Zeus: Epilogue

It took me months to work up the courage to ask my brother-in-law to escort me to Tartarus. The looming question of whether my mother would even want to speak with me hung over me like a raincloud—not to mention the emotion in this place.

Agony. Pain. Suffering. Remorse. Regret.

Gripping my head, I paused, causing Hades to turn and squeeze my shoulder. “Keira?”

“It’s too much. Can you drown them out somehow?”

I could’ve asked Zeus to come with me, and none of this would’ve bothered me, but this was something I needed to do by myself. For myself.

“For a time, but you won’t have long. These souls are too strong for me to dampen it permanently.” Hades waved his hand.

Like the deafening aftermath of a nearby explosion, the emotions overwhelming me fizzled away.

Sighing, I stood straight. “Thank you.”

“If she wishes to see you, she’ll be through this door.” Hades displayed a doorway leading into nothing but darkness.

Nodding, I stepped through, never being one that feared the dark or the creatures that lurked within it. Flames flickered around me, creating enough illumination in bursts to see shadows of people. As I ignored the wails and cries from the tortured souls, a woman with long blonde hair the same color as mine emerged from the blanket of darkness. A breath caught in my throat.

“Why are you here, Keira?” Her long flowing black dress made her float above the ground. Two black orbs served as eyes, and her teeth were jagged and deadly.

“You really have to ask me that?”

No regret. No remorse. Only sadness.

A tiny smile pulled at her lips. “You inherited the gift of emotion reading.”

“You didn’t know?” I wanted to be mad at her for abandoning me, but how could you resent someone you never knew?

“I suspected it. But I imagine there are two questions you seek answers for. Why I didn’t raise you and who your father is.” She cocked her head to the side, floating in front of me, and raising one pale hand to my face.

I recoiled at her touch, stepping back. “Yes.”

“I wasn’t supposed to be able to have children, but the Fates had other plans. A destiny that I could’ve only given with the gifts I possess. I was in no place to raise you and wished only to protect you from the meddling of Olympus. The mortal couple I left you with, they treated you well, yes?” She folded her hands in front of her.

“Yes. They did.” Tears stung my eyes.

Did Gaea plan for my birth from the very beginning?

“Your father. You have his eyes, his nose—” She traced her fingers over her face with a small smile. “I loved him. He never knew you existed as he died before you were born. Cancer.” Her glistening black gaze fell to her feet. “It was another reason that drove me here. The pain of loss.”

“Did you know I had a fated bond to Zeus?” I clenched my fists at my sides.

At first, she didn’t speak, and her inward gaze lifted to mine. “Yes.”

“Yes?” I yelled. “You knew and you kept him from me? With the spell you put on me to keep my lineage a secret, what if—what if we had never found each other?”

“In one way or another, no matter what—you would’ve found each other, Keira. Fate always figures out a way. Always.” She floated closer. “You must understand I did that to protect you as a child. You were able to grow up as a mortal and have a carefree childhood.”

“Carefree? You think it was carefree? I didn’t have anyone around to explain to me the tidal wave of emotions I felt whenever I was in public. No one to explain a way to control it. I had to figure it all out on my own.” I pointed to the ground, my tone turning more infuriated with each passing word.

“And for that, I can only offer you an apology, but it shaped you into the woman you are today. A goddess. My Queen.” She bowed her head.

Shaking my head, I stepped away, the agonizing emotions from the surrounding souls starting to seep their way back into my bones. “And you wish to stay here, Oizys? As an enforcer to Hades?”

“Yes, my Queen. My powers are most suited here.” She bowed her head further. “One last thing before you leave. You may find yourself connected to the moon and darkness given your family ties. It may even increase your power versus the daylight.”

Being the ultimate night owl made a lot more sense.

“Then so be it. If you ever wish to see me again, to get to know anything about me besides what you knew to be prophesied, inform Hades, and I’ll come.”

She didn’t answer me one way or the other, lifted her head, and stared at me with those lifeless eyes.

Frowning, I called to Hades with my mind and instantly appeared on the banks of the river Styx.

“I’m gathering the visit didn’t go as well as you hoped?” Hades squeezed my arm.

“I’m not sure how I expected it to go, honestly. I’m just thankful for some answers.”

He nodded, and I glanced at my wristwatch. “Shit. The mortal job calls.”

“Say something derogatory to my brother for me, would you?” A hint of smile pulled at Hades’s lips before fading away.

Grinning, I made myself appear in my office at the courthouse. Already feeling his presence behind me, I pushed my fingertips against my desk, the office door creaking shut. Zeus stood behind it, casually leaning against the wall with his feet crossed at the ankles.

“Why, your honor, have I misbehaved again?” Raising a brow, I turned to face him, sitting on the edge of the desk.

When Zeus had stepped away from the Daniels case, it wasn’t too difficult for the prosecution to establish a win. The evidence had only continued to pile up against Melissa, including a testimony I managed to get from her accomplice, Jimmy, under the agreement his own sentencing would be less severe than hers. That combined with computer evidence showing her searches for “acid to digest animal tissue” when her shop only worked on soil-based items. The proof of her ordering over a year’s supply of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and proof of purchase of the blue chemical barrel right before the incident—it was a shoo-in. She received life without any hope of parole, and I kept my winning streak.

Not soon after the trial ended, Zeus announced that Zane Vronti would no longer serve as a defense lawyer. He ran for a judgeship and won by a landslide. Zeus, King of the Gods, and god of justice seemed so much more fitting as a judge at any rate. Not to mention it allowed us to work in the same building and have lots and lots of scandalous office sex.

“Very. I may have to resort to drastic measures this time around.” He peeled back his jacket, tapping the metal clasp on his belt.

Biting my lip and smiling, I outstretched my arms for him to hug me. Obliging, he wrapped his burly arms around me, his beard tickling my cheek as he nuzzled it.

“How’d it go, sweetheart?” He asked, his nose brushing my ear.

“I could’ve misinterpreted it, but it almost sounded as if Gaea made sure Oizys would get pregnant with me. She wasn’t supposed to be able to have kids,” I mumbled against his chest.

He pushed back, holding onto my shoulders with a scrunched nose. “You don’t have a father?”

“She didn’t pluck me from her head or anything, Zeus.” Poking him in the chest, I gave a tiny smile. “I did have a father. He died before I was born.”

He rubbed my arms. “I’m sorry. I know you hoped to meet him.”

“Shit happens. I’ve got enough family to last me an eternity now, I suppose.” Smiling, I dipped my fingers into his belt, pulling him between my legs. “Now about that punishment.”

He lowered his lips to mine as he grabbed my ass, pulling me forward. I dipped my hands into his shirt, making the top two buttons pluck away as I greedily groped his chest.

“Sorry for interrupting, Keir. Sorry,” Olivia said, ducking her head through the cracked door, her hand firmly over her eyes but peeking through her fingers.

Zeus held his head low with a gruff sigh. A warranted reaction considering this was the fourth time this week we’d been “disturbed.” After patting his chest, I stood and adjusted my skirt.

“Why do you have your hand on your face, Ollie?”

“Not taking any chances anymore, Keir. Not doing it. You walk in on your best friend making out with her husband one time, and that’s quite bloody enough.” She waved a folder of papers at me. “Just take it, and I’ll be on my merry way.”

Grinning, I snatched the folder, and she slipped away, shutting the door behind her. I threw the folder to my desk, knowing there were other matters to attend to before my mortal job duties.

“My turn to make the rounds, right?” I slid between Zeus’s legs who’d changed positions with me. He was sitting on the desk now.

“If you’re up for it. I can always do it again.” He kneaded my hips with his strong fingers.

“We talked about this. Shared responsibility so neither of us burn out. Remember?” I bopped him on the nose.

He chuckled and drummed his fingers on my ass. “Then off you go.”

Leaning forward, I placed my lips to his, kissing him tenderly. “Promise we’ll pick up where we left off at our place later tonight?”

Our place. The penthouse I’d sneered at for months and now considered my sanctuary from the world.

“You know I’m always good for anything you ask. Especially if it involves fucking you.” He slapped my ass. “Now go so you can get back.”

Stepping away and blowing him a kiss that he caught and placed on his dick, I ported away laughing.

I enjoyed making rounds the most of all as part of my Queenly duties. Not only checking on all the other gods to ensure they were doing their jobs but also tuning into their well-being. Tap into their true emotions and aid if necessary. Everyone needed to be their best selves if what Gaea said was true—that the paving of progression started with Zeus. We’d all need to be ready for our world to go beyond anything we knew.