The ladies had been back in the pool on arrival, so I joined them after kicking off my running shoes and t-shirt. I hadn’t bothered to get dressed up for the house fire, since the plan was not to reveal my presence at all. The water was warm, but far better than the hot July day and relaxing.

  It was where we all were when a flash of golden light entered my yard. We all looked over, and I was a bit surprised to see Nate and Brandon. Brandon’s aura of power was about on par with mine, but Nate’s was terrifyingly vast. Still, I lazily swum over to the side of the pool, and then pulled myself out. I had hopes that this conversation would go well, and Nate wouldn’t be too much of a pain in my ass.

  Because clearly, he was in charge.

  Nate nodded at me pleasantly enough, then said, “We need to talk, Mark.”

  “Sure, do you want something to drink? Brandon?”

  Nate waved a hand, “This isn’t a social call. I’ve always meant to come see you when the negotiations were finished, but we’re just on a lunch break and don’t have a lot of time. I applaud what little you’ve done and are doing to keep tensions down between the gods, supernaturals, and the humans.

  “Continue working with the FBI as you want, as you wish. When it comes to the four supernatural races and humanity, do whatever the hell you want. I don’t care. The reason I’m here however is I got word about the arrest of Brent Doyle.”

  I nodded, “He robbed a bank.”

  Nate grunted, “I’m not here to give you trouble over it, since I hadn’t yet delivered my expectations to you. Your mantel will keep you out of trouble, and my justice mantel keeps me law abiding. However, many gods will be tempted, some even driven, into committing crimes. Our power is a heady thing, is it not?”

  I blew out a breath, “It can be. What is it you want me to do?”

  Nate smiled, “Straight to the point then. Keep doing what you’re doing, but when a god is involved, I want you to call me instead of the FBI. I’ll stop the crime before it starts, or one of my agents will, so no laws will be broken, and I will counsel the god or goddess on their behavior. I don’t need or want you to kiss my ass or hang around, your visions are worthwhile and helpful to my rule, so any dream regarding a god you will report it to me. If all goes well, I won’t be interrupting your arts and leisure again save against great need.

  “I’ll give you my phone number, a texted report will be sufficient, if I have questions, I’ll call you. I don’t mean to be rude, but there’s a lot going on and too many interruptions to my day are detrimental.”

  I did not like the way Brandon was eying my women like they were objects to possess instead of lovely women, but Nate was being almost cordial so far, and his only demand was even reasonable. Yes, I understood the irony of that statement, treating my women like objects, but they weren’t just mine to enjoy their bodies, they were mine to spoil, take care of, and love. To respect. Some might argue that distinction was pointless, but I thought it was everything, and so did my ladies.

  Regardless, it hadn’t even occurred to me to just go to Brent, slap him in the back of the head, and tell him to behave. It probably should’ve, I’d been too focused on stopping the crime itself instead of the people involved. I’d likely keep doing it that way for the others though, except in cases like Evette’s death where personal involvement just made sense.

  “That seems fair, and if my visions can help keep gods out of trouble through you, then you have my agreement and support. In hindsight I should’ve done that myself.”

  I wasn’t even overly insulted he’d said I was only good for visions for his rule. I didn’t think like a ruler, didn’t want to be one, and my advice probably wouldn’t be good toward those ends anyway. Plus, I really didn’t want to follow him around, so it was a win. I was taking it.

  Nate nodded, “Excellent,” and then he gave me his number, which I typed in my phone, and then sent him a text so we could both add a contact card.

  Then the two of them disappeared in a flash of light, likely to shovel down some food.

  “Well, that went… well.”

  June pasted herself to my side and I wrapped an arm around her.

  “Brandon’s a creep.”

  I nodded, “I didn’t like the way he was looking at you, but given Aries reputation I think that’s why Zeus has him on a short leash. If any of you see him without Nate, call out to me through the bond immediately.”

  They all nodded.

  “Where were we?”

  Lily said cutely, “You were about to drag me inside and ravish me, roughly and with exceeding thoroughness.”

  I laughed, “I was? How’d I forget that?”

  Lily tossed her hair, and she broke out her empty-headed bimbo expression as she cocked her hips, “A blonde moment, it happens to us all.”

  I laughed again.

  June kissed my cheek, her dark blue eyes twinkling.

  Well, why not, she was looking adorably sexy after all, and so very beautiful…

  Chapter Eleven

  The bed was comfortable despite being soaked with sweat, as I held Lily’s silky and supplely soft body against mine. She sighed softly in contentment as I held her, and she nuzzled my neck and kissed it.

  “Honey, just what I needed.”

  “Mm, you are amazing, Lily.”

  She giggled, “A bull in bed that takes what he wants, and a sweet pushover who spoils me out of it. I really like that combination. Do you think it’ll always be like this?”

  I caressed her face softly, and I brushed her lips teasingly with mine.

  “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged, “Are we in a hot and torrid honeymoon phase, or…”

  “I don’t think so. I mean, you’ll always be driven to seduce me, which will always have you ready for it, needing my attentions, by your mantel. That will never change. So are you worried the shiny will wear off for me?”

  She smirked, “Insightful, and yes.”

  I shook my head, “I doubt it. Love will keep the spark alive, and I’ll be drowning with nine of you, maybe more in time. I think after a two-day absence of my cock not in you, I’ll be missing you and wanting it badly.”

  She giggled, “Really?”

  I nodded, “Our bodies will help there too, a lot of little things together. We’ll never age further, which means our libidos won’t fade over the years like it does for normal couples, and our bond through the mantel will ensure our relationships will not fade, and I won’t take you for granted. Plus, I have utter faith as trios you’ll come up with ways to shock and blow my mind for centuries to come, with roleplay and naughty games. I have no doubts about your ability to add spice to our bedroom life.”

  She bit her lip, “Okay, June seems to think that too. She’s probably right.”

  She kissed me softly, then looked deep into my eyes, “I know this will sound crazy, and a lot of it is the amazing sex and endorphins. Thrills. But I’m falling for you already, honey. It’s… why I was, am a little still, worried. I’m not worried about me, but the idea of you not noticing or caring when I’m trying to subtly seduce you scares me.”

  I kissed her softly, “You are a miracle, Lily. I already feel affection for you too, and I’ll always be taking you, using you, and making you scream for me.”

  She trembled against me, and her eyes melted, like I’d said something romantic or something.

  “Good, because I need that.”

  I winked, “So do you have a plan to deal with your side of things? I mean, Brenna’s two-day absence from intimacy made me miss her, a small taste of what it will be like when you’re not sheathing my cock for two days in a row. I will miss you, even while drowning in the others, but what about you? I mean, all of you, June too. That itch and all?”

  She shrugged, “We sort of do. I mean, it’s not as thrilling, but it stops the itch when we seduce each other. So we’ll be… as crazy as it sounds, using the buddy system. Swapping in all combinations, for the remaining six of us not with you that day. So we get time with all our sisters. A little relationship maintenance and sapphic loving, splitting the day into three parts. That will… suffice, we think. Thanks for caring enough to ask.”

  I chuckled, “Of course I care, I would never neglect you, and I don’t want that to happen. So if that works, all’s well. Have I mentioned today how adorably beautiful and sexy you are, gorgeous?”

  She smirked, “No, and thank you. Dinner?”

  I nodded. I’d been extremely thorough as she’d asked. It’d burned the late afternoon and early evening, but I didn’t regret a moment of it.

  “Spell or shower?”

  She bit her lip, and said sultrily, “Shower?” her seductive gray eyes telling me if we showered, I could ravish her one more time against the tiles.

  I laughed, rolled out of bed, and headed toward the bathroom…

  “So, I’ve been thinking, a couple of things, tangentially related.”

  June raised an eyebrow, and she swallowed her forkful of carrots before speaking.

  “What’s up, sir?”

  I asked, “We talked about making this a family, all of us, but do you two want children at some point? I wasn’t sure if…”

  June giggled, “If we have a maternal instinct as immortal goddesses?”

  “Something like that, I guess. I’m also pretty sure our kids would be demi-gods, like if I knocked up a mortal. We’re in… mortal incarnations, I guess? It just doesn’t sound right to think they’d be gods, I think to do that we’d have to get busy in our true forms back wherever we go when we die.”

  June bit her lip, “Probably, but to answer your question, yes. The woman in me wants your baby, sir. But not yet. I was hoping to start a real family after we were all together and our family dynamic had solidified. There’s no rush, but yes, I definitely want a little one at some point. You?”

  I nodded, “Yes, that appeals to me very much, sexy. Lily?”

  Lily winked, “Eventually, like June said. After we’re in love, commitments of the heart, and the rest of our family is here. We’re still kind of making it up as we go along.”

  “Good.”

  June asked, “The other thing?”

  “Oh, right. Brenna, is there a charm or spell, or can we make one, that will act as a contraceptive on my side? That way I can ensure things and not depend on human contraception or in asking a woman seducing me to swallow a potion. I won’t wear it all the time, just when I’m having an affair. I mean, I have been thinking and worrying I could’ve knocked up Katerina Johnson. Probably not, but if I keep playing Russian Roulette, eventually I’m going to have a kid with one of them.”

  Lily said, “With your Johnson.”

  I laughed.

  Brenna snickered, “A charm spell would be best, so you don’t lose the spell when you’re cumming. It’s not easy to hold an active spell during orgasm, and it would lessen the rush to do so. I’ll look into it and let you know. That’s very responsible of you.”

  I shrugged, “Better late than never, right? Plus, you know, don’t want to bag it. No disease threat, and condoms aren’t a hundred percent either.”

  Lily snickered.

  June asked amusedly, “But you won’t wear it with us?”

  I winked, “Isn’t it hotter, me filling you with live rounds, or covering your face?”

  June tilted her head, then said breathily, “You win, I’ll stay on the monthly potion.”

  I snickered.

  Amber’s panic reached me through the bond. A strong call for help, and I almost ignored it.

  “Shit, Amber’s in trouble.”

  June scowled, but she got up, and a moment later so did Lily. I never did ask what hateful things Amber has said about me, but whatever it was it had June holding a grudge.

  I used farseeing, and Amber was in a panic, screaming and cursing, her power sputtering in her fear and rage, as about twenty men and a few women in a small comedy club were holding her down and tearing at her clothes.

  Shit.

  I teleported the three of us there, and then cast a witch spell that hit them hard with a howling wind. They all went flying and landed in a pile, while Amber already lying down merely slid a foot or two. I marched up to a shocked and trembling Amber, then teleported the four of us to our backyard.

  Amber glared at me.

  She really was attractive, but it did nothing for me. Stunning classic beauty on an oval face, and lovely light brown hair, but her hazel eyes were full of poison, and her petite lushly ripe body wasn’t a temptation to my eyes any longer.

  I snorted, “You’re welcome. This needs to end, Amber. You need to accept the truth of what and who you really are, not this version poisoned by society. The same thing happened to June, when she experimented with her power before accepting her mantel. She was almost raped. Controlling our power is easy, just focus on the ends, but that doesn’t work if you’re conflicted and hate your power and yourself.”

  She said in a shaky voice, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, asshole.”

  I shrugged, “Right now? Not really, you disgust me. You’re a sexpot, but you’re also poison. The truth is your true nature is fighting against what society has molded you into, and you will go crazy eventually. You’ll never control your power, you’ll never be happy, and you’ll be miserable for an eternity or until something kills you. You’ll continue to take it out on everyone around you, as you refuse to accept the truth. You will never find love, joy, or passion. You are mine, and that’s what you really want even as it horrifies you. And it scares the piss out of you and turns you into the bitchiest and most hateful woman I’ve ever met.”

  “I’d never want you,” she spat, “You’re a bastard, asshole.”

  Even as she uttered the hateful words, it was obvious they were a lie. She looked haunted.

  “The truth hurts. I’m not actually trying to be cruel, I’m trying to wake you up. The only one responsible for your misery is you and your poisoned beliefs. If I was a bastard, then I’d have watched you get raped. I saved you instead, even after what you did to Brenna. Pull yourself together and get the fuck out of here. Did you even feel guilty for what you did, or think of apologizing?”

  She sneered, “Fuck you, asshole.”

  She stood up.

  “I guess not.”

  She roared angrily, “Of course I did, you dick. I still feel bad, but you pissed me off and kicked me out. I guess I didn’t jump on your dick fast enough like these traitors to womankind.”

  June snorted, “I’m going inside, before I say or do something I’d regret,” she looked at me, “Next time she needs to be saved, do it yourself and don’t bother mentioning it. I want no part of her.”

  She walked away and Lily followed, leaving Amber and I glaring at each other.

  “Newsflash, I didn’t kick you out. I left it up to them. If you’d apologized for your screwup and talked to them like a real person, you’d probably still be here. I don’t know what hateful things you said to them that had June so angry, but I bet it was insulting to me and them.”

  She snorted derisively, “You expect me to believe that?”

  I shrugged, stepped forward, and said, “Admit it. A part of you wants me to throw you down and claim you right here. To own you and fuck you into submission. Admit it.”

  She looked like I’d slapped her, eyes wide. I’ll admit the statement was horribly arrogant, but it was also just the truth. Normally a man saying that, he’d be an overbearing prick with delusions of being god’s gift to womenkind, but in my case it was my god to her goddess, and it was just the truth.

  I’d decided my hands off approach and patience had failed, and she deserved the bull approach before I completely wrote her off. If she really did regret her accidental attack on Brenna, then maybe there was hope for her after all.

  I doubted it, but I could spend five more minutes on it.

  I smirked, “That turned you on, didn’t it? Just me suggesting it probably has you heating up for my cock. Men and woman have roles, there’s nothing wrong with that no matter what extremist manhaters have convinced you of, it’s normal. It’s also normal for there to be exceptions, and variations. It’s okay for humans to be different, those outliers define the norm. There’s room for everyone out there in the human world.

  “But you are a goddess, and I am your god. Period. We don’t get exceptions, we don’t get to live in fucking delusional worlds where you believe masculinity is toxic, and all men are born evil. You don’t get to do that as a goddess. Our roles are strictly defined by our mantels and power, far more firmly than human society or human instinct defines there’s. You think you’d rather die, but I’m telling you that you’ll never be happy until you accept it. We don’t get to deny reality like the humans do, it will destroy us if we try.

  “So… pick. You know you want it, even as you’d rather open a vein. So, decide, because if this goes on much longer,” I waved behind me at the house, “then they will never forgive you or accept you as a sister. You will be alone, driven insane by the dueling need to be owned and cherished and to seduce me, and the hatred that rails against it inside your mind, and you will spout hateful things at everyone, but the truth is you’ll despise no one more than yourself.”

  Being a god sucked sometimes, and everything I said was true. Humans got to live and believe however and whatever they wanted, even if it was patently false, but we truly didn’t. We had our roles to play, and us defying them had a heavy cost. On the good side those roles were complemented and supported by our instincts and natural inclinations, our natural personality, it was Amber being brainwashed and programmed by society against her natural beliefs that had caused all this. Obeying our roles and mantel led to peace and joy for us, so it wasn’t all that bad.

  June and Lily had faced that same challenge, but they hadn’t been manhaters, just taught to believe a woman shouldn’t submit to a man or admit needing to have one, and they’d gotten past it quickly. Clearly Amber had more militant views on the matter, either from life or from others with that extreme view in her life.