I said, “You’re safe now, Valerie.”

  Then my blade flew like an arrow from a bow, and it impaled the bastard through his neck. It flowed out the other side and made a sharp turn. The next asshole had his heart bisected, as it shot through his back and out of his chest, across the room and through another neck. The men screamed spells in a panic, but it hardly impacted my shields at all, with five souls. In fact, when they were all dead, I still had over seventy percent of my magic.

  It was a stark amount of proof of why witches normally left demigods alone and stayed out of their business. Just one normal demigod might be able to take down a whole coven, singlehandedly, and that was truer for me as a son of one of the original five gods formed from the king of the titans, Cronus.

  My armor retreated off of Valerie and I banished the soul back to hell, and I did the same to the five souls making up my weapon, but I kept the ten souls acting as armor for me and Maggie for now. The chance was slight the ladies we’d just freed would turn on us and attack, but why take the chance, there was a nut in every crowd.

  Maggie moved forward and held Valerie’s hands, with a stern compassion in her eyes and no doubt already erasing the spelled compulsions.

  Valerie was looking at me with horror in those green eyes, which was a little unfair for her savior, me, but I had just decapitated seven men and run the other six through the heart. In about three seconds. It’d felt like twenty or so to me, but with my enhanced perceptions it was a lot less than that in reality. I was guessing three seconds, give or take a split second or so either way.

  I said, “I have a separate armor protecting you, so I could wait by the car, if you want?”

  It seemed like a good idea, and it would help her cause.

  Maggie looked over her shoulder gratefully, “That would be wonderful, thank you, Jack,” her eyes promising me wonders and pleasures beyond imagining later on. But I knew that would be a while, she had women to help, win over, and settle in our coven house before she could retire to our bed with me. All things I had to stay out of, as much as possible. Long-term rape victims wouldn’t want me around, though I’d never hurt them like that I was still a man, and it’d take time for them to recover and not feel fear around any man. Especially a man of power, I suspected human men wouldn’t intimidate them nearly as much.

  As much as they could recover, at any rate, based on their own strengths and gifts in this life.

  I headed out to the car, and I wished I could hear her speech. Which is when I accidentally discovered yet another ability of mine, because her voice suddenly came in crystal clear.

  I could use the senses of the dead I was connected to, to see and hear, even if they were in weapon or armor form. As easily as I could judge the depth of their sins and crimes in life. I’d have never discovered that, if not for those circumstances, and the wistful focus I’d put into the idea of keeping an eye on the proceedings.

  Maggie said, “Listen up. I’m going to free all of you now, as I speak. I offer you my own coven, which admittedly is new, but I think I just proved I can protect you as well as the Oak Circle coven could. The Crystal Rose coven also won’t force you to stay, or press you to stay, as the Oak Circle will. So I’d advise you to give me a chance, you can always leave later if you feel my word this night has proven false.

  “Both Angela and Valerie have already agreed to join, and as you can see, I came here and destroyed this evil blight of a coven to ensure her safety. In my coven, you will be given time to recover, there will be no arrangements made against your will or even against your preference in our coven merely to greedily blend or add bloodlines to our families. That is something the matriarch of the Oak Circle coven cannot say. At the moment there are no men in my coven. That will change, but at the moment my ally who helped free all of you tonight is the only male in the coven house, and he will leave you alone on my word.

  “I will not force you, after I’m done removing your coercions you can go to the Oak Circle, become independent, or even flee the city to restart your life somewhere else. Enough of what my coven will not do. What the Crystal Rose coven will do for you is keep you safe, and we’ll be a nurturing place where you’re free to explore your magic and pursue your interests. Backstabbing and plotting against coven members or me as matriarch will be dealt with harshly, take that as both a comfort and a warning.

  “Our tithe is twenty five percent of your salary. That’s a reasonable number for the safety and support we will give you, as well as shelter, good food, and no monthly expenses for utilities or internet. For those of you, even groups, that wish to start your own business instead of working a job, I will entertain any prospectus you care to put together and show me. If I decide to invest in such a business, I will have a twenty five percent interest in it which will become your tithe.

  “At this time, I expect our relationship with Oak Circle to be wary but peaceful when Danielle learns of the Crystal Rose… if she doesn’t already know. The matriarch is greedy, but she’s more aggressive toward keeping her members than against other covens who leaves hers alone. Do any of you have questions. There’s… six of you left?”

  It looked like she’d already freed most of them.

  One said suspiciously, “You seem awfully adept at countering coercion spells.”

  Maggie replied calmly, “I’m a tantric witch. My magic specializes in the body and mind, but I don’t coerce others.”

  Another asked, “The demigod? That seems risky.”

  I knew that question would be coming, and I wondered how she’d address it.

  Maggie answered, “True, it is against conventional wisdom and accepted practices. It holds some risk, but my lover and ally does not require us to fight other demigods or monsters that may become his enemies. He has no magic sensitivity of his own. He’s getting our expertise in keeping things out of mortal eyes, even the most grudging of the gods would not find offense in that. He also is being paid and is living in our coven mansion.

  “In return, in just three days I have stronger wards than the Oak Circle coven has or has ever had. If you come you will feel the truth of that, and I think you’ll be surprised just how deep the well of power to support our coven is. As a tantric witch, and him my lover, very little will be able to threaten us, even without his aid which we also have.

  “Further, is the saying, in for a penny in for a pound. My ma… my lover is extremely powerful, but he is just one man. I wished to be more prepared before removing the Twilight Flame coven, but we must move ahead when circumstances dictate and I couldn’t give up one of my own, even if she’s yet to step in her coven house.

  “Point being, I’ve put out some feelers, to demigoddesses who wield their power and magic as well, to come ally with us as well. I don’t believe anyone would wish to attack us if he has more allies to back him up. A lone powerful demigod is a target, four of them are better left alone. They’ll keep us secure from threat, themselves secure from the threats we don’t have to deal with, and they’ll get a coven’s magic to help with real world problems, as well as seed money for anything they could want within reason.”

  Another snorted, “So your answer for that recklessness is to be even more reckless? Suppose one of them turns against you, and the coven one day. Figures out that they can kill you and take all your shit.”

  Maggie shook her head, “If you believe me that naïve and stupid, leave now. I cannot guarantee he won’t move on one day, if we fall out as lovers, but I can guarantee he won’t leave behind scorched ground. As for the demigoddesses, they are already well aware of my connections in that world. I wouldn’t dare to speak for Aphrodite, but the son of Zeus is somewhat protective of me as well, though he has nothing to do with my daily life or the coven.

  “In short, the demigoddesses would have to be suicidal to turn on me, more, the ones I chose to invite and woo are already allied with or worship Aphrodite directly, who I serve. The chances are very slight they would turn on me in violence, leave perhaps, say no perhaps or simply never show up, but they would not destroy us. That much I can assure you of with confidence. And if they do leave, we’ll still be a coven to be reckoned with on our level and no longer at risk at all from those above.”

  “That’s… arrogant. I’m going.”

  It seemed a bunch of them decided to leave, most of them, and they left the house in a stream of people, that started to get into cars and drive away.

  Them Maggie spoke again, “You are all going to join the coven?”

  A lot of voices said yes, but I wasn’t sure how many that was until she gave them the address and told them to pack their stuff and come on over. She also said that her and I would wait for them outside, and they could drive together.

  Then she was outside and heading my way.

  She said, “Seven more agreed, eight including Valerie. So that makes my coven ten as of this night, not including the non-witch demigod,” she winked, “It’s better than I expected, but not nearly as good as I’d hoped, or as many as I’d have gotten taking the other route. So, given life, about what I should’ve expected. Almost twenty five percent of them isn’t bad.”

  I nodded in agreement, “I heard your speech through the armor, and the questions…” I paused as she gave me a lingering kiss, then asked, “What did you call me? Before lover, you said may, but then corrected yourself.”

  She blushed, “Umm, mate.”

  I grinned at her nervousness, “I see, what does that mean exactly?”

  She replied softly, “It’s what it sounds like. It’s a word that recognizes the potential and compatibility we have together and is used in our world. Especially for those that follow Aphrodite, since she and many of her champions can judge such things in a single glance. If we ever decide to make it permanent, we’d become true mates, by giving oaths before my goddess. Some call the initial step potential mates, but most just say mates, and true mates for the full-on lifetime commitment. You don’t swear before a god or goddess lightly.”

  “Why wait?”

  She glared, then laughed when she realized I was joking, “Free will, and circumstance. It takes just as much effort as any relationship, it just means we’re good for each other, almost perfectly so that way, if we put in the effort. But people still fuck up, and sometimes the circumstances or timing aren’t right, so it’s normal to wait at least two to six months before taking that step.”

  I teased, “We’re definitely putting in the effort, and why didn’t tell me about this mate thing before?”

  She blushed, and melted against me, “You know why,” she whispered in my ears.

  “It’s what had you nervous, and how perfect I was being to your needs, and I started fulfilling desires in you that you didn’t even know you possessed.”

  She leaned back, and kissed me again, “Yes. That. It’s hard to admit to myself still, much less say out loud.”

  I whispered, “Sexy mate.”

  She sighed softly and melted into me, “Goddess, you drive me crazy. In a really good but terrifying way.”

  “Good to know. Just so you know, the feeling is mutual, my saucy nymph.”

  She grinned.

  Chapter Eight

  The alone time was good, as the hot shower’s spray hit my body and my thoughts wandered. It hadn’t been long before the eight ladies had come out and gotten in their cars, and then followed me and my mate home. That was still a shock, if a good one, mate. Notwithstanding my teasing her I was probably just as nervous about that word as she was, despite how good it was going.

  Point was, I didn’t even meet the ladies until we’d gotten home, and even that was just a quick introduction, so I’d know their names. Outside of Angela and Valerie who I’d already described in this account, there were seven others.

  Casey was a cute and tall lithe brunette, and she’d barely looked at me during the introductions. None of them had met my eyes in fact, though some came closer than others. Janet was a petite golden blonde, with a mischievous look to her, not all that different than Valerie that way, save the smaller B cups and much lighter skin tone.

  Karen was a cute strawberry blonde, with an average hourglass body at about five and a half feet tall. She’d come the closest to looking in my eyes, but her eyes hadn’t made it past my neck. Karen had also at least pretended she wasn’t afraid and had even managed a half-assed smile. Meredith was a pretty light blonde as lissome and leggy as Angela was, they looked very similar that way actually, both with light blonde hair. Though Meredith had blue eyes, not gray, and a slightly different face. They could almost be sisters that way.

  For all I knew, they were. It’s not like I knew shit about them yet.

  Raina was a petite and adorable black-haired beauty. Sierra had black hair too, hers with a tinge of blue, and was a little taller and far curvier than the petite Raina. Neither of those had even looked up from the floor, so were either shy or a lot more messed up than the others. Not that I blamed them. My new world kind of disgusted me right now, the sexual abuse and trafficking parts.

  To be fair, humans were no better that way, sex traffickers were everywhere. Except, the good people in the human world didn’t know where they were. Obviously, the demigods could’ve been putting an end to it, but for some reason they weren’t. Well, no more in my town, unless I counted the monsters of course, but I don’t think they were getting raped, they were just being used as fodder in battles.

  The final new member of my mate’s coven was Talia, she was a dark-haired brunette, with an average hourglass body and the girl next door fresh-faced beauty to her.

  Obviously, my life was about to change again. My Maggie would be around for sex a few times a day, for my training and our workout, for meals, but I figured that would be about it. I’d have to share her with her ambitions and passion, which was fine, as long as I got a little time with her during the day, and she came to bed with me at night I was good. Hell, even just our nightly and morning fucks would probably be more than enough sex, though I wouldn’t be surprised if we still managed more than that, and stolen moments to chat during the day and before sleep.

  Still, the point was I’d gotten spoiled being in her company constantly for three days straight, but I wasn’t a clingy guy in the least, and would adapt to the more realistic reality that had just descended. I just had to make sure neglect didn’t enter into it.

  I also suspected that we’d have a lot more time than I was thinking, most of the ladies would be gone from the house at work, a lot of the times. Maybe all day, at least during the workweek, so she’d only be spending time with them early mornings and evenings. I’d figure it out.

  I’d also asked her in the car how she planned to be a matriarch. Professional and crisp, or welcoming and casual, or a little of both. She’d told me a little of both. That made the task of dressing her a little more complicated, but I felt up to it, I could do warm professional. Point was, with her coven here I couldn’t dress her like a sexy as hell tramp, she needed to look like the matriarch she was. So I’d take that into account.

  Of course, I could still dress her that way on occasion for my personal enjoyment or going out where that kind of thing was appropriate. I thought I had a good handle on it, and she’d no doubt tell me if I chose wrong. She was submissive, not dumb. On the contrary, she was one of the most intelligent and driven people I knew.

  There was also the matter of meals, I’d controlled her dress and meals to make her feel special and cherished, and to feed her submissive side, and as she’d said not out of a power trip of my own. The meals weren’t going to be possible anymore, I had no doubt she’d be appointing house responsibilities to the coven, cooking meals and cleaning and such. Maybe I was too worried about it, but sex and clothes didn’t seem like enough, so I’d have to come up with something else besides the food to direct her in.

  Cleaning and laundry were too gauche as replacement choices, plus she was already doing it. I’d have to give it some thought.

  On top of all that, I’d also killed… no, I’d butchered them. Slaughtered? Massacred? They didn’t have a hope or prayer against me, and I’d killed thirteen male witches in three seconds. Worse, I didn’t feel any guilt about it at all. What exactly did that say about me? That’s the only thing I really worried about, that I honestly didn’t give a shit. The world was a better place without them, and they’d needed judgement and execution.

  Which was the main reason I was happy of the alone time, so I could try to work that out. I felt no temptation to go kill anyone, nor had I enjoyed it. It felt like an unpleasant chore, like sending those assholes down to my father for judgement was just… normal, like taking out the trash.

  I thought maybe it was my power and who my father was, but me blaming my psychotic tendencies on my power and parent seemed like a copout. I wasn’t sure if psychotic applied, I did have feelings, deep ones, and growing ones for my Maggie, but I felt nothing about the men I’d ended.

  Shouldn’t I feel something? So that’s what bothered me, the fact I didn’t. I’d always thought I was a man of integrity, honesty, with high morals and principles, and a solid work ethic to earn my paycheck. I’d never even stolen a company pen for instance. Apparently killing rapists and mind controlling assholes didn’t tweak my moral center in the least bit. It was what it was.

  No, Jack can’t steal a pen from work, but killing rapists? Sure! I wondered if I was nuts.

  I turned off the water and started to dry off. I went into the bedroom, popped on the large screen television that almost looked small from across the vast room, and vegged out under the sheets while I waited. I wasn’t really paying attention to the seventies show rerun on Netflix, my mind still wandering the night, my new life, new powers, new world, and the fact that I was a cold-blooded killer… and seemed perfectly fine with it.

  I also had no clue on the food replacement thing, probably a failure of imagination on my part. I could ramp up my control in our sex lives, but she wasn’t that type of submissive. She didn’t want a BDSM master, she wanted a master of the house, a mate who was in charge of her and our personal lives. So I’d just stick to the clothes and bedroom games, and look for opportunities. Little things and opportunities to show her I cared, which was what life was made up of.