by Haley Weir
She flipped onto her feet and tore a pouch from her belt. Olivia tossed a handful of black powder into the air. Balor recognized it immediately as the powder created a perfect circle around the goddess. Hecate screamed towards the sky. The wind howled, whipping the goddess’s hair around as she was trapped by Olivia’s spell. “You think this will hold me?”
“I just need to buy some time.”
Olivia trembled slightly and teetered off balance.
Balor clenched his jaw so hard that the muscles in his neck protested. Olivia clapped her hands together before pulling them apart slowly. A strange fog rolled between her fingers, cascading like a fountain onto the ground. She lunged towards Hecate as the Sword of Zeus appeared in her hand. Balor pounded his fists against the barrier, but it was useless. Olivia skewered Hecate with the sword, shoved her out of the circle, and impaled her against a tree.
“W-what did you do?” Hecate stammered as her eyes widened in horror.
“You’re the Goddess of Magic. I assumed you’d recognize a bit of witchcraft when you saw it,” Olivia snickered. “This is the Sword of Zeus. A little birdy told me that it can reap the powers of a god and give them to whoever wields it. Release Balor…or I’ll kill you.”
Balor had never seen genuine fear in Hecate’s eyes. “Do as she says! Morpheus has tainted me already. He can see through my eyes, Hecate. If I become his vessel, there won’t be anyone to stop him from coming after you and the other Olympians.”
Lightning crackled along the blade of the sword, causing Hecate to thrash against the tree. Black sludge oozed from between her lips and dripped down her chin. Olivia twisted the sword and leaned closer to the goddess. Balor couldn’t hear the words exchanged between them, but the look of pure terror that overcame Hecate sent a rush of hope coursing through him. He pushed against the barrier until it cracked like glass, shattering into thin coils of smoke that blew away in the wind. Balor rushed over to Olivia just as she pulled the sword from Hecate. “You’re free,” the goddess gasped. “I relieve you of your oath, Basilius.”
"Hecate—”
"GET OUT!"
The wind picked up. Leaves twirled around them, blinding Balor momentarily until Olivia pulled him out of the vortex. They stumbled onto the warm sands of the beach. He shut his eyes and basked in the soft spray of the sea that dampened his skin. “I...I’m free.”
“Not quite,” Olivia chuckled. “I don’t think I can stop the voices that cause you pain.”
He shot up from the sand and lifted her off of her feet. “You’ve given me more than I ever could have hoped for! I should have believed in you, Olivia. I’m sorry it took me so long to see that you were all I ever needed. You deserve so much better than me, but I’m yours if you still want to be my mate.”
“I just tricked a goddess for you! Of course I want to be your mate. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” She kissed the tip of his nose and smiled. “Besides, I don’t think anyone else can deal with your mood swings or your psychotic family.”
“Our psychotic family.”
Chapter Seventeen
Silver Shores
Happiness was a dangerous thing for Olivia Knight. She strutted into the beautiful mansion while whistling a joyous melody. Balor still hadn't snapped out of his shock after she made quick work out of Hecate. Olivia had waited until the moment she knew he trusted her before she revealed the sword. "Keep trying to figure it out, but you'll never get it," she giggled. The furrow in his brow made it obvious that he was deep in his mind, trying to piece together where the sword could have come from. "The sword is safe, and that's all that matters. Stop worrying about it."
"You don't have to tell me how you did it, but where is it?"
Olivia sighed and smoothed out the wrinkles in Balor's forehead with her thumb. "When Diana returned from Limbo, it gave me a rather brilliant idea. Limbo is just a series of realms in the Underworld that no deity has control over. They're completely neutral territory that's hard to navigate."
"And?"
"And I found a map," she revealed. "One that, thankfully, came with instructions."
"You have a guide to Limbo, and that's where you're keeping the sword?" Balor blinked down at her in confusion.
"I used to have a map."
"What happened to it?"
She shifted on her heels and glanced around sheepishly. "Once you sort of memorize the map…you become the map. Hades is the only deity with actual doors to Limbo. I am a living gateway to the other dimensions of the universe. Feels pretty badass."
"And you can summon the sword at will?" Balor questioned.
"Yep." Olivia headed into the kitchen without further explanation. She opened the freezer and scowled when she found it empty. Any civilized household should at least have ice cream, she thought to herself. An unnatural craving settled deep in the pit of her stomach, but she couldn't figure out what exactly it was. Balor eased beside her, and the overwhelming hunger amplified. Olivia's gaze snapped over to Balor, and she saw an answering need in his eyes. "Is this the mate thing?"
He walked towards her until her back hit the counter. "It has to be. I've never felt anything like this, Olivia." Balor placed his hands on her hips and leaned in to kiss her, but he jerked back before their lips connected. Olivia lifted her shirt as a searing pain scorched along her abdomen. She glanced down at the place where he had touched her. There it was. A heart with an infinity symbol had been branded into her flesh—but, unlike the mate marks his brothers and her friends wore, Olivia's mark had a vine of Deadly Nightshade wrapped around the heart.
"Do you have one?"
Balor tore off his shirt and searched his torso, but he found nothing. Just then, Olivia saw his face contort into an expression of pain. She took him by the shoulder and spun him around. The bear tattooed onto his spine wore the mark as clear as day. Tears stung Olivia's eyes, and she pressed a loving kiss to the mark. "It's there, isn't it?" he asked with a touch of wonder. "You're my mate. It really is you."
"It feels…"
"Yeah." Balor turned around and picked Olivia up off of her feet. She let out a little squeak as he bolted for the stairs. Styx and Adonis shared a look of annoyance as they passed by the living room. "Don't interrupt us unless the world is literally coming to an end," Balor tossed over his shoulder as he sprinted up the staircase.
Olivia bounced in his arms as she dissolved into a fit of giddy laughter. She had always feared that her place in the world of shifters and immortals would forever be unknown. But she was a Titan goddess, the Guardian of Limbo, a master thief, and the mate of Basilius "Balor" Blackheart. Olivia had friends and a makeshift family reminiscent of the Island of Misfit Toys. She had a home and a place where she belonged. Those three little words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she dared not speak them out loud. Not yet. Her heart soared as Balor kicked open the door to the main bedchamber at the end of the hall.
“Is this really happening?” Olivia chuckled.
Balor tossed her onto the bed with a playful growl and pounced. “If I go one more second without kissing you, I might die.”
Her next breath was stolen by Balor as he kissed her with an intensity that she had only heard about when gossiping with her friends. Olivia thought for a moment that he might devour her, but she planted her feet on the bed and kissed him back with the same passion. Balor gripped the front of her shirt and tore it down the center. Clumps of fabric fell around her arms before she shook them off. Olivia shoved him onto his knees and climbed him like a tree. His wide shoulders were perfect for her to balance herself as she wiggled out of her jeans. Balor made quick work of her sneakers and tossed them to the floor.
She clawed at his robes, peeling them back so that she could feel his bare skin.
“These pants need to come off right now!” Olivia kissed and licked every inch of Balor that was exposed. He was addictive. The sounds that fell from his lips spurred her on even more. She bit down on his hip bone, and he shoved his pants down his
long legs. Olivia helped him with his boots before they tumbled back onto the bed in a heap of limbs. She didn’t know where he ended and she began.
~*~
Silver Shores
Each touch of her hand took away more of his pain. Balor was consumed by Olivia. The way his brothers had described the mating bond paled in comparison to what he felt for her. She filled in the cracks of his broken existence. Every emotion in her eyes pulled him deeper under her spell, and he went willingly. Balor submitted to the warmth that spread within him as he fit his body with hers. And when she gripped his member with spit-slick fingers, he trembled from head to toe.
Balor shook his head and flipped her on top of him. "I want you to ride me," he gasped. "I need to see you take your pleasure. You're my goddess, Olivia. Let me worship you." His hands cupped her shapely hips and lifted her. Olivia aimed his rigid length at her opening, licking her lips in anticipation. She was captivating. Balor kept his eyes locked on her face even when the bulbous head of his erection nudged between her dripping folds. He held his breath. Olivia sank down the first few inches, and her thighs quivered. Balor held her tight, supporting her even as he allowed her to take control.
"It's been a while…" The sweet sigh that left her lips made him twitch against the snug walls of her channel. Balor rocked his hips gently as she worked her way down to the very last inch. Her face contorted into an expression of both discomfort and pleasure. Olivia rocked her hips, grinding down on Balor as she tossed her head back with a husky little moan that made his eyes roll into the back of his head. She braced her hands on his chest and lifted herself up with a little shimmy before impaling herself on his length once more. "You feel so good inside of me."
Balor smacked her bottom with a cheeky smirk. "Come on. Ride me." He reached down and toyed with her clit until she picked up the pace. Balor met each of her thrusts with a snap of his hips, stroking her as deep as her body would allow. He gulped down mouthfuls of air flavored with her pheromones. The slick slide of her fluttering walls along his throbbing member was maddening. Balor listened to the sounds of their bodies connecting and growled. "It's like you're sucking me in deeper. Such a greedy little—oh! Fuck!"
Something snapped inside of him. A flood of adrenalin ignited his instincts to mate, claim, mark...possess. Balor stood up from the bed with Olivia in his arms. He slammed her against the wall and gave a heaving thrust that seated him entirely in her depths. The startled cry of pleasure that rang in his ear was all the encouragement he needed. Olivia dug her nails into his shoulders and held on tight. "Do it," she shouted. "Claim me!"
He swelled inside of her, throbbing and pulsing with the ravenous beat of his heart. Balor pummeled his mate into the wall. A flood of liquid desire dripped from her core and bathed him in her love. Ecstasy coiled around them like a thick fog. Balor's eyes flashed. The primal hunger inside of him broke free and pinned her down with the force of his brutal thrusts. She screamed in pure carnal satisfaction as her body clamped down around him, locking them together. The tight, moist heat of Olivia's femininity pulled the orgasm from his body. He bit down on her shoulder as she milked every drop of seed from his loins until he collapsed to the floor. Olivia's knees buckled, and she fell to the floor beside him.
Their bodies glistened with sweat as the sun set just beyond the curtains. Balor pressed a kiss to Olivia's forehead and mumbled, "I think we should do that like a thousand more times."
"That was...I don't know how to describe it," Olivia panted against his shoulder. "I felt the exact moment the bond was completed. There was this sensation that...I don't know. Am I making any sense?"
"No." Balor chuckled as Olivia playfully slapped his arm. "But I understand. I expected something completely different. The way my brothers talked about the bond made me afraid of what would happen if I ever took that leap, but I didn't feel any of that fear just now. I knew we were meant for each other, and I wanted it."
"Even though we risk losing each other?" She sat up and looked him in the eyes. "Zeus wants this world to end so he can rebuild a new world in his image. Fighting to save everyone might end with us—”
Balor silenced her with a soft peck on the lips. "Don't do that to yourself, Olivia. I have no regrets. You're my mate, lover, my best friend…I have everything I need right here in my arms."
"Your magic from Hecate will start to fade soon." She brushed the fringe of hair out of his eyes. "I'll have to focus on my training if I'm going to be your conduit."
"Then we better get started on round two," he chuckled before rolling on top of her. "Neither of us is leaving this room until there's nothing left in my body to give. And even then...I might just distract you with my mouth." He kissed a trail down to her breasts. "And even then, I might spend days between your thighs."
"Promises, promises."
Balor nipped at her flesh teasingly before he dipped his tongue into her navel. "A vow, my goddess. A vow to worship at the altar of your body until I'm engraved in your senses."
Olivia arched her back with a gasp. "That's some mighty big talk. Sure you can back it up? I might just wear you out."
"Talk is not the only thing about me that's big," Balor retorted.
Olivia laughed as he made his way down her body. "That was sooo cheesy! I can't believe you said that."
Chapter Eighteen
Castle Black
Destiny Falls, Alaska
Lightning struck the ground with a deafening roar. A flash of light transported Zeus from Olympus to the forest beyond the walls of Castle Black. Hermes, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, and Aries stepped out of the lightning rift after Zeus. Storm clouds rolled across the sky, shrouding the land in darkness. A wolf howled from the wall, and Zeus smiled to himself. "They know we're here. I don't see why we should bother knocking." He reared his arm back before thrusting his palm towards the main gate to the palace. An explosion of lightning burned a hole through the center of the large doors. Molten steel dripped from the opening as Zeus stepped into the courtyard.
A male with long, straight hair and the eyes of Samael jumped from a tall balcony before landing just a few paces away from the Olympians. He bared his teeth at Zeus in a show of defiance that made the King of The Gods chuckle. "You must be Madeu," he snorted. "Oh, I've heard all about you...and your mate. Damien seems to have some very powerful allies in very low places."
"Leave my mate out of this. If you’ve come to request an audience with Giddeon, I'm afraid you'll have to make an appointment. He's occupied."
Zeus's arm shot out just in time as he stopped Apollo from tearing the male to pieces. "Well, the Shifter King will have to make an exception." He lifted his hand and signaled Hephaestus. The God of Fire and Forges set the palace ablaze with one gesture of his finger. Pitiful shifters raced about to put out the flames, but they were unsuccessful. "We are not here to talk. I've waited long enough. You mortal pests have infested this planet long enough."
Hermes blew into his horn, summoning the other Olympians to Earth. The heavens tore open with a great shudder that rippled across the ground. Trees were leveled in the blink of an eye. Madeu roared, and Guards attacked Zeus and the others. Zeus manifested a lightning bolt, intending to strike down the disobedient shifter, but Artemis blocked his bolt with her dagger. "Run!" she shouted to the shifters. Madeu and his people fled into the castle. Zeus grabbed Artemis by the throat. Her body dangled in the air like a puppet on a string.
"You will pay for this, daughter. Your insolence has gone far enough," Zeus snarled. "Atë, bring down their walls. Apollo, lock your sister up before I feed her to the Titans. The rest of you, follow me if you wish to rise in the new world." He stormed the castle with unbridled rage that had crumbled greater civilizations. Zeus tore the doors of the castle off of their hinges and sent a shockwave of electric energy coursing through the stone beneath his feet. Shrill cries filled the air. Atë snapped her fingers with a wicked chuckle, and the walls began to crack as if they were made of fine porcelain. A bellow
of rage met Zeus's ears, and he strolled into the throne room. Debris fell from the muraled ceiling, dusting his bronzed shoulder in white powder. Zeus cast his icy gaze upon Giddeon Black with an amused smirk curled on his lips.
“How many Olympians stand with you?” Giddeon asked.
"Enough."
"Less than half by my count. And your army of demons?"
"Don't you worry about them," Zeus replied. "They'll inhabit bodies soon enough. Humans are easy prey."
"They might surprise you. Besides, I've been gathering my own forces." Giddeon walked down the platform where his throne sat high above the others. He pushed his way in front of the guards and stood beside Madeu. "I think you'll find that some of the gods have chosen not to side with you in this fight. Others want no part in this at all. There's still time to put an end to this before we both do something that we can't undo."
"Enough talk, Giddeon. The Shifters named you as their king for a reason, and the gods allowed it, but we can take your crown away just as quickly."
"Prometheus is after something, Zeus," the Shifter King said as he stood toe to toe with the Father of Olympus. "Something that has you running scared. I bet Cronus and the other Titans are just itching to get free, and the only reason Prometheus worked with you is that you offered it to him first. So, what is it? Some rusty relic?"
"A power beyond your comprehension. One that would destroy even a Titan if they were unworthy."
"The Divine Blade." Giddeon squared his shoulders as his expression became more guarded. "We wanted to forge one ourselves, but...one already exists, doesn't it?"
