily.

“So, we die by Odin’s hand or Loki’s. Shite choice,” Sean grumbles and Michael nods. I have to agree. We sit in silence, each trying to come up with a solution. A shout from the house has us all leaping to our feet.

“They are all in place. We need to strike now,” Nestor shouts. A flurry of movement begins from all areas of the house, and I can hear both pounding hearts and feet. I look at the others, and they all nod once before we run to the house.

Sliding to a stop inside the door, we are met by our women. Each one’s face is hard with determination but softens as they approach. Loki is standing with Cora off to the side. It has been agreed they will stay while we attack, just in case Odin is prepared. Cora is stiff with indignation at being left behind, but Loki has his arms around her and leans down, whispering in her ear. Her cheeks pinken, and I know how he plans to keep her mind off the danger we will all be in. Kai tries to hide his laugh behind a cough and gets an elbow in the ribs from Aislin. Michael and Sean narrow their eyes on the God, ever the protective ‘brothers’.

It only takes minutes for us all to be ready. Nestor and his parents are the shuttles for those of us that can’t sift or open our own personal portals. Standing at the ready, we all put on watches. The people on Persephone's list had all been tracked to various cities around the world. Aislin and Emma helped the Goddesses dress to blend in and even used makeup to tone down their otherworldliness. The men dressed in clothes that match the clothes the Druids were wearing, black fatigues and black t-shirts, and those heading to colder climates include black leather jackets.

I glance down at Emma. She too has chosen black jeans and a black sweater. Aislin is dressed in blood red and is striking to behold, reminding me of a Hollywood vampire with her alabaster skin and raven hair. The Valkyrie is in a dark blue, but I can sense her battle armor hidden behind magic along with her sword. Together they evoke wrathful angels, and I grin at my friends, earning an eye roll from the fiery redhead, who I didn’t realize was now looking up at me.

“If you’ll focus, it’s time to go kill someone.” Her voice is filled with humor as she shakes her head at us all. Aislin’s lip curves up at the corner as she fights a grin. A hand falls against the center of my back and another reaches around and takes hold of Emma’s arm. Nestor’s accented voice counts down. “Three, two, one.” The others fade as we do, and Emma grabs my hand, squeezing tight as her fear skyrockets. I know it isn’t of what we are about to do or even of death, but it is the thought of what could happen to the others. I squeeze hers back tightly.

Nestor drops us in the shadows outside a small restaurant in a small town in the mountains of China, and luckily the local national park draws hundreds of tourists a day, so we don’t stick out. Nestor had confirmed our target is inside, the Goddess Heng’e of the Eastern clan, known as a moon goddess. We watch until she emerges and starts a slow stroll down the street. We know she often takes the path into the national park climbing high into the mountains, a place where she once had a temple.

Stepping out, we fall in behind her. Emma grabs a map and opens it, pretending to plan our hike. I rub my hand over the small pouch hidden under my shirt, praying Mimi’s spell works to cloak our power until we are ready. We climb for an hour before we are finally away from crowds. I nod at Emma. Heng’e is far enough away that she can’t hear us. I shift the pouch still around my neck, and Emma closes her eyes, concentrating. Watching with pride, I ready myself for the storm she is building.

From one minute to the next, the sky changes from bright and clear to dark and filled with clouds. Her watch beeps once as our countdown begins.

“I love you. Be careful,” she whispers before lightning begins to strike the mountains all around us, my cue to race away. I run on silent feet, for my only chance is catching her off guard. Bunching my muscles, I open my jaw wide and leap as I close in. She turns as I sail through the air, shock and rage turning her face a mottled red as I sink my teeth into her neck.

Dragging her down as I land on my feet, I bite harder, tearing through cartilage and sinew. Emma’s pounding steps race toward us as the storm rages. Shaking my head, I tear at her throat more, blood coating my fur and the ground. The fight slowly slips from her body, and I let go, moving back from her to give Emma room. She stumbles to a stop at my side and bolt after bolt of lightning strikes the moon goddess until nothing but ash is left. Seconds later, the skies begin to clear, and I shift back. She stands panting, her hand trembling as she hands me a baby wipe to clean the blood from my face.

Once I’m done, I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her, holding her tight until the shaking stops. “I’m okay now, just adrenaline.” I let the lie stand. Knowing her, if I push, her Irish temper will flare.

“Ready to go back down? Now we just have to wait until Nestor comes back.” She nods and neither of us say what we are thinking… If he comes back. We jog down the mountain, making good time back to the town. There’s no sign of Nestor when we come out of the park, but tourists stand staring up at the mountain.

“Y’all see that crazy storm?” Her sweet southern drawl thick as molasses as she blinks at the people gathered, clearly shaken from the storm. In seconds, a cacophony of voices drowns out everything else as everyone starts talking about the weird weather. We walk away unnoticed, and she winks at me. God, I love this woman.

Sitting at a tiny table and sipping hot tea, we wait. Her leg bounces under the table, making it vibrate. It seems like hours but really minutes later, Nestor appears under a tree across from us, and we stand, crossing to him quickly. “Are they all okay?” Her voice is urgent. He nods and holds out his hand. We disappear before anyone even notices we are gone from our table.

Arriving at Danu’s home, we are thrilled to see everyone has made it back. Some are hurt but all are alive, thank goodness. Emma rushes across the room as Aislin and Cora do the same toward her, and they are in each others’ arms in seconds. I watch as Emma’s muscles finally relax.

I jerk my head toward the kitchen, and Kai and the others follow me in. “Everything went okay?” I ask .

“No problems. Ours had no idea who Aislin was. Sip was hunting, so she walked straight up to him in the jungle. Nestor had dropped us on a mountaintop above where he was stalking game. I shifted into my dragon and glided down, holding her in my claws. I released her right above the ground about one hundred yards from him. She just rolled up like she was out walking in the park. I think it was the surprise that let her get right to him and have him wrapped in her magic before he knew what was happening. She lulled him, eased his anger until his weapons fell from his hands. It only took moments and then as she backed away and he stared at her eyes glazed over, I let loose my fire.”

“Did he even know what was happening?” Michael asks with a grimace. Asger’s face is pale, and Kai looks at him sympathetically.

“I don't think so, well, not until right before the end. He let out a blood-curdling scream, but I just kept the fire going.” He shrugs unapologetic. Hades nods, the look on his face reminds me of my time in his lab. I grit my teeth. shaking my head to block out any thoughts of that.

“The Muses were easy. I don't think they had a brain between them. I'm not even sure why Odin would recruit them. Unless he needed new ideas on how to take over the world.” Hades rolls his eyes and smiles at the thought. No one laughs at his joke.

Michael glances at Sean, who rubs at the back of his neck. Embarrassed, interesting. “Spill,” I cajole.

“Fine. Tis nothing. We killed him,” Michael chuckles and Sean punches him.

“Unfortunately, Niltsi heard us coming. There was another wolf in the area apparently,” Raven grins at Sean. “Someone just had to howl. But luckily, the wolf and I were able to herd him right to the cat that waited on a low-hanging branch. Michael caught him at the back of the neck, Sean snapped his hamstrings, and I cut his head off with my sword.” I have to love how she says it so matter-of-factly.

The others are still in the living room, but we don't need a retelling from them. I can see specks of blood on Danu’s face. Morrigan has changed so I'm assuming her clothes were covered in blood. It's grown quiet, and I can't help but think we need to prepare for a retaliation.

ODIN

I roar a battle cry as I feel the other's power disappear, and there can be only one reason for that -- they have been killed, murdered, stolen from me. If that's the way you want it, brother, fine. I look out into my hall at the allies gathered, waiting for instruction.

“To New Orleans,” I grin.

I will destroy that city, bathing in the blood of all those that live there. Cheers go up as they grab weapons and begin to sift away. Ragnhild lifts her blades, a gleeful grin on her face at the prospect of gutting some humans. This is going to be so much fun.

“Do you think they will come?”

“We’ll just have to make sure they can't stay away.” I sift to the house I've had watched since that wedding last November. She appears beside me and leans close to the window pane, looking inside. “I'm going to send them their heads.”

“Oh, yes that will definitely bring them home.”

I tilt my head and listen. “Do you hear that? It’s started.” I grin as screams begin to fill the night air.