Kismet Dating Agency Box Set: Fated Mates Romance

by Haley Weir

  Hades lifted a chalice filled with a sweet red wine. “Fairy tales tell humans that love happens to maidens who find a handsome prince during unlikely circumstances. But that kind of love is like being struck by lightning. Instantaneous. It’s over just as quickly as it starts, leaving behind a burning fire that’s sure to leave a scar. What Diana and Sethilos have is far rarer.”

  Diana felt a tear fall from her eyes. Seth reached out and brushed it away before it wetted her dress. She smiled from ear to ear as her father continued the ceremony. “Their journey has been filled with pain, heartache, and loss. It made them stronger. It bonded them in a way that’s far more powerful than anything in fate’s design. And it proved that us monsters can fall in love too,” Hades said. “They stand before you now as two souls to be united as one. They have chosen to continue down the path of unknown—hand in hand—to face an enemy we all must conquer....time. Let them be joined in light and darkness. I, Hades, God of Death, bless this union.”

  Seth accepted the chalice from Hades and took the first sip before he handed it to Diana.

  She closed her eyes, pressed her lips to the edge of the chalice, and drank slowly. Warmth spread through her belly and a subtle haze surrounded her vision. The crowd cheered with uproarious applause. Diana was pulled away from her husband and led into a room just off of the main chamber. A large pool of sacred waters was surrounded by lit candles. Diana was stripped out of her dress and bathed in the waters. Lilies floated on the surface, the scent permeating from the steam. She sipped more of the sweet wine and ducked under the water.

  One of the servants brought out a dress fashioned from fabric that was nearly transparent. It was as soft as silk, but lighter than air. The garment floated just above her skin and covered only enough of her body to avoid a scandal. She smiled at her reflection in an ornate mirror that hung upon the wall beside the pool and tucked a lily into her hair.

  ~*~

  Temple of Hades

  He walked out into the garden after the cleansing ceremony. His brothers stood in a circle around a tree that was barren of leaves. Its branches were blackened and gnarled by time, but there was a heartbeat at its center as if a living being rested inside. Seth placed his hand upon the bark and felt a thrum of energy that was similar to that of Diana’s power. “What is it?” he asked. Giddeon and the others looked just as confused as he was. Seth looked over at his father-in-law. Hades eyed them from a distance, but he made no move to approach them.

  "Balor, do the legends say anything about what happened to Persephone?" he asked.

  Giddeon looked between Seth and Balor before he glanced back at the tree. "No...you can't be thinking Persephone is the tree."

  Balor cleared his throat. Seth watched as his brother reached out and flattened his palm against the tree trunk. "The legends say that she was impaled like Ares, that a Titan had slain them with a spear. The weapon had been tainted...it kept them from respawning. None of the gods could save her."

  "But Ares healed."

  "He saved himself," Balor answered. "But by the time Demeter got to Persephone, she was too weak to heal. Hades appeared. No one knew what happened after that."

  "The tree."

  Madeu shook his head in disbelief. "Why would he save the woman he forced to live in the underworld half of her life?"

  "Hades said the stories about him weren't always true," Seth replied. "This is all pure speculation and—” the words died on Seth's tongue as the temple doors opened. Diana walked out into the garden in a dress of pure moonlight. Her hair was pinned atop of her head; small tendrils loosely framed her smiling face. She strolled along the path with her entourage of bridesmaids behind her.

  "What?" Diana asked bashfully. "What are you looking at?"

  "The most beautiful woman in creation." Seth leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Diana. Having you as a wife...it's a gift I will cherish forever."

  "Remember that when we get to Limbo?"

  He pulled back just slightly. "Limbo? Why would we go there?" Seth looked into Diana's eyes and saw the answer before she even replied to his question. "Diana! You chose to go to Limbo for our honeymoon?"

  "It's free, and I saw some lovely places while I was there," she argued. Diana wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head back to smile up at him. "We can make love on an obsidian beach or climb mountains."

  "Limbo is dangerous…"

  "Until there's peace, everywhere is dangerous. I just don't want it to stop us from living our lives." Diana opened her mouth to speak, but the tree at the center of the garden caught her attention. She dropped her arms and followed the path over to the mysterious tree. "Persephone?"

  "Wait...you can sense her?"

  Diana nodded. When she touched a low branch, green moss covered the blackened back, and new life flourished. Her magic filled the garden. Seth stood behind her, watching as she healed the tree. "She's still alive. Maybe now she can draw from this power and heal herself."

  "I'm sure she's grateful," Seth whispered. "That simple gesture is probably the most peace she's felt in centuries."

  "Diana?"

  They turned and looked upon Nemesis as she stood beside Hades in a light blue dress that fluttered in the wind. Seth had never seen the powerful deity so...happy. He knew that Nemesis had forsaken emotion to dole out retribution without biased judgment, but it seemed as if she had made an exception for her daughter's wedding day. He grabbed Diana's hand and walked her over to the goddess that had given her life.

  "What are you doing here?" Diana questioned.

  "Your father told me that today was very special for you. I thought I would come to show that I…forgive me. This is all still very new. I've never felt anything like this. It's all so overwhelming."

  Seth took pity on Nemesis and put his arm around Diana as he whispered, "She's trying to show empathy."

  "Emotions are complicated."

  Nemesis chuckled. "Indeed, they are." Pride had shone in her eyes—eyes that were like Diana's—and the goddess reached out as if she wanted to embrace her daughter. "You have grown into a beautiful, kind spirit, Diana. I'm proud that you have chosen love and light over power."

  "People say I get it from my father," Diana sniffled. She stepped into Nemesis's embrace. Seth looked on with a heavy heart. While it had been kind of Nemesis to open herself to Diana on such a monumental occasion, he knew Diana would suffer once the effects wore off.

  Hades tapped his shoulder.

  Seth regarded his father-in-law with respect and a touch of caution. Hades cleared his throat and handed Seth a key with a whistle on the end. The handle was carved into the body of a serpent and the whistle end of the key was the head. Two blood-red rubies filled the eyes. "It will allow you to summon my chariot whenever you need it. The key gives you access to the underworld and Limbo without restrictions."

  "You trust me with this?"

  "If I trust you with my daughter, then I've already handed you my soul," Hades snarled. "Misuse the key or break my daughter's heart, and I'll skin you alive and feed you to the demons."

  "I'll keep that in mind."

  "See that you do."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Limbo

  Waves crashed against the beach. Obsidian sand stretched as far as the eye could see, contrasting sharply with the pure blue waters of the sea. A carnelian sky was streaked with ebony and crimson, captured in a perpetual sunset that allowed the stars to peek behind the dark clouds. Diana stood with her feet in the water, feeling the wind against her cheeks as she looked out at the beautiful horizon. "The last time I was here, I was running for my life. Now, I'm married to the man of my dreams, and I finally know the truth about my parents."

  "And your brothers?"

  "Demigods. All of them," she chuckled. "When my father told me, it made my decision to change the pantheon much easier."

  Diana felt Seth's arms snake their way around her waist. He kissed the pulse point at her neck, and she sighed happ
ily. Time held no meaning...nothing existed beyond the two of them at that moment, and she had never been so happy. Seth pushed aside the strap of her dress, kissing the curve of her shoulder before he breathed her in deeply.

  "Like mint, honey, and lilies. I've always loved your scent," he whispered. "I never want to go a day without holding you in my arms."

  She spun in his arms, and Seth lowered them to the glittering black sands. He reclined onto his back, tugging her into his lap along the way. Diana straddled his hips. She felt the bulge of his erection pressing against the front of his toga and moaned. Her fingers untied the knot that kept his toga secured around his body. Smooth, tanned skin stretched across flexing muscles that twitched beneath her palm. The warmth of Seth's body sank into her bones and chased away the unnatural cold that lingered in the underworld. She licked her lips, leaning forward to slide her tongue along the seam of his mouth. He opened slightly, welcoming her inside for a deep, sensual kiss. Diana curled her toes and shivered when she felt his hands on her body. Fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress, caressing the succulent flesh of her butt and thighs.

  Seth arched beneath her as she scraped her nails lightly down his torso. That big, sculpted body undulated upon the sands, grinding against her until Diana's control snapped. "Make love to me, Seth." Her fingers gripped the hem of her dress and lifted the garment over her head. He sucked in a harsh breath and stroked between her folds with his thumb in a touch that was meant to explore as much as it had been meant to tease. Diana chased that wonderful friction with a maddening lust.

  She used a wave of power to pin Seth down. His hands and feet sank into the obsidian sand. Diana kissed her way down his abdomen. She pushed aside the fabric of his toga and kissed Seth's hipbone. He bucked his hips instinctively, causing her to chuckle. Her eyes locked onto his gaze as she lowered her mouth onto his rigid member. He tasted of salt and clean skin, filling her head with tantalizing pheromones that tickled her senses. Diana flicked her tongue over the slit in his crown and watched as he clenched his jaw to keep the sounds at bay.

  "Let me hear you," she moaned against him; the vibrations caused his eyes to roll into the back of his head.

  Seth growled, and it set her blood on fire. His eyes flashed, allowing her a glimpse at the bear beneath the carefully structured mask of a man. She wanted him to lose control. Diana took a deep breath and swallowed him down. She gagged a little, but she quickly found a rhythm that turned her lover into a babbling mess.

  "Diana!" He fought against her hold on him, rocking his hips until he was on the brink of rapture. She pulled off of his length and gasped for breath. The impish grin on her face forced a groan past his throat. Diana climbed on top of his massive body, placing the tip of his erection at the entrance to her most sacred place. She sank down onto the thick, throbbing member until her body protested. Each beat of his heart flowed through her. Diana placed her hands on his chest and lifted herself up before impaling herself once again. Seth hissed, glaring up at her with barely contained desire.

  She felt the exact moment when his own magic took over. He snapped his hips and rolled until Diana was on her back. Seth pounded into her at a pace that sent white-hot thrills of pleasure and pain coursing through her body. Spasms caused her muscles to clench and squeeze around him. Seth tossed his head back and let out a deafening roar that caused Diana to squirm beneath him. Glowing eyes stared down at her. Claws sank into the sand for purchase, and Diana was forced to wrap her legs around him to keep from moving across the beach with the strength of his thrusts.

  A scream broke through the serene silence of Limbo. Her body flowered open, allowing the last few inches of his length to fit within her. A rush of moisture flowed between her thighs. Diana embraced her mate as he filled her deliciously aching womb with his seed. Harsh, ragged breaths puffed in her ear. She smiled to herself and held him tight. "I think I could get used to this side of you."

  "I was afraid that I might hurt you if I was too rough."

  "I liked it," she giggled. "Seeing you lose control like that is...invigorating."

  "Teasing me might get you into trouble."

  "Well, if you're the one handing out the punishment, then I think I'll take my chances." She kissed along his jaw and nibbled his earlobe. "I think I'm even ready to go again…"

  Seth pushed off of the ground and knelt between her splayed thighs. "Not until I've had my fill. I've been dying to taste you again, Diana."

  ~*~

  Castle Black

  Destiny Falls, Alaska

  Seth wasn't sure how much time had passed since they left for their honeymoon, but he was reluctant to return to the world of the living. Limbo had been an eye-opening experience. He found clarity in ways he never expected. Diana had made a wise decision for their little holiday. The chariot slowed to a stop before it landed near the garage. Seth climbed out first and hurried around to the other side to help Diana down from the seat. The demonic steeds tossed their manes before heading back to Hades.

  Madeu opened the gate to the palace with a worrisome expression on his face. "You two arrived just in time. Giddeon has called a meeting."

  "Great," Diana snorted. "What now?"

  "The Sword of Zeus...it's been stolen."

  They raced into the castle and headed for the study. Everyone looked shaken by the events that had taken place—well, everyone except Balor. He looked mildly amused if anything. Seth set down their luggage and walked over to his brothers. "What the hell happened? How did someone steal the sword?" he asked. Giddeon hadn't answered. Instead, he handed Seth a written note that was distinctly feminine.

  Diana peered over his shoulder and read the note out loud. "I got tired of sitting around waiting for the snow to swallow me up, so I'm heading for the Caribbean. Sorry to disappoint you, but I just couldn't resist taking something with me as a token of our friendship. Consider it compensation for all of the mental scarring I've endured having to hear you fellas bang my friends and all that. Love, Olivia Knight. P.S. I think I make a pretty good pirate."

  Seth blinked at the note several times, trying to figure out whether it was some sort of joke or if Olivia had actually stolen the sword. "You checked the armory?"

  "Six times," Madeu answered. "She managed to slip past all of the guards and not set off any of the wards on the door."

  "Supernatural."

  Seth and his brothers turned and looked at Rina in confusion. "Pardon?"

  "Olivia has binge watched every occult or paranormal series on television since the nineties like a hundred times. She absorbs that stuff like a sponge to water. Hell, she knew about all of you before the rest of us." Rina paced across the floor. "The problem is...if Olivia doesn't want to be found, then we will never catch up to her."

  "If she has the Sword of Zeus, then that means she's a target," Caleb said. "Olivia could be in danger."

  Balor snorted, catching them all off guard. He shrugged his shoulders and lit a cigarette that smelled of dragonberries and elfroot. "If she got past all of us, a bunch of guards, and magical wards created by Nemesis, then she'll be fine. In the meantime, I think I'm well overdue for a vacation myself."

  Seth watched his brother leave. "He might have a point. Olivia is our friend. If she has the sword, then we have to assume she won't use it for anything bad."

  "Olivia laughs like an evil villain when she steals Damien's left shoes," Casey pointed out. "If anything, I'd say Zeus should be afraid of her and not the other way around. She might torment him by tossing a beehive into Olympus or something."

  A loud, thunderous laugh shook the palace. Heads snapped in Hades' direction as the God of Death collapsed into a fit of what Seth could only describe as giggles. He nudged his wife and whispered, "We're going to need a family therapist to get through the holidays."

  Epilogue

  The Red Herring

  Caribbean Sea

  Olivia Knight sipped from a glass of champagne as the cruise ship sailed across the ocean. Tourists dr
essed in cheesy pirate-themed costumes danced under the stars along the deck. Olivia snickered under her breath and struck a pose as she noticed a few gentlemen eyeing her from a distance. The wind blew, carrying an alluring scent that was distinctly male. She cocked her hip and peered over her shoulder.

  Balor.

  "So, is it a coincidence that we ended up on the same boat? Or is Giddeon having you track me?"

  "You stole the Sword of Zeus and disappeared. Eventually, my brother will send someone after you, but it's not me. Coincidence or not, I'm on vacation."

  "The young prince of a shifter kingdom can go on vacation?" she asked. "I would have thought this pointless war would be taking up all of your time."

  "I've always been a rebel." A stream of purple smoke slithered from between his lips. Balor leaned into her personal space and gave a roguish smile. "They won't admit it, but you impressed my brothers. Stealing from the armory and sneaking out of a well-guarded castle filled with supernatural beings is...well, it should be impossible."

  Olivia's wild red curls blew in the wind as the spray of the salty sea dampened her skin. "I've never believed in impossibilities. The fact that you can shift into a giant bear should be impossible, and yet I've seen it with my own eyes."

  "Why'd you do it?"

  "Because I went on vacation with my friends a few years ago and my life has never been the same," she said with a shrug. "One was destined to marry a king, another was a reincarnated warrior that turned out to be the prophet for the God of Wealth, and the other one is the daughter of Hades and Nemesis. I felt like I needed to take my life back."

  "And stealing a weapon of mythos was your idea of doing that?" Balor rested his hip against the railing and looked down at Olivia with mischief in his eyes. "Most people get a hobby or a pet."