There was a new painting in Richard's office. It was of the ocean; a swirling mixture of blues, greens and greys with storm clouds building on the horizon. He sat just below it, taking a sip of water and as I felt him staring at me, I finally gave him my full attention.

"That's new."

"I painted it myself," He smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "It's a hobby of mine. I find it very relaxing."

"Not inspired by any dreams or visions like memories?" I ask cautiously.

"No, not that I am aware of. It was a photo the instructor took a year or so ago while on holiday. We had a lesson on texture." The infamous scribbling on his notebook had me sitting up, not subtly looking to see what he was writing. "Do you have visions or memories like this?"

"No, I have an artist ex-boyfriend who, post break up, was cursed with the gifts of a Seer and now paints all the shit in my life I need to fight, be aware of or attempt to run away from, while theming his next show around it." I shrug. "I'm not much of an art fan these days, but I like your textures."

"I was going to ask if you've recently been to the other world because of how relaxed you seem to be today, but we can talk about this if you like?"

"Why would having been there make me relaxed?" It was a never ending shit show wherever I went.

"Maybe because you feel more of a sense of belonging over there, with the people who are like you? The Powers?" Richard questions, turning back a few pages in his notebook as if to confirm this. "The sessions where you tell me you have been there, you are often less anxious, much more talkative and open to sharing things, such as your artist ex boyfriend and you leave saying thank you, rather than, why haven't you cured me yet?"

"I still feel that is a valid question," I frown. "But yes, I came back yesterday. I had dinner with my parents and didn't want to risk being late for this."

"Thank you, then Elise." Richard smiled. "Dinner with your parents?"

"Nice try, let's go back to the part where you think you know me."

"Does it matter what I think I know, or what I think in general?" More scribbling in his notebook.

"Yes."

"You've never worried before. Your general attitude is fuck what other people think, you're going to do just do you." He met my gaze, and I felt the challenge there.

"Are you allowed to say fuck?"

"Do you remember that discussion we had regarding deflection?"

"You're deflecting right now." I point out, and that's how it goes for the next however long until I'm back to staring at the ocean and all its textures. "I mean, at least when I was just a Hunter, or the Third or the God Killer, I had an idea on who I was, what I had to do. Those titles give us purpose and look at Deimos. God of Terror. He knows it, he owns it. I'm torn between two completely different worlds and no idea where I belong in any of it unless being a magnet for trouble counts"

"Maybe that's your purpose then?" Richard sounds so smug with this little revelation I want to throw the cushion beside me at his stupid smug face.

"You're a therapist, not a comedian."

"Oscar Wilde once said, be yourself; everyone else is already taken." He started, his not a therapist voice taking over.

"Isn't it Olivia Wilde?"

"She's an actress, while he is a very famous writer." I roll my eyes and he sits up a little straighter, pen back in his hand. "Do not compare yourself to the God of Terror, the Valkyrie, or your artist ex-boyfriend who is now a Seer. We all carry expectations that society has placed on our backs, following a belief system that we were taught to be right, and that we must conform to, even if we do not believe in it ourselves."

"Okay, I get what you're saying and you are not helping at all. By being myself, and following my beliefs, not the expectations of everyone else, or society, I now have the Furies wanting to destroy me and for pissing off Fate, the Crone was the one who summoned them." I let him write his notes. "So, really, it would have been a much better idea to conform and save myself a whole lot of stress with Fate, Furies and everything in between."

"What type of life would that be?"

"One a lot less complicated and with a longer life expectancy."

"Living a lie could be just as detrimental to your health and wellbeing," He tried to reason.

"You can put that on my tombstone."

Richard ignored my comment. "Just how you attempted to run away and hide from a life, an expectation, you couldn't live with before coming back on your own terms, doing things in a way you were comfortable with."

"And look where that got me?"

"Exactly." He smiled. "I'm glad you understand."

I didn't.

Not at all.

"I'm not thanking you today." I sigh.

"I wouldn't expect you to. Not yet."

I leave the appointment not feeling as sane or secure as I had started to expect, which was confusing in itself. Pulling my jacket tighter around my chest, I start to go down the street and after grabbing a coffee, keep walking through the city. Despite the cold, it's a nice enough day and as I walk I look around at the designer stores with their modern shop windows that were shadowed by the older buildings they'd been built around them. The green awnings above me didn't move despite the wind, and as I walked inside, the warmth of the building welcomed me in.

As I reached the fourth floor of the department store, I couldn't stop myself from going towards the children's area. Mountains of teddys in every colour and design were on display, and stopping by an overstuffed panda, the cute little face made me pick it up. It was so soft and cuddly, it stayed tucked under my arm as I drifted through the space. A woman rushed by, muttering threats under her breath as her two boys ran around one of the displays, sending the brown bears tumbling onto the floor.

I helped her put them back as one of the many over-attentive staff came to help, glaring at the boys who finally stopped and realised they were in trouble, and standing up, I froze seeing the old woman walking towards us from behind them.

"Thank you." The lady sighed, grabbing each of them by the arm as she practically dragged them away from the toys.

Thankfully there were not a lot of people here, the ones that were are too distracted by their own shopping ventures to pay us much attention and as the old woman stopped in front of me, she looked at the panda with narrowed eyes. Instinctively I held it tighter, bracing myself for whatever was next.

"I'm glad I found you." Portia stroked her short, grey bob before her hand lingered on the pearls Huntington had always worn around her neck as she looked cautiously around.

"Why? Plan on summoning a demon to create a real-life Chucky doll?" I regretted saying that as the wall of dolls beside me suddenly seemed even creepier, with their blank eyes and evil little smiles.

"It's Nieve, she's, well, she's not right." Portia quickly said, inching closer as I stepped back. "You're in danger."

"What gave that away? Waking up the Furies wasn't enough of a clue?"

"I had nothing to do with that!" She promised, daring to look hurt at the fact I would actually consider it. "This is for you."

She held out her hand and I looked at the old, brassy gold key in her palm.

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure. I had a vision of this very moment, of me giving you this. The next day, I saw it around Nieve's neck."

"Don't suppose you strangled it for this to be here now?" I hesitantly took it, not surprised to see the triple moon symbol on it, but the round maze shape behind them had me thinking of the fourth.

"No, Adala sent her to sleep to stop her ranting, and I swapped it with another key when she left the room. I don't sense any power to it, but I feel it's important." She frowned. "In time, I am sure it will make sense. Stay safe, Elise."

Portia opens her mouth to say something else but stops before disappearing. I look at the key, before tucking it into my pocket. A map to Hecate would have been nice, maybe a weapon to stop the Furies but then again, Nieves key had to be important for her to keep it so close.

"Can I help you?" The smiling staff member who'd helped with the teddy clean up was suddenly much too close and in my face.

"No, just browsing."

"That's a cute panda, is it for yourself?" She asks.

"Yes," again I find myself holding the thing tighter to my side. "Actually, what things do babies like?"

"To be honest, not much to start off with. Is this your fourth?"

I tense. "My fourth?"

"First." Her face instantly turned red. "I am so sorry. I only assumed I am sorry! I see a lot of new mothers, firsts are always a little scary"

Don't I know it, and also apparently eager for revenge over nothing.

"I'm sorry, I misheard and yes, my first," I admit.

"How far along are you?" She calmed slightly, but the pink of her cheeks remained.

"Like, er, fourteen weeks."

"You're looking well. I was still throwing up every hour with my first. The second was a lot easier." She winked. "Come this way, I'll show you a few things."

I followed Melanie away from the toy area and into another section where she expertly guided me through the newborn stage, and then keenly disappeared before overstaying her welcome. Tiny socks joined the panda in my arm, and the golden medusa logo on the tiny white onesie soon accompanied them before the key was starting to burn against my leg and I decided to go home.

"Hey," Cain greeted, casually spread out on the sofa. He sat up, an eyebrow raised as he saw the bag in my hand. "I thought you were seeing your therapist?"

"Shopping is therapy." I pulled out the panda. "It was cute."

"It is." He agreed, catching it as I tossed it over.

"And look at these socks." I'm glad my own fascination with the tiny feet warmers was mutual as he looked at them curiously. "Then I saw this."

He inspected the onesie with more scrutiny. "Really?"

"Really." I wrapped it back up and tucked it away into the bag. "I got something else too."

"Oh?" He looked into the bag, then back at me. I stand up and he moves in front of me as my hand goes to my pocket, which stops his hands as they slide up my thighs. "What is it?"

"A key." I hold it out to him.

"For what?"

"I don't know. Portia popped by and said she had a vision of her giving it to me, right before she saw it around Nieve's neck. So she took it, promised she had nothing to do with the Furies and also that Nieve had lost the plot." I quickly explained. "Then she left."

He looked at it closely, before handing it back. "Did you ask her about a fourth?"

"No, I didn't really get a chance." His phone buzzes on the table behind me and looking down, Zane's message appears on the screen. "Are you catching up with him today?"

"Kind of." He reaches for the phone as another message comes through, this time from Deimos. "We've been talking about doing a thing."

"What kind of thing?" Hades appears and he looks too surprised to see me standing there for me to consider the thing is simply heading out for some guy time. "With Hades?"

"And Deimos, Apollo, Artemis, did Kara say she would be there?" Hades answers, looking at Cain.

"Yes." He growled. "Give us a minute, can you get Zane there?"

Hades disappeared. "What kind of thing?"

"We're going into the arena to do some training," Cain reveals.

"And am I invited?"

"Yeah Elle, I was going to talk to you about it when you got home. Hades is early," He loops his fingers into the belt loops of my jeans and tugs me towards him where he rests his head against my stomach. "It was Deimos' idea. He came by this morning when I was with Zane, everyone was interested."

"Why do I feel like there is going to be a but thrown in right about now?"

"But I don't think you should be involved, and sit it out with Zane." He lifts my shirt and kisses the undeniable bump that's starting to form.

"Don't be cute. Why can't I be involved?"

"Seriously?" Looking at me, he actually seems confused by this.

"Yes, seriously. I am more than capable and I'm starting to sense a lot of pent up frustration I need to let out." I warn. "Deimos doubted me and I kicked his ass. Pretty sure I managed to get my sword into Tisiphone too."

He points to my shopping bag. "Tiny, fucking, socks, Elise. That's why!"

"So do I use them as a white flag when the Furies decide to turn up again?" I glare at him. "Throw them their way and hope they decide they're super cute too?"

"Fine." He submits, glaring right back. "Let's go then."

Sure enough, we're back at the arena. Jordan looks like a kid who just entered Santa's workshop and as he sees us he comes over.

"Can you believe this?" He grins. "I went through a fucking portal!"

"Welcome to the club." I watch Cain stalk off towards Hades and shake my head. "I am going to kick his ass so bad."

"I thought you weren't allowed-"

"Shut up, Jordan."

"Sorry." He hesitated. "This place feels odd. Is it always like this or just here?"

"It's this place. I got the God Killer nickname after being here." I tell him as we walk down the wooden steps that had seen better days and into the arena where everyone else had gathered.

"No rules." Artemis decided.

"We need a few," Hades mumbled. "No beheading."

"Party pooper." She pouts and Jordan hesitates from going closer. "I'm kidding. Way too hard for Apollo to fix."

Jordan swallows nervously as Zane joins us.

"That's the rule then, nothing Apollo can't undo." Hades declares.

"This isn't sounding like your average training session," Jordan whispers.

No, it wasn't.

"Fine by me." Apollo rolls his neck, before stretching his arms. "All in or take turns?"

I don't like the way he's looking at Cain.

"Let's break it up into teams?" Kara gets a few nods in agreement as Hermes appears.

"Sorry, I'm late." He mumbles, standing beside Artemis. "Teams then?"

"It's hardly fair." Artemis pouts, as the divide was already made clear.

"Life's not fair." Hermes rolls his eyes

"I'll go with you three. Then it's fair." I decide until Jordan grabs my arm.

"You're not serious."

"Very." I look at Cain, pointing two fingers at my eyes, and then over at him, before my sword appears in my hand as Kara holds hers. "Oh, I've been wanting to do this for weeks now."

"You're going to have to wait just that little bit longer." Kara frowns. "I'll go with these guys since there is enough ego among you three for a small army. It'll be nice to watch you all suffer."

"Kara!" I protest. All seven of them look at me like a puppy who just got kicked. "Wow. Bunch of-"

"Next time. Today, we're doing this properly." Apollo tries to explain.

"We want it as real as possible, we'd all be too worried about hurting you," Artemis adds.

"Come on Sunshine, next time." Zane tries to mediate.

I give them all a nice show of my middle finger and sit between Jordan and Zane on the bleachers, absolutely furious. I felt hot, my powers tingling under my skin as I could feel the tension in the air. Artemis and Hermes square off against Hades, while Kara is doing her best to intimidate Deimos who already has his powers curling around his hands. It's Cain and Apollo that hold my attention though; the light and the dark. No rules were a terrible idea.

Not expecting it, I jump as Zane stands up, the air horn in his hand blasting through the arena and all hell breaks loose.

"This is going to get nasty." He sighs sitting back down. "Their egos are bruised from the last time the Furies came and they want to take it out on each other. I heard Artemis and Hermes earlier."

"Hermes and Hades had a fight the other day, Hermes crossed a line and Hades won't let him forget it," I tell him. "This is stupid."

"Says the one sulking she doesn't get to beat up her friends too?" My brother unhelpfully throws in.

"Exactly. I know I can handle it. I want more of Deimos, I put so much effort into keeping my head safe after every other jerk tries to fuck with me." I sigh.

"Thought something must have happened. I've never known Hermes to keep his mouth shut for that long." Zane muses, watching Hermes and Hades.

It isn't your average training session.

"I can't believe you wanted to be out there too." Jordan elbows me. "Are you insane?"

"Yes." I shrug. "I'm not weak. This baby isn't stopping me from doing anything I could do before."

"You've nearly died all those times before." He reminds me.

"Not against these assholes," I mumble.

"In case you missed it, they're not playing friendly today." Zane cringed as Hades practically buried Hermes, the sound of him hitting the dirt was sickening.

"You've seen Kara and I train in here. We never do."

"You want to risk them hitting you too hard in the stomach?" Zane frowns. "You can't wrestle or face them one on one like that now."

"I climbed a fucking mountain, with my hands, no powers, a few days ago. No one was worried about me then."

We go silent as Kara and Artemis are taking the team thing very seriously as Deimos and Hades were not easing up on Hermes no matter what they tried until Artemis manages to avoid Deimos and sends three arrows his way. By blocking them, he loses his advantage which he gets back as Hades calls on his undead army to rise up and keep her busy while Kara gets to Hermes and forces Hades to go into defence rather than attack mode.

"This is something," Zane whispers, in awe of what is happening in front of him. It was Gladiators come to life and he was here for the extended cut version. "Hades is too confident, leaving himself open once his minions arrive. Kara's got a good eye."

She did, already exploiting Hades' second of distraction most would have missed while Artemis is struggling. One of those things bites her, and as she cries out, Apollo sends a blast of light her way; destroying Hades' army.

It came at a cost. His shield is destroyed and yet Cain holds back; he's toying with him. I can't even sense his powers amongst the chaos around us. Hermes is clearly the weakest, and as Kara sends him over to us, he doesn't move as Zane checks his pulse.

"Hades won that round."

"Again." I look at his beaten body and feel a slip of sympathy for him.

"Kara is amazing." Jordan gushes, enthralled as she faces off against Hades in combat now, weapons are raised, the clink of metal making me eager to join in. "Look at her move."

"You should have seen her against three of the Furies. Hades is in trouble." I warn.

"No, he's holding back." Zane points out. "Cain too."

I start to enjoy being sidelined. Zane's commentary rings true, his own expertise shining through. He calls it when they should use their power, who is hurting where and anticipates their next move as if he can read their minds yet the battle starts to shift. Artemis and Apollo fight Cain now, somehow Deimos seems to forget which side he is on helping Kara with Hades and as Zane calls it, he's right.

"It's changed. They all want Cain." And none more than Apollo. "Kara's plan is solid, but it'll come down to who tires first."

"Cain won't. He doesn't look like he's even started yet." Jordan gushes, nearly as obsessed with Cain as much as he had just been with Kara. "He doesn't have a scratch on him."

"He faced armies, all this will do is remind them all why they fear him." Hermes groans as he sits up, not moving any closer to us. "Fucking, Hades. I hope Cain gets them all on their knees."

"Is that why you stayed with him, it was never about Artemis was it?" I ask him. "You liked seeing him in power and being by his side. You liked being his Deimos, though you had to split that role with Eris, didn't you?"

Everything was starting to make a little more sense now.

"You are the one who needs to keep their mouth shut." He growled, glaring at me with the one eye that hadn't completely closed yet.

I looked at Zane who was too involved in the fight to notice much else, and I don't think Jordan understood what we were ever talking about. If he had even listened.

"It's closed," I promised Hermes, and whatever just happened had Cain holding the God Killer as he went against Hades.

One by one, the others fell to their knees and Hermes didn't hide how happy that made him. If he suddenly started waving a little Cain flag above his head I wouldn't be surprised. It soon became clear, Hades and Cain were different to the rest and as Kara rolled onto her back from where she'd fallen, I saw her reach for her sword and the surprise at it being gone a second later. Hades took a shot at Cains knee, which he missed but he expected Cains next move and was ready. Kara got her sword back as it was dropped and with a scream, she charged. Dodging Hades blows looked easy, and Cain didn't even seem to react to Kara's attack before she was thrown backwards into Deimos, Artemis and Apollo; they all fell like bowling pins. Hades was not going to win this. Cain responded to everything Hades gave him, neither man going on the defence as it went hit for hit, again and again. The ground trembled, the air grew heavy and as Cain claimed Hades weapon as his own, the sky seemed to part as lightning erupted all around us.

"What the fuck?" Jordan gasped, pulling me down with him as he ducked for cover.

I felt Hermes power around us, but it was weak and tired. It stopped us from being hit and as a larger figure appeared behind Cain, I screamed. He moved fast, Hades too, but not fast enough as the hammer hit his shoulder and knocked him down.

"Cain!"

"We need to go." Hermes stuttered, reaching for me as Zane looked like he was ready to fight.

It didn't matter as a second later, I was face to face with Vidar. "Hello, Princess. We heard a rumour we might find you all here."

"How unfortunate for you."

"Mortals?" Another man appeared, looking at Zane and Jordan curiously, before licking his lips. "I want them."

"Hermes?" I ask him, not looking away from Vidar.

"Of course." He instantly agrees. "What about you?"

"I'm not going anywhere." My sword is in my hand, moulded into my hand as if it was an extension of my limb which was a luxury Tyr did not have as I noted his right arm was partly missing. He saw me looking and growled, baring yellowed teeth from behind the mess that was a beard on his face.

"They're yours, Tyr," Vidar smirked as lightning, wind and rain ran wild around us. "She's mine."

"It's funny that you think that," I smile at him. "Go, Hermes."

Instantly Tyr lunges for Jordan, and I'm hit with the wind as the three of them vanish. I swing out quickly, using the second of surprise Hermes leaving offers and let go of my powers. My sword finds blood, slicing across Vidars chest as Tyrs roar is loud in my ears before a crack of thunder drowns him out. He fights against my hold, and while judging by the size of him, he's made for combat over magic, as his power is weak. No wonder he wanted Jordan and Zane; though I didn't doubt Zane would make him regret his choice.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Vidar growls, barely managing to avoid another hit as he jumps up onto the higher level.

"Not as much as I will," I promise.

There were others here, the fighting beside us in the arena was not for training purposes. Vidar didn't hold back and I loved him for it even though Cain had been right and could have done this blindfolded. Anytime I took a chance to check on him, I didn't think Thor was as simple as he had implied. It had to be Thor; hammer, lightning, no resemblance to Chris Hemsworth. He did however look like Odin, and it was Kara by Cain now, not Hades as he was helping the others.

Vidar was tiring before I even felt like I was warming up, and his attacks were getting desperate and dirty. His power was like a mosquito, flitting around my own in the most annoying way that made me want to squish it, squish him.

"I see you, standing beside the Queen as if you are her equal, claiming the throne as if it is your own." He growled, his eyes wide and crazy. "You will be ruined once we are through with you. What remains will be displayed on our wall like a trophy and-."

"Why do you think you could ever treat me, or anyone that way?" I ask, twisting my blade in further as I let the golden edges poison his blood. His hands grab onto the blade, soon painted a dark red as his life trickles away.

Fear.

Pain.

Surprise.

"You won't stop, me." He coughs and retrieving my blade, I kick him backwards onto the floor.

"Only I have, just like Freyja and Freyr." Their names bring a spark of anger into his eyes, but it's short-lived as he fights for air, his body convulsing as it begins to shut down. Looking at Tyr, he says nothing. "What will you do if I let you go?"

"Kill you," It sounds like a promise. "After I let you watch me kill your little mortal friends."

I shake my head, "wrong answer."

But it made it that much easier as he fell beside Vidar.

My powers take over, one by one the idiots that fight for those assholes are destroyed. Apollo finds me first, then Kara and I keep them back, marching over to where Cain and Thor are still fighting. They're the only ones, everyone else is gone and as Cain suffered another hit from the hammer, he isn't instantly moving to get up. The storm makes me feel alive, feeding off its energy. I feel my power connect to each strike that hits the earth, and as Hades replaces Apollo, I remember our old training sessions when this power was new and I had no idea how to use it.

I did now.

"Hey Asshole," I call out, and as he looks my way, I send it all back to him.

Thor goes flying, his red hair a blur of bright orange before he slams into the watchtower at the other side. He's big, bigger than Odin, rough and feral like the Vikings you see on TV. As he slowly gets up, the same blue-grey eyes Odin had glare at me now.

"You're not what I was expecting." I start towards him.

"The same can be said for you," He answered, "You are not a little mortal, with no power of her own."

"And you are not an Australian actor." I sigh. 'Disappointment all-round, am I right?"

"Disappointed isn't a word I would use." He winks.

"Why are you here?"

"Revenge for my father. Nothing more."

"I heard you didn't even like him?" I push, sensing Cain nearby. If Thor does too, he doesn't let it show.

"Love and hate are easily confused."

Cain chose then to appear, his fist slamming into Thor's face which knocks him down. Hades comes next, slapping a familiar-looking pair of golden chains on his wrists while Kara stands watch. I go over to her as Apollo runs over to us.

"Frigg wants him alive." She explains.

"You okay? Elise, what were you thinking?" He snaps.

"I had every intention to just watch, but then this happened." I go to Cain, his arm over my shoulders as I slide mine around his back. "Are you okay?"

I get a nod in response, but I don't believe it. He watches as Hades rolls Thor over, not saying or doing anything more. Thor groans, but does nothing else; Cain's hit had done the job. Hermes and Athena appear then, Hermes looking completely exhausted and as Athena sees Thor her mouth drops.

"Will you deliver him to Frigg?" Kara asks Athena, though it's less a question and more an order.

"Of course." She and Hades lift him as best they can, the bulk not easy to manoeuvre in his current semi-conscious state and then they're gone.

Artemis is fussing over Hermes and Kara nods to Apollo. Seeing him, Hermes stands a little taller, as if he isn't in a world of pain and Apollo begins his healing. As he does, I go to him as well.

"They're fine, Zanes pissed off but we got away okay," Hermes tells me.

"Thank you."

"How was their timing?" Artemis thought out loud. "That could have gone a lot worse."

"I think that was the point, Vidar said they'd been told we were here."

"We haven't done this in a long time, remember when we did it practically every week?" Artemis frowned, looking to Apollo.

"I remember," Cain answered, his voice low and bitter. I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it was he remembered.

"Zeus enjoyed watching us fight for his favour. His Olympians were no different." Apollo mumbled, finished with Hermes. "It made us stronger. We don't use our abilities how we used to anymore. I'm not saying this to be an asshole, but especially you Hermes. Did you even try to fight back?"

"Of course I did!" He snapped. "You know what Deimos can do, how do you stop that?"

"The Furies are like that too, We have to fight better, be stronger." Artemis decided. "This isn't the time of peace we wanted, we've become complacent."

"Some of us have." Hermes sounded as he agreed, yet he looked at me and Cain. "I agree, we need to prepare."

"Let's do that then." Kara sighs. "But not now. We'll meet tomorrow morning to discuss it further, and we'll need everyone on board."

We go home and Cain wanders into the bathroom. Something isn't right, and following after him, I can't stop the gasp as he takes off his shirt. His shoulder, back and chest are purple. I hadn't seen or noticed the slouch to his side, and as his eyes meet mine in the mirror, he looks away.

"Please let Apollo heal you."

"No. I can heal myself." He mumbles, turning on the shower.

"You don't have to, Cain this looks bad. Really bad." I frown.

"Fucking hammer."

I follow him in, helping him as much as he lets me and sure enough, it starts to get better by the time we get out. The bruising looks terrible, and I fuss around him in bed, trying to get him comfortable before crawling in beside him.

"You were something today," he says quietly. "We'll train together if you insist on doing it too, Kara. Deimos. Hades if he decides to join in. You can't, we can't do it together. Your power is different to theirs, like Hades and mine. Kara's is different too, but not enough to notice."

"What does it matter? We've fought together before." Only as I say it, I remember what Hermes had said. All this will do is remind them all why they fear him. "You held back, a lot today."

"I had to." He sighed. "As you do too. No one seems to remember just how powerful you were in that war and I don't want them to. Elle, you were destroying Berserkers on your own. When you did that, I expected an army behind you, but there was only Alfie."

"Why is that so bad? You encouraged it when I was the God Killer, it's how that whole damn thing started."

"The God Killer never had a baby with the Fallen One. It's not even about us, it's about him. Call me paranoid, but I'd bet anything those that know would have already questioned what powers he'll have."

"Art did," I admit.

"Of course she did." He shifted slightly to look at me, cringing as he moved his shoulder. "Some might try to take him, to raise as theirs and use his powers for their own benefit, and if it was not Kara on the throne, I'd guarantee we'd have a price on our heads by now."

"Exactly, with Kara in charge, aren't things different?" I was hoping his paranoia was just a side effect of being tired and sore.

"No, because I was reminded today of how things are. There were no teams. It was me against them." The darkness that had been missing for weeks came back, its presence as strong as if there were three of us in bed.

"It's not just you anymore." I reminded him.

Tonight, I didn't try to chase the darkness away. Instead, I only kissed him and embraced it.