23. War

I hated having to interrupt Harper and Nile's talk, I knew communication was key in any relationship and theirs was strained. But my first priority was Hades and her kingdom, Harper agreed to fight, so we had to stay on task as much as possible.

When I walked up and saw that they were touching, I knew they were on the right path to healing, but my lady called.

The ache from not being at her side stung more being in her domain. When I led Harper into the room, I didn't stop until I was at Hades's side. She wrapped an arm around my waist and was still carrying her conversation on with two women I had yet to meet.

"Oh, another handsome male you have claimed, I see," one with jet-black hair comments.

"Yes, Nyx, I would like to introduce you to War. He and his brothers are my mates."

She raises an eyebrow, "Brothers and they don't mind sharing. How interesting."

The beauty standing next to her nods in agreement. They are polar opposites; Nyx is the personification of night, milk-white skin radiates under the long hair that hangs and she is draped in a black robe that shimmers like the stars in the sky. The other is more like the sun, glowing skin and yellowish-orange robes.

"When you've waited as long as we have to find her, we agreed not to let her go. There was no point in fighting about it. She was always meant for us," I tell them.

"Are you ready to get this meeting started?" I ask, scanning the crowd in the room. Pyro is off in the corner petting Cerberus but his eyes sweep everyone here. Hades may trust them, but that doesn't mean we have to.

I give him a nod of approval when his eye lands on me once again.

"Should we wake Frank and Drevi?" Hades asks.

"Nah, Pyro or I can fill him in. We need to hurry this along so I can get back to watch. I kinda left Nile alone," I admit.

"Okay, this shouldn't take long. Mostly introductions and listing our powers. That way we can come up with a battle strategy on how to defeat Ares and his minions," she tells me.

"Sounds like a great place to start." I smile.

She kisses my cheek before unwrapping her arm from around me. "Wish me luck."

I smirk at her. "Like you need luck."

Hades makes her way next to the fireplace. "Alright, everyone, listen up!" she shouts, her voice booming in the room.

In seconds, there is dead silence.

"Thank you," she continues, "I want to go around the room and everyone say your name and powers. This will give myself and my men a better idea of how to use that to our advantage against Ares. As you know, I am Hades, I reap souls, judge them, and protect them. War? You next? "

"I am the horseman, War. My brothers and I have a lot of the same powers, a lot to list but battle is my speciality. My brother, Frank is Famine and he can starve people or make them explode as if they ate too much. Drevi is Death and I think you can guess what he does," I say.

Pyro stands, "I'm Pyro, aka Pestilence. I'm an okay fighter but disease and killing people from the inside is my game."

I notice he winks at Hades before sitting back down, then Harper steps up next to Hades. She has gone a little pale and her voice wavers a little as she starts to speak. Harper stops and takes a breath before starting again.

"Most of you know that I'm Harper. I'm the daughter of Zeus, but don't hold that against me," she jokes and then continues, "I have meteorological powers as well as a lightning bolt sword."

"Oh, you're the one that marred Hermes's face, huh?" Aphrodite asks.

Harper doesn't speak, she simply nods her head yes.

"I wish you would have done more to that asshole," Aphrodite says.

I notice both Hades and Harper relax a little and the sharing resumes. I do my best to pay attention, but there is a little voice in the back of my head telling me I need to get back to the gates.

Finally, Hades dismisses us, stating that she or Lainie will show them to some chambers. I slip out and head back the way I came.

When I get back to the gates, I find my hunch was correct; that asshole is snoring.