Serenity. I kind of wallowed in it for a moment. Hestia looked lovely in a thin white flower print summer dress and open toed strappy brown flat sandals. The cozy room hadn’t changed, there was a fireplace, the leather easy chairs that were impossibly comfortable, and an oak end table between the chairs and a small round coffee table caddy corner to both of us. It almost didn’t matter, it was the goddess’s presence I think that made it all warm and homey, though the atmosphere of the place didn’t hurt.

  She was more beautiful than I remembered, as if my mortal mind couldn’t contain the entirety of her incomparable magnificence in memory. Honey brown hair that hung like liquid spun silk, and doe brown eyes I could get lost in forever. Her face adorably beautiful, and her perfect hourglass body quite alluring to the eyes.

  She smiled, “You did well today, but how do you feel after the effort.”

  “I’m pretty fantastic right now.”

  She giggled.

  I said, “It was a bit rough, but I expect soon enough all I’ll struggle with is the decision to heed the blessing’s urgings or not. That part requires judgment, and I’m almost afraid I was too contrary today.”

  She smiled, “Contentment, feeling at home, is made up of all the little things. It’ll be more obvious when you’re hosting at your home, or a business like we discussed yesterday. You were right to resist most of it. Putting a smile on someone’s face with a welcoming word or small gesture would never go amiss, and costs little, but you’re right about the social rules. Sometimes such actions when done for a stranger will have the opposite effect than intended, even if they did need it their minds would reject it as odd. It’s not a simple thing.”

  So, I didn’t do too badly then.

  She said, “Your approach to it is also a good thing. Most will just turn it off by holding it in, when away from their business and home and take that approach.”

  I nodded, “Crash training. I’ll need to be using it for my martial arts classes, so it seemed prudent to take the tack I did, so I wasn’t overwhelmed by everyone else in range as well. I’ll keep that in mind though, when I go shopping or out dancing with my mate.”

  She grinned, “Like I said, your approach is a rare one, but also a good one. One of the most successful approaches for those that expend that effort. As for the other, that you can’t get used to, just use your judgment. It wouldn’t be effective if it didn’t pick up everything, but a good rule of thumb is to address what fits the circumstances. In short, what you’ve already been doing.”

  That was a good thing. I could hardly feel more relaxed than I did now, but I was sure her words would be a comfort when I woke up in the mortal world again.

  She said, “I’d like your help with something. My daughter Cathy runs a bed and breakfast out in the country outside of L.A. I don’t know and I don’t care what Hera and Athena are working down there together on with their children, but they’ve been abusing her good will. There’s four of them, and they’ve spent the last four weekends there and haven’t paid. They’ve also been rather demanding in inappropriate ways. Of course, if a human did something like that then she could just call the police, but in our world that can’t happen. It’s not a simple matter of her being taken advantage of because of her nature, there’s true coercion going on.”

  I frowned, “Isn’t Athena justice?”

  She laughed, “Yes, but while our human children are sometimes informed by our mantels, they are hardly limited to them. Arrogance and selfishness, perhaps they’ve convinced themselves she enjoys it, or perhaps they’re just weak men who are getting a thrill out of it. Either way I’d like them evicted for her sake. There are three men, and one woman on the team.”

  I nodded, “I’ll take care of it. I assume they’re out during the day doing their thing, so I’ll head down as soon as I wake in the hopes of catching them.”

  She gave me the location and I knew I wouldn’t forget it. More than that, it was only a couple of miles from a river, which meant we’d get there really fast if I had Hali take me instead of taking a four-hour car ride it’d be less than a minute in the water.

  I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but asked, “Inappropriate ways?”

  She nodded, “Making her wait on them hand and foot at all hours of the night, monopolizing her time when she has sixteen other rooms full of guests to see to. Invading her private apartments. Two of the men got a bit grabby at times, but she hasn’t been forced to lie with them, yet. Most likely because of Cynthia, one of the daughters of Hera, wouldn’t put up with them going that far. Perhaps her mate Niall as well. The larger instigators are the other two, Athena’s Steven and Greg, but the others are just as guilty for abusing her services and not paying by standing by and doing nothing. It’s not a common thing but given the world over it happens more than you’d think to my children.

  “More often it’s an abusive or using boyfriend or girlfriend, or business partner that takes advantage. My children tend to be submissive and accommodating. While it’s true the blessing won’t specifically help or inform when it comes to sex, the act itself is part of the comforts of home where appropriate, like in a relationship.”

  I nodded, “I’m sure I’ll be angry about that, later. What they’re doing I mean.”

  She grinned, “You’re a wonder. Alright, let’s move on to more pleasant subjects.”

  I said, “In that case, tell me about yourself.”

  She snorted a laugh.

  Admittedly, my sense of humor could be a bit goofy at times, but to be fair my goddess was a far more pleasant subject.

  My mind also latched on to the submissive and accommodating part. In a way I was that as well. In being dominant, protective, and possessive. Maybe I was reading into that too much, but those three things could be abused, but I didn’t. I was that way because it was my nature, but I channeled that toward giving Hali what she needed, and in that way alone it was an act of accommodation and submission. I was dominant in the way they needed, and not out of selfishness. Point in fact, I wouldn’t be giving Katerina orders like I did my Hali if I managed to woo her into my mating bed and home, ever. She didn’t need that. She needed a wildly different form of possessiveness and protectiveness out of bed, and in bed she needed a measure of control, and I imagined that would be true for all my mates. They’d all have different needs that way.

  I got off on a little tangent, but it was an interesting self-reflection I thought I should include in this account. At the same time, I’d never be a subservient submissive, which meant a truly dominant woman would never be compatible with me.

  We talked and got to know each other better during the endless night, and as she said, moved on to more pleasant subjects.

  The dawn’s light reflected off the surface of the river as I held on for dear life. I really hoped she didn’t run me into a rock, I’d be dead before I felt it. It wasn’t a true fear, I knew she would take good care of me, but it was still a disconcerting thought as we rocketed through the water with tail and magic. After waking up and a quick reprise to soothe our morning lusts, I’d filled in Hali on what was going on, and where we needed to go.

  Then it was over, as we suddenly stopped on the shoreline.

  She looked as beautiful as she did fierce in her monster form. Covered in scintillating golden scales from head to the tip of her mermaid tail. She shifted back and grinned at me as we walked out of the water. She used a little power to dry us both off, while I put the duffel down and took out some clothes for her to wear. I’d spelled it to keep the contents dry. A black leather halter top and skirt. She looked hot in it of course. Then I handed her weapons over, and I started to belt on my own as I used my magic to ward it all so humans wouldn’t see the swords and daggers on our hips.

  We started off at a jog, but with our enhanced speed and strength that jog would rival an Olympic runner’s sprint. It’d take us just about six minutes to run the two miles or so we needed to go. I left the empty duffel bag against a tree, since we wouldn’t need it again until it was time to go home.

  The bed and breakfast was a three-story white mansion, with light blue shutters. There was a relatively small lake, but still a lake and far too vast to be called a simple pond out back. There were docks with paddle boats, small two-person sail boats, kayaks, a couple of pontoon boats, and a roped off swimming area. It was clear there was activity in the house, and there was already a third pontoon boat out on the lake with three people fishing.

  The backyard also had a small jungle gym, as well as a badminton net and tether ball court. At a guess they advertised this as a family friendly place.

  I looked over at Hali, and the sweet lovingly submissive woman I’d been with the last few weeks was completely absent. She looked sharp, predatory, and protective, like she used to as my instructor. She was… so damned sexy and magnificent in her fierce gracefulness, I’d almost forgotten in how submissively sweet she was for me alone.

  She looked over at me with a predatory smile, obviously picking up the surge of lust in my scent that I felt for my sexy as hell Hali.

  I asked, “Ready?”

  She nodded.

  I said, “Remember, we want to evict them and make it clear they’re not welcome. Killing them is the last and final option, if they threaten our lives.”

  She nodded, “The human guests won’t make it easy.”

  I said, “We can put them all to sleep if we have to. We also don’t want to tear up Cathy’s house. I wonder if a little patience is called for. We could wait them out until they leave for the day after breakfast.”

  She tilted her head, and nodded, “Boring, but much more tactically sound than confronting them in front of humans in a relatively fragile structure. It’d be easier to form an effective ward out here as well, and less dangerous for the humans and mansion if things go south.”

  “Let’s find out where they’re parked.”

  She nodded, and she led the way. Her sensitive nose could easily pick out the scents of the four demigods, even without meeting them. Demigods scented different than humans because of their power. She wouldn’t recognize their individual scents of course, but she didn’t need to, she just needed to pinpoint the racial scent.

  She led us right to a four door black Explorer SUV, that was obviously owned by one of the demigods. Wherever they were from, and whatever they were doing here, they’d evidently driven in. Reason being the inside of the SUV was an absolute mess, while a rental wouldn’t be. The plates were California plates, but that didn’t really tell me anything. They could be from anywhere in the massive state, or from L.A. which was just about thirty miles west to the city limits.

  I also what wondered what business brought them down here on the weekends for the last four weeks. But in the end, it didn’t matter. My goddess didn’t care what they or their gods were up to, she just wanted them to stop abusing Cathy’s good will. We settled down to wait.

  “You look lovely and badass in that outfit.”

  She smirked, “Thanks, it’s not much protection but I like the way you look at me in it.”

  I shrugged, “We don’t fight in armor.”

  She replied, “True, and I have to admit even this thin black leather that barely covers my tits and ass are better protection than being naked.”

  I chuckled. It was a bit more material than that. The skirt went down to lower thigh and was slit up both sides for free movement. The leather vest on the other hand was little more than a tit covering, save the thin leather shoulder straps it left her upper chest and her whole stomach bare. It also made her bountiful D cup cleavage look extra delightful, as it mashed them together and pushed them up. She didn’t quite look like they might bounce out, but it was close. A lot of her delightful light golden-brown skin was on display. It wasn’t something I really thought about, since she was always naked at home now and had been the last five years in the ocean, but it was sexy as hell from human standards.

  My standards too, clothes made her sexier somehow, but I wasn’t going to delve to deeply into the psychology of that.

  A few families came out and got in cars to leave for the day, perhaps to see the sights. I don’t suppose we waited all that long, maybe an hour, just long enough for me to start to doubt they’d be leaving at all.

  Cynthia and Niall were easy to pick out, because of how close they stood together and their body language it was obvious they were the couple. Cynthia because she was the only female, and Niall because I knew that was her mate. Cynthia was a platinum blonde and quite statuesque at around five foot eleven, with light brown eyes. Niall was a couple of inches taller than I was at six feet and three inches, and he was built like a brick wall.

  The other two, Steven and Greg, were both brown haired and brown eyed, with a medium muscular build similar to mine. One of them had much darker tanned skin and a slightly darker shade of hair.

  We weren’t being subtle, nor was it an ambush, and all four of them paused warily as they saw the two of us leaning against the back of their SUV. I also put up a ward for privacy, which clearly Cynthia and either Steven or Greg, the darker haired one, felt. Which meant two of them were sensitives, and they might be trained in magic as well. That wasn’t really worrying, magic was good for coverups and convenience, or questioning someone once their power had been defeated, but it wasn’t much good in an actual fight against a demigod with power.

  It seemed certain that at least one of them were partially trained, since they were all armed to the teeth with swords and daggers surrounded by wards similar to the ones mine held, which made them invisible to humans.

  I could feel their needs, but it’d never been easier to deny the temptation to fulfill them.

  “Good morning. I’m Evan Cross, champion of Hestia. This is Hali. We need to talk.”

  One of Athena’s snorted, “Want to wash my car or something?”

  Cynthia slapped him in the back of his head, and said in disgust, “Can’t you feel his power, idiot,” she turned to me, “Cynthia, daughter and Champion of Hera, my mate Niall, Steven and Greg, champions of Athena.”

  Turned out Steven had the darker hair, and Greg was the wiseass that held contempt for Hestia’s mantel and children. Though, I suspected it was more than one that did, Greg was just the moron in the group.

  I said, “I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you all. Hestia doesn’t care what you’re doing here, or what your mission is in the LA area, or whether it’s personal or has to do with your gods, and neither do I frankly. All we care about is the dishonorable and disgraceful way you’ve been treating our Cathy. It’s certainly nothing to fight about, assuming we can come to an accommodation. After all, there’s been no cruelty or death, and I for one would like to see that trend continue.”

  Greg snorted, “Was that a threat? I couldn’t tell with your ass-kissing tone.”

  Cynthia sighed, “What is it that you’re here to ask of us?”

  I nodded, “Pay for the last three weekends, and last night. What you owe. Then pack up your shit, leave, and never come back. Heart and hearth is something that should be appreciated and respected, something you should be thankful for, to take your ease. Not something for your amusement, contempt, and blustering foolishness, not to mention coercive and asinine behavior. A large tip wouldn’t go amiss either, for all that extra attention you enjoyed.”

  I was being polite, but my heart was beating at a slightly accelerated and strong rate. My body was like a live wire and full of adrenaline. I hoped they’d go peacefully, but despite my calm outward demeanor I was as tight as a drawn bow and ready to act against any sign of violence. Being stupid assholes wasn’t a death sentence offense, and I really didn’t want it to come to a fight, but I would end up killing in self-defense.

  It would happen sooner or later, but outside of my step-father, which was more an accident than anything else, I’d never killed anyone before. Not consciously and deliberately. I knew the fact that I could say that would eventually change, the world of gods, demigods, and magic was too violent not to, but I hoped that day wasn’t today.

  Steven challenged, “And if we don’t?”

  I snorted, “You mean, if you’re that entitled and selfish? Damn… I haven’t heard that since grade school, when a seven-year-old bully dared me to make them. Is that what you are? Is that the kind of champion the goddess of justice has? Here’s another playground saying, I didn’t start it. Do the right thing, or things will get unpleasant, when I make you do it.”

  Cynthia shook her head, “I knew I shouldn’t have gone along, but I was trying not to rock the boat with our goddesses working together. Sometimes you have to work with people you don’t like, you know? We’re here in a support capacity, it was their responsibility to cover the bill, and I let that be a self-justification and put it all on them.”

  It wasn’t much of an apology, but I got it as an explanation, and at least she seemed to be doing the right thing now, I hoped. I didn’t let my guard down though.

  She turned to the two clowns, “Enough, I’m not going to spill blood or risk my life over your stupidity. I knew this wasn’t going to end well,” she turned to her mate, “Come on, Niall. Let’s get our stuff and pay the bill.”

  She walked off and an embarrassed Niall followed. I supposed it wasn’t a big surprise it was the woman who wore the pants in the family, for a champion of Hera.

  I raised an eyebrow at Steven and Greg, content to let my words stand as is. I could see it in Greg’s eyes when he decided to let pride dictate his course, even though he knew his actions were indefensible. He would fight, simply because he couldn’t tolerate being called out for those actions. I also got the idea that Steven was the follower, and he had no backbone outside of fighting bluster. In short, no personal integrity and he let the idiot Greg drag him into trouble. Not a coward, I was sure the man would back up his partner with his blood and sword, but an emotional coward with no principles.

  I also wasn’t going to underestimate them. Sure, I had ten times the power, and I had mastered several martial arts and ancient weapons. But Athena wasn’t just the goddess of wisdom and justice. She was the goddess of several things, including war. She was Ares female counterpart. I had no doubt both men knew how to throw down, and strength wasn’t everything.