Page 111 of Seeking Hades' Ember

As much as I enjoyed being with my family, the itching feeling in my head came back from trying to find the Sphere. Was I the only one worried for the gods' return? I tapped the glass of apple juice that I drank, not wanting to drink any alcohol until the party tonight. My thoughts of the many places that Sphere could be invaded my mind.

The treehouse, my mind kept going to the treehouse. Everyone was talking, having fun, and even Hades joined in on a game of chess that Erik and Dante had pulled out. Everyone was trying extra hard to break Hades' tough exterior, but he only smiled when he glanced at me. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I felt my heart pound my chest.

I wanted Hades to have a good time but knowing his heart and smile were only meant for me made us want to take him away and have our own time together. Holding down my desire, I made the decision to go to my treehouse. This mystery needed to come to an end and fast.

Slipping out the front door, without anyone noticing, I lightly pranced down the steps. The sun had begun to set, and the cooks had roasting pits filled with boar for tonight's dinner. As a child, Dante and I would steal hunks of meat while they cooked. We would get scolded every time, but it was worth seeing the cooks waving their tongs around. Like that would stop us.

I hit the tree line in less than five minutes and was about to climb the abandoned treehouse when I heard soft moans. "Someone is getting frisky," Elea laughed. "Let's go find out." I snorted quietly as my curiosity increased. Who the heck was messing around in the woods? My feet carried me deeper into the wood. The moans came out again as I peeked over and found none other than Ares and Mariah. Both had a glow where their bodies touched. It was barely a glow, but it was there. Both of their emotions were so strong, it was pungent, stifling. The passion that they had for each other was that of what I felt with Hades. Wait? Ares and Mariah? What the heck happened in four days?

I let out a large gasp as I saw Ares reach his hand up Mariah's shirt.

"The fuck!" Ares took his hand away while Mariah pulled down her shirt. The glow instantly disappeared as their lusty haze faded.

"I'm so sorry!" I put my hand over my mouth. "You were just glowing!" Ares and Mariah looked at each other confused; her body was still pinned on the ground as she stared up at me.

"Touch her again," I pleaded.

Ares smirked. "I didn't think you were into that kind of thing." Ares wiggled his eyebrows while hovering over the top of Mariah as she blushed scarlet.

"Just touch her hand, not her boob!" Ares shrugged her shoulders as he reached for her hand, looking into Mariah's eyes. The glow stood out again. I had never seen a glow like this, it was heaven, almost sacred sort of look.

"Are you mates?" My question seemed to strike a nerve with Ares as Mariah's face went crestfallen.

"You shouldn't ask that; I've had enough of people asking us that," he snapped. "If I care about her, I'll be with her. Mate or not, she is who I want to be with." Stepping back, I saw a small tear leave Mariah's eye.

"Do you really mean that?" she whispered. Ares stilled as he pulled her hand to his chest.

"With all my heart, my little warrior." The softness, the love that was in Ares's eyes, confirmed it. Could they? They might be mates. I had to find that Sphere. Who knows how long people were going without their mates? What if they had already crossed paths and missed their chance?

My body blocked out all sounds of the forest; Mariah was confessing her undying love for Ares as they both held each other and dove in for another passionate kiss. Pushing the bushes back, I ran to the treehouse, hoping that was where the stupid little ball that was the key to everyone's happiness.

The rickety board leading up the treehouse creaked, and planks fell, but my claws caught me before I could do any damage. The door was bolted shut, probably to keep small Wolves from climbing into the playhouse. Dante had mentioned it had become a shrine, and people would leave flowers at the tree's trunk on my birthday.

Biting my lip, I used my Werewolf strength for the first time to rip the door open from the seams and throw the door to the floor.

The air was musty, even with the open windows of the house. Mold and moss had grown up the sides; small mushrooms even took root on the floor. The limbs of the tree had cracked a few boards while one limb had grown out of the window entirely.

It wasn't a giant treehouse, though I could still have a large chest that served as a table when I brought friends in. Kneeling, I felt for the trunk's latch and wiggled the rust to open the latch. With a giant whine of the hinges creaking, I flipped the top over on itself to see nothing but old drawings.

My shoulders slumped, hoping the Sphere would be here. That would have been too easy. Selene wouldn't hide it there. Rustling through, I pulled out all my drawings. Drawings of a large bonfire, family portraits, Mom defeating her demon, and Wolves were held in my hand. I laid them all out like they were a puzzle. There could be no connection to these pictures at all, but this was all I had.

"My favorite place," I whispered again as I touched each picture. Family, fire, demons, and a treehouse. None of these things wrung a bell as I traced each one. One picture laid in the box, a man in the fire. He had blonde hair, but his clothes were black as the fire engulfed him and a little girl that held his hand.

"Oh my gosh." I chuckled out loud. Did I dream of him as a kid? It had been so many years since I'd been here, I couldn't possibly remember every detail about my life. How could I forget this? Especially since my dreams had come true. The wind let in a warm gush of air, and darkness fell around the treehouse; I was about to stand when a warm cloak danced around me, holding me to the floor of the house. I struggled to get free until I felt his raging heartbeat with mine.

"Damnit, Ember," the husky voice pulled me in as I wrapped my arms around his muscular torso. "You can't leave! You cannot leave my sight!" Hades growled out. "What if something happened to you? Took you? I wouldn't be able to live with myself!" Hades’ grip went tighter as I felt the terror around him. Fear enveloped my heart of the thought of being taken away from him.

"I'm sorry, Hades, I was just trying to find the Sphere," I whispered.

"Flower, you can't leave me." His hands engulfed my face. "I mean it, you cannot leave my side until we find whoever took you. Please don't do it again."

"I'm not helpless," I bit back. "I have a Wolf now."

"That doesn't mean anything," he argued back. "Gods and angels are out to get you, not supernaturals. They are stronger than them. Now promise me you won't leave again!" Hades growled.

"I promise," I said, whispering in his shoulder.

"Not weak," Elea growled in my head.

"No, we're not. And we will prove it." I replied.

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