Author's Note: Forgive me for I have sinned! I know, terribly late chapter but it was a lot more complex than I originally thought but I am glad with the results if I do say so myself. Monster of a MEGA chapter to appease you all, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Nico flinched as his ears were assaulted by the combined voices of his queens, both looking at him as if he'd grown a second head. He couldn't really blame them seeing as how freaking random the whole thing was. Still, after giving a mild glare while making a point to rub his ringing ears, both goddesses settled down with the grace to look slightly embarrassed though Hestia reached down and placed her open palm before him. The invitation being clear, he made a quick hop onto her hand before she lifted him up to their eye level.
"Sorry," Hestia said in a softer voice, knowing that their size made any tone above inside-voice painful for anyone of regular size.
"So … mind repeating that?" Rhea asked next as she leaned over the armrest of her throne to get closer.
He sighed with a nod. "Yeah … so Styx proposed to me."
"Why?" Hestia asked next as she narrowed her eyes slightly. "She does know that you don't swing that way right?"
"Not like I hide it," Nico defended while resisting from crossing his arms petulantly.
Rhea and Hestia shared a glance before Rhea asked, "So … how exactly did it go?"
He almost groaned at their obvious curiosity and need to settle their confusion. Hell, he was still confused. Regardless he told them …
The Night Before After Their Meeting
As the council members used their favored forms of teleportation, the king and his queens quickly dissolving into shadows and likely heading up to their home, Jason going off to possibly hunt down his new 'target' and Thalia leaving to finally meet with Aeolus and two of the cardinal winds leaving the West Wind to still be found, Phoebe went to likely Delos as she still favored the island, and lastly Andromeda returning to her office for her project.
As Nico walked down his long flight of stairs to reach the throne room floor, he noted that Styx was looking directly at him. He didn't find it odd considering she'd been glancing at him repeatedly for some time. He'd admit that it got him curious but he'd left her to approach at her own leisure. Now though, as he got to the floor she got up from her throne and slowly walked to him, shrinking with every step. As she walked he couldn't help but admire her. Sure, he was firmly in the rainbow camp but it didn't mean that he couldn't appreciate feminine beauty and being in a council with arguably the most beautiful women on the planet tended to draw his gaze.
Rhea, the epitome of a queen with a regal stature and grace. Her body being the perfect, curvy balance of athletic performance and natural beauty giving homage to her domain of Nature and the ideal of a physically perfect woman. Hestia, the embodiment of Fire making her a hot goddess mixed with her demure and gentle personality that could melt even the coldest hearts. Then there was Thalia, unyielding and fierce like her Storm domain. She carried a sense of danger and slight haughtiness that made her the center of attention without even trying. Andromeda, in contrast to Rhea being nature's ideal, took on the ideal of what sentient beings, predominantly humans, wanted or unconsciously looked for. The curviest of the council, her every motion and stance screaming sensuality, her voice sweeter than honey even on a bad day.
It was at those times Nico thanked Chaos Andy's personality wasn't anything like Aphrodite, otherwise even he would be putty in the goddess' hands. Next came Phoebe, whose domains culminated into the strands of Fate, who carried a natural allure to herself. Phoebe was not the most beautiful of the council, or the curviest, or fiercest but with her there was a supernatural and exotic appeal. A sense of mystery, an ocean of unasked questions and hints around her, that mocha skin contrasting her glowing amber eyes that simply drew you in with the need to know. And lastly was Styx, the most quirky of the lovely ladies of the council. Usually teasing, bordering flirty with any and all to the point she kept a tally of how many gods and goddesses alike she could make blush throughout the day.
Being a more petite beauty, Nico would usually describe the goddess as impish with her slim build and thin waist, modest bust and proportionally long legs leading to one of the tightest rears he'd ever seen. Big doe eyes holding unusually sharp tones of venom green and onyx black in equal swirls, her long green and black streaked hair that always looked like she'd just showered barely a minute ago. If he was being honest with himself he found her more attractive than the other goddess. Maybe it was her playful personality even though he could literally feel the darker aura hidden underneath thanks to her domain of Hatred that was so similar to his own as the heir of the Pit. Maybe it was that since he liked guys he really couldn't appreciate the soft, marshmallow goodness of big boobs.
It was a coin toss really.
Still, whatever the reason his eyes still watched as Styx slowly walked towards him, his eyes catching the slight sway of her hips shown by her snug chiton. She didn't stop until she was only a few feet away at best, now looking up at their difference in height. They waited in silence, or at least Nico waited considering it was Styx that approached him since she obviously had something to tell him. However, she looked unusually nervous given by the slight shuffle of one of her feet and her hesitant glances. 'Odd, since when is Styx ever shy about anything?' he wondered before deciding to break the silence himself.
"So Styx," he started, already berating himself for sounding so bland. "Can I help you with something?"
"Ah well," she started, the momentary flash of relief passing her eyes thanks to him speaking first. "I just … wanted to ask you something."
Another odd pause ensued until Nico cleared his throat.
"Okay, shoot," he said casually, trying the make the atmosphere a little more comfortable.
Styx fidgeted with the rope tied around her waist.
"Umm … how are things with you and Will?"
That got him to start, not expecting that question in the slightest. Generally the others that have known him the longest simply talk to him in general and only going onto the subject of Nico's love-life if Nico brought it up himself.
"Ah, good. We're good. He just started his resignations from the practice in New York and will be ready to move here within the week. He's over the moon since his focus was split between athletic traumas and child care thanks to being the resident doctor in the camp so long. I'm sure Leto will appreciate having such a friendly doctor on call," he answered getting a small smile from her.
"And are you going to give him an apple?" she asked softly.
Nico blinked for a moment in thought. He'd already broached the subject with Will in terms to their mortality. Nico was already partially immortal and he honestly didn't want to watch Will retain mortality and age on until passing. But he knew Will did have some reservations about immortality, partially in his respect to fair play and feeling like it was being given away rather than earned. Another being that immortals tended to have really loose pants, as so eloquently portrayed by their extensive family tree. Nico knew Will was scared of potentially growing into something similar to Apollo even though Nico highly doubted it and then Will would always answer in an oddly pessimistic way.
'Sure, maybe not now or in even in a century. But that's immortality. There will always be enough time to change and possibly make that mistake.'
But Nico could understand his worries. It was the same reasons Percy had constantly rejected the Olympians and their demand of him joining them. He didn't want to become separated and distant from the very mortals he grew up with and spilled blood protecting, fearing that immortality would change him. Still, shaking his head of the thoughts he refocused on Styx.
"Yeah, I was thinking of giving him an apple soon after he gets here. I would rather be assured that he'll be okay on the battlefields since I know he'll want to fight too and I don't know if I could handle him dying. At least as an immortal if he gets taken out I'll wait a few decades for him to reform in Tartarus."
Styx nodded at his answer before asking, "And have either of you thought of marriage?"
That got Nico to blush slightly before giving a hesitant shrug. "I ah … know that it's on his mind since I found some hints …"
"You found the ring and questioned him about it but he couldn't lie to save his life," she interrupted with a grin to which he gave a defeated sigh and nodded.
"Yeah but I could tell he wanted to do it at his own pace so I dropped it for now."
Styx hummed at that and looked towards the warm hearth for a while as Nico glanced at her again, noting how the flames seemed to reflect in her intense eyes.
"What about you?" he suddenly asked making her give him a side glance. "Have you considered marriage to anyone?"
Styx returned her eyes to the fire before answering, her voice surprisingly stern. "I have actually … but I find myself a little hesitant about the whole thing."
"Why?" he asked curiously as he shifted around to be standing right beside her.
"Hmm … mostly due to some personal quirks and preference. After all, it's no secret that I simply love flirting for the sake of flirting, even to the point I risked getting mauled by Rhea one time by getting a little close with Percy during a training session," she said with a grin.
"Pretty ballsy, I'll give you that," he agreed, knowing that Percy and Rhea were equally territorial of each other and given Hestia's actions lately, the fiery goddess was as well.
"Yep but that's just it. I like flirting but that doesn't mean I'm really interested in doing much more. Sure, there have been a few lovely specimens from time to time that give me that special itch but more often than not, I'm just not interested."
"So then why bother looking into it?" he asked. "If marriage is too much of a hassle then don't marry and if you get that itch once in a blue moon, than find that lucky guy (or lady) and scratch it."
"That's just it though, I don't want to sleep with just anybody," she said with a sigh. "I do want to have that special someone and have love but even then, I'm just not a sexual creature like our king and queens," she added with a snicker and he snorted in agreement.
Everyone knew that Percy and Rhea were both stamina monsters on the battlefield and it obviously translated into bedroom activities. He wasn't sure if he was more impressed with the fact that Percy's appetite was more than enough to screw both his wives into orgasmic puddles or that it took Hestia barely a few days to match up to them from the get go.
Both continued to snicker for a moment before Styx cleared her throat and continued. "Anyways, the point is that if I did have a husband, I wouldn't really be able to meet the physical needs often enough and that would be more of a punishment than anything else to whoever that is."
"What if you tweak your vows so that he could find release somewhere else?" he asked to which she frowned.
"I don't like the idea of being cheated on, even if it's for a reason," she replied curtly before sighing.
Nico scrunched his brows for a moment in thought, wondering how to get around Styx's quirks to find a working relationship. Obviously it would have to be someone that had interest in her just as she him/her but at the same time, it couldn't be someone wanting more activity that spare times but then again, immortals rarely had low libidos. Then again it would also need to be someone capable of dealing with Styx's teasing personality.
"What about a poly relationship like Percy, Rhea, and Hestia?" he asked getting Styx to look at him curiously. "You could marry two people and that way, they could satisfy each other."
"But who?" she asked as she suddenly turned towards him, her eyes seeming to glow as she zeroed in on him. "How many couples are out there that are willing to open up to a third? What's to say that I'll even like one, let alone both of them as is? And what if they marry just for the prestige of being married to a council member or maybe their mortal and want to be immortal as well?"
With each question Styx took a step towards him and Nico couldn't help but take a step back to mirror it. Her every light step sounded like a hammer fall to his ears, the slight sway of her hips like a hypnotic pendulum to his eyes. He stood nearly a foot taller and broader, his frame a testament to being hardened in the flames of war, his black and red tinged eyes normally pinning others to the spot as he observed them. Yet for all that he felt the smaller of the two and could only back away and yield as Styx came forward.
Then suddenly he stumbled and couldn't stop himself from falling back on his rear. He only got a moment to sit up before his heart leapt into his throat as Styx sat on him, straddling him as her eyes bored into his. His body suddenly felt like ice with only the parts making contact with her burning, especially her hands pressed against his chest.
"You know," she said softly even as her eyes retained their steely semblance. "Of all the men I've spotted from the rare times I came to the surface when I could, none have every given me the 'itch' like you have, Nico De Angelo."
Her hands started to slide down as she wiggled ever so slightly to get more comfortable and Nico found a strange though not unpleasant heat over his crotch. He tried to ignore it though as he refocused on her face, his hands getting clammy and throat dry at her little confession.
"I know you are very much in love with Will and I would love to be there for your vows someday however, I can't help but wonder …" She then leaned a little closer, her breath washing over his face and her body seeming to press down on him more. "With your suggestion and all, if you two would be willing to consider me?"
His eyes widened as he looked at her heart-shaped face, glancing at the little dainty lips speaking such dangerous words.
"And I can't help but feel that you aren't against … feminine delights … as much as you say," she almost teased as she slowly rolled her hips making him groan before he suddenly looked down in alarm.
He wasn't a stranger to female teasing and even some touching, what with the more daring girls in his years after the war trying to seduce him along with the few openly gay men. Hell, the old heroes once threw a party to try and get over some of the sadder feelings of the previous years thanks to Percy's disappearance. Most got roaring drunk and started a raunchy truth-or-dare game that got some interesting results; Will ended up making out with a broom, Jason and Frank shared a kiss (Nico's idea, he just didn't think they'd do it), Calypso took Leo to a closet and forgot to come back out, somehow Hazel and Piper ended up cuddling topless, and of all things, Reyna gave Nico a lapdance.
It was then that she showed the kind of movement and flexibility one would expect from a child of Aphrodite could have along with Nico gaining some appreciation for the softness of a female's rump but even then he still didn't bat an eye. He'd never reacted to a girl more than maybe a second glance and remaining at a distance but Styx was making him react right now. The goddess even went as far as giving him a little smirk of victory before she backed her face up while Nico was still mentally reeling.
"Now that we know that it wouldn't just be a token marriage given that there is attraction between us," she said as she gazed down while intentionally wriggling again but this time he bit back the groan and desire to grab her hips. "I was wondering if you'd like to marry me Nico De Angelo?"
He was gapping like a fish as he looked at her, too stunned with everything that happened in the last five minute to form a coherent thought. She was proposing? To him? What about Will? Wait … but she meant a pair, so him and Will? But would Will even—
Styx giggled breaking his train of thought as she looked down at him, her eyes shining with a familiar mirth.
"I don't expect an answer right now," she said as she leaned closer again. "I know this is sudden and we don't really have feelings for each other … Well, I might have what's considered a crush," she admitted with a light blush. "But still. Just think about it and talk to Will. Who knows, maybe this will turn out better than either of us could have guessed."
With that she gave him was last flirty wink, a kiss on the cheek, and disappeared in a ball of green mist. Nico stared at the previously occupied space before glancing down at the bugle in his leather pants.
"Traitor," he growled at his offending organ before slumping back down and looking at the throne room ceiling currently mirroring the open night sky.
He sighed, wondering just what was he going to do about all this …
Present
"And I just kinda stayed like that for the night and day," he finished, sitting cross legged on Hestia's palm while said goddess and Rhea picked their mouths off the floor.
"Wow …" Hestia murmured. "… Go Styx."
Rhea snorted in amusement before focusing her eyes on Nico. "So … have you come to any decision at all?"
Nico blinked at her for a moment before sighing while slumping his shoulders. "I don't know, that's why I wanted to ask Andy."
Both goddesses hummed in thought while exchanging glances. All the while Nico looked between the pair before asking softly, "How was it that you three came to your decision?"
"Well," Rhea started hesitantly. "It's complicated. I mean, me and Percy were already together and Andy tipped me off about his feelings for Hestia. If I hadn't known, I can guarantee that it would have taken a lot longer before I would have agreed to try being polyamorous. In the end my love for him and willingness to compromise at first was what helped but we also had years to truly adjust to the idea before Hestia came into the picture. Even then it didn't really sink in until Hestia was with us."
"And we all know how I reacted initially," Hestia chimed in with an embarrassed blush that lessened when Rhea tugged her free hand and gave it an affectionate kiss on the knuckles. Nico couldn't help but smile at that, even if he wasn't really a romantic himself. Really his king and queens were the idols of a caring and honest relationship. Hestia sent Rhea a warm smile before returning to Nico. "Anyways, in the end Andy helped me too and I realized my feelings hadn't changed even knowing Percy wouldn't only be mine but I compromised too. Heck, now it's an honest three-way marriage rather than two wives splitting a husband and I wouldn't change that for all the world."
"But could Will and I do that?" he asked. "It has to be a mutual decision and then if so, what would our dynamic be? Obviously I'm gay and apparently bi when Styx is around much to my humiliation," he said while pointedly ignoring the snickers from the goddesses. "That's not to say that Will, will have the same inclination."
"His dad is the god of Bachelors," Rhea said with an eye roll. "I'm pretty sure that if it came down to it he could scrounge up a little willingness to mount our apparent vixen of a river goddess."
"So crass," Nico said sarcastically but the goddess only stuck her tongue out at him.
"Besides, think of all the kinky scenarios," Hestia added innocently getting a genuinely shocked look from Nico.
Where the hell did the proper and shy maiden go!?
"Anyways," Rhea interjected. "I think its best that you go and talk to Will about it. Things won't go anywhere if you don't discuss it first and it will give him a few days to stew on it before arriving."
"Might want to hurry incase Styx decides to test if she can get a reaction out of Will too," Hestia commented making Nico jump in her palm.
"Now I'm worried," he snarked as he prepared to jump off her palm but before that he asked them, "So what are you two doing now? I noticed the barrier but I didn't know if you two wanted to talk about it."
Rhea and Hestia shared another glance before Rhea answered.
"We have a few apparent complications to our love-life that needs addressing too. We're keeping it a little private for now but we'll let you and the council know later on."
"Besides, right now I think we're going to find Percy and drag him to the House of Night for a little … connection," Hestia added, her voice purring out the last word with such heat that even Nico had to blush.
'Sweet Chaos, let Percy survive this night,' Nico prayed as he noted Rhea's saucy smirk, her fangs poking out of her lips.
He gave an awkward nod and salute before hopping off Hestia's palm and disappearing into the hearth with a slight burst of purple flames within the wreaths of golden and orange fire …
With Thalia
Thalia … was pissed. Oh sure, near all powerful primordial goddess with domain of Sky and Storms. Capable of firing blots with more kick than that bastards Master stick without tiring in the slightest, taught by Nyx and the past council in everything from politics and war to home economics of all things, and if she wanted to be a little vain, a smoking hot body putting almost all other goddesses save for fellow members of the council to shame. Her own palace and servants at her beck and call, all the time in the world, and best of all, no more stupid oath of chastity. Granted the last benefit was in a tricky spot at the moment.
However! Now she wasn't just a warrior getting to run around in the woods, hunt and fight to her hearts content, and basically be a bit of a crass bitch when the mood suited her. Now she was a council member, a political representative and power with scary levels of authority. Damn shame that power, especially in the political and social sense, came with baggage and leashes. That meant that she couldn't break her foot off in Aeolus' ass as the pompous twat droned on and on, trying to weasel some benefits and deals for his neutrality or possibly moving to Mount Cartier. No thanks! Last thing she needed was to castrate him if he tried to put the moves on her again at home.
"I don't see why we need him anyways," she growled as she flashed to the House of Primordials and started walking up the steps to their villa. "It's not like he's even a heavy hitter and any storm spirits he releases can be tied down between me and Jason."
She scoffed as she mindlessly kicked her feet, unconsciously willing her storm boots to dissolve into anklets of crackling electricity and her clothes changing from a semi-formal chiton reaching past her knees and braided hair into a snug tank shirt and short shorts with her hair in a loose ponytail.
"Stupid, smug, spineless wind god," she muttered as she moved to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of chilled nectar from the fridge rather than snapping her fingers and willing it into existence.
She didn't really need to eat anymore but the familiar sensation calmed her down as the liquid energy settled into her stomach. She hummed as she glanced around the kitchen, wondering if she would cook regular food or just grab some ambrosia from the fridge as well but in the end shrugged and left towards the living room. As she walked she focused back on the planet and noticed that several of the protogenoi weren't on the surface at the moment. She could only feel Jason in Florida, Styx and Phoebe in their mountain, and Nico in New York.
"Wondering where Perce and his ladies are?" she mused, pointedly ignoring a small and familiar pang in her chest every time she thought about it. Damn feeling had been an annoying itch for the last two years (surface time).
She arrived at the living room and was about to lay back on large sofa and possibly turn on the TV when she caught some sniffling. She glanced around until noticing that the patio doors were open and just beyond Andromeda was sitting at the pool edge with her back to Thalia. She could also see the slight shake of her shoulders and caught another sniffle making her frown before she approached slowly. Andromeda seemed to be so out of it that she hardly noticed Thalia getting closer.
"Andy?" Thalia started after getting just within a few feet making Andy jump with a gasp.
She glanced back for a moment but then hastily turned her face away and rubbed at her eyes. Sadly for Andy, Thalia had clearly seen her puffy eyes and tear streaks.
"Andy, what's wrong?" she asked tenderly, waiting as the goddess finally, slowly, turned to face her again.
"N-nothing …" she mumbled.
Thalia didn't even validate that crummy lie with a response. She merely sighed as she got a little closer and sat beside Andy and let her feet sink into the pool as well with mild amusement as Andy gasped from the low voltage introduced to the water from Thalia's anklets. Finally settled she turned her face and stared at Andy in the eyes, silently demanding a proper answer this time.
The Love goddess seemed oddly defensive for a minute or two before sighing in defeat, her lips barely forming into a pout.
"I um … I'm sort of in trouble and might have made things worse," she said cryptically.
"With who and for what?" Thalia continued.
Andromeda glanced down at her lap hesitantly for a moment before taking a deep breath and answering. Suddenly it seemed as if some dam had broken and everything just came spilling out, at one point through sobs, at other times with Andy making the biggest goo-goo eyes Thalia had ever seen when she mentioned how she felt about Percy. It took a good hour or so thanks to Thalia interrupting several times with questions for clarifications. Who knew Love and Desire were such complicated domains?
Thalia always thought it just involved diving into every pair of pants and panties within sight given how Aphrodite behaved. 'Damn, even after years without Artemis I still get a bitter taste whenever I think of that damn whore,' Thalia thought with a grimace as Andromeda finally tapered off.
"So let me get this straight," Thalia said after a full minute of silence. "You love Perce," she said avoiding using names and possibly drawing his attention. "… but in the romantic way…"
A shy nod.
"And not only that but of all things the very core of your Love domain is honed in on him as are all your domains. Now because of that you won't even stand the thought of being with anyone else."
Another firmer nod.
"And holding back is starting to hurt you but when you told our queens, they didn't take it too well."
"All things considered I think they took it extremely well," Andy muttered as she looked at the stars beyond their little floating island. "But I don't know if they'll be willing … or if Perce even feels that way about me."
Thalia snorted slightly drawing the other goddess' gaze before saying, "Are you sure you can't just wait it out and move on? I mean, is it really that bad or maybe you haven't found mister right?"
Andromeda gapped at her, in apparent shocked silence.
"Y-you think this is just a passing thing? Just a habit I can break?" she asked in an oddly cold voice making Thalia get the feeling that she might have said the wrong thing.
Andromeda suddenly stood up, glaring sharply at Thalia. "I see that huntress' teachings are still ingrained in you. Well news flash, I'm not that sham of a Love goddess and this isn't some passing thing. I love him, I always have, and it took my own powers acting up for me to realize it."
"And then what?" Thalia asked back, falling back on her usual stubbornness and familiar distrust of love deities in general. They just always seemed to cause all manner of discord around them and now the council was getting some of that drama barely a month in after being formed. "Who's to say that you won't have your love shift again then you'll just—"
Whatever she was going to say was cut off as she jumped back, narrowly avoiding the fist that plowed into the marble she'd just been sitting on. She landed in a crouch and looked to see Andromeda's fist buried past the wrist in the miniature crater at the pool edge, the goddess giving Thalia a piercing glare.
"Let's get something clear," Andromeda said in a dangerous tone that immediately reminded Thalia of Percy during the rare times he was really pissed off. "Just because I can love multiple people doesn't mean I can't be faithful or only stay with one person. Being a Love goddess means I can adjust but once my feelings cement and are returned, they don't change. I don't love him because of my domain, it just means that I can't lie to myself and deny it like some others," she nearly spit the last words venomously while narrowing her eyes at Thalia.
She then slowly got up with her fist still clenched.
"Don't you dare call my feelings a bluff or a phase," she practically snarled before beginning to walk past Thalia and back into the villa. "And by the way, maybe you should rethink why exactly you joined the Hunt in the first place." Then she was gone leaving Thalia confused as she narrowed her eyes.
What the hell did she mean by that? Everyone knew she joined to avoid the damn prophecy … even if it did leave her feeling guilty about dumping it all on Percy's shoulders. She'd have liked to be there for him and offer support … but then again he already had Annabeth at the time. And then he upped and disappeared without telling her and it hurt knowing he just left rather than being taken against his will or something. Only for them to be reunited and surprise! Another gorgeous woman on his arm. At least he had succeeded and was happy now and so was she … right?
With Jason
The music was blaring into his ears as the strobe lights flashed across his face, his sky blue eyes reflecting the glow ominously from time to time. He watched as club goers moved back and forth, bodies rolling and grinding to the music. The smell of perfume and alcohol tinged with sweat filling the atmosphere. For his part Jason remained near the borders of the dance floor, a mortal tequila in hand as he rested coolly against a rail leading down the few steps into the dance floor proper.
His lips in a flat line as he took a sip, ignoring the obvious batted eyelashes and coy invitations for him to join into the dancing. Beauties of all sorts, from natural blondes and brunettes to exotic dyes of pink and neon blue, from the palest creamy skins down to the richest pigments of cocoa, he caught the gaze of all whether coming here alone or with a significant other. He scoffed at those though, having no personal interest in those spoken for even if the hypocrisy was not lost on him in his current pursuit.
'Why was it that I volunteered for this again?' he wondered to himself as he looked to the dj booth, watching the skinny man as he bounced to the music, his hands in the air. 'Oh yeah, because it wouldn't work with anyone else,' he answered himself with a bitter chuckle. Of the council members that were single, he was the only male and his target was confirmed to strictly be into the male form. That and his face wasn't personally known to the goddess making things easier.
He sighed again as he returned to his drink when he felt a pair of slender arms slowly wrap around his waist along with the scent of morning dew near the beach soothing him. He might not have liked his mission but he still couldn't keep the faint smile of his face as he partially turned to look down at her smiling face. The mortals around them saw her as a beauty befitting of a sailor's dreams. Heart shaped face, small nose, bright sea-green eyes, and plump lips all on a creamy skin and framed by waves of luscious dark hair reaching her back.
He could see past it all though, the Mist being little more than a thin veil he could dispel with a thought to see her exotic beauty for what it was. Her creamy skin gaining a slightly green hue, her chin and cheeks sharpening as teeth coming to fine points peaked out through her soft smile. Her hair darkening and carrying occasional streaks of dark blue. With her short blue dress generously hugging her every curve and displaying long and toned legs, he wasn't sure how the sea god could keep his hands off her.
Much to his amusement she'd named herself Amphora on his introduction. He knew she could tell he was far from a regular mortal but hadn't commented on it, possibly turning a blind eye to it in favor of trying to enjoy the night. She'd only asked for his name and to play her game, he'd gone with James, only a few letters away from his real name.
"Did you wait long?" she asked in a silky voice as she glanced at his drink.
"Not at all," he replied easily as he turned in her arms and used his free one to wrap around her.
She glanced down at his arm, the briefest moment on uncertainty flashing in her eyes before she hid it and smiled up at him coyly.
"Are you thinking of heading back to the dance floor?" she asked as she pressed herself a little closer, ignoring every jealous look directed at her much like how he ignored the male population of the club.
"Hmm, I was thinking about it," he lied as he set down his finished drink on a nearby table before using his freed hand to cup her chin while his arm tightened until she was pulled flush against him, even going as far giving a slight gasp at his boldness. "But I think I had my fill of just dancing."
There was a challenge in his eyes, a daring sort of danger that was enforced with a slight raising of his innate aura. It carried a near imperceptible wave of power and dominance that most mortals wouldn't notice but judging by how she shivered in his arms, she was very much aware of it. And going by how she bit her lower lip as she gazed up at him, she liked it.
He knew he had her at his whim in that moment, that she'd be vulnerable at this time and how his actions more than anything could draw her in until she gave in. It sickened him. For a moment he felt like those very Olympians he detested, knowing that many of them used their awareness and subtle ability to read mortal minds to have an unfair advantage in their conquests. But he bit it down with ruthless self-control. He'd made this bed and now he had to lay in it.
"Let's go somewhere … quieter," he whispered as he drew his face closer to hers.
She was almost quivering in his arms but she nodded nonetheless. He gave a soft grin at that and with his arm still around her waist, led her out of the club. A few hallways and flights of stairs later, they were in a reception hall. How convenient that the club was attached to a hotel with prime view of the Florida beaches. It took him a few minutes to guide her to his rented out suite, under the cover that he'd been in the state for a work trip.
The trip was mostly silent with both shooting quick glances at each other, neither sure how to go about this part … or if they really even wanted to. He was doing this for a mission, an ulterior motive, and though he tried to lie to himself about it, a way to get passed that damn hurtle that has been blocking him for years even before he dated Aphrodite's spawn. She was similar, wife cheated on and heartbroken for millennia, in a marriage that was not her own choice, left in a castle under the sea all but forgotten while her husband not only slept with others but sired child after child in his wake.
One forgoing his thoughts of love and true union, giving up on his 'old-fashioned' desire for courting before intimacy, the other resigned to her fate in a cruel world and desperately lying to herself in the need to stay faithful even as she teetered on the fine edge of finally rebelling against it all. Both hurting and broken, both using the other for a reason they couldn't admit to themselves.
Soon they arrived at his suite and opened up for her, letting his eyes trail her figure as she observed the pent house. It was rather simple yet stylish with ceramic tile covering the expanse and navy blue painted walls. A granite topped kitchen to the side, large living room with couch, loveseat, and large flat-screen TV. Close to the living room and divided by a waist high wall was a small dining room, further on being the doors leading to a balcony overlooking the marina. But it was to the door on his right that she moved, leading to the master bedroom.
He closed the door softly behind him, taking a moment to motivate himself to continue. It took him over a minute but he finally got himself to move, his steps feeling heavy and clunky with the clack of his leather boots. He went to his room, wondering what he'd gotten himself into but then his train of thought stopped once he looked in his room.
There she stood against the partially open glass door leading to his balcony just like the doors near the dining room. Her heels were kicked off and her gaze was locked firmly on the surf beneath, a gentle breeze caressing her raven locks. Even though he could only see the side of her face, from what he could tell, she seemed so care free at the moment. Without all her guilt and fears weighing on her slender shoulders, her sea-green eyes reflecting the beauty of the very seas that birthed her. If she was beautiful now he knew that within the seas she would be even more so, with the mere glamour removed and her legs turned into her natural mermaid tail.
He must have been staring for too long because Amphora turned to look at him, giggling softly before speaking in a teasing tone, "See something you like?"
'Yes,' he thought but he only answered with a grin as he kicked off his boots and slowly made his way towards her. She looked at him with mixes of anticipation and slight fear, suddenly seeming so small and vulnerable to him. He couldn't explain it but he both hated and loved the sight. He wanted to see her strong and proud like the sea goddess he knew she could be but at the same time, it filled him with a primal sense of pride knowing that he could enact such a reaction from her.
With that in mind he carefully wrapped his arms around her. He gazed down into her eyes for a time before he slowly lowered his face to hers and claimed her lips. They were soft and supple, the taste sweet yet with a subtle tinge of salt. The kiss was soft and tender as he felt her gently wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as he tightened his arms around her. Soon the kiss started to become hungry, needy. His hands lowered until they cupped her soft rear, kneading the tender flesh eliciting a small moan from her.
That simple sound ignited a fire in his chest as he grabbed more of her flesh before hoisting her up, making her squeal as her legs wrapped around his waist and he took them to the bed. They didn't separate as he lowered her onto the bed, now their tongues dueling as her arms and legs kept him close. He could feel her own heart hammering away through their touching chests, the heat that was building between her legs and right over his crotch. He couldn't help but groan as he rubbed forward only to get a returning moan from her as her hands trailed through his hair.
He let his body move of its own accord, leaving his thoughts and doubts behind as he lost himself in the moment. Somehow along the way his shirt was tossed aside and his pants were open though still at his waist while her dress had been hiked up enough for her lacy panties to be in full view along with the top of her dress being pulled down enough for her breasts to mash against his naked chest. The warmth of her body, the silkiness of her skin, and her sweet taste was drowning his senses. So much so that he momentarily lost himself to his desire and in that moment moaned her name … her real name.
"Amphitrite."
It was soft, a candid whisper at most but it was enough for her to hear.
"So you know who I really am …" she whispered in a quivering voice as he broke their heated embrace enough to really look at her and find himself frozen.
Her cheeks were flushed golden, her glamour having fallen to reveal her tinged skin and heaving breasts, her hair like a dark halo around her head. However none of that truly caught his attention like what her eyes did. They were teary and quivering, showing her every uncertainty and fear. Of what she was doing, why, and what possible consequences would there be to this night. There was also the pain that she had kept so close to her chest for millennia bubbling out, desperately trying to break free in rebellion after so much heartbreak and empty promises. It was all there as clear as the brightest day he could bring and in that moment he knew one thing.
He couldn't bring himself to go farther.
He had a mission. Seduce Amphitrite, break the fidelity that had lasted the longest of any marriage within the Olympians, unravel the stability of Atlantis and so cripple their forces. Divide the sea kingdom between loyalty to their king, a conquering force, and the last dregs of loyalty to Amphitrite, daughter of Oceanus and actual royal of the sea.
But he couldn't do it. She hadn't asked to be in her place, she hadn't wanted to be with Poseidon but the choice was taken from her. Whisked away from her own sea gardens while her father fought the upstart Olympian, coerced into a marriage to spare her people and settle the last scraps of resistance against Poseidon. A captive within her own home.
Too long she had been used as a means for others … and he would not be one of them.
So with a gentle hand he slowly thumbed away the few tears that had started to fall down her cheeks.
"Yes," he said softly.
"Then why?" she asked in a whisper even as she leaning slightly into his touch. "You must know the danger touching me will bring you."
"And I could ask you the same," he replied. "Why now of all times? You rarely come to the surface as is and yet tonight you came with the obvious intention of breaking fidelity."
She looked away in shame for a moment, her eyes becoming stormy, before she returned her gaze to him.
"He's gone too far," she replied in a cold tone even though he could hear the quiver underneath. "I tried to stomach it every time he took on a new lover. Being free and wild like his oceans he claims," she scoffed. "However I could deal with it as long as his conquests and their lives stayed far away from mine but then all that business with one of his lovers began."
"You mean the murder of Mrs. Blofis," he cut in much to her apparent shock.
"You know?" she asked making him sigh as he sat back on his knees with her sitting up to look at him properly, never mind her exposed chest.
"Yes, it is not as well kept a secret as the Olympians think," he replied with a tired gaze. "And how do you know?"
"Hestia told a few days after it happend," was Amphitrite's simply reply before she glanced down for a moment and then continuing. "But yes, that was the sign of his changes. Something happened to him after that. Even if I never truly loved him, I can't say that he wasn't romantic and kind at times but … ever since that day he became colder. Cynical, more easily angered, and even more promiscuous. Then when Hestia disappeared he came back both enraged for his own failure to keep her safe and sad at her kidnapping."
She paused for a moment as she bit her lower lip before looking at him.
"When Hestia told me about how he'd struck her … I was furious myself. I dismissed him from my bed and kept it as such for all those years but when he seemed so utterly broken for his failure, I finally relented and tried to soothe him. And yet … it wasn't my name he said, even in the middle of our union and I kicked him out again."
"Who's name?" he couldn't help but ask, even though he got a feeling he already knew who.
"… Sally," was the hesitant reply before Amphitrite took a shaky breathe. "… I don't remember too well what happened the rest of the night, only that by the end I left him in our chambers with an Atlantian crystal dagger in his thigh and I left to my son's wing of the castle. I remained there for several days until I finally decided that I would be moving to my own personal wing and keep my distance from my husband but when I went to our chambers …"
Amphitrite stopped as more tears started to come out and her breathing turned into choked sobs. Not being able to stand the sight of her crying Jason moved forward to envelop her in his arms, caressing her back softly as she cried into his chest. He didn't know for how long he held her but he didn't care. He simply held her, understanding her tears of heartbreak … after all, not too long ago he had wept the same and found himself in Hemera's motherly embrace. After some time she finally settled down until her crying broke into sparse sobs and occasional hiccups but she didn't try to move away from him as she spoke softly.
"Never in all those years had he broken the sanctimony of our chambers. But this time, he brought one of his lovers, a mortal one, to my bed. And what's worse, he was telling her of how he'd make her a queen in her own right as I just stood there and then turned back to me and winked. I've never felt so utterly humiliated in my life," she said as she hugged him tighter. "Is that all I am in the end? A trophy that can be discarded when I'm not shiny enough? A broken toy?"
"No," he answered firmly as he pulled back so that he could look at her. "You are more than that bastard could ever understand."
He then cupped her face and made sure her eyes were locked with his. "You're too good for him Amphitrite, you always were." He bit his lip for a moment as he thought about what he was going to say. This was going completely against the plans … but he couldn't just leave her, not after hearing all that.
So he made a choice.
"Come with me," he said, making her eyes widen but he soldiered on before she could interrupt. "I can take you away, far from the reaches of Atlantis. A safe place, a home where you can find happiness."
"But what about my people?" she asked. "The truth of Atlantis is that many of the merfolk think little of Poseidon and his handpicked court. Many still favor the old ways in the time of my father, even if at times he himself had been rather cruel though fair. Without my presence they would begin to voice against my husband again … and I fear how he would retaliate now more than ever."
To that Jason really couldn't think of a way to get around it. The truth was that of the elder council, not all the protogenoi had been on board to move on. Pontus and Thalassa, born only of Gaea, were much like her and wished for more control of the world at large. Oceanus had been the favored sibling of Pontus and so blessed by Pontus giving Oceanus and Tethys their domains of Oceans and Fresh Waters respectively. Thanks to Nyx they knew that it had been the two youngest members of the elder protogenoi that had hidden Oceanus after the first Titan War … and now Pontus was taking an active role.
By rule of thumb all members of the new council were avoiding the oceans as best they could. Until they could devote their time to not only fighting the two remaining elder protogenoi but also isolating such a battle to minimize the risk to the mortal realm, they were effectively tied down in how they could go about with the seas. And it honestly scared him that he would be able to do little to help her if she was in the sea itself. Jason was strong, no question there, but even he would be hard pressed to fight Pontus and Thalassa on their home turf, especially not if they had more support from other tidal titans and monsters.
Still, grasping at straws Jason held a palm up and focused his power until a marble of pure light formed before he cast a mild glamour on it to make it similar to a pearl with a necklace. Once formed he looked to Amphitrite again and placed the necklace in her hands before clasping them within his.
"Then if you can't leave with me now then take this with you. If you feel like you are in danger or there is an emergency, crush it and it will bring you too me," he said sternly. "Promise me that you will. I can understand that you feel responsible for your people but there is only so much that you can do alone but you don't have to stand alone."
Amphitrite remained silent as she looked between his face and the necklace now in her hands, seemingly unable to believe that someone would willingly risk so much just to help her.
"Just … who are you?" she asked softly as she looked into his eyes.
He paused as he thought about that. Even when the time came to declare war, they planned on staying relatively hidden to feed the famous Olympian paranoia. What better way to undermine an opponent than one constantly looking over their shoulder and questioning their own allies while they moved within the shadows. But could he risk telling her his real name? If the Olympians knew, than anyone with a connection to them could be in danger, even the innocent and those having nothing to do with the war.
"Jason … Jason Grace," he found himself saying before he could stop himself.
He wanted to bash his own head for that but for the life of him, he couldn't bring himself to regret it right now. He should make her swear on Styx and her immortality for her silence, hell, even knock her out and simply have Mnemosyne wipe all her memories as is … but he couldn't do it. He just couldn't hurt her, wouldn't hurt her, not after she opened up to him like she had. However it was her warm smile that really settled it for him. Those soft lips pulled into such a tender expression with her eyes gleaming in a happy glow … it was worth it.
She then surprised him by leaning closer and giving him a soft kiss. It was the only true kiss of the night without either hiding something behind it. He returned it as his arms found her waist again yet he didn't try to deepen it or pull her closer. They warmth and touch of the embrace was enough as is. After they pulled back she flashed him another smile.
"Thank you, Jason," she said as she tied the necklace around her slim neck.
He flashed her a smile of his own as he got up and snapped his fingers, returning their clothes to a proper state much to her surprise. She looked at him with curiosity to which he found himself winking as he turned around.
"You know how to reach me …" he said softly before letting himself dissolve into particles of light.
A mission failed … and yet he wouldn't have changed anything about that night …
With Percy (A Week Later)
Percy sighed as he looked up at the ceiling of his wives' and his room, mindlessly shifting the stars and probably giving an astronomer a headache right about now. His hands gently glided across silky skin as he let the warmth of the bodies pressed against him soothe him. He glanced down at the two jewels of his eyes, a tender smile forming on his lips.
Rhea was to his left, her head nuzzled close to the crook of his neck while she hugged his arm to her chest. Hestia was to his right and slightly lower with her head resting on his chest and right over his heart with her legs tangling his. Both had a glow about them, their bodies exposed to the waist from the crumpled bedsheet were covered in little bite marks and hickies, satisfied smiles on their beautiful faces. He had no doubt he was similar, covered in more aggressive bites and claw marks etched to the point his healing hadn't cleared him up yet.
It was a little odd, he mused. Pleasant but odd. For the last week ever since Rhea and Hestia had surprised him in Norway, every night had been long and loud hours of passion. Bodies rolling and caressing against each other, heated looks and honeyed words, his wives interchanging between being alluringly challenging and dominant to fully giving in and submitting to him, begging him for more. And in all of it his inner wolf recognized their behavior. The aggression and closeness, the rubbing themselves against his body, demanding to be taken again and again. They were reinforcing that they were his and he theirs, making sure that their scents were smothered on each other and claimed in the most primal way.
And he loved every moment of it even if he was curious as to why they suddenly felt the need to reassure themselves of their union? Every night he would always finish with cuddling and tender words of love, simply holding them and relishing in the intimacy between all three of them. Sure to many it would have come off as possessive and clingy but in truth he was comforted by that. Knowing that he was as desired by them as he did them soothed a shadowed doubt that had been etched into his heart ever since he learned about his ex's infidelity.
And he knew that they had similar doubts from their own experiences, one being turned into little more than a token trophy and the other forced to silently watch as she was forgotten all the while witnessing heartbreak and betrayal. All three of them would carry those insecurities for the remainder of their existence but it was in those doubts that their union glowed brighter. However, now he was worried about what could cause those doubts to shoot up in his wives? Had he been inattentive while preparing for imminent war? Was his gaze lingering on other goddesses too much? Whatever it was he would gladly fix it in a heartbeat for them but he needed to know wh—
"Percy," came the sweet voice that broke him out of his thoughts.
He glanced down again to see that both Rhea and Hestia were awake again, his hands having stopped stroking their backs while his thoughts progressed. He also noted that the room was decidedly colder, exactly 45 degrees (Fahrenheit). Not enough to actually cause discomfort for either of his wives (being married gave them perks with each other's domains) but it was noticeable.
"Everything okay dear?" came Hestia's warm voice as she rested her head on her hands over his heart while Rhea adjusted to placing her chin on his shoulder while looking at him.
He sighed before giving them a soft smile, his hands finding each other their hips and tugging them slightly closer.
"Fine … I was just wondering what's got you two so worked up."
Both caught the question in his tone and shared a glance before Rhea spoke, being the usual voice of the two.
"Well, we just really wanted to show you that we love you," she said, skirting an answer.
"And I love you both as much," he replied with a cheesy grin before relaxing and continuing, "But still, there's more to it, right?"
They shared another glance before Hestia spoke up this time.
"There is something else …" She paused as she nibbled her lower lip shyly. "It's a little complicated so … just let us explain before you say or do anything."
That peaked his curiosity and with a slight nod, they began to explain what got them so anxious. His eyes kept widening and at times he would have sworn they were trying to play a trick on him but both remained serious, without tooth or hide of a lie. His heart sank slightly at hearing about what was happening to his sister, causing a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within him. He loved Andromeda, dearly so, but could he change how he saw her enough to help her? Would he in any way be taking advantage of her or the situation to break fidelity? Was it a one-time thing or more? All those questions popped in his head until Rhea noticed his troubled face and calmed him with a soft kiss followed by Hestia.
"Percy," Rhea said gently as she looked into his eyes. "I know what you're thinking and you're aren't. She needs this and we could tell she was genuine about her feelings."
"But … I made vows to always be faithful to both of you," he responded as he cupped both their cheeks. "If I did this how would I be any different from the Olympians? How would it even be fair to you?"
"Well," Hestia started as she overlapped Percy's hand with her own. "We may have thought of a possibility."
"What?" he asked hopefully, not wanting in any way to go against his sworn vows.
"Okay," she continued as she took a quick breathe. "We thought about how to get around our oaths and even spoke to Styx about it." That got him to raise an eyebrow. If anything, his queens were thorough in checking options before even proposing ideas. "And even messaged Lady Chaos. The sum being that our oaths give leeway to what the three of us consider infidelity so, as long as all three of us agree, we could have lovers." He couldn't stop his frown at that but didn't comment with the 'wait and see' glance Rhea shot him. "So, considering that we don't want Andy being bunched into the same type as Aphrodite, we thought about marriage."
"But we're already married," he interjected only to get pinched by Rhea while Hestia raised a dainty eyebrow at him. "… Shutting up now."
"Yes, we are but there isn't really anything stopping us from having more marriages," Hestia answered before looking to Rhea as the lioness picked it up.
"However, if married then there is the little thing about our roles in the council. It's already unusual to having two queens and adding more is just more trouble than it's worth so we thought back to how lords used to get official mistresses back in the old days of Europe without permanently getting screwed over with their wives. Basically, if you agreed to it, you would marry Andy as a consort. Officially a wife and equal to us personally but not a queen on the council floor."
"However," Hestia continued with a look of mischief in her eyes. "It still would be letting you have a lover all to yourself so we thought that as a condition, she would be married to all three of us."
"Granted that would take some explaining too and people will still talk but being official still makes it better," Rhea added while Percy just stared dumbly at them until he asked the first thing that came to him.
"But wouldn't she need to be into girls too for this?"
"Has she ever said she isn't into girls?" Hestia shot back leaving Percy without a retort.
He could not refute her, hell, if anything he at one point was rather relieved to catch Andy check out the occasional girl on their few trips to the mortal world. It saved him the worry of having to skin any would be boyfriends alive. Granted he'd only taken it at face value at the time and didn't consider it being an assured thing of which way his sister swung since she'd sometimes eyed guys too. That usually led to him leaving with her quickly otherwise he would maul said male within the hour.
Taking his silence as a cue to go on Rhea continued.
"We also thought this might make it possible to address the feelings of … some others," she said in a slightly edgy tone.
Percy didn't need her to name them, knowing that his Shadows were harboring feelings for him. Lupa's had grown exponentially ever since having private days with Medusa and Lamia while explicitly not letting him in on what they were discussing. The other two had been leaving the subtly and hidden glances behind over time and a part of him honestly felt guilty about not being able to return that love in that way they wanted but unable to bring himself to dash their hopes either. He cared about them and didn't want to hurt them, especially after all the three have been through.
"So … would that mean we'd have to marry them too?" he asked tentatively making Rhea snort.
"No, that option is the right thing to do for Andy after everything she's done for us. We also are considering her status as a primordial goddess and council member and what her union to us would mean politically. We may be in the 21st century and no doubt by the time we unveil ourselves to the mortals there will be ruffled feathers but there will also be those that approve or will at least be neutral about our relationship. However, were are still the three royals and that comes with some perks and allowances," Rhea said with a smirk.
"So for Medusa, Lamia, and Lupa …?"
Hestia and Rhea shared a looked before replying cheerily, "Concubines."
Percy blinked owlishly at them getting an eye roll from his loves.
"Look, the last thing we need is every pretty face running up to us and bashing their eyelashes or flicking their skirts to try to get with us just to have a crack at one or all of us," Hestia explained. "So, aside from Andy getting marriage as an option if she accepts this and you accept it," she said with a softer look, knowing he was still very undecided about the whole situation. "But those three do love you and are already sworn to you. You could already command them to do whatever you want and they would follow it, but taking oaths and officially becoming concubines to the throne as it were would discourage just any girl …"
"Or possible guy," Rhea chirped while looking at Percy's slight frown in amusement.
"Or guy," Hestia amended sounding all too amused herself. "From approaching us unless their willing to submit to all three of us."
"And naturally we would take any offers with a grain of salt," Rhea continued, "Plus having Andy would mean that no one would fake their feelings or intentions. Not to mention it would be hot helping you dominate a few cuties."
That got her some odd looks from both Percy and Hestia.
"What? Lions do the same thing in prides!" she defended while sitting up, causing a healthy jiggle of feminine delight to their appreciating eyes.
"Regardless of her kinks," Hestia giggled while ignoring Rhea's pout. "It wouldn't be strange for a king or queen(s) to have concubines throughout the history of mankind so why not use that to our advantage? We give the girls the chance, keep a clear hierarchy, and leave the heavier throne room dynamic untouched."
Percy laid quietly as he digested his wives' idea, musing the pros, cons, and his personal feelings on the matter. Sure, it made sense with the way they put it and could work. Granted there was the question of how his Shadows or the other possible girl's currently crushing on him or even on his wives that would willingly go along with the conditions. It would mean fidelity to them or at least to all those within the harem (now that was a word he never thought would be used with relation to him!). But then his thoughts returned to the original subject of all this; Andromeda.
Could he change everything with her, did he even truly feel that way about her? He wasn't sure even if he knew he loved her and would have likely done it if he hadn't already been married but that was because he would have thought of helping her anyway he could before thinking about his relationship to her.
He sighed in frustration as he ran a hand through his hair before being pulled out of his thoughts by Hestia's squeal. Apparently his loves had been teasing each other about their tastes and that lead to Rhea pouncing on Hestia and beginning a ruthless tickle attack. Hestia was laughing hysterically while trying to futilely escape and bordering on tears and begging for mercy. The sight brought a smile and welcome distraction to Percy but he knew he would need to make a decision soon…
"Please Rhe-AWN!"
… Or focus on pulling one kinky goddess off the other before things escalated into a sleepless night of coiling bodies and swearing by each other's name in the throes of passion…
Author's Rant: How was it? Yays or nays? I tried to make this chapter a biggy to start off some things and progress others.
Mind; The Poseidon with a mortal lover. That happened before Styx reaffirmed their oaths so their curse to suffer the pain of burning genitals for bedding mortals wasn't in affect until now.
Anyways, hope everyone enjoyed that and next chapter begins the war and a title teaser!
"Guns On the Throne Floor!"
