17. Harper

" W here is my aunt?" I ask, Frank, the horseman that we were left with. The others walked out when Nile started complaining that he was starving. If I knew where I was going in the place, I would have left, too. I'm still mad at Nile for what he did when I didn't have any memories of him. Not as upset as I was, but it's going to take time to get over it. He knew that he wasn't supposed to contact me and did just that, putting me in danger once again.

We are waiting on Hades to return when two more of the horsemen walk back in. War speaks up, "Hades is topside grabbing some grub. Once she's back, we will talk about the upcoming war, over some food. Pyro and I are going to help Lainie with some room arrangements and then we will be back."

They don't wait for us to speak as they leave the living room again.

"He is straightforward," Stone comments.

"War is the best guy to have on our side for a battle. It is what he lives for. Blood and fighting. The only thing he lives for more is Hades," Frank comments, the look on his face is like he said too much.

"So, how did the horsemen come to run a casino in Vegas?" Stone questions.

"Simple, when you've lived as long as we have, you figure out what you're good at and do that," Frank replies. "I'm generally the one that listens, so the bar is my domain."

"Seems that you do well for yourselves. That was some party, I mean even my dad showed up and he doesn't make rounds for just anyone," I comment.

"He seems to know when Hades is at the casino. This isn't the first time he has been around," Frank says.

"Typical," Nile pipes up.

"What?" I ask.

"Our fathers just ignore their children but they parade around chasing tail or their siblings."

"Bitter much?" Phoenix asks, rubbing the flame tattoo on his arm.

The bright colors hide the scars from the training from his father. Ares was that ass, so I was worried that Phoenix wouldn't choose to fight. If he decided that he couldn't fight against Ares, that would've put us in a pickle with Hades. The few stories he's shared about his father and the training he was put through told me that there was a great chance that he would want a little revenge.

"At least your father didn't take all your memories, strip you from your soulmates, and give you false memories of a life that wasn't really yours," I say to Nile.

His face goes a little pale and that shuts him up. None of our fathers are worthy of the best dad award, but we need to remember that the gods play by their own rules.

It was Nile's dad that made my father decree that they couldn't participate in our lives. Sure, they stopped in from time to time and screwed us up a little more but that was all. Sometimes, they ignored their children altogether and Poseidon did just that to Nile.

"Demi-gods," Frank huffs with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm a goddess," I speak up.

"Excuse me?"

"My father is Zeus, leader of the Greek gods and my mother is Astrape, goddess of lightning and thunder. Both being gods mean by default goddess here. My men are demi-gods."

"Interesting," Frank muses.

Nile looks as if he wants to say something, but the blond and the red-haired horsemen have returned.

"Pyro and I are going to help get the guest room ready. Unless you all don't want to share." War smirks.

"Nile will have a separate room, but Stone, Phoenix, and I will stay together," I say as I stand. "Can I be of any help?"

I try to steel my features because I can tell I have that ‘get me out of here' look on my face.

"Come with me, we will talk to Lainie and get everything set up to your liking," Pyro says.

Stone lets go of my hand as I stand to follow Pyro. I glance over my shoulder and give him a small smirk.

"She'll be fine," War pipes up, "Maybe if Seph pops up, she can zap his ass for Hades."

"Seph?" I ask, "like the goddess of spring?"

War laughs at me, "God, but yes. Hades's ex but he is plaguing her by dating her assistant. So, a little spark may get him out of our hair as we prepare for the upcoming battle."

"So, this isn't the first time that you've fought Ares?" I ask as he guides me down the dark-black halls. The only light is from the torches that line the left side .

"No, we had just found your Aunt and were figuring it all out when he challenged her. The five of us took on his army and Hades kicked his ass. She could've taken his life but she spared him," Pyro tells me.

The sparkle in his eyes as he talks about my aunt is something that would be what you read in a book. I've never seen that kind of love in real life. I mean I know that I have that with my men but I'm too close to see it.

"So, can I ask why Nile isn't staying with you? He is yours? Am I correct?" War asks.

I knew that I would have to explain this, I just thought I'd have more time. While I'm milling over what I want to say, War starts again.

"You don't owe us a reason. I was curious, is all."

"It's a long story, the short version is, I was hidden for my protection and Nile disregarded my father's wishes and came to me anyway. I had no memory of him or who I was. I'm still pissed that he put me in danger and didn't think about anyone but himself. So, he has to earn my trust back. Being in my bed is a privilege, not a right."

"Are you sure that Hades isn't your mother?" Pyro jokes, playfully jabbing me with his elbow.

"Ha ha, yeah I've always been told that I am nothing like my father. Thank the gods," I reply.

I'm grateful for the laughter. It breaks up the awkward silence after my little explanation.