Her Forever

Parisa’s POV

“Wait, what?” My eyes bulged. Hecate wasn’t joking; her small smile gave her a bit of twinkle in her dull eyes. There wasn’t a possible way I could be pregnant; Hades said so himself; he was sterile.

“Oh, how little Hades’ knows,” Selene giggled. Her moon glowed a bit. “You are his little light, his little mate. Bonds help balance one another out, and with that, healing takes place. Your Alpha bite is strong, and one of the advantages of the bite you gave him helped him heal himself. Even with his godlike powers, he couldn’t help his fertility due to his long-suffering in Kronos. However, your ability to heal, your wolf, helped him with his. Not to mention, he may turn into a wolf,” she muttered.

My mouth dropped; feeling my l*p wobble, I put my hands to cover my gaping mouth. Warmth in my eyes overflowed, and tears began to tickle my cheeks. “Hades is going to be a daddy?” I almost cried. Hermes slapped his hands together as his teeth sparkled with mirth.

“And you are going to be a mother,” Hecate cooed while I rubbed my belly. We were going to be parents! I wanted to tell Hades right away, tell him he was going to have a child. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face! I couldn’t wait to,…

“We have to get out of here,” I said, determined. “We can’t wait,” Hecate frowned while I stood up. “Who knows how long we will be here, what spells are cast on this place. We can’t let Demeter know I’m pregnant either! She would use it against me,” I cradled my stomach while Selene held onto my shoulders.

“There isn’t a way out; all of our powers are suppressed, Parisa. I can’t even communicate outside the damn ward,” Hermes hissed. I narrowed my brows as I concentrated on my empath abilities. It was there with my wolf, before Hades and I mated; I just didn’t know what they were at the time. Using those abilities, I could determine what Demeter was feeling could give us an idea if she was nervous at all. Detect for lies and so forth.

“Does Persephone know what her mother is doing?” Hermes shook his head. “Persephone thinks that Nero really is her mate. They can’t feel sparks, and Persephone is getting suspicious from what we have been told. She hasn’t been around the encampment, but Nero comes to do Demeter’s bidding,” Hermes rolled his eyes as he slumped in the chair. “She’s great keeping her daughter in the dark.”

“Wait, who told you? How do you know so much?” Hermes’ little smile didn’t go unnoticed.

“Some little vampire has a crush,” Selene eyed Hermes. “She has snuck us food and information. She wants to get out as well.”

Speaking of the little wussy angel from earlier, Nero opened the door with food in his hand. It contained nothing but bread and water, not even enough to sustain one person. “Here you go,” he cheerfully put it on the table. Turning to leave, I walked up to him and pulled his arm back, throwing him to the wall. My grip tightened. A newfound ferocity grew in my body, I had a baby to protect and a mate to tell the good news. I was tired of this and was going to end it.

“Listen here, Nero,” I spat. Trying to pull my nails from my body, they grew ever so slightly, piercing his heavenly skin.

“W-what are you doing?” he stuttered. Trying to get a good look at my hands, I forced my fangs to descend, just enough to show. Nero’s emotions went to annoyance, to fear, to downright petrified.

“If you think you can keep me here, you have another thing coming,” I growled. I’m going to have fun watching you suffer.” The door slammed open again, vines gripping my limbs and pinning me to the floor. The goddess’ robes swept the floor elegantly as she shut the door, locking it before another word was spoken.

“So feisty you are, much more than you were so many years ago. Maybe another frightful scare and a bash to your head might calm you a bit,” Demeter’s lips smacked together. “That Helm is dreadfully heavy; however, I could skip scaring you entirely and hit you with more dragon’s b***d spells; it is mighty powerful.” A faint bit of worry hit her emotions; it was a lie. She wouldn’t waste that dragon’s b***d. Pearly white teeth parted her lips, cackling into the fire. Her hand threw dust that roared it to life, warming the room.

Demeter began walking meticulously around the room, studying each God in a judging manner. Her stature meant seriousness, cold and brutal. However, the underlying emotions were there. I felt her fear, anxiousness, and discomfort.

“It’s time to do your part, Selene. Erase the bond of Gabriel and Persephone, or have one of your friends here suffer the consequences. I’ve waited long enough.” Another wave of her hand, she sat in the chair, unmoving, staring into Selene. Selene’s head dipped in despair while Hermes shook his head. “Don’t’ do it, Selene,” Hermes whispered.

“I could make him suffer then, only if you want, Selene.” Demeter tutted and pulled a small spear from her side. Standing, walking closer to Hermes, he flinched, seeing the black liquid at its end.

Clenching my fist, I kept the low growl in my chest. Selene stood with her hands placed in front of her. Looking at Hermes’ she gave a small smile and walked with Demeter out the door.

“Nero, have some of our friends tie our prisoners to the poles outside. This is something I want them to see.” Nero glanced at me while I showed him my pearly whites. Lucky that Demeter had been oblivious to the change as we walked single file outside.

A large bonfire stood in the middle of the area. Poles stood in a row for Hecate, Hermes, and I. “Don’t get too comfortable, Parisa; breaking your bond with Hades will the be the grand finale.” While the vampire holding me tied me down, I was sure to struggle to not get it as tight. Still, they were obviously stronger. Hermes, who was being led to his pole, had a woman, tall, slender with violet eyes, guide him. She wasn’t rough; her touch was gentle. Then I saw it, a glimmer of light between their skin. Selene must be too weak to even know the bond between their skin.

“She’s the one that has been our friend here,” Hecate whispered.

“She snuck us extra rations of food and let us know what has been going on.”

“Mates,” I whispered to Hecate. “They are mates.” Hecate’s eyes darted to Hermes, who didn’t struggle against her. As she tied the ropes, she kept them loose so Hermes could break free. Giving him a wink, she came by each of our ropes to check their sturdiness. Once she reached me, she sighed and loosened mine as well. I grabbed her hand from behind and gave her a squeeze. I’d get her out too.

“Now then, Selene.” Demeter pulled a vile from her robes; there were all but two drops of b***d contained. Her jaw tightened as she dropped the slightest amount on the Sphere. There it sat, an orb that could change the destinies of two couples. Persephone and mine. Two souls approached; most likely, they were that of Persephone and Gabriel. Selene flinched as she saw the two souls together, tied together through their bond.

“Nero, bring in Persephone,” Laying on a small cot, with flowers in her hair, Persephone laid asleep. Her lashes were full of dew, and spring flowers wafted through the death of the air. “Good work on the tea.” Nero dropped his head as his smile went wicked, holding onto her hand.

“Begin, Selene, I don’t have all day.” Selene’s hand moved to touch the Sphere; sadness could be seen even behind her. Selene’s shoulders slumped while her other hand reached for the Sphere.

“So what have you promised the Vampires’ for their loyalty?” I interrupted. The large group gathered stood still; not a sound was made as they looked at one another. Candles blew in the gentle wind, and the fire sparked lightly. Demeter’s footsteps faltered as she walked towards me, no doubt to silence me.

“Do they know there is no more shifter dragon b***d? That it will all be gone by the time you create these next two spells?” Whispers and gasps came from the darkness, and Demeter slammed her hand on my mouth. “You know nothing,” Demeter screamed. “I have the b***d and can get more!” Lies, all lies.

Biting her hand with my fangs, she screamed and ripped it away. “Really now? Because Bohdi, the powerful Sorceress, has told me no Shifter Dragon b***d will be given to anyone. They are no longer giving their b***d willingly!” I yelled again. “And any witch knows that if the b***d isn’t given willingly, it is worthless!”

“I will get them their b***d,” Demeter’s emotions ran wild with fear. “I have my ways. You should hold your tongue!” Trying to slap my face again, the ropes dropped, and I grabbed her wrist.

“If you have more dragon’s b***d, please, use it on me to tie me back to the pole. For I know is this, the magic is weakening, my fangs are already itching, my claws are lengthening. It will only be a small amount of time until Hades and the entire Night Crawler Pack will invade this forest and send you and the rogues straight to Tartarus.” My grip tightened on Demeter; by her outward appearance, you wouldn’t think she believed me, but I knew. I knew her fear and the helplessness she was feeling.

Whispers came from the crowd again. “Is it true, Dragon Shifter b***d cannot be bartered with dragons anymore? Do they have to give it willingly? That wasn’t written in the history texts of the war.”

I huffed; Demeter went to extra lengths to hide the history of the Dark War? How low could she possibly be?

“You changed the history books for your favor. Too bad you couldn’t change the God’s history; the fates couldn’t allow that. Then we wouldn’t have had a clue that Gabriel was Persephone’s mate!” I squealed in laugher. “You are just full of plot holes, aren’t you, Demeter?” Demeter’s confidence wavered, and doubt settled into her mind.

More time, more time. I needed more time for Hades to get here. He wouldn’t stay away for long, he wouldn’t, he couldn’t.

Demeter’s vines tried to wrap around my ankle, but I swiped them away. Panic had risen her heartbeat while vampires and witches screamed from the darkness. The light keeps them hiding in the treeline.

“Is it true?” Another yelled. Demeter’s head darted to the voice. Running to Hermes and Hecate, I pulled them from their poles.

“Look! Their strength is returning! How are you going to hold us back now, Demeter?” Demeter darted towards Selene, a prolonged fingernail rain over Selene’s pale neck. Standing frozen, I waited for Demeter’s next move.

“Come here, mate of Hades,” she cackled. It doesn’t matter if the magic is wearing off because Selene is the weakest; it will take her time to heal. “You don’t want her b***d on her hands, do you?” Demeter’s eyes grew fire, her white teeth glimmered with the wetness of her mouth. “Get over here and finish it, or I will finish her. I saw your little show on your territory. Demons and wolves, a perfect combination, hmm? Now separate the goddess from the damn angel Gabriel who is too busy to move into my domain so I may have my daughter.” Demeter turned to the unsettled crowd.

“I will get you your b***d. Have I not delivered my promises so far? Three goddesses for you to feast on their b***d and dragon magic that I pull from my cloak when needed? I do have more, and it is for you if my tasks are completed!” Demeter pulled Selene away, heels dragging into the dirt.

Demeter had become dirty, nasty, vile. Her emotions had polluted Earth and Bergarian soil. Her reign as a goddess will be put to an end. If not done by me, but by Hades himself. Hades’ powers were more robust than any others. He withstood Kronos; he could fight this easily.

Bright red b***d dripped from Selene; not a sound escaped her lips as she shook her head. “Don’t,” her hands held onto Demeter, trying to pull her away. Hermes and Hecate could only stand back and watch. The vampire that had helped with my façade stood near Hermes, who only eyed her longingly.

My body was aware of the nature around me. The brisk breeze picked up as my body drew closer. The Sphere shimmered in the firelight, and my fingers pricked with unease. Demeter’s emotions grew impatient while she gripped Selene tighter. “Get on with it!” she growled. For a moment, I thought I saw Persephone’s finger twitch. Her golden hair dropped to the dirty forest floor.

In front of the Sphere, I stood. No one knows what Selene and I could see in front of us. Just smoke rolling around the ball.

Persephone and Gabriel stood in front as I pictured them in my mind. Their bond was strong; even with the fake bond created for Nero and Persephone, it held true. I was sure that breaking their bond would cause both of them to die, two strong beings like these. Demeter had no clue what she was asking for.

My finger flung them back into the Sphere as I searched for two more. Hermes and his vampire companion. Hecate was muttering under her breath; Persephone moved her hand, and I found the two I was looking for.

A distraction is what I needed and what I was going to get.