Doctor Katie looked at me with a sympathetic smile, before nervously looking at the group with me. I didn't blame her, just Cain on his own would have been something even the most confident people struggled with, but with Deimos, Kara, and Apollo crowding into her office, it had never felt so small or intense.

"You all need to get out, this is ridiculous," I decide.

"But-" Kara started and I shook my head.

"No."

No one moved.

"Get. Out." Cain managed to make those two words sound more intimidating than anything I've ever heard in my life and the pressure on my hand was near breaking point as he held it so tight.

They all vanished.

"Okay, so has there been any bleeding?" She asked, visibly relaxing as she pushed a few buttons on the machine beside her.

"No," I tell her.

The band she already put onto my stomach was removed, the steady, yet slower whooshing rush of Blueberry's heartbeat going quiet. I instantly missed the sound and shook my head as the ache behind my eyes returned. Apparently, a concussion was harder to heal than a cut, and neither Apollo nor Cain dared to go any further with any healing until I had seen my doctor.

"She hit her head, it's been healed as far as we can tell." Cain motioned to the back of my head and I realised despite the healing help, none of us thought to clean my hair. "We weren't sure if there was a concussion or just a cut."

Instantly my hand was there, feeling the hard, crusty dry patch of blood. Doctor Katie leaned closer, inspecting the area cautiously.

"Concussions aren't great news, and to be safe, I'll run a few tests to check on you, but no headache, light sensitivity, struggling to focus at all?"

"A little at the time, but I feel fine now. Maybe a bit of a headache but I think that's because I am reaching my limit on how long I can go without a nap."

Despite this, blood was drawn and she went through a checklist of options until she seemed happy with the result.

"Whatever healing you already had seemed to have helped and maybe it wasn't that bad to start with. You got lucky. Again. How did this happen?"

"I was thrown into a wall," I admit. "I hit my head, but managed to mostly block my fall. I've had hip pain though, more around my pelvis than back. It's different to the pains I had before."

"Since you've had no bleeding and so far everything seems okay, I doubt any serious damage has occurred. My main concern would be any placental abruptions, so let's have a look now. The contractions you felt, have they stopped?"

"Mostly. It's kind of like a pulse now, it gets sharper but it's not super painful. I've felt a lot of worse things than this." I say softly, focusing on her rather than the mass of rage beside me.

I could feel Cain's eyes burning into me without needing to look to confirm it. A shiver ran through me as the gel was applied to my stomach, but I had a feeling it wasn't from the coolness of it as I wanted to disappear as every inch of defence was being stripped away piece by piece. Fear of what she might find became harder and harder to ignore just like him, each one chipping away everything I had left until the air turned into a thick bubble in my throat and the tears found release in a steady flow the second she touched my stomach. Cain was instantly there, sitting on the edge of the bed as I pushed my face into his chest using his movements to remind myself how to breathe.

"Must have been a big day for both of you, your little one seems to be asleep. And a thumbsucker." Doctor Katie said happily, moving the doppler around and around while I couldn't give the courage to look. "He's okay. Everything is exactly as it should be."

"Elle, love, he's okay," Cain whispered in my ear. "Take a look."

Reluctantly I pulled back and with Cain's guidance, I managed to look at the screen. She flicked it to three-d, and we hadn't had a scan at our last appointment. The face looking back at us surprised me more than anything, and sure enough, he was sucking his thumb. His eyes didn't seem to be full-formed yet, but his face was there. His fingers and toes and as he gave a jolt, twirling slightly, I felt it strong and clear.

The screen flicked back to black and white, his heartbeat seeming to get louder as she looked at something, zoomed in, and took a few photos before zooming back out.

"Blood flow is perfect. The placenta is unharmed, and looks like he's waking up."

His thumb was replaced with a foot, the movements uncoordinated and plentiful as he moved about on the screen. "Must have known we were watching him."

"Is it, ah, definitely him?" I ask slowly, glancing at Cain his question as to why I'd ask was obvious. "One of the people I was with referred to him as she and they know a fairly decent Seer. That's all."

Again she seemed to chase Blueberry around until he did a total somersault which made Doctor Katie smile. "Still he."

"So, that's it. They're okay." Cain wasn't asking, and I saw his shoulders dip with relief but the scowl on his face hadn't left yet. "Even when he wasn't moving, and the contractions?"

If he bothered her, the doctor didn't show it now. "I am going to say the lack of food, resting and the load of stress that just endured has made him a little sleepy. I'm sure if you drank some juice, and ate a chocolate bar Elise, he'd perk right up. Ice cold water does the trick too. In saying that, anytime you think his movements aren't right, or unusual, check-in with me. Especially if you're getting yourself thrown into walls and fights despite doctors' orders to take it easy and slow down. I also think you may have experienced your first round of Braxton Hicks. Practice contractions as your body start to prepare for your coming birth."

"But I'm only just in the third trimester. I still have weeks for that, right?" I panicked.

"Yes, but also, depending on what you have going on, plus his schedule, babies come when babies decide. I hope it's not for a while yet, but take this as a warning." She lightly scolded, smiling. "It's not like the world is ending, so it would have to be a pretty big reason for you not to listen and start resting now."

Cain looked like he might just kill her then and there and the smile vanished from her face as she took in Cain's reaction and my lack of one. The laugh I gave was fake and forced, snatching the wipes from her hand to clean the gel off my stomach as she sat there frozen.

"It's fine. It's all fine. Nothing like that, I'm resting. I'll shop and pick wallpaper for the nursery. It's fine." I rambled, wiping myself clean frantically as she didn't move.

"Oh, shit. It is, isn't it? Of course, it is, you're the Elise Bunting and oh wow." Doctor Katie looked pale, attempting three times to put the scan thing away. "I'm sorry, that's so unprofessional of me."

Her face instantly heated as she looked everywhere in the room but at us.

"It's okay. Really." I promised, while Cain just glared at her. "Thank you for this, and I will try to rest more. Honest."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." She relaxed, and sitting up, Cain guided me off the bed, stepping back as I adjusted my shirt and rolled up the maternity band on my jeans.

"Can we just have a second?" I ask him. "I just have a boob thing to talk to her about. Nothing major."

"Okay. I'll let them know you're both okay." He kisses my forehead and walks out.

A second later I sit back down and so does Doctor Katie as she moves over to her computer.

"It's not a boob thing is it?" She frowned.

"No."

"Are you hurt, did something else happen? Are you bleeding?" The questions come firing out of her and I shake my head trying to keep up. "Is it a sex thing? Normally I encourage all my patients to continue with whatever is comfortable for them, there's no right or wrong but considering your recent trauma, maybe just give it a couple of days."

"Good to know, but no, I ah, it's more a birth plan thing."

"Okay?"

"I asked before about his survival chances if something happens to me, and you said once we're at twenty-four weeks there's increased odds from that point. Well, we're in the third trimester now, and there's um, eight, nine weeks or something to go? He'll definitely survive now, right?"

Doctor Katie looked even more uncomfortable now than she had since our arrival which was impressive on her behalf because I bet after this she'd be taking an early lunch and going for a glass or ten of wine with it. I know I would be if I was her.

"As I'm sure I would have said before, there are a lot of factors to this to consider. How you died or the state you're in, how quickly we could deliver and support the baby and-"

"But you get me, near-death or fresh corpse, by like minutes, seconds even, and he could still survive?" I snapped, hating the fact I shouted at her but not at the same time. I needed a yes or no.

"Well yes, so long as-"

"That's all I need to know."

She got up as I went to leave, hugging me tightly. "Please, stay safe. This isn't your birth plan. I want demands of candles and only lavender-scented sheets. Give me your birth-zilla worst, okay?"

"Oh, I'm working on some good stuff for you." I was lying, she would be lucky if I handed in those forms and at this rate, getting a corpse to deliver from would be a blessing. "Until next time Doc!"

I'm numb as I go out to the waiting room. There's no one behind the counter, it's still a good hour or two before the day starts for everyone else and my crew stands up as I come out like I'm the doctor about to serve them all with the bad news.

"I should have stayed, I should have been there." Kara sobs, throwing herself at me.

"We all should have been," Apollo agrees behind her. "Cain said you're all good?"

"Yup! Let's go. I'm exhausted and want to sleep for like a year." I shrug out of Kara's hold and go to Hermes. "Can you, please?"

"Of course."

Must be serious; Hermes is still being nice.

"Oh, I forgot my, um, sunglasses. One sec," I smiled. "Go, I'll be right behind you."

I turned the corner, waiting for the three of them to go through and as Cain mumbled something to Hermes, I joined them.

"You didn't have sunglasses." Cain points out.

"We need to talk. Can you take us back to our room please?" I ask Hermes and sure enough, it's where the three of us walk into. "Just, let me talk, and questions at the end."

Two chairs appear by the water, and I motion for them to sit. Neither of them seems to like any of this and I don't blame them. I almost lose my nerve before I take a deep breath, Blueberry was way more active now than he had been a couple of hours ago and using him to keep me focused I started talking.

"Where you found me was the same place Matt had painted in his vision and I could see it too. Once I was there, looking out, I felt the tug to go to the very place he saw me die. We haven't avoided it, we simply, delayed it. Uranus is powering the three of them, and if Nieve is Fate, we can't stop them. This fight is a suicide, but we've changed it already, and we could still do it again, but let me finish." I held my hand up, stopping Cain from standing as Hermes' mouth snapped shut. "I've spoken to the doctor about this, and from twenty-four weeks, babies can be delivered and survive. There's a lot to go with it, and obviously, the less premature they are, the odds for survival increase."

My voice broke as I stopped pacing, and neither of them moved. I wasn't even controlling them now and I realised they had both caught on to where this was going.

"Hermes, you weren't in the drawing. If it happens, if I," to say it now felt different, and it wasn't as if it was something new or foreign to me. I had to get my shit together. "If I am, if I, if they, if I die, there's a chance he can still be delivered pre-term and survive. It can come down to seconds. Hermes, I need you to get me the fuck out of there and to Doctor Katie. Tell my family, my parents, Ailin. Any of them, get them there, so at least, until. Until Cain gets there, he isn't alone and he's loved."

Cain's gone and Hermes flinches as the chair beside him is suddenly empty.

"Even if Cain doesn't- Please make sure Blueberry isn't alone. Surround him with people who will love him, who will tell him about us, and give him the strength to survive. I just, I need to know he's going to be okay, even if I'm not." I sniff, wiping my nose with the back of my hand as Hermes looks like I've just asked him to deliver the baby himself.

"Elise, you've died before. They bring you back. You will come back." Hermes said slowly.

I shake my head. "Apollo doesn't think he could save both of us and also, he is in the picture too. I've had plenty of chances, Hermes. Blueberry deserves this one and by that time, it's going to be too late for me anyway."

"I can't. I can't do it, Elise."

"Yes, you can. One portal. That's it, the doctors will do the rest."

"If this battle doesn't kill me, he will." Hermes' fear was obvious and looking around us cautiously, he hugged himself as he stood up. "I will be responsible for your death. On some level, he will believe it and without you, there will be no reasoning with him. It will be like before, but worse."

"He'll have Blueberry and,"

"It won't be enough. If it doesn't blame me, he'll blame the child." He shouted now.

"No. No, he won't." Would he? "Hermes, just tell me you will do this. Please."

Oh, how times have changed. I now begged Hermes for something, legitimately too, not just like begging him to shut up or go away. The weight of the request was weighing heavily on his shoulders and if it wasn't so important I would have stopped this minutes ago.

"You're entrusting me with what is essentially your child's life," he hesitated. "What happened while you were with them for you to end up here?"

I was waiting to hear the venom in his tone, a snarky response or for him to gloat over this change in events. He'd gone from being at the bottom of the pile to the one at the very top.

"I will tell you what I told Hecate when she asked why I was letting Matt's vision get to me, because yeah, I've died. It's like a toxic detox program I try once a year but this, this was different. When I saw it, I knew it wouldn't be like the other times. It felt final, and being there, it felt even more real. I want to stay positive, I do. I am waiting for a miracle, but if it doesn't happen, I need a plan B and C."

Hermes closed his eyes, muttering to himself under his breath before he put his hand out to me.

"I will do this for you." Shaking his hand, I felt the tie of his word threading between us and looking at him now, he seemed almost sad about it. "Let us hope it does not come to this, for all of our sakes."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Ever. It doesn't leave this space. Mostly, because the fewer people who know the better. Who else are you telling?"

"My doctor has a note on her desk from me to ensure she is prepared for anything and others, to ensure you can be trusted, in my world and this one."

"I understand."

"Can you tell the crew I've gone to bed, please?" It wasn't a lie this time, I was exhausted only this day was just getting started. "I'll find them once I'm able to."

"As you wish, Empress." Hermes dipped his head slightly, still surprising me before he vanished.

Unsure of what would be next, I took the time to shower and cry until I felt empty. Being numb helped me take another step, and another until I found myself chasing after a ghost whose trail went cold at the portal home. Stepping through, the noise of the bar was limited to the final few clinging on to the last minutes of service before closing time kicked in and not bothering to stay or make my arrival known, I ended up home in our apartment.

It was dark, all the curtains drawn closed and with no tv, radio or our conversation, it was silent too. Yet Cain was here. I didn't check the bathroom or our bedroom, knowing he wasn't in there and pausing outside the door, I wasn't sure if I should knock or not. Deciding not to, I slowly pushed the door open and held my breath, my eyes not needing to adjust as a soft, warm light filled the space with tiny stars. Looking up at the roof it was beautiful, a soft lullaby playing from the small lightbox on the dresser.

Furniture I remember briefly looking at what felt like a lifetime ago now filled the once empty room. The matching set of white wood looked perfect in place here against the palest of blues paint that covered the walls with the stars now circling across. I couldn't say how long it had been like this, or even tell anyone when the furniture arrived. Each item had its moment of inspection as I ran my fingers along the frame of the cot, looking down at the bare mattress where Blueberry would one day be sleeping before I stood beside the changing table seeing the unopened boxes of supplies that sat waiting to be used. Already the faint smell of baby powder lingered around the space, the panda I had brought sitting on the change mat while the other bags of things I'd brought in random little trips out shopping sat beside the chest of drawers. Sketchings of various animals with the alphabet filled the frames on the wall and In the centre of the room spread out on the woollen rug, Cain just stared up at the ceiling.

I got down onto the floor carefully, sliding into place beside him as his arm came out to curl around me. The rug was even more comfortable than it looked and for a while, we just lay there watching the stars.

"I wanted to surprise you," Cain broke the silence, and looking over at him, I could see the wet streaks on his face. "You've given up then?"

"Not completely. I just wanted to make sure that no matter what happens, he still has a chance. You both deserve that."

"It sounds like you think I will survive." He spat the words out bitterly like that was truly the worst-case scenario. "I won't, Elle."

"You have to, he needs you to do what I can't and I know I am always asking so much of you, but this. You have to. I need you to do this, to be there and love him how we're supposed to do together." I sighed, reaching out to touch his chin to make him look at me. "I love you."

"I don't know how to do any of it if you're not here."

"Let's make sure you don't have to find out." Wiping away his tears, I ignore my own as I look back up to the ceiling. "This room is amazing."

"I wanted it to be perfect before I showed it to you," leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose, it was easy to forget about everything else outside of this space. "Can you tell me now what went on after Nieve took you?"

"It was like the dreams, kill the Fates and well, join them for a whole world domination thing. What's so great about ruling the world anyway? Seems like a lot of work." I hesitated. "Tisiphone made a good point though, they haven't done anything since being back. No killing, torture or acts of war. She even denied that the ones who attacked had anything to do with them. They had a little revelation since waking up, and want to make the world better. At first, they didn't know different and-"

"Then you stabbed her, screwed up their plans and in an act of desperation, they believed whatever dream Nieve is still clinging to about you putting her in power but in such a way, they're in the background running the show and you're the face of it." It tumbled out of him so easily, it was as if he had heard it a million times already.

"It sounded better when she said it."

"Nieve's involved. It's the same game, she's just changed the players."

"By killing Adala and Portia, she gets their powers. We're still no closer to the fourth. Uranus is backing the Furies." I sighed. "If we can work out how to stop that, Nieve loses that advantage. I was so close to ending her miserable existence before the rest stepped in. I cut off her hand. She kept calling me girl, and pointing her finger at me."

Cain smiled. "That's my girl."

"Funny. Did you miss the cut off her hand part?" I yawned a second later. "Now I've seen the doctor and met all the other conditions like eating and showering, can I sleep? I'm so tired."

In a blink, we're in our bed, and with my pyjamas on I'm instantly shutting down.

"What did Hermes say?" Cain asked softly, sliding down slightly to hug Blueberry.

"He'll do it. He's worried you'll blame him if I die though."

"It won't come to that." Unbuttoning my shirt, he kisses my belly and as if he knows, Blueberry dances around, the curve of his tiny body pushing on my skin making all kinds of weird shapes.

"But it might, and we can't pretend it won't." I sigh, putting my hand over Cain's.

I lose the fight to keep my eyes open, drifting to sleep almost instantly as his words turn into little more than a soothing hum until I woke up to silence. It felt like I had slept for months, the brighter morning light that framed the window was darker now, and my mouth felt I'd been eating sand. It smelt like something much worse as well.

"Go back to sleep, it's early." Cain groaned, rolling over as he pulled the blankets up.

"I have to pee." He didn't respond and getting into the bathroom, I hid in the corner of the shower until the water began to go cold trying to work out what to do now. "Fuck."

I had no idea.

It also didn't help that eight hours of sleep didn't feel like enough, but I was awake and hungry, even thirstier and already knew there was no point in even trying to go back to bed now. Cain didn't seem to have that issue, still asleep after I had breakfast as a late lunch and appeared at Raya's front door, it was Penny who greeted me. She stood there after swinging it open like she wasn't sure if I was actually there before stepping aside to let me in.

"Oh, it's you." She dropped a small bag by the door, guiding me into the kitchen area. I already knew the rest of them weren't here, and Penny didn't seem to have a lot to say about any of it.

"How are they?" I ask, leaning against the counter. The fridge was decorated with Olivia's drawings and without her here it felt wrong.

"Raya is shaken, Keiran is jumpy as fuck and thankfully, Olivia seems unbothered by the whole thing. Ailin has taken them, I'm not telling you where." She huffed, glaring at me. "I'm just here grabbing a few things Livvy wants that they didn't bring. You know what she's like."

"Can you tell her I'm sorry? It wasn't-"

"Your fault, meant to happen? Guess what, Elise. It did. Again. Did you come here thinking we'd be waiting around for news about you? Celebration at the ready? You're gone more than you're here, and we have our lives and issues to handle without yours as well." Her tone was pure venom, and the look she served me with wasn't one I had seen on her face for a very long time.

"Did you know Colton had a broken arm from where that old witch made her arrival? No, because you would never even think to ask because to you, he is insignificant. What does he matter? Also, I'm okay too, just so you know. At least Cain isn't as selfish as you and took a second to heal us while you run off to be the hero. Again."

"Penny," I took a deep breath, knowing how upset she must be and I did feel guilty about Colton. "You're right. I didn't even think about Colton, because at that moment, Olivia was more important. I'm sorry that-"

"Stop apologising when you're only saying it because you think it's what I want to hear. Sorry doesn't mean anything. Before she had Olivia the same sort of shit happened, and now she's right back there, terrified for her babies and-'

"Are you fucking serious right now? What about my baby? I just let myself be taken by the very ones who want me dead, to save you all!"

"Oh so now I'm the selfish one? Sorry, we don't all have powers, Elise!" She snapped back, moving past me to grab the backpack she'd left by the door. "Save it. Raya is going to be giving birth anytime in the next two weeks, she didn't need this. Just stay away, keep us out of your drama."

The door slammed shut behind her and I slowly walked into the unusually clean and quiet living room. Instead of feeling like a second home, I only felt like an intruder now. I was supposed to be staying away - I didn't, and look at what happened. Maybe Penny had a point. Avoiding my parents in case Nieve decided to bring on round two, I found Alfie in the river and sat down nearby until he came out to me.

"Alfie keep Old Bloods sss-ssafe." The tip of his tail twitched as I rubbed under his chin.

"Thank you, Alfie. You're doing a better job than I am."

"Alfie help Elis-s-se?"

I instantly saw the painting, the shape of Alfie not far from where I had been.

"Not this time, bud. Your job is to protect Old Bloods and Same Blood. I can't risk making any more mistakes, and that includes you. I'm not sure if I'm going to be around much for a while, but the order stays. Protect my family, Alfie." He nods, tensing as he poises himself straighter so he towers over me.

"Alfie will, Elissse."

"Thank you." I hug him as tight as I can and leave before hopefully anything else happens.

I stop by my favourite doughnut shop and walk slowly back to our apartment. The coffee is going down well, and pausing outside a jeweller, I look at the display of rings. There are so many, row after row, sparkling and beautiful in various cuts, settings and colours. I'm already hearing Tisiphone's question in my head, why haven't we gotten this far yet?

Just as loud, I can hear Richard, right as he puts down his pen and folds his legs at the ankle that reminds me of an etiquette class my mother made me suffer through to keep up with Grimms. Pause before reacting, Elise and search for objective evidence in the situation.

Cain loved me, and I loved him in a way that was hard to define and would sound ridiculous if you actually tried to describe it out loud. It was a connection on a level I didn't even know existed. Yet the ones you love can break your heart too.

Marriage, bonding, whatever - it didn't matter. Tisiphone thought she had been clever planting her seeds of doubt in my mind. Too bad it was already fucked up enough without her contributions and I'd be demanding a gold start from Richard in our next appointment because, a, I listened to him and b, I did what he said.

One ring looks very similar to Penny's and instantly thinking over what had happened, I try to apply the same principles here. It didn't work. Colton wasn't as important to me as Olivia and I couldn't think of any scenario I'd choose him over her. Good thing Cain had acted when he did, in our battle and after otherwise maybe then she'd have something to complain about.

"I will get you every single thing in this store if it would stop you from looking so sad," Cain said from behind me, his reflection joining mine in the window as he kissed my neck. "Mmm, coffee."

"Even the engagement rings?" It came out before I could stop myself, yet sounded too sarcastic as if that whole idea was completely ridiculous.

"One for every finger." He promised, pausing for a second. "It's been on my mind since Thor took you, but there has been a lot going on and I also didn't want you to think it was simply because of that, or because of Blueberry and especially not because your Dad is a traditionalist and ends every goodbye with something along the lines, the baby will be born soon, why haven't you done it yet?"

I nearly spat out my coffee. "He doesn't?"

"I simply tell him I will when the time is right. Whether that's in a week or a hundred years from now, who knows." He turns me around and runs his thumb across the corner of my lip and I feel the crumb there disappear. "Doughnuts and coffee, you should have woken me."

"You want it though, the complete deal. Marriage. Kids. The whole, bonding thing?"

"I already have it all, Elle. Anything beyond us is just to make sure everyone else knows I'm yours, and to be honest, fuck what anyone else thinks. You're the only one I care about. If this is what you want, let's do it. You're not ready, fine, I know how you feel about me and I'll wait until you are."

I bit the edge of my lip, still tasting the sugary icing he hadn't completely wiped away. "How do I feel about you?"

"We'd be here all night if I answered you properly so I'll go with the short version." He smirked. "You called me, your Emperor."

Carefully balancing my coffee in one hand, my arms moved to rest on his shoulders pulling him closer to me as I kissed him softly, a deep hum of satisfaction leaving Cain as he deepened the kiss in a slow, agonizing way that was too gentle for my liking.

"Guess this is why you're not home," Zane interrupted, an awkward cough following as I wasn't sure if I wanted to throw my coffee at him for interrupting or be happy to see him.

A few people stepped around on the footpath, their suits and tired faces signalling the end of a normal workday reminding me that we were still out in the street and also the time. As a bus went past Cain said something to Zane I didn't hear and sure enough, a second later Zane hugged me.

"I'm glad to see you looking so good, Sunshine. When Apollo saw us, I wasn't sure what I'd find once I got here." He smiled.

I hug Zane for the sake of it, keeping my free hand over my eyes as I lean into him to try and hide my tears.

"I'm so happy to see you." The second we part, Cain's hand is on my hip as I'm tugged back beside him. "You shouldn't be here though."

"Let's go home. We can talk there." Cain said before taking the lead, guiding me alongside him as Zane walked beside us.

We don't walk the whole way, the second the street is clear, we step into an alleyway and suddenly we're in our living room. I abandon my bag and coffee cup, kick off my shoes and end up tucked up into the corner of our sofa while Cain and Zane talk in the kitchen, soon coming over with beers in their hands and a casual, content ease I didn't see enough of with either of them.

"So the crazy three want you to power up the Crone and aid them in their world domination trip?" Zane kicks off the conversation, sitting in the single chair beside me while Cain chose to use me as a cushion and squish me further into the corner.

The second I got my legs free from underneath me to spread out over his lap, I decided I was never moving again. Zane didn't look shocked or anything at what he had to say, clearly already processed everything and was looking at what our next move would be. How much had Apollo told him, or had Cain already been active in the little group chat I knew the guys had set up.

"Pretty much." I shrugged.

"And how long until Cain Junior joins the team?" He took a long swing of his beer, yet I could see the amusement in his eyes and the smile he tried to hide behind the bottle.

"Funny." I rolled my eyes, ignoring the 'why not' question on Cain's face. "Um, like 9 or 10 or something."

"Guess we better come up with a plan then, hey kid."

"If you could get right onto that, I'd be super grateful."

"I heard Jordan gave himself a bit of an all-access pass to your other realm, I'm sure I'll think of something for you if I got the VIP treatment," Zane fished, yet I realised he was serious.

"Now?" I looked at Cain who focused on his beer. "This is what you two have been plotting isn't it?"

"Maybe." They both say at the same time.

"We sent Jordan back because it's too dangerous!" I instantly argued, haven't my friends suffered enough lately? "He'd be an easy target for anyone!"

"Zane isn't Jordan." Cain pointed out. "It'll help him, help us if he gets to see everything for himself."

"Right before his life flashes before his eyes and Hades carts him off to the Underworld?"

"That's dramatic, even for you Sunshine." Zane failed at holding back his sarcasm which only pissed me off more. "But I'm serious and for other reasons. I've had, dreams, memories and shit, of things that sound just like what Jordan's told me about it over there. Ever since the mountains when the Furies came to be, I've wanted to go but never thought it a real possibility."

"That's even more of a reason not to go. Dreams that tell you something rarely ever turn out to be for your benefit and are mostly because someone is fucking with you. I am practically an expert on the topic! Also, do you know about Matt? I swear if you start painting fucking pictures like this is an art class, I'm locking you in a dungeon for safekeeping and don't think I won't, because I've been in one and also, they're not nice!"

"You need people around you that you trust. Your own council." Cain says calmly, and not for the first time. He mentioned something about this while we were on vacation but I thought he meant not talking about anything too important around Frigg. "Zane is a great candidate for that. He's an Other, but he's strong and most importantly, loyal to you. We're still on Kara's side, but it's time to make a break. You can't cohabit how you have been forever. She needs her people, and you're going to need yours."

"This is insane. I don't need people and her people are my people. I'm not about to take over Cain, I'm like security if someone forgets she's the fucking Queen, the one they use as a tiebreaker. I want less to do with all of it, not more."

"Hades has his own," Zane adds.

"What?" For a second, I look at him like I don't even know who he is. "How do you know that?"

I didn't even know that.

And then it started making more sense.

"You've all decided on this together, haven't you?" So after I pull the knife out of my back, and possibly the one in Kara's, I point my finger between the pair of them. "Start talking. Now."

"When you were taken by Ullr, Hades had his sights set on Frigg. He doesn't trust her, or any of her people and he went through everyone in search of a mole." Cain started. "It took Deimos and Kara a lot to keep him from just wiping them all out."

"Kara is trying to bring us all together, not rip us back into our own fractions."

"I think he knew that too, hence why his questioning didn't require us to hire a whole new team of staff or bring on another war."

"Everyone was upset when you were taken, Sunshine. No denying those two are related from the way they handle things." Zane holds his hands up innocently as Cain glares at him, but a second later he seems to shrug and allow it. "Hades has been looking out for you for a long time, whether you knew it or not."

"Yeah to report back King Jerk over here." I remind him, thinking about what Hades had said in the beach hut.

"He did more than I ever asked," Cain admits, but it doesn't seem to bother him. "Ares and Aphrodite are no different, and Aphrodite doesn't like anyone but herself. Even Hermes."

Circe's chat comes back to me, about how loyal and reluctant to talk to everyone had been when she'd been trying to find out what she could about me.

"I didn't like you much in the beginning either, same with Jodie. Pretty much anyone you meet ends up on your side. V, the Kasha," Hearing Zane mention his sister kind of shocks me more than anything. I hadn't heard him mention her in forever. "Kara needs to know that if it comes down to it, they're loyal to her. Friends or not, she is threatened by you."

"But I'm loyal to her. This isn't an episode of Survivor and making me own posse for my imaginary kingdom won't exactly scream, alliance when we end up at the tribal council"

"That's why you need me. I'm going to be instantly dismissed because I'm your mortal friend. I'm not a threat, I'm simply coming along for fun and in the process, hopefully, something will be revealed that we can use to end this."

"Oh, so you're really just going to spy on everyone. What was in your dreams?" I ask, slowly sinking down to sit on the edge of the coffee table.

"A few fights on a battlefield, I actually think it was a look at the past as you were there kicking ass and I was just another soldier. Glimpses of books like some kind of a library, some statues coming to life. There was a woman with a set of scales if that makes any sense and lions. Lots of lions."

"I swear to whatever God, Great Mother or Father there is, if you end up as a lion I'm going to lose my shit on Circe." I groan.

"Ah, what?" Zane frowned.

"You'll see." Cain looked at him all too knowingly and the urge to remove the smug look on his face made my palm itchy.

"No, he won't." This was turning into a nightmare. "We're not jumping from Survivor to The Bachelorette thank you very much!"

"You need all the friends you can get right now, Sunshine. Take me back with you." Zane asked, well, begged as he shifted to the edge of the chair silently pleading with me to agree to this.

"Zane, I sat at your bedside for days thinking I'd never to get argue you with again. Running around in the snow thinking I had lost you isn't a place I want to revisit. Seeing Olivia being held hostage by Nieve, and standing by as Matt put a blade to his throat in an effort to get the fuck out of the shit I put him in, all within the last few days has really pushed me to the edge of what sanity I have left. I can't agree with this."

"What about if it's for one day, see how things go. He'll be under guard by either myself or Hades at all times?" Cain offered.

"Cool. I'll put that on his tombstone." I snapped, making them both frown. "To think I used to like the idea of this little bromance. So, chances of this subject being dropped and all of us moving on?"

"Slim." Zane was quick to reply.

"It's so much easier when I'm the one making demands and asking impossible things."

Cain laughs. "Welcome to my world."

"If this happens and anything goes wrong, you're both dead to me."

"Is that a yes?" Zane perks up.

"Maybe." Zane smiles as if I'd just said yes and that's probably about as close to one as I'm going to give either of them. "I don't want to play more games, and I hate you both."

I get up to go into the bedroom and as Cain moves to follow, I shake my head stopping him from going further.

"Elle,' He starts.

"I need a minute." Cain nods and goes to sit back down while I close the door. "I need a fucking year, and a cocktail or ten."

Spotting the rocker chair in its spot just by the window, I go over to test it out. It's heaven; so comfortable and lush. Lighting a candle on the table beside it, I sit back and just sway in a steady motion as the soft scent of burnt buttercream frosting fills the room. One of these days, I'm positive I am going to eat a damn candle and as my eyes close I become well aware of a presence in the room.

"The Slayer should go with you," Hecate says gently.

Looking now she stands by the window like a mirage, the curtains floating through her figure as a cool, evening breeze comes into the room. It doesn't appear to be a threat or warning, just a simple fact I don't want to accept, especially if she's the one suggesting it. 

"Why, so you can use him as you use everyone else?" I'm done being friendly.

"He's right, you need a friend."

And then she's gone if she was even here at all. I look at the closed door, where beyond it I could hear Cain and Zane laughing which was ridiculous considering everything going on. What would they think if I told them about that little visit, would it change Zane's mind or make him more adamant to go?

I guess there was only one to find out how much I was going to regret letting him come back with us because the following morning, Zane stepped through the portal for the first time.