A Court of Earth and Aether: a Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (War of the Gods Book 4)

by Meg Xuemei X

  My mates picked me up, pulling me into their solid, warm, ever-loving arms.

  CHAPTER 17

  I carried my grief and rage with me as I returned with my mates, our companions, and Pluto to the surface of Earth, exiting the first Hell Gate beneath Bethesda Terrace in the Central Park Conservancy. This time we had no need to cross the river of Styx.

  We brought back Celeb, Alaric’s half-demon captain, and he had grown tearful at seeing us again. I bet he’d never shed a tear before in his life. But he dropped to one knee before me and kissed the back of my hand in gratitude.

  “Just don’t die again,” I said, patting his new horn to comfort him. “Don’t always try to be a hero. Sometimes you need to learn when to retreat and do it smartly and quickly.”

  The fae warriors were sad that we couldn’t bring back the rest of their cadets and Xihin, but at least I’d made sure that they all stayed in the best territory in Hell.

  We stepped onto the platform of Bethesda Terrace, back in the world of the living.

  To my relief, our camped army was still here—the fae, hybrids, vampires, mages, and shifters, stretching over the entire central park. The human armies of every nation covered the urban streets of New York City.

  Anxiety, apprehension, and determination poured from the army.

  The earthlings knew that the Olympian gods could descend upon them at any time with weapons and powers none of them had any means to counter, and most likely they’d have to fight the forces from both Hell and Heaven.

  They expected a slaughter at the hands of the gods, yet they chose to put up a fight.

  The fae army was closest to the Underworld. Their king and queen waited for the return of their sons, probably uncertain if we would make it out alive.

  We’d been in Hell for less than a day, but three days had passed on Earth.

  The fae sovereigns strode toward us as soon as they spotted their sons, their elite guards following closely behind them. The generals of the various armies also marched toward us.

  It seemed that Bethesda Terrace had become the headquarters of the war councils.

  Everyone’s grim expressions softened a little at the sight of my mates and me. We didn’t look haggard, considering we’d just come out of Hell. Instead, my group looked ready and recharged, thanks to Pluto. He’d transferred part of his energy to the fae immortals while I had tangled with my mates between the sheets before my mother showed up.

  A thick emotion stuck in the back of my bitter throat at the thought of my mom, but I pushed it down. I’d revisit it and find a way to make peace with myself once the war was over. For now, all I knew was that she was gone, and she would never return. She’d given the last of her essence to me to make me stronger. She ceased to exist completely and lived on only in my heart and memories.

  Queen Radella kissed Reys’s cheek, tears streaming down her face.

  “You found a good mate, my son,” she said when she released him.

  In front of his mother, Reys suddenly looked like a boy, and I’d never seen that side of him.

  A smug expression crossed his face, joining the smirk already in place. “I got the best mate, Mother.”

  King Kallan hugged his heir while his wife went to kiss Pyrder’s cheek and praise him for bringing back his twin.

  The fae king then bowed to my other mates and companions. “I owe all of you a debt. No mortals or immortals have ever come out of Hell alive, but you all came back.”

  I grinned at him and the queen. “And we brought a few extras.”

  The king and the queen both came to hug me. The king reached to ruffle my tri-colored hair, but his hand froze in the air as he seemed to suddenly realize I was a goddess.

  “She doesn’t bite, Father,” Pyrder said. “Cass mostly just walks all over me.”

  I pulled away from the hugs of the fae royal couple. “Dude—Your Majesties, you knew Pluto, the former Lord of the Underworld, right?”

  “Of course.” King Kallan nodded at Pluto in courteous acknowledgement. “Lord Pluto and my ancestors were allies.”

  While the king, the queen, and I exchanged small talk, which I’d become good at, the generals approached my mates. They put their heads together, briefing one another on current affairs. I let them do their shit, since I was never good at conferences.

  When the generals glanced my way, I multitasked and waved at them with a grin to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

  “That’s cool.” I turned back to my in-laws and jerked a thumb at the smoke shifter. “The one behind Pluto is Jonah, his faithful sidekick,” I said. “Like Friday to Crusoe.”

  Everyone looked confused. Right, the immortals didn’t read mortals’ books. After Amber taught me how to read, she picked an adventure book, the sort I liked, and demanded I write a summary.

  Speaking of which, the fae guards led Hephaestus and Amber toward us. Hephaestus wore a hooded cloak that covered most of him. That was clever. If everyone knew we had an Olympian god among us, chaos might break out. We didn’t need that.

  Amber hugged me, and I squeezed her hard. I was so happy to see my best friend returned to Earth safe and sound. I gave Hephaestus, the delivery man, a thankful grin, and he shrugged, a sly smile ghosting across his thick lips.

  I was even happier that Amber was here to witness how knowledgeable I was.

  “Crusoe was a Frenchman, but he wasn’t exactly arrogant,” I explained to everyone who was willing to listen. “He got stranded on a barbarian island on Hawaii, I think, after his ship was wrecked by Poseidon’s storm. He saved Friday and made him his slave, since the native dude was good at making beds and doing laundry. But Friday liked to bake people and suck the juice from their bones, so Crusoe asked him sternly not to eat humans again. As you see, Crusoe came from the old world, like my mates, so he had principles. Friday obliged him because he owed Crusoe a life debt. But Friday lost a lot of weight, since he ate only coconuts after that.”

  “That doesn’t sound like my Lord Pluto and me,” Jonah murmured, rubbing his face with his hand. “I don’t feel flattered being compared to a cannibal.”

  Pyrder roared with laughter, and Amber pulled at my sleeve, whispering in my ear when I bent my head towards her, “I think your fae mate might have read the story. We probably need to re-read the book together.”

  “Why?” I said, widening my eyes. “I’m not going to read the same old story twice. There’re more fun things to do.” Like lying on my mates’ naked torsos and making jokes.

  Pyrder wiped a tear from the corner of one turquoise eye. Reys had joined my other mates to talk serious shit with the generals while I told my interesting story.

  I braced my hands on my hips. “Are you going to contradict me, Your Highness?”

  “No, Princess,” Pyrder said, his eyes still laughing.

  “Haven’t you just complained to your parents about me walking all over you?” I said, darting a quick glance at the fae queen and king; somehow they also smiled dotingly at me. “When did that ever happen? Reys said I was a good, respectful mate!”

  “You’re a fabulous mate, Cass baby,” Pyrder said. “But my twin didn’t exactly say respectful.” At my glare, he only pulled me into his arms and kissed my temple. “I like it when you’re so fierce. I actually complimented you, since no one else could ever bully me and get away with it every single time.”

  His kiss traced lower, to my earlobe. He knew it always made my toes curl and my inner beast purr when he did that. The fae prince was a superb lover, but now wasn’t the time to flirt, because when his lips hit my skin, heat instantly rushed through my veins, and we were amid the war camps. I flushed and gave him another half-hearted hard stare.

  “Where was I?” I waved a hand. “Anyway, I’m determined to re-establish Pluto’s rule in the Underworld.”

  A cough sounded behind me, and everyone on the platform tensed.

  The King of Hell had just appeared, a shadow army of demons and wraiths behind him backing him up.
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br />   Thanatos stood to Hades’s left side, his black wings arching behind his armored shoulders, two wicked daggers in his hands.

  The winged god winked at me, but I didn’t return his wink. I didn’t want my mates to think there was something between that dude and me. He wasn’t even my type.

  I recognized the other god guarding Hades’s right side as Erebus, the primeval God of Darkness. I couldn’t see his face clearly, since it was half-concealed by shade, but his large axe got my attention.

  “Daughter,” Hades bit out, somehow still managing to sound disinterested, “you shouldn’t promise something you can’t deliver.”

  The immortals all around us growled, trying to rein in their fear.

  The God of Death’s dark power permeated the air. I wouldn’t blame anyone who cringed. Who wanted to meet a death god, particularly the most powerful one, on the battlefield?

  Yet the warriors didn’t flee. They raised weapons instead, ready to battle Hell’s force.

  “Guys, guys, hold your horses and cool your jets!” I shouted. “The army from the Underworld is our temporary ally. We’ll fight the Olympians together.”

  “What if they turn on us at the last minute?” King Kallan said. “The God of Death is known as both a betrayer and a master of manipulation.”

  My mates returned to gather around me and form a shield.

  “I have a contract with the God of Death,” I said, my eyes glowing, and power rolled off me. I was done with small talk. I no longer joked. I’d shifted to goddess mode, a tribrid goddess of Death, Earth, and Dragon. “I don’t ask any of you to trust Hades, the current King of Hell,” I continued, my voice thundering. “But I ask you to trust me, please.”

  My power wave hit the ground, and the entire New York City rumbled. “My name is Cass Saélihn. I’m your protector today, tomorrow, and the days after. I’ll protect my own!”

  Hades gave me a surprised look. People always underestimated my intelligence.

  Cheers rose from rows of soldiers and spread.

  “Earth Goddess has returned!” they shouted. “To lead us to victory!”

  Some raised their weapons into the air. “Goddess Cass fights for us!”

  A vast fireball exploded across the bright, blue sky. New York seldom had such good weather like today. It should not be a day for battle.

  But the war had come. The gods were here.

  A horn blew from the shifter army, sounding the alarm.

  “Hold!” Alaric bellowed.

  “Hold!” The generals repeated the order to the army.

  “Hold!” the officers echoed the roar.

  Pride swelled in me. Our earthling armies were well-trained and disciplined.

  Pyrder let his icy wind soar to counter the fireball and shield the army. Lorcan flexed his hard muscles as Earth fire traced down his arms. Alaric held lightning bolts mixing with dragon fire in both of his palms.

  Reys stared at the black flames on his fingertips. He was the last to realize he’d received part of my power as well. My other mates had mastered their newly gained magic. Reys just had to go with his instincts and try his best.

  The enemy’s fireball didn’t fall on the land as we anticipated, but it unfolded and turned into a vast hologram.

  “Cassandra Saélihn, behold what I did to your Earth!” Ares’s voice sounded ominous and full of childish hatred through the hologram.

  On the split holographic screens, we witnessed the gods destroy several major Earth cities with fire, water, or plague.

  The first scene showed Ares and Apollo burning the Academy to ash and dirt. Reys’s house at the edge of the school was gone, too. Anxiety and rage burst in me. Most of Reys’s staff had retreated to Alaric’s warded cabins in Australia. I hoped no one had been left behind in that house and that every student in the Academy had been evacuated. But I had a feeling the casualties were great and many students didn’t make it.

  I’d done a number on Ares’s sons, and my mates had beheaded Deimos, so the God of War was returning the favor by burning down our haunts.

  Next we watched helplessly as the tsunami hit Portland in Oregon, where the court of the High Lord of Night sat.

  The gods were wasting millions of lives to settle their personal scores with us. At least one major city in every nation had been burned and was still burning down.

  We watched as the beautiful Montréal city in Canada was leveled.

  Desperate shouts for help, screams of pain, and hopeless cries echoed in my ears until it was all I could hear. I’d been too late. I’d failed them. I’d promised to protect them, to guard my land, and I’d failed all of them.

  Tears streaked down my cheeks, and my eyes glowed, rage and revenge ablaze in them.

  They’d pay. They’d all fucking pay.

  Jezebel made me promise to punish them all, and I would gladly fulfill it.

  Gaea had told me that I could find anyone on Earth. She’d taught me how to expand my mind and search for the powerful pulses and heat signatures emitted by the alien gods.

  I centered my mind, letting my senses stretch, farther and farther, to reach the Olympian gods and nail down their location.

  I snapped open my eyes. I’d found them—all of them, those vicious, powerful alien beings—amid billions of Earth natives. They didn’t belong here. Earth wanted to vomit them out.

  I clenched my fists, ready to go where they lurked and take them out.

  The wind blew, and the hologram winked out. In its place, a shimmer that seemed to be adorned with stars appeared, and a golden gate formed behind it.

  Damn, it was made of pure gold, sparkling gloriously in the sunlight in the cold winter of New York City.

  “It’s the gate to Mount Olympus,” Alaric said beside me. “The portal to the heavens has opened for the first time on Earth.”

  “What does it mean?” a gray-haired human general asked beside him. I remembered the general. He’d been in the conference room when we attended the world leaders’ gathering in the Swiss Confederation.

  “A full-front war,” Hades said. Somehow he’d moved to stand close to us. The generals shuffled a bit further away from the God of Death. “The Olympian gods will soon read you the terms of surrender. Either you accept the terms or the Olympians will wipe out every living thing on this planet.”

  The leaders traded a grim look before returning their anxious gazes to the sky.

  The golden gate swung inward, opening to reveal a bridge of jade. Under the bridge, endless mist churned. I’d like to peek through the mist and the mystery behind it, if we weren’t at war.

  Then part of the mist lifted, showing Mount Olympus behind the bridge.

  My genetic memory flashed, telling me that the gods’ city was made of incorruptible materials. It was a golden city filled with gems, diamonds, and everlasting blossoms.

  Buildings, mountains, and lakes in their purest, most magnificent forms floated in the air, and rainbow-like clouds drifted by. The sound of streams somewhere in the city played a flute-like melody like nothing I had ever heard.

  The myths said that some of the rivers in Mount Olympus flowed with milk and some flowed with the finest wine, and any mortal who ate fruit from the Shining Tree of Life would become an immortal.

  I heard gasps reverberate through the earthling army.

  None of them had ever seen anything as lovely and splendid as this, nor such riches beyond imagination. Not even the fairyland on Earth could hold a candle to the Olympian city.

  Living in such a world of wonder, the Olympian gods had to come to my realm to throw a tantrum, to hunt, and to destroy, in their boredom and hunger for more power.

  They didn’t deserve to live in that realm. The entitled, elite, arrogant, and malicious beings didn’t deserve any nice things, and I’d take away what they had, and then they’d taste the bitter sorrow of loss and reap the fruits of their cruelty.

  Before I found a space to spit on the ground to show my utter disdain—I was surrounded
by my mates and the guards, and I didn’t want to spit on the world leaders’ shiny leather shoes by mistake—a chariot of fire charged out of the gods’ city onto the broad, long bridge. An army of endless soldiers marched behind the chariot.

  A giant stallion wreathed in flames pulled the chariot. In the carriage stood the God of War in metal armor, his fearsome eyes glowing red.

  Ares, in his formidable warrior form, raised his flaming spear and bellowed his bloodthirsty battle cry.

  The whole of New York City trembled beneath his mighty feet.

  Even our brave army was shocked into fearful silence, and none dared to even exhale. I could sense terror of the war god striking into all the mortals’ and immortals’ hearts.

  Only my mates and I didn’t fear the God of War in all his terrifying glory.

  I turned my head, found a clear spot, and spat. “Asshole!”

  Hades chuckled, darkness whirling under his feet like a liquid black mirror. As his direct descendant, I could feel the thrill buzzing in his black blood at the approaching battle. Somehow his excitement also fueled me.

  “Hold your lines!” Alaric roared, raising his flaming sword, his deep, booming voice reaching every corner, pumping courage into our army.

  “Courage!” Reys raised his blade of fire and shouted.

  The warriors followed and shouted, “Courage!”

  “Steady!” Alaric shouted again.

  “Fight for freedom!” Pyrder bellowed. “We got this!”

  Lorcan also raised his sword. “Defend Earth to our last breath!”

  The army echoed, “Courage! We got this! Defend Earth!”

  A horn from the center of our armies in Central Park blew long and hard, and banners rose in the air, flapping in the chilly wind under the blue sky.

  A goddess, tall and regal, suddenly materialized on the gem bridge before the giant black stallion. The horse raised his hooves, neighed, and reared back to give the goddess a wide berth.

  Our earthling army gasped in surprise.

  Goddess Athena had appeared on the scene.

  She wore blood-red armor, marking her as the Goddess of War, the female counterpart of Ares. A white cloak that represented peace was draped over her armor.