Where a Goddess Belongs

by Stephanie Julian

  He felt Den watching him intently and lifted his head to meet his gaze. What he saw there convinced him to continue.

  He directed his response to Cole. “My parents believe my powers are pretty much worthless. What they don’t know is that they’ve been strengthening for years. I’ve managed to keep that mostly to myself. Den and Emelia know. And in the past couple of weeks,” his jaw clenched as he tried not to embarrass himself by getting a hard on when he thought about what they’d done with Kari, “they’ve increased exponentially.”

  No one said anything, probably because Cole didn’t respond. He just moved on.

  “What can you do to help, besides fight?”

  “I can manipulate metal.”

  Cole didn’t look surprised at his revelation. “So you’re an armifictor?”

  Jacoby shook his head. “I don’t know what that is.”

  Cole’s brows rose before he could control his response. “A weapons maker. You’ve never heard the term before?”

  “No.”

  “And the Mal don’t know what you can do?”

  He shook his head again.

  “Then that’s something we can take advantage of.” Cole looked at Den. “You have any tricks up your sleeve we should know about?”

  “I’ve got a minor Goddess Gift. Nothing weaponizable.”

  “And you don’t want to share with the rest of the class?” Kaine’s tone held humor and more than a little goading.

  Den looked her straight in the eyes. “I’ve got an affinity for animals. I can understand them. Sometimes I can even encourage them to do things for me.”

  “Then there’s someone you’re going to want to meet while you’re here.” Cole pointed back at the map. “But first, let’s concentrate on getting Jacoby’s sister. If you’re sure this is where they’re going to take her, we need a detailed map and we need a game plan fast. We need to get this done tonight, before they have time to settle in.”

  The only other woman in the room, who hadn’t spoken and hadn’t introduced herself, grabbed a pen and a pad off the desk across the room and slid it across the table to Jacoby. He took both but hesitated for a few long seconds.

  He did this and he gave up any chance of reconciliation with his parents. And even though he and Emelia had talked about defecting in general terms before, she’d never said she absolutely wanted to be free.

  What if she didn’t want to leave? What if she didn’t want to take the mantle of Kari’s power? What if Kari didn’t want to give up her powers?

  “Jack?”

  Den’s voice made him look up and when their gazes caught and held, Den nodded.

  “She wants out. Don’t second guess everything now. This is the right thing to do.”

  He took a deep breath. And started sketching.

  *****

  By mid-afternoon, more than two hours after they’d arrived, Kari was ready to march into the office in the common hall and haul Den and Jacoby out of there. She knew they were planning their mission to get Jacoby’s sister and she knew that was important but she hated not knowing what was going on. True, she could just walk in and ask what was going on. It wasn’t like they’d forbidden her to enter or deliberately not invited her to the meeting of the minds. She’d made the decision to stay with Amity and have a little much-needed sister time. Which had turned into more than she’d bargained for when Lucy and Nortia had shown up. Of course, they’d wanted to know all about her men, about whom she’d been happy to tell. But after an hour, she’d started looking at the clock. Would they leave without her? Nortia’s loud sigh caught her attention and Kari’s head whipped around to stare at her. “What?” “Do you really have to ask me what I’m thinking?” Nortia rolled sky-blue eyes, which made Kari want to stick her tongue out at her sister. “Seriously, you’re smarter than that.” No, she didn’t have to ask. She knew exactly what Nortia had on her mind. The wry look on her face gave it away. “You’re pining. It’s not attractive.” Lucy and Amity grinned. Kari glared at them but she couldn’t hold it long. She wasn’t mad at them. She was worried. And maybe it was time to start doing something rather than worry. “Is it weird when you talk to Lia, knowing who she is?” She directed her question at Nortia, who rolled her eyes again and kept silent. “I know you haven’t told her yet and I understand why but... does it make things awkward between you? Could you feel a connection when you talked? Lucy, you knew Cat for years. Did knowing she was your replacement change the way you felt about her?” Lucy rolled with the change in the direction of the conversation pretty well. “I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t as accepting as I could have been at first. She picked up on that pretty quickly, which made me feel pretty shitty.”

  When she turned to Nortia, she considered herself lucky her sister didn’t tell her to fuck off, which would be a very Nortia thing to do. Instead, she thought about it for a second.

  “Yes, it’s strange. But Lia’s still too younger and it’s going to be a few years until she’s strong enough to take over the mantle. I have a little time to figure out how I’m going to tell her. Did you say Jacoby’s sister already knows? Do you know how she knows?”

  “I don’t have any idea.”

  “I do.”

  The voice came from the other side of the room, where a pale figure slowly materialized.

  “Tilly!” Calling out her name, Kari ran across the floor and threw her arms around the elusive Goddess of the Spirit. An underworld goddess who rarely left her post in Aitás, Hinthial returned her hug, another surprise.

  “Hello, Kari. It’s good to see you.” Her gaze skipped around the room. “And all of you.”

  “How did you sneak away from Charun?”

  A small smile from a goddess who very rarely did. “He’s been otherwise occupied lately.”

  “How’s Perry?” Amity asked.

  Which begged Kari’s question, “Who’s Perry?”

  Amity’s eyes widened. “Oh, I forgot. You totally missed that. Long story short. Perry was a patient of mine. Burn victim. Charun fell for her and she went to live with him in Aitás.”

  Kari’s mouth dropped open. “Say what now?”

  “Right?” Nortia help up one hand. “Shocked the hell out of me, too.”

  “And your men are Cat’s guardians.” Kari pointed at Amity. “And your man is still half goat.” She turned to Hinthial, who rolled her eyes. Then she turned to Nortia. “And your man... Wait, you don’t have a man, unless I missed something in the months I was gone.”

  “Would you like me to entwine your fate with that of a steer in cattle country?” Nortia spoke so sweetly, Kari had to laugh. “I’m perfectly content on my own. Much easier that way. Most men aren’t worth the trouble.”

  “You used to say no man was worth the trouble.” Amity focused her full attention on Nortia now. “I wonder what changed.”

  “Nothing’s changed for me but you all seem to have found men who make you happy so there must be some decent men in the world.”

  “Oh, there are. Most definitely.”

  All eyes turned back to Kari.

  “So I was right.” Amity crossed her arms over her chest, her lips curved in a knowing smile. “There is something going on with the three of you.”

  “What is it with you both having two men?” Lucy shook her head. “I have my hands full with just one.”

  Kari exchanged a smile with Amity, whose expression lightened.

  “Don’t knock it ’til you try it.” Kari sighed. “And speaking of my two men, I think I need to go find them. I know they’re planning to go get Jacoby’s sister and I have the feeling I need to go with them.”

  “Do you really think that’s necessary?” Amity leaned forward and took her hand. “You just got away. I don’t think you should put yourself that close to the Mal again. What if they take you and Jacoby’s sister? That would be a catastrophe.”

  “I need to be there for her. I just know I do.”

  Amity gave a long sigh. “Then let’s hope
your men are as good as you think they are. I don’t want to lose you again.”

  “Trust me, I don’t want to be lost. But I also don’t want to sit on the sidelines and be useless anymore. I need to do this.”

  Chapter Eight

  “This is a really bad idea.” Jacoby. “I wish you’d rethink this.” Den. “Lady Kari, I really think you should stay.” Cole. “We have no idea what we’re up against and we know they targeted you specifically.” “With all due respect, your highness,” Kaine stood next to Kari, arms on her hips, glaring at her king, “you’re treating a goddess like she’s weak. Chill. Respectfully, sir.” Kari gave the sicari Kaine a hug as she watched the lucani king grimace and visibly wince. He deserved to be taken down a few pegs, but she needed to have a talk with Den and Jacoby before they left. And they would have that talk in just a few minutes. First, she needed to clear up a few misconceptions among the five men currently hovering around her, trying to make her change her mind and remain here. Drawing herself up to her full height, which wasn’t barely over five-four but still, she stared at each man in turn. All of them had the good sense to dip their gazes first. She might’ve been a mostly useless goddess for the past several hundred years, but she was still a goddess, not some vapid fake celebrity who thought the world wanted to know her every move. “So here’s how this is going to play out. Cole, you’re staying here, since we can’t have you too close the Mal. If they make another attempt on your life, who’s to say they won’t get lucky this time? And that would be bad now, wouldn’t it? “I promise to stay out of the way of the operation unless I feel you need help in any way. Then all bets are off. I may not be able to become a wolf but I’m not helpless either. So don’t treat me as if I am and we’ll all get out of this together. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Den and Jacoby for a few minutes. Alone. We’ll be ready to leave by six. You can go on and do what needs to be done.” She looked at Jacoby and Den, who did not look away as the others had done. And that made her smile. If they were going to stick around for the next hundred years or so, they needed to be able to stand up to her. But she couldn’t allow them to risk themselves for her while not allowing her to take the same risk. They needed to have this discussion now. “Cole, is there a more private room where we can talk?” “Second floor, Lady Kari. At the end on the left.” She gave Cole a smile as she headed out of the room, knowing Jacoby and Den would follow her. She was pretty sure she heard either Kaisie or Kyle mutter “Good luck” to her men as they followed behind her. Nice to know she still had the ability to make men nervous. No one said anything as they climbed the stairs to the second floor and made their way to the room, which turned out to be a bedroom. So that’s why Cole had been smiling as she left. She might have to revise her opinion of the lucani king as needing to get a clue. Maybe he had more of a clue than she gave him credit for. Walking across the room, she stood on the opposite side of the bed then crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her men. Both of them stared back, their determination clear in the flat lines of their mouths. “You need to stay here.” Den surprised her by starting. She’d thought for sure it’d be Jacoby. “Far away from the Mal.” “And you both need to understand that I’m coming with you. I didn’t bring you up here to rehash his. I only wanted you to know—”

  Jacoby wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other around her hip and lifted her off the floor until their lips were level.

  And then he kissed her. Hard. He stole every ounce of breath in her body and lit the fire that’d been banked since they’d arrived here.

  He kissed her hard enough that her lips parted from the pressure. Not that she wouldn’t have opened to him, but he didn’t give her the chance.

  He took the advantage and slipped his tongue between her lips, tangling with her tongue in a kiss that went from hot to incendiary in the space of a few seconds.

  She tasted his fear for her on his lips but she also sensed a deeper need and she understood that. She welcomed it. And she let him have what he needed.

  Which apparently was her.

  He attacked her mouth with single-minded focus, let him lace his fingers through her hair and pull her head back so his mouth could travel down her neck. Her pussy clenched on a wave of desire so strong, she cried out as her hands slid beneath the collar of his shirt so she could touch his bare skin.

  As if her touch ignited even more sparks, Jacoby moved his hands to her hips—and held her away from him.

  She was about to complain but Den was there to take her, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her against his hard chest, his erect cock pressing into the cleft of her ass, igniting another round of sparks in her blood that threatened to make her a creature of pure sensation.

  And when Jacoby’s hands went straight for the zipper of his pants, her gaze dropped to watch as he shoved them down just far enough to release his cock.

  “This isn’t going to be slow and easy.”

  Her smile made the heat in his eyes smolder.

  “I’m easy enough.”

  “But only for us,” Den growled in her ear.

  “I’m pretty sure I can live with that. But only if you both fuck me right now.”

  “That’s the plan.” Jacoby looked over his shoulder. “On the bed.”

  Again, Kari silently blessed Cole for sending them to this room, which had a king-size bed. Apparently the lucani king was a mind reader.

  Den didn’t waste any time. He walked her straight to the bed and set her down on her knees on the mattress. She quickly turned to find both men tearing their clothes off, staring at her with lust plain on their faces.

  Jacoby had had a head start on Den and now stood naked in front of her.

  “This is how crazy you make me. There’s no way in hell we should be doing this now. And there’s no way in hell I’m stopping now.”

  “I don’t want you to stop. Besides, think how powerful you’ll be afterward. Think of it as juicing before the big game.”

  Jacoby’s lips parted as if he’d been going to say something. And then threw his head back and laughed. She knew he’d never laughed like that in her presence before and it made her smile to hear it.

  Behind him, Den shook his head as he drew his shirt over it. “Then I’m more than happy to help the cause. You two go ahead and get started. I’ll be back in a second.”

  Den turned and headed for the door on the far wall, which she assumed was a bathroom, but her gaze flew back to Jacoby as he came closer.

  His lips still curved in a smile as he stopped inches from the bed. If she reached out, she could take his cock in her hand and stroke him. Instead, she lay back, spread her legs, and crooked a finger at him.

  “Come here and show me how much you want me.”

  “Can’t you tell?”

  It was her turn to smile. “I can see. I want to feel.”

  He didn’t waste another second. He covered her with his body and sealed his mouth against hers, kissing her with a passion flavored with a deeper emotion she’d yet to give a name. The time for that would come later.

  Right now... Well, she wanted to come. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she felt his thighs brush against the inside of hers, felt the head of his cock press against her labia, spreading them open and lodging at her entrance. The ache in her gut spread through the rest of her body but particularly to her sex, which practically begged to be filled. Gasping, she stared up at him as he pulled his lips away. “Jacoby, come inside,” she begged. “Please.” “I will. I need to. I just want to take,” he pressed in another half inch, “it,” and another, “slow.” “I don’t think I can take slow. Fuck me hard and fast.” His gaze burned into hers. “No way in hell.” He thrust inside her in increments designed to make her crazy. Her body writhed beneath his, tempting him to go faster. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her heels urging him to speed up. But he had much more control than she’d realized. He set a pace that drew her out of herself and into a state where she could ba
rely catch her breath. Every sensation was heightened, and she became a creature of pure pleasure. She barely realized that Den had returned until the bed dipped to the side. Jacoby rolled them until she was now on top but if she thought she was going to get more control, she was sorely mistaken. She never saw Den but she felt his hands on her hips, felt Jacoby press her hips down to meet his, lodging his cock deep inside her body. Then she felt Den’s slick fingers at her rear entrance. He pushed his fingers inside slowly as she moaned. She was no stranger to double penetration, but it had been a while. She’d forgotten how damn good it felt. She heard the men say something to each other, but she was too lost in sensation to care. She only wanted to be filled, to be taken and pushed over that edge of pain and pleasure. By the time Den had positioned his cock, she was panting. “Do it,” she managed to say. “Now.” Jacoby began to pull out as Den pushed in and, oh my stars, she shuddered from the riot of sensations coursing through her body. Desire became an ache that ate away at her from the inside out. Two warm male bodies trapped hers between them and she never wanted to be anywhere else. Her men found the perfect rhythm after a few short seconds, filling her alternately until she could no longer take it, no matter how much she tried to contain herself. Her climax ripped through her body, a powerful force that lit every atom in her body. Now, this was power.

  Chapter Nine

  Jacoby drew in a deep breath and swore he could taste the tension in the car.

  Before they’d left the den, he and Den had considered tying her to the bed and leaving her there until they returned.

  Of course, they’d nixed that fast because she would’ve snapped her fingers and made their balls disappear.

  Instead, she sat in the seat behind them, staring out the window. She didn’t look worried. She looked ready.