“What?” I laughed.
“Humans will believe anything if it's religious,” Braxen muttered.
“Hold on. He tried to get the Portland Cerberus to leave him alone, but they didn't, so he threatened war, and when that didn't work, he tricked them into thinking they took him back to the Underworld?”
“Yes,” Rune said.
“Then why come at you now? Why didn't he just lie low?”
“Because Hades knew about the trick,” Merrick said. “And he sent us after Michael.”
“Ah. So, Michael is back on the defensive.”
“Yup,” Rune said.
“How does he convince people that he's an angel?” I asked.
“Who knows?” Merrick grumbled. “Maybe he jumps into them and brainwashes them from the inside.”
“You said Hades told you about Michael. So why didn't he tell the Portland team?”
“They had just claimed their mate, and they've been through a lot with her. He doesn't want them dealing with this.”
“Besides, he's in our territory now,” Braxen added.
I nodded. Processed. Went back to something. “Their mate? Her? Are you saying that all three of them are with one woman?”
The men shared a determined look, then Rune said, “Lora, there's a reason I couldn't . . .”
“Deal with Hermes?” I lifted my brows.
Braxen growled. Braxen, not Rune. I blinked, then gaped at Braxen. He looked away.
Rune sighed. “I guess you don't know everything about Cerberuses.”
“I only know what Hermes has told me and it's not a lot.” I glanced at Merrick, who stared back at me steadily, as if daring me to leave. “What exactly do I need to know?”
“Hades cast a spell on all the Cerberuses so that we'd find our mates—women who would love us forever,” Braxen said.
Rune and Merrick groaned.
“What?” I whispered.
“Brax, let me handle this,” Rune said.
Braxen waved at him in a go-on-then gesture.
“Every team is destined to meet one woman who will be perfect for them,” Rune said. “A mate to give us something to live for beyond our duty to Hades. Without love, we will eventually wither away and die, as the first Cerberus nearly did.”
“Hades went to the Fates when the first Cerberus started to wane,” Merrick said. “They told him that the hounds needed love just like anyone else. But because of who they were andwhat they did, they needed someone special. Someone strong enough to love them. A Persephone to match the Hades inside them.” He leaned forward onto his knees. “How strong are you, Lomasi?”
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
“Not helping, Merr,” Rune growled.
“Whatever.” Merrick sat back. “You do it then since you think you know her best .”
“Lora.” Rune took my hand. “Hades creates all Cerberuses in groups of three.”
