She looked at us both in question.

  Natasha said, “We’re lovers, recently, and we’re being a bit crazy right now. So, excuse us. Would you mind him taking us?”

  She shrugged, “Nope. That works for me, and congratulations?”

  I smiled, “Thanks. You really aren’t scared? Most gods won’t let me transport them.”

  Mandy rolled her eyes, “Most gods have no imagination. I could think of much worse things than being teleported into Tartarus, at least I’d still be alive. I’ve used farseeing to explore our solar system, so imagine me safely transporting you into the sun, or say Jupiter’s core? Even just on Earth, a god could dump you into an active volcano, or at the bottom of the Mariana trench almost two miles below sea level, and your body would be incinerated or crushed instantly, respectively. So yes, scary darkness and all, but if you wanted me dead, I’d be dead. I’m no threat to either of you.”

  Natasha giggled, “Unless we let you teleport us.”

  Mandy giggled back, “True, sorry. I tend to ramble a bit when people are taken by unreasonable fears. If they looked at it logically, they’d either trust people or they wouldn’t let anyone teleport them anywhere.”

  Her speed could get us too, if we let our guard down. Adorably hot and brainy, but also a war goddess, just because she didn’t look the part didn’t mean she wasn’t extremely dangerous. That said I was already pretty sure I could trust her not to turn on us that way, she was… open, bubbly, and not prone to violence.

  Natasha winked, “You look fantastic, by the way. I love those boots, and the red brings out your hair and skin tone.”

  I nodded in agreement, and openly admired her for a moment.

  Mandy blushed, “Thank you, both. You look… well, beauty. I could babble for quite a while on your perfection of beauty and form.”

  Natasha grinned, “Thanks.”

  “Now you did it,” I said in a faux longsuffering tone, “She’ll be fishing until she hears it all.”

  Natasha gasped, then laughed, “I resemble that remark. I’m not vain, I just like looking good.”

  That made Mandy snicker with a wide grin.

  I waved Mandy closer, and her smile just wouldn’t quit, even with a little nervousness in her eyes despite what she’d just told us. When she was just outside our personal space, she stopped. She really did have sexy light gray eyes, even more expressive and warmer with her a lot closer to me.

  Darkness billowed and swallowed us up, and when the darkness cleared, we were in San Antonio, in the hopes it’d be warmer. And it was, not terribly warm, but it was flirting with sixty or so as the three of us headed into the restaurant.

  Mandy looked thoughtful, “That was different, it was almost like a physical touch surrounding my body.”

  I winked, “Don’t worry, I couldn’t feel a thing.”

  Mandy blushed, “Didn’t think of that, the idea you could,” she trailed off and cleared her throat, “But good to know it doesn’t work that way. I just wonder what it really is. I mean, myth says it’s the darkness born of chaos, and what brought night to the world. Which is of course ridiculous. To be clear, I know we’re gods, but there’s still a whole lot of questions in that, and the difference between the godly powers of light and darkness is one of the most basic. It drives me crazy not knowing.

  “It’s also not strictly speaking destruction, even if it can be destructive to anything in this world, it can also be used to create in Tartarus, which is another realm, dimension, what have you. So… interesting.”

  She did babble a bit, but so far I was charmed by it. She was exuberantly vivacious, but not in an annoying way to me. Probably because it wasn’t fake, like a cheerleader going around acting perky all the time.

  “Well, if you ever want my help or think of a way to study it, I’d be interested in that myself. Shall we go in?”

  They both nodded, and Mandy looked at me like I’d just offered her the world. I took Natasha’s hand while Mandy walked on the other side of her. I was fairly sure that wasn’t out of nervousness or fear of me, I could tell she was as attracted to us we were to her, and she had probably avoided walking next to me out of the girl code, or perhaps she feared Natasha would react jealously, or maybe I was just thinking too hard and needed to relax.

  My lover and hopefully future mate was the goddess of love. I’d let her finesse Mandy, and when she was ready, I’d seduce and claim her too. If she truly was compatible, then she’d be wanting an insanely possessive and protective man like me as well. One with Neanderthalic sexist tendencies, I thought with amusement. If that didn’t happen, that was fine too, Natasha was already overwhelming just by herself. Point being, I wasn’t going to stress it or read into it anymore, their actions I mean. Natasha already said she’d handle the complicated parts between her and the other women, so I just had to be myself.

  Probably the worst thing I could do was trying to become a mediator for my future mates, that’d lead to major problems, and they were adults and could handle it.

  I opened the door for them, and I got two smiles of thanks for my trouble, one extremely seductive and warm, and the other one shyly excited. It was still a bit early in the central time zone, a little before eleven so very few people, so we were seated immediately in a booth. I sat next to Natasha, while Mandy sat across from us.

  Natasha guided the conversation effortlessly, and we didn’t start in on the plan at all as I’d expected. Instead she talked about her college major and plans, which prompted me to do the same about my MBA.

  Mandy said, “I have nine doctorates, including medical. Once I get my law degree and pass the bar, I’m moving from education to research. Mostly technology, both materials science and particle physics, though I’ll keep my hand in with the others as well.”

  She looked over my shoulder, and smiled, “Corona with a lime, please.”

  The waitress nodded, then took Natasha’s order of the same thing, while I got a Miller lite. It appeared it was a drinking and working lunch.

  We continued to get to know each other, Natasha effortlessly coaxing her out, which honestly wasn’t hard. Mandy would talk about anything brought up, in detail and with perky enthusiasm. She wasn’t just a talker either, she listened to us with a lively and animated attention, and I got the impression she was figuring a lot more out about us than we were of her. I was smart, Natasha was brilliant and clever, but Mandy was possibly the most intelligent person in the room, if not the world.

  When the drinks came out and we ordered our food the conversation continued, lightly touching on music, dreams, hopes, and ambitions, and other get to know you subjects which flowed naturally. Natasha was exuberant as well, if in a warm and cheerful way as opposed to perky, so between the two the conversation just flowed endlessly, with some occasional interjections by me. It was clear to me Natasha was focused on the social aspect, which made perfect sense. Even if Mandy wasn’t interested in becoming part of a triad that might just grow to a quintuple.

  I mean, even if it didn’t, we needed to establish and build trust and get to know each other, before she’d consider a plan that put her life in danger as she worked closely with us on a joint council, even for a good cause and reason. So, I just went with it and found myself truly enjoying her company. She did babble, but once the fear lessened in her it brought out a rather dry wit and understated sense of humor that was delightful, and she was an extremely passionate woman about a whole host of subjects that would normally bore me, but she made seem exciting somehow. Her enthusiasm and sprightliness were catching.

  I could see how her exuberant energy could overwhelm some people, but it seemed to just energize Natasha as they fed each other back and forth, and I enjoyed an outspoken and confident woman. I mean, otherwise my possessive nature and dominant desires in the bedroom would have me walking all over them, they needed to show that strength outside the bedroom to equalize the relationship.

  Plus, I’d never get tired of looking at her adorably beautiful face, or the hot distraction of her huge nipple bumps, her breasts swaying just a little bit with each of her movements as she spoke animatedly with her hands. Just the tight tube top was enough support at her size and flawless firmness, for anything but truly vigorous activities. She was a petite and gorgeous light blonde, adorably hot and endlessly fascinating and vibrantly vivacious.

  The sexual tension I felt toward Mandy wasn’t helped at all by Natasha sitting so close, her body rubbing against mine and her soft hand teasing my leg. Her scent and sexy voice, and the way she looked at me with her smoldering dark brown eyes.

  With all that, and a new very heated relationship, it was no wonder my mind was in the gutter, but I managed to pay attention and listen. Also contribute, as we got to know each other.

  The conversation paused for the first half of the meal. Gods had healthy appetites, and petitely athletic at five foot nothing or not, Mandy could put some food down and had no trouble consuming a twenty-seven-ounce porterhouse and huge loaded baked potato.

  Natasha said, “So, we were thinking of a council of five, a watchdog council of sorts. Gary and I can handle enforcing it if you don’t want to get involved, but we’re essentially going to end Nate’s corruption. We’ll be reviewing all of his judgements, and since he needs Gary here to put gods in jail so to speak, he won’t be able to sneak anything by us. Save deaths.”

  She went on to explain it in detail much like the conversation her and I had in the diner that morning during breakfast. Touching upon a council of five and we’d all have to vote before we stepped in. All of that set up after we kicked Nate’s ass, so he wouldn’t have a choice but to accept a new government structure, even a very limited one.

  Push came to shove, I’d reset his ass myself.

  The next Zeus might be more reasonable, and he wouldn’t have been sinking into corruption and entitled power for twenty years. Of course, we really hoped that didn’t happen, or who knew what would happen the twenty-two years we waited for him to be born, grow up, and inherit his power at twenty-one.

  Someone else would have to step up to rule the interim, and we sure as hell didn’t want to do it. Even the council idea, was more of a need than a want, in truth it sounded like a pain in the ass. But it was needed, otherwise Nate would continue his entitled abuse without checks and balances to pull him up short.

  Chapter Nine

  Natasha

  She was adorable, really beautiful not cutely adorably, beautifully adorable, and I wanted Gary so badly I couldn’t see straight. I kept imagining him pounding the sexy blonde sprite while I kissed her and played with those huge nipples, and I felt a little guilty about it. My mantel didn’t control me, change my old principles or beliefs, my morals about dating or cheating, but it was sure as hell amplifying up what I was willing to do. My pleasure mantel was demanding I pleasure the man I was growing to care deeply for, the man who so deliciously took control of me in bed, and absolutely pampered and protected me outside of it.

  My own natural limits enhanced, which apparently included eating Gary’s messy cream-pie out of Mandy. I’d had that fantasy several times throughout our lunch. I took a deep breath and tried to relax, I’d be so much better and more controlled if I could just slip under the table, cloak myself, and suck him off. Just to take the edge off. My pussy was practically vibrating and so wet I could feel my panties stuck to my camel toe, I was a hot mess for him. But of course I couldn’t, not with her here.

  Strangely enough, all of that just turned me on more. Just thrilled me, that I was truly his insatiable whore as well as his princess.

  Mandy said, “That sounds interesting, but what aren’t you telling me. I can tell there’s more, especially with that get to know you session. This feels more like a date then convening a council against Nate’s excesses.”

  Of course, she was probably even more intuitive than I was. She might appear a little flighty because of her effervescent energy, but she was wisdom. She probably didn’t miss much at all in the things and people around her, and her war mantle would pick up important details as well, analyze everything said and done, every body movement and word, tone, and inflection.

  “We want to date you.”

  I decided the blunt approach was best, she’d no doubt see through any attempt at prevarication. Plus, I didn’t want to hide it, I’d just been hoping to hold off a little longer on it.

  She blinked, “Excuse me?” she asked in shock.

  Gary stiffened as well, and I just kept stroking his leg under the table. I guessed he wasn’t expecting me to just spit it out, less than two hours after meeting her.

  I smiled, “I want us to be more than a council, I want us to be a family. I searched for people who’d make good judges, with strong feelings on justice, but also goddesses who would be open to unique relationships, that want to find love and family. For both practical and personal reasons. On a personal level it’s what I’ve always wanted, a large family of lovers with a single strong man at the head, no cheating and no playing outside that family. Practically speaking we’ll be together a lot, and we’ll also be targets of Nate. I suspect once we force the new system in, and he is culpable, he’ll be spending at least one punishment duration in Tartarus. We’ll be safer together, bonded more surely in trust and love, and I really like you already.”

  She bit her lip, and there was a sudden hunger in her gray eyes. She was obviously intrigued and a little turned on by the idea, as well as hopeful.

  But then she changed the subject, perhaps to give her time to think about it.

  “I have a couple of suggestions on the plan, as you knew I would.”

  I beamed, “Let’s hear it.”

  “Nate’s power to rule will quickly lead him to ways around a watchdog council. Even with us watching and your father looking for gods suddenly going missing or turning up under compulsion, he’ll find a way. We need a spy, one that works for us but isn’t a public part of our council. The best one is already in place so to speak, and why she’s one of Nate’s victims. I suspect Aria will be extremely receptive to the idea of passing along all of Nate’s victories to us once we free her from his compulsion.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea, I’ll add it in. The second thing?”

  She sighed, “We should consult the fates. They might not tell us anything, but I know you’re in their good graces. They might hint that we abandon the whole idea if it ends ignominiously in our deaths and does no good at all. If they don’t, then we still won’t know if we’ll die or not, but at least we’ll know if we do die that our sacrifice will count for something and make a real difference.”

  “How do you know they like me?”

  She grinned, “You told me who your father is, and we all know he’s buttering their biscuits once a week. I bet they adore you. Plus, they don’t like Nate either.”

  Gary snickered, “Buttering their biscuits?”

  Mandy winked, “You know, the dance of ten toes, boffing, boinking, splitting the beard, dancing in the sheets, feeding the kitty, creaming the twinky, laying the pipe, lust and thrust, mashing the fat, pants off dance off, parking the beef bus in tuna town, pole-varnishing, pounding the paternal piston, riding the bony express?”

  He snorted.

  I giggled, “Fine, another good idea.”

  Mandy blushed, “A lot more than just one,” then she giggled.

  I winked, “Oh, those were all wonderful suggestions too.”

  Mandy switched back to the other conversation thread without warning and spoke in an enthusiastic rush with a worried look in her eyes.

  “Most people find me annoying. I mean, it’s really tempting, you two are gorgeous, powerful, and really good people too. But my hyper personality tends to get on people’s nerves fast, and it also tends to make me look a bit… needy in a relationship. I also tend to fall faster than most, my analytical mind moves a lot faster than most, and that freaks people out. I haven’t had much luck in the arena, most men and women kind of run for the hills, if I’m going to be honest.”

  I smiled, “Cuteness, we’re going to love you. We tend to be more extreme than most in relationships too, so it will work out on that level just fine.”

  She gasped, then said, “You really believe that.”

  Gary interjected, “I do too, you’re enthralling to me, Mandy. I’ve had similar problems too, most women find me… too intense.”

  She giggled, “I find that easy to believe, in a good way I mean.”

  The moment hung there a moment, then Mandy said, “Alright, I’m in. On both things, assuming the fates give their blessing on the council. Either way I’d love to date you both.”

  I said, “That part will be easy, since you’ll be on the run with us and never leave our side.”

  She giggled, “Good point. I need to pack some stuff. Never?” she raised an eyebrow, both teasingly naughty and hopeful.

  I replied, “Well, that’s entirely up to you, when you feel ready just come into our bedroom and join the fun. Goddess, that makes me sound like such a whore, but I’m ready to jump in with both feet. Blame it on my mantel, cuteness. You have no idea all the nice things my powers and intuition are saying about you right now.”

  Mandy smiled, “I like that, cuteness I mean. A lot. So where to next?”

  Gary said, “After you pack, we’ll go see one of the fates. We might as well not work up the next two on our council if we’re not going to have one at all. Then I think we should spend a day or two together before we get our fourth member. I’d like to get to know you much better, and Natasha too for that matter.”

  I said, “Sara, I think, Lily told me she’s already made a prophecy in regard to this twenty-two years ago.”

  Gary snorted, “Of course, I was there. She just said that there’d be consequences to taking Amber that he wouldn’t like, but he’d still rule. Which is true, if he hadn’t taken Amber, you’d have never come searching for me or freed me.”