He chuckled, “That and you’re the only man in the group. Are you really…” he trailed off uncertainly.

  “A god and his goddesses? Afraid so. Don’t let it bother you,” I waved behind me naming each of them as my hand crossed, “June, Lily, and Amber are anyway, and this is Brenna and Caitria. Our assistants.”

  Assistant worked, and I doubted most could socially handle me outright naming them advisors, servants, and bed warmers. That was their position, despite love and respect being a part of things. That last one wasn’t most important, but I could admit if they weren’t willing to do that it was unlikely they’d be living with us as advisors alone.

  They all looked pretty amazing, dressed in casual business. I had Dockers and a button-down shirt on myself.

  He nodded, “Nice to meet all of you. I’ll brief you as we move,” and started to walk, “The parents all signed the waivers. The nine children you’re seeing are already on borrowed time, ages five to eleven. Parents tend to get desperate near the end, I do hope this works.”

  I just smiled and nodded, there was no point in addressing his fears, only results could calm them. Words were cheap, after all.

  It was obvious when we reached the pediatric ward, besides the big sign over the doors I mean. The hallways were painted a bright yellow color, and there were fantastical murals on the walls that weren’t too badly done. We were led to a small playroom, that had a few kids’ magazines, a bookshelf full of children’s books, and a few board games. There was also a setup of nine chairs in three rows, with an adult chair facing them, presumably for the book reader. There were larger chairs around the edges of the room, presumably for the parents.

  June asked, “Anything specific, or just something off the shelf?”

  Calum gave a specific title, and June pulled it off the shelf and settled into the chair, while the rest of us sat off to the side.

  The kids walked in, and they were far too young to be facing such hardships and the specter of death, yet they all seemed to be excited, even the ones that looked exhausted. The parents came in next, some of them looking suspiciously hopeful, some tortured by hope, and others wearing a mask of wide smiles as they greeted their children and then sat down. I’d very carefully memorized each of their faces as they walked in, since from my seat all I could see was their profiles.

  While June smiled and had them eating out of her sweet hands. She was so beautiful, sweetly innocent in a compelling way. That truly was her personality enhanced by her innocent beauty, the wickedness only came out in the bedroom, and didn’t make the other untrue. People were complicated beings, and never just one thing.

  I also noticed a lot of the kids kept staring at Caitria, specifically her ears. She was a hit, I think. A lot of the fathers were stealing looks as well, to my amusement and their wife’s annoyance, even more than they were stealing looks at my other two goddesses. Anyway, June coaxed them all into talking a little bit, and into sharing what they wanted to be when they grew up.

  When she started to read the book, I sketched them all. The first half, how they looked now as kids. Of course, it was a pencil sketch, so there was nothing shading toward sickness, or health for that matter. The other side of the paper was the caricature sketch of them in their career, like a ballerina, police officer, fireman, and so on. It was pretty fun. I hadn’t just sketched in quite a long time, a few years, and I hadn’t taken into account my power or new status, because I could sketch fast. Really fast. It didn’t even come close to the five minutes I’d said I needed for each one.

  While all that was going on Brenna, Amber, and Lily were healing the kids. Not just destroying the cancer, but healing the damage done to the body by that and the chemo treatments. Watching the kids perk up three at a time, and gain color in their skin, was absolutely priceless.

  I didn’t entirely understand what Caitria was doing, but her magic was at work too.

  It was a good time, and it felt good. As each of the kids came to get their sketch, I signed it and wrote them each a blurb during our short chat. Worth our time, emotional as hell as the parents cried and looked at us with awe, and of course it was good press at the same time. Maybe we’d win some hearts and minds, convince a few people gods weren’t all bad. I was sure it’d go viral if nothing else, when word got out.

  The kitchen had a festive atmosphere, we were all in a good mood after our visit and over lunch. Even Amber seemed less tense and in good spirits, focusing on the fortune of others at our intercession in their lives, instead of her own inner demons for the duration.

  Brenna had put together a mishmash of leftovers for us, and it was all fantastic.

  “I think it went well. Caitria, what was it you were doing?”

  Caitria said, “The cancer is partly genetic predisposition, partly the habitat. More than half of them just would’ve gotten sick again in a few years. I essentially made them immune to cancer and corrected the error.”

  Oh, that was… both amazing and disturbing. She’d modified their genome? Maybe they wouldn’t notice.

  “Good thinking.”

  Caitria smiled.

  I sighed, “I’m wary of Nate’s plans. Everyone just… watch yourselves. I honestly can’t think of a reason he tasked me with this except so he could blame me for how it’s almost bound to turn out. Almost like he’s setting me up so he can settle the earlier grudge without anyone crying foul. I know that sounds paranoid.”

  June said, “It’ll work out, you’re too valuable for him to easily discard.”

  “Maybe that’s true, but I worry he’ll… I don’t know. I feel itchy about it, but I can’t see his plans or intentions, so just do it.”

  Lily replied, “Of course, honey.”

  Amber asked, “But if you stop it, and no lives are lost?”

  I shrugged, “Those gods will be labeled as terrorists by every country on Earth, and that impression will backlash on all of us, especially following that vote. There’s no way to stop them from showing up there, because I can’t find where they are now. Even if I save everyone, it will reveal some gods don’t care about human life and are willing and even eager to commit massacres. I honestly don’t know the full fallout, but it can’t be good. Nate will unfairly blame me for that backlash, no matter how well I do with the shit sandwich I’ve been given.”

  June said, “But you’ll also be proving you value human life, and Nate does as well, whether he does or not.”

  I blew out a breath, “True, but negative news sells a lot easier and faster. Hopefully I’m just being paranoid, but at the very least he’ll blame me for handling it badly, as if there was any other way to handle it? Refusing isn’t an option either, that would give him the excuse to act directly against me.”

  I shook my head, “Maybe it’s because I’m a control freak, don’t trust his intentions, and he’s too powerful to ignore or disobey. I hope it’s that. Just… stay together today, no going off on your own.”

  That was entirely possible. Nate made me feel impotent and out of control. I wasn’t a controlling man, but I didn’t like being led by a string around my neck. I mean, not a control freak about others around me, but I didn’t like my own will being overshadowed, at all.

  Brenna said, “I’m quite sure I’m beneath his notice, and certainly his contempt, but we’ll do it. I’ll be with Lily all afternoon.”

  Not wanting to totally kill the high, I smiled and changed the subject, “That’s all I can ask. So when’s your next show, Amber? I think I’d like to see it.”

  Amber frowned, “Why?”

  I chuckled, “Paranoid much? For the same reason I love to see Lily dance, and I’ve read some of June’s books. To enjoy it. It’s part of my mantel.”

  Amber said, “Thursday night.”

  I smiled, “Sounds like a group date.”

  The domed assembly room lit up brightly like the sky on a clear day at noon. The light from my golden flame covered body put the entire room in stark relief. There wasn’t a lot of time, I’d teleported in just a second before the other gods would arrive. June, Lily, and Amber were also there, but they’d arrived on the main floor and were casting witchcraft protection spells against fire and heat.

  Immediately upon my arrival I was already focusing on my targets burning while nothing else was, so as soon as I saw another golden globe flash, eight of them, I released my will.

  Just like in the illusion, my power sent out eight streams of compact heat waves and flames at the war gods before they could get their bearings, attack, or even move. I winced at their screams but didn’t hesitate. A god’s power took will and focus, focus and will that the agony of their bodies burning had stolen, at least momentarily, but best not to push that anyway.

  I compelled the eight of them, “Stand still and be silent!”

  They kept screaming as I’d feared, so I teleported them directly to the hidden top secret holding cell that suppressed power and magic, then teleported myself to just outside them. A quick witch spell put the fires out, and then I used healing spells since their bodies were severely burned and I wasn’t into torture.

  “Blondie, looking good,” I said with casual verve.

  Stephanie was in a black dress and high heels as she tossed jumpsuits through the bars so they could get dressed in prison orange. She’d always been a cute petite blonde, but the sophisticated dress really kicked her sex appeal up several notches.

  She snickered, “Thanks. I had a lunch banquet with the whole coven today,” which completely explained it, their coven must have the same kind of competition as Brenna’s, and for the ladies getting dressed to the nines was a part of it.

  Several of the war gods called me a traitor.

  I snorted, “I’m working for the king of the gods, idiots. I believe your seditious activities makes you the traitors by very definition. Your willingness to slaughter over four hundred people makes you far worse than that, so shut the fuck up and use your right to remain silent. Unless one of you mental midgets wants to tell me where Nix is?”

  They glared but kept their mouths shut.

  I said, “You know she lied and misrepresented. Nate was working through channels to get Nancy out of jail, when you idiots broke her out.”

  I shrugged at her, “I’m sure Nate will be in touch about this and them. Thanks, Steph.”

  She smiled, “My pleasure, just try not to wake me up in the middle of the night again.”

  I winked playfully, “Are you sure you don’t want that?” I asked in a voice loaded with innuendo.

  In my defense, she looked really hot in black. Cutely hot, if that was a thing, and deliciously tempting despite myself. Not that I’d really sleep with her, but flirting was definitely on the table, and I was fairly sure she enjoyed the attention.

  She spluttered, then laughed, “Go away,” then she mouthed silently, “Wire, Lassiter.”

  That almost made me lose it in laughter, I bet he was furious that I was flirting with his mistress, no irony there of course. Sure, I had a harem and mistresses, but I wasn’t a cheater, it was all in the open. Point being, she only shut me down because we had an audience, not because she didn’t want to flirt back.

  I said, “Have a good day, Steph,” then winked and waggled my eyebrows before I teleported home.

  I supposed I was in a good mood, between things going to plan and the lecherously fun flirting, but I still felt that itching specter of worry. I put on some swim trunks and headed to the backyard to relax a bit.

  I also texted Nate. Giving him a full report on the turnout, which was about as good as it could get. The eight war gods were alive and in custody, and no one at the U.N. had died.

  Despite my plan working flawlessly, I knew Nate wouldn’t be happy.

  Caitria joined me in a purple bikini, and she seemed inordinately pleased at being pulled onto my lounger with me. I knew the others were in the house, Lily and Brenna in the office planning out a foundation, and Amber and June were upstairs in Amber’s office doing who knows what together.

  Chapter Nine

  “That feels so amazing, Caitria.”

  She was massaging me, straddling my ass with her legs while digging her fingers and palms into my shoulders and back. She’d already done my neck, and it felt like jelly. She was amazing at it.

  “I’m enjoying it, master.”

  I sighed softly, “You won’t offend me, Caitria. If you do or say something I don’t like, it’ll be a teaching moment. Or is it my actions that offend your sensibilities?”

  The only time my fae seemed fully relaxed was when we were doing something sexual or when she was following my orders. Otherwise, she seemed a bit stiff at times, unsure of her place or how to act despite my claiming of her.

  Brenna had been the same I suppose, still was, but less worried about talking and taking initiative, and more just amazed at how I kept not getting tired of fucking her, talking to her, and loving her.

  Caitria’s hands froze for a moment, “I wouldn’t presume to judge your actions.”

  I sighed, “That’s not what I meant. I meant that our casual approach to you and Brenna, blurring the social lines you grew up with, might be uncomfortable to you. I suppose what I’m asking is why you seem a little nervous at times as if not quite sure which way to jump, and which side has the alligator or the lollypop.”

  She laughed, “I think I understand now. A little bit of both, I must adjust from my prior experience and expectations to your casual rule over me, and I must learn what my limits are with you in taking liberties, which no doubt change from situation to situation in a culture I am familiar with but not completely versed in. I am not feeling burdened however, it is just…”

  “New job jitters, we call it. Or I do, anyway. I can be patient, I just don’t like to see my women nervous, especially around me. Did you enjoy our wakeup last night?”

  She smiled, I couldn’t see her face but I could hear it in her voice.

  “I did. It was a wonderful surprise, not just the opportunity to pleasure you with my body, but being pleasured by your goddesses.”

  My phone beeped, and I reached off the lounger and searched around a bit before grabbing it. Then I read the message. A lot had happened already that day, a sniper, a hospital visit, and eight war gods, but the day wasn’t done with me yet.

  “Huh, Katerina wants to see me again. Umm, very rich and alluringly beautiful human woman. I wouldn’t mind a long-term affair with her. She’s a lot of fun.”

  Katerina Johnson had long dark brunette hair, that looked black in low lighting. With seductively sexy dark brown eyes. She was classically beautifully, with strong cheekbones, and full lips. She had a willowy body, all soft and sweetly feminine in her mid-twenties. She’d bought a painting from me almost two weeks ago now for ten million. She was as lithe and gloriously leggy as Lily was, save for her DDD breasts which looked lewdly luxurious on her otherwise soft and gentle curves.

  She was also as I said, a lot of fun. Liking a man to take charge of her, use her hard and put her away sore and wet. She was a hell of a woman and really knew how to use her body to pleasure a man. Aggressively too, from what I remembered, the more I’d dominated her the wilder and more wanton she’d gotten.

  I replied back I was free later that afternoon for a couple of hours, and she said she’d see me then.

  She’d also said she wanted to talk to me about something important, and I had to admit I was hoping it was about setting up a long-term weekly affair like I had going with the twins.

  I turned over absently when Caitria patted my arm.

  Caitria looked at the lump in my bathing suit, then asked with warming eyes, “Would you like me to relax you, master? That looks uncomfortable.”

  I chuckled. I was so damned spoiled.

  “Go ahead,” I acquiesced, giving no other instruction as to how to accomplish the task.

  My exotically sexy platinum blonde used both hands and her mouth, and it was very relaxing. She took her time, and she seemed to enjoy it every bit as much as I did. She was so passionate, and so very sexy.

  Then I got ready for my impromptu afternoon fling, and I actually remembered to put my contraceptive charm on. I even recast the spell on it to refresh it for good measure.

  I know, shocking right? Even I could learn a lesson, eventually.

  Katerina Johnson’s estate was a whole lot of acres with good security including a wall around the entire property with cameras, gates, and such. Of course, like last time I teleported to her front door, to bypass all those measures at her prior agreement, then just knocked on the door.

  I was guessing the huge mansion usually had staff, but like last time she must’ve sent the staff home and her security for a walk along the fence, because according to the detect life spell, she was the only one in the house as she moved toward the door to answer it.

  The last time she’d answered the door in nothing but a sexy silk robe that barely reached upper thigh, and a bikini and high heels. This time when she opened the door, she’d completely forsaken the bikini part of that outfit. Her tits were gloriously firm still at twenty-five, and the edges of the silk robes barely closed enough to cover her hard nipples which were outlined in the thin shiny silk. Her trimmed dark brown landing strip and deliciously generous labia were fully on display, as she cocked her hips for me in nothing but that sexy silk robe and a pair of high heels. Her lips also slightly parted as she licked them, as if displaying all of her options for me. Her sweet open mouth, her deliciously large cleavage, and her trimmed and sexy cunt, all of it on display for me and mine for the taking.

  It was both a blunt seduction, but also clever in a way that totally nude wouldn’t be, and beyond heady and it filled me with lust to experience all of those options today.

  Her hair was also up in a ponytail, a hair style that I dared to say the incredibly sophisticated and wealthy woman didn’t wear often. My cock twitched at the message that sent, she was telling me she was ready for whatever part of her body I wanted, and she’d also given me a convenient handle. I was almost one hundred percent sure I wasn’t just imagining all of that.