Abigail was a hell of a woman, and like my twins and Katerina for that matter she didn’t take or want orders out of bed. Unlike Katerina, she did want to be controlled, ordered, and manhandled in bed, but not in a dominating way like my monsters, only in a cherishing way.

  “Is that something you want or need help with, we’re here to support you.”

  Abigail bit her lip, “I have the seed money I need already, but I wouldn’t mind help getting it all set up. Of course, when we true mate, it will all become ours either way.”

  Katerina said, “I can help you with the business end of the setup.”

  I said, “You’ll be separate from me and Katerina as far as jobs. The important part is we’re all close in general location to pop in on each other at times, but that’s no reason to be alone. I’ll miss them, but we could probably do a monster swap every other day, and you’ll be able to get to know them during the workday. They’ll be a help in setting up and stuff like that as well.”

  Abigail looked at my monsters and bit her lip nervously.

  Hali said, “Master is right. We’ll miss being by his side all day every day, but we’re also your, each other’s, and Katerina’s mates too. With so many of us it makes sense. We almost have to leverage our workday to grow closer as family and handle our relationship growth, otherwise there won’t be enough time in the day for all of us to maintain six relationships each.”

  Lynn said, “It will help keep us secure as a family as well.”

  “How?” I asked curiously.

  Zarya answered, “Lynn and I can remain one mind at a tenth of a mile distance easily. So if anything dangerous comes up the other can inform you right away, or inform Abigail and whatever other monster mate is with us at the nursery that day if you’re threatened here.”

  Lynn grinned and picked up the ball, “Even better, we both get to spend all day in both locations, since we share everything. The only thing we won’t share that way is full physical sensations, so we’ll still swap out daily,” and Zarya finished, “Maris and Hali can also swap out.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Abigail was practically glowing as she nodded. Obviously, she’d been worried my monsters wouldn’t want to leave my side, but that initial reserve at the idea dropped away when she saw how willing and excited that they were about it.

  Maris said, “Hali and I can help as well, and maybe swap out every other day? We’ll still have equal time with master and Abigail during the day, and equal time with Lynn and Zarya as well. If we swapped out every day, we’d only have time with one of them.”

  Hali nodded, “True, that leaves us, Maris, since we’ll always be apart during the day. But we can catch up in the evenings or even go for night swims together. I can survive just fine on an hour or two less sleep a night, and I can spend an hour or two alone with you while the others sleep.”

  Maris grinned shyly, then gave Hali a lingering kiss, “Sounds perfect, mate.”

  Abigail said, “It totally does,” then she turned to the twins and raised an eyebrow, “but share everything?”

  I replied, “Family secret, so please don’t talk about it, not even to our allies. Their minds are joined, and they share all thoughts and emotions, even moods. It makes them wicked in battle as a team. That’s also why they even style their hair the same and wear identical clothes. In a lot of ways, they are the same person. They can even share sensations, though that’s not full on and just a shadow of sensations. So, welcome to the family, Abby.”

  I kissed Katerina, then Abigail. Then my monster girls came to collect kisses, not just from me, but from Katerina and Abigail as well.

  I was almost overwhelmed in that moment, with how much love I felt for all of them. Of course, with Abigail I only felt a warm affection of sorts, but my other five mates overwhelmed me sometimes. The fierce love and protection I felt for them, and the need to cherish and quench their needs. It was powerful, and a little insane at times.

  It was also more than enough. I couldn’t imagine handling more than six mates, seven of us in total including me. Even just then, with three of them needing to be touched, while the other three wanted to be touching me, there was no way to accommodate all of them at once when we were together. It was something I had to manage.

  Of course, that need to touch and be touched could also be quenched by each other to an extent, so it wasn’t like they were suffering. It was a small thing, but the blessing made me want to fix it. No big deal, just something I had to live with.

  I also felt a fierce anger, toward that bitch, Hades, and Hephaestus. I’d do anything for my mates, and I’d fight fiercely and smarter next time. Obviously, my screw ups in the first battle had been all about me being spoiled by my level of power. Every other obstacle I’d taken down hard and immediately, but Hades’ daughter would require reserve, a wearing down, and vigilance to defeat.

  My life was amazing, and I’d do what I had to in order to preserve it. It was that simple. Sure, there was a chance for death, but my heart and mind railed against that, and I’d do everything I could to ensure that didn’t happen. Confidence, without arrogance or impatience, was the key to defeating that true threat to my life.

  Abigail said, “Families? Children I mean?”

  “We should wait until we’re all in love, I think. Plus, this threat and rebuilding the house. Are we going to do it together at the same time? I think I’m ready, and our monster mates, but Katerina wants to fully settle down first?”

  Katerina said, “I don’t know. We could all true mate in say a month from now, all of us together in all directions I mean. Then just me and you could forgo the traditional first baby? It’s not a requirement, and that way I can be sure of you, and not hold up the rest of us from starting that family together.”

  Abigail pointed out, “The house will be full of children either way.”

  Katerina bit her lip, “I don’t mind that, and it will tempt me to give in sooner, but being pregnant isn’t conducive to giving my female clients happy endings or my half-settled lifestyle. Outside of at home, where I can help take care of all of yours.”

  I nodded, “Whatever you want, love. If it’s too tempting then I’ll be happy to accommodate you, or wait.”

  Katerina bit her lip, then kissed me passionately.

  “Thanks, but it’s just what I have to deal with. Being halfway settled means my needs and desires will be pulling me in two different directions for the next three to ten years. That’s fine, and more than worth the trouble, to have you and the others, Evan.”

  I nodded, “I think the family is complete at this point. I can’t imagine adding a seventh mate.”

  Katerina grinned, “Levi did.”

  Abigail asked, “What about Allison, when she settles down. Katerina told me what naughty debauchery you two got up to together yesterday. I can’t imagine you won’t want her, after growing a loving friendship over ten or so years, with that much chemistry that won’t ever go away.”

  I grimaced, “She’s compatible with Levi, and from what I can tell they want each other. I think she even loves him more than a bit. Besides, I’m more than happy with just being her friend and ally.”

  Katerina shook her head reluctantly, and said softly, “It might not be that simple, Evan. Ten years is a long time. Just be her friend, and you two can continue to tease each other without crossing that line. Build that friendship, and we’ll see what happens when it happens.”

  I frowned, “What do you know?”

  Katerina shrugged, “She does have a thing for Levi, but she has a major thing for you too. You know that. The stronger your friendship grows the harder it is for her to resist, and she’s having a ball with that part of things, but she’s also loving the friendship, respect, and admiration you show her. The time you invest in her because you like her company and not how good she is at sucking dick. That kind of thing has a powerful effect on us sluts, because it’s such a rare thing.

  “Still, it’s pointless to speculate. It’s a long way away, and circumstances and life changes. I guess what puts what you said about Levi most in doubt to me, is that Levi is a huge flirt with her but that’s it. He puts all of his relationship efforts into his seven mates, and to him Allison is currently just a flirty acquaintance at work that might wind up in his bed in ten years. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, because he respects her too without looking down on her. But clearly, at the same time, he’s keeping her at arm’s length for that duration and not admiring her while spending effort and time, and building a friendship.”

  She turned and looked at me in the eyes, “While you’ve gone out of your way to befriend her, invested time and emotions in her, and you treat her like she’s valuable to you as an ally and friend now. For her mind and warm sense of presence. Like I said, that kind of thing has a profound effect on Aphrodite’s sluts, I know you swept me off my feet the same way.”

  I hadn’t considered that last point at all, even as a possibility, but I also wasn’t going to count on it or even plan on it. I just wanted to be her friend and ally, for her company. Friendship was the goal. The flirting and the insane pushing of boundaries yesterday was just a part of that because of what she was.

  I nodded, and I pushed it out of my head. It was pointless to speculate, and either way I’d have her friendship. I also knew that lust part was harder on her than it was on me. Ironically, it was also a compliment for me, and how she felt about my company. Because us not fucking was all about me and my choice. Allison could easily fuck me every day and keep that sex divorced from our friendship, it was my jealousy and possessiveness that would blow up our friendship if we ever started to love each other physically.

  It told me my friendship satisfied that deep need in her for a true platonic friendship in her life, to feel valued for who she was, and not for how good a fuck she was. Otherwise she wouldn’t bother with dealing with that temptation. She’d have just seduced me, fucked my brains out for a few weeks to get it out of her system, then moved on when I started to get clingy.

  My six mates, and my friendship with Allison, Levi, and all of Levi’s mates were enough to focus on, in the present. Ten years was too far away to worry about, who knew if we’d live the next ten hours, in our violent world.

  I frowned, “Anything else, or we have a plan?”

  Abigail said, “We do. For now, I’ll just stay here with you all, until I have the land and can start building. It’ll also keep me near Katerina so we can work on laying out the business side of things before we even get started.”

  “Sounds perfect to me.”

  Chapter Eight

  We all wound up going out to lunch that day, and it was one of the rare times Katerina joined us and swapped lunch hours with Allison. It was the me and my six mates, plus Levi and his seven mates since apparently the goddess of love was currently babysitting. That thought kind of blew my mind, a goddess babysitting, but it was what it was. Besides the fifteen of us, both Jack and Shannon were there as well. Needless to say, the restaurant had needed to put three six person tables together to give us enough room.

  It was also a lunch council of sorts, which is why we were all there at the same time. Not to mention Allison’s point yesterday, that Levi and I should stick together until this was decided either way.

  Jack didn’t waste any time, once we’d gotten our food, he shared the news he had for us which had prompted this joint lunch. It was my magic that kept our words from travelling to human ears.

  “The good news is our enemy is here on this plane for the duration of her mission. I found her about two hours ago. It looks like the blacksmith and my father aren’t the only gods involved, though I think the only investment the third god has is harboring and hosting our enemy. She’s at a mansion east of the city, owned by the queen’s children.”

  Levi grunted and rolled his eyes, “We don’t have to wonder why she got herself involved. The bitch hates my guts and has been a thorn in my side ever since she failed to kill me.”

  It also rounded things out, one god for each of us, all of them focused on seeing one of us dead specifically and all of us just because… Well, because they were a bag of dicks, I supposed.

  Jack nodded, “I agree, no doubt it’s just room and board, since she made the promise not to seek your life actively. Regardless, I think it’s time to go on the offensive. We just need a plan.”

  Levi said, “This afternoon soon enough? I think that’s as soon as we can all get free. I assume it will just be us three with Janice, Shannon, Bonnie, Elena, Hali, and Maris?”

  Jack grunted, “Agreed, no reason to take along our non-combatants.”

  Levi added, “No matter how it goes, we burn that bitch’s mansion down, if nothing else she deserves it for getting involved.”

  Jack chuckled, “Fine with me, in fact let’s make that our opening move. Bonnie, Janice, Hali, and Evan can use magic to set the place on fire. Elena and Shannon will take down the ten Empusa in and out of the house. I’ll take out the queen’s child if she gets involved, or I’ll let her flee if she doesn’t.”

  “What about Maris?”

  Levi said, “She’ll help where needed for that initial phase, or she can deal with any surprises we haven’t accounted for. For all we know they take all their monsters for a walk in the afternoons. I also want her to conserve as much of her power as possible to aid me in my electrical attacks of Jack’s sister.”

  Jack grimaced, “Don’t remind me I’m related to that murderous daddy’s girl.”

  Levi grinned unrepentantly, and I chuckled.

  Jack sighed, and said accusingly, “Bitches,” we both laughed, and even Jack chuckled before he continued, “Okay, I’ll keep shields around everyone but our three melee people. But I will fly them in with us. The dead carrying them will have orders to drop them in an equidistant triad formation twenty feet away from our target, and at that point my moving shields will leave them. So that way once our quarry runs outside, she’ll be almost immediately surrounded no matter her chosen exit point. My dead can move extremely quickly. Evan, Janice, and Hali will go to work, while I hit her with petrified spears, you and Maris hit her with water and lightning, and Bonnie, Elena, and Shannon work support and defense like we planned out last night.”

  I nodded, “I can get onboard with that plan.”

  Levi said, “Me too, unless someone has a suggestion?”

  Jack said, “It’s also worth noting Levi’s worry about monsters isn’t an issue. It isn’t the queen’s main estate in the area, and there is no monster stable there. It’s not exactly small, but it’s only a ten-bedroom mansion on about six acres.”

  Janice asked, “Might it not be better to try and take her inside the house, off the ground?”

  Jack replied, “I thought about that. First, she sleeps with the damned weapon and shield against her, and she carries it around in the house, so we can’t take her by surprise that way. Secondly, we’re prepared for the exploding ground scenario with Shannon. Inside the house is too random, and we could be surprised. Copper pipes and wire, not to mention the appliances. Plus, the floor will break up fast with earth coming up under it and further endanger your footing. At some point the house could even collapse on you.

  “Better to face her outside, where we know what to expect. Third, I can’t hit her with petrified spears from a distance, nor can Levi and Maris get her with lightning inside a room. It will also limit your three on one approach to two on one at best, and one on one if she picks a corner to fight in so you can’t surround her.”

  Janice blew out a breath, “All good points, and not worth the tradeoff of her being separated from the ground. Never mind.”

  “What are we going to do with the artifacts?”

  Levi said, “Destroy them. That will hopefully make our blacksmith back off and not help Jack’s father with his next stupid plan. He really values his creations, like children.”

  “How will we do that, when power can’t touch them?”

  Jack waved a hand, “They will for the wielder. Shannon can claim them by being the first to pick them up after our quarry dies, and then she can drop them in a volcano with her power. Magma will destroy them.”

  “Like the one ring, but without the temptation.”

  I got a few chuckles out of that one.

  Shannon snorted, “Speak for yourselves, I’d kick all your asses with that sword and shield.”

  Jack snickered, “You’d kick my ass without it, gorgeous.”

  Shannon grinned, “Think so, mate?”

  Jack nodded, “No doubt. My shields don’t work on you, remember? I think we have a plan, I’ll pick you all up at Levi’s place?”

  I felt like a voyeur for a moment, at the breathless look of adoration on Shannon’s face as she looked into Jack’s eyes.

  Levi nodded, “Three-thirty should be fine.”

  We finished up lunch over small talk, and quite a bit of teasing banter.

  It’d been Maris’s turn for a quickie on first break that day, but obviously Katerina’s and Abigail’s earlier sensual and sexy ambush had thrown a wrench into that. No big deal, but there was almost forty minutes left before my afternoon beginners’ class from two to three when we got back to the office.

  Maris was my exotic sexpot. So beautiful. A soft Asian beauty of face that was both exotically sexy and lent the false impression of innocence and that went so well with her shy personality. She was never demanding, breathlessly subservient like my twins, but unlike my twins not exuberant in her service at the least. She was just always there, waiting to serve me, breathlessly at my side waiting for an order or my attention.

  It was only her bubbly voice that gave lie to that impression, and it was a lie in itself since it didn’t reflect her true personality in the least.

  She was magnificent, and captivating. She had long straight blue-black hair that looked like silken liquid midnight caressing down her five foot one petite body. She also had stunningly gorgeous ocean blue eyes a few shades darker than my own. Her lips were slightly bowed, and her mouth sexy and petite. She was an incredibly beautiful woman, with very fair skin.