22. The Battle

I wake with Pyro's and Drevi's tangled limbs on top of me. He must have snuck in sometime after we fell asleep. Drevi is staring at me, a smile on his face as he realizes I'm awake. I blink rapidly at him, trying to wake fully.

"Next time, my bed." Drevi whispers.

"As you wish. After we beat my nephew, we'll have all the time in the Underworld."

"I look forward to it. Now, let's get ready for battle."

He pulls me from Pyro's grasp, tugging me into his arms and on top of him. His kiss has me melting into him and leaves no uneasiness or tension in my body. These four were meant for me. With them at my side, Ares doesn't stand a chance.

Once the kiss ends, he stands with me still close to him. "Time for some armor and weapons."

"Let's gear up, I'm ready to kick some ass," Pyro pipes in, stretching his arms and hopping out of bed.

As if on cue, War and Frank bust through the door and disappointment flits over their faces.

"I told you they weren't doing anything. Pay up." Franks puts out a hand in front of War, to which he slams a ten into. "We need to leave soon, so we can beat Ares to the battle ground. Brothers, time to get ready," Frank informs us. "It's time to suit up once more."

I wasn't sure what that meant for them, but I couldn't wait to find out.

"I hoped that I'd never have to don that again," Drevi sighs.

"Me too, brother," Pyro agrees.

War is the only one with a smile on his face. Not surprising.

Drevi lets me go, and the brothers file out of the room. I trail behind them until we stop at a slick black wall.

War places his palm flat against it, and a secret hatch pops open revealing red armor and a matching double-bladed sword.

Next is Drevi. His armor is black, and his weapon is a scythe. Frank has arrows, but Pyro doesn't have a weapon stored.

"Pyro, where is your weapon?"

"My hands are all I need," he replies as he pulls a leather chest plate over his head.

"Hades, do you have any armor?" Frank asks, concerned.

I snap my fingers and in a flicker of hellfire I am clothed in my leather armor, azure just like the steaks in my hair.

"What about a weapon?" Drevi asks.

"I will have one once I have a need for it." I make sure to meet each of their gazes, my tone and expression serious. "You four owe me nothing. If you want to back out, I won't hold it against you."

Drevi, who is standing next to me, cups my face in his hands. "In all my years wandering this earth, for the first time, I no longer have a piece of my soul missing. All just from being near you and knowing that you are in my life. Yes, I sound like a cheesy chick flick, but it's the truth. If you ask my brothers, they'll probably say the same."

I am awestruck, his words hit my heart like a ton of bricks, leaning on the wall to support me. Never in all my years did I think love so unconditional would be mine. "I don't think I'd want to live any longer if anything happens to any of you," I say, choking up a little as the words get stuck in my throat.

The rest of the horsemen move in closer and surround me in their arms. "You wanted us, and now you can't get rid of us. You are ours and we are yours. No take-backs, no returns, and no refunds," Pyro teases, but there's a seriousness in his voice.

I can't contain my laugh. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Let's blow this popsicle stand. It's time to kick Ares's ass," War announces.

All but one set of arms lets me go. "Pyro and Drevi are both right, you are stuck with us." Frank smiles. "Hades, will you materialize us to the spot in the desert we visited yesterday? We need to stand our ground when Ares and his army arrives."

"Everyone ready?"

"Yes," all four reply at once.

I snap my fingers and in a flash we are standing right where we decided was the best place to make our stand.

"Now, we wait."

As the sun begins to rise, a glint catches my eye. We have been searching for any sign of Ares and this must be it.

Finally. Leave it to him to make a statement. The man was dramatic .

"Here they come. He will have the archers in the front," I inform my men.

Oh, I like that thought. My men.

With a wave of my hand, bronze shields appear, one for each of us. A little more than a whisper is carried on the wind. "Archers, at the ready."

I focus my gaze on them. "Do you four trust me?"

"With our lives."

"On my mark, raise your shields together and we will form a barrier to block this onslaught of arrows. Wait for it, steady. . . "

The thwack of the arrow leaving the bow is the signal I was patiently waiting for. " Now ," I scream as we are showered with metal tipped sticks.

" Advance ," Ares's voice yells.

"Weapons at the ready!" As the words leave my mouth, the thunder of thousands of feet grows louder by the second.

The swordsmen are the first to arrive, the archers must have fallen back. War and Drevi step out in front, the clang of metal on metal ringing free in the desert.

War seems at ease as he cuts down man after man. He slices through them as if they are butter with a grimm smile on his lips. While a little deranged, it is also damn sexy. I may be a little unhinged noticing this as limbs are flying past my head, but watching him do his thing is hot.

Damn, Drevi is really swinging that scythe. One man evades the slice intended for him, a smirk on his lips as he is almost out of reach. Drevi stops him dead in his tracks, literally.

One finger on his elbow and the guy starts to shrivel up into nothing. Once the finger is removed, Drevi lets out a burst of air from his lip and the soldier is nothing more than dust traveling on the wind .

He goes back to assisting War holding the front line, not missing a beat. Pyro steps up closer to his brothers, his gaze on the enemy at hand, when five or six start to howl in pain I know he struck. Boils coat their skin, starting small and increasing in size, until they painfully rupture. The men writhe and scream on the sand, until they suddenly still and fall silent.

Pyro didn't lay one hand on them.

The Four Horsemen's powers almost rival my own.

Frank stands to my left, notching arrow after arrow and hitting the men right in between their eyes. Once the soldier falls, he sets loose another at his next target. When his quiver is empty, he drops it and pulls out the sword that was hidden within its strap.

After what seems to be an eternity, I finally get a glance of my prick of a nephew. He thinks he's capable of leading by hiding behind a literal army. To me, it shows how weak he truly is.

"I wondered when I'd see your ugly face."

"Careful insulting me, Auntie. I'm my mother's favorite."

"Ha, that statement just proves how much of an idiot you are."

A blinding light has me raising my hands to protect my eyes, and then an angelic voice whispers, "Go for his left side. Ares would have you believe he has no weakness."

Once the words are spoken, the light disappears. I send a silent thank you to Athena, knowing it was her wisdom that was spoken softly. It has been centuries since we trained and I had forgotten he did that.

It seems his mother and the rest of the gods are as done with Ares' arrogance as I am.

Ares notches an arrow, aiming for War's head, then letting it fly. In one swift movement, I'm next to War and the arrow is caught in my hand.

"Nice try, nephew. You were stupid to underestimate me. I am motherfucking Hades ," I yell out with every ounce of determination and venom I possess. As I do, my flaming sword appears in my hand and my crown rests on my head, ablaze with blue fire. More fire licks along my armor and chars the ground under my feet. My form grows to my true height. He wanted a war with me, then he would have it, no holding back.

"You wanted me, well here I am."

He pushes aside the men he was hiding behind, his bow forgotten for his sword.

As he closes in on me, I raise my sword to greet his.

"I will wipe this sand with you. Neither you nor your men will stop me. The Underworld will be mine," Ares gloats as he advances and swings his first blow. He has no doubts in his mind that I will fall today.

Stupid, boy.

I easily block it and return the strike, testing the theory that was mumbled to me. It's clear after a few hits that he does guard his left side. Our swords clink together, blow after blow. With a deafening roar he puts every ounce of strength he possesses into a single strike.

Unlucky for him, I trained Ares, meaning it takes little effort to block his hit. As he puts his weight into the movement, I hook his sword and bring it closer to my head.

Releasing my grip of one hand from the sword, I materialize a dagger, driving it deep into his side. He had no chance of dodging it, the movement unexpected.

I warned him about underestimating me.

His expression is one of pain, sadness, and shock at the realization of what just transpired. The blade falls from his grip as he places both hands over the wound, sinking to his knees before he rests on the desert floor.

Lowering my sword I stand over him, the point of my blade hovering over his manhood. "I should remove this and throw it into the depths of Tartarus. If you think for one second that I was going to just hand the Underworld over, you've got another thing coming. This crown of flames belongs on my head. When and if I decide to step down, I will pick my successor. So fuck off and go annoy someone else."

The moment Ares fell, all the fighting stopped and the soldiers fled.

Those cowards.

Turning, I find my men are just staring at me, smiles wide. When they notice I'm looking at them, they begin to clap.

Then the mood shifts. Their expressions grow serious and one by one they kneel.

"Lady Hades, Queen of the Underworld. I pledge my life and fealty to you for all eternity," they each vow, one after another.

"Yes, yes," I huff, rolling my eyes. "I get it. Now, get up and kiss me, you fools."