3

"Aunt, I found a very powerful priest snooping around your home," Dion informed me when I opened the door the next day about twenty minutes before the time we'd set for lunch… And magically forced Colton to come into view.

Colton's eyes flashed shock but then relief even as he was frozen.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Please release him. I have a feeling I know exactly what happened. Since you came early to check this wasn't a trap, you probably set off some protective magic he left here that I didn't sense." I gave Colton the look he deserved. "Sound about right?"

"He really is dedicated to your safety even if you will never consider him again," Poseidon mocked from inside the house.

"Yes, but he can still hide magic from us," Hades said, his cold detached tone having an edge of annoyance. "I placed the protective wards here and didn't sense it. I want to know how."

Dion sighed and released Colton, making it clear the warlock better get inside and explain.

Colton cleared his throat and gave me an apologetic look before stepping inside. He didn't move past me though. "Yes, I piggybacked off what your brother put down. I was worried about more of Zeus's bastards or children trying to make a move against you, and now that I know how to sense them, I laid down a few detections. One went off yesterday. I got worried and—"

"How is a priest this powerful, Aunt?" Dion asked, studying Colton. "He's hiding it, but it's ridiculous. He's more powerful than some demigods. Hercules for sure."

"He was bred for power," I answered, not willing to expose more of Colton's past than that.

"But he's on your side?" Dion checked.

"Yes," Colton said firmly… As I snorted. He sighed, his gaze never leaving mine. "Yes."

"Is he if he oversteps and doesn't listen to what you actually say?" Hades drawled. "The wolf actually gives you what you need even if I hate he is in your bed and touches you like a woman. That's more than I care to know as your brother."

"Yes, well, you enjoyed rubbing that in his face," I drawled, seeing how it hurt Colton. "You can leave now that you know I'm safe. I won't thank you when you—I didn't even tell you about this place. You go too far, so just go."

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He cleared his throat and stepped aside so Dion could come inside. "I just wanted to protect you the way you protected me."

I had nothing productive to say and only petty responses, so I simply closed the door in his face once Dion entered. I refused to become Hera, and I felt like the pain Colton caused me could put me on that path if I wasn't careful.

"Thank you for coming." I kissed Dion's cheek after giving him a hug.

"You're not angry that I checked yesterday?" he hedged.

"No, you should be that smart," I accepted easily. "And I adjusted the wards to allow you."

"We knew," Poseidon said as we walked into the great room and he came over to hug him. "It's great to see you, Dion. We looked for you. We looked for several of you."

"I'm glad you never came to the underworld," Hades said but didn't hug him.

"Thank you, Uncle," Dion accepted, looking uncomfortable before shooting me a look. "I apologize, but the others weren't comfortable attending."

"That's fine. I will need to speak with them, but it can be over the phone even. We don't have to have lunch like a family." I shrugged, leaving it at that for now. "Are you hungry?"

I was glad when he nodded, gesturing for him to have a seat at the kitchen table. I explained that I had just moved in and to excuse the sparse everything because of it. I had just made what furniture and housewares I had appear the night before even aside from the groceries that I'd bought to make the food.

"AMC will take the deal, but we want one location outside NYC as well to have—" Dion blurted.

"Dion, you're not here for business, love," I said gently as I handed him the salad I'd just plated him. "I truly invited you over for lunch and to catch up. Yes, I do want to talk about that, and I need to figure something out, but this wasn't a ploy. You're here as our nephew that we're worried for and have missed."

"And you as well, Apollo, unless you want to keep lurking just off the property," Hades said as he poured himself some iced tea. He tried to smother a smirk as Poseidon and I both stared at him in shock. "You're surprised one of the twins couldn't keep their curiosity at bay?"

"No," we both said together.

"I apologize for inviting him here without checking with you first, Sister," Hades muttered.

"No, I invited them. Please, let him through the wards," I accepted. "You are better at this than I am. You can sense if he has ill will."

"None," he confirmed.

"Apollo, please join us," I said, knowing he would hear us.

Hades sighed and I felt his power… And then Apollo was standing next to the table.

The dry looks Poseidon and I gave Hades spoke volumes about his impatience.

"I do not want your delicious meal ruined because of his indecision," Hades defended.

It was hard not to laugh. I smiled at Apollo as I stood. "Forgive your uncle's impatience. I'm thrilled to see you. Please, join us." I was glad when he accepted my hug and nodded. "You're not in trouble. This is just lunch. You couldn't find me to ask permission."

"I know. We've done nothing wrong," he said defensively.

"Except you're worried and carry guilt," Hades said coldly.

"Because of where he's based out of," Dion muttered.

Apollo shot him an annoyed look.

"It's fine," I said quickly. "We can talk later and fix any mistakes or adjust if we need to. Let's just eat and catch up."

"And push Dion to help you," Apollo accused.

"Watch your tone," Hades warned, his voice deadly.

"Brother, they're scared and have been on their own too long with the looming threat of Hera," I reminded him. I might have said more but then smiled as I heard a vehicle pull in the driveway. "The twins are here."

"I was shocked they were late," Poseidon admitted.

"They wanted to bring sushi from this great place near their apartment, but it doesn't open on Sundays until just a bit ago," I explained. I used my power to unlock the door and open it. "Come on in, loves. We're just starting on the salad."

"Sorry we're late," Mary said as they hurried in.

"I explained, and your cousin Apollo just joined us as well," I told them. I smiled as they set everything down on the counter and hurried to hug both Hades and Poseidon. "This is Dionysus, but he's going by Dion Lopez now and prefers Dion. These are my daughters who go by Mary and Kary Conan now, adopted cousins for our cover."

"Lovely to meet you both," Dion said, dipping his head but only offering that. The twins took it in stride.

"This is Apollo…" I studied him. "Are you using another alias or anything you prefer to be called instead, love?"

"I prefer to keep it to myself for now," he muttered, clearly still not trusting us.

"As you wish," I easily accepted.

"Thank you." He cleared his throat and glanced at the twins. "Sushi's nice. I didn't bring anything."

Mary fielded that as the oldest. "You came. That's enough. Next time you can bring something if you want." She glanced at me. "Can we just set out the containers or—"

"Of course. We don't need to be formal," I agreed.

"Everything smells delicious, Sister," Poseidon complimented. "I honestly cannot tell what we're having, my senses are so titillated."

I cleared my throat. "I went a bit overboard." I sighed when he and the twins chuckled. "I was nervous. It's my first house alone not just an apartment over the bakery and a full family meal like we used to have, but it's not like it used to be. And I was worried no one would show or there would be fighting or…" I shrugged.

"There is never too much food with our family," Hades said easily.

"The pictures PJ took turned out great," Mary said as everyone dug into the salad and sushi. "She's got a real eye for angles and lighting."

"I already said yes," Dion blurted.

"She pushed you to," Apollo growled.

"I warned you, Nephew," Hades chastised.

"Stop," I said firmly, looking at Apollo first but then to Dion. "Love, say no. You don't have to help. If you are this scared and worried, tell me no. It's fine. I will figure out something else."

"I apologize, Mom. I didn't mean to step in it," Mary muttered, dipping her head to me.

"You're fine, Daughter," I said gently. "They're unsettled and worried that I showed up because they're in my realm, and Hera is back in the picture." I smiled at Dion and gestured between myself and the twins. "It's a family business for us, so we speak about things normally. It wasn't a push. We just catch up at meals."

Kary cleared her throat and looked at Poseidon. "I heard that wolf finished everything with your cover, Uncle. You liked him to help you? Jimothy?"

"Yes, he seems like a good lad," Poseidon said, taking the cue. "He was smart and said to make sure I wasn't a US citizen for the cover and use my power to have the paper trail somewhere else."

Apollo and Dion shared a look, Apollo clearing his throat. "That's wise. It's why I'm based in China. Their technology is great, but they still are on the path of bribery for a lot to look the other way."

And that was what he was worried about. That was breaking the law, and the goddess of karma wouldn't like the way the Chinese government treated people.

I nodded. "I'm glad you found a way to protect yourself." I didn't linger on it, looking back to Poseidon. "You might want to check with one of the ancients Hades trusts before you go public with anything."

"Very true."

A timer went off and I stood. "We're starting with beef bourguignon so—" I chuckled when the twins groaned. "Yes, I made two huge batches so you have some to take back to school."

"Love you, Mom," they said together, Kary jumping up to help me serve.

Dion actually cleared away the sushi containers, and I saw him glare at Apollo and nod to the empty salad plate. "And I do want to help, Aunt. I think it's amazing that you're trying again, and it will keep Hera from ever trying to take over this realm. Which none of us want."

"No, none of us want that," Apollo admitted begrudgingly.

"Do you have questions for me?" I asked Apollo after a moment. "Is there some issue you have with me? I don't remember ever being—"

"You just bailed on us and now you want to be our aunt again like everything is fine and it's not thousands of years later or—" he blasted, jumping to his feet.

Mary lost her temper and was up over the table in a flash, but luckily Hades was faster, freezing her in place and pushing Apollo across the room. He moved in between them and unfroze Mary and caught her.

"Forgive me, Neice, but you are no match for him. He is a full god," he said quietly but still coldly. He brushed back her hair and set her on her feet. "Your mother would die if you were harmed defending her when she can more than defend herself. He is but a child acting out in pain, nothing more."

"Sorry," Mary whispered, her voice shaky.

"I wouldn't have hurt her," Apollo defended. "And it hurts you choose her side. I am your nephew by blood."

"Yes, but she knows the truth, and you have yet to ask what happened," Hades bit out. "You're acting in anger and clearly listening to whispers and rumors. Are you not old enough to have learned that what gets passed along is rarely accurate?"

Apollo let out a slow breath. "You're right." He looked away and did it again. "I still wouldn't have hurt her. I felt her pain, and I'm not my father."

"Sorry, Mom," Mary whispered. "I shouldn't have started violence in your new home."

I set down what was in my hands and hurried over to her, kissing Hades's cheek and thanking him for protecting her. I hugged her tightly. "You have watched me suffer for hundreds of years because of what was done to me. You have shared a pain that even telling others they will never truly understand. Never apologize."

"Sorry," she rasped.

I kissed her hair. "But please, please, never defend me like that again. I believe Apollo that he wouldn't have hurt you, but others would, Mary. I know we are all too on edge, but—your life is never worth my pain. It's never worth words. Please. I would die to lose you—either of you. Do not make me suffer that."

"Okay, I won't. I won't be stupid," she choked out when I started crying. "Sorry, Mom. I promise. I just—you would never bail on people. You stayed too long and it cost you—I'm sorry. I'll let Uncle Hades and Uncle Poseidon beat everyone up."

"And we will," Poseidon promised. "You two only have to take care of your mother the way we cannot."

"Deal," Kary agreed. "Now, let's all sit before Mom's hard work is ruined and be adults."

"Shit, it's bad when Kary is the rational one of the two of us," Mary joked, giving a watery chuckle when her twin growled.

I kissed her hair and helped her back to her seat, blowing Hades another kiss for what he did before grabbing the rest of the bowls to serve. Then I told Apollo and Dion the abbreviated version of what happened to me, even how I found the twins as everyone ate… My bowl left untouched.

"I'm very sorry for what you suffered, Aunt," Dion whispered when I was done, wiping his eyes.

"Me too," Apollo added, his head hung in shame.

"Me too," I echoed. "I am sorry for what you both have suffered as well. There is much I would change if I could, including…" I shook my head. "I can't change it, so there's no point in listing it. What you do need to know is that your uncle is punishing Hera in the underworld."

"How do you see that ending, Uncle?" Dion asked after a few tense minutes.

I was curious as to his answer as well.

"As of right now, Zeus and I have agreed that he build a cell for Hera at Olympus for when I release her," Hades answered, before glancing at me. "I think he truly believes me that the next time she goes after you, I will lock her in the underworld for two thousand four hundred and one days."

"I do as well, but I'm not sure that's enough, Brother," Poseidon muttered.

"And what would you suggest?" Hades challenged.

"I don't know which is why I brought it up to discuss," Poseidon said calmly, waiting until Hades nodded. "As I see it, the problem is twofold. Hera will never respect the boundary and leave Arabella alone, and Zeus will not back it either since he believes he is the god of us all instead of what was decreed."

"I agree," I muttered. "It's as if he needs some sort of consequence each time he orders you to change your ruling. You are within your rights—well, I am since I banished them from my realm, but I asked you to handle it for me. Each time they cross the line…" I cleared my throat and looked away.

"You are thinking of how Zeus used to force you to spend more time at your temple as he wanted every time you did not obey his wishes," Poseidon said sadly.

"Kismet was such a fucking moron," I sighed, glad when the next timer went off. I pushed to my feet and wiped under my eyes. "But yes, something like that. Zeus needs to be smacked back over the line somehow. He thinks it's acceptable what he says or to start a war. Those aren't the actual options. I just don't know the other options. My fear of them both and what was done to me freezes me up."

"I will think on this," Hades said as I pulled two chickens out of the oven. He cleared his throat. "And thank you both for your insight and counsel. I am glad that we have reached this level."

"Me too," we both agreed.

"Can I help, Aunt?" Apollo asked as I carried the first platter to the table.

"That would be great," I answered, smiling at him. "This is my tomato butter chicken. If you could carve it up, I have another and a few more prepared that I can put in the oven if we need."

"Or we can take back to school, right?" Kary asked. "Right, Mom?"

"You both really are so spoiled," Poseidon chuckled. He looked at me when Hades snickered. "Seriously, Sister. I will shop to help if you feed me as well."

I wanted to ask where he was staying but not in front of our nephews. I knew Hades probably stayed in the underworld, but I had no idea where Poseidon stayed now.

"I can use my power to prepare most everything since I've been doing it for so many years, but meat never tastes the same to me if made with magic. I'll start having leftovers and meals in extra refrigerators in the garages you both can help yourselves to as you wish. As long as not during the night or scaring Jamie."

"Is the wolf truly moving in with you?" Hades asked, sharing a look with Poseidon as I went for the second bird.

"I do not know," I admitted. "For now. We've discussed that I'm losing myself in him a bit and being… He had some bad experiences as well."

"I think it's fine as long as he doesn't move into your room, Mom," Mary suggested. "Let him have his own room, and even if he sleeps in yours mostly, it's still yours. That way you feel he's invited and not cramping you."

"Agreed," Kary added as she brought over plates and set them by Apollo. "Maybe he will get his own place after the bullshit with his uncle or maybe not. There's no rush, and honestly we feel better knowing a strong wolf is here to watch your back along with all of the wards Uncle Hades put down here."

"Even the ones Colton probably snuck in somehow," Mary drawled.

"He did," I confirmed, nodding when the twins groaned. "And yes, I like that idea. Thank you. It does seem silly to push him to find his own place when I just bought this huge mansion, but it's also too fast, but we're not normal and…" I simply shrugged.

"This is delicious, Aunt," Apollo praised after we were all served and digging in. "Truly."

I thanked them when everyone agreed, remembering the potatoes to accompany it, and glad when Mary had grabbed the bread.

Dion brought up the idea again that AMC would help, but he wanted another location outside of NYC.

"I worry that would upset Costco," I admitted. "That sounds like we're trying to branch out around them. And they want—they've basically written us a blank check to get them as much as we can. If we're doing more, but through you, I think that would leave a bad taste in their mouth."

"It would," he agreed, Apollo nodding as well.

"What about something you aren't doing with Costco or even at the bakery?" Kary suggested. "I saw the list you were going to finalize and realized you forgot fudge." She nodded when I groaned. "The fudge you gave away for Valentine's Day was a massive hit and everyone wants it added to the menu.

"What if AMC gave away free Karma Bakery Easter fudge during a week or two to whoever sees a show? Or a Krispie treat? Oh, those cute mini Easter egg cakes you used to make. With the hard frosting like tea cakes?" She nodded when I made some appear. "I love these."

I clucked my tongue when she reached for one. "Real food first, please." I rolled my eyes when Apollo and Dion chuckled. "Yes, yes, I never change even if they're hundreds of years old." I glanced at Dion. "Could that work?"

"That would be amazing. I never would have thought you would give them away for free."

"The goal is to give out karma and get the name out there more than to make money," I reminded him. "I can make all the gold appear that we could ever need." I might have said more but remembered that only the four original gods could do that so not to boast. "The problem is distribution or how to handle it."

"I will gladly get it to all of the locations," he told me. "If you get me a few pallets for each location—yes, I will get them to each theater, Aunt."

"No disrespect, but we should get into the habit of calling her Arabella," Apollo muttered, dipping his head to me. "And I go by Chen. To most, I look Chinese."

"Okay, thank you, Chen," I accepted. I smiled at Dion. "Talk to your people and see what they think will work best. Little containers of fudge or… I'm open to ideas or working with you so this helps both sides. These bastards came for us hard last time, and I want to knock their legs out from under them. I refuse to keep playing fair when others won't."

"No, we've lost too much from being the fools that way," Hades said, his voice hard.

"Agreed," Apollo—no, Chen—bit out.

I was glad we were all in agreement on that… And we all enjoyed the food. I sent Dion and Chen home with a ham and a lasagna each—much to their surprise.

And the twins' disappointment. They had more than enough food, and the fridge was completely stocked. It was a good first step, and I felt better knowing more of what happened since I'd been chased from my home.

That was now how I was going to look at it. I wasn't going to say that I ran anymore. Hera had made it so I ran, engineered the curse that way.

Which meant she'd chased me from my home, and I wanted her to bleed for that.

But would I turn into her if I did?