by Haley Weir
He kissed her, and she felt the entirety of his love.
~*~
Sweet, slick heat engulfed him. Seth squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his forehead against hers. He thanked her with kisses, praising her glory as she welcomed him inside of her body. The tight sheath of her femininity rippled along the length of his member with each breath. Seth carefully pulled his hips back, retreating from her depths before he pushed forward again. He thrust in slow, even pulses with a masterful roll of his hips. Diana’s eyes shot open.
“There it is,” he whispered. “Hold on, love. I’ll give you what you need.”
Nails scraped down his spine. Seth moved with the natural rhythm that existed between them. Diana bucked her hips in time with his. She glowed like the moon on a clear night sky. Seth clutched her to his chest and rolled over onto his back in one fluid motion. The gasp that left her lips filled him with pride. He zeroed in on the spots that gave her the most pleasure, thrusting up into her as she began to ride him with vigor. Soft, succulent curves glistened in the faint light.
Seth bent his knees and held on. Diana picked up the pace.
Heat spread through his groin as he looked upon her beauty. She planted her hands on the mattress beside his head and shook with the force of her release. Her body clenched around him. Seth roared with all of his might and pounded into Diana until she collapsed against his chest. He felt her magic all around them and reached out to her, opening his soul to the love of his life. Light exploded in his vision, and he buried himself in her depths, painting her womb with his seed until there was nothing left to give.
Black spots swarmed his vision.
A swirling vortex of love and acceptance settled in the very core of his being. Diana rolled onto the bed beside him. The scent of her shampoo still hovered in the air. He kissed the back of her hand and placed his arm around her. “I heard my brothers talk about the bond, but I never expected it to be so intense. For a moment, I thought the heavens had opened.”
“I can’t feel my legs,” Diana chuckled. “I’m all tingly, but in a good way.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m pleasantly sore.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed him. “I think my father might try to kill you, though. He’s old fashioned enough to think you should have asked his permission to marry me before proposing.”
“I’ll be sure to talk to him when I ask him to help Madeu.” Seth huffed and curled up against his beautiful mate. “Having Hades as a future father-in-law is more intimidating than I thought. Perhaps we should talk to him together after the mission?”
“Avoiding my father will only make things worse.”
“What about Nemesis? Do you want her included in this?” he asked. Seth caressed her back, feeling the contours of her spine and the way her shoulder blades flexed with each motion of her arms. Diana traced patterns against his chest, deep in thought as she seemed to consider his words carefully. “You don’t have to decide now, but it’s something to keep in mind.”
“What about Madeu?”
“We still have our differences, but I’ve forgiven him. Losing you had put so much into perspective. Holding on to all of that anger wasn’t helping anyone. And now that I have you? I don’t want to hold on to the past. Moving on is the only thing I can do now.”
She peered up at him from beneath the fan of her lashes. Plump, kiss-swollen lips curled into a sweet smile. “You’re a good man, Seth. I’ll be sure to include that in the film.”
“What?”
“Giddeon said I can write about the agency and I’ve decided to tell our story. It has enough of the excitement and romance to draw in a crowd. Besides, I’m sort of an expert on the subject.” Diana threw her leg over his hip and leaned forward to brush her lips against his throat.
“I thought you might put all of that behind you after everything that happened.”
“It’s because of what’s happened to us, why I made the decision to keep writing. I need to hold on to a bit of my humanity, Seth. Power is dangerous. If I don’t stay grounded, then I risk losing myself.” She smoothed her thumb over his brows and ran the tip of her finger along the bridge of his nose. Seth couldn’t tear his gaze off of her for even a second.
“I support you, Diana. Whatever you choose to do, I’ll be by your side. Nothing could tear us apart now. Not even death.” He sat up and climbed out of bed despite her disappointed sigh. Seth helped her up before he carried her into the bathroom. They showered quickly and met with Hades in the throne room. The God of Death glanced around with a judgmental eye.
“This place is a bit outdated, isn’t it?”
“Dad, stop,” Diana scolded. “Seth has something he needs to ask you.”
Hades turned that dark gaze in his direction and Seth squared his shoulders defensively. He wasn’t much of a fan of the gods, especially after his family had been manipulated through the centuries by ancient beings. “What does Seth have to ask me?”
“I wish to marry your daughter. I’ve come to—”
“You’re asking for my permission?”
Seth clenched his jaw until it ached, hoping the pain would keep his anger at bay. “We seek your blessing, not permission. Whether you approve or not, I will marry Diana.”
Hades summoned his bident. “You may want to rethink that tone before I decide to smite something." The God of Death tapped his bident on the floor of the throne room. "Ask me properly, boy."
"If you think for one second that I'll grovel to pacify your ego, then you're just as mad as the legends say. You may be a god, but you aren't mine." Seth stepped up to Hades without fear and refused to back down. "Do we have your blessing or not?"
Chapter Nineteen
Castle Black
Destiny Falls, Alaska
Diana pulled her father away from Seth and stood in front of her mate. Though Seth needed no one to shield him, Diana didn't want them to tear each other apart. She laid her hand on her father's arm and kept him from reaching Seth. "You know you won't be able to keep us apart. Either give your blessing and remain in my life or walk away…" She hated the pain in her father's eyes, but Diana hoped it cut through some of the stubbornness that stood in the way.
Hades lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. "Do you love him?"
"More than anything."
"Will he make you happy?"
"He already has."
"If that changes," Hades began, "can I harvest his soul?"
Laughter burst from Diana and Seth gave her a droll look. "Yeah, Dad. If he ever breaks my heart, you can harvest his soul. I might even help you."
Hades stroked her cheek for a second and then stared past Diana. "You have my blessing. I'm impressed that you had the audacity to stand up to me. That might serve you well in the future."
The door to the throne room opened, and Styx strolled to the center of the room. He spread his wings, shaking out a pile of black feathers as if he were molting. "So, we're heading into Olympus with nothing more than a human revolver and a few spells?"
Hades shook his head and handed his Bident to Diana. "Take this with you. If you run into trouble, don't hesitate to use it. The guards won't think twice before they try to kill you. Be safe."
"Thanks, Dad."
Diana gripped the Bident, feeling the jewels along the handle. Ornate patterns of rubies and diamonds were nestled amongst obsidian crystals. She had never seen a finer weapon. The two prongs at the end were tipped with gold, though the blade itself reflected blue. Diana twirled the bident and felt the way the weight shifted, spinning it effortlessly as if she had been born to wield it.
Styx cleared his throat and said something in Ancient Greek that Diana couldn't understand. It was as if the words were jumbled in her mind, but the meaning was there in her heart. The black feathers from Styx's wings melted into a puddle of shadow. He stepped inside and held his hands out to Diana and Seth. They walked slowly into the black muck until they were in up to their knees. Seth h
eld Diana firmly by the arm and Styx's magic spun the room like they were in a carousel.
Diana's knees buckled, but she stayed upright. Styx continued to chant. Seth remained upright even as he fought to keep her on her feet, but Styx shoved against Seth's chest, and he went flying out of the circle. She barely had time to recover before she too was shoved out of one world and into the next. Snow broke Diana's fall as she landed on a mountainside. The snow itself was cold, but the temperature was pleasant enough that it should have melted.
Seth pushed himself onto his knees and stared around. "I'm going to kill him," her mate growled. "He couldn't have opened a portal or something?"
"Quiet. We're here."
Diana felt magic radiating in her bones. It was as if the mountain was alive. Pulses of power throbbed like a heartbeat. She stood up and wandered over to the edge of the mountain and stared down into nothingness. Styx appeared beside Seth a moment later. Diana crouched low as she made her way along the edge. She felt the stone walls. Searching for a way up to the very top. Styx showed her a path that led to a silver river. Diana stepped along the riverbank with Seth on her heels. They followed the silver stream towards a temple carved of white stone.
"Keep moving," Styx whispered.
Diana nodded and continued along the path until they came upon a golden door with dual axes crossed at the center. She reached her hand out, but Seth caught her by the wrist. He nodded his head towards a cluster of runes above the door. Wards. Diana closed her eyes and summoned the blood of her father within her veins. She tapped into the reserve of magic that hid in a well at the center of her soul and forced it into the door. The locks churned loudly as they fought the forceful magic until they yielded with a powerful snap.
Styx glanced about nervously. He shook his wings and waited for the door to open. Diana slipped inside with Seth as Styx stood guard. Dozens of enchanted objects cluttered a line of shelves, but they were only interested in the weapons. They walked deeper and deeper into the vault, stopping only when another door stood in their path. Unlike the other one, that door was unlocked and made from iron. Inside the smaller chamber was an armory.
"So, we get the weapons and then what?"
Seth ducked to avoid a low beam. "Either we fight with the weapons individually or we can melt them down to forge a divine blade. I would much rather keep them separate. It gives us more leverage and more firepower going into the fight.”
“A divine blade?”
“Tale tellers used to call them God Slayers,” Seth replied. “Every pantheon has a weapon fabled to be able to kill a god. For the Norse Gods, it was a dagger laced with wolfsbane and arrows of mistletoe. Egyptians had a jade spear. The Mayans—”
“I get it.”
“They almost never work. The gods can always respawn, sometimes even more powerful than before. Capturing them is the safest way to ensure peace.” Seth pointed to a wall lined with red velvet. Weapons of all shapes and sizes filled the wall. “I know it’s tempting, but let’s get what we came for and leave quickly before someone discovers we’re here.”
~*~
Olympus
He stood with his back to Diana as she lifted the weapons from the wall and placed them inside one of Hermes’ bags they snagged from a shelf. It had been enchanted to hold endless items of unlimited proportions. Seth, for once, was grateful the Messenger God had been crafty enough to fabricate such a bag. He knew Hermes used his enchanted objects for more than just carrying around prophecies and messages. There was a reason he was often considered a mischievous deity. Seth wasn’t eager to run into him anytime soon. “Diana.”
“I know, I know.”
Something was wrong. A tension began to build in his skull, like a warning that danger approached them with haste. He stiffened, ready to shift if necessary. The entrance to the vault opened, and Styx shuffled inside. “Hide,” the lower-level god hissed as he snuffed out the lights and made himself fade into the shadows. Diana cast a shield over them, disguising their scent and appearance. Seth pressed himself against a wall as she slithered behind a shelf. The door opened again a moment later and Hephaestus, God of Fire and Forges, peeked inside. His eyes were like molten iron as they flickered over the interior of the vault.
Seth held his breath and prayed the others had done the same.
Hephaestus slapped his hand on the wall, and an alarm screeched throughout Olympus. Seth had hoped they weren’t going to have to fight their way off of the mountain, but there was no way around it. Hephaestus shouted that the weapons had been taken from the vault and called for guards to search every inch of Olympus. Seth watched Styx as he unsheathed his sword and stepped into the light. “Get back to the gateway that I created. I’ll cause a diversion and distract them long enough for you to get away.”
“Styx,” Diana whispered harshly. “They’ll capture you!”
“It’s better than what they would do to you or Seth if you were discovered, trust me. Go!” Styx ducked out of the room, and Seth heard a slew of profanity above the siren before the sound of marching feet picked up into a stampede of footfalls. He waited until the sound was far enough away that he was sure the guards had moved on before he gestured for Diana to leave her hiding place. They crept out of the vault and ran for the gateway. Diana slung the bag over her shoulder as Seth led the way. Their path was blocked by Athena.
“Naughty, naughty Sethilos,” the goddess snickered. “Don’t you know it’s a crime to steal?”
“Is it truly a crime if my actions are just?”
“How could they be? We created you, and so it is only right that we get to decide how the world ends.” Athena swaggered up to Seth with a tantalizing smile. “You wouldn’t tell an artist that there is only beauty in creation. Destruction? Now that’s where the true beauty lies.”
Diana spun the bident and held the sharp prongs against Athena’s throat. “Then why are all of you so desperate to avoid your own destruction?” she countered. “Step aside. I won’t ask twice.”
“You have your father’s arrogance.”
“Then you should consider yourself lucky that I don’t take after my mother.” Diana whirled around and kicked Athena back. The goddess stumbled, but she caught her balance quickly. All of the light-hearted teasing left her in an instant and the warrior came to the surface. Seth attempted to pull his mate into the gateway, but Athena nearly severed his arm with her sword. Diana attacked in a blur of movement that was difficult for even his eyes to track. She used her magic to disorient Athena before striking with the bident. Athena’s sword was knocked from her grip. It skittered across the ground. As the goddess dove for her weapon, Diana leaped into the gateway with Seth.
Before Olympus faded, a sword sailed through the air and the sirens went silent.
They returned to the throne room. Diana scattered the feathers to close the gateway and dropped the bag of weapons into Giddeon’s arms. Seth collapsed to the floor. He wrapped his hands around the hilt of Athena’s sword and pulled it from his belly. Diana screamed for Balor and the youngest of his brothers barreled into the throne room. Seth coughed, wincing at the pain that coursed through his body. “What happened?” his brother asked.
“Athena.”
Worry was etched in Balor’s features as he helped Seth off of the floor. They limped into the kitchens and past the servants as they made their way into the makeshift apothecary that Balor always kept handy. He laid Seth on the table just as Diana entered the room. She gripped his hand and held it tight, fear evident in her gaze. “You can fix him, right?” she asked Balor. “You fixed Rina and the others before. I’ve seen it.”
“That was different…”
“How is it different?”
“Athena’s swords are enchanted.” Balor tossed a handful of black powder into the air and it fell around Seth in a perfect circle. He spoke in a language that wasn’t Ancient Greek nor any tongue Seth had ever heard. “I’m going to need you to leave, Diana.”
“No. I won’t lea
ve him.”
Seth brushed his hand along her jaw, pulling her attention back to him. “Do as he says. I’ll be fine. Come see me in an hour or so and we’ll talk about the wedding.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Make it four hours,” Balor grumbled.
Diana left the room hesitantly and shut the door with a dull thud. Seth looked his brother in the eyes and asked, “How much is this going to hurt?”
“It’ll make torture seem like a walk through the park.”
Chapter Twenty
Castle Black
Destiny Falls, Alaska
Diana wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the screaming stopped. It rang through the palace like an omen of death. She sat on the floor in the hallway with her knees hugged to her chest and Olivia by her side. Everyone attempted to comfort her, but Diana just wanted to know if Seth would survive. The short, innocuous-looking sword must have damaged him in ways that Balor hadn’t expected, for the healing took far more than four hours. Diana removed her jacket and waited for what felt like an eternity.
The silence was nearly as unsettling as the screams.
Balor opened the door and grabbed a rag from the kitchen to wipe the blood from his hands. He knelt in front of Diana and breathed a heavy sigh. “He’s alive. Athena’s aim was true and the wound was nearly irreparable, but I managed to fix most of the damage so that he could heal on his own. It’ll take time, so I put him into a trance.”
“For how long?”
“That depends on his abilities,” Balor answered. “But I won’t lie...he was hurt badly. It’ll take all of his strength to come back from this. I’ll have someone take him up to his room in a little while. You should eat something and rest.”
