Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,56

Did we have a meeting I missed? Was a new law passed I don’t know about?”

“It was a majority decision,” Hera said, as though that was the end of the matter. “While you were busy throwing a tantrum, upsetting the gods in other pantheons, the rest of us got together and decided that as gods, we had to make a stand against the Fates. We decided we refuse to accept non-god mates. Our right to choose our own partners should be absolute, and the Fates have no right to suggest otherwise.”

“I see. I’m sure the Fates will be thrilled to hear about it.” Zeus tilted his head slightly to one side. “And how did Hades and Poseidon vote on your decision? Given how they already have shifter mates of their own. Claude is Fenrir’s son, so I suppose he can lay claim to godly lineage, but Ali has nothing like that in his genealogy. But as Hades and Poseidon are my strongest brothers, and are equal to me in their respective domains, their vote would be necessary, don’t you think?”

Hera and Demeter exchanged worried glances, and then looked at Hermes. “I sent them word of the vote, of course,” Hermes said with a casual shrug, “but as they were busy with their mates, I can’t be sure they got the message.”

“Hermes,” Demeter hissed.

“What? It’s true.” Ignoring his aunt and mother, Hermes turned to Zeus. “Look, I haven’t got a problem with who you’re shagging – you’ve always done as you pleased. But Hera is doing her nut over the fact she’ll lose her place as matriarch of Olympus if you take a mate. So long as no claiming’s involved, I can’t see the harm in having your tiger around for a bit. If he’s a shifter, then he’ll live out his natural life, you’ll be happy for five minutes, and no harm done, right? Just don’t pull another Ganymede and bless this one with immortality and things will be fine.”

“Thank you for your opinion. What about you, Persephone?” Zeus eyed the former dread queen. “You’re not even an Olympian. Is there anything you have to add, or has your mother found a way to permanently attach you to her skirts so you had no choice but to come?”

“I want you to do something about that wretched chipmunk presiding like a god over the Underworld,” Persephone snapped. “He insulted me, humiliated me in front of the hellhounds and other demons, and now Hades won’t even take my calls.”

“And you thought interrupting my private time with my fated mate was the best way to go about getting what you want?” Zeus shook his head. “Hades is busy with his new offspring, so I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to hear from you.”

“Gods should not be forced to mate with mortals of any shape.” Hera scowled. “I could overlook Poseidon’s wolf, and even Hades’ chipmunk because they don’t live here, but now you have the audacity to bring a tiger into our home. I won’t stand for it.”

“Then leave.” Zeus tightened his hold on Paulie’s head as the tiger tensed. “In fact, any of you who aren’t happy with the way I run things, or the fact I have a fated mate can quietly fuck off. Leave Olympus. Who knows, if you bothered to set foot on earth once in a while, you might find mates of your own and then you wouldn’t keep pestering me all the time.”

“I didn’t want to be here anyway. This mating stuff gives me the willies.” Ares disappeared in a swirl of red smoke.

“Father, you know, you’re not really being fair to Hera,” Hermes said, holding out his hands. “What you did with Ganymede was bad enough, although I’ll admit he was pleasant enough to have around. But Olympus is a home for the gods – the twelve Olympians. We don’t have pets.”

Paulie roared, showing off his huge teeth.

“Yeah, what he said.” Zeus chuckled. “Paulie’s not a pet. You just happened to catch him while he was relaxing in his shifted form. Paulie is unique, special, and my fated mate. There’s nothing else to be said.”

“There’s still plenty to be discussed. You’ve been outvoted.” Hands on hips, Hera was still a beautiful woman, except for the twisted scowl. “We’ve made the rule. Gods will only mate with other gods, and there’ll be no more mortals on Olympus.”

“That is what was voted on by a majority of the Olympians with the powers to change our rules?” Zeus glanced