She sat up straight in her chair. Looking around the room, she narrowed her eyes.

“Athena, I would like to talk to you.” Ree didn’t raise her voice, just waited patiently to see if the goddess was listening.

“I was wondering how long you were going to avoid me.” Athena appeared next the fireplace. The goddess was tall, much taller than Ree or even Brigid. She was wearing a dark suit, her white, button -down shirt tucked around her narrow waist. Ree found herself staring at the small square glasses that perched on her nose. “You certainly have bad timing. I was in the middle of business negotiations.”

“Thank you for answering.” Ree stayed at the desk, not wanting to give up her spot of power.

“Well, some things are a little more important.” Athena’s mouth pulled to the side in a small smile. Ree was certain the goddess knew just why she wasn’t vacating the large desk chair. “Besides, it was getting a little boring. I have them right where I want them, and they are barely squirming.”

Athena pulled her glasses off and tucked them into her shirt pocket. She walked over to the table in the corner and poured an amber liquid from the decanter into a small glass. Ree knew it was alcohol, but had no idea what kind. The goddess sat down in one of the chairs facing the desk and crossed her legs. She took a sip of the drink and sighed happily.

“Sophie always did stock the best whiskey. A weakness of mine.” Athena toasted Ree before taking another sip. “So, you look at home behind that desk.”

“You mean I look frazzled and frustrated.” Ree narrowed her eyes, not sure if the goddess was teasing her or not.

“Exactly.” Athena kicked off her shoes and looked at Ree with narrowed eyes. “We should have had this talk sooner.”

“Possibly. I’ve been a little busy, however.” Ree laced her fingers together and rested her hands on the desk. “I’d like to talk to you about something important.”

“I see. So, this isn’t about you thanking me for giving you immortality?” Athena took another sip of her drink, smiling at Ree around the cup.

“Let’s be honest, Athena. You would have turned me into a toad if you thought it would have helped the situation.” Ree’s heart beat a little faster, wondering if what she was planning would blow up in her face. “I want to bring in the other Guardians.”

“I take it you do not mean your friends.”

“No. I want to call in backup.” Ree watched as Athena frowned.

“What for?” Athena stayed in the chair and gazed at Ree with bright eyes.

“I want to remove the source of Tristan’s growing strength.” Ree chose her words carefully.

“I see.” Athena continued to stare at Ree, but didn’t offer anything else.

“The more blood he ingests from the immortal lines, the stronger he becomes. He’s already wreaking havoc in the city. The more he gets, the harder he will be to beat.” Ree took a deep breath and hoped she was playing her cards right. “However, I’ve been informed the gods would not take kindly to having their existence exposed. Not even by the immortals that carry their blood.”

“So, you appeal to me to see reason.” Athena smiled slowly at Ree. “You are hoping I will see the merits of removing his food source.”

“When in war, you block a country’s trade routes. You take out its resources. This is simple strategy.” Ree tried to keep her face blank, but knew the goddess understood just how much she needed her help.

“And how do you propose we remove the humans?”

“If we can have the Guardians from other locations come help, we may be able to take them and hide them ourselves. There are houses in the center of the island. We could bring them there to stay until after the battle.” Unclenching her hands, Ree picked up the pen on the desk in front of her. “There are six more families on this list. I’d like to bring them here for safekeeping. We could settle them in the small houses easily.”

“And what will you feed those that you bring to the island?” Athena twirled the whiskey in her cup.

“Well, there is plenty of food in the kitchen…”

“Not enough to feed the twenty-two people you are suggesting bringing over.”

Ree looked down at the list in front of her and frowned. The six families remaining did add up to twenty-two people. “Perhaps you could help provide food for them the same way you do for us.”

“So, you ask me to help win over the other gods to this plan. Then you ask me to grant you a favor, by providing for the refugees.” Athena narrowed her eyes over the drink.

“Providing for your family and extended family is not a favor to me. It’s what families do for one another.” Ree narrowed her eyes at the goddess. “But, yes, I do ask that you help me convince the other gods that it would be in their best interest to remove those that are in harm’s way.”

“And what would you do for me in return?” Athena smiled when Ree’s shoulders jerked in surprise. “Is that not how favors work? I help you and you help me?”

“I’ve already given you everything with nothing in return. You could say that was advanced payment.” Ree took a deep, slow breath.

“That’s not how negotiations work, Alastriana. You want something, you must offer something in return.” Athena set the glass down on the table next to her before leaning her head back against the chair.

“You’ve already asked something of me. Now I want something in return.” Ree gnashed her teeth together.

“Then, no. I will not help.” Athena pulled out her glasses and slipped them back on. “Now, I have a business meeting to get back to.”

“What would you ask for?” Ree’s fury was quickly accelerating.

“What do you plan on doing with yourself after the final battle?” Athena looked over her glasses at Ree, her eyes dancing with something that made Ree squirm.

“A vacation.A long vacation somewhere pretty.”

“After the vacation. What then? You can’t spend all of eternity on a beach.” Athena tilted her head to the side. “Trust me. It would be great for a little while, but you will end up bored stiff. Even with the godling to keep you company.”

“What do you have in mind?” Ree leaned back in her chair, trying to mimic the ease the goddess exuded.

“There will be clean up, of course, but we might need you again someday.” Athena narrowed her eyes at Ree. “You might need to help with a different project.”

“What type of project?”

Athena shrugged delicately. “That would have to be determined. There are lots of things going on in the world. Not just the battle you are involved in.”

“So, in other words, you want to be able to call me in for something later.” Ree rubbed the arm of her chair with her thumb as she thought it over.

“No. I want to be able to call you in anytime I need you.” Athena narrowed her eyes at Ree.

“I will not spend the rest of my life as a soldier. I deserve some happiness, just like everyone else.”

“Of course. I’m sure there would be time in between situations when you might be able to de-stress.” Athena’s grin grew a little and Ree felt as if she was standing in quicksand.

“I will give you three times to call on me.” Ree leaned forward and put her arms on the desk. “I will not do anything that will hurt a human for you. I will not put my family in jeopardy. I will not kill an innocent being. And I will not do something I know will get me killed.”

Athena smiled. “Five times. And I will abide by your restrictions.”

“Three times and you will abide by my restrictions.” Ree narrowed her eyes at Athena. “You need me. You don’t like it, and I don’t like it. That doesn’t mean we can’t help each other. There are two families on Sophie’s list that are linked to your line. You should be doing this without me asking.”

“Three times and my terms.” Athena narrowed her eyes at Ree, but her smile stayed in place.

“No.” Ree stood up. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

“That’s it, then?” Athena stood up and looked down at Ree. “You will just give up that easily?”

“I never said I would give up. I will find another way.” Ree met Athena’s stare with her own.

“I knew I chose right with you, Ree.” Athena nodded her head, her face relaxing. Ree was surprised to hear her nickname used by the goddess. “Very well. Three times, with your restrictions.”

“You will talk to the others?” Ree tried to keep her voice smooth, not wanting to show her relief.

“I don’t need to. They will accept my word that it was necessary.” Athena took a step toward Ree. “The extra Guardians will be here before sunrise.”

“Aren’t they spread around the world?” Ree asked.

“I’m a goddess, Ree. They will come through the portal near the large tree.” Athena held out her hand to Ree. Reluctantly, Ree returned the gesture and shook the goddesses’ hand. Light wrapped around their fingers, and Ree felt something tighten for just a moment.

“What was that?” Ree jerked her hand back.

“Our deal has been struck. There is no backing out now.” Athena smiled at Ree.

“You do realize I might not win, right?” Ree looked at her fingers.

“I believe in you.” Athena walked over to the fireplace. “More importantly, I believe in my ability to choose well.”

“Thank you?” Ree raised an eyebrow, not certain how she should take that statement.

“Thank you. This was much more entertaining than arguing with fat men in suits.” Athena disappeared, her laugh lingering in the quiet office.

Ree flopped down into her chair and took a deep breath. The office door banged open, and Paden flew into the room.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Paden walked straight to Ree, pulling her up to stand. “We’ve been trying to get in this room for half an hour.”

Ree looked past Paden to see her friends all standing in the entrance to the office. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you guys were out there.”

“We’ve been beating on that door forever.” Paden glared at Ree. “I thought you were dead. I couldn’t feel you.”

“You’d think you would have heard Paden trying to beat his way through the wall.” Weylin looked at Ree in question.

“I’m sorry, Paden. I didn’t know.” Ree looked at the cuts that were healing on his hands. “Athena must have done something to the room.”

“Athena?” Paden’s voice dropped an octave in anger.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t piss her off.” Ree tried smiling at Paden, hoping it would smooth things over.

“You promised me, Ree.” Paden stared at her, his eyes tight.

“I promised to not piss off any gods if you weren’t with me.” Ree looked at him seriously. “And I didn’t. We made a deal.”

“Deal?” Roland’s voice cut through the room like a knife. “What have you done, Ree?”

“We’re expecting company before dawn.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Paden looked like he was going to murder someone. When she told him what she had agreed to, she thought his hair was going to catch on fire. She knew he wasn’t mad at her, so much as worried about what she had agreed to. Ree didn’t really blame him. She would be upset and worried if he had been the one to strike that deal. She walked over to where he was standing and slid her arms around his waist. He didn’t move for a minute, his eyes watching Roland as he left to go wait at the tree for the arrival of the new Guardians.

“Don’t be mad, Paden.” She pressed her cheek against his back.

Paden grunted, but turned so he could pull her in front of him. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he rested his chin on top of her head. She let him hold her for a minute before moving so she could look up at him.

“I did what I had to.” She watched as his jaw tightened.

“I know, Ree. I’m not mad at you. You did what you thought best for everyone.” Paden’s eyes snapped with green fire. “But you shouldn’t have to ask them to do what’s right. You shouldn’t have to barter your life to get them to save people they put in harm’s way!”

“I didn’t barter my life. I just agreed to do three things for them.”

“Ree. You’re not stupid. You know they aren’t going to call on you for anything that isn’t dangerous.” Paden stared at Ree until she sighed. “It’s like they want to do everything they can to get you killed!”

“Yes, I know that.” Ree started to step away, but he wouldn’t let her move. “I don’t think they want me dead exactly, but they like to have an ace in the hole. Just in case.”

“You save aces for when you really need them. If they need you, it’s going to be bad, Ree.” Paden’s lips pressed together.

“Well, we need to get through this battle first. One thing at a time, okay?” Ree pulled on the collar of his shirt so that his head came closer to hers. Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him softly until she felt him loosen up. Pulling back, she smiled up at him. “Besides you’ll be with me. How much trouble can I get into?”

“Lots.” Paden groaned and closed his eyes. He touched his forehead to hers and sighed. “Okay. We focus on this first and go from there.”

“Right.” Ree closed her eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying his smell. Enjoying how their smells mingled together. Suddenly her heart stopped and she looked up at him with wide eyes. “Oh my God. They all know, don’t they?”

“Who? Knows what?” Confusion clouded Paden’s face.

“The others. They all know that we… when… and oh my God! The power! They probably heard us too!” Ree covered her face with her hands, but Paden laughed.

“You just thought about that?” Paden tried to peel her hands away from her face.

“The darkling said I smelled like sex. I didn’t even think about everyone else smelling us on each other! And the power! I knocked a bunch of stuff over in our room.” Ree groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“I’m not.” Ree looked at him exasperated. Paden smiled again and touched her cheek. “Our room, huh?”