Page 68 of Vengeful Mates
I released my breath, appreciating how she made me feel at ease.
My powers sought out the growing form in her belly, and my goddess sighed. “Three months?”
Autumn blinked. “That’s right. We haven’t told anyone yet.”
Oops. “Cat’s out of the bag.”
“Congratulations, Autumn.” Zethan leaned in to peck her cheek.
“Outlaw, you brush up nice in a suit.” Autumn gave him an embrace, teasing him with the nickname her husband used for him.
“Got my underwear on today,” Zethan joked, and her laugh tinkled.
Oh, that was right. All his clothes transformed when he entered the Duat, and his shendyt left little to the imagination. Hades and Autumn burst in one night when Zethan fell asleep on his throne, legs splayed wide, and caught a nice view. The grumpy Lord of the Dead never let my mate forget it.
Alaric touched the small of my back, and I wound my hand behind me, tugging his jacket, encouraging him to stand beside me.
“This is Alaric, my other mate.” I leaned into the arm he folded over my chest, enjoying the affection, persuading him to be less on guard.
Autumn thrust her hand out, her smile bright, making everyone instantly at ease. “Hi, I’m Autumn. Hostess. Baby Mama. Green thumb.” She also liked to joke. I bet she didn’t get much of that with her husband.
Alaric returned her handshake. “Alaric—”
Hades immediately came over, cutting off the welcome. Bouncing his baby on his chest, he smiled, an awkward, stiff expression that enhanced mine and Alaric’s tension.
“No mention of underwear in front of my wife, Outlaw,” Hades growled with less bite than when he addressed Zethan in the Duat.
“Good, hubs. Could be better.” Autumn patted her husband’s arm.
Cute. She encouraged her husband to be friendlier.
Hades smiled at her, warmer, doting. It fell away as he outstretched a stiff and stony hand for Zethan to clutch and shake.
Testy people didn’t bother Zethan when he dealt with plenty of them as a police officer. Years of handling Slade gave him additional experience in that department.
“Thanks for hosting the dinner, Hades.” Zethan let go of the god-man’s hand and tickled the cheek of their infant daughter, Serena, winning over the proud papa bear. Little Serena babbled at him. Adorable. Still as cute as the day I met her in the Duat, where she visited her grandmother.
I stroked my belly absently to ease the rising nausea. Behavior like this made me want to give my men the babies Slade and Zethan wanted.
“Hades. Pleased to meet you.” Our host extended his hand to Alaric with a stiff nod. I half expected him to call my hawk an outlaw too, but he remained pleasant for his wife.
“Alaric. Great to meet another pantheon brother.” My hawk turned on his charm, but Hades remained guarded, frowning at the term brother.
Autumn stroked her husband’s arm in encouragement. “You know? Brother from another pantheon mother?”
Hades pinched his forehead. “Whatever do you mean?”
Autumn touched Alaric’s arm. “Comes with the territory of being over two hundred years old.”
When Hades merged with his god, it granted him immortality. Same deal for Autumn when she merged with Persephone.
The thought made me wonder if Isis and my mate’s gods might permit the same with us.
CHAPTER23
Aaliyah
So far,so good. All mates alive and accounted for. Slade barked a laugh in the background as he shared humorous stories with Mads and Cupid’s other two men. Hades relaxed a little around my men as his wife eased his tension with caresses and squeezes on his arm.
