Page 42 of A Single Thread Of Hope

Delphos gave a soft smile. “You weren’t the mother that had to die. The prophecy was fulfilled before your babies were born, by the jaws of Typhon.”

Lachesis? She was the mother? It hit me then. The Moirai’s other names: The Maiden, The Mother, and the Crone. Lachesis was The Mother.

I narrowed my eyes at Delphos. “Oh, that’s tricky.”

He smirked. “I don’t create the prophecies, only share them occasionally.” Mirth fell from his face, and he was serious once more. “This premonition I can’t share, but it affects us all.”

I looked at Demke, then around at the rest of the guys. I wanted to be tough and independent, but this shit was way out of my realm of experience. So I asked the one bondmate who could advise me without giving away the fact I had no fucking idea what was going on. Although, that fact was already pretty obvious to everyone in a five-mile radius.

Do you believe him?I asked Griff.

He made a low noise in the back of his throat that wasn’t even close to human.I do not believe he has any reason to lie, and it certainly fits with our experience of the amount of Mythics that have arrived. I believe the sheer number has exceeded even Demke’s expectations.

Do we let him near the babies?

There was silence for a moment.I think we must. But if he even looks at our cubs wrong, I will bite off his head, immortal war be damned.

I swallowed down my laugh.That’s why I love you.

I looked at Demke and nodded. “One wrong move, and your head will roll across the courtyard.” I addressed both Apollo and Delphos, because while Apollo was the bigger, scarier God, that didn’t mean Delphos wasn’t also a threat. They both nodded their agreement, and I looked over at Cy. “Can you get Milo to bring out the babies?” He kissed my cheek, a very obvious sign of loyalty to me, and disappeared back into the house, past the protective wards.

“You certainly have my son smitten,” Apollo commented, watching him go. “And apparently, you’re wearing off on the others, because there was a time Demke would have run him through with a sword, rather than let him behind those hallowed walls.”

I was saved from responding when Demke himself did. “Cydon has proven his loyalty to Wren over and over. I trust him.”

Delphos smiled slightly, but I thought it was a private smile. What would it be like to be a puppet master like that? Knowing all the pieces of the puzzle and just watching mortals flail around, trying to make sense of the world. It sounded lonely.

I was glad my babies had each other. They wouldn’t be lonely Gods on a mountain, hiding from being bombarded by prophecies and premonitions.

Moving my gaze to Apollo, I nodded my agreement. “I’m smitten with him too.”

Further mundane small talk stalled when a giant Minotaur appeared. For once, he wasn’t holding a baby, as Erus and Tryp followed behind, holding Bran, Emeric and Zale. No, Milo was holding an enormous sword, almost as tall as me.

Apollo just smiled. “Hello, Milonos.”

“One wrong move, and I’ll cleave your smirking face in two.”

Apollo raised an eyebrow. “Fair. I promise, I mean no harm here.” His voice dropped low. “I meant no harm then either.”

I was obviously missing something in their history, but now wasn’t the time for a lesson. I’d sit with Milo and tease out the sordid details later. Right now, I wanted their pledge and then I wanted them gone.

Erus and Tryp stepped forward, each of them eyeing the Greek Mythics suspiciously. The babies in their arms were alert and awake, like they somehow knew this was a monumental moment.

Maybe they did. Were they not sort of Oracles too?

Apollo frowned down at the babies. “They are very small.”

Cy stepped up close to them, like he was ready to throw down with his family for them. Man, I was definitely falling for that man. “They were premature. That’s what happens when an expectant mother is bombarded with monsters trying to kill her.”

Apollo held up his hands, palms out. “I had nothing to do with that. From what I know, the Moirai were acting alone.”

Demke snorted, looking like he wanted to rip Apollo’s head off too. “They’re never acting alone. Zeus knows, at the very least. Let’s not pretend they do anything without it being sanctioned by Olympus.”

Apollo shrugged. “Like I said, I’m on his shit list. What he does or doesn’t want isn’t passed on to me.”

“I’m not an expert on Olympus, but I don’t think you pledging to the new Fates is going to get you off that list,” Nate muttered.

He had a point. Would this bring down more war on our heads? Why did everything with Mythics have to have such dire consequences?

---