Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,58
said, “The females will be outnumbered among the Olympians. We’ll lose our voice.”
“Paulie can’t be an Olympian, he wasn’t born into our pantheon. He’s my mate.”
“Ah, but he’ll have undue influence over you, just like that chipmunk does over Hades, and that wolf controls the god of the sea,” Hera said, her eyes flashing in triumph. “Three of the Greek’s strongest gods controlled by animals. It’s pathetic. It makes a mockery of who we are and all we stand for.”
“I’m failing to see the issue.” Zeus wondered if it was time to start throwing around a few thunderbolts. He was hungry and he was sure Paulie would be too. “Poseidon and Hades aren’t being controlled. They’re in love, with their mates, sharing a special connection with a special person which is something all beings have craved from when time began.”
“Love,” Demeter scoffed.
“And as for what we stand for,” Zeus ignored her. “What exactly do we stand for? We don’t actually rule anything anymore, or have you forgotten that? People stopped believing in us a very long time ago. Our temples lie empty, or in ruins, or worse, are filled with tourists – none of whom believe in us. We’re forbidden to influence the living world. If it wasn’t for the fact we’re immortal, we’d be dead and long forgotten.”
“You do talk some rubbish sometimes.” Hera waved her hand in Paulie’s direction. “Even if what you say is true, how does mating that improve our lives, or our standing among the other gods?”
“That’s the joy of not being worshipped anymore.” Zeus rubbed Paulie’s head. “I’m not responsible for improving your lives and I have as much right to eternal happiness as the rest of us. I have a chance of that with Paulie.”
“I won’t have that thing living on Olympus. You can’t force me to accept him, and if you try, I’ll make your life with that tiger an eternal misery.” Hera linked her arms with Demeter and Persephone. “We won’t allow it.”
Zeus sighed. He really didn’t want to have to banish his two sisters and niece to live on earth or with another pantheon, but they weren’t giving him a lot of choice. He was just thinking on how to phrase that in a way that didn’t involve another hour of tedious talking when Paulie shifted. He was spitting mad… and a lot taller than he’d been before. This could be interesting.
Chapter Twenty
“What is the matter with you people?” Paulie went to look into Hera’s eyes, and then realized he was standing at least five foot taller than he did usually. He had to look down on her. Worry about it later. Fuck, this being a demigod business comes with a lot of surprises. “Have you no understanding of the concepts of kindness, compassion or caring about members of your own family? You talk about Hades and Poseidon as though they’re controlled by ‘animals’ when we’re as human as you are. When was the last time you lived in the real world?”
“Woah.” Hermes backed up. “Am I the only person who can see your mate glowing, Zeus? That’s no ordinary shifter. Look, Paulie is it? I’m just the messenger and you know what they say about them. If you have the urge to nibble on Zeus, then I’m not going to say anything against it.”
“I’ve already claimed my mate.” Paulie reached down and tore the robe from Zeus’s back, pointing to the scar that was also glowing. “My mark. My claim. I. Am. The. Mate. Of. Zeus. Get over it.”
“And I won’t come between mates. I’m out of here.” Hermes disappeared. His ‘congratulations’ hung in the breeze.
“You’ll get no congratulations from me. You are an abomination who should never been allowed to survive.” Hera had a nasty scowl. “I don’t know who your father was…”
“That makes two of us, lady.” Paulie flung out his arms, creating a huge breeze that knocked Demeter and Persephone over. Oops. “And before you go thinking that makes me a bastard, so what. You guys are no better. If you’re looking for more ammunition against me, I’ll give it to you. I also lived on the streets for years, homeless, uneducated, and an animal to boot. I’m still the mate of Zeus. You can’t change that.”
“I’ll go to the Fates. I’ll have this mating annulled.” Hera swung her arms, and Paulie braced himself, but nothing happened. And clearly something was meant to happen, because the shock on Hera’s face was priceless.
“You can’t do anything to