Page 80 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Athena was in the room behind me as I leaned up against the wall. Last night, Hera had asked for Athena and her knowledge to help Ember. Little did I know that Ember would have a history far more significant than just some human mate to my brother.

A damn Werewolf, I sighed as I ran my hands through my thick beard. Of course, Hades would get a Werewolf, a beautiful one, and on top of it, she was his mate. The first of the original twelve gods to be granted such a gift.

Why the hell wasn't it me? I've done nothing but help sustain the gods in proper order. We help those who we can without ruining the fates decisions on human lives. With my help, we created a world full of supernaturals so they wouldn't be hunted by misunderstanding humans. I had done my part and paid my good deeds, and here we have Hades, the god who stole a goddess for a thousand years, get his greedy little hands on a mate.

Tightening my fists, I felt the sparks electrify my skin. I wanted my touch alone to do that to a woman. I wouldn't need to feel the electricity of my own self. I wanted my mate. Damn it, Hades.

Fine, in all seriousness, Hades did deserve this. He was the firstborn, suffered the most, and only chose the Underworld as his domain because he knew how much I didn't want it. Hades had shied away from the light, feeling like darkness was his own friend. Then as time went by, he found no one to love because he was stuck with death and darkness all around him. When someone did catch his eye, Persephone, he did the most outrageous thing and kidnapped her.

I beg to differ from that story. It was fishy all around. There was more to the report. I think Persephone wanted him to take her because her mother Demeter was an overbearing mother and Hades was the only way out. Once the deal was struck and the seasons were created, Persephone was happy to get away, but her company with Hades was not. Hades doted on her, gave her everything she wanted but only grabbed and asked for more.

When Hades started to ask for the damn relationship, she shunned the idea. It was completely one-sided, and her anger for him grew. Persephone grew tired of being in the Underworld; she wanted to be free. Still, with Demeter's deal with Hades, she was only allowed to be in the Underworld. I heard her prayers, prayers for me to get her out of the deal, but the deal was solid. The only thing that would break it was Selene's new promise to have every god meet their matching soul.

Lucky for her, she got out. Malachi grabbed her and took her up to the Celestial Heavens, and they reside on a hill not too far away from the palace grounds. Their relationship is different, more so than I thought a mated pair would be.

Hades always grabs Ember, touches her, holds her, and gives her looks of complete adoration, all to be reciprocated by Ember. However, Malachi doesn't get the reciprocation that Persephone should give back.

I had enough listening to Athena speak of the Wolf and mighty empathy power inside of Ember. I needed to talk to Hera. We've got some problems that needed to be dealt with, and I didn't want to discuss it with Hades until the time was right.

Being a dick to Hades wasn't the smartest thing to do. Who are we kidding here? I should be the god of unfortunate decisions. Hades had given me much, but my jealousy over his mate put me over. The tension of finding two missing gods was doing me in, no sleeping, no sexcapades, and hardly eating.

"Hera." I broke the intimate moment that Hades and Ember were sharing. "I need to speak with you." Hera looked at the loving couple and back to me and gave the nod to Ember. Ember was the tiniest human I had come in contact with, I guess now a Werewolf. I never spent the time getting to know any supernatural, but I'd take the time if they were all like her.

"Come with me," I gently spoke to her. Hera and I have an interesting relationship. She's the goddess of marriage and relationships, so she took it to heart when we decided to be together as a couple. My cheating didn't help her, and she stopped coming to our room, now my room. That was several thousand years ago, and now that Selene has promised mates, she is even more reluctant to be in the same room as me.

I was a fool back then. Being the high god and giving orders to others. Gods, deities, and other creatures looked up to me. Women threw themselves at me, and being an idiot, I accepted. I thought I could get away with anything, but not in Hera's eyes. She found me with some Light Fairy the night she was supposed to be spending with Athena. No words from her once she saw the sight. Hera just bowed and left, never to return.

Hera was the perfect companion and I fucked it up. Hera cared what I thought and did everything to keep our relationship afloat. I turned around and made her look like an idiot. A marriage god that couldn't keep her partner from wandering astray. That didn't stop me, though, from embarrassing her further. I continued to bed more women than I could count and sometimes two, three times over. I tried to fuck her out of my system. Never worked, never will.

I wanted her back but have no clue how. My current Elven woman that is with me I don't even sleep with. She was just for appearances, so the gods wouldn't think anything different. Gods are gossiping pieces of shit.

Michael has captured Hera's heart. I'd seen the way she looked at him. Part of me was jealous, and a fit of heated anger would run through my veins, seeing them look into each other's eyes. Michael cared for her as well. He doted on her. Brings her flowers from the Olympian fields and takes her to exotic isles of Earth. I'd watch them make love to each other on the sands of Tahiti. I could be a sick bastard.

Hera used to look at me that way. She used to give me the adoring look she gives Michael, but no more.

"What do we need to discuss?" she spoke, breaking my thoughts.

"Yes, about Malachi. He is indeed missing, along with Persephone. They are not in their home, and their belongings along with them." I pulled my hands behind my back as we continued walking. Angels bowed as we walked to my office.

"What do you make of it?"Hera mused.

"Hades' helm is missing. Loukas spoke to me a while ago. Hades currently thinks I am a prime suspect and has not divulged any information to me. Loukas has been helpful. He says he cares for Ember and believes she is in great danger being separated from Hades again."

"Should we be wary of Loukas?" Hera opened the door to my office, and we both walked in. Closing the door, Hera sat on the sofa next to me with her hands folded in her lap.

"I do not know. He has been loyal to Hades, so Loukas coming to me to give information willingly is a concern. We will have to pay close attention to him."

"Hades created him. He should be able to sift through Loukas's thoughts and desires," Hera argued.

"Loukas is different than other demons. You've noticed when he isn't in human form. Hades has given him more agency, but why he hasn't confronted Loukas, I'm not sure."I scratched my beard.

"Ember must have said or done something. Ember is a soft-spoken person, and she may see him as a friend." I hummed at the idea.

"Either way, he needs to be looked over. He could play a part in all of this. I don't see Malachi being the one pulling all the strings here. He may be one of my more cunning angels, but he isn't the strongest. Do you think Michael could get closer to him?" It was a selfish thing to ask for, but I must. Michael was strong, and his mind wasn’t made of bricks.

"I suppose." Hera fiddled with her tassels.

"Hera," I whispered. "I am truly sorry how I treated you." Hera looked away at the window, watching the angels on the field talking and sparing.

---