Chapter Seven
Libra stands their ground for what is right.
The second they stepped off the plane, Archer felt it—the simmer of Scorpio and the burn of the tattoo moving into the next sign. But the shifters in the airport were not on his list. He pulled up his phone to see if he had any bounties. Just one woman who was known to traffic drugs. Not the family of three making their way to the Valley of the Kings and their sanctuary. He reached the escalator to baggage claim, a possessive hand on Teagan’s lower back.
The warning bells in his head went off as the hairs on the back of his neck rose. He was now the hunted.
He gripped Teagan’s arm and pulled her toward the coffee shop. “Remember when I asked you not to question me on your safety.”
She nodded. When he indicated the coffee barista, she ordered. “Large iced coffee with Hazelnut, sweet and light, please.” She arched a brow, but he shook his head. “That will be all.”
“There is a Foniás downstairs.” He pulled out his phone and texted Jeffrey quickly. “Jeffrey will meet you up here. I’m going to go down and deal with the slayer.”
“Why would the Foniás be here, now? What reason?”
“Three Scorpio just passed us.” He stared at the window. “I need to deal with him, and I don’t know how long this might take. I’ll meet you at your house. I would feel better if Jeffrey would stay with you until I get there. Also, I think you can expect a visit from Aurnia. I had hoped to be there to support you when she arrived, but I might be a few days.”
“Days?”
“If Foniás are hunting me, then I have to deal with the higher powers. I need to explain my relationship with you, I’m guessing. But I don’t want him seeing you. Do you understand?”
She nodded, supposed spark of defiance in her eyes. She wanted to tell him she would go with him, but the promise to listen to him and obey when her safety was concerned prevented that. “How long will you be?”
“No idea. It could be an hour, it could be weeks.”
“Will you be able to contact me?”
“I don’t know. If I can, I will.”
She kissed him then. Kissed him hard. An embrace filled with anger, fear, and tinged with love. “I love you.”
“I will return to you.” He lifted his head in time to see Jeffrey wave. “You need to go.”
He allowed himself one last kiss before heading down to meet with the Foniás waiting for him. “Archer.”
“Aetolos, I see you brought friends.” He turned and greeted the worst of his kind. “Gregor. I didn’t think you ever did someone else’s bidding, and you, Ritsa, you love the hunt in the name of mankind too much to allow three Scorpios to escape your grasp.”
Ritsa shimmied up to him, pressed her check against his, and whispered into his ear. “Your presence has been requested. Lelantos wishes to see you.”
Her touch made him ill, but he resisted the urge to push her away. “So, summon the god, and let’s be done with this.”
“No, this time it is you who have been summoned,” Gregor said through gritted teeth.
A flash of bright light and then darkness were the only indications he had left the earthly realm. Landing with a loud thump, he managed to stay on his feet in a deep crouch. Scanning the large arena, he prepared himself for what was to come. The others appeared beside him. Gone were their modern clothing, in place the attire they had been given when commanded to protect the human race.
The gods never liked change, and when in their presence, the Foniás always presented in the uniform of the past. The blood-red linen shift covered by the leather linothorax. The armor painted with the zodiac symbols burned into the chest plate. Leather grieves and sandals adorned and protected the lower legs.
“Lelantos, show yourself,” Archer demanded, throwing his arms up and turning in the great Greek stadium.
“So quick to die, my son,” Lelantos roared, his anger shaking the ground beneath them. The seven foot tall god wrapped in a golden toga entered through one of the archways.
“If you mean to kill me, then do so. But, first, you must explain it to her.” Archer indicated a newcomer with a jerk of his chin.
Dike the goddess of justice and the scales approached from the far end. “Looking good, Archer. What is this about, cousin?”
”You presence is not required here,” Lelantos’s demand came off as a whine.
“Oh, but it is. You see, many of your sons and daughters pay homage to me. They fight in honor of me, not you,” Dike taunted, running a hand over the bare shoulders of Gregor, who shrugged her away.
“They are weak, the reason the shifters are gaining ground,” Gregor said in a near growl.
“No, you will have to lay the blame for that on the fates.” Dike patted his cheek. “They have allowed the shifters to mate with humans. Those who cannot be harmed by you. Thus, neither can their offspring.”
“What do you say to his mating? We do not mate. It is not our way,” Ritsa shrieked.
Dike looked at Archer with one raised eyebrow. “Have you mated with Teagan or simply fucked her into believing you are mated?”
He stood feet apart, arms crossed, daring anyone to challenge him. “We are mated.”
“Interesting.” Dike nodded, giving not idea clue which way she thought of this change in tradition. “The fates proclaimed it.”
“For her, but the mating did take place,” he insisted.
“Fabulous.” Dike clapped in approval. “I couldn’t have chosen a better partner for you. Your first wife was not a fighter. You need someone who will fight alongside you for the humans. She is the one.”
“What is it with your love of these shifters?” Lelantos demanded.
“Why do you hate them?” Dike retorted.
Lelantos snapped his mouth closed.
Dike stormed up to him, nose to nose. “Because my father in a fit of neurotic rage, demanded every last one be wiped form the earth. Years of protecting his kind on Olympus, and now they were slaughtered and hunted remorselessly. You ask why I stepped in to allow them peace? Allow them to bring new babes into the world? Because there was no reason to hunt them.”
“We were created to hunt them. Without the hunt, we are nothing,” Aetolos roared.
“Hunt the bad ones, as Archer does. He hunts only the worst. But you, Ritsa, seduce men and, like a black widow, take their lives. Because they dared take what you had on offer? And you, Aetolos, play with your capture, determined to make their last moments the worst of their lives. You care not if the shifter you kill might be rushing to the hospital to save the life of a young boy. James Nelson.” She waved her hand, and the image of a young child shimmered before them. “Five years old. His soul rides on you because you killed the only surgeon able to save him.”
“He was a shifter. It is my duty,”
“It is bloodlust. And you, Gregor. You just love the blood sport. What makes any of you worthy to protect humans when you are killers yourselves?”
“We were ordered,” Aetolos repeated.
“The orders were wrong,” Archer grunted. “Will you naysay what the fates decide?”
“The fates are but three hags who no one has seen in centuries.” Ritsa made a rude gesture showing her distain.
“And yet they still work. And they are trying to undo the damage the Foniás have done.” Archer had it with all of them.
Dike glided to Archer and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Calm, my warrior, I can do little more to protect the shifters.”
“I know you have done so much.”
“Lelantos, these others are some of the worst who represent you. You have chosen to come to my arena, and I have rules as to how they can leave. Each one must prove their honor. Archer, you are free to go. You, I grant, are honorable. The other three must prove through deed before being returned. But from this day forth, any injustice these three project on another shifter will be reflected back on them, if the shifters be pure in heart and soul. Be careful of who you cast judgment on. Let it be heard that any Foniás they come in contact with will too be fated to the same punishment.”
“How will we hunt?”
“Archer’s heart is pure when he hunts shifters. Nothing shall happen to him. But you shot down a public defender on her way home. Punished for the crime of putting the needs of an innocent human above her safety. Her reward for her selflessness, a wing and arm nearly shattered.” Aetolos cried out in pain, gripping his shoulder. “I see you understand what I mean now.
“Lelantos, I suggest you call your children and let them know I am displeased. Before you go calling on the higher gods, believe me when I say their powers fade with the death of each shifter. They will not side with you. Zeus is well aware of my decree. His silence is his way of making amends while saving face.”
“So we have no purpose?” Gregor now paced as he demanded.
“Your purpose is, as it always has been, to protect the humans, but your lust for the hunt overrode that.” Archer said, “Hunt the way I do. Take those who can be dealt with by the humans to them and destroy the evil ones. Hell, I could use the help. Also hunt the evil humans. We may not be able to kill them, but we can assist the humans in finding them.”
Aetolos rubbed the back of his neck. “That was you with the log?”
“Hell yes.”
Dike closed her eyes, help up a hand for silence, and froze. Time passed as not even the titan god dared to speak. Finally, her eyelids fluttered open and she shook her head as emerging from a trance. “The fates have proclaimed one more thing. Archer will not be the last shifter and Foniás mating. Should a Foniás try and hunt Archer’s mate, they no longer receive the life protection and become open game should Archer choose to destroy them.”
“But I didn’t know, did I?” Aetolos stepped back, hands up.
“That is the only reason I will spare your life.” Archer walked up, nose to nose to Gregor. “My wife is off-limits. Make sure everyone knows that.”
Though wearing surly expressions, the three nodded.
Archer looked at the deities before them and bowed. “I reaffirm my allegiance to you both and to Zeus to protect the humans, but also to protect all those who are innocent.”
Dike gave a regal nod in return. “Come, these three have some proving to do, and it will take time for them to figure out how to do it. You, I wish to chat with.” Through a fog mist, they moved from the area to a balcony high above the Mediterranean. “Tell me about Teagan. Is she as good as she seems? Is she just and honorable?”
“There could be no better representation of you down on Earth than her and her partner Jeffrey.”
“I might have had a hand in asking the fates to find you the perfect mate. You are so deserving. You have so many questions, and I can only but answer one. So, choose wisely before I return you to your mate.”
He had questions. Would he outlive his mate? Would their progeny be able to reproduce? Was she truly safe from the Foniás? “Will our children be barren?”
“No, you shall have many grandchildren. And great ones after that. I find it interesting what you care about isn’t yourself but that of those you will love.” She smiled “Honor me through those children, but I think you could also honor those killed by setting up that orphanage for shifters’ children.”
“The logistics...”
“Until they reach school age, usually fifteen for a shifter, those in your charge will be undetectable to the Foniás. You will still need to find protection for Teagan and deal with the children as well. But, while under your care, their zodiac will not affect them. I cannot change the other slayers out there. The hunt continues.”
“We will figure it out.” He turned to leave.
“One more thing.” Dike stopped him.
“Yes.”
“Lelantos can’t undo my bidding, but he can work around it. So, be careful, and never be out in Libra’s reign again. Something will be hunting.” She waved her hand. “Ready to go home?”
“Yes, but how long has passed?”
“That is a second question. You know I can’t answer.”
A flash of light, and darkness was followed by the soft twinkling of lights as he landed softly onto plush carpet. Taking stock, he glanced around an unfamiliar living room and caught sight of his reflection in a mirror on the wall. Gone were the clothes of ancient times, and he had returned in the clothing he had left in. A Christmas tree light in the window. December. With a hiss, his tattoo moved again.
Sagittarius.
On quiet feet, he moved through the house until he heard soft singing in the kitchen. Teagan wore a bright-red sweater, tight black jeans, and a pair of reindeer antlers on her head. She ate more cookie dough than she placed on the baking sheet. The scent of another batch baking in the oven filled the air. “Smells heavenly.”
The spoon in her hand crashed to the counter with a loud crash. “Archer?”
She threw herself at him.
“Your cookies will burn,” he murmured between kisses.
“Forget the cookies.”
He moved over the stove with his mate still attached to his body. He turned off the oven and pulled the pan out, refusing to be interrupted this evening by the house burning to the ground around them. “Your bedroom?”
“Upstairs, last door on the right.”
Those were the final words either of them spoke until the following Monday, and then it was just to have Teagan call in sick. They had years to talk, and in the coming days, he would fill her in on what the fates and Dike deemed they needed to do. Luckily, it fell in line with their plans. But, for now, they both seemed content to allow their bodies to do the speaking. He was home. And home had only ever been her.
THE END