I perked up at that. “You were a wolf-shifter? But you're a goddess now, aren’t you?”
I remembered the stories that Thanatos read to me about Bergarian and the species that lived there. I didn’t realize that gods could be mated to them, too.
She nodded. “Yes, Goddess of Females in Battle. And once you let your worries go, let Thanatos understand you better and if you decide to complete the bonding of your souls–”
I took a deep, heavy breath.
“You too, will become a goddess and live with Thanatos in his home.”
I let out the breath slowly. This was not what I was expecting when I asked what mates were. Marriage? That thought alone freaked me out, but this? This is another level and becoming a goddess too? I wasn’t fit to be anything like that. Thanatos deserved so much more than me.
Uriel pouted. “She isn’t thinking out loud so much right now, I don’t know what she’s thinking.”
Mariah snorted. “Do you do that often, Juniper?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I do. It’s a habit I’ve kinda always had since I was young. People thought I was weird.” I didn’t elaborate.
I looked down and pick at the hangnail on my finger. When I looked at the other two women beside me, their hands looked absolutely perfect. They didn’t have hangnails or freckles, they were both stunning in every way.
It had to be a mistake. I was a mistake.
Uriel put both of her hands on my face and turned me toward her. “Stop thinking.” Her hands glowed brighter than when she touched my skin earlier, and I felt completely woozy.
Mariah’s eyes widened. “Uriel, too much, too much!” Mariah pulled Uriel’s hands away, and I swayed, falling back onto the couch.
“This is nice,” I slurred. “I feel like I just chugged some Everclear, though.” I stared up at the ceiling, watching the candlelight dance. “Soooo pretty.”
Ares jumped up from his seat on the couch. “Uriel, I thought you learned how to control your power on mortals! I really don’t need Thanatos kicking my ass. Suck that calming juice out of her.”
Uriel grabbed my face again and the floatiness from my body slowly faded. I groaned, kinda sad that all that fun juice was wearing off.
“Such a party pooper,” I glared at Ares. “What was that, anyway?” I rubbed my eyes.
“I can calm people. Take the bad thoughts away. Let them see who they really are. Sometimes I take too much, and it will make you feel drunk. I just get too excited sometimes.” Uriel shrugged her shoulders.
“Shit, fuck, I can’t get in trouble. Not for something I didn’t do anyway,” Ares barked out a laugh. He slung himself back on the couch. “Why don’t we do something else and not talk about mates. Give Juniper time to just have some fun. How about a tour of the big bad god of the Underworld’s house?”
Uriel drug me around the palace, showing me every room and its uses. A pool, workout room, conference rooms, guestrooms and she even showed me the Hades and Ember’s master bedroom, which was freaking glorious to say the least. High ceilings, enormous fourposter bed, a side office, a balcony, large master bathroom. Everything was elegant and in its place.
It had me think of Thanatos’ bedroom. It was much smaller, quaint, and not flashy in the slightest. My lip curled how Thanatos didn’t even have a guest room while Hades had hordes of rooms he could shove his guests in.
Thanatos didn’t think twice. He gave me his room without a thought. Sure, he didn’t sleep, but it washisroom.Hisspace. It was normal and appealed more to my aesthetic and not as overwhelming.
Thanatos was simpler than Hades. Not as flashy. He appreciated the smaller things like his garden, a good book, and cooking his own food, and that really appealed to me.
Most of all, Thanatos liked me for me. And I liked him for who he was. He was a bit of a hoarder, a little messy, and if I stayed, I’m sure I could put my own touches to his home that could soon be ours. He acted like I could do anything I wanted. I mean, he gave me his bed so willingly; he made me a freaking movie theater cavern in his home.
This was all under the pretense of if Iletthis happen.
As we moved down the hallways, Uriel pranced, skipped, and danced. How she had so much damn energy, I’d never know. If I could suck it out of her, I would, and use it for myself.
“And this is Lilith’s room.” Uriel waved her hand over the door.
A door slammed behind us, and the sound of clothes ripping came from underneath the door.
“Ares and Mariah need a moment. Come on, we can talk to Lilith.” Uriel urged me inside, and I stared blankly at the door that Ares and Mariah had gone into. It shook violently, and Ares grunted like a feral pig behind it.
Shit, that’s kinda hot.
