Page 133 of Seeking Hades' Ember

“Where is her soul bonding mark?” I asked. Something that I should have done in private, but Ares’ wasn’t really one to be humiliated.

“What? I marked her right here, damn Hades, get some glasses.” Mariah pulled down her sweater to show a large bite mark in her neck. A rather angry mark.

“You haven’t soul bonded. Her chest is bare.” Ares growled, pulling Mariah closer.

“Stop looking at her!” I raised a brow as I hung my head on my hand that was propped up on the sofa.

“You’ve mated with her, but you haven’t soul bonded. Gods are supposed to soul bond, you twit.” Ares looked at her chest and into the air like the answer was there waiting for him to appear. He mumbled a few words to himself while Mariah stared at him blankly.

“Oh shit.” He jumped over the couch and threw Mariah over his shoulder. “Be right back!” he yelled as he ran up the stairs with Mariah.

***

Several days had passed since the massive mating party. Ember had spent most of the time resting, matching souls or spending lost time with her family. I hadn’t mind in the slightest. I stayed in the shadows or right by her side the entire time.

Ember’s face grew brighter by the day, like she glowed in an other-worldly sense. Her eyes were soft, warm, and held the most love I had ever seen. Her appetite had grown and was finally eating the normal caloric intake a powerful Wolf like her should be eating. Charlotte and Wesley hardly left her side unless I took her back to our cabin and forced her to sleep.

Many Werewolves came to visit her, catching up on old times and even discussed if she needed to graduate high school. She was a goddess now, none of that mattered unless she really wanted it. The future didn’t need a human diploma for her; it just needed her and her skills once Selene was returned.

It was a waiting game until Cyrene had completely healed. She was stronger each day and with the help of Tamera, it had proved most fruitful. Many days we gathered by Cyrene’s bedside, discussing the plan of action.

Scouting demons had already infiltrated Vermillion and found on the outskirts a band of rogue Witches, Vampires and Sorcerers. My demons camouflaged themselves and had picked up that the gods were taken to a secluded cabin, deep into the Bloodied Forest near the Forbidden Forest. Lost spirits, those that were unable to descend into the depths of the Underworld resided there. These spirits were too stubborn to descend so they remained on the dirt of Bergarian. Spirits feel scorching pain through their spirited bodies and the only relief is to put their pain on others, possessing travelers, haunting them, and running them out of the Bloodied Forest until they can no longer relieve the pain once they had left.

Ember shivered at the thought of going into the forest; my stubborn self didn’t want her to go. However, I didn’t trust anyone with her. She would be the safest with me, by my side, as I shield her from the spirits while I cast them down into the Underworld once and for all. I’m not going to deal with a bunch of whining spirits.

“I have the location. Just southwest of the Ichabod Tree in the Bloodied Forest. There should be one small cabin and several tents set up.” Loukas threw the map on the makeshift table over Cyrene’s bed.

“There are traps, here, here and here,” Loukas circled around each area of the supposed traps while Ember stared. “There’s a rough head count, about one-hundred and fifty persons. The demons you sent aren’t for sure of the Witch, Vampire and even Demon count.” My head whipped around.

“Demon?” I growled.

Loukas nodded as he rolled up the parchment. “Dragon’s blood can ruin the bond you hold on them. For sure, four of them.” I growled, smoke trailing from my feet, but Ember grabbed my arm.

“You will make them pay, don’t worry.” That’s my little fighter.

“We are bringing four-hundred Wolves. I’ve talked to the Crimson Shadows Pack, and they have been notified. They will be back up if we need it. I’m hoping this will be a clean sweep; we outnumber them greatly.” Wesley pulled Charlotte in tightly. “Then again, we are dealing with that magic we fought so long ago it may not even matter.”

“Right, we should all be prepared,” Ares spoke. “This time you have the gods on your side. You have good warriors, Alpha. I’ve picked the ones I found the most experienced and strong. My suggestion is they take the night off from practicing and spend time with their loved ones.”

Ember’s shoulders slumped. There was a high probability we would lose tomorrow. I could smell her salty tears, threatening to fall. “It will be all right; we are going to protect them the best we can.” Ember sniffled, laying her head on my shoulder.

About to scoop Ember up in my arms and take her back to our cabin, I felt a pang in my chest. My ward was trying to be broken, and it was not killing whoever was trying to get in. That only meant one thing, a god was trying to break the barrier around our cabin.

"Get to the cabin," knowing Vulcan and Ares would be right behind me, I willed Ember and I to the border of the cabin's ward. Keeping Ember close, I eyed the area, only to find no in sight. Keeping her glued to my side, we trudged forward. Ember’s low growl alerted me that she either heard or smelled something.

"I can feel their emotions, so evil, so much hate," Ember whispered. "It's overpowering." Her claws began to lengthen, and her arms were becoming her stark white fur. Before I could stop her, she had shifted in a blink of an eye and bolted into the house. Her mind was muffled with screams while I was trying to link her. Sounds of babies and children crying flooded her ears as I listened in her mind.

"Ember!" I yelled, willing myself to enter just as she put her front paw in the doorway. However, she wasn't there. "Ember!" I growled out, checking the bed, the bathroom, and even the kitchen. Not even her scent lingered in the doorway. I let out a roar and slammed my fists on the table that broke into splinters of wood.

Heaving, the fire burned through my throat as I looked around the dark, vast room one more time. Ares and Vulcan walked in, eyes bulging out of their heads. Smoke had taken over the room, the fire burned at my fingertips, and red was the only color I could perceive.

"The Sphere," Vulcan glanced to the floor where an empty box lay. I ran my hand through my hair, the soot on my fingers rubbed into the white waves.

Fangs grew, but they were not the same as before; they itched with a mighty fury, thicker, longer. Dark hair sprouted from my body. My figure hunched over into the fetal position, but I still stood. I was not going to give up; some damn curse that Demeter had cast on me would not slow me down. What else could it possibly be?

I would find Demeter and give her the worst torment that any parent could ever endure. Watching her beloved child burn in front of her eyes through all eternity. While she will be helpless, tied, and gagged to a stone pillar only to watch repeatedly.

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