Rayne's POV
A few weeks passed since my aunt and uncle entered this realm. It had been a fun reunion and my aunt had the chance to reconnect with my father. Now my adopted parents were back in their domain while my father and I remained where we were. My stomach was slightly larger now since I was five months pregnant. I thought normally the first trimester was tough but boy was I wrong.
My unborn child still made me feel sick on occasion which was why I was taking it easy for a little bit.
"Hey babe" Hades greeted as he entered our bedroom. "You feeling better?"
"A little" I answered.
I had been sleeping while Hades tended to the usual business of the Underworld. Hades chuckled before coming over to me. He sat down in front of me and placed a hand onto my swollen middle.
"The kid likes to tease you"
"Shut it mate you don't have to carry a child for nine months" I growled. "Not to mention the hot flashes suck, and my breasts are growing larger"
"Oh I definitely noticed that" Hades said with a smirk. His remark made me laugh and Hades stood up and kissed my forehead.
"You're still beautiful babe" my husband stated.
I was about to reply when I heard Alduin calling me. And by the way he was beseeching me he was pretty upset about something.
"Alduin is calling" I explained to Hades as I stood up.
"Want me to come with you?" my mate asked. I was going to decline his offer when my dragon suddenly interrupted.
Take him with you, something isn't right with our friend
"Actually I think I might need you Hothead" I answered my husband.
"You got it sweetheart" Hades responded before he and I did our disappearing act. A second later the two of us reappeared next to a very stressed and upset Alduin.
"Oh thanks gods you guys heard me" Alduin greeted with a sigh of relief.
"What's going on?" I demanded.
"My crazy ex-girlfriend decided to challenge Cassandra for the right to claim me" Alduin answered.
Hades and I looked to one another. This brought back memories of me fighting Menthe.
"Did the mate bond between you and your girl reveal itself?" Hades asked.
"Hell yes it did! Cassandra is my true mate and my ex is against the union since she's human"
That immediately got my attention alright. Within my mind my inner dragon hissed and my phoenix half shrieked in anger.
"Is Cassandra safe?" I asked.
"She's fine but scared to death" Alduin replied. "She cannot fight Zurie"
"That's the ex right?" Hades questioned next. He had his arms folded across his chest.
"Yeah and she's nuts, I would fight her but only a female can do that"
"I would happily fight your ex" I began but Alduin immediately shook his head.
"No I was wondering if you and Hades would be witnesses for the mating challenge, I'm not going to risk your hatchling" the male dragon explained.
"But if you don't want Rayne who is going to fight your ex?" Hades asked. I was actually curious myself who Alduin thought was good to fight Zurie.
"That would be me"
A woman who appeared to be in her late twenties came to stand next to Alduin. Her hair was the same color as his and her eyes were icy blue. She wore a silver dress with the straps at the shoulders. Around her waist was a golden sash and she wore gold sandals. Her scent slightly matched Alduin's.
"Rayne, Hades, this is my older sister Rhaenys" my best friend said introducing us.
"Holy crap I didn't know you had siblings" I stated.
Rhaenys chuckled and walked over to me and my husband.
"My brother has told me a lot about you Rayne I'm glad to finally meet you"
"Likewise" I replied shaking hands with her.
"How ya doing?" Hades greeted and Rhaenys snorted.
"It's also nice to meet you too, your funny as hell"
"Yeah I get that a lot" Hades confessed as he and Rhaenys shook hands.
"So when is this challenge?" I asked the two siblings getting down to business.
"Tomorrow at midday" Rhaenys answered. "I will be fighting for Cassandra's right to be Alduin's mate"
"Is the challenge in human or dragon form?" I inquired.
"Dragon form" Alduin confirmed. "Rhaenys is a damn good fighter and in case Zurie tries to pull a fast one you guys can be witnesses to make sure the fight is fair"
"If a challenger cheats they get disqualified" Rhaenys continued. "But that hasn't stopped dragon shifters in the past to cheat"
"Son of a" I hissed.
"Zurie also believes Cassandra is unworthy of being my mate" Alduin growled. "She's causing this bullshit all due to Cassandra being human"
"Motherf***er!"
My skin came alight with my phoenix fire at hearing that. I felt Hades placed his hands onto my shoulders. Immediately I calmed down and my flames went out.
"Aww you two are a cute pair" Rhaenys complimented. "Your one lucky god Hades I can tell how devoted your wife is to you"
"Damn straight" my husband agreed. He then snuck a hand into my stomach. "And soon we'll have a new addition"
"Have you guys figured out what the baby is?" Alduin asked. "Normally by now our dragon halves can scent the gender"
"We don't know" I replied. "My dragon can't scent the baby nor do the Fates know"
"That surprises me because they know everything" Rhaenys answered.
After discussing where to meet Alduin and Rhaenys did my mate and I return to the Underworld.
"This ex of Alduin must be crazy" Hades said as we entered the throne room.
"She sounds worse than Menthe" I growled.
"She probably is" Hades agreed before he picked me up and did his disappearing act. We reappeared in his throne and I was sitting in my husband's lap.
"Don't get any ideas husband" I warned.
"Don't worry babe" Hades reassured me.
I remembered the many times he and I shared moments in this position. I blushed a little upon remembering the first time I shared a kiss with Hades. Hades immediately smirked.
"Remembering our first kiss huh?" he teased.
"Yep" I confessed. "You left me pretty breathless afterwards"
"That's my job Rayne"
Hades then carefully pulled me closer to him and I felt him wrap one arm around my waist while his free hand caressed my cheek and his lips met with mine. I followed my husband's lip movements until Hades used his tongue to open my mouth so he could gain access to mine. I jumped a little when his tongue touched mine and brief dance battle for dominance ensued. Eventually the kiss ended with me panting and Hades still smirking.
"How was that wife?"
"Better than our first kiss" I answered.
"Damn right" my husband agreed.
The Next Day
The fighting spot turned out to be in an open field far enough so innocent people wouldn't get hurt. My father decided he would be also be a witness for this mating challenge. At the moment we were waiting for Zurie to show up.
"It's good to see you again Rayne" Cassandra said. The seer had grown slightly taller since I saw her last but other than that she didn't change much. She still wore her attire and the same hair style. "I just hope Rhaenys beats Zurie"
I gave my friend a smile and I patted her shoulder. A roar made everyone look up and white dragon landed before us. The dragoness had the same physique as Alduin. Her entire body was white making her scales shine underneath the sun. The female dragon shifter reverted to her human form. Zurie had blonde hair that went to her mid back and her eyes were green. Her dress was white and hung off one shoulder. She wore white sandals on her feet and her eyes narrowed at seeing me, Hades, and my father.
"So you brought witnesses" Zurie said darkly approaching Alduin.
"And what about you?" Alduin demanded.
"I don't need witnesses to claim what is mine" Zurie replied.
"He isn't your true mate so forfeit the match" I suggested to her.
Zurie turned to me and she looked annoyed.
"This isn't your fight" she told me coldly. "And you have no right trying to intimidate me, I can smell the mixed bloodline you wield Goddess of Resurrection"
"HOW DARE YOU!" Hades roared. He was completely orange now and pissed off. I intertwined my hand into his and it took a few minutes for Hades to calm down. His skin returned to its normal color and he looked to Rhaenys.
"Kick her ass!"
Rhaenys smirked before approaching Zurie.
"I stand in for Cassandra for this mating challenge do you accept?"
"Gladly" Zurie answered. She then changed to her dragon form and Rhaenys did the same. Rhaenys was a silver dragon and she had her brother's physique. Her wing membranes were gold and they matched her scales well. Both female dragons roared at one another before they took flight.
"Go Sis!" Alduin shouted.
Both Zurie and Rhaenys circled one another before the fight began. Zurie reared her head back and unleashed a stream of fire at her opponent. Rhaenys quickly dodged the assault by flying above the flames. The silver dragoness then turned her body into a nose dive and it wasn't long until her fangs bit into Zurie's flank. The white dragon shrieked in anger before she turned and tried to bite Rhaenys on the neck.
Rhaenys thankfully saw this attempt and quickly released her hold from her opponents flank and flew away from Zurie. The white dragon flew after her and the chase was on.
"What is Rhaenys doing?" Cassandra asked.
"She's trying to tire Zurie out" I answered recognizing the silver dragon's strategy.
Suddenly Zurie stopped chasing after Rhaenys and she disappeared behind a cloud.
"Oh crap" Alduin and I said in unison.
Rhaenys became aware she was no longer being pursued but kept flying. I knew she was on guard and the silver dragoness turned her body around just in time as Zurie ambushed her. Zurie body slammed Rhaenys hard trying to get her to fall towards the ground. Rhaenys recovered before she hissed her own flames at her opponent. Zurie did the same thing and both stream of fire collided creating a smoke screen blocking the two dragons from view.
Then a scream was heard and when the smoke cleared Zurie had her mouth deep in Rhaenys's neck. Alduin swore and Cassandra shouted encouragement at the silver dragoness to hold on. Rhaenys used her tail to hit Zurie hard in the face several times before the white dragon let go. Despite being injured Rhaenys body slammed her opponent hard and Zurie roared out in surprise. Rhaenys then bit hard into the white dragoness's wing. This time Zurie screamed and trust me when you're a dragon shifter getting bit in the wing really hurts.
Rhaenys released Zurie and the white dragon spiraled until she hit the ground. The ground shook when this happened and Rhaenys landed in front of her foe. Blood was visible from Zurie's wing and face but she didn't care. Rhaenys stomped towards Zurie but the white dragoness roared before she extended her wings trying to make herself larger. She was trying to make Rhaenys think she was stronger and bigger than she was. This was what prey does to predators to avoid getting eaten.
Rhaenys didn't buy it and Alduin said.
"Cover your ears!"
All of us obeyed and we watched as Rhaenys shrieked. Zurie shook her head as though the loud roars from her opponent hurt her. Rhaenys took this moment to her advantage. The silver dragon soon came upon Zurie and she used her more experienced body to pin Zurie to the ground. The white dragoness bit into one of Rhaenys's legs but Rhaenys ignored the assault. She remained on top of Zurie until it seemed the white dragon finally surrendered.
Alduin grabbed Cassandra and kissed her right smack on the lips while I did fist pump.
"Damn that was some fight" Hades told my father.
"Indeed" Dad agreed.
Rhaenys moved away from Zurie and returned to her human form. She was pretty beat up from battle but she didn't show it.
"Well done" I praised.
"Thanks I've had worse fights than this so I'll be fine" she reassured me.
"I won't lose to a dirty human!" Zurie yelled pissed off. She was back in her human form and she stormed over towards Alduin and Cassandra. Immediately I blocked her path.
"Move aside half-breed"
Hades went all orange and my dad got pissed off too.
The next thing that happened was Zurie first got bitch slapped across the face by yours truly and then I went on punch her hard in the middle so she became stunned and she fell unconscious.
"Remind me not to piss you off" Rhaenys joked.
Underworld
"Now I understand what your parents went through just to be together" Hades said to me. The two of us were in our bedroom settling down for the night. I had on a midnight blue maternity nightgown while Hades wore his sleep attire as he did in the show.
"This needs to go" I told Hades taking his sleeping cap off from his head. I put it onto my nightstand before continuing. "You look better with it off husband"
"Geez babe must you torture me?"
"That's my job isn't it?" I teased my husband.
"Half the time sweetheart" Hades answered. He then noticed me wince in pain. My husband then made me sit up and he massaged my back.
"That feels good"
"Your pregnant babe sometimes your back will get sore"
"I definitely lucked out with you as my mate"
Hades suddenly stopped his massage and he carefully turned my body around so I could see him.
"I'm the lucky god here" Hades corrected. He then kissed my hands. "Thanks to the Fates I found the most beautiful, funniest, smartest, and fiery woman I've ever met who became my wife and queen"
My mate then kissed my forehead and I blushed.
"Whoa! Felt that one!" Hades exclaimed because the baby chose that moment to kick. He placed a hand onto my middle and our child gave another kick. Hades' flames rose up in excitement.
"It does kind of suck that we don't know what the gender is" I said placing my hand over my husband's where it rested on the bump.
"We just need to be patient" Hades replied. "It's also thanks to our little spark here you lived"
"Seriously Hades what do you want?"
"A girl" the Lord of the Dead confessed.
"And I thought you wanted a boy" I joked.
"A boy would be fine but I think a girl would be less chaotic" my mate stated. "And if it's a girl I want her name to be Nyssa"
Nyssa was a Greek name that meant "New Beginnings".
"I like that name" I told my husband.
"It's a beautiful name and I've always liked it" Hades confessed. He then looked to me and he pressed his forehead against mine. "I hope I'm right our kid is a girl"
My beloved then kissed my forehead.
"Love you babe"
"Back at you Hothead"
Hades chuckled before looking to my stomach.
"Same goes for you kid"
The baby gave another kick and I watched as my husband's flames went from blue to orange in excitement.
Original Rhaenys belongs to George R. R. Martin.