Chapter 4
Mystical Lake, Earth Realm
Hades was losing his mind with worry. Every muscle tensed as he fought the power holding them with a might that should have destroyed the damned cats easily. Sacha’s soothing energies barely calmed anything. Those few minutes when he hadn’t known where Pothos had gone were the longest of his existence. If that Goddess harmed a single hair on his son’s head, every Thulian present would know the agony of his power.
As soon as their hold waned… and it would, because the beasts could not hope to restrain him forever, he would truly enjoy their screams as he ripped the souls from their bodies. One of the creatures had the audacity to stare at him and twitch its ears as if completely unfazed. He glared at the offending animal.
“Where is my sister?” Hroarr commanded with deadly calm. The only indication of the male’s fury was the fire flashing in his eyes and the raw power flowing from him to the water beneath his feet. Waves rocked violently over the edges.
Hades narrowed his eyes at the display, wanting the battle that brewed in the other God’s eyes.
Draken answered, “Your sister is unharmed.”
Pothos isn’t helpless, Hades. He’s a powerful warrior and your son. Sacha’s calming voice penetrated his wrath. And what he just said makes sense. You told us that the reason Agnarr came to you for an alliance all those centuries ago was to gain your help in imprisoning the evil Gods of Thule. When Pothos’ mother gave him to you with that warning, their world was likely just as different as ours was all those millennia ago. She paused. This Goddess is not evil, and you know as well as I do that even these arrogant male Gods don’t hold that kind of tainted power. She paused. Just remember that if Pothos and the Goddess complete their mating, no Thulian will be able to harm him, not without harming her.
If the mating rules are the same for her. We don’t know that, Hades bit out.
Even your soul was affected by the mating rules, my love. The steps may have been different, but the results were the same, and P is half Thulian.
Hades vaguely heard the rumbling of Drake’s and the Thulian’s words over the agitation of the water as he listened to his female.
Though her logic made sense, the thought of his son in any potential danger brought back nightmarish memories of Ares and Artemis’ attack on his palace when Pothos had been a child. His disgusting siblings had almost gotten to the boy, and Hades had never felt such rage as when he’d learned of their breach of his palace. The fear and fury had unleashed a power and darkness in him unlike any the world had ever seen. It hadn’t mattered that the two had been the most powerful of his evil siblings, he’d made sure their blood soaked the palace grounds. He’d wanted to bathe in it, and he would have killed them, no matter the consequences to the world. If the two hadn’t retreated, they would have suffered long and hard before he allowed them death.
Pothos had been his brightest light in the darkest of times, and his son was still his greatest creation. Hades would bring down all four Realms for him.
I know. And that’s one of the reasons I love you so deeply, Sacha said softly.
Feeling her love through their bond finally eased some of his fury. You know I’d do the same for you. Maybe worse, he admitted.
In the background Hades heard the God’s commanding tone; the fact that his confidence was absolute made the threat damned effective. “Return my sister or I will take this world apart piece by piece.”
Hades watched Hroarr closely to see if the male’s silent rage was having any effect on the beasts’ hold, knowing Sacha was doing the same. He wasn’t the only one with a son in potential danger. Bastian was standing to their left with his mate, Tasha, assessing the other Gods. His normal calm was replaced by the eyes of a male worried for his mate.
Hades made a vow to his female. I will never allow them to harm him or anyone here. You will all be safe. He was the most powerful of the Gods, and the Thulians would learn how dangerous he could be if any of those present he cared for were hurt. Brianne had been one of his most loyal warriors, and the wild redhead’s mate, Vane, was his nephew, Athena’s son. Drake and his mate, Era, were a force all their own. The dragon’s female had a stillness about her now that spoke of her own readiness to fight if anyone threatened her male.
I choose to consider it a good sign that both sides are unable to move or fight, Sacha pointed out, but she was assessing the situation from the eyes of a warrior. And I’m perfectly capable of doing just as much damage as you are if this tentative peace ends. A fact that pleased him immensely. Not only was she a Guardian, she held immense power now as his mate. His female was as strong as any full-blooded Goddess.
Now he only needed to break the beasts’ power over them so the soul rending could commence.
He heard a choked laugh through his bond with his female. He would have smiled if he weren’t still worried. Not seeing his son’s telepathic marker added to his frustration. If he could at least see him, it would be easier.
What is happening now? Hades demanded of Pothos. It didn’t matter that he’d heard his son’s report moments before.
P’s worried tone came less than a second later. Is everything okay there? Just hearing his voice helped.
Yes, there is no change, Hades responded. Now tell me what is happening with the Goddess.
I just told you everything! Could you not scare the shit out of me for no reason? his son growled. Contact me if there’s a problem. I need to get my power under control before I can get anywhere near anyone else. And interrupting my concentration isn’t helping me do that any faster.
Pothos is far safer there, Sacha said before adding, I know this is hard, but I had to learn to trust Bastian’s skills in battle. The second we were both deemed Guardians by the Creators was one of the best and hardest of my life, because that meant we were a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. They are our sons, and we will always worry, but they are also powerful males and we can’t fight for them. We can only be there when they need us.
He understood what she was saying, but he was a God. He protected; he acted. A growl slipped from his lips as he watched the Thulian Gods, assessing them.
His female’s calm voice rang out with a soothing yet powerful quality. “Your sister is safe with Pothos. Your beasts would not be so calm otherwise,” she pointed out. Hades did not like that he couldn’t move to see his female speak, and he made his displeasure known with a glare at the infuriating beasts.
Hroarr glowered at the cats before turning his ruthless gaze to Sacha. “And how do you know this?”
It was the wrong tone to use with his female. Hades gave the male his full deadly attention; his voice held enough power to send more water over the banks of the lake. “You will not speak to my Goddess without respect. She was explaining something you should have already figured out.”
The air charged with power, and Hades’ wings flexed only a fraction as he willed the beasts to free them for battle instead of holding them tighter. Hades decided he didn’t like the male, and he relished the thought of ripping the God’s arms off and beating him with them.
He felt Sacha’s displeasure. That’s enough. We need things to go calmly. I’m to handle the diplomacy since you and Drake are incapable of doing it.
Sacha had been one of the Guardians’ diplomats for centuries, so of course the bad-tempered dragon and his worse-tempered mate would want Hades’ female to handle it. That didn’t mean Hades would allow anyone to talk to her without reverence. Ever.
Then you do your job, agapi mou, but he will speak to you in the way you deserve, or I will cut out his tongue.
She groaned mentally before speaking out loud. “I assure you this was not an act of aggression on our part. Pothos assures us she is well. And since you are unable to communicate with your sister, I will try to find a way to assure you of her safety. But this situation is delicate.”
“How did you speak to your male?” Hroarr demanded.
“We can speak through our minds,” Sacha explained in the most basic way.
“Then instruct him to bring her to me now.”
Hades could almost feel his female’s head shaking as she ignored the male’s demand and asked a question of her own. “Do you have fated mates in Thule?”
“Gods are not beasts to mate,” Hroarr bit out with authority.
Hades felt the tension and power building all around when Sacha spoke calmly. “Think of a very binding, permanent marriage or joining. One neither of them have control over. Your beasts seem to understand that part.”
Hroarr watched them closely as the winds whipped around the lake. He seemed to be dissecting their words.
“Who is your son’s mother?” The Thulian God’s eyes flashed in Hades’ direction.
Hades tensed. He sure as hell wasn’t going to admit anything about Pothos’ birth. Pothos said the Goddess knew. This big bastard didn’t need that information. “It’s none of your business.”
“Isn’t it?” Hroarr challenged. “I will accept this if my sister tells me she wishes to take the male as maðr. So instruct him to bring her back now.” Husband was the closest translation to the word Hroarr had used. It was close to an old language Hades had heard spoken in their world.
“It’s a little more difficult than that.”
“No. It is not.” The male’s tone grated on Hades’ patience.
It was Brianne who answered the bastard. “What Sacha is not saying is that your sister and Pothos are likely screwing as we speak, so unless you’re into seeing your sister naked, I’d give them a minute.” Hades wondered if some of the slang was making it through the ancient language of the Creators, but it seemed they were understanding.
The male did not speak, but the power he exuded uprooted the trees all around them. Wood snapped and Hades was on guard. He heard his Sacha bite out, Diplomacy has really never been your forte, Brianne.
Brianne returned, What? It’s mostly true and may gain us time.
Unless he assumes his sister is being taken against her will, which I’d assume right about now.
Sacha soothed over the sound of snapping bark. “He would never violate or take her unwillingly. He would never harm her at all. With a bond such as theirs, it would be impossible for either to harm the other.” His female kept going. Hades noted that one cat had moved to Brianne before sidling up to the Guardian’s mate, Vane.
Hades tensed, but the beast appeared more curious than threatening. An eyebrow rose as he watched the beast eventually rub its massive black head along his blond nephew’s hip.
The act drew Dagur’s frown, but the male had been fairly silent since his brother started speaking.
Hroarr was still intent on Sacha as she explained how fated mates felt the compulsion to have sex until they went through steps that led to a soul bond. Hades heard Brianne cluck at the cat rubbing on her mate. “He is sexy, whiskers, but that kitty is all mine.”
Vane scratched behind the tall golden ears as he spoke. “What can I say, I’m the pussy whisperer, aren’t I, beautiful?” Vane said with gentleness and a hint of amused male cockiness. Was the beast drawn to Vane’s lion half? Because Hades could barely twitch his damned wings and his nephew was using his hand. Was Vane free to move and use his power?
The other cat yowled as if to call the other animal back. Vane spoke again. “It looks like your sister is not pleased with this, sweetheart, but if you’d like to free the rest of me, that would be nice.”
The arrogant Hroarr seemed to be assessing the information Sacha had given him. “You’re so sure that a Goddess of Thule would be influenced by your needs and rituals?” He swore the asshole smirked under that fucking beard.
Brianne spoke through a telepathic link to Sacha and the others. I’m hoping to hell Vane gets this animal to let us free. And I can’t believe I’m actually a little jealous of this shit. It’s a good thing I only get pure animal vibes from this beast, not shifter… FYI, living with Vane after this is going to be a nightmare. He’ll never let me forget that his beautiful manliness tamed this powerful cat. Never! Brianne groaned, but Hades knew she was just as intent on the volatile God in front of them.
Vane drew the God’s attention. “See, we’re already getting friendly. This precious girl knows we’re devoted to our females. We don’t force them into anything.”
Brianne scoffed, “As if you could force me to do anything.” They seemed to be trying to lighten the mood, but all Hades could see was a dangerous God ready to unleash his wrath.
Vane still spoke in the soft tone even to Brianne as the cat propped its ass on the male’s foot. “Of course not, my lark.”
The other cat did not appear amused in the least, and Hades would have shaken his head if he could. Neither beast had allowed any of the others freedom of movement.
Dagur snapped out something in the language they didn’t understand. It sounded like a curse directed at the cat that was all over Vane. His irritation brought a smile to Hades’ face.
“Why don’t we discuss this like friends until Pothos and your sister get back? My name is Vane and this is my mate, Brianne.” He paused for a second after an apparent glance at Dagur. “And look at her tits again, princess, and I’ll cut your eyes out. Look at that, we’re already acting like family. All the males want to beat the shit out of each other.”
“Aww. Isn’t he sweet when he’s possessive? I’ll try not to take it personally that he said it while stroking another pussy… So, gentlemen, while we’re getting to know each other, you can explain why you decided to come here and steal one of our Gods. In fact, we can pass the time with you telling us where exactly you’re keeping Apollo,” Brianne said, and he agreed deflecting was a good idea, but it didn’t seem to be working. Possibly because her sarcastic irreverence didn’t seem to be translating well into the ancient language of the Creators.
Hroarr’s furious gaze met his, and Hades knew something was coming.