War of the Gods Complete Series Boxed Set

by Meg Xuemei X

The God of Sun and Plague took our mate right from under our noses, and we had been hunting for her ever since.

  We didn’t eat. We didn’t sleep. We’d been in a state of half-madness from the moment our mating bond to her had gone mute. Yet our brotherhood fortified, driven by one common need—to find our mate and bring her home at all costs.

  We’d destroy the world to get to her, but our Cass baby was no longer on Earth.

  We still sent teams to search across the dark seas, unknown forests, and forgotten mountains—any place Apollo had once left an imprint.

  The four of us focused on Mount Olympus until it became clear that our mate hadn’t been taken there.

  We called in every favor and demanded every debt to be paid to gain information on our mate’s whereabouts and the sun god’s many lairs.

  We had nothing to show for it.

  We hadn’t found any trace of Cass.

  When Alaric had gone to see his father, Zeus, which he hated to do more than anything, we received the confirmation that our mate was not in Mount Olympus. He demanded Zeus hand over Apollo, but the fucking sun god was hiding.

  The King of Gods had sent his own hunting team, so it became a race to find Apollo and Cass before they could.

  Both the mortal and immortal realms were a total mess as well.

  Apollo had dealt a great blow to us and our world. When Noah was exposed as a god, the Academy nearly collapsed. All the other races had withdrawn from the school and returned to their own kind, leaving behind only the mages and humans.

  Our brothers had the majority of the Council seats, but not absolute control. One of the Councils members, who might have been under Apollo’s influence, had disappeared. Alaric’s half-demon captain was tracking her.

  Anyone who had close ties to ‘Noah’ had been locked in the dungeon cells, but it was impossible to get all the traitors. Our teams were still investigating how deep Apollo’s infiltration had gone and they endeavored to purge the corrupted mages.

  We expected the gods to strike at any time. It didn’t matter where we moved the armies. The gods had all the pieces. They had the locations of most of our rebellion armies as their spies were everywhere. But for some reason they hadn’t struck.

  The forthcoming war didn’t concern me much. All I could think of was getting my mate back. Reys managed to pull all our shit together, because Lorcan, the steely one among us, urged us to ready an army for Cass’s return. Lorcan hadn’t lost sight of the goal, even though he should be more affected than the rest of us. He needed her blood more than anything, and he wouldn’t take from any other.

  Alaric was crazed by Cass’s abduction. Sometimes we wouldn’t see him for days, but we knew he had gone to search for her, to find any news about her. And each time he returned without our mate, he was completely disheveled and disheartened. He was a ruthless and careless bastard, but he had warmed up the moment he’d met Cass. It was like someone had eviscerated his soul when the god took her.

  We all felt the same as Alaric, but the three of us put on a stronger front. As Lorcan had stated, we couldn’t lose our shit for Cass’s sake.

  We turned to the seer. Amber had once seen our mate’s abduction and warned her to stay away from water, which turned out to be the waterfall where Cass had been taken. The seer’s predictions often came as riddles. Under our pressure, Amber tried to dream or have a new vision about Cass, but her sight couldn’t be forced.

  We had Ambrosia, Luke, and Rainer safeguard the seer twenty-four seven while we hunted for our mate.

  We couldn’t lose our Cass baby. She was our center, our everything, our universe.

  Days passed, then weeks.

  And despite Lorcan’s warning, we were gradually losing it.

  And then, the seer spoke.

  7

  __________________

  A girl who looked about thirteen in a short knee-length chiton strode toward us, an intricate bow in her hand and a red quiver of arrows swinging from her slender shoulder.

  Her power rolled along with her like a pet at her feet.

  My genetic memory flashed, and I recognized Artemis, the virgin Goddess of the Hunt and Moon, twin sister of Apollo.

  She was stunningly beautiful. I’d thought Apollo’s eyes were the greenest in the universe until I saw Artemis. Her porcelain skin made the green almost a living color, and her vivid beauty paled the entire hall.

  It was good that she was a little girl, or I wouldn’t allow my mates to be near her, even though I knew my mates could resist any temptation. They were mine and always would be.

  Artemis approached, circling the three of us. Mostly her curious eyes stayed on me.

  I didn’t like how she looked at me, as if I were a wild animal she’d hunted and wanted to keep, but at least her appearance stopped Apollo from pressing himself against my front to show that he had the other half of the claim on me.

  If he tried, he would get a knee to his nuts from me for sure.

  “Artemis, you can’t just pop up in my palace like this!” Apollo scolded.

  “Why not?” Artemis asked with a smirk. “And palace? When did it get an upgrade? You know you can’t block me since we carry the same DNA as twins. Did Ares plant the idea of fighting our father into your thick skull this time, little brother?”

  “Hey, Artemis, I love you, too,” Ares said. “But you’re too young for me.”

  “I think you should let the girl go, Ares,” Artemis said, her teenage face turning stern, her power boiling inside her, and her hand moving to pick an arrow from the quiver. “She doesn’t look willing to me.”

  A hope, no matter how dim, sparked in me like an ember from ash.

  “I’m so not willing!” I called out. “It’s awesome you’re here, Artemis, the great defender of virgins!”

  Artemis looked at me with amusement.

  “But you’re no longer a virgin, little Cass,” Apollo said, glancing at his sister in warning. “Your former lovers deflowered you, and they’ll pay for that.”

  “Will you let her go, Ares?” Artemis asked again. “She looks uncomfortable, which makes me uncomfortable.”

  Ares sighed and released me with reluctance. It was either that or get into a fight with the Goddess of the Hunt.

  I jumped away from the two would-be-rapists and moved closer to the virgin goddess.

  Ares’s hard erection still distorted his tight armor around his groin.

  Artemis rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you going to cover that, Ares? I don’t want my virgin eyes to be polluted!”

  “Will you ever get over this, Artemis?” Ares grunted. “Sex is natural.” But he waved a hand, and a golden cape appeared on his shoulders, which he wrapped around himself to cover his unholy bulge.

  Artemis turned away from the God of War, intentionally ignoring him.

  “How rude, little brother,” she chided with a slanted look at Apollo. “You haven’t introduced little Cass to me.”

  She was shorter than me, and she called me little? I glared at her, but then dropped my headlights as I remembered I needed her support. She might be the only chance for me to get out of here. Well, she was actually ancient. It was just odd to hear her call me little and call Apollo little brother while she took the form of a thirteen-year-old girl.

  “Uh, sis, I think you should leave and come back later.” Apollo rubbed his chin. “We’re in the middle of something, and we need to solve a problem. It’s not a good time—”

  I couldn’t allow him to drive away the only straw I had.

  “I can introduce myself to you, great Goddess, defender of maidens and their honor,” I shouted. “It’s awesome to meet you. I’m Cass Saélihn, mate to the two Princes of Sihde, the High Lord of Night, and the King of the Hybrids.”

  Artemis frowned. “You have four mates?”

  I blinked. Well, I didn’t know she would object to that. If I had known she was really a stickler for traditional value and virtual, I would have just mentioned Alaric’s name. She s
hould have known him, and they might even be friends.

  The demigod was known to be menacing and formidable, but I bet he might have been sweet to her if they’d ever met. Alaric had a soft heart toward children.

  Then again, my demigod mate hated the entire god race. And Artemis wasn’t truly a little girl.

  If she asked more about any of my mates, I would just name Reysalor. He was always the safest bet.

  “How unusual!” Artemis was still shocked. “You’re so young.”

  “Well, it’s complicated,” I said. “And I’m not that young. You became an adult right after you were born. Though I was a late bloomer, I matured at the age of nine. I’m nearly seventeen now in my timeline and twenty six in human years.”

  Artemis nodded, pride glinting in her eyes. “I actually helped my mother deliver my twin as soon as I was born. He was a little brat.”

  Apollo looked at his sister sourly. “I’d rather you not tell everyone that old-dirt story.”

  “Nonsense,” Artemis said. I could tell from her attitude that she was used to bossing her brother around. “Any story is good, especially since I’ve got a new goddess here to listen to all the things I’ll say. But I’d rather hear Cass’s complicated story. I have all the time in the world.”

  When she had walked in, she’d known my name. She hadn’t asked me or her brother about my origin, as if she knew exactly what I was.

  Apollo and Ares traded a dismayed look, and that look quickly darkened with a hint of impending violence. Before I could warn Artemis, she sent both gods a casual, warning glance.

  “Stop it, Ares, Apollo,” she purred. “You know you can’t kick me out easily. Haven’t you studied your history lessons? Besides, I was sent here as a messenger this time. If I don’t return, or if I return with a missing piece, you won’t like the consequences. And before you can try anything funny, I’ll just snap my fingers, and my good pals Demeter and Athena will be here right away. You’re hard to track, little brother, but you don’t want an army on your cute ass. You, too, God of War. If father finds out what you two are plotting, he’ll kill you this time.”

  I laughed.

  Wow, I should learn how to threaten like this little girl.

  Ares and Apollo shot me a baleful look, as if I was a rattle snake.

  “We are not trying anything,” Apollo snapped. “You’re my twin after all, so you should stay on my side. And there’s no need to get Athena involved. Ever.”

  “So we’re all good.” Artemis turned to me, smiling at my admiration toward her and rage toward the two male gods. “Let’s sit at the table, shall we? Cakes and tea are my favorites!”

  She liked cakes just like me. And now that she was here, seemingly on my side, I might try the cakes again and bond with her. I stepped closer to her. As she moved, I moved. Artemis looped her arm around mine, and I beamed at her like her adopted, doting sister.

  She was my only ticket out of here. I wouldn’t let her go.

  Artemis waved a hand, and an ivory table with two fluffy chairs appeared by the window. She took a seat, and I lounged next to her.

  Apollo sighed and waved his hand. Two more chairs appeared for him and Ares to sit across from Artemis and me.

  The servants immediately brought steamy tea, wine, and cakes to the table. Apollo held a glass of white wine, and Ares chose red wine. They twirled their glasses, eyeing Artemis and me warily.

  As the immediate threat was temporarily thwarted, I remembered my mission. Before I fought for my freedom again, I should gather more intel from the gods. Artemis had just provided the best opportunity.

  She snatched a red velvet cake with ermine icing before I could stake my claim on it. I could smell the rich buttermilk and cocoa, but I restrained myself from giving her the stink eye since offending her would surely end my last chance of escaping.

  She stuffed it in her mouth. I looked at her with certain envy and dragged the plate that had a spice cake on it toward me.

  “I thought gods didn’t eat mortal food,” I said.

  “Most gods don’t, but I do,” Artemis said. “That’s why I always feel more connected to the mortals.”

  She eyed my spice cake with certain interest, so I quickly took a huge bite out of it. There, she couldn’t have it.

  Apollo and Ares, despite being the most despicable beings I had ever met, had no interest in our cakes, which I approved of.

  “I want to hear how you ended up with four hot lovers, Cass,” Artemis said.

  “Mates,” I corrected her.

  She waved a hand. “Fine. But first, tell me how you ended up here.” She scooped up a portion of my cake and put it in her mouth before I could stop her. My spoon lashed out and got a chunk of her red cake. I didn’t hesitate to stuff it into my mouth and let the cake melt on my tongue.

  Artemis laughed. “We’re kindred spirits, Cass.”

  “Yes, you’re both the most immature goddesses and love to play pranks,” Apollo murmured. “That’s what it is.”

  Artemis and I glared at him, and he raised both hands in an offering of peace.

  Hope warmed my insides. I believed this Artemis chick could get me out of here.

  “Apollo pretended to be someone he wasn’t and disguised himself as Noah, the head of the mages,” I said. “He then kidnapped me from the Academy and dragged me along the slipstream while I was wet and cold. He claimed the slipstream is a path only gods can travel. Is it true?”

  Artemis sighed. “I’m afraid so. But I’m the stealthiest and most skillful huntress, so I often remain invisible. I’ll teach you to hunt if we can hang out.”

  “I’d love to hang out,” I said, eager to capitalize on the opening. “We can also go shopping. Do you want to go to the malls right now? I can take you to the best mortal mall, and then we can sneak into a theater—”

  “Slow down, little Cass,” Apollo said. “You’re not leaving here.”

  I trained my eyes that burned with dark fire on him. “You had no business kidnapping me. You need to let me go or one day I’ll burn your house down and worse.”

  Artemis rubbed her temples with small, elegant hands. “Unfortunately, abduction is the tradition of males in our race.” At my look, she added, “It’s distasteful, I know.”

  Ares narrowed his eyes at the virgin goddess, and Apollo cleared his throat in warning.

  “Aren’t we going to do something to stop it?” I put down my spoon as I made my demand.

  “If you know our race’s history, you’ll know the king started it,” Artemis said. “My father Zeus literally raped Persephone. To cover up his act, he helped Hades abduct the daughter of the Goddess of Plants and Fertility, smuggling her to Hades’s Underworld. Persephone hasn’t been the same ever since.”

  “Having fun flaunting our family’s dirty laundry in front of Cass?” Apollo asked in an acid tone. “Talk about distasteful!”

  Artemis fixed on me, her bright green eyes sharpening, becoming an ancient abyss that nearly swallowed me. “You aren’t Persephone’s daughter, but you’re Hades’. How did that happen?”

  “The fuck I know,” I said. “I don’t want to be his daughter, or any god’s daughter. You must be mistaken. I have nothing to do with Hades, Zeus, or any of the fucking gods. And no one can really pinpoint my heritage.”

  “The truth of your birth was hidden from you,” Artemis said, sympathy softening the edge in her eyes.

  I blinked. I’d thought the god race was nothing but a collective pantheon of psychopaths. I hadn’t expected any of them to have the capacity for empathy. I shouldn’t hold prejudice against any kind. Just like Amber said, there were always good guys and bad guys in every race and species.

  Artemis glared at me, as if suddenly realizing something.

  I jerked my chin at her. “What?”

  “You shall not curse, Cass!” she said sternly.

  Right, she was the virgin goddess. She couldn’t allow a word like fuck to pollute her ears, and, while I needed her mo
re than anything, the last thing I wanted was to alienate her.

  “Uh, sorry?” Though I didn’t sound too sorry. I pointed two fingers at the two hostile gods sitting opposite me. “They did me wrong and made me uncivilized. If you’d come earlier, you’d have seen the horrific scene of how the two of them manhandled me. Apollo tried to force himself on me, and, when Ares showed up, the God of War taunted me endlessly to humiliate me. Apollo then nearly melted me with his sun power when I said no to them.”

  The gods stared daggers at me.

  Ares growled. “No other women have ever accused me as such. They love me!”

  “Then go get them. No one’s stopping you,” I said, gesturing at the door. “Please, you’re free to go.”

  As I’d said, it’d be easier to beat one rapist than two.

  Ares kept his godly ass glued to his chair.

  “The males in our race have been disappointments since the beginning of time,” Artemis said. “They haven’t evolved one little bit. We call the other species uncivilized, but in fact we are the most barbaric race. That’s one of the reasons I’ve kept any male away from me.”

  “Maybe you should consider finding a mate, or mates, in other races,” I said. “I know some handsome, loyal, and caring fae males. You can pick any of them, except for my mates. My captain Hector and his awesome cadre, all four of them, would be thrilled to be in your harem.”

  They would, right?

  “I’ll think about it,” Artemis mused.

  “I’d be more than happy to introduce you to them,” I said, pleased with myself that I was good at pimping. I then gave her an onceover. “You might want to grow taller and have bigger boobs. You gotta look at least twenty-one. A little younger, and you won’t even get in a bar. They check a driver’s license. But I can help you out if you go with me. I can get the bouncers to overlook your physical age. They’re very tough, but I personally know two of them.”

  “You’re giving my sister, the purest and only virgin goddess, the most ridiculous, corrupt advice I’ve ever heard,” Apollo said, his green eyes burning with rage, but his green wasn’t that impressive anymore now that Artemis had come on the scene. “Do you know the great lengths I’ve gone to protect my sister’s virtue?”