"Isn't he dead?" Jade was pretty sure he was a human from Greek history and not an immortal.
"I hope not, but I suppose it's possible. I like to think you can't keep a good man down, but Hades doesn't agree."
When the door closed behind them, it brought silence, completely shutting out the noise of voices in the hall.
"Who were all those people?" Jade asked.
Philip’s shoulders sagged. Without answering, he walked over to the bed and lay down smoothing his hands over the skirt part of his chiton.
Jade forced her eyes not to focus on the bulge in the fabric. "Don't worry I can't see anything I shouldn't." Jade dropped her bag on the floor and sat on the side of the bed.
"I don't mind what you can see, but you should know, Jade, I'm exhausted. You look tired too. Please come and lie down next to me. We can rest and talk."
Every tender part of her body felt soothed by the soft, comfortable bed when she lay down next to him. She had mixed feelings about what she was doing on a bed with Philip even though there was a considerable distance between them.
She'd thought nothing of sharing a bed with Lauren, they'd done so many times. But Lauren was her best friend, just a friend. A straight, female friend, and Jade wasn't attracted to her.
Philip was a friend too, and they could certainly share a bed as friends. But the attraction she felt toward him was very real and strong. She couldn't help the way her spirits lifted when she saw him. Not only was Philip attractive, but he and Jade had shared an intimate experience once, many months ago. On top of all that, to add to her confused emotions, she'd just started a relationship, of sorts, with two other men.
"Karl and Nic were extremely worried about you, Jade. They waited a long time, and they only left a short while ago."
Jade wondered how long she'd been missing. She didn't know how long she'd been unconscious or how time worked when traveling through the dimensions. "They left to go where?"
"They've gone into the Labyrinth to do essential repairs. They are strengthening our defenses. They're safe Jade, far from the trouble and the Greek god Hephaestus is with them."
"Far from the trouble? What trouble? And who are all the people out there, Philip?"
Chapter Twenty-Five
"What aren't you telling me, Philip?"
"There's a lot of movement through the Labyrinth right now because rebels have released monsters into the wrong dimensions. There's an army of warriors hunting them down. The people out there are either on their way to battle, returning from the front, or displaced and fleeing for safety." Philip placed his hand over his mouth and yawned.
"Why would anyone release monsters?"
He let his hands fall to the pillow either side of his head. Even so, he was nowhere near touching her as several feet of empty bed space stretched between them. "They're unleashing chaos, which will put an end to order. It's a rebellion against the gods."
"But who would do that?" Unease stirred within her.
"As far as we can tell the key rebels can fly through the maze without touching the floor and triggering the sensors. We think they're raven shapeshifters."
"What! The Corax?" Jade shrieked and sat up abruptly. Tiredness falling away. "Is Brenna safe?"
As the sole consort to the three Corax princes, Brenna was practically Corax royalty. They were to marry, and one day she would be queen if their Kingdom survived the rebellion.
Philip rolled on to his side. His eyes were shut. He looked peaceful and very nearly asleep. "Don't worry. She's safe. She's here with your friend Lauren."
"Why are they here?"
"Brenna came with the Corax princes. They've led an army into the battle, and she's staying here awaiting their return. Similarly, Lauren came with the Spartan men. The Spartans are our finest warriors, but they can't fly like the Corax."
It sounded like a serious rebellion. It sounded like war. Lauren would be heartbroken if her three Spartan lovers died. Jade wasn't sure if the Spartans could die. They had originally died in battle thousands of years ago and were now resurrected immortals.
And where exactly were Karl and Nic?
"Oh my god, Philip, you haven’t sent Karl and Nic to war?"
"Jade, there's no question of possession here. I'm not your god, I'm just a god. And I haven't sent them to war they volunteered to go and do construction work on our physical defenses. In other words, they are building a wall. That’s all. They’re far from any danger, and they have a god with them."
"What about Lauren’s three Spartans?"
Philip continued as if he knew her concerns. "You don't need to worry about them, Jade, they aren't alone. Athena is there with them. Aries and Artemis are also at the frontline. The rebels are mortal and few in number. We have powerful gods on our side."
If that was supposed to put her mind at rest, it did not. It stood to reason the more warriors and deities engaged in battle, the worse the situation must be. However, soft rhythmic snores from Philip told her that the conversation had ended for now. He'd fallen asleep where he lay, on top of the bed covers.
Jade lay back and shut her eyes. Her tired body rested while her mind raced.
War had broken out. That's why so many people were gathered in the hall. Several regiments have already been dispatched to quell the rebellion. It sounded bad.
Nic and Karl had gone somewhere with the god of metalwork and volcanoes, and despite Philip's calm attitude, Jade feared for their safety.
The gods are immortal. Philip didn't need to worry. He'd survive, no matter what.
Jade wanted to talk, to find out more, but she slept, nevertheless.
She woke up after a little while, momentarily wondering where she was. The lights were dimmer but still sufficient for her to see Philip sleeping beside her.
At some point in the night, he'd slipped beneath the sheets. His arms and chest were uncovered, and he must've woken and got undressed before getting into bed. As Philip hadn't been wearing underwear, he was probably naked.
After lying awake for a while thinking again about their conversation, she decided she didn't want to sleep in her clothes either. She slipped everything off, but her panties, and dropped the clothes on the floor beside the bed. Jade shut her eyes again, determined not to think about Philip naked beneath the sheets, but it was a pleasant thought that gave her warm, fuzzy feelings and chased away the anxiety.
Jade had a disturbed night's sleep. She woke up several times, only to find the room still in near darkness and Philip still asleep.
She’d spend some time worrying about all the people she cared for; Brenna, Lauren, their men, her men. She'd worry about her family back home, and what a war of gods and monsters would mean for her world.
When she'd look across the huge expanse of bed to Philip sleeping a few feet away, she'd feel safe and reassured that the future would be all right.
Overcome once again by tiredness, she fell back to sleep.
The cycle repeated several times over. She awoke. It was dark. She worried. She slept.
She wondered who had attacked her and why. Were the muggers deliberately after the brooch. It seemed to be the only thing they'd taken. On the other hand, perhaps they were simply after anything of value, and that was all they found.
She wondered how long Nic and Karl had waited for her and whether they'd come back. It was an irrational fear; she knew they'd seek her. Worrying about them while there was a war going on made her sick with dread. When she felt at her worst, she'd turn on to her side and focus on Philip. He was funny and sweet. He'd make her laugh. And he cared enough about her to bring her to his chamber rather than send her to a guest room. He made her feel safe in a way that nothing else could.
She'd drift off to sleep with her mind filled with thoughts about Philip.
It must have been the longest night ever as if the darkness lasted for days not hours.
She woke, yet again to darkness, Jade's mind cycled yet again through her fears for her loved ones.
>
This time was different; she heard a noise. A soft click as the door unlocked. It wasn't possible. Philip was still beside her, asleep, and with his hands intact. He was a god. He looked a combination of angelic and handsome. He could protect them both from the intruder. But fear kept her from moving or alerting Philip in any way. Jade held her breath.
The door began to open and as it did the lighting within the room glowed a little brighter.
The first she saw of the person opening the door was a large, old, wrinkled hand holding a staff. A wizened man with a long dark beard flecked with gray peer around the door, but he didn't enter.
With a deep but frail voice, he said a few words that Jade couldn't understand and then seemed to switch to her language. "I'm sorry, miss. I'll let Philip sleep for now and meet with him soon." He turned to speak to others evidently beside him, people behind the door that Jade couldn't see. "Philip has company. We should come back later."
"Wait." Jade sat up and pulled the covers up to her neck. It didn't seem as if the man brought danger so he might have good news instead, news that could give her some peace.
The door opened wider.
Nic pushed his way in with Karl on his heel.
They passed the old man, and swiftly Nic came around the bed to stop at Jade's side. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'm so relieved to see you. We've been so worried." He rested his hand on her bare shoulder.
Karl followed immediately behind him. "What happened to you?" He stared at Jade.
The man by the door coughed. "I'd advise you not to wake a god when he sleeps. I'll come back later." He moved away slowly. He leaned heavily on the staff and appeared to walk with a limp.
Karl went back and shut the door and returned to the foot of the bed.
"That was Hephaestus, " he said answering her unspoken question. The first of many.
At that moment Philip stirred in his sleep. He rolled over and pushed the covers down further exposing his nude torso, but he didn't wake up.
Despite the violence she'd suffered, and the worry for her absent men, and her concerns over what Philip had told her, she was most embarrassed that her guys should find her like this, in bed with another man. "It's not what it looks like." She had nothing to hide.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nic sat down on the bed beside her. "I couldn't have hoped for anything better on my return, Jade. I just wanted to see you safe and happy. What could be safer than in bed with a god?" Nic leaned forward and kissed her cheek again. He continued to plant little kisses on her face, down her neck and across to her ear, where he whispered, "I'm so pleased to see you, Jade."
His kisses and the affection in his voice took her breath away. His mouth found hers, and she moaned as her lips parted allowing their tongues to dance together.
Even though there were two other men in the room and many questions, her body hummed with the instant desire, aroused by Nic's touch.
Slowly, she fell back on to the pillow. The flames of desire ignited and burned within.
He followed, maintaining contact. The top half of his body covered hers.
And everything but the two of them seemed to disappear. At that moment her entire body wanted Nic like never before. Momentarily she forgot the other men in the room, and it seemed as if Nic had too.
The weight of Nic's body lifted from her, and she opened her eyes to see Karl looming over her. His hand on Nic's shoulder. With Karl's face in shadow, his expression was impossible to read.
Nic stepped away and started to shed his clothes. "It's nighttime Karl. Let's get into bed."
Jade wondered where they intended to sleep. There was a large couch, and there was certainly space for four adults in the bed. And then Jade thought to ask one of the many questions that had entered her mind. "How come you could open Philip's door? Or was it the other guy?"
"We slept here last night, while you were missing." Karl began to undress too. "We, er."
"We bonded with Philip, and he showed us how to open the door. He programmed it to recognize us. Hephaestus can't open it. I did and being the gentlemen I am, I let him enter first."
"You guys slept with Philip?" Jade looked at the two of them.
"No!" Both men said at the same time.
"I didn't think gods sleep. Because when we were exhausted, he still looked fresh. He told us to sleep here in this bed, which we did," Karl answered.
That wasn't exactly what she wanted to know. Though clearly, when Philip did sleep, he slept very soundly.
"So you had sex with him?" she asked.
"We didn't do that sort of bonding." Nic shook his head. "We talked for hours, all three of us. We had a lot to talk about, and we got on well, but nothing else happened, Jade. I promise."
Nic had no reason to lie; it's not as if they'd made any commitment to fidelity. Jade knew all three of the men were bisexual.
In just his underpants, Nic climbed over Jade and crawled under the covers between her and the sleeping god.
"Move over a little," Karl said and got in beside her so that he lay on the edge. "We've a lot in common with Philip, that's all. I want to know, what happened to you?" He reached down to find her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. His leg pressed against her leg.
In a hushed voice, Jade told the men all that had happened since they'd split up. While she talked, Nic stroked her arm. He touched her face, her stomach, and her thigh; his leg pressed against her too. She was the safe again, between her men.
On the one side of her, she felt Karl relaxing. It was very late, and he must've been tired. On the other side, she had Nic's full attention.
"What about you guys? What happened to you?" She asked when she'd told all.
Karl let out a heavy sigh. "We waited for you all day. Philip made sure we had food. Eventually, we came in here and talked. He went out into the hall to keep watch for you when we slept. We waited the next day too until Philip asked us to go with that lame old man to repair a wall. And it turned out the man wasn't as frail as he looks. He's one of the original gods. And the other thing Philip hadn't told us was that he was our father. Or possibly grandfather. And here we are." He yawned, and Jade could sense he was almost asleep.
"The father to both of you like you are both brothers?" Jade wrinkled her nose.
"Not just us, he's Philip's grandfather too. Hephaestus is the father of us all, but that doesn't make us close brothers like it does with normal parents, apparently. God parents are very different."
Even though Jade knew from her reading that gods married their siblings, incest wasn't really a thing in relation to god-blood. Nevertheless, it was a shock to discover her men shared the same parent, or grandparent, and with Philip too.
"We have the god of metalwork, building, and volcanoes as our common ancestor," Nic added.
"That figures," said Jade.
"We were beside ourselves with worry when you didn't follow us," Nic said in a hushed whisper. "The place was busy with strange-looking people, but they all ignored us, and we didn't know what to do. We weren't sure whether to wait or go back to Beaumont to find you. We went and looked into the tunnels a few times. We just didn't want you to arrive and not have anyone here to meet you."
Karl's grip on her hand loosened.
"When we met up with Philip, he recruited a couple of other people to keep an eye out for you, and he took us to eat outside. Did you see the huge camp out there?"
"No. I haven't been outside this building."
"There are loads of tents and huge marques out on the grass. There are loads of people passing through so that's where most people are sleeping, and there's mass catering set up. They had animals roasting on spits over open fires and a pop-up temple in which to worship Zeus."
As Karl was asleep Jade turned slightly to face Nic. "And what about the rebellion? How big is it?"
"I don't know. I think the action is taking place a long way from here. But of course, that's just minutes away through these tunnels. It mu
st be big because there's royalty camped outside. And some gods have gone to war. I asked Philip if he'd go."
With only the two of them awake, Jade reached to touch Nic. "What did he say?" As they talked, she swept her hands over his shoulders, bringing them to rest on his chest.
"In the name of Olympus, no," Nic replied in a whisper that mimicked Philip's voice. "He said, he's a builder, not a fighter, and his hands are made for cutting tools not killing tools. Even when talking about war, he's a comedian."
"What about this bonding you guys did. What did that involve?"
"We talked about building new housing estates in the twenty-first century, and he told us about building at the site of the ancient Olympics."
Jade pinched his nipple. "I don't believe you. What else?"
"Ouch." Nic placed his hand over hers and took it from his chest. He dragged it down between them and brought it to rest on the cotton fabric that covered his hard shaft.
Her heartbeat kicked up a pace.
"We talked about being half-brothers or cousins or whatever we are. The things we had in common. And you, Jade." His lips brushed a light kiss over hers. "That's what we all have in common." He thrust his cock into her hand. "You do this to all of us."
"I think lots of women bring about this reaction in you guys," Jade whispered. "And men too, I believe."
"Not like you. You're special in many ways. Completely unique. I've never met anyone like you. Karl said the same. This god behind me, he said the same too, Jade. I don't want you to get big-headed, but there's something about you. You turn the head of gods, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be here with you. That's all I can say."
Jade stroked her hand up the hard shaft. She wanted him. Wanted it. She pushed her body forward against his and wrapped her top leg around him. They kissed passionately. It wasn't enough. She pushed against him so that he fell on to his back and she rolled with him and ended up on top, her legs either side of him. His erection against her, almost where she wanted it. Only their underwear came between them.
Architects_Sons of Olympus Page 19
