Page 48

As it turns out, that was a lie. Helios wanted Asclepius to feel safe even though he was only a demigod.

So, he told him that gods were weaker on Earth.

He didn't know his son would later try to use that lie against one of the most powerful gods in their pantheon. Yeah, my brother could be an idiot.

Then Clotho said, “Ah.”

Followed by Atropos, “Here we are.”

Then Lachesis, “At last.”

Together, they shoved Helios.

Helios stumbled back, right into three men. The men—each one big and beautiful, steadied my brother and then stared at him. He stared back. Everyone within ten feet could feel the sudden sexual tension in the air.

“No!” Hades strode over, his shiny shoes making thunderous sounds. “Hell no. No, no, no! Not happening! You are not mating one of my Cerberuses. Your sister already took one from me. You will not steal another, Apollo.”

The Moirai tsked Hades.

“Fate cannot be fought,” Clotho said.

“Threads get tangled,” Lachesis added.

“It is done.” Atropos nodded as if that were that.

And it was.

Because as my brother stared at those three hounds, Hades lost them. There would be no bargain between him and Helios, but my twin would claim those doggies nonetheless. I could see it in their eyes. Another Cerberus had found its mate.

And in my brother's eyes was something that made my throat constrict—hope.

Helios didn't hear Hades. He didn't even glance at him. He just walked away with his hounds.

“Son of a bitch!” Hades hissed.

Zeus returned with perfect timing and smacked Hades on the shoulder. “Come now, brother. Don't be so stuffy. You know what they say—love is love.”

Unlike Cy, Hades didn't budge when smacked by Zeus.

Instead, he slowly turned his head to glare at the other god.

“I don't care that they're all men. We're Greek, for fuck's sake.

It doesn't matter to me what sex their mate is.

What bothers me is that two weeks ago, Apollo was helping his son destroy my hounds, but now he's going to fuck them? No. I forbid it.”

“My love, please.” Persephone laid her hand on her husband's arm.

Hades grimaced. “Sorry for my language, sweetheart.”

“Apollo isn't going to fuck them. They're going to fuck him .” Persephone winked at me.

I burst out laughing.

Hades glared at us both.

I shrugged. “She's right. My brother is a bottom. At least when it comes to men.”

Hades steamed, but he couldn't say anything because his wife was smiling. The steam quickly evaporated.

“I didn't realize you invited other teams,” Lex said to me. “I mean, I know you invited one, but . . . how many Cerberuses are coming tonight, Selene?”

“I don't know. However, many could make it here in time. I invited them all.”

“Is that going to be all right?” Cy asked Hades.

“It's Halloween,” was all Hades said.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It's the slowest day of the year for us,” Cy said.

“Halloween?” I laughed.

“Yup. Ghosts don't understand.” Cyrus shrugged. “I think the costumes scare them.”

“Oh, fuck,” Ace muttered, and it wasn't in response to Cy.

I followed Ace's stare to another Cerberus team.

All three of the hounds in that Cerberus had black hair like their daddy, but each man had different colored eyes.

A lot like my hounds. And these hounds had their pretty eyes locked on their mate—a stunning woman of mixed race with long, dark, curly hair and a body like mine. She also exuded magic.

“Oh, a witch,” I murmured.

“Remember when I said I nearly married a woman to gain her power?” Ace lifted a brow at me as he stepped around Jake.

“That was her?” I asked.

He nodded.

But the woman's stare passed right over Ace, as if she didn't recognize him.

I smirked at Ace. “I think you're off the hook, honey.”

Ace grimaced. “I never showed her my true face. But she deserves an apology. I did send one with my check, but I think I should make another in person to her and her mates.” Ace strode over to the group, shoulders squared.

“Uh-oh,” Clotho said.

I glanced at her. When I looked back at Ace, he looked repentant. The hounds he spoke to, however, did not look as if they were accepting his apology. And the woman—oh, she was not having it. Not at all.

The witch narrowed her eyes at Ace. I felt power trickle over my arm. But then she looked around, noted the humans in the room, and hauled back her arm. Instead of hitting Ace with magic, she punched him in his beautiful nose.

My human guests gasped. I guess I should have cared. I didn't. Ace needed to get punched as much as this witch needed to do the punching. I'm sorry to all you peace lovers out there, but sometimes, violence is necessary. In this case, it was closure. People need closure.

Ace recovered, bowed deeply to the witch, and then looked at the hounds.

They smirked at him and guided their mate away.

In short, Ace got off easy. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe those hounds were going to wait until Ace wasn't in a room full of humans to get their hits in.

Looking at Ace's expression, I was betting that was the case. Oh well, he'd survive.

Then Cyrus laid his hand on my back and said, “Selene, I believe the guest of honor has arrived.”

I turned around to see Wren come in, her three hounds close—one to either side and one behind her. They scanned the room and glowered at anyone who looked too long at Wren. But Wren was scanning the room for another reason. She started to look disappointed.

“Buck up, buttercup!” I shouted. “I'm right here.”

Wren's stare swung straight to me and immediately, her eyes filled with tears. “Aggie?”

I rushed through the parting crowd and yanked my girl into a hug. “Hey, you. It's good to finally hug you with my own body.”

“Aggie!” Wren sniffled as she pulled me closer. “Oh, my God, Aggie!”

“It's actually Selene now. Remember? I told you on the phone.” I eased back to look at her.

“Yeah.” She looked me over too. “You look like a Selene. But you're still my Aggie.”

“Aggie will always be a part of both of us.” I winked at her. “But it's time to move on.” I looked at her grinning hounds. “I guess I can forgive you three now. You know, for literally tearing Wren and me apart.”

“The way I see it, you owe us,” Kellan said. “Without us, you never would have met your Cerberus.”

“Whoa now, tiger.” I flicked a moonbeam at him and made him flinch. “I wouldn't go that far. But you played your part. Now, you'd best be treating my girl right. Are they, Wren?”

“I'm happier than I've ever been.” Wren beamed at me. Then she launched herself into my arms again. “Thank you. Thank you for saving me, Selene. You saved all of us.”

“You're welcome.” I hugged her back, then looked over her shoulder at her men.

“You hear that? I saved all of you.” I expected eye rolls from them.

Instead, they bowed to me. Awkward. I cleared my throat and stepped out of the hug.

“All right, you three. You'd better be on your best behavior.

I'm not the only god in the house. Come on. I'll introduce you to Zeus.”

Kasper started growling.

“What did I just say?” I rolled my eyes. “Can it. Zeus doesn't hit on women when he's with Hera. He's smarter than that. Or rather, he values his balls.”

Kasper went silent, his face creasing into a frown.

Chuckling, I wove my arm with Wren's. Then, with my girl beside me, I strolled through the elite of New Orleans and Olympus, even happier than she was.