Nicole asked, “Do you mind? I wish to watch you, master,” as I walked toward the circle.

  I turned and looked into her golden flecked green eyes, then moved forward and took her into my arms. She looked a little confused by my action, but also quite happy to be in my arms at that moment.

  “You have beautiful eyes, Nicole. You’re my mate, and I am yours, not just your master. You’re also mine to protect and cherish. As long as you aren’t under orders to be watching one of us, then you can be wherever you want, whenever you want, with whoever you want in the family or for a moment alone. To make it even clearer, I’ll never begrudge your company, so I definitely don’t mind.”

  She said softly, “Yes, master.”

  I gave her a soft kiss and left her to absorb that. The anger at her past treatment suppressed deep inside me and not showing on my face lest she misinterpret it. I wondered exactly what kind of orders and living conditions she was accustomed to. I loved the sweet looks and kittenish behavior, but I hated the worry and uncertainty she showed. The doubt, like she expected me to beat her or tell her to leave my sight, or something.

  I’d have to find all that out, but now wasn’t the time.

  I got started on the practice. It wasn’t difficult, or a whit less than mind numbing. I started off slow and figured out I could send out about five solid lightning attacks each time I loaded up with electricity that both filled my body and stormed around it. Then I started to speed up and went as fast as I could until I started to make mistakes. My mind would trip over itself, try to skip a step, or feel overwhelmed and pause for a moment.

  There was no point in not pushing it, I was trying to train my mind to go faster, and I figured the harder I pushed my mind the faster my subconscious would start to take over and I’d get even faster. Like a sprinter, sprinters didn’t get faster by jogging in training all the time.

  At the same time, my subconscious couldn’t pick it up if I failed too much, so I rode that edge the best I could.

  It took a while, but I eventually found that mental sweet spot where going any faster would make me trip up perceptually, and I rode that line. It took me about two seconds to form the conduit, the blast a split second later, then I dropped it and it took about another second to get eyes on the next numbered pole and then two more to blast that one. In short, I was blasting a pole every three seconds, though after every fifth pole add another second or two for connecting to the house’s electric for a recharge.

  Of course, in a long fight I’d just stay connected and suck electricity as I needed it. The point of the exercise was if I was ever ambushed then I’d need to connect to and draw electricity, form a conduit, and blast my opponent as fast as possible. In a very real way, it was the same as a master swordsman practicing drawing their sword, or a duelist drawing their weapon.

  The turnarounds would also train me to quickly find and hit enemies trying to flank me or come at my back while fighting another. It was boring, but I sucked up, and I might’ve even been a little faster after an hour of it. It’d be worth the effort, once it became mental reflex it’d be a lot faster, a split second a target. Over half those two seconds was me consciously forming that conduit and going through the mental gymnastics of thinking downhill river and flowing magic.

  The whole time, my Nicole happily watched as if thrilled merely to be in my presence, even as she stared at me like she was trying to figure out a puzzle, and perhaps worried that the other shoe may drop at any second. Time would handle that last, I didn’t give a crap if she was a monster, she was also a hell of a woman and my mate. Okay, that she might go on a murderous rampage if her instincts held free reign was a bit disturbing, but it wasn’t her fault she was made that way, and I could prevent that from happening with my dominance as her master.

  It was also draining, I was starved as we headed back inside and grinned at the scent of steaks, baked potatoes with all the fixings on the table, as well as asparagus spears in a creamy garlic butter sauce. It was a somewhat shallow thought, as I was extremely pleased in that moment how well my second mate could cook. Damn, it smelled delicious and looked perfect.

  Ginny said with a mock innocently teasing grin, “Perfect timing, we just finished.”

  Janice snorted playfully.

  Ginny gave her a faux hurt look, “What? I totally set the table.”

  I laughed as I washed my hands at the sink, then sat down at the head of the table. The two of them seemed more relaxed with each other than the night we’d showed up. They’d always been allies from the start, but I could tell Janice had let down those walls and Ginny had liked what she saw.

  “I’m starving. Right now it’d take me three seconds to blast someone if I was taken off guard. I’ll get better. The second one two seconds after that.”

  Janice sat on my right, Ginny had already been on my left, and my sexy air nymph sat next to Ginny. There was plenty of space for all the platters on the six-person kitchen table, the one in the dining room could sit twice that but I didn’t imagine we’d bother using it. The kitchen was warm and cozy. In truth the whole house was warmly welcoming, thanks to Janice.

  Janice nodded, “Not a bad start. The conscious mind is slow and plodding, it’ll pay off eventually. Probably long before you’re ready for physical fights.”

  We dug in. There was enough food for twelve normal humans on the table, which seemed about right as I piled three steaks on my plate, and a pile of asparagus. The baked potato had its own plate, and I cut it open and threw on sour cream, cheese, butter, bacon bits, and chives. The lightning made me powerful, but it also made me burn an insane number of calories.

  The steak practically melted in my mouth, and it was a perfect medium rare.

  “This is fantastic.”

  Janice smiled, “Thanks.”

  I asked, “So, did you two work out whatever it was you needed to work out?”

  They both blushed.

  Janice said, “We did. We’ve been allies for a few years, and of course our goddesses are close, but we’ve never been friends.”

  I nodded, “I’m not asking for details or anything. I know you ladies need secrets and have your own relationship, but I just want to make sure we’re headed toward that familial bliss that’s been implied.”

  Ginny winked, “I think we have it worked out to everyone’s satisfaction, but we need to steal Nicole for your blessing training.”

  Nicole raised an eyebrow.

  Janice said, “Girl stuff we don’t want to bore our mate with.”

  Nicole nodded as if that just made sense, but I got the impression she wasn’t getting it at all. It was clear to me the women were negotiating my time and other things that had nothing to do with me at all but was required for domestic bliss, and I didn’t mind they were hiding that from me. Women were much better with the intricacy of all the small details, men were much simpler that way. Though, I wasn’t entirely sure why they felt the need to hide it, but then women were a mystery at times.

  Point being before I got off track, I think Nicole had the impression Janice’s statement was far more literal, and Nicole thought that Janice didn’t want to draw my ire, or something.

  I wasn’t sure I wanted to know how she and others like her were treated, just knowing they’d been whipped had me in a rage earlier.

  Nicole asked, “Where will I be sleeping? I also have no other clothes but these leathers,” she noted cautiously.

  Ginny replied, “We’ve already talked about that second one. We’ll go shopping tomorrow and grab lunch out, between Levi’s physical and magical training. It seems prudent to all stay together when leaving the property. Trust me, you’ll look amazing when I’m done with you.”

  Nicole blushed.

  Janice said, “As for sleeping arrangements, I’m going to order a custom bed. We’re all mates and will sleep in the master bedroom. Until that arrives, we’ll have to sleep in two separate bedrooms and we’ll swap out to make it fair.”

  Ginny winked, “But her king-sized bed is plenty large enough for the four of us to play together before going to sleep.”

  Janice grinned, “True. Plenty of room to pile up, but not enough to sleep.”

  Nicole looked almost flabbergasted, and she looked to me for confirmation.

  I nodded, “You belong in our bed,” I said carefully, feeling that anger again on her behalf and I made sure my voice was clear of it. It was becoming more and more clear that our enemies bred monsters and only tamed or ever dealt with their animal halves. As far as I was concerned, that was abusive, they were men and women as well.

  I also had other questions, did our side treat monsters the same way? Or was it only that bitch Hera that had a monster mill of some kind. I didn’t want to embarrass, shame, or scare Nicole, so I kept those questions to myself. But… my advisor and I were going to have a long talk about it, soon.

  Maybe I was just being naïve, Nicole was my mate and maybe that just made a huge difference. Could a master afford to risk sleeping next to a deadly monster, or even in the same house without them being locked up? It bothered me, and it was hard not to assume the worst, but that could simply be wrong. Maybe this was the exception, and in any other place it’d be foolhardy to extend them any trust at all.

  Though, there was no damned excuse for the whippings, that was just being lazy.

  The rest of the meal was more everyday conversation. A lot of it was Ginny and Nicole discussing clothes. My monster mate seemed to think a few more leather vests and pants were more than good enough, while my mate was trying to talk her into designer lingerie, sexy outfits, and swore she’d look hot for master in little black dress. I think it was that last that finally made Nicole cave and agree to let my Ginny dress her up like a doll. Looking good for me. Which was kind of hot, and a little disturbing at the same time.

  I was sure though, that her woman half would flourish after time, and she’d be doing all that stuff for herself too, at some point. I also worried I was projecting too much, maybe she would be happiest as that submissive monster and sweet kittenish woman with me the center of her world.

  In short, judging her by human measures or having hopes in that direction, could just be pure folly and it might just make her unsure and miserable. Yes, she was a woman, a beautiful one, but she was also a monster, and we’d have to address and respect both instincts.

  I’d learn very shortly, that I’d already made stupid mistakes, and stupid assumptions.

  Chapter Nine

  The living room couch was comfortable as I focused my mind. The ladies had gone upstairs dragging Nicole, no doubt to bring her into the feminine conspiracy for domestic bliss. My magic was much simpler as it was a part of me. Aphrodite’s blessing took a couple of extra steps, one of those to clear my mind of distractions, then sink myself mentally into the blessing, all while picturing my goddess from her appearance, taste and scent, to the way she bent reality around her, her spiritual presence.

  At that point, I got a whole lot more information from the blessing, regarding compatibility, instead of just the vague feeling I got when I wasn’t trying. Then I pulled it into myself by imagining it as water and me a sponge, which was the critical part of being let back into public, so my blessing wouldn’t try to draw women to me. The closer a woman was in compatibility the more heavily that draw would be felt by her and myself.

  That last part I could only hold for a few seconds. Sometimes a split second and sometime ten to fifteen before my focus was distracted by something. That was okay, at that point I let it all go, and started over. Just like my magic the point was repetition, starting from scratch every time would train my subconscious to do it for me. So I’d no longer need to focus on those things directly, just desire to pull in the blessing, and my mind would make it happen despite distractions.

  But as with my magic, I had a very long way to go, perhaps even further because of the extra steps and requirement of a clear mind.

  It was maybe an hour later when Ginny came down alone, dressed in red lingerie panties and bra, with a thin silk black robe over it that was only slightly translucent. She looked heartbreakingly beautiful, and beyond sexy as she walked over to me with that seductive grace of hers and straddled me.

  “Hi gorgeous, you look… stunning.”

  Ginny smiled, “Thanks, you look yummy yourself. We have to talk though. Did you know some monsters can smell emotions? Our sweet Nicole is one of them. Most of them have heightened senses, hers are her vision and olfactory senses.”

  I was confused by her seeming nonsensical words, until it hit me like a bat across the temple.

  “Fucking hell.”

  Ginny giggled, “Exactly. I think we convinced her you were angry on her behalf, but that’s part of why she seems so tentative. You keep feeling and hiding rage whenever she asks a question, yet all your words are nice, and you say you want her in our bed and like her company. She also scented concern and affection, and a deep desire to protect, but those conflicted and you showed none of it on your face.

  “So yeah, it also doesn’t help that your rage on her behalf isn’t misplaced. Part of her tentativeness is worry and her history, and she’s not quite sure we’re not fucking with her.”

  “I think I need to know the truth. I kind of don’t want to, but I’m filling in all the blanks with my imagination and that might be worse.”

  Ginny nodded, “Ask away.”

  I sighed, “Is it just her and her people, or do other gods breed monsters?”

  Ginny replied, “She’s the biggest, but others do as well. War and his followers, as well as Hades and Poseidon. Anyone with fighting or war in their mantle, even tangentially, but our enemy is the biggest that way. She uses monsters a lot for her games and manipulations. Obviously, Hestia and mom don’t, their mantels are peaceful, or at least not based in martial pursuits.”

  “Are there any free monsters?”

  Ginny nodded slowly, “Single ones, ones that escaped control. That’s usually where all those mysterious animal killings come from, whole families wiped out. Free monsters running around isn’t a good thing. Some of them will avoid civilization, and hunt animals in the wilderness. That’s where most cryptozoological legends come from, because inevitably they run across humans as well.

  “There are some that avoid humans and exposure, that are free, but you’ll likely never face them. Satyrs, centaurs, and a few others, though their populations are small and in the modern world it becomes ever harder for them to hide. But those don’t really matter. You’re wondering about the ones working for demigods and used as disposable weapons, the ones bred in captivity.”

  I frowned, “Our goddess seemed pleased to get me as a champion, but I am built for war, even if that’s not where my heart lies. She also suggested I gather monsters for defense. That seems out of her mantel, I guess I’m missing something.”

  Ginny tilted her head, “I’m not sure what mom is up to on the monster side, but I know she picked an amazing mate for me. Powerful but gentle, yet deliciously dominant in bed. Let’s worry about our lives, we’ll figure it out when she chooses to reveal it. Plus, remember this all started as a favor for Zeus, she wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise, even if she is very pleased with that choice now.”

  That was true, how’d I forget that? Maybe she had no wide range plans for me other than doing my father a favor and what I could do for her outside of my martial prowess. In the end it didn’t matter, I’d do anything she asked of me.

  Ginny said, “Stop delaying, and ask me what you really want to know.”

  I frowned, “Fine. What was it like for her, and the others of her kind? What does a monster’s life look like?”

  Ginny said, “They’re used like guard dogs, or shock troops. Assassins and spies as well, depending on their skillset and what animals they’re made up of. Demigods are rarer, and can be more powerful, but monsters are bred at need. New ones are possible too, but the gods haven’t made any new types in a long while.

  “Try to imagine a cross between a horse stable and a breeding kennel, and you won’t be far wrong. They’re all locked together between missions, and they all have very small spaces of their own, with a cot sized bed and a chest for their clothes. They’re taught from a very young age to obey, and they’re conquered at the first sign of rebellion to that authority. That’s also when the whippings start, to keep them in line for longer between their need to confirm dominance.

  “They are afforded no luxuries and basic foods only that will address their nutritional needs that way. That’s about it. The only exception are the demons, like the Empusa that almost killed you when we met. Those barter their services, directly with the god, and they’re somewhat independent and have better accommodations.

  “Lastly, their numbers are more limited in this day and age, as the gods no longer interfere in human affairs, at least not in the open.”

  I didn’t like much of that at all, but what was the alternative? Freed monsters would be murderous, but there had to be a better way. There was no excuse for the whippings, and their accommodations could be better as well. Controlling them didn’t mean treating them like wild animals, did it? I also wasn’t sure what if anything could be done about it, all I could do was treat my Nicole well, I couldn’t change the world, nor could I change the gods.

  “They’re used against other god’s followers, and for missions in the human world?”

  She bit her lip, “Pretty much. The gods interfere with each other, and they try to influence humanity, some for the good some for the bad, though good and bad is a matter of perspective based on the various mantels, and of course their children follow. We usually either aid our parents or turn on them and aid their enemies, very few actually walk away and try to leave it all behind.”