Page 5

CHAPTER 4

NOVA

“I have to admit, I really appreciate the options here—I mean, look what I get to wear instead of being forced into a dress,” I said, adjusting my high ponytail as I looked at myself in the mirror. “Don’t get me wrong, I like dresses—a lot—but sometimes a pair of jeans and an off the shoulder top does the job much better.”

Plus, I had a feeling of who these ‘visitors’ were, and I wanted to be as comfortable as possible while still looking badass. This wasn’t going to be a short conversation.

Already, one of Osiris’s staff had informed us of their arrival and our expected attendance at dinner. Tricky, right? It wasn’t like I was about to say no to food—Osiris knew exactly what he was doing.

“I think you look perfect in either,” Rowan said from where he leaned against the bathroom counter, his damp hair pushed back and away from his face.

All of my men had taken a shower and put on fresh clothes, which made a significant difference in all of us—even if they didn’t want to admit it. Our bond felt notably lighter, as if the small luxury had afforded each of us a better outlook on the day.

I knew Osiris said we didn’t have physical bodies right now, but I wasn’t sure I completely bought into that because the hot bath I took had felt heavenly .

“Thanks Row-baby.” I stepped into his muscular grip as he dipped down to brush his lips against mine, his hands sliding over my ass. In a breeze of shadows, August’s magic surrounded us as he appeared behind me, placing his hands on my waist and dipping his lips to my neck. My face flushed and I let out a content sound, feeling a thrill of excitement at being pressed between the two of them. I mean, after everything we’d been through? Could you blame me?

“We need to go,” August said begrudgingly, clearly not wanting to leave..

“I would much rather stay just like this,” I lamented.

August grunted in agreement. “If I’m correct about the power signatures, there will be more than a few familiar faces, including Isis.”

Rowan let out a deep rumble, shaking his head with annoyance. I really liked that my men were always equally as annoyed with the people I was annoyed with. Made me feel like I wasn’t crazy.

“Wonderful,” I groaned. “Alright, well let’s get on with it then.”

Spinning out from between them, I stepped into the main room of the suite, the others lounging as they waited for me. I had to admit, out of all the places we’d stayed so far—with the exception of Bora Bora—there was something very comfortable about the underworld. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded keeping a place down here permanently…a vacation home, of course.

Before it was over, we were going to own a property in each realm . It was a wanderlust goal that became cemented in my head the moment I thought about it.

“In a rush, moonbeam?” Nour asked as he stepped up next to me, his gaze running over my frame with heat. Ramsey opened the main door to our suite as everyone filed out, the quiet, casual conversation between our group releasing a bit of tension from my chest. I wasn’t nervous about what was to come, but I did know a heavy conversation needed to be had about where to go from here.

“To get all the serious talks over with and get back into my physical body? Yes,” I said. “Although I have more than a few questions. I very much want to know what happened after we released the Titans—like, did we accidentally destroy the Earth in the process? Because that could be problematic.”

“That explosion sure had the force to,” Ramsey agreed. I bit down on my lip in concern.

“Don’t worry, gorgeous,” Fox said from ahead of us, walking backwards. “If we did destroy the Earth, then we don’t need to worry about saving it.”

“Once again, Fox, you surprise me with your positivity,” I chimed.

“No idea why, baby girl. He’s arguably the most optimistic of all of us,” Cassian said. I smiled as the man strode forward, breaking past Ramsey and Nour to swing me up into his arms.

I could tell the estate—I’d yet to determine if it was a temple or castle—was full of people, but as we traveled back down the hallway, we didn’t come across anyone. I had to wonder if that was purposeful or if we just happened to be in a secluded section of Osiris’s home.

“Nova.” Tossing my head back to look behind us at the sound of Volkan’s voice, I noticed River and Everett talking quietly and far too seriously for my liking.

“What’s up?” I asked, on alert because he hadn’t used my nickname. Something was wrong.

“I can sense my sister is here,” he explained. “She’ll bring news of what happened with the Titans…but I also sense the same power signature from the forest.”

My brow dipped. “You think Venus would show up here?”

“I’m not sure, but I wanted you to be prepared,” Volkan said. I touched Cassian’s chest, his arms loosening on me so that I could walk next to Volkan, my fingers intertwining with his.

My cheeks flushed when I realized how easily I’d touched him, but I could tell he didn’t mind, his thumb running over my skin in a mesmerizing pattern.

“Thanks,” I told him seriously, squeezing his fingers as I saw the door in the distance that would lead us back into the throne room. I couldn’t help but note, “You don’t seem thrilled about seeing your sister.”

“I just have questions,” he admitted. “I need to know if she was aware our father could come and visit us or not.”

My brows dipped in understanding. I had to imagine it was hard living your life believing that your parents couldn’t come to see you—only to find out that they just chose not to.

Oh wait. I didn’t have to imagine what that was like…because that was exactly what had happened with my birth mother.

“Hey,” I tried to assure him. “If she did know, that sucks she didn’t tell you—but she was still there for you. Be pissed at the asshole who didn’t bother visiting.”

Volkan chuckled under his breath. “You’re right, αγαπο?λα μου .”

That was much better.

The doors opened to the throne room at our approach, and unsurprisingly, the place had been transformed. The once empty central space now held a long table with intricate place settings and candles. Osiris sat at the very front, but I was less focused on him and more on the woman next to him.

“Isis,” I called out in greeting, choosing to acknowledge them before any of the other important guests in the room.

Isis held my gaze, her dark eyes glittering with relief and…pride? Why the hell was she looking at me like that? Before finding out that my entire existence had revolved around her ‘plan,’ I would’ve been thrilled for her to look at me like that. But now that I realized she’d created this entire farce? I was more cautious around her. I certainly wouldn’t look for her approval in anything—she didn’t deserve that. Not yet, anyway.

“I am relieved to see you, Nova. Alive. Or mostly so,” she tacked onto the end, circling her husband’s chair. My gaze darted across her perfectly pressed purple pants and matching silk top, the look completed with brown leather shoes and a belt.

Isis appeared to be the epitome of elegance, her dark hair hanging straight down to her waist and a crown resting upon her head. It was a simple circular band that fit her perfectly.

“ Mostly so. Sounds like something went wrong.” I crossed my arms and came to stand in front of her. “Did you know? Did you know that when we released the magic it would result in this?”

Isis frowned and put out her hands in a placating gesture. “I am not to blame here, Nova. In fact, when I heard you were instructed to release the Titans, I was against it.”

“It’s true,” Osiris said. “She came here and told me about it.”

Narrowing my eyes at both of them, I shook my head. “I feel like you’re just vouching for her. Listen, Isis, I get it—you’re my ally—but I’m still not completely happy with you. I have a tendency to hold grudges. I mean, seriously—ask Nour.”

Nour chuckled, rubbing a hand up my back. “It’s true. She was mad at me for telling her I was a witch when we first met. Held that grudge for some time.”

Isis rubbed her temple and looked frustrated. “Right. Well, maybe we can move past our personal problems while we plan our next move?”

“I suppose,” I drew out, not giving her the closure she clearly wanted.

What?! I wasn’t going to freakin’ feel bad about that, and neither was my magic. She narrowed her eyes at the explosion of power that radiated off of Isis. Listen, I knew I had daddy issues, but mommy issues were newer, and as far as I was concerned, Isis was included in that grouping. Although, I wouldn’t go so far to say she was my mom…

“Good, because when we’re done here I want to show my woman around,” Anubis said from across the table, where he stood protectively over the chair occupied by Danu.

“Hey Danu.” I offered her a friendly greeting as she looked up from the book she’d been flipping through. Her red hair was piled on top of her head in a chaotic fashion, and she was wearing an oversized shirt that seemed far too modern for the druid deity.

Although I didn’t miss the delicate gems she had around her neck that seemed to dance and shift like butterflies—it was a bit trippy, to be honest.

“Nova, I am so glad to see you,” she said brightly. “I lost track of your energy signature once you went into the Garden of the Beginning.”

“You track me?” I asked curiously.

“Oh yes.” She nodded before looking up at Anubis with a soft affection, making it clear something had changed between the two of them. “Plus, your cousin worries about you. All of you, actually—although he’ll never admit it.”

I could feel my men’s surprise through my bonds, but none of them said anything, having made themselves at home by taking seats at the table and talking amongst themselves.

The exception was Volkan, who stood a few steps away talking to Hecate. I fought the urge to go over to them, knowing they probably needed a sibling moment to themselves.

“Cute,” I mused as Anubis narrowed his eyes at her playfully but didn’t deny it. “I’m more surprised that you recognized the place we’d traveled to.” I’d thought it had been some big secret.

Danu smiled coyly. “Well, true it’s not my territory, but I can’t ignore a power source so directly connected to my type of magic. Even if I hadn’t known what it was, no one could deny the signature of magic that went through the Earth realm upon you entering, let alone the release of the Titans.”

Could I presume Earth wasn’t destroyed, then?

“Not destroyed. Correct,” Isis said. I scowled at her because she had no business rooting around in my mind…or maybe I’d said that out loud. Either way, she deserved my ire. I hadn’t been talking to her.

“That’s because you did it within the confines of the Garden, though!” Hecate said. I supposed everyone was in on the conversation now. An unknown man had joined her and Volkan, and I went to join my demi-titan to offer silent support as Isis and Danu struck up a conversation about the Garden.

“Good to know,” I said, leaning into Volkan as he wrapped an arm around me. As I spoke, I realized that there was something different about Hecate; I just couldn’t put my finger on it. “I would’ve been annoyed if I went through all of that and managed to kill myself and everyone else. As I’ve said before, not in the business of guilt.”

Hecate laughed as I noticed that she appeared to almost be glowing. Her dark curls were a halo around her face, and her sleeveless dress with cutouts on the sides showcased the gold tattoos that covered her skin and emphasized her tiny waist. She was stunning, and the permanent smile on her face totally added to it. I had no idea what was going on with her, but it was totally working in her favor.

“Isn’t she wonderful?” Hecate asked the man next to her. I eyed the man with curious interest. Now that I was up close, he was more unique than my passing glance had given him credit for.

The stranger was tall, much taller than Hecate, and was surrounded by a blanket of shadows that created a wall behind him. They weren’t like August’s shadows, though. They had a wavy texture to them, and they moved like liquid as he shifted a hand up to rest on her back. He was dressed in a deep navy suit, and his skin, so pale it was almost a gray-ish blue, appeared to have diamonds embedded in it. His face was classically handsome with his navy hair braided away from it, the strands shifting on their own as if they were alive. I could feel his power, but it seemed subdued—possibly because of where we were—so I couldn’t get a good read on him.

“Sure,” he said, his gaze never straying from her expression.

“Is this your boyfriend?” I asked. The man finally tore his attention away from Hecate, offering me a surprised and somewhat offended look.

“Boyfriend?” he asked, looking down at Hecate, who was thoroughly amused. “What does that mean?”

“It means you’re a boy that I like.” Hecate flashed a smile, his scowl depending.

“I’m not a boy,” he argued, tightening his hand around her waist.

“This is Phorcys, my consort,” she explained, patting a hand on his chest. The name rang a bell, but I couldn’t exactly remember why. It seemed to be part of that ever-expanding library of ‘random knowledge in Nova’s brain on the mythology of the gods, most likely because of her heritage and magic.’ Fun, right?

Before I could ask anything about him, the main doors to the throne room swung open as the room filled with a now-familiar energy signature.

“Venus!” I chimed, actually relieved to see her. Although I hated to interrupt the conversation Hecate and Volkan needed to have regarding their father. Then again, they might be saving that conversation for a more private setting.

“Nova.” She smiled in greeting, warmth filling her face. Venus looked like the last person who should be in the underworld, and I appreciated that despite the location she stayed true to her style.

Today she wore a pressed crested white button-down tucked into pleated pink shorts that went down to her knees. She had paired it with loafers and a pair of sunglasses perched on top of her blonde hair. She was the picture of old money preppy styling, and it looked so out of place in the underworld that I loved it ten times more.

“What are you doing here?” Isis demanded sharply.

Venus’s smile morphed into a sneer. “What am I doing here? I’m here supporting someone from my family line who is destined to save our world. What are you doing here? Aren’t you the reason we’re in this mess? Convincing my descendant to be part of some sick plot to seek revenge on Set?”

Oh shit. The room was silent, my brows up as I looked between the two of them. Would they fight? Would I need to break up a fight between Isis and Venus? That would be crazy.

I had to give Venus this: she said exactly what she meant. There weren’t any veiled comments or reading between the lines when it came to her intentions.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Isis huffed.

“I do,” Venus argued. “I’m sorry you don’t like anyone outside of your sector, but maybe you can look past your ego to realize I’m here to help Nova.”

“You never involve yourself in this type of thing,” Isis countered. “Why now?”

“Because I believe in Nova, and we’re running out of time. I know you have a cushy spot here in the underworld, but being ‘dead’ won’t save you from having your power drained. Some of us enjoy our lives and aren’t bitter.”

Isis’s jaw clenched so hard it looked like it would crack. “ Bitter ? I’m not bitter! You think you’re so amazing, up high in your special little mountain?—”

“Whoa!” I stepped between the two of them, finally snapping out of my shock of adults—thousands-year-old fucking gods —bickering like children. “Let’s take a big breath.” I tried to channel my inner gentle parenting vibes and my magic sort of slipped out, pretending to be a therapist that was encouraging them to breathe.

The scent of flowers filled the air, and for a long moment I thought they were going to keep going, but eventually both of them shook themselves and stepped back.

“Damn,” I murmured under my breath. “Can’t believe that worked.”

“That’s our line of power,” Venus explained proudly. “We have the ability to read the emotions of the room, incite emotions in others, and bring large groups together. We’ve been known to inspire great movements. Sometimes people don’t like us for it.”

Isis waved a hand in dismissal and returned to Osiris’s side, clearly done with their spat.

“I’d actually like to know more about that,” I told Venus, thinking about how I could use this newfound power. Unless I was already using it…maybe that was how I managed to process and help nine other people with their emotions on a daily basis. If that was the case, Volkan really hadn’t been wrong about being the emotional anchor.

“I would love that,” she agreed, her face filled with genuine emotion. “I want to help you in any way I can, Nova. I am pledging my aid to you in whatever form that needs to take. I hope I’ve shown you can trust me.” I could tell this was a big deal for her, so I offered her a small smile of gratitude.

“I trust you,” I assured her, and her expression filled with relief.

When I turned back toward the table, I was unsurprised to find everyone staring at us. “Are we ready to start?”

“Yes,” Isis grumbled, grabbing a seat as I moved toward the center of the table and sat between Everett and Volkan.

I could feel the tension in my other men, not liking that I’d placed myself literally in the middle of the argument between Isis and Venus, so I tried to assure them through our bond that it would be fine. I did my best to relay the comfort I felt with the situation and my lack of concern over their conflict. They very obviously didn’t like one another, yet they were both willing to sit down at the table to work toward the greater good. In my mind, that was a fantastic start.

That damn floral scent appeared again, and I realized I was actively using my magic from Venus’s line as I pushed those emotions through our bond. It was sort of odd having a source of power that wasn’t destructive in nature.

“Alright.” I took a deep breath to gather my thoughts before looking at all the gods gathered. “So, we released the Titans, and I have all the Earth’s magic inside of me— all of it. I’m guessing everything worked how it’s supposed to? Or did something get messed up?”

“Nothing got messed up,” Danu assured me as Isis nodded. “You did exactly what you planned and set out to do.”

“So why did we end up here? And why doesn’t this magic feel more overwhelming?”

Anubis spoke up then. “I don’t understand how it could not be overwhelming. You’re holding an impossible amount of magic—all ten of you. So how you’re managing to control it is a mystery to me.”

“What do you mean?” I demanded. I didn’t love mysteries regarding my men’s wellbeing.

“He means that none of us have ever seen or experienced the level of magic that you currently contain, Nova,” Osiris explained. “We have no idea how you’re in one piece right now—your soul should be shattered.”

“She might not be in one piece when they return to Earth,” Venus conceded, causing my eyes to widen.

“Say what now?”