“So get ready, we’re simultaneously teleporting in about… fifteen seconds now. Once Matthew and Britt are down, it’s my hope Gregory and Patricia surrender and never attack here. Same plan, Nadia will focus on holding them there, while Kaya, Lianne, Darrell, and I attack. I’m sure Mark will help too, which will be a considerable effort.”

  Natasha said, “I’m going!”

  Shit, I really should’ve seen that coming, of course she’d want to defend her father personally. I might be able to talk her out of it, but not in the few precious seconds we had left.

  “Fine.”

  Gary glared, “If she’s going, I’m going. That’s two of my mates going into danger, not without me. They don’t need me here for fifteen minutes, the battle at Mark’s mansion will be long over by then, and we can all be here before Gregory and Patricia arrive.”

  Shit, I was losing control, and four seconds wasn’t enough time to regain it through reason. He also wasn’t wrong. Matthew and Britt would have even less of a snowball’s chance in hell against five tier ones and three powerful tier twos. I just didn’t want to have to hold back my power to cover my own ass if he decided to take me out in an opportune moment.

  “Natasha, help Nadia, Gary, you’re on offense with us. We’re going, Mark’s backyard, now!”

  I teleported out with Lianne, and I wondered if I’d live through the next thirty seconds. More worried about Gary than the enemy. Sure, his mates were on my side to an extent, as far as our little personality conflict went, but they’d throw it all out the window in a physical fight between Gary and I. Even if it put them on the wrong side, they’d defend their mate and help finish me off, even if they didn’t want to and thought it was wrong. That jealous ass could ruin everything, my rule, our safety, and our advantage over the other pantheons. For nothing, I wasn’t interested in his women, and they sure as hell weren’t wanting in my pants either.

  He had no current plans to, but he surely wanted to see me dead and off the throne. He already had me all but judged in his mind as well, sure I was breaking the rules. That I had a power they didn’t know about didn’t occur to any of them. Point being, they’d even be able to use that as a poor justification for their acts, even if they had no proof.

  Chapter Seven

  It was a large four-thousand-foot stone face mansion, and there was a teardrop inground pool. I appeared right next to it, Lianne and I the only one to choose a definitive spot, thanks to knowing where the enemy would appear.

  The two of us appeared between six of the nine muses sunbathing, including Amber and June, and the two enemies, Matthew and Britt. Natasha appeared far behind me by the house’s back door with Gary and Kaya, so were way out of position. Nadia had taken Darrell, so those two were together as well and flanking the enemy by the eastern fence.

  I blasted Britt with lightning, since Matthew would probably just catch it, another sky god associated with lightning after all.

  Matthew screamed, “It’s a trap,” and after a millisecond pause he turned to the side and let loose his own lightning bolt, straight at Nadia. He probably figured if he took out the one holding them there, that they might escape.

  Britt powered through my lightning bolt, and rushed me, but was taken out by Gary’s and Kaya’s joint darkness attack a moment later. Even if he’d had all his power in his shields, it wouldn’t have been enough at two on one, not to mention my lightning bolt hitting a moment before.

  The darkness swallowed him whole, he screamed, and when it cleared he was cuffed with power suppression and knocked out.

  At the same time that happened, Nadia went down hard, but she was still alive, if blackened by the lightning burns. Matthew tried to teleport out and take Britt with him, but both Natasha and I suppressed him hard as Darrell summoned a sword into his hand and lunged at Matthew.

  Matthew was also a war god and summoned a weapon, but at the last moment Darrell lunged to the side and took Britt’s head with a casual swing. It was a good plan and distraction, and all the time that the god and goddess of darkness needed to shift their attention.

  I tossed another bolt of lightning, if nothing else it would take some of his power away from defense, while Natasha also sent a witchcraft air spell.

  Matthew tried to dodge, but the spell and darkness just followed him, twisting to intercept, which is the moment the sky exploded and a sun appeared.

  Which just really, told me how much chance I’d have, if Gary turned on me and I was forced to fight. It was an execution, not a fight, with him so outnumbered. The darkness swallowed him and leached away his shields, the air spell with no protections cut him to ribbons, and the ray of plasma from the sky utterly atomized him in less than a second.

  I teleported out to HQ, taking Lianne with me. It seemed… prudent, to remove the temptation before Gary did something stupid.

  “Misty, package that up and send it to their phones, with a demand for surrender and a cessation of all hostilities.”

  Misty said, “Done.”

  Mandy asked, “What happened?”

  “Nadia was hurt, but she’ll be fine if a little pissed off. Matthew and Britt are dead. The others should be right behind me.”

  Mandy reported, “All our military is here, though there’s a few people I’d have liked to recruit we’re in good shape. Why does Lianne look so grim?”

  I squeezed her hand, “Because the council is about to turn on me if they’re foolish enough to follow Gary. Which they totally are. Something about love that overrides better judgement and the principles your love and darkness trio profess to hold so dear. Right now, he’s pontificating that the danger the fates mentioned must be past, and there’s no reason to put up with my shit anymore. Which, is bullshit, the only shit is personal. I just retreated from a flawless victory, thanks to my rule and guidance, because of my own council. If I hadn’t, Gary probably would’ve attacked me instead of trying to talk the others into it.”

  Mandy scowled.

  I held up a hand, “I’ve done nothing but safeguard all our lives, to the last and least of our gods, and navigated through all this to minimize the mess the fates saw. I have done nothing to earn it. The very fact you’re not the least bit afraid and feel free to scowl at me says everything. I am nothing like Nate was. So save it, I don’t want to hear it. I know he’s your mate and you love him, but there’s no justice in this, this is all about his jealousy and his powerful influence over his mates, including you. I’ve had enough, I don’t have to be liked, but I have proven myself and earned the benefit of the doubt, at the very least.”

  Mandy said, “Natasha won’t…”

  I stopped her again, “Natasha is arguing for reason, but when push comes to shove and I must defend myself, she will fight on Gary’s side as will Kaya regardless of their opinions out of love. Nadia will join them out of a desire to replace me, and Freda and Teresa will follow their power block because they honestly don’t care who rules, as long as they get to keep doing what they’re doing. I don’t even blame her for it, not really. If I leave, you’ll know why, they came to a decision to overthrow me, and I was right.”

  Mandy looked troubled, but she didn’t come to any of their defense again.

  The only thing that might back them off, is collecting Amelia. Not as a hostage, but to set them all straight on the justice of the matter. But that would just drive a wedge into their family, and they’d all hate me for it, including Amelia. It’d be a delaying action at best.

  It was also short-sighted, the other pantheons were still in the game if not aggressive. They might not take advantage of me being dethroned and our pantheon being down to six tier-one gods, when they’d both have ten in just two months, but why risk it for Gary’s outrageous pride and jealousy?

  That Sara hadn’t intervened at all, said that the fates were done with me. The last couple of months would’ve been a much bigger mess, without me around. But for the moment it was handled. Which was verified a moment later. Of course, that didn’t mean I was out for sure, it just meant they were satisfied with whatever would unfold without their interference. That could include me keeping the throne, after all. If they saw me navigating out of this mess, they wouldn’t bother adding their two cents.

  Misty interjected into my thoughts, “Gregory is asking for terms.”

  I waved, “Same rules the other three pantheons currently follow. No interference, and any of theirs that breaks that must be punished severely for the infraction. Any gods interfering with theirs are to be captured alive and turned over for punishment.”

  Misty tilted her head, “He agreed.”

  She must’ve had him on the phone.

  “Let Gopal, Karim, and Layla know of their agreement to start playing by the rules, so they know not to kill but to capture and turn over any rule breakers.”

  I turned to Mandy, “When they get back in a few seconds, remind them of what just happened, and also update them on the situation. The war is over. Also remind them they’re breaking the law and overreaching, not to mention the fact I just saved Natasha’s family and you, not a fucking hour ago. This is the thanks I get?”

  She thought that first part through, then the blood drained from her face.

  I shrugged, and then teleported out.

  Lianne asked, “What did you just imply?”

  “We won because I knew every move of the enemy, and only struck when they were vulnerable and apart. I also said I’d retreat if the odds turned against us. I probably can’t win, but the six of them can’t live, eat, and breathe together for the rest of their lives, and your power is more than enough to give me an edge in a one-on-one battle. No matter how they slice it, one of them will die in their family, if they don’t cut out the shit and put Gary in his place.

  “It’s also a no-win scenario, even if I could take out enough of them to put the rest in line, that would lead to our defeat from an outside enemy in the future. Also something I really don’t want to do, most of them would fall in line if it wasn’t for Gary, and are good people besides. I can’t roll over and die because of that though, it’s their choice to follow his lead. I led by example and delegation, but their mistrust of me save Mandy and Natasha, and Gary’s jealous hatred trumped that ruling style. I’m fucked.”

  I shook my head, “Anyway, we need to go. With our implants we can run the businesses from anywhere. It’s only a matter of time before they come to the mansions to take me down.”

  Lianne scowled, “They want to kill you?”

  “Natasha wants to take me down for a trial, but Nadia and Gary will make sure I die in the takedown. Mandy knocking some sense into them is really our best hope, she’ll see all the dangers of the path Gary is blazing, as clearly as I am. If not more so.”

  We collected Aubrey, Cerise, and Faith, and took just long enough to pack a few bags before we teleported out. I was a lot more furious than I was letting on about all everything. It was like I was back at step one. They’d been right about Nate, but I’d done nothing to earn this witch hunt.

  The tomb was stuffy, and also filled with treasure. It was also well protected and hidden, a bolt hole and rainy-day fund for Zeus, or at least one of them. So I had no fear of being found there, it’d stayed hidden for millennia. The spells that kept it hidden were tied to the life and magic generation of an entire forest, which is how it lasted for several millennia.

  It took a little while to fill in the others on what had happened, and what was going on. I hadn’t made the time to do so back at the mansion, just had them pack quick. I wasn’t sure how fast the council would come after me, and they still hadn’t decided on a course since I wasn’t back at HQ.

  They all looked angry at the betrayal, as well as worried. The four of them cuddled in close, I’d snagged the large living room couch on the way out just so we could be comfortable while figuring out what the plan was.

  Faith said, “It’s hard to believe, but I know I wouldn’t be reasonable when it comes to you.”

  Cerise said, “We can control the business from anywhere, but we’ll have to pick up the daily fabricated implants, get them loaded, and deliver them to the delivery service company.”

  I nodded, “That last part I don’t have to go with them, just send them off. I can also build a third computer room wherever we end up for now. So the only real unavoidable risk is picking them up.”

  Faith snorted, “I’ll pick them up, they have no reason to interfere with me.”

  I sighed, and Lianne said, “They probably won’t hurt you, Natasha likes you too much, but they would take you down and read your mind to find out where we’re holed up.”

  I shook my head, “I’ll know when it’s safe enough, if we have to we can let the stock pile up for a few days and use both locations temporarily until we catch up. The important thing is we’re all safe and keeping us that way.”

  If it wasn’t for my family, my three pregnant mates and Cerise, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t already be hunting them all for their perfidy. Except, I cared about the pack, I wasn’t quite so sure I had it in me to take them down with me. I wouldn’t lie down and die, but for now there were other options, not just attack or die. Long term it’d be untenable, but right now I had enough breathing room for them to come to their senses. Natasha, Kaya, and Mandy all felt guilty in the moment.

  It was a vicious circle in my head. I couldn’t rule the others without the love and darkness trio power block backing me, and it was one of those that wanted me gone now that I was no longer needed. At least, not needed in their opinion.

  As I’d said earlier, I was fucked if nothing changed.

  Aubrey asked, “So what are we going to do.”

  “Short term, lay low and see what develops. That means disguising us and our power, as well as our appearances. I have property we can use, a safe house Nate set up that no one else knows about. A few compulsions is all we need to get new identities and open a joint bank account with a few hundred thousand of this gold which will barely scratch the surface. We won’t be hiding forever, but for now it’s the best move. We can still use our current business accounts for transactions, that won’t help them find us, it’s more point of sale at stores we need to be wary of, and we’ll use the new accounts for normal shopping.”

  Cerise asked, “Where is it?”

  “San Antonio area, close to the college.”

  Lianne sighed, “How the hell did this happen?”

  I sighed, “You were there, they didn’t want me, the fates forced me on them. It’s not about right and wrong, not really. Gary is angry and persuasive, and he reminded them all of that when saying they didn’t need to have to bow to me anymore. He stoked their mistrust, and no one wanted to speak up for me and mention all the good I’ve done. No one likes the boss, not even the good ones that don’t abuse their power. That, along with Kaya and Natasha being loyal mates, and Nadia being an opportunist, was enough to sway the others who don’t care either way.”

  We all created charms for the appearance change through witchcraft, so we could take them off if we ever had to attend a work-related video conference or meeting. I’d also ward the house heavily so we couldn’t be found with scrying or farseeing, or felt by a passing god detect our power. Until the wards were up, my power could keep us all hidden with a little focus.

  The hardest part was they wouldn’t be able to go out without me even in their new guises. I’d have to be there to prevent anyone from farseeing them when they were away from the wards, as well as changing our power signature. I could suppress or modify mine to match another god’s, but they couldn’t, I’d have to do it for them.

  Which meant even Aubrey couldn’t go for a run in the forest, without me present. It stuck in my craw far more than limiting my own movements did, I was making the women I loved virtual prisoners, but far better that than going off the handle and leaving our children without a father, and them without a mate.

  That’s what I kept telling myself, it helped that I didn’t want to switch to the tactics that would get me out of this. Going after Mark and his family, going after the weak links… the idea turned my stomach. Mark, his goddesses, Amelia, Vicki, and Mandy hadn’t done anything wrong.

  Gary deserved it the most, but if I hunted him his mates would never forgive me, and I’d lose the council anyway. I couldn’t do it on my own, even if I could defeat all of them, which was far from a certain thing. Even one on one, at least Gary and Kaya were a solid match for me, and Nadia and Natasha shouldn’t be underestimated either. Battle was a fickle mistress, I preferred not to fight if I didn’t know the turnout ahead of time. It was unavoidable at times, but not this time.

  Although, Lianne would tilt those odds, but wiping out four more of my tier ones was just a bad plan, no matter how I looked at it. I couldn’t run the government or protect my people with only Freda and Teresa at my side. No doubt Mandy would quit, if I took out three of her five mates.

  What really killed me was if I was the kind of man that Gary thought I was, then he was being reckless with his family and Natasha’s. That’s how blinded he was by his jealous and hatred. If I was the man they distrusted and saw, then I would be going after those weak links.

  Once that was done, we got the house warded, and took care of identifications and bank accounts. It took a few hours before we returned to the safe house. It was northwest of the city, not all that far from the college campus. No doubt Nate had believed if he had to hide, he’d blend with the thousands of students in the area that matched his age. Of course, it was between semesters at the moment.

  The house itself was rather humble compared to what we had before, but a solid upper-middle class home. An eighteen hundred square foot and four-bedroom two story ranch. It had light blue siding and white window shutters. It sat on a generous half acre, about two thirds of that was the backyard. The lawn and bushes were well kept, despite him dying twenty-two years ago he had a maintenance company taking care of the landscaping and house upkeep with a few million in escrow, that would last for decades yet.