Page 138 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 65

Hades

Storming out of the cabin, I find nothing but Wolves lined in their military pattern. Many with the desire of death covering their senses. Not once but twice, my Ember was taken from this pack. It took everything within my bones not to strike every one of them.

Wesley, looking equally displeased, was in his human form staring them down with the ferocity I had never seen before from the docile Alpha. He had not been the most aggressive among his fellow Alphas in the Earth realm. He was the peacemaker, but when war threatened his pack, he took with an iron fist. Now, he would be put to the test. Seeing his outrage over the disappearance of his daughter gave me hope his warriors would prevail. They will prevail; there was no if because there was not one but three gods, and one of them is the god of death that will manage the small militia that took my mate.

Demeter was foolish, blinded by the love of her daughter, to think she would get away with any of this. Her years hiding in the dark, perfect planning, and timing had yielded well. However, time was up, and we were coming for her.

Ares, ever so brooding, walked up to Wesley, who only nodded his head in submission to the God of War, letting Ares take control. Barking orders and having Wolves grab weapons, some were ordered to fight in human form while others remained with their Wolf.

Loukas's body flickered in the distance; his apparition needed some heavy overhaul. I had ripped most of his powers once he had returned to the territory. Not wanting him to try and take my Ember away, not that he would succeed anyway. "Loukas, what are you doing?" I barked. He was supposed to be in the confines of the packhouse, but the damn demon was like a cockroach.

"Forgive me, master." He bowed his head slowly. Finally, some submission from him, if it wasn't for Ember's friendship with the little fire demon, I would have gotten rid him long ago. "I went to gather a much-needed ally." Loukas pointed to the roof of the packhouse. Bright light descended on the roof, revealing a short tunic covering one side of his chest and shoulder with gold armor as well as a breastplate. A long sword in hand, wielded by Vulcan himself, one of the last magical metals he had created before his hiatus from his magical forging position.

Gabriel.

Gabriel's wings were tall and wide; tiny tendrils of gold shimmered in the light as he floated down from the rooftop. The leaves shied away from the swoop. Stepping lightly with his sandals, he approached, wings slightly dragging on the fall ground. "I take it you are here to fight for your mate," I said with a clipped tone. Gabriel looked to Athena, who only smiled in return.

"I'm glad you have come to your senses, Gabriel. Your mate will be pleased once she remembers you." Gabriel's chest tightened. The distant look in his eye gave confirmation that he had felt the bond, yet Persephone had not. The years apart, must have been quite the turmoil.

Gabriel mentioned his heart knew that Persephone was all innocent in this. That she felt the longing many times as they both glanced at each other from afar. However, Malachi was said to be her mate. "Persephone couldn't leave her mate because she trusted Selene," Gabriel spoke. "No matter how much she felt for me, she stayed with an angel she had no love for because of a damn fake mark," he hissed. "Persephone said she had to stay with Malachi because 'Selene doesn't make mistakes. I must make this work,'" he mocked. "But I knew better. I knew there had to be something wrong. Malachi's touches didn't light her fire like mine did." Gabriel looked along the army lines. "For years, I watched her from afar. Yearning for her. Now that I have the evidence it was all a lie, I will kill Malachi." Gabriel stood behind the Wolf lines, along with the warriors, ready for his commands.

"We are nearing midnight; I'd like to get to the Dark Forest before," I gritted my teeth while everyone watched. Charlotte held onto her youngest, Steven, who had tears in his eyes. "He'll bring her back, right Mom?"

"Ember will come back." I stared at the boy. Kneeling, I put my hand on his shoulder. Squeezing it lightly, I spoke softly to him, "She will not evade me again." A glimpse of a smile came to his face as I stood up. Charlotte gripped him tighter while silently begging me to bring her daughter home.

Athena, now donned in her warrior attire, sheets of metal armor all encrusted with her owls and love of books and scrolls decorated on her breastplate. "Four, there will be four of us. To ensure that Demeter is put into place. Zeus has granted you to do as you will to our sister for betraying you and your mate. There will be no trial because the evidence is stacked against her. All that Zeus asks is that you bring home the gods safely and that he wishes he be invited to your mating ceremony." Athena winked as she walked away, her purple cloak brushing my legs.

Of course, Zeus would want to attend a party. I groaned and turned to our small army. We would undoubtedly win, but the cost would be high if there was more Dragon blood found. Losing mated couples would be devastating to Ember and to the rest of the pack.

"Protect yourselves," I warned. The Wolves calmed down as they looked towards Athena, Ares, Vulcan, and me. "Most of all, protect each other. Ember, your Alpha, would not be happy to find that Wolves were slain due to her being kidnapped. This is my order to you, come back alive. Fight fiercely, honorably, but do not sacrifice yourself to gain anyone's favor. Live to fight another day, live for your families, live for your Alpha."

A roar of howls, cheers, and screams filled the air. The trees bowed in the large gust of winds that surrounded us. Leaves scattered and danced around our feet until the wind blew upward. The hordes of Wolves and demons gathered closer together; Athena's tight bun was ripped from her band and flew up as her eyes pointed to the sky.

In an enormous gulf of light, we were all transported, transported to the land where we would fight for my mate and the safety of the gods. One god will lose its status as one of the twelve, the first to so. She will suffer at my hands through all eternity.

Once the wind had died, we found ourselves on the outside of the Dark Forest. No doubt these woods would scare the Wolves who had not been to the realm of Bergarian. These trees were tall, wide, and branches that hung over like thin monster's hands that would pull at your cloak. Instead of feeling a soft breeze from the darkened leaves, they were silent, stagnant, and full of death.

Gabriel immediately took to the sky; glancing at us, he was engulfed in the fog. Gabriel's mission was Persephone. He was to grab and take her away from the fighting.

Spirits floated through the trees, looking on with curiosity, some with malicious intent. One with an evil glint in his eye saw me and immediately alerted the others; they wouldn't bother me, but those who accompanied me would be at risk. Waving my hand, sending a wind that pushed through the first one hundred yards, those spirits were sent straight to hell, waiting to be judged. My time away from the Underworld was going to make my time much more difficult when I returned. So many souls to judge and torment. A faint smile reached the corner of my mouth as Athena acknowledged my act.

"Move out." Athena swung her sword as we marched into the woods. Wesley led the first group; they were to run clear around the other side of the encampment, making sure no soul would escape. Ares led us forward, ready to take the first wave of rogues head-on. Ares' cocky stride let me know we would have no trouble fighting off the first wave.

A few unfamiliar sounds came from the trees. Goblin-like creatures jumped to the ground and hissed. Dark skinned with damaged scales, salivating while licking their fangs. Ares chuckled and swung his ax, and their heads rolled to the forest floor. Younger Wolves came to sniff and acknowledged the new species. These were just the forest creatures that played in the forest, none tied to Demeter.

A glow in the distance, a bonfire that had to be at least two stories tall, lit the way. Hand signals were thrown by Ares and Athena, both flanking my sides and allowing me to approach head-on. I would be the one that talked to Demeter, trying to persuade her to let my mate go. If a battle could be prevented, then so be it. I would still take her by her skinny neck and rip her to shreds once my mate was in my arms.

Walking closer, you could hear a loud hiss and Hermes screaming. There would be no first wave of attacking rogues because they were all retreating. Running towards the commotion, I found Hermes sucking face with a vampire as Ember grips Demeter by the throat.

Ember

I licked my lips gently. The first finger finally touched the midnight blue sphere; Hermes' soul twitched as I commenced to glide him across the curvature of the glass. The vampire woman, the woman that had chosen to betray Demeter and loosen the ropes of my friends, stood there. She smiled as my finger touched her torso. Harlow came to my mind. Her name was Harlow; nodding at me, she reached for Hermes, who did the same in return. Glancing at Demeter one more time, knowing that this union was going to be harsh, fast, and possibly a show with the Dragon's blood dripping down the side, I braced myself.

Touching their souls and merging them into one, Hermes let out a war cry. Harlow let out a loud hiss as everyone began to scramble towards the noise. Vampires tried to reel in their own kind, but Harlow was more robust, faster with the bond pulling them together. Their bond would be the strongest until its magic had worn off. Hermes's dirty blonde hair flipped to the side as he punched one of the Witches square in the nose, blood draining into her lips. The struggle continued until my feet had me charge Demeter.

My claws extended more than earlier, and the warmth spread through my chest. Hades was nearby. I felt his presence and my heartbeat out of my chest. His heart was slow, solid, and steady as I felt him watch the chaos unfold.

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