She embraced her fearlessness, which would get her in trouble one day.
I held her gaze, my eyes never wavering or blinking. Not even a twitch of my mouth as I waited for her tantrum to be over. If Candice was Zeus’s mate, he certainly would have his hands full, and now I am wondering why Lani was friends with this irritating human.
However, Candice was taking this far better than I had hoped. Maybe she was strong enough to take care of Zeus.
I bit back a laugh that threatened to erupt.
“She is resting.” I popped another grape in my mouth. “And she will be left alone as she is going through her change.”
“Change?” Candice drawled. “What sort of change?”
Zeus chuckled, his hand reaching out to rest on Candice’s shoulder, but she stopped him mid-glare.
“What he’s trying to say is,” Hermes interrupted. “Is that Lani, is becoming a goddess. Poseidon is her mate, her soul mate.”
All sound ceased, and the room was left deathly quiet.
Candice wiggled her nose, her eyebrows furrowing.
“First, you tell me you guys are THE mythical Greek gods, then you tell me Lani is your soulmate.” Candice uncrossed her arms. Her gaze swept around the room, examining the new decor.
The home was now meant for a queen. White rugs, beautiful seating, food and flowers on every surface, and all Candice could do was stare at it, emptiness in her eyes. She let out a large breath, and her fingers went to her forearm and gave it a tight pinch.
“Nope, not dreaming.” She rolled her head back and groaned. “Well, can I sit down? Because I think I need to sit down,” she murmured, and I waved my hand for her to sit.
Zeus and Hermes went to follow, but a resounding no echoed in the room. “You will stand.” I flicked my wrists. The crab sentinels at the door were turned instantly into a more humanoid form. They still kept their crab-like armored shells and their large claws, but now could stand on just two feet.
They stood beside Zeus and Hermes, waiting for another order.
“Holy crap, what are those!?” Candice squealed, pulling a pillow in front of her to hide her face.
“I put on a simple glamor so no other humans would see my soldiers,” I said. “Now that you know who we are, I don’t have to hide them anymore.”
“Right,” she whispered, her legs pulling up to her chest. “What has Lani gotten herself into?”
As Lani’s best friend, it was best to keep her comfortable. I waved for Silas to present her with food while I gathered my thoughts. Because now was the time I would test my power, my strength to hold down two gods while I gave them a proper punishment.
And being next to the sea, I held quite a bit of power.
“Hey man, I was just trying to find Lani. My ma—” Zeus pursed his lips. “Candice was worried.”
I shook my head, wiping the juices from my fingers. I stood and Silas came around adjusting my robes and walked around the table.
I felt the warmth of my brother's chest as I stood facing him, and a newfound confidence surged through me. Now, I was filled with fury, the window pane vibrating from the rumble of thunder coming from the horizon.
“Now, my brother, what am I going to do with you?” My eyes flashed gold, and Zeus’s face paled.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Poseidon
“Whattodowithyou?” I found myself meandering around Hermes and Zeus, my footsteps groaning against the wooden floors. My guards forced their heads to stay forward as I looked them both up and down in disgust.
“You took my mate from me, in my kingdom. I think there are some laws you have broken?” I tilted my head questioningly and looked at Hermes. The messenger god swallowed audibly, backing away only to bump into one of the guards.
“Hermes is just a messenger god, and I suppose technically I cannot punish the messenger,” I drawled. I assessed Hermes’s shoulders. They drooped, color returning to his face. “However, you didn’t deliver a message, did you, Hermes?”
Hermes cleared his throat, his hand brushing away the beads of sweat on his forehead. “I-I have been doing other side jobs, you know. It gets difficult when everyone is doing magic nowadays, I’m almost out of a job. But technically, I delivered a message, bringing Lani back so she could tell Candice she was fine.” Hermes rubbed the back of his sweat-covered neck.