Chapter Nineteen
“No. Absolutely not,” Marduk, the leader of the Blue Hills gods, threw down his decree with a harsh, stony-face. It would be a cold day in Hell before the women won this battle.
The goddesses of the household had called a meeting…sprung a meeting on him and demanded he listen to their idea of following the males to the Underworld. It was so not going to happen. Marduk’s position was vindicated by the angry agreement and response of every other male immortal in the room.
“It’s too damned dangerous…”
“You can’t know what this shit is like…”
“…demons, ghouls, every fucking horror known to man or gods…”
These were a few of the expletive-laden phrases coming out of the god’s mouths. Marduk took a deep breath and held up a hand for silence. When the room stilled, he looked around at the mutinous faces―both male and female―and commenced reasoning again.
“The Underworld, short of the throne room and private quarters of the king and queen, is a very dangerous place. There are at least seventy-two known species of demon that roam below as well as ghouls, incubus, dead, and undead. We spent our time there, fighting to keep each other safe for centuries, but this time, the stakes would be much higher. We would be risking you, our loved ones…. and our children.” He looked harshly at his wife, Tess. A rarity for a god. “And think of the children. No fresh air, no blue skies, no fresh foods except for the plethora of bugs the Underworld inhabitants eat.” His voice grew sarcastic. “And ladies. No Victoria’s Secret or Urban Outfitters.”
Tess stood up and huffed loudly. “You’re not listening, Marduk.” Tess, not intimidated, walked forward to her spouse and craned her neck up to glare at him from her diminutive height. “Ereshkigal says she can create a portal for us, so we may come and go at will. We can still have the compound here. Our children will go to school and play above, I will continue to buy organic at Whole Foods, but at the end of the day, I’ll come back to Hell to cook it, and come home to Daddy.” She crossed her arms over her chest as if her argument held total merit.
“Yeah? And what about the first time you come out of your portal into an ambush?” Marduk countered. He could barely keep his voice from releasing the thunder that reverberated within him. “Picture this. You step through the doorway with groceries in one arm, and Girin in the other to be met by one of the gas-spewing demons. Do you understand? Instantly, I have no family.” Screw this. Marduk held back his ire no longer. Lightning lit the outside sky, and thunder shook the house. He couldn’t believe the women would contemplate something so foolish.
“Listen up, boss man. There will be rules.” Candy stepped forward and Marduk almost groaned. Enlil’s stubborn wife, never an easy one with whom to tangle, got ready to put in her two-cents worth. “The guys who are to remain here: Huxley, Jake, and Ken… even Dorian could accompany us from this end, and the rest of you would always see us off.”
Marduk sent a warning glance to Enlil, who looked equally pissed as him but only shrugged.
Candy wound up again. “We also have an enormous contingent of glowies to call on, and with Lavarette’s help”―she threw out the head of Underworld security’s name―“we can hire them to stand watch over the portal at all times. They’ll let us know about the possibility of demon attacks, kind of like the green, yellow, red DHS warnings.”
Dagon’s goddess, Holly joined the fray. “The queen thinks it’s a great idea. She’s looking forward to having some women friends around, and she could use us since she’s due to deliver her baby in September.”
For that reason, the king and queen were not neutral parties in this scheme, and Marduk had purposely left them out of the meeting. Eresh would obviously relish female support, and Nergal would agree with anything that would make his wife happy.
Marduk’s ire rose. He needed to shut this down, but he’d been blindsided; his arsenal not yet prepared with his normal calm, so he spoke from an angry heart.
“We have five months,” he growled. “Five months for our last five gods to find their mates.” He threw heated glances around the room at the women who remained at attention. “It is my fervent hope that between now and then instead of spending useless energy on self-serving endeavors, you put your excess energy into helping locate the final Chosen. I want this whole scheme dropped, right now. You ladies need to get your priorities straight.”
Looks passed back and forth amongst the women, and he grew perversely satisfied that the discomfort level in the room ramped up. His wife looked decidedly agitated, so he speared her with a look. “What, Tess?”
“Well, we’ve already sent Addie down to scout things out for us,” she mumbled, and when her husband’s thunder threatened to fill the air again, she continued. “Listen. Dorian was being a total ass, and we needed to get her out of his reach. When Ereshkigal suggested a trip to Hell, Addie-May agreed wholeheartedly.”
“Did you really think it would be smart to complicate our lives right now? Dorian is going to have a fit over this, and we have precious little time to waste.” Marduk rubbed a hand over his face in disgust. “Where is our warlock, anyway?” He looked around the packed room, but the only witchy presence belonged to Obedience, Kulla’s Chosen.
“Don’t look at me. I haven’t seen him,” the witch/goddess stated. “Last I knew, he ranted around looking for her, and we were all on board not telling him anything.” She squared her stubborn chin at Marduk in solidarity with the rest of the women.
“That’s true and not true,” Enten broke in. His cold crackled around him as he gave a frozen cough. “My brother visited last evening for a brief moment―on Dorian’s behalf―and a couple of the ladies, with very little coercion, spilled the beans.” His eyes traveled to Tess, then Lenore who had the good graces to look down and shuffle their feet.
“So, our best guess is that Dorian followed her to Hell, with…oh gods, his best friend Nergal’s help?” Marduk snorted. “We’ll have to see how that plays out, but this is very fucked up, ladies. Time is of the essence, and we have none to waste. Notwithstanding, we are ultimately talking Underworld, where bad things happen all the time, and could very well happen to Addie and Dorian.” He looked around at the women who were a whole lot less confident than when they’d walked into the room and switched to address his core of gods.
“I’ll get in touch with Nergal and see if I can receive a straight answer from him about his visitors. I want you all prepared to leave with a minute’s notice if things go south and Dorian and Addie need our help below.” He gave one last, disgruntled look at his wife, before heading for the door, declaring, “Meeting adjourned.”
****
Addie spent a very enjoyable night with the queen, laughing and swapping stories about their pig-headed men. The two women had never met before but found they had a lot in common. It didn’t hurt that Addie was a witch, not a goddess and Eresh didn’t have to act queenly. Not that the deity wasn’t herself with the Blue Hills goddesses―but being a witch gave Addie a different playing field from which to launch their friendship.
“I’m going to head out for a walk,” Addie told Ereshkigal over breakfast. “I promised the ladies I’d scout out the neighborhoods for a possible homestead, and I want to see what’s around.”
“You might check out the south side of Hell, first,” Ereshkigal suggested. “There are a number of quite nice lagoons in the area I think you’ll like. But wait,” she added as the witch got to her feet, “you need to take security with you.” A moment of silence passed while Addie assumed Eresh called a glowie or two and found she guessed correctly as two of the little pearlescent blue individuals popped in.
“Lavarette says you’ll be safe with these guards, and they are extremely familiar with the area I’ve told you about.” The queen grimaced at her desk and the stack of paperwork awaiting her. She audibly sighed. “Will I see you for lunch?”
“Absolutely.” Addie-May almost apologized for her need to have a look around. She could see the queen was not excited about attending to the pile on her desk. “I’ll cover a lot of ground this morning, in case it becomes difficult for me to make another trip.” The unspoken understanding between the women? That heavy-handed Dorian might curtail Addie’s activities once she returned to the compound.
“You go have fun,” Ereshkigal rubbed her little belly-bump. “I think I could use some more breakfast. Of course I’ll give you a lift first, to get you started.”
“Great.” Addie, eager to be off, conferred with her security detail. “You mentioned the south side. Why don’t you get me there, and I’ll wait for my escorts before exploring.” Like her, Glowies couldn’t travel from place to place instantly. They would also travel, one by one, via Ereshkigal. But with their destination mutually determined, Addie-May went first.
Cheek kissing the queen goodbye after reaching the south side, the witch sent an appreciative eye around a place that little resembled the Hell she’d imagined. Granted, no natural light came from the sky, but the luminescent rock ceiling, far above her head, gave off an enchanting blue-green glow that fit right into the romantic setting of gently lapping waters on fern encrusted shores. Vines and entwined greenery hung from protrusions in the rocks, and Addie became instantly charmed. The lagoon certainly appeared beautiful, and she sank to a nearby rock to let the peace of the scenery wash over her.
Her glowie guards appeared, one at a time, and stood off at a distance, intuitively respecting her need for privacy, which didn’t surprise her. Addie had discovered that the species tuned in to others emotional needs, and she appreciated it. She’d spent very little time by herself since the advent of her remarriage to Dorian and had lacked space to think things through without his demanding input, the well-meaning interference of the gods and goddesses, not to mention that of her daughter and granddaughter. Sequestered without Dorian’s domineering presence, she had time to ponder her own mind. Exactly what did she want?
Her life had turned upside down. Not only did she find herself looking young again, but she’d turned immortal. Her own daughter, Angie, had eschewed her own possibility of a never-ending existence and joined herself to the ex-DEA agent, Tiny, so in thirty or forty years, she’d have to watch her only offspring die. A devastating realization when she always assumed she’d die first.
Her granddaughter Lenore―now a goddess―and any children from her marriage to Anshar would be deities, therefore assuring they would withstand a very long test of time. That provided some comfort. To be able to see generations of little ones, originally sprung from herself and Dorian, gave an enormous blessing. But her musings were all moot at this point. Things had already been set in motion. There was nothing she could do to alter it.
So, the big question for Addie would be how things were to progress with Dorian. The playful, loving warlock who she’d married remained sexy as sin, but he’d become hard and churlish. His ill-natured temper and the way he lorded over her would not be something she’d deal well with for the rest of eternity.
Addie let herself fantasize about the Dorian of old. She closed her eyes and remembered the warmth that had spilled from his eyes every time he looked at her. His hands always caressed whenever they were close, taking every opportunity to touch her, hold her, stroke her. She swallowed, hard, letting herself recall the pleasure he’d always given her in bed. Addie’s insides fluttered. It had been forty-two years since she’d experienced anything like it.
A sound to her left made her start and look up. Addie caught her breath. Dorian. He stood in the shadows, watching. He must have followed her to Hell, and she should have figured. The warlock never let anyone or anything get in the way of what he wanted. He took a few steps closer, and she drew in a quick breath. It had to be an illusion. The look she’d been dreaming about…the worshipful one, filled his eyes to overflowing.
Addie cried out.
“Don’t do this to me, Dorian. Please,” she added on a whimper.
“Do what, my love?” His lush dark hair fell over his face as he eased forward to stand over her.
“Don’t make me think you still care.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I know you. You’re filled with schemes of retribution and punishment, but I…” Dare she show weakness in front of him? “I don’t think I can take it,” she ended in a whisper.
Did he really groan?
“Ahh. It’s not punishment I want to mete out anymore, Addie-May. I swear it. I can’t pretend anymore. Damn these gods and all the emotions they bestir, but they’ve made me confess. I love you…and I want you. The question, however, remains. Do you want me?” His face twitched, clearly tamping down the arrogance still running rampant within him. “This is a onetime offer, Addie. You know me. I won’t be able to bend a second time. Come with me now, my love, and I promise we’ll never be apart again.” He held out his arms.
Addie wanted to stand up and drown in his offered embrace. This was her Dorian who stood, emotions stripped bare, before her. The one who hadn’t become bitter and vindictive. But she had to know. Did he play some kind of game, or could this possibly be real?
“So, you’re letting years of anger go? You’re forgiving me just like that?” Dare she believe?
“You find that hard to accept?” he asked, but shook his head, teeming with what? Regret? “Truthfully, Addie? I’m tired to the bone of wasting time. After all these years, I want my wife back. I want what we once shared. You, of all people, should understand that.” He turned his palm to her where it would be easy so to grasp. “Come with me, my love. You set the pace. I won’t rush you into anything. You determine when we first kiss and when we share a bed.”
A complete turnaround had somehow occurred, and Addie didn’t know what to believe. Did Dorian toy with her? Not his usual method, but arrogance hadn’t gotten him anywhere. Still, if this truly was her only chance, she couldn’t turn it down.
Acutely aware of the sexual energy that rippled beneath the surface of his calm veneer, she stood and courageously placed her trembling hand in that of her mate.
Addie became aware of her two glowies hovering close by, waiting to see if Dorian presented any danger. She turned to assure them things were okay.
“This is my husband,” she whispered, still unable to believe the warm hand she held, trembled. “As you can see, he’s more than enough protection for me. You two can go on about your business. Tell Ereshkigal I’m fine.”
Addie had already made up her mind. If Dorian truly offered an olive branch, she’d grab it with both hands―she lowered her eyes to keep her lust from showing―right before she grabbed his luscious ass. And the last thing she needed, if things got heated, was a glowie audience. Wow. Had her mind made a quick and decided turn to the lustful?
The bodyguards disappeared through a doorway, and without conscious thought, Addie melted into a puddle of want and need for her husband. A hunger gripped her, far greater than she had ever known. He must have seen it in her eyes.
“Seriously, Addie?” His lips quivered with hopefulness mixed with the irrepressible humor he’d always exhibited. “You want me now?”
Addie found the courage to nod her head.
“Come,” a guttural sound of need emitted from low in his throat. “There is a place not too far from here where we’ll be assured of privacy.”
Addie’s feet stumbled next to the sure steps of her husband.
They couldn’t reach their destination soon enough.
****
The warlock sat indolently across from Nergal over breakfast. He’d played nice all the previous evening, had practically kissed the king’s ass, and here he still sat, waiting for the supreme dickhead to bring him to his wife.
Nergal picked at the remnants of a large grapefruit, stabbing away at the stripped membranes as if the spent fruit would give up more. The king could go fuck himself. Dorian grew tired of having his private life laid open for scrutiny, and he’d be damned if any more of what lay between him and his witch crossed his lips.
“I’m done, Nergal.” The warlock threw his napkin on the table. “I’ve told you what my intentions are toward Addie. I’ve assured you I won’t hurt her, physically or mentally. Now give me my wife.”
Nergal’s eyes slitted. “You still make her sound like a possession.”
Dorian barked a laugh. “Nothing could be farther from the truth, even if I wanted it to be….which I don’t,” he qualified. “You don’t understand Addie very well if you think she’s not her own woman. No man, immortal or otherwise, gets the better of my wife.” The warlock leaned forward. “Gods, Nergal. What is it going to take for you to believe that I have her best interests at heart?”
“Well,” the overlarge god also leaned forward and steepled his fingers on the table. “My wife is a consummate romantic, and she’d never forgive me if I didn’t extract from you what she wants before I give in. Do I have to spell it out for you? You’ve wasted," ―the king glanced at his watch― “fifteen hours, and you still haven’t conjured the three magic words we need to hear.”
Dorian grew fucking tired of bewitchment metaphors, but the king had finally worked his own act of thaumaturgy. The warlock felt spent. He needed his witch, and this time, he readily conceded. But Nergal better watch his ass in the future because payback was a bitch.
“Fine,” Dorian stood up from the table, shoving back the chair so rapidly, it fell with a crash. He turned his back on his host, so he didn’t spell the fucking prick into a toad. “I love Addie-May. I always have. Are you happy?” He shot Nergal a surge of pure animalistic venom that had to cross species lines. “I wanted her to be the first one to hear it in this decade, but you fucking nosey, all-powerful gods have to manipulate everything.” He laughed, incredulously. “And humans think warlocks are the arrogant ones.”
Dorian finally turned to look at Nergal, reigning in his dangerous aggression.
The king appeared highly satisfied and finally, cut Dorian some slack.
“Good. Let me call Ereshkigal. She’s been entertaining your wife, and I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear your passionate change of heart. The warlock waited a few seconds before a beaming Ereshkigal popped into the room. She came forward without hesitation and gave Dorian’s stiff body a huge hug.
“Thank you for soothing my mind,” she told him. “Addie has become very dear to me in the short time we’ve known each other, and I’d hate for her to be unhappy.”
Dorian unbent. Ereshkigal, for a queen, had an amazing warmth. Yes, as much as Nergal remained a prick, his queen wore an engaging presence, but he still couldn’t help but scold her a bit.
“You’re forgetting who the offended party is here, Eresh. Addie was the one who left me forty-two years ago, and she hasn’t exactly behaved pleasantly since she’s been tied to me again.”
“I think you’re both being prideful,” Ereshkigal admonished, shaking off his excuses. She looked to her king. “My husband and I suffered several thousand years apart, due to our mutual stubborn natures. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, which is why I…”
She stopped mid-sentence as two glowie guards popped into the room. She looked momentarily nonplussed. “What are you two doing here?” she asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on Addie-May?”
“Yes, your majesty, but she was joined by her hus…b…a…n…d,” the word drew slowly from one glowie’s mouth as he glanced over at the large, overpowering warlock standing in the room.
Dorian’s adrenaline spiked as the being swallowed.
“But it couldn’t have been him, uh, you. B…because you’re here.”
“Shit.” Dorian howled. “Who has her?”
Stark horror passed between the king and queen before they murmured the hated word simultaneously.
“Incubus.”