Page 69 of Titan’s Mate

Mari poked his ribs. “See? We’re going to get old and wrinkly together.”

The god fixed his attention on her. She is an interesting choice, but a good one.

Titan half-smiled. “I don’t think it was exactly a choice. More like fate.” He raised his head to look at the bear god. He’d been so filled with shame and regret, but finally he’d done right by his people. “I’ve tried to do my duty,” he said. “I hope the doors to your realm will still be open to me when the time comes—and to my mate.”

The bear’s eyes grew warm. Always, my son. And any who may wish to come with you. He looked at Mari, and then gazed into the distance. “But your path together may lead you in a different direction.

Mari gave a teeny-tiny squeal, almost inaudible. “Jungle paradise! Bamboo shoots!”

The bear god of the frozen tundra chose to ignore that.

His gaze had gone stern, and he was looking at Titan again. But you have one more responsibility before you return to your world.

He raised his paw and pointed toward the demon gates. A creature—no, a man, he realized—was crawling out between the gates, trying desperately to escape.

Austin Raines.

A collective growl came from the Wild Bloods.

Tyr said, “Oh, no you don’t.” He gave a short hop and extended his wings, scooping Raines off the ground and depositing him in front of Titan. He lay there, panting, nearly unconscious.

Fuck.

The bear god gazed at Titan. What will you do with him?

Brandon snarled, “Put him back in Hell, where he belongs.”

It sounded like a good idea to Titan.

You could, said the god. But you are bound to him. If he remains in the demon realms, a part of you will forever remain there with him. You will never be free.

“I’m sure as hell not letting him loose to wreak havoc here in the spirit world,” Titan growled.

There is another choice.

The bear god sang a long, low note. Another cave appeared—a rocky opening surrounded by jungle. A light emanated from it, and then two enormous black panthers strolled out, elongating and stretching like they’d just been woken up, and they were not particularly pleased about it.

The male gazed down his midnight-black nose at them. What?

Titan couldn’t believe it. “The realm of his gods? Seriously? He’s evil. He doesn’t deserve to be sent to heaven.”

Colt murmured behind him, “An afterlife full of psycho panthers? Not heaven.”

The panther god turned a look on Colt that could have frozen Florida from coast to coast. Brandon facepalmed.

The goddess poked Raines delicately with her paw, and then said to Titan, You have no right to judge him, or decide his fate. He is ours.

“Really?” Titan folded his arms. “Where were you when he was slaughtering my village? You didn’t take responsibility for him then.”

The panther god gave Titan another condescending cat look. Then he turned to Brandon. You are his alpha. You must order the bear to do as we say.

Brandon returned the cat look, despite being in human form. “Me? No. I don’t do that shit. I was raised different.”

“I’d think you’d understand people not following orders,” Remy added, addressing the god. “You being a cat, and all.”

The panther god said, Exactly. I am a cat. Creatures do as I bid them, not the other way around. Besides, you are a bird. The opinion of food is unimportant.” He licked his chops.

The bear god made growly noises that sounded suspiciously like laughter.