A little extreme, and not all that unreasonable actually, but gods needed to exercise better control and restraint than that. A human woman might scream and throw things, but the goddess of force and raw energy could destroy a city in a rage fueled fit of pique.

  As the moment came, I cast the spell to protect the house and all of us in it with my full power.

  Lianne was an exotic eastern beauty, Japanese I think, with long and slightly wavy light brown hair and doe brown eyes, with severe cheekbones and full lips, and a lissome body at about five foot six. Her wide eyes were glazed with tears and fury, and she didn’t hesitate as she released a wave of force that should’ve turned the house into matchsticks. As it was, it totally destroyed the front lawn and tore apart the bushes, and it shattered the yard ornaments.

  Gary didn’t pause either, so she didn’t have all that long to wonder or react at the lack of destruction. His darkness billowed and struck like a snake, wrapping her in the power of entropy, then darkness billowed around us, and we were a couple of miles away in a park. Lianne was trussed up and cuffed with power suppression, and she was struggling like an enraged animal.

  I cast a spell to artificially calm and center her mind.

  Lianne demanded, “Let me go.”

  I scowled, “You were about to kill two children, five and seven, not to mention the asshole’s innocent wife, Jade.”

  That seemed to take the wind out of her sails, and she collapsed with a scream of frustration and guilt. I also hit her with a spell that would measure the truth of her words.

  Amelia used her power on Lianne, then said, “Well, my power is telling me she is owed retribution against the man that used her. This was not premeditated, and since it didn’t happen…” she trailed off.

  I nodded, “So counseling and a warning?”

  Amelia said, “Yes, and I think we should have a conversation with Jade, don’t you?”

  I chuckled, “Destroying his life might be retribution enough, what do you think, Lianne?”

  I looked around at the others, and they all nodded with relatively evil smiles on their faces. That was the right way to get vengeance after all, make him face the consequences of his actions. Of course, his wife may forgive him, but she’d at least make him suffer first.

  Lianne said, “That is sufficient, and what I should’ve done in the first place. I… lost my temper, I love the unfaithful bastard. The man was courting me aggressively, I don’t understand it at all. Who are you?”

  She was telling the truth as far as the spell could measure, I don’t think she was normally violent, her married lover had just sent her into a spiral of transient rage. Not great, but it could happen to anyone, it was just with a god or goddess involved the damage potential went way up.

  The answer to her question took a bit of explaining, and the time spent chatting calmed her further, though she was a bit shocked to find out Nate was dead, she’d had no idea. This was going to be a crime of passion, not a weakness of her character that couldn’t be fought off because the threat of Nate was gone, though still a weakness. Point being, it wasn’t part of the fallout from our failure at all, but still our responsibility because Nate wasn’t here to see to it.

  I also suspected it was all about her appearance, Frank’s wife Jade was an oriental beauty as well, that couldn’t be a coincidence. Maybe the guy had a fetish for women of the east. In the end it wasn’t all that important as Gary let her go. Tastes abounded after all, it was in the end about his lack of character and willingness to cheat on the mother of his children.

  I won’t go heavily into details, suffice it to say when the six of us went back to the house Jade wasn’t at all happy at what Lianne had to tell her. He hadn’t just picked her up and arranged an affair, he’d been dating her, wooing her, and planning out a future marriage with her, while telling his wife he was working late at the office, sometimes pulling an all-nighter on a project, when he was actually in Lianne’s bed and at her house.

  The man was a scumbag, and he was nervous as hell the whole time, like a little kid who had gotten caught stealing from the cookie jar. Pathetic.

  In the end, Jade kicked him out, and Lianne had to live with it, because she surely didn’t feel better about it.

  I said, “Before we go, there’s something I need to do three houses down,” and I created and waved the lily in explanation.

  Gary smiled, “Sure, baby. The rest of us can cloak and wait right outside.”

  I nodded, and I headed down the street. It’d been a couple of days since we’d gone back to my house. It was good to be home, and it felt right to have my new budding family there as well. But a part of me missed the travel when we were staying one step ahead of Nate, there’d been a lot more opportunity for me to hand out gifts to the humans around me who deserved them. I just hadn’t been around anyone else, save when we went out to eat and dance, and those times I’d just given nudges where appropriate.

  So there was no hesitation in me and a deep empathy as I walked around the side of the house and into the backyard. Casey Barnes. She was just eleven, a cheerful child despite the fact she’d lost the genetic lottery by a long way. Her face was badly asymmetrical, birth defects, concaved on one side and lumpy on the other, and she walked with a strange gait because her body had similar problems.

  Of course, I knew nothing of DNA or birth defects save on a layman level, much less how to repair it with power. But as a goddess all I had to do was focus on the end result, not the how. My power would figure it out, my mantel of beauty would do the work for me, of that I was sure.

  “Hi, Casey. I have a gift for you,” I said gently, as I held out the lily. I already felt that sense of serenity in the act, and my empathy was working double time with it being a young child. Not that she couldn’t have an amazing life the way she was, but she deserved to be as beautiful on the outside as she was in the inside. It would also help her get that amazing life, right or not. I dealt with realities, not how things should be.

  “Not supposed to talk to strangers, what are you doing in my yard?” she said shyly.

  I lifted the lily higher, “Delivering this, it’s a gift. I’m Natasha, will you accept it?”

  She looked as fascinated with the flower as she was unsure whether or not if she should accept it. Which was reasonable, she’d probably been taught to be wary of adults bearing gifts, or accepting things from strangers. Which made sense, kids didn’t have the judgement of an adult, so a strict black and white rule made sense.

  Of course, kids will be kids, which is why she finally reached out and took the lily.

  I smiled serenely in satisfaction, “Enjoy it,” I said with a warm smile, hoping that her parents dealt with it well, when she woke looking how she was always intended to be at her full potential.

  It was a beautiful day, suddenly full of endless possibilities.

  Chapter Seven

  Gary

  Natasha always looked so serene after giving away one of her gifts, like she was floating on the clouds. I took her in my arms as we appeared in the living room, and I pulled her down onto my lap as I sat on the couch. She smiled warmly and snuggled into me, her eyes gazing into mine tenderly with a hint of mystery in them that was entirely mesmerizing.

  Vicki sat against us after getting everyone a drink, while Mandy and Amelia sat on the other couch.

  Natasha said, “We don’t have long for the third one, that one took longer than I expected. A minor sun goddess. Clara, the rebirth of Alectrona. A number of people from the anti-supernatural group humans first are protesting her being in their neighborhood. They’re going to brace and assault her when she comes out of the house to ask them to leave, and she threatens to call the cops. Dad seems to think she didn’t plan it, and does it by reflex in self-protection, but she pretty much incinerates all thirty of them in a blast.

  “Then the cops come, and it turns into a real mess when she refuses to be arrested. Part of that is the locals not following procedure and going through channels to invite another god in to handle it.”

  I sighed, “Sounds like we need to run the group off or keep Clara from leaving her house.”

  Mandy said energetically, “She also needs a talking to. She should’ve taken measures to protect herself and not put herself in that dire situation in the first place. A simple witch spell could’ve protected her from the mob of bigots, or she could’ve teleported away and called the police, or just have the sense not to try to talk sense into idiots like that.”

  Amelia said softly, “I agree. Arrogance in her power and a foolish disregard of the danger of those weaker than us is what will cause it to happen. The group bears some of the responsibility of course, they shouldn’t be attacking people. Anyway, I see it as a valid if avoidable case of self-defense, but she shows further lack of judgement in confronting the police, instead of cooperating or leaving to call a lawyer.”

  Vicki said, “Maybe she’s just at the end of her rope and feeling too self-righteous about it to think clearly. How long have they been yelling and carrying on in front of her house?”

  Natasha looked through the notes, then said, “It doesn’t say, but they are there now.”

  I nodded, “Then let’s go take care of it,” I patted Natasha on her ass, and she gave me a playful smirk as she slid off my lap and stood up gracefully, “We’ll go in cloaked to avoid the hate group, drop us off like a block away. We can go talk to her.”

  The others all stood up as I did, and after a moment of concentration Natasha teleported us all away in a flashing bubbled of golden light.

  I grimaced. We were in a suburban neighborhood, a block north and a block west from the house, and I could already hear the human first idiots loudly yelling out slogans. No wonder she lost her temper and went out to confront them.

  We started to head that way cloaked from mortal sight. I had no idea how it was going to turn out, so didn’t really have a plan either. I mean, outside of stopping a mass killing, accidental or self-defense or not, bigotry didn’t deserve the death penalty.

  I tilted my head and stopped, and they all stopped and looked at me.

  “I have an idea,” and then started to cast a rather difficult spell. Well, a difficult spell that would normally take a full coven to pull off, but I had the power of several covens at tier-one, so it wasn’t hard for me, it just took about thirty seconds or so to cast it.

  Another quick spell would keep us all dry, though I knew Natasha was already covered that way it was easier to target all five of us than it would’ve been to exclude her.

  The sky darkened, and a rolling crack of thunder drowned out the bigots’ slogans, as it started to rain, then pour. Lightning lit up the sky, and another bone jarring crack of thunder and then rumbling roar followed, as the wind started to lash at our clothes and the rain hit us in sheets. It had my heart pumping, the power of nature was impressive.

  I smirked, as we reached the corner and turned right, only to see about thirty people scrambling to get on a bus. By the time we were halfway down the block, the bus was pulling away.

  “I think that should fix the confrontation and avoid the massacre, but we still need to talk to Clara about using better judgement.”

  Mandy giggled, “You also probably scared the hell out of the mob.”

  Vicki nodded, “If they think Clara did it, it could cause more waves further down the line.”

  I sighed, “Maybe, it was a bit spontaneous on my part, but at least they’re still alive. I doubt we’d have done any better convincing them to leave, and it’s not against the law to make it rain. I don’t know, you don’t think the cops are stupid enough to respond to a complaint of being attacked by a storm, do you? I mean, the cops won’t take that seriously, and judge it an assault, unless they’re crazy here. Where are we, anyway?”

  Natasha giggled, “Oklahoma, thirty miles outside Oklahoma City. Assault with a thunderstorm.”

  I winked, “Who wants to handle this?”

  I didn’t think it’d be a good idea for all of us to do it. It would make her feel intimidated and defensive, especially because I doubted, she had any idea she was about to be responsible for a massacre.

  Vicki said, “I think Natasha and Amelia would be best for this.”

  “I agree, Mandy is too chipper and Vicki too laid back and sloshed to make a stern impression.”

  Mandy giggled, “True,” she said in an enthusiastic tone, proving the point.

  Vicki smirked, “I don’t know if I’d say I was sloshed. A little drunk maybe, buzzed definitely,” she took a sip from her flask, “But that was my point, and just two won’t be as intimidating.”

  I nodded, “We’re not expecting trouble, but I want you to shield the both of you, baby.”

  No sense in us displaying the same arrogant disregard we were here to council Clara on.

  Natasha smiled, “Yes, honey,” then winked playfully before casting the spell. We stayed by the street while those two headed up the sidewalk to knock on the door.

  Clara was a lovely light brown haired and light blue-eyed woman. She had a classic beauty, neither severe nor soft, with strong cheekbones. Her body type was average slightly on the lush side at five foot five, with proud and generous C cups and proportional hips, giving her a soft and curvaceous look. She looked a little annoyed, but I really couldn’t blame her as they spoke for a few moments, and then the woman waved them inside.

  Mandy said with playful eager energy, “It’s a sad state of affairs, when your goddess of war isn’t suitable for intimidating someone.”

  I chuckled, “No, but you’re perfect just the way you are, dirty girl.”

  Mandy bit her lip and pushed into my side, “You never said anything about my… past revelation?”

  I searched my mind, then said, “Refresh my memory, I learned a whole lot about you this last week.”

  She winked, “My activities in senior year?”

  “Oh. What about them? That’s in the past, you belong to me now.”

  She shrugged, “You just didn’t think I was really a slut, so I wasn’t sure how you’d react even though I do trust you not to judge me for it harshly. But that’s true, I do belong to you, and I don’t want anyone else except for the other goddesses that belong to you.”

  Vicki giggled, “Well said. He didn’t judge me or even blink, when I said I’d been laid more than brick in Philadelphia, I doubt stealing half the graduating class’s virginities are going to faze him.”

  She winked, “Only about a third. Umm, so that was easy?”

  I chuckled, “We’re you worried? I’d rather not know the details, but the past is the past, and you can be my naughty and slutty girl all you want, as long as you’re mine. Are you ashamed of it?”

  She shrugged, “A little, yes. That’s half the thrill of being a naughty slut, the thrilling shame and humiliation of it really enhances the pleasure of it. Also, why I was a little worried.”

  Vicki laughed, “I get that, totally. Shame is thrilling.”

  I replied honestly, “I can’t really relate, but I can accept it’s true, and I still think you’re amazing. Maybe you are a bit depraved, but you’re also so much more than that, and I’m more than thrilled to have you. Awesome exotic dancer, shameful slut, anything else I should know?”

  She giggled, “That about covers what I feared might’ve been dealbreakers. There’s still a lot you need to get to know about me, but nothing that will scare you away if those two things didn’t. I love belonging to you, and I love having depraved female company in the others. I mean, men judge women for being sluts, but women are much harsher in the slut shaming department. Men might treat us as objects, nothing but cock warmers, but women will shun us with disdain. I haven’t really had female friends since my senior year of high school. So it’s all been a bit amazing for me.”

  Vicki interjected, “I can relate to that one too.”

  Amelia and Natasha came out of the house and rejoined us, before taking us back home for lunch.

  Natasha’s lips were soft, sensual, and so very conforming to mine as she melted her body against mine. The encounter had started out in a typical manner, as I’d entered her office, rounded her desk, and pulled her up into a passionate kiss. It was different though, even though we hadn’t spoken of the loving moment of realization we’d had. Her lips, body, and the heat of her against me was less thrilling naughty submission and more a loving and sweet surrender. Our hotly passionate kiss morphing into a teasingly languid one filled with emotions that squeezed my chest.

  I was sure I’d be owning and fucking her often, probably most of the time, but I already knew we wouldn’t be doing it then. It was about an hour after lunch, and my goddess of love was in a cute red dress and black sandals. Her dark brown hair was up in a hairclip revealing the curves of her neck, her petite ears, and the full glory of her classically and sophisticatedly beautiful face.

  I caressed her neck and up on her cheek, as the languid and loving kiss broke, and then got lost in her warm and melty dark chocolate eyes, so filled with loving surrender and a deep adoration that it blew my mind.

  “I love you, baby.”

  She beamed, her eyes glazing with moisture, “I love you too, honey.”

  I kissed her softly, and worked up the skirts of her dress, only to hook my thumbs in her panties and drag them over her hips slowly, and then they fell down her toned legs to stop at her ankles. Her own hands hadn’t been idle, as she undid my pants, and pushed them down. Her sweet sigh into my mouth as she took me firmly in hand made me moan.

  I spun her around and sat on the leather office chair, pulling her forward onto me to straddle my lap, all while kissing her dreamily. My heart felt like it would explode, with affection, love, adoration, awe, and all of that mixed up with the usual potent lust and possessiveness I felt with her in my arms.