Note: Hi everyone I just want to say sorry for the delay. This is just a small chapter while I get settled back home after a weekend away at my first book signing with my publisher. I wanted to let everyone know that my book 'Built to Sin' is being published on the 10th of April and I am looking for ARC readers, in exchange for honest reviews on Amazon. So if you're interested please send me a message. I'm only looking for ten to fifteen ARC readers, and I wanted to ask people on here because you have all been here reading my story from the beginning. And if it wasn't for you all I wouldn't be where I am right now. I hope everyone is doing well. I am halfway through the next chapter but it's a big one and an important chapter so there is a lot more to add to it, which I will get to over the next few days.

I just wanted to add because some have asked what an ARC reader is. It's someone I will give the book to for free in exchange for an honest review on amazon. So if you're interested feel free to send me a message. Thank you all again for your support xxx

Chapter 42

Ana

As they arrive and the light around them died down Ana noticed that they were surrounded by the same brilliant bright lights that had been here the day of her coronation and while most people would be scared Ana just felt pissed that these assholes who sat up here on their glowing thrones had the nerve to try and tell her who they thought was and wasn't replaceable.

"Calm down, My Queen we want to have a reasonable conversation with them not start a war," Zeus whispered in her ear but it did nothing to calm the rage that had been building since they left the apartment.

"If they don't agree to help all of my family trust me they will get a war, whether they like it or not."

"Is that a threat!" A booming voice from one of the glowing beings that surrounded them interrupted Ana's whispered conversation with Zeus. Furious that they had the nerve to sound pissed at what Ana was saying, she turned around to face the direction that the voice came from. Not that she could see who it was that had spoken.

"I assure you, that wasn't a threat, It was a promise! If you want me to fight your battles on earth and protect your creations then you will help me and everyone else who fights alongside me. None of you have the right to sit up here, barking out your orders and then you think you have the right to pick and choose out of those who fight for your creations who you will and will not help. That may have been how you worked in the past but no more. Those beings that you think are not worth helping are my family and if you don't help them trust me we will bring Hell to your door and we will win. While you may be powerful you have no idea how to fight because you have never needed to, but we do, and we are more than willing to fight." Ana was shaking with anger, but still had more to say.

"You were all here when I pledged to protect the people on earth and I am willing and more than happy to do that, but not if you do nothing to help keep those that I love and hold dear safe. There is enough power in this room to help us all not just a select few. Every one of my family is going to be the only way that we will win the fight we have coming our way. Keep in mind if we don't and if we are right about who it is we are up against then you will be handing over three Oracles, my twins, myself, and the baby I am carrying. That is more than enough power to tip the scales from good to bad. And if you think they will stop there then you are crazy. Everyone knows that power is addictive for beings like Hades. The more he has, the more he will want. He will have the ability to come up here and take what he wants. Not to mention what do you think Lucifer will do if he loses his family? I can promise you those creations you care so much about will not survive his grief and wrath. So what will it be? Are you going to help? Or are you going to sit back while the world, along with Heaven and Hell get destroyed?

The room was silent as the glowing beings moved closer to one another and Ana stayed completely still and silent to see if she could hear anything that they were saying, or even thinking, but she heard nothing.

She was interrupted from her attempts at eavesdropping by Zeus's voice in her ear. "Well done my Queen, I couldn't have said it better myself." Zeus smiled proudly down at her and while Ana wanted to return the smile she couldn't until she knew what their decision was.

"Let's hope they agree." She gave Zeus a small smile. It was all she could manage under the circumstances. Ana turned back to face those in front of her and waited for them to announce their decision.

It felt like they had waited an eternity when the largest of all the glowing beings stepped forward. With each step they took the light that surrounded them diminished until what was left was a huge man who had pure white hair, a smooth strong jaw, and pale grey eyes Ana knew so well because they were the exact same eyes as her Christian's.

"Both Zeus and my son chose well when they made you Queen." Ana's eyes widened in shock at his words, shit! Did that mean this was 'The' God? She was pulled from her shock by his deep, smooth, velvety, voice.

"You are fierce and so very brave to come here and make demands of the Gods. And while we would normally refuse such demands, you leave us little choice but to give you what you want. The alternative is not something we can risk. You may leave and join your family for now. We will call for you when we are ready. There are a few of us that are not here right now and we need everyone if we are to help all of you."

Ana took a deep, calming breath and felt relief wash over her as she got ready to leave, but before she could she was stopped when he placed his hand on her stomach. "Thank you, daughter, for saving my son, and for giving his life more meaning than the brutality he has lived with throughout his long existence. I know many think him to be evil, but I assure you that was never true. He is my son and he was jealous and young, and he acted in a way he shouldn't. A way that demanded punishment. But he has made me so proud, especially of late. I have loved watching him become the King I always knew he was, the husband I knew he was destined to be, and the father I wish I could have been for him. I love my son dearly and now I have a daughter who is the most remarkable Queen this or any other world has or will ever see. And together you are creating offspring that will change the world for the better."

Ana felt tears falling from her eyes as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I just want you to know, I hoped you would come here and challenge them. I didn't agree with their decision, but I didn't challenge them because I knew it would be the perfect opportunity for you to show them what you are made of, and for you to demand the respect you deserve. You have made me proud daughter." He kissed her cheek then stepped back and winked before light engulfed him and in the blink of an eye he was gone.

Tears were still falling from Ana's eyes when they arrived back at the apartment minutes later, and the second Christian saw her he ran to her and gathered her in his arms. "It's ok Ana we will figure out another way if those assholes won't help. We will give them hell for refusing—"

"They agreed to help." Christian pulled back from her and frowned in confusion as he wiped the tears from her face.

"Then why are you crying? That's amazing news. It's just what we wanted."

"I spoke with your father."

Christian

Christian stumbled back shocked by what Ana had just said. Sure, he knew that his father would be up there, just as he knew he was there the day of her coronation, but to hear her say that she had actually spoken to him was something he never expected to hear.

He thought he would have been angry about his father speaking to Ana but he wasn't. How could he be angry when what his father did led him to the life he has now? After all, if his father hadn't punished him he would never have met Ana, and he would never have known what it was like to fall in love or become a husband and father.

Ana stepped towards him and cupped his cheek as tears continued to fall from her eyes. "He is so proud of you Christian, and he loves you so much." Christian leaned into her touch as she closed her eyes and he was suddenly hit with the vision Ana was showing him which was his father and the things he had said to her.

Once they both came out of Ana's vision Christian felt dampness on his cheeks. It was only when Ana started wiping his cheeks with her thumb that Christian realized that the wetness was his tears.

He moved back and wiped his eyes before anyone could see that he was crying but when looked around the room he saw that he and Ana were alone. "Where did everyone go?" Ana shrugged and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I think they must have known that we needed to be alone. Are you okay?"

"I don't know. Part of me feels like I should still be angry with him and that I should still hate him for punishing me the way he did, but all I feel is grateful to him because if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have the life I have now. And to hear what he said to you well... it feels good. I love my father, I always have, but I always believed that he hated me. It's why I was always so angry and why I hated humans more with each passing day. I have spent my life watching humans destroy each other and the world my father created, and yet he still loved them. So you can see why I would be so angry when he banished me I thought it was because he no longer loved me."

"Well, now you know that he has and always will love you, Christian, and he's been so proud of everything you have become." Christian kissed the top of Ana's head and hugged her tight, never wanting to let her go.

They had been sitting in silence, alone for a while so that Christian could let his father's words sink in when Ana lifted her head from his shoulder and quickly turned to face him. "I didn't know your father would have your eyes. He looks like an older version of you. How's that possible?"

Christian was just about to answer her when Zeus walked in interrupting him. "Christian's father can look like whomever he chooses. He knows that Christian has a calming effect on you, and that is why he would choose to look like him. You were after all threatening to wage a war on Heaven. And it worked. You visibly relaxed when you looked into his eyes." Demeter and Hestia followed closely behind Zeus as he entered the room.

"They are ready for us to go back. Christian, your presence has been requested."

"By who?"

"Your father."