June cleared her throat.

  Lily smirked, “Okay, no one but June saw it.”

  I chuckled, but there was little humor in it.

  Lily said, “He should know the full truth, June. It’s not that bad, I even like it, same as you. Like a buzz and thrill, and I’m always tingly because of it.”

  June narrowed her eyes, but then nodded reluctantly.

  “What’s this?”

  June said, “I was worried how you’d react, anger on our behalf maybe, and maybe a hit to the ego, one that isn’t justified, because I love you and live to seduce you.”

  Lily clarified, “That harem girl goddess stuff?”

  “Oh, right. I’m ready I think.”

  June said, “You probably haven’t really noticed, since your mantel is so… wide. Even sitting in the backyard doing nothing is in your mantel as leisure. But I’m sure you’ve noticed when you work on art centric projects it’s compelling, thrilling in a way, and when you’re doing nothing, you can feel antsy?”

  I nodded, “Yes.”

  June said, “It’s because we have to focus on our mantel as gods. Otherwise, it’s like a frustrating itch we can’t scratch. For you, that’s no big deal, but for the two of us with such a narrow mantel, we have to manage it with a little effort.”

  “So, your saying writing and seducing gives you a buzz, while doing anything else is a subtle torture?”

  Lily touched her nose, “Bingo, dance related for me.”

  I chuckled, “I see, so you think I thought that you were seducing me so much because of how awesome I am, and not how amazing you are?”

  June blushed.

  “So, maybe I was worried for nothing, but you are amazing, sir. So yes, whenever I’m not writing, I’m seducing you. Constantly.”

  I frowned, “You seduce me a couple, sometimes three times a day?”

  June said, “Right, I seduce you hard to get you to fill me, because I need a good pounding, two to three times a day. But seduction isn’t always about sex, or at least not sex right in the moment. Subtle seduction works as good as a come take me look. The way I dress for you, my tone of voice and word choices, the way I move into your line of sight, or just the way I caress you innocently. All the little things I do to grab and keep your attention, I’m driven to do it, so I can feel that warm buzz through my body, which always turns me on and eventually gets me really hot for you.

  “So… yeah. That about sums it up. That’s why we’re always dressed up and looking sexy for you. Our mantels.”

  Lily nodded, “And you. If you weren’t the man that you are, and yummy to look at besides, with a huge cock, I’d be seducing someone else that was worthy of it.”

  I waved, “I get it. I mean, I didn’t know the details, but I knew your mantels were involved in the constant level of it. You also want to be with me and are happy I won’t be sending you out to seduce others, even if you’d like it. My ego isn’t that fragile, I can enjoy all that extra seduction no matter the entire cause, because you did pick me, chose to be faithful to me and our bond, and June, you did fall in love with me. What more could I ask for?”

  Lily nodded, “It also explains our connection. Could you imagine nine nymph goddesses not bonded to the god of arts and leisure? We’d be seducing and fucking every man in sight, while you give us focus and guidance, and a chance to fall in love and have a deep relationship.”

  June blushed furiously, then nodded reluctantly, “It’s true enough, seduction feels so good, and heats us up. Without you to channel it into, our lives would be a nightmare.”

  We all looked at the ceiling, when Amber’s power flashed, and she disappeared from the house. None of us said anything, but I felt a worry over it. Not a foretelling of trouble, just a wrongness, but I wasn’t about to kill her just so I could feel a sense of symmetry in twenty-two years.

  Anyway, I got what they were saying, and it was all good, but another part of me thought being a god could be pretty messed up in some ways.

  “Does it work for seducing each other?”

  Lily winked, “It does, to a lesser extent, enough to lift the itch. Being seductive, wearing these clothes, and walking with a bold sensuality, that light seduction also works for others in the mall. Men, women, what have you. The point is we have you to work the heat off with.”

  June blushed, “Also true, but it’s far more of a thrill to seduce you, because I love, respect, and believe in you. The mantel is only one part of it, and while any admiring gaze feels good our man’s admiring gaze tickles the rest of us.”

  Lily grinned, “True. We’re just seduction sluts on the mantel side, on the woman side it’s all about you.”

  I laughed, “Got it, promise, ego stroked and happy. Thanks for telling me though.”

  They both winked seductively at me, then they giggled.

  Brenna interjected, “My sluttiness is all me.”

  I snickered, “Yes, it is.”

  She wiggled on my lap with a playful smirk. Her heart wasn’t really in it, but she was already trying, which was the important part. I had the feeling if I tried to put anything inside her body just then it would freak her out big time. I’d be patient, she’d heal eventually, and I’d be here when she finally did. I loved her.

  I also hoped Amber’s acidic presence would fade quickly. I knew it would fade, but it’d also leave scars on all of us, a missing part of us we’d never be able to claim. One that I’d always feel a link to through my power, so I’d never be able to fully put it behind me. My harem wouldn’t be ten, it’d be nine including Brenna, unless more advisors showed up, that is.

  My worst fear was another would be poisoned against their true nature by this world. We’d lost the goddess of love to human cruelty, and now my goddess of comedy was completely dysfunctional because of the hatred in modern feminism. That was just those I knew of, how many more gods would fall in such a way, and would any of those others be more of mine. Yeah, dark thoughts, but it was what it was.

  Chapter Seven

  The news that evening, which we’d all taken to watching out of prudence, had a lot about Nate and Brandon in it. Support from several governments, who all parroted the same lines about criminal gods needing to be brought to justice, and their evolving partnership with Nate and Brandon to make that happen.

  Other countries politely told them to take a leap, but there were only a handful of those so far. Iran, China, North Korea, Iraq, and Syria. Notably, those countries also didn’t work with witches at all, and had hunted their supernatural population down. So no one was surprised they didn’t welcome the gods with open arms.

  That didn’t mean all other countries were jumping on board, just that they hadn’t chosen to jump either way yet. Either that, or they were holding it close to the chest until they saw what the gods did to the first country that was truly violent toward them.

  The U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada, and the EU were leading the charge that way, all of them at least opening up negotiations on the matter.

  As to what the duo was up to, there was very little fact and a whole lot of speculation about recruiting other gods and negotiating with governments, but they hadn’t shown themselves to the media again yet. It’d just been senators, high officials from other governments, and the talking heads on the news speaking about it.

  It was complicated, but so was life, and adding gods into the mix was going to have some growing pains. So far, I wasn’t too worried, and had no intentions of getting involved unless I absolutely had to in order to protect what was mine. I also had no doubts if Zeus and I fought he’d bury in me a split second, so was kind of hoping it wouldn’t come up.

  The ladies both looked amazing in snug black jeans. Lily had black boots on, ankle length, and a dark blue sweater shirt that was conforming to her upper body. While June had on light pink and black boots, and one of my dark gray shirts. I’d told them both to dress for the wilderness, and they managed it while still looking seductive.

  It was just after nightfall.

  “Turn invisible as soon as we get there.”

  They both nodded, my light blonde and midnight haired beauties. I teleported us south about forty miles into the wilderness south of the Chicago suburbs. We all turned invisible, scentless, and silent save to ourselves, and started to hike to the east. I didn’t want to arrive too close to our target, and even in the trees of the wilderness the bright flash of golden light would carry a long way in the dark of night.

  June said dreamily, “Doesn’t he have a fantastic ass?”

  Lily said breathily, “He really does. Does he work out?”

  June made a yummy sound, then said, “Nope, he just looks that good.”

  Hell if it wasn’t making me stir below, if not harden at all. I wondered if this was one of those joint seductions that she’d been wanting to try but needed a sister for. If so, it was working, apparently I was a total sucker for compliments. Even when it was completely transparent flattery.

  I grinned over my shoulder, “You two look divine.”

  June said, “We are divine, sir. But not nearly as divine as you.”

  I laughed, an obvious double entendre since I had more godly power than they did.

  Lily giggled like an emptyheaded blonde, “Do you think he’d let us suck his cock?”

  June said breathily, “Maybe if we both got on our knees and begged him for it?”

  Lily squealed, “That sounds so naughty, let’s do it as soon as we get him home.”

  June said sternly, “Now Lily, remember to share if he cums in your mouth, last time you swallowed before kissing me, bitch.”

  Lily giggled, “I couldn’t help it, he filled my mouth up I had to swallow to make room. Oh, I know, we should totally make him blow on our faces, then we can lick it up off each other and kiss, so I don’t forget.”

  June gasped, and said, “Oh my god, I should’ve thought of that. Do you think he’d do it though? I mean, cover our beautiful angelic faces with his hot steamy cum? Do guys even like that? It might gross him out, if we clean each other up and kiss so deeply afterward. Fuck, my pussy’s clenching at the thought, our tongues coated in his cum as we swap it back and forth, some of it messily dripping off our tongues and onto our naked breasts?”

  Lily giggled naughtily, then said sadly, “You’re right, he’d probably hate that.”

  I groaned. Definitely June, only a writer could come up with a naughty conversation like that, to seduce me and drive me crazy.

  June giggled, “But we wouldn’t hate it, we’d love it, maybe we could trick him into doing it.”

  Lily sighed, “How would we do that. I guess it’s just another unfulfilled naughty dream of ours.”

  I snorted, and they both giggled naughtily.

  Lily asked, “Scale of one to ten, how seduced are you right now?”

  I snickered, “If a life wasn’t on the line, you’d be on your knees and getting ready to get blasted, do you two really want that?”

  June said, “You know I love it when you take my tits and cum on me as the redhead, so yes. I’m also as turned on by the idea of cleaning up and kissing Lily.”

  Lily said warmly, “It could be fun. I know I’m loving driving you crazy.”

  “I guess I didn’t answer the question, I’ll go with a ten.”

  June giggled, “Good, I have a lot of naughty seductive skits to try out then.”

  I groaned, and they giggled some more.

  June said, “Just so you know, there’s no more of a thrill in it for us than being subtle for you. We really wanted to blow your mind.”

  “Totally worked.”

  Lily teased, “Pervy guys, do you believe he really wants that?”

  Then they both started to giggle, since of course it’d been their idea.

  “We’re here.”

  It was maybe a half a mile away from our arrival point that I found the hunter in the blind. Alex Bloom. It was a deep part of the state park, farther in than campers went anyway, and also a common place for shifters to shift.

  Alex Bloom wasn’t hunting animals, he was hunting shifters, and he was about to make a huge mistake that would end in a slaughter. Him, his family, and eventually the pack along with them.

  I made sure his finger wasn’t in the trigger guard, then ripped the rifle out of his hands. Then I turned visible.

  Alex growled, “Who the hell are you?”

  I said persuasively, “A foolish man shoots a wolf tonight. The only problem is that wolf is just a twelve-year-old girl, on her first pack run after her first shift at the start of puberty. Evette. Evette is just twelve, she likes hip hop, rides a bike to school every day, and she’s not all that different from Stacy, only a year older. She’s got cute brown curls, and warm light brown eyes, and a life. Just a young girl with a full life ahead of her. What do you suppose you’d do if someone shot Stacy because she’s an animal?”

  Alex gaped at me, and yes, I was totally hitting him with influence. Normally I’d let the haters hate if they weren’t hurting anyone, but in this case the hater was trying to kill, so it was time to bring him away from the extreme edge.

  “I’d destroy them.”

  I nodded, “So would Evette’s parents. And they do. They kill the hunter that murdered their little girl, and his whole family in their rage and grief. Not because they lose control, but because your wife and son pick up guns to defend your sorry ass. Then the authorities would go after the pack, and it’d be ugly. Really ugly. A situation escalating out of control, and one that will never happen now, not without you aiming that rifle and murdering a twelve-year-old girl. What kind of man are you anyway, to kill a child?”

  Alex looked pained, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. How could I know?”

  I nodded at the trees, and right on cue the young wolf came into view, beautiful brown coat.

  “Because she’s small, for a wolf shifter anyway, look at her huge paws.”

  She was about the size of a real wolf, but shifters grew half again as big and were truly monstrous in their animal forms. She was also staring right at me, and I just nodded calmly like it was no big deal. I didn’t know if that was the right thing, but I knew a fear response would be wrong.

  “You’re not going to be murdering racist anymore, are you, Alex?”

  He looked like I’d slapped him.

  “No… of course not. I don’t even know what I was thinking, coming out here like this. I need to go home. To check on Stace.”

  “I’m not stopping you, unload your rifle first,” I handed it back to him, and he dropped the short magazine and popped the chambered round out with the bolt action, then hit the safety.

  There were some deep howls in the woods, and Evette went paw to paw for a moment in uncertainty, then turned and loped off.

  I felt a little guilty as he left quickly, a pack on his back. I mean, brainwashing wasn’t to be taken lightly. Still better than young Evette dying, then his family dying, then a huge slaughter where almost twenty-five shifters and close to fifty police die. Besides the obvious, it also would’ve been a nightmare as far as stirring up anger toward the supernatural.

  All because of one asshole bigot with a rifle. Unbelievable.

  June said, “You did say it would be easy.”

  I nodded, “Haven’t met the pack yet. I have to be sure they’re not going to chase down Alex. I wish I knew more about shifters. I don’t think this is their territory it’s just where they run on the full moon and technically government land, state park. The area they live in only has about fifty acres, good for a stretching shift and run but not great for a hunt, which they come out here to do once a month.”

  They could shift anytime, but the first time was always the full moon after puberty hit. I don’t know if that was because of the moon at all, or just because a shifter’s first shift needed the entire pack’s shift to guide theirs, or something.

  I also knew silver didn’t do anything but the normal damage it would do to a body, but enough damage would eventually overcome their healing magic, or a single bullet to the head, which was what had been about to happen to Evette. Head shot and decapitation worked for just about everyone, as far as killing them, even gods.

  Lily asked “Can they hear us?”

  “They can hear me, yes. I’m counting on it.”

  Lily blushed, “Right, we’re still invisible.”

  June giggled, and Lily gave her a mock glare, then rolled her eyes, tossed her hair, and put on an emptyheaded expression, which had them both laughing. She’d totally owned her blonde moment.

  I gestured behind me, to the blind that was built between two trees inside bushes, with a large boulder behind it. There was no way a shifter would be coming from that one direction at least.

  The ladies seemed to get the hint, and they moved over and sat in front of the thing.

  The pack started to appear, coming in groups from three directions, thirteen to fourteen wolves each. There were forty of them in the pack, well more than that, but the elderly and prepubescent were back at the packhouse with a small guard of four volunteers. That meant about once every year, every shifter but the alpha and his wife would miss a single hunt.

  It would’ve been startling as they just melted out of the trees and darkness, except we’d all been tracking them with our magical senses. Still a bit intimidating. Shifters were bluntly honest since their noses could pick out a lie, big on dominance and pecking order, and would not tolerate disrespect. I was fairly sure they hunted on a full moon because shifted that would make the forest bright.

  “I’m here to stop a tragedy, the human is leaving. I wish to know if you’ll let him go, or if his former intentions which no longer exist inside of him are enough to draw your anger and pursuit. I’m afraid I don’t know very much about your culture, save not to lie and be painfully truthful.”

  My speech almost sound designed to piss them off, but the truth was nothing would anger a shifter more than a prevaricating speech meant to soothe. The blunt honest truth, even offensive truth, was always the best way to go with them, according to Brenna.