27. Hades

N ormally, the souls never cross into my palace but they arrive before the watch party, the whisper of Ares on their lips.

With my men by my side, I snap my fingers and we are all in the fighting leathers just like the last time. I opt for my scythe this time, it's more familiar in my hands than a sword. Now is the time to show Ares that I'm no punk bitch that he can scare into hiding. This is my realm and he will never take it from me.

"Oh, me next, me next." Aphrodite squeals.

With a sigh and eye roll, I snap again and she is head-to-toe pink leather with a matching sword.

And another high-pitch squeal, Aphrodite is smiling at me. "How'd you know this was my favorite color?"

I ignore her and ask the rest of the room if they are next. At first, no one moves but to my surprise, Hermera and Nyx step up, then one-by-one, the others, too, until we are in mismatched leather uniforms.

"Lady Hades," Lainie says breathlessly, " Ares approaches."

I give her a nod, "Let's head to the gates. Lainie, will you and Seph stay close to the souls? If Ares gets past us, you are the last line of defense to keep them safe.."

"With my life," is all she replies as she heads back the way she came.

I truly hope it doesn't come to that, but Ares is cunning for a dumbass. War is his life's purpose and I have to keep my head in the game. But my heart aches at the thought of losing anyone here.

"Hades, my love, it's time," War says as he caresses my cheek.

"For being the Goddess of the Underworld, you'd think I would be ready. But it never gets easier." I sigh.

He smiles and his expression tells me all I need to know. He feels the same.

"Ares is mine," I inform our little ragtag group before turning to Aphrodite. "But if you want to get a few blows in first, be my guest."

This brings a wicked grin to her lips. "I appreciate that and would love it."

"Let's go," I say, taking War's hand and heading towards the gates.

There is some murmuring among the others, but I don't speak, too focused on my task. That is until my beautiful three-headed puppy bounds up to me just as we reach the gates.

"Were you guarding these gates for mommy?" I ask in a voice that is much more high-pitched than my normal as my hand reaches down to scratch his heads.

His three heads each try and lick my face at once and end up head butting me, knocking me on my ass and my scythe clatters to the floor. Cerberus steps back when he notices what happens until I start laughing, this earns me more kisses .

"Taken down by Cerberus." Pyro smirks as he holds out a hand to help me up.

"He would be a better ruler than that twat, Ares." I smile as I take the outstretched hand.

Pyro doesn't just pull me to my feet, but up next to his body as he takes my lips with his.

When he pulls back, he speaks, "Did you really think that I'd go into battle without a good-luck kiss."

"I'd never dream of it," I reply breathlessly.

Drevi is standing close, a scythe in each hand.

"I guess that means you're next, huh?" I smirk.

"A kiss from you, I'd never turn that down," he answers.

There is a gagging noise behind and I turn to see the disgust on Aphrodite's face But I don't let that deter me. Drevi is my soulmate, if I want to kiss him, she can be damned.

Once this kiss breaks, I turn once again to my niece. "For the Goddess of Love you sure aren't all about this lovey-dovey stuff, are you?"

"Not when it's my aunt and she has more men vying for her attention than I do. I mean what's a goddess got to do to get some attention here?" she asks with a sour expression on her beautiful face.

I do my best to hide the laugh rumbling in my chest and try not to give Harper and her men any attention as she is doing exactly what I am doing.

"I have two more men to kiss, I suggest if you don't like it, you take my puppy to the edge of the gates and let us know when Ares hits the shore."

Aphrodite huffs as she tells Cerberus to come and she stalks off.

Nyx and Herema follow but they can't conceal the smiles on their lips .

"Who knew that the Goddess of Love couldn't stand some kissing when it's not her?" Frank grins as he pulls me from Drevi's arms.

"Right? Where's her annoyingly bubble personality now? Maybe once she gets a few hits in on Ares, that will lighten her mood."

"Maybe," he says in between kisses.

At this moment, I would rather be in my palace, not waiting for a fight.

"Don't forget me," War speaks up.

"As if that would happen."

"Not with his big head," Pyro mumbles.

War and I laugh it off. I'm grateful that I have the four of them here with me. I don't think that I could go back to my life before meeting them. There is a little pang in my heart at the thought.

His brows furrow, "Wipe whatever thoughts from your pretty head. We beat Ares once, today will be no different."

I wish that I could believe him, but I've seen too many wars and they don't always go the way they should.

War is still holding me as I turn in his arms.

"This is not your fight. I will not think less of any of you if you wish to back out," I announce as I eye our little group. "I will say the same to the others at the gate."

None of them move. They all just look around to see if anyone has changed their minds.

"Well, if you are done with your PDA, the first wave is almost at the sands," Aphrodite says, the words almost a complaint on her lips.

"We are ready," I assure her.

Drevi steps closer and hands me my scythe and with that, we continue our little walk .

When I get closer to where Nyx and her daughter are standing I see him. He has his chest puffed out and his twin beside him.

We fan out and cover as much of the shore as we can. If Ares and his army want the beach and behind that gate, they will have to fight their way past us.

"Ah, Auntie, I see Hermès did deliver my message." Ares smirks.

"Did Zeus drop you a lot as a baby? Don't you know that you don't announce your plans to the enemy? Attacking by surprise is the better option. Is that right, Athena?" I ask without glancing at her at my left.

"I mean that would be a better plan strategically."

Athena had appeared next to me out of a golden light. She is in her trademark golden armor. A gift from her father, most likely. I mean, we can all tell who is the favorite is, am I right?

"How did Hades talk you into helping her?" Ares growls.

"Easy, I don't back the losing side," she shrugs.

"What would father say?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

"‘You're an idiot, Ares. Why are you taking on Hades again? Do you really want her to kick your ass again?' Is my best guess." Athena smiles.

Ares rolls his eyes. "Enyo, get the twins headed back to gather the others. It's time to teach these pussies a lesson."

An audible growl comes from his twin but she doesn't complain as she turns back to the boat.

"What have you done with Charon? He's not a sell out, did you try to kill him?" I ask.

"You'll find out soon enough," Ares replies, lunging towards me as he swings his sword.

A flash of pink arcs up and meets the blade just before it can land it's blow.

"Did you really think that you could marry one of my descendants and I'd not find out about it?" Aphrodite screams. "You really are a piece of shit, aren't you?"

Ares blinks in amazement. "YOU TOLD HER?" he roars at me.

"Ares, you just keep proving just how stupid you are," I say with an eye roll.

"Don't you worry about Hades," Aphrodite says to get his attention. "I'm the one going to send you to Tartarus."

She doesn't wait for her words to sink in as she swings her swords. Ares blocks it with ease. Aphrodite raises her sword and there are some glancing blows countered before they meet their mark.

Ares takes a few steps back and lets out a battle cry. This springs the still soldiers into action, as well as my team.

There are clangs of metal all around us. Not one comes from me. I stand there as I watch Aphrodite fight for all she's worth to land at least one hit upon Ares. Once she marrs his cheek with her blade, she steps back and offers him up to me.

He wipes at the drips with his forearm before setting his sights on me.

"Yes, you and me, Auntie."

"Ugh, are you five? Stop calling me ‘Auntie.' You will call me ‘Lady Hades' or ‘Your majesty.' I rule the Underworld and it's best that you don't forget it."

He laughs as he jumps side-to-side, trying to size me up. "Oh, Auntie. You will not be ruler for much longer. This place is mine, you just haven't accepted it yet."

This time, I laugh as I swing my scythe, stopping it just inches from his nose. "Oh, Ares, you know that you aren't in Tartarus only because I thought you'd see reason when I beat you last time, right? "

"Enough talk, fight me," he grits between his teeth.

I seem to have hit a nerve there. The God of War losing to a woman has to bruise the male ego.

He attempts to land a blow in my side. It's easily deflected with a swing of the scythe. This time, I am the one who wasn't thinking when I chose this weapon. It is great with reach but not in close combat.

"War," I call, never taking my eyes off Ares.

"Yes, my love?" he replies with a grunt.

"Can I have one of your swords?" I ask.

"Anything for you, my love," he replies and takes down his attacker before placing the steel in my outstretched hand.