Chapter Three

Despite what he'd said to his friends, there was no way Hephaestus was actually going to talk to Zeus. It had been centuries since they'd had a civil conversation. Besides, in the modern age there was no reason for gods to congregate or socialize with each other. They had no input in mortal affairs, no one worshipped them anymore.

There had been many times throughout history when Hephaestus had wondered why ancient gods didn't just fade away instead of being forced to exist for eternity. But apparently because of their part in history, the gods were still important to mortal existence. They just had to find something to occupy their days that didn't involve meddling in mortal affairs.

Just because he didn't talk to Zeus, however, didn't mean that Hephaestus hadn't kept up with what the ruler of their pantheon was doing. Zeus had even made that easier for any interested gods when he introduced the Paulie app that was automatically added to phones connected to the godly network. Zeus said it was to stop hackers gaining access to information mortals weren't meant to have, but Hephaestus privately thought Zeus had only created the app so he could lord over the others about the fact he had a fated mate.

The Paulie app, despite being another way Zeus tried to exert his influence over other gods, was a useful source of information. So when Hephaestus heard his friends leave the house for the evening, he pulled up the app, ignoring the red message icon that was flashing at him.

"Paulie." Hephaestus cleared his throat, staring at the screen and feeling really self-conscious about talking to what was essentially a box. "What is the main indicator used by the Fates to alert any ancient god to the fact they might be in the vicinity of the person chosen for them?"

"Good evening, Hephaestus." The Paulie app was always polite. "Not all gods have found their fated mates yet, however early indicators are that the person, when seen by the god, will be highlighted, as though lit up by a light from an unseen source."

"A very bright light?"

"Again anecdotal evidence varies, but it would appear that the light is definitely visible, and only to the god concerned. It should be noted that the individual would remain lit up, in the god's eyes, until after the claiming is complete."

Hephaestus thought that would have to be the case, otherwise every mated ancient god would get a headache if they looked at their fated one for longer than five minutes, and sleep could be virtually impossible. "Paulie, can you tell me what happens in the case of where a god sees their mate, and yet doesn't pursue that person in any romantic or relationship way?"

There was a long moment of silence, broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock Hephaestus had in the corner of his living room. But finally Paulie asked, "Are you referring to the impact that negative decision might have on the god concerned or the mortal?"

"Both, I guess. For example, I understand that Zeus was aware of his mate for the better part of a year before claiming that person, and even then it was his mate who made the claiming bite first."

Hephaestus wasn't sure if the Paulie app could see his face, but he kept his smirk to himself just in case. "Likewise, I heard tales of how Owen, the Native American god, knew about Baby being his mate for thousands of years, and yet them staying apart for so long didn't seem to have any negative impact on either of them prior to their claiming."

"Neither situation was ideal." If it was possible for an app to sound disapproving Paulie was doing a darn good job of it. "In the case of Owen and Baby, however, both parties were gods and were therefore already immortal. I am aware though, that when Owen did finally introduce himself to Baby, their relationship had a rocky start when Baby found out how long Owen had been watching him through that Oracle of his."

"And in Zeus's situation with his mate – the person you are named after?" Hephaestus couldn't resist pushing. He wanted to know if Zeus had built a failsafe into the app that refused to let the app ever say anything against the god who created it.

"The Almighty Zeus was able to keep an eye on his mate through his office, ensuring Paulie was safe. When it became clear the young man was in trouble, he sent operatives to ensure the young man could live a happy life until he was ready for them to be together. As with all gods, Zeus has to abide by the non-interference law that binds all ancient gods."

That was about as close an admission that Zeus fucked up that Hephaestus was going to get. "So, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that not claiming or taking up with a mate, even after seeing them - that delay doesn't have any adverse effect on either party?"

"You forget, Hephaestus, that in the case of Baby and Owen, and Zeus and Paulie, those parties were all immortal by virtue of their birth or how they came into being. For most gods, their mate will most likely be mortal until after they've been claimed. Examples of this include Thor with his shifter mate, Hades with his shifter consort, Poseidon's mate is also a shifter, and so is the mate of Thanatos. In all cases, those shifters were mortal prior to claiming.

"If you, hypothetically, had seen your mate and then failed to render aid or make yourself known to them for whatever reason, believing you had time to make their acquaintance later, that might not be possible. Mortals are in danger every day of their existence. They are born knowing death is just around the corner.

"Failing to claim a mate, hypothetically, is refusing to allow that individual's right to the gift of immortality that the Fates intended for them. Indeed, that rejection by the god could even cause an earlier demise for the mortal, because of the rejection." Paulie paused and then said, "I can't imagine why anyone would treat a gift from the Fates that way."

"Not all gods are mate material," Hephaestus snapped, although he instantly regretted it. You're talking to an app, not Zeus himself.

Paulie didn't seem fazed by his tone. "The examples I've cited prove your point. And yet all the gods who have claimed their mates so far have found a renewed sense of purpose, happiness, and even the chance to raise new families with someone they know they can love and trust by their side. That is a precious gift one would be foolish to squander. Was there anything else?"

"No, thank you."

"All hail the mighty Zeus and his beloved mate Paulie."

Hephaestus thought the app would close down, but it didn't. The message light seemed to glow brighter, growing until it dominated the screen. Sighing, Hephaestus clicked on the icon to see that yes, there were three messages from Zeus, all saying the same thing.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Deleting all three messages with a swipe of his finger across the screen, Hephaestus put the phone back into his pocket and leaned back against the couch, his mind swirling with a mix of memories old and current. The worshippers who'd claimed to be devoted to him, who then forgot about him as the sands of time moved on. The relationships mythology claimed he had with Aphrodite and the Graces. In truth, no one had ever loved him, and if Hephaestus was truly honest with himself, he'd never loved anyone in return.

And mates were meant to love and be loved in return.

Bronte, Arges, and Steropes were the three beings who had been in his life the longest. For all Bronte's talk, their sexual escapades were infrequent, and while they met a physical need, Hephaestus always knew he stood apart from the cyclops and the bond they shared between themselves.

For the longest time that hadn't mattered. I've never believed in love. Yet Hephaestus couldn't ignore the tug in his soul when he'd seen that young shifter sprawled out across the road. As he closed his eyes and thought about the scene in more detail, looking past the horror that he himself was responsible for the man's pain, other details became clearer, and Hephaestus's concern grew.

The shaggy hair. The pale, thin face and faded clothes. By the forge, his shoes had worn right through. I could see the grubby soles of his feet. How did I not remember seeing that at the time? But Hephaestus already knew why. He'd been blinded by that light, and so shocked at what it meant for him, everything else had escaped him.

He'll reject me. Hephaestus knew that was a strong possibility. Out of all the gods, if someone mentioned the word ugly it was him they were referring to. Between his lame leg and, well, he was built for power not to grace a magazine cover. Hephaestus ran his hand over his facial hair. It was trimmed, to a point... He's a shifter. That has to count for something, right? Hephaestus knew, anecdotally, that shifters were incredibly loyal mates. He just hated the thought that anyone would be with him purely because they had to be.

But if I don't go after him, my mate will die. The image of the young man sprawled across the road would not leave him. He'd seen many hateful and horrible things in his life, but that image touched a part inside of Hephaestus he believed long dead.

I'm being ridiculous. Before he could second guess himself, Hephaestus materialized out of his house – destination, the 31 st Street Beach. With the light that would still be surrounding that shifter, no matter where he was, it shouldn't be too difficult to find him in the dark.

And he was right. The shifter was lit up like a beacon for Hephaestus to find. He just wished he could've thought of a smoother introduction line, because that poor soul looked absolutely terrified.