Page 21 of Shadowed Spirits

“I sure hope not,” I blurt, which probably isn’t the politest thing to say. He’s just been rude this entire time, so I don’t particularly want to be related to him.

Seph tries to hide her laugh behind her hand, but she dissolves into giggles at our interaction. When she gets her mirth under control, she gives Zeus anI told you solook. “This is why you should be nice to strangers. Otherwise, you’ll end up pissing off your only great-granddaughter and the mate of your brother husband’s actual brother.”

Hades groans. “For the millionth time, Seph, we’re not brother husbands.”

“Leviathan’s your mate?” Zeus waits for my nod before he focuses his glare on Levi. “No. No way. Absolutely not. How old are you even, Izzy? You shouldn’t be thinking about dating anyone, much less mating, for another few millennia at least.”

“Bet you sure wouldn’t like to hear that I’ve found four other mates.”

Zeus’s face turns a fascinating shade of purple as he looks like he’s about to explode at finding out I have a bunch of mates. All the newcomers start talking loudly among themselves until the dining room is a roar of voices.

“Enough!” Levi’s sharp voice cuts through the cacophony of sound, instantly silencing everyone else. “As Isabel said, she’shad a long day. All of you need to tone it down, at least for tonight. And you, Zeus, need to cut it out. I get that you feel protective over my mate, but you don’t know anything about her. Get to know Izzy before you start trying to dictate her life. You’ll find that she doesn’t respond well to being ordered around. Don’t sabotage your relationship before it even begins.”

When he’s done thoroughly putting everyone in their place, he clenches his jaw and closes his eyes to try to calm down. I take his hand in mine and press myself against his muscular arm to comfort him. He looks down at me. I give him a small but genuine smile. “Thanks, screech owl.”

Levi squeezes my hand in his. “Always, little raven. As I told you, I’m always on your side.” I lean into his comfort and close my eyes.

“Izzy?” Zeus’s voice snaps me out of my short doze. I really am wiped.

Sitting up again, I try to let go of Levi’s hand. His strong grip won’t let me. Since I like holding his hand, I don’t fight it. I focus back on Zeus, whose eyes are swimming with sincerity. “Yeah?”

He blows out a harsh breath. “I’m sorry. It’s not any excuse, but I’ve had a long day too. I’m not at my best and didn’t treat you how I should’ve when we first met. Leviathan’s right. I have no right to tell you how to live your life or make demands of you. I’d really like to be part of your life, so, if you’d be open to it, I’d like to start over.”

“You don’t even know if I’m your great-granddaughter,” I protest.

He gives me a soft smile. “I know what my daughter looks like, and you’re the spitting image of her. Even if you weren’t, I’d still want to be in your life because you’re important to Leviathan, who’s like a brother to me.”

“Oh. Um, sure. We can start over.” I break eye contact, uncomfortable with Zeus’s sincerity. While I don’t particularlylike him being a raging jerk taco, I have plenty of practice with how to respond.

“I’d also like to be in your life, Izzy,” Poseidon chimes in. He flashes me a megawatt smile that I might’ve found charming if not for the sharpness of his too-knowing gaze. He looks at me like he can see into my soul, and I’m not a fan of it. “I can’t really make any worse impression than Zeus, so hopefully you have no objection to that.”

I snort because he’s not wrong. “Yeah, I’m good with that.”

Servers start filing in before anyone can say anything else. Being in a different realm, I figured we’d be eating foods I’d never seen before. However, I recognize pretty much everything on the table. The main dish is a large bird of some sort. Sides include rolls, salads, mashed potatoes, assorted fruits, roasted veggies, and mac and cheese. When all the food is on the table, uniformed staff fill up each of our silver chalices with a drink from a separate pitcher.

Peering down into the cup, I see a mysterious swirling purple liquid in it. Holding my chalice up to my nose, I take a cautious sniff of it. I only get light citrus and floral notes, so I take a cautious sip. Tangy orange and smooth vanilla explode across my tastebuds from the drink that’s actually pretty good. I don’t know what it is, but I’m totally going to ask Hades for the recipe so I can make it at home.

While we eat, we keep the topics light. I mostly listen to the others talk, only speaking if I’m asked questions. Zeus and Poseidon ask me about my family, school, what I like to do in my free time, and other general get-to-know-you questions. Talking with the two of them is actually pretty easy. It’s still weird as all get out talking to my maybe great-grandpa and his mate group, who all look only a few years older than me.

I notice Hades staring at me intently every time I take a sip of my drink. I raise my eyebrows at him, but he just shrugs. AfterI’ve drained my cup, he doesn’t take his gaze off of me. I tolerate it for ten or so minutes before I eventually snap, “What?” It’s unnerving having the king of Hell watch me try to eat my dinner.

Hades startles at my sharp question before seeming to shake himself out of his thoughts. “Well, I guess you’re partcura.”

Tilting my head, I wonder how we got from him staring at me to him declaring I’m partcura.“Cool. What does that have to do with you staring at me?”

He gestures to my now-empty silver chalice. “I put water from the Styx into your drink, so I’ve been watching for any ill effects. Since you’re not dead, Leviathan was correct about your heritage. Congratulations.”

I blink at him a few times, at a loss for words, which is rare for me. “Are you congratulating me on not getting killed by you?” I’m pretty sure Hades didn’t think I was partcura, but he still had me drink something deadly. That’s super rude, if you ask me.

Flashing me a big grin, Hades nods. “I absolutely am, earthling.”

Before I can say anything to Hades, I hear a deep, bone-chilling growl from my right. Swinging around, I see Cain shove his chair back and stand from the table. Black flame-like wisps curl from him as his muscles seem to visibly grow. His normally green eyes flicker a ruby red as he stares down Hades while continuing to growl eerily, the sound making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Hades’s eyes go comically wide when he sees Cain. “Oh, fuck.” While the whole growling and hulking out thing is odd, I don’t think it’s that scary. Hades glares at his brother before hissing, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you have a hellhound in your mate group?”

CHAPTER 12

IZZY