Chapter Fourteen

"Hades! Son of a bitch, Hades! Come back! Hades!"

My voice was hoarse as I finally slid down onto my knees inside the barrier, breathing hard as the lack of energy caught up to me. My muscles felt like rubber, my bones ached, and my back felt like it was still carrying the weight of my wings at full span. I looked through the barrier at the ring that sat on the floor, gleaming in the Aurora Borealis lighting overhead. My heart bled at the sight of it and I ached to hold it in my hand.

Son of a bitch. He bought a ring. Hades bought a fucking ring.

Actually, the more I looked at the white gold infinity band with the sparkling clear blue sapphire, I realized it wasn't a store bought ring. That stupid son of a bitch had made it. There was something unique about the work, something raw about the gem. I slammed my eyes shut and hit the floor again, weakly this time. I pressed my hand on the barrier, but nothing happened.

I cursed.

He was scared. You didn't have to be a fucking rocket scientist to know that Hades was terrified. The Shifter had threatened my life and apparently had come too close to taking it for Hades's comfort. He was going to try and do this on his own. I had no idea how he planned to do that, but clearly he had something in mind if he was confident enough to go running off on his own like that.

And now I was the one who was fucking terrified. He couldn't do this on his own. He may be one of the strongest and most intelligent people I'd ever met in my life, but even the Source needed help to keep balance in the universe, and right now, Hades was completely unbalanced and alone. He needed our help, he needed my help.

The Shifter wasn't just after me; it was after Hades too. And right now, Hades was unprotected, alone.

Another scream of frustration rose up within me and I hit the barrier again. Panting hard, I used it to pull myself to my feet. I stumbled over to the nightstand and dug around for my phone, finding it tucked into one of Hades's drawers. I swiped the screen, then made a noise of frustration to see that there was no signal. Of course Hades would take such steps to prevent me from getting help out of here.

No doubt our children would come to my rescue, as well as his.

So if he put me in a barrier, had he done the same to our children, or had he done something else with them? He'd mentioned they were also in the palace, yet no one had come when I shouted. Fuck, was this a sound barrier as well? I cursed, throwing my phone on the ground and stalking back over to his nightstands to start digging around for something helpful, but came up empty handed, which made no sense.

Hades was paranoid by nature. He always had back up plans. And back up plans for his back up plans. Forget plan B; he was already mapping out plan Y.

And of course, that explained why I couldn't find anything useful in his room. Of course he went around and got rid of anything I could use to escape.

When you get out of there... He said. That means he knew I would get out of here somehow, despite all of his precautions. It meant several things. One, there was a way out of here, I just hadn't figured it out yet. Two, he was really planning to come back. Three, he had confidence that he could get through all this possibly before I escaped. So what dirt could he possibly have that would defeat the Shifter? We'd already touched on all the corners. Tristan had to sing the chant in order to put the Shifter down for the rest of this universe's existence. Had Hades found a way to contact my Father? Had he found the chant? It didn't make sense. Hades didn't just do things like this without having some kind of plan or idea in mind. So he clearly knew something I did not.

And I fucking hated that about him.

I shouted one last time in frustration, slamming the drawer shut on his dresser. I had an insane, childish urge to go around and tear his room apart, but I refrained. Mostly because this room was precious to Hades. He'd designed it to be his safe zone. It wasn't just a bedroom. A bedroom was a place one felt safe enough to sleep in, comfortable enough to relax. People seemed to think it was all feng shui bullshit, but it really had a psychological impact on the person who's room it was.

Hades's room was an expression of everything he was and wanted in the world. He had photos of his children in sleek modern picture frames, photos of his grandchildren, of my children, of me even. His furniture was modern and practical, plenty of storage space and not just for clothing, but for sentimental items, for some of his more private projects. He also had a couple drawers for me, should I decide to stay over for a while. It was really a black modern lair, with touches of green and blue here and there, especially with the Aurora Borealis lighting overhead.

I gave up investigating his room and went through the archway into the bathroom. Just like his bedroom, his bathroom was a vast expanse of black marble from the jacuzzi tub to the shower stall with an oversized steel shower head. Here, the only color was the gold veins in the marble and the plush white and green towels in the nearby rack.

Frustrated, I did a sweep and came up empty handed once more before I moved back out into the bedroom. I paused for a full moment before going across the room, running my hand along the wall to find the panel that would lead into a short hallway to connect Hades's room to the room where his grandchildren stayed whenever they visited. But, fucking blast it, he'd changed the code on me, so there was no way in. Not that it would help, considering he appeared to put a barrier entirely around the room, even through the passageway, preventing me from leaving the main room and his bathroom.

I stalked across the room, trying to figure out someway to escape, but none of his little handy dandy devices were laying around. There was no way for me to teleport, no way for me to contact anyone outside this little bubble. I had never felt more trapped in my entire life. I clenched my fists, seething in rage as I went to the bed and sat down.

How could he do this? He needed me. We needed each other. He couldn't do all of this on his own. He may be Hades, great Greek god of the Underworld, but he was still just a one god. He was powerful, but there were times Hades seriously overestimated himself. I wished to the gods he had that confidence in terms of his parenting or showing affection and not just throwing around sassy comebacks when it came to his powers.

I heaved myself up to my feet again just in time to hear what sounded like footsteps coming down the hallway. I tensed for a moment, then ran to the doorway just in time to see someone bend over and pick up the ring Hades had left behind.

"Huh. Looks like he got one of my worst traits," Rowan murmured, studying the sparkling sapphire in the band. I stiffened, rolling my hands into fists against the barrier as I watched him flick the thing into the air, then catch it and grip it tightly. He cast me a sideways glance.

"Hades, he--"

"I know," Rowan muttered, rolling the ring around in his hand as if testing it, "He almost lost you there for a moment. He even called me to come help." I blinked at that, stunned. Hades didn't ask for help. He never asked for help. And he hated Rowan at the moment, so I was baffled he would consider asking Rowan of all people.

"How strange," Rowan said softly, making me frown as he stared down at the ring in his hand, "I told myself I wasn't going to involve myself in his affairs any longer. We do what we must to protect those we love. That's how we convince ourselves that they're better off without us. And yet, when it comes right down to it, we can't stay away from them." I frowned at that, pressing my hands against the barrier.

"Hades needs me," I seethed, "He needs you. He needs us. All of us. He can't do this by himself."

"If I were to release you, he would hate me more than he already does," Rowan said, glancing up at me. I didn't say anything, just stared at him expectantly, praying he'd make the right choice here. Hades was his flesh and blood. He had to know that protecting Hades was the most important thing.

"But, we must do what we can to protect those we love," Rowan sighed, then waved his hand out and the barrier vanished. I gasped in relief, my hands going through the doorway. I went to Rowan, who held his hand out with the ring in his palm. I took it with shaking hands, still awed and in disbelief.

Hades had given me a ring... and fuck, I felt ashamed for not having one for him. I knew I should've bought one. I should've done it properly, but I had had an itching feeling he would say no the first time I asked, but he went and asked me on his own... when he felt he was ready.

No. When he felt he might die.

And that sat like a heavy rock in my gut.

This ring wasn't a proposal ring.

It was a goodbye ring.

And my heart bled over it.

"We need to save him," I whispered, "Rowan, he needs us." Rowan inclined his head.

"Yes. And it just so happens, Menoetius is feeling a bit better, so we're going to pay him a visit to see how he's fairing. He's been moved to Olympus after another attack in Heaven," he responded. I nodded, and without really thinking about it, slid the ring onto my finger.

"We need to get the others."

"You're going to drag your children into this?"

"I have no choice. If I go off alone, they'll only follow, and I rather them not get hurt trying to find me," I muttered. Rowan nodded in understanding and followed me as I made my way to the other rooms, knocking on the doors to get everyone out into the hallway.

"Whoa," Cerberus said, noticing the ring on my finger immediately, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Holy shit," Abel breathed, approaching me and snatching my hand up to look at the ring. I wasn't entirely sure how to answer their awes and wide eyes. I wanted this to be different. I wanted to flaunt it and show them Hades was mine, but all I could think about was that Hades wasn't mine right now. He was somewhere else and very soon, the Shifter would catch up to him and it only made me panic.

"Yes," Dania shouted, then punched Cain in the shoulder, making him curse, "I finally have an excuse to come visit!"

"How about no," Cain growled, rubbing his shoulder before putting his hands on his hips, "I don't even let my own brothers visit."

"You can't stop her," Raven said dryly, folding his arms over his chest, "Trust me. Set up a barrier and she'll find a way around it." He glanced at Alaric, who nodded and grimaced in sympathy. Jaques scowled at them, then turned to me, grabbing my shoulder in a fierce grip that said he didn't approve.

"You can't be serious," he said, looking at the ring warily, "Father, I know you and Hades are... I know it's serious, but it can't reach that level, can it? The guy shows you no respect and there is no equality in the relationship at all. Hades takes and you get nothing out of the relationship. I've stayed quiet for a while because, for the first time in years, you've seemed happy, but I don't know if I can stand to see him tear you down for the rest of eternity."

"Hey," Dania said angrily, "Jaques, that is really rude. So Hades isn't sweet and fluffy like Naia, that doesn't make him unfit as a husband."

"Hades doesn't have a good track record," Malachi pointed out, earning a glare from Theo, who decided to turn his rage on Jaques, and approached him to give him a shove that made him step back. I cursed, moving out of their way, not wanting to get caught up in a fist fight, but also not wanting it to escalate that far.

"First of all, fuck off," Theo snapped, making Jaques's eyes snap fire, "For the record, Hades and Lucifer have a pretty fucking great relationship! Fuck, the guy already considers my brothers and I part of your family. And Hades considers you guys his own kids half the time. We don't have parties in his castle with just us now. You guys have come every year since they've been together! And second, asshole, their relationship isn't any of our goddamn business!" Jaques curled his lip.

"And I would rather rot in the bowels of Gehenna than ever call you brother," he sneered, making Theo scoff.

"You and the rest of my brothers. Welcome to the gene pool," Theo retorted, putting his hands on his hips. Jaques flashed his fangs and took a step forward, but Raven and Thorn came forward to snatch him back by the arms while Cerberus picked Theo up under the arms with little effort and moved him aside. Theo scowled at that, but surprisingly, didn't lash out at him and just stuck his tongue out at Jaques, who looked murderous.

"Give it a rest, Jaq," Thorn said exasperated, "He's got a point for once. Lucifer's life is his own. If he and Hades are going to tie the knot, that's their business. All we can do is support them."

"Absolutely not," Jaques exclaimed, then turned to me, making me frown, "Father, please. Think about what this means. This is more than just marriage. Your marriage to Hades will combine our powers, our armies. The other realms will see it as a threat. Marriage between pantheons is a very delicate subject, and I'm not saying this as your son. I'm saying this as your former general. Marrying Hades will have serious consequences on our realms, on our economies, our lineage, our power as a whole. And if you two were to combine, do you honestly think Hades would share power over our realms with you? He already talks like he owns Hell, which he fucking doesn't."

"Oh, please," Theo said angrily, but Cerberus put his arm up to keep Theo from charging him, so Theo settled for baring his fangs. Cain looked peeved now as well.

"Yo, fuck you, hydra dung," he snarled, making Jaques glare at him, "You think our dad would just run into a marriage without fucking thinking it through? Hades is a goddamn genius. He knows exactly what marrying your dad would do to our realms, and for the record, he fucking shared power with Persephone for centuries!"

"As if she had any say," Jaques scoffed.

"She did," Charon stated, making Jaques glare at him as Charon gave him an annoyed stare, "It wasn't just a title. Persephone was literally the goddess of the underworld and the damned. She was the one who implemented the royalty ruling the different sectors of the underworld. She's the one who allowed the oneiroi to build their utopia in the realm. She's also the one who called for the judging of the souls before they reached their final resting place. Persephone is also the one who wrote half of the laws in this realm to protect the people. She and Hades had an equal partnership in ruling this realm and it is wrong to think otherwise."

"Charon's correct," Zelios agreed coldly, startling me because I'd almost forgotten he was there, standing so quietly behind Charon, like a brooding phantom, "You know nothing of our father. You base everything on rumors. I'm appalled that a former general of the Hellion army would for one second base his strategies on the whispers of lessers."

"Roasted," Theo added, snapping his fingers. Cain rolled his eyes and Abel shook his head, then looked at Jaques, who was still tense with anger, but appeared to be at a loss for words. He may have been able to fling comebacks at Theo and Cain because it was simply nothing more than anger, but Charon and Zelios were logic. Neither one of them let their emotions rule their judgements. They couldn't, considering their jobs were to judge fairly and accordingly.

"Look," Abel said after a moment, moving to get in front of Jaques, who narrowed his eyes, "We get you don't like Hades. None of us did for a while there, but you'd be fucking surprised what someone goes through to become that distrusting and that cold."

"How others treated you should not give you an excuse to be cruel," Jaques said through clenched teeth, "Do you think I'm blind? I don't base my opinions on the whispers of lesser creatures, but on what I've seen with my own eyes. Hades is constantly berating my father, constantly undermining his decisions, even in his own fucking realm. He puts my father down left and right. And do you think this is the first time the idea of marriage has come up between them?" I looked at him confused, and he met my eyes.

"I knew you were planning to propose to Hades," he said flatly, "You're not very good at hiding that either. But I said nothing, because I knew he was going to turn you down." I tensed at that. I felt an odd pain in knowing that Jaques felt this way, and that he didn't understand Hades the way I did, or the way his children did. At the same time, Jaques was always mistrustful. His little brother had been taken away before he had a chance to meet him, by a female he had trusted to be a good mother. He'd seen my other wives betray me or die on me. He'd been there to help raise all of his siblings, and he had seen them killed and hurt.

Raven's incident in Hades all those years ago had been the last straw. Since then, Jaques had put his foot down and watched over all of his siblings like a hawk. He even babied me, much to my chagrin, but I'd passed it off because I knew his paranoia was rooted in fear. He was terrified of seeing one of his siblings fall, to be tortured again. He couldn't stand the thought of it.

And now, the idea that his father was to marry a god from another pantheon, a god well known for his attitude, Jaques was feeling the pressure. He had to realize that life could not be lived hiding in a box in fear. Life was meant to be lived. Even if it meant making mistakes. It was how we learned.

But in my eyes, marrying Hades was no mistake.

"I love Hades," I stated, making Jaques grimace, "Nothing you say, nothing anyone says, will ever change that. I know you're scared, Jaques. And I am so sorry that I have failed you so often to make you this way... But you don't see the side of Hades that I do. You don't see the side of him that collects everything his sons have ever given him. You don't see the side of him that weeps when his sons are hurt. The side of him that is frantic to protect his people, even as they spit upon him. The side of him that fights through adversity in silent pain. I won't make you like Hades, Jaques. I can never do that. But I ask that you accept my decision to marry Hades. If for nothing more than I will continue to be happy with him at my side."

Jaques pressed his lips together in a tight thin line. His dark eyes debated, his fists clenching. He clearly was struggling to accept what I'd laid down to him. A glance at Hades's children revealed a collection of awkward stares and blushing from my words. I smiled and a few of their eyes darted away.

"I like Hades," Dania stated, folding her arms over her chest, "So he's a little rough around the edges. Who cares? Everyone in our family, including you, Jaqy, are a little rough."

"I'm with Dania on this one," Bali agreed, "Hades is highly intelligent. He already knows all of Hell's background and information, so he won't go into being a leader not knowing what to do."

"And for the record, he is surprisingly good at sharing power," Wednesday pointed out, "He had no idea how to use my program and when I took the mouse from him to show him, he had no problem with it. He also buys the best presents."

"He's not my biggest fan," Thorn admitted with a shrug, "And it pisses me off still, the shit he did the past. Someone's suffering does not give them a free pass to be an asshole... but the fact that he's actively trying to change this is something. He's also the grandfather of my children, and I will not hurt them by keeping them away from him. Besides, have you seen him with Hadrian and Lumen? I don't trust anyone to keep my babies safe like I do Hades. If I can trust him with my infants, I can trust him with the realm."

"Same here," Alaric said, "He didn't have to save my life that time, but he did. He fucking did. He chose to do that. He chooses to be a good person. He makes mistakes, but so do the rest of us. Fuck, I know I make 'em on a daily basis."

"Hades is definitely surly," Akin agreed, then paused as he smiled thoughtfully, "But you know, I'm around a lot of people like that. People who have to put up this front to protect themselves. It's all they know, because people like you, Jaq, scare people like him into behaving like that. He feels like he needs to protect himself around you, that's why you haven't seen the Hades we've seen. Hell, I think he's as scared of you as you are of him."

"I think Hades would be a perfect co-ruler," Raven added, "He actually understands people, even if they don't quite understand themselves. His inventions, his genius, created a whole fucking medical company, hospitals, equipment you can't find anywhere else. He's saved more lives than I can count, including my own. If it wasn't for Hades, I probably would've made the stupidest decision in my life."

I looked at Jaques, who frowned. He glanced at each of his siblings, clearly wanting to find an argument, but they were standing their ground. And much to my joy, Hades's children stood amongst them with nods of approval and grateful smiles.

Once upon a time, Hades had been so certain no one loved him.

Now, I could say with confidence, he was so loved by those who mattered.

"Goddamn it," Jaques said at last, raking a hand through his hair before sighing, "Now I have more idiots to watch. This is honestly getting exhausting." His siblings groaned and rolled their eyes.

"Fucking tell me about it," Cerberus agreed, "Without me, these idiots would all be dead." In response, every single one of his brothers spoke up in tones of utter disgust. Cerberus gave Jaques a droll look and Jaques nodded in understanding. I shook my head at them, then glanced over at Rowan, who was standing off to the side, staring at me.

I hoped he understood, hoped he saw, how loved his son was... and how much it would mean if he showed Hades he cared.

"Alright," I said at last, turning to look at them, "Now that that's out of the way, we have a rescue mission to go on."

"Lemme guess," Theo exclaimed, clapping his hands together before pointing in different directions, "Dad almost lost you cuz of the attack and now he's freaking the fuck out, so he's gone off on his fucking own to save the universe, but he kind of fucking forgot to clue you in on what's going on, so now it's our fucking turn to go and save his ass and save the universe." I frowned.

"He does this a lot, doesn't he?" I asked. Theo snorted and Cain blew a raspberry.

"It's part of the i love my family but i don't know how to show it because i'm emotionally constipated package," Abel admitted with a shrug.

"Shit," Jaques deadpanned, "He couldn't wait until I got used to... this." He waved his hands around where I was wearing my ring. I gave him a droll look, then frowned at Rowan, who cocked his head.

"Do you know where he is?" I asked. Rowan was quiet for a moment as everyone looked at him. He was clearly uncomfortable with the attention before he spoke softly.

"Yes."

"Then take us to him."