Chapter 44
CHAPTER 44
B attle and Zeus were sat in bed eating. Breakfast? Lunch? Truthfully, neither of them cared what it was, they had both worked up an appetite.
Battle was stunned when he saw presents suddenly appearing on a table in the corner of the very large bedroom. “Is it your birthday?”
Zeus shook his head. “No, why?”
Battle nodded to the presents. “They keep appearing.”
Zeus laughed. “No, my Battle, they’re mating presents from the other gods and family members.”
“That’s so nice of them.” Battle shook his head. “Weird, but nice.”
“Why weird?” Zeus inquired, looking confused.
“Because you’re a myth, a legend. I mean, who meets the ancient gods nowadays? Not that I’m complaining,” he quickly said. “It’s just, wow.”
Zeus laughed. “I know what you mean. It must be strange for people to realise we’re still around. Indeed not long ago, someone actually prayed to Ares.”
“So cool.” Battle pushed food dishes out of the way and scooted closer to Zeus. Zeus’ long hair was hanging around his face. Battle brushed some back and placed his hand on Zeus’ cheek. “Thank you for waiting for me.”
Zeus turned his head and kissed Battle’s hand. “I would have waited for you forever.
He pulled Battle close and kissed him, and then there was no more talking, just the odd word here and there and lots of pleasure.
Wynter was standing outside by the beginning of the new training grounds, Tatum and Saxon by his side, looking up at the gathering clouds. “It’s going to rain,” he griped. “We could be inside researching, in the dry, with no rain, inside.”
Tatum and Saxon laughed.
“We could, but we thought we’d come outside and train with the others,” Tatum reminded him.
“But I know how to fight. I’m a warrior angel, emphasis on the warrior part. You’re a demon and Saxon’s a djinn.”
“I might be a demon, but my power is getting in and out of places. Sure, I can throw a punch, but I’ve never had any formal training in fighting. If the war is coming, I want to be able to fight along with everyone else.”
“And, sure, I can use magic, but learning to fight would be beneficial,” Saxon added.
Wynter heaved a large sigh just as the first drop of rain fell.
“Let’s make a race of it and see which of us completes it quicker,” Tatum said with a grin.
“That’s what everyone is doing,” Henry said, popping up. “Four minutes twenty seconds is currently the record.”
“I heard you did it. How long did it take you?” Tatum asked, grinning.
Henry burst out laughing. “I wasn’t timed. If I was, it would probably have been about half an hour.”
“You weren’t that bad,” Kyle countered, walking over to them.
“It’s a killer on the arms,” Henry warned.
“Only at first,” Kyle said. “So, are the three of you ready to have a go?”
The rain drops started getting heavier.
“Well, I was until the rain started,” Wynter grumped.
Han suddenly appeared next to them. “Am I about to see a warrior angel defeated by the rain?” he asked grinning.
“Gah,” Wynter threw up his arms and then made a dash for the first platform.
“That was mean,” Saxon said, looking at Han.
“Maybe, but it got him moving.”
The next moment Wynter jumped onto the first axe pendulum and sprinted across them all with efficient, economical movements. Then he surpassed the rope bridge, the balls coming nowhere near him. He practically flew up the rope net, not even the jumping crickets slowed him down. He slid down the first balance beam and like the generals, used the momentum to launch himself onto the monkey bars. He crossed them quick, and jumped onto the rope swing. Within moments, Wynter had landed at the finish. He jogged back over to join the others, grinning. “How long?”
“Damn Wynter,” Kyle said, looking at the stopwatch. “Three minutes thirty-one. You have everyone beaten at the moment.”
Wynter grinned and looked at Han and his mates, a challenge in his eyes. “Beat that time, I dare you.”
They all laughed.
“Han, fancy a go?” Kyle asked him.
Han laughed. “Thankfully, I’m not a warrior or soldier, I don’t need to take part.”
“What about if the war happens, won’t you be fighting?” Tatum asked him.
Han shook his head. “No, I’ll be standing with you all, but I’ll be taking the souls of the dead away.”
The mood sobered. “We’ll just have to make sure that war never happens,” Saxon said gravely. “After we’ve finished here, we need to get back to looking for the spear.”
Battle and Zeus were laying in bed. Zeus had discovered his new favourite position, laying over Battle, resting his chin on his hands, which were laying over Battle’s chest. Battle’s hands were slowly stroking up and down his back almost absentmindedly. If Zeus were a cat he would purr, but the shadow in Battle’s eyes caught his attention. His mate was staring unfocused towards his large en-suite. “You look like you’re thinking hard there, my Battle.”
“I guess I am,” he replied softly.
Zeus tilted his head. “Is something wrong?”
“Not really.” Battle shook his head. “It’s just my Alpha sent me to the Fortuna pack because I’m a good fighter. I swore allegiance to Alpha Blake and his pack.”
Zeus felt Battle’s voice rumble into his hands but he couldn’t perceive Battle’s discontent. He nodded in confusion. “That’s good. The pack needs decent fighters.”
“But I’m your mate now, doesn’t that supersede the pack?”
Zeus let his fingers idly tangle in Battle’s chest hair. “No, my Battle. The pack needs you and your skills.” Zeus paused. “Think of it as going to work. If you had mated with someone else, you wouldn’t be with them every hour of the day, would you?”
Battle’s hands stilled on Zeus’ back in thought before resuming their trek along his generous muscles. “Hmm, no.”
“The same with us. We both have jobs to do. Me up here and you down there. We can figure out sleeping arrangements as we go along.”
Battle hooked his hands under Zeus’ arms and pulled him up for a long kiss before drawing back and smiling. “Thank you for understanding.”
“And it’s not like you won’t see me during the day,” Zeus teased, pressing his forehead to Battle’s. “I plague the pack house already as I have family there. Now I can pop in and see you as well.”
“Perfect. How about we get up, shower, and dress, and you show me around your realm?”
“Now that sounds perfect,” Zeus said.