He turned to look at Zahruk as shadows swirled around him.
“So…She tried to fuck Ryder and ended up with Zahruk shape-shifting into Ryder’s image, which made her land on his dick instead,” Lucian announced. “Not his fault that she wanted a cock she couldn’t have.”
“She fucked with the wrong dick. Now, how the fuck did Eris become mortal, assholes?”
“She tried to trick me into killing my husband. She also planned to take my children to the murderous bastard marching an army in this direction. He would have slaughtered my children if she’d succeeded. Your cock can find another pussy to pet, Spyder. Or hell, take her with my blessing.”
“Oh, hell no, her mother is fucking nuts. I ain’t touching that kitty. Fuck that noise,” Spyder chuckled, stepping back.
“Grab her,” Lucian said.
“I said no,” Spyder frowned, crossing his heavily tattooed arms over his chest. “No means no! Ain’t you read those posters?”
“Pick her up, or I’ll drag her through the streets back to the club and tell Nyx you did it.”
“Dick move,” Spyder grumbled. “This will not end well.”
“Thank you for helping us,” I said to Lucian. Bowing low, I watched his smile darkening.
“I didn’t do it for you. I did it because Ryder promised me an oath. Remember, Synthia, gods don’t have hearts, and what I am, well, we don’t have fucking souls either.”
“Okay, well, I got nothing,” I admitted, turning to look at Fang.
“Do not thank me. You kidnapped me and threatened to remove my dick, which I intend to keep.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Next time, no slipping me the tongue or tit grabbing, pervert,” I mumbled, shrugging before I winced at the glare he was giving me. “Besides, those orcs were about to eat you, so technically, I saved your life.”
“They were babies, and under two feet tall,” Fang snapped irritably.
“You have no idea how fast little ones grow up these days.” He stared at me as if he could make me vanish with his rage. “Anywho,” I stated before turning sad eyes to Ryder, hating the way my heart clenched with the words that came from my mouth. “Destiny is waiting for us.”
Ryder swallowed, watching me through pain-filled eyes. “It’s too soon.”
“We cannot wait any longer. If gods and goddesses have been called in to assist Bilé, we must send the children to where they cannot reach them. Thanatos forewarned what happens if we don’t. It’s not an easy choice, but it is the right one. Lose their childhood or their lives. I choose to protect their lives, my beast.”
Chapter Nineteen
Tears filled my vision while I smiled as Ryder fell to the ground, pretending the little wooden sword had pierced his heart instead of being tucked in his armpit. The boys laughed and cheered while Kahleena clapped as she sat on my lap, watching them.
“People will die, mommy,” she whispered, slipping her tiny hand into mine.
I turned, studying her golden eyes ringed with worry. “In war, death is inevitable, sweet girl.”
“Uncle Liam said that you’re a warrior, but even warriors die in war,” she sobbed, curling against me to hide her tears.
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tiny form against my body as tears rushed from my eyes. Ryder swallowed hard, staring at her as if he sought words to comfort her, and failed.
“War is ugly, daughter of mine,” I whispered into her pretty platinum curls. “War happens when two separate sides cannot see eye-to-eye, and one or both parties refuse to communicate peacefully to solve their grievances. It tears people apart, forcing them to make hard decisions to protect their families from the ugliness. I won’t tell you everything will be fine because I know that it won’t. It will rip apart the world we love no matter who wins. That’s what war does, Kahleena. It rips a path through the world until it reaches its destination. Both sides will carry heavy losses because neither