“No pancakes,” I declared as I broke from the pack to go to the fridge. “I'll make us something.”
“Pancakes are fast,” Gage said.
“I can make something savory in the same amount of time.” I pulled out some veggies and chicken. “How about a stir fry?”
The men grinned and nodded.
Dressed only in Garret's T-shirt, I gathered the seasonings I'd need while I directed the men on chopping the vegetables. They didn't have a wok, but a big pan worked fine. The dish came together in a few minutes, and then wewere sitting at the kitchen island, eating steaming stir fry and grinning at each other.
“Good, that's settled,” a deep, resonant voice said. “You've finally bonded.”
I jerked in fear and looked up to see a gigantic man with dark hair, fair skin, and golden-brown eyes standing before us. He was muscular, but not overly so, and something about him reminded me of my mates. Speaking of the hounds, they jumped off their stools and bent their heads.
“Hades,” Garret said reverently. “You honor us with your presence.”
Hades, Lord of the Underworld, Greek God of Death and whatever else, snorted. “Sit down, cubs. I came to bless your mating and congratulate you.”
“Holy shit,” I whispered as I stared at him. “Holy. Fucking. Shit.”
“Yes, I know,” Hades drawled and smirked in a very Gage way. “It's overwhelming.” He waved at himself. “Take it all in. You'll be fine in a moment.”
I let out a surprised bark of laughter.
Hades winked at me. “There you go, Indigo Darling. I knew you were made of sterner stuff.”
“Thank you for your blessing,” Gideon said. “Uh, would you like some stir fry?”
“Stir. Fry,” Hades repeated the words as if they were foreign, then he peered at our plates. “A dish obviously named by an American.”
“I'll take that as a yes,” I said as I got up to make Hades a plate.
Gage got his boss a fork while I scooped up the food, and then I set the plate before Hades. A god was about to eat my cooking. Why did I have to make a simple stir fry?
Hades lifted the plate, sniffed it, then took a bite. He chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, and said, “Delicious.”
“Thank you!” I beamed at him.
Hades sat down on a stool and ate while the rest of us watched.
“Don't just stare. Finish your meal.” Hades waved at our plates with his fork.
We started eating again, but I couldn't stop staring at Hades.
“I'm happy for you,” Hades finally said. “But I need to cut the honeymoon short. If you don't strike soon, Silas could escape.”
“Silas?” Gage asked. “What about Michael?”
“Michael has become—what's the term?—small potatoes. It's Silas who I want. I need you to contain him, and then I'll take him to face the Olympians.”
“We'll attack today,” Gideon said.
“Be careful,” Hades warned. “You know I can't interfere until you have Silas. If he runs, you'll deny me my prey.”
“We understand,” Gage said.
“Can't you just teleport to wherever Silas is and figure out who he is?” I asked.
“No, I cannot,” Hades said crisply and stood up. “Thank you for the meal, Indigo. And welcome to the family. As mate to one of my Cerberuses, you now may summon me.” He hardened his stare and added, “In an emergency.”
