RYSE STOOD IN front of the group and took a deep breath. His Elites, his brother, his General, and his handful of trusted soldiers filled the conference room. Everyone was quiet. Especially when Dynasty and Avery walked in with Hanna, Lysandra, and Nikki behind them. Lysa and Hanna surveyed the room, but Nikki kept her head down.

“Gentlemen,” Ryse said. “I have asked these ladies to join our council this morning. We have a few things to discuss and I believe all of them should be included. Ladies.” Ryse motioned to the five empty chairs around the table.

Once everyone was seated, he continued. “In the last twenty-four hours, the gods have been actively speaking to us. I’ve received calls this morning from the Deities all over the world that they have heard direction and prophecy like never before. I, personally, take this as a good sign. However, not all of it has been positive. We face a new threat. All this time, we’ve been so focused on rogue Olympians, that we have missed the real enemy. And he is at our door. Demons have found a way out of the underworld. They cannot stay in this realm for long, but their tolerance increases all the time.

“After conversing with Dante about his interaction, I believe the rogues have learned ancient black magic spells that conjure the demons. Right now, they harness the power of demon blood.”

“Do we know anything about its power?” Hammon leaned forward and put his elbows on the table.

“Not as much as we would like,” Hayden answered. “Since Dante’s attack, I’ve been trying to find anything in the histories about demons and there’s not much. Until recently, Hades has kept them on lockdown and no one had bothered trying to set them free.”

“So why now? What did he tell you?” Yankee asked.

Ryse clenched his jaw. “He told me that this was our battle. Our people started this, and we’ll have to finish it.”

He didn’t have to expound. This was one battle they would not have divine back up for.

“Hades has always hated us,” his mother said. “Since our beginning, Hades has been jealous. He thought that by creating demons as his spawn, they would give him the same devotion that Olympians give to Zeus. But because he is cruel and hateful, they turned against him. Now he wants nothing more than for the Olympians to be destroyed out of jealousy.”

“Not that I’m advocating our extinction,” Yankee said with a scowl, “but why wouldn’t he just wipe us out?”

“Rhea,” Avery answered him. “She’s the only reason he hasn’t set demons free in this world. Zeus can’t stop him; only Rhea can control him. She also has a responsibility to the humans. They might not pray to the same gods we do, but they are under her protection.”

“What’s our next move, then?” asked General Falcon, always looking ahead.

“We must focus on battling demons right alongside the rogues. This is going to take training for all of us. It won’t be a quick battle. From intel we’ve gathered, the rogues are searching hard for another teleporter. They are still targeting any woman who might be a Divine Grace as well. Which brings us to our next concern. Hayden?”

Ryse sat down and Hayden took the floor. “For the last few months, I’ve been visited in my dreams by a woman who I believe is my Grace. We can communicate, but until night before last, our voices were silenced every time we might have spoken words that would lead us to one another. I know what she looks like, but I don’t know much else about her except that she lives in a large city in the United States and her sister recently started dating a high-level Olympian with Thracian guards.”

“That should narrow our search somewhat,” Hammon said.

“I think so too. Yesterday, Zeus told me that I had until my coronation to find her.”

“Of course.” Dynasty nodded. “A Grand Deity must have a Grace by his side.”

“No,” Lysandra whispered. She shook her head, her eyes misting over. “It’s not simply that. I had a vision yesterday when I shook Prince Ashton’s hands.” Lysandra shivered and Dante touched her knee.

“It’s okay, you can say it,” he said, giving her a kind smile.

Lysandra lifted her gaze to Hayden. “If you don’t find her in the next month, she’ll be dead. Ashton will find her and eventually kill her.”

Ryse felt the tension in the room amp up. He looked across the table at his beloved Grace. The terror of watching her die in his arms would not happen to his brother. Hayden deserved better.

Dynasty stood up and put her fists on the table, the expression on her usually serene face turned hard and cold. “Over my dead body,” she growled. The room chilled a few degrees and Ryse saw his men exchange cautious looks.

Ryse and Hayden exchanged a quick glance. This was a new side of their mother and frankly it was frightening.

A white glow surrounded Dynasty, as if the gods were giving her power and strength. “I’ve had enough of those cursed Avondales bringing pain to my family. First my husband, now my sons and their wives. No.” She stood straight and lifted her chin. Her lavender eyes glowed white and it sent a chill down Ryse’s spine. “No more. I will not sit on the sidelines one more minute. I will fight with my last breath to bring this girl home.”

“So shall I.” Hanna stood beside her mistress. Gods forbid the poor fool who felt Hanna’s wrath. Whatever Hanna spoke came to pass. If she uttered the word death…

Ryse swallowed. That demon had shaken the hornet’s nest.

“I’m not much of a fighter, but I believe my skills of precognition could be useful in battle situation. I will do anything you ask of me,” Lysandra offered.

Avery joined them. “Y’all know I’m not afraid to rush into the middle of trouble. At least, this time, I’m a bit more prepared.” She held up her hand and twirled a small ball of fire around her fingers. Ryse’s men chuckled. “I think it’s high time Olympians join their Thracian brothers and learn how to kick some ass.”

“I want to fight.” Nikki stood. “But I—I will have to be taught.”

Brenden went to her side. “You don’t have to do this. You have nothing to prove here.”

Her eyes burned when she faced him. “I have everything to prove. This has nothing to do with you. I serve Avery and if my mistress steps up to fight, I will be at her side. Just as you will be.” Brenden hung his head. But Nikki stood taller and kept her chin high.

Ryse narrowed his gaze at the five ladies standing at the end of the table.

“Lucky for you, ladies,” he said and spread his arms to encompass the warriors in the room, “you have the Elites to teach you.” He met the shocked stare of each man. It was Hammon who stood first. One by one, the men rose to their feet. If these women wanted to become warriors, the Elites would make it happen.

“Change outta your gowns, girls,” Avery said in her Texas twang, her aura flaring with power. She held out her hand and fire sprang from her palm, controlled completely by its master. “Trainin’ starts now.”

There was a gleam in her eyes, a spark of inner fire that engulfed Ryse. If the enemy wanted blood and fire, then blood and fire they shall have.

To be continued…

***