“Of course I do,” she snapped.
“Don’t.” He shrugged when she glanced at him. “Guilt is a useless emotion for beings with our responsibilities and power. Being mortal will be an adjustment, but a temporary one. You paid me back when you sealed the gates of Tartarus. Because your powers were bound, it nearly killed you. Only your bloodline and possibly your pure stubbornness saved you. Anyone else would’ve sacrificed me to save themselves rather than take the risk.”
Morgan snorted. “No doubt what you consider another useless emotion.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged and looked away, sorrow hovering around him. “Your men would give their lives for you without you even asking. That is a kind of power the gods will never know.”
She opened her mouth to speak, when Shade passed through a shadow and never emerged. Morgan stopped, then hesitantly peered into the darkness…and found nothing but the cave wall.
He simply vanished.
Morgan should have been relieved, but she suspected it wouldn’t be the last time they heard from him. Worse, she just set a onetime demigod loose on Mount Olympus. She hoped she wouldn’t come to regret her decision.
Morgan glanced back down the stairs, then swore. The men immediately stopped, pulling their blades as they converged on her, and she nearly laughed at their overreaction, but she’d earned her reputation for getting into trouble the honest way…by blundering into it every chance she got.
“What’s wrong?” Atlas scanned the darkness, searching for the threat.
“Shade’s gone, and I suspect Ward took off after him.” The guys relaxed, prodding her up the stairs to keep her moving.
“Maybe it’s for the best. They can stay busy by keeping an eye on each other.” Ascher dismissed them, but Morgan couldn’t let it go so easily, a chill going down her spine at the thought of them concocting something together. The combination would be beyond dangerous.
“Maybe.” She smiled up at Ascher. “But at least the ass could’ve done was portal us out with him instead of forcing us to take this never-ending set of stairs.”
“True.” He gave her a wry smile. “But at least we don’t have to worry about where we would end up this way.”
Morgan grimaced this time. “True.”
Ascher brushed his hand against hers, then wove their fingers together, the natural warmth from his skin comforting. Loki determinedly clawed his way up the steps, his face scrunched up in concentration, his butt wiggling before each jump.
When they reached the top of the summit, a large plateau was spread out before them, an ornate arch and matching pillars were chiseled into the stone, creating an alcove which went nowhere.
Conscious of the others watching, Morgan squeezed Ascher’s hand and released him, uncomfortable at the attention. Loki jumped onto the platform, sniffed out each corner, then began to jump and chase his tail.
“Why do you do that?” Kincade scowled and prowled toward her.
“What?” Morgan tore her attention from the pup and blinked uncertainly.
His hand shot out, and he grabbed her wrist, bringing her hand to his mouth to kiss the back of it, his eyes never leaving hers.
“What are you doing?” She twisted out of his hold, glancing uncomfortably at the others.
“Why do you pull away when one of us touches you?” He crowded closer, and she stepped back until she slammed into the wall at her back. “Do you not like us touching you?”
“I…you…er…” Morgan bit her tongue, more than a bit flustered by his nearness, but when he backed away, panic gouged its claws in her gut. “It’s not that,” she blurted out, her face heating. “Look, I’m not used to any type of affection, much less showing affection in public.” She shifted her feet, unable to stand still. “It makes me uncomfortable.”
“What, exactly, makes you uncomfortable?” Kincade edged closer, brushing a finger along her jaw.
“Ahhhh,” she turned, glancing at the others when he caught her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Does it bother you when they watch?” His voice was low, husky, and she shivered at the way her stomach tightened in need.
“No, not really.” But she was terrified they would pull away from her. “Look, I just don’t know how you’re all fine about seeing me with the others. My impulse control sucks. If I saw anyone hitting on any of you, I wouldn’t take it kindly.”
An understatement.
She would break every bone in the bitch’s body.
Twice.
She dropped her gaze, not proud of her admission.
“Then you’re in luck.” Kincade gave her a crooked smile, then stepped back to give her room now that she’d admitted what he wanted to hear. “None of us have any interest in anyone else, not like that. We grew up knowing what to expect when we mated.”
“And no jealousy?” She crossed her arms and asked doubtfully. She didn’t believe it.
“None of us expected someone like you.” Ryder corrected before anyone could answer her question.
She scowled, not sure if she should be offended. “What does that mean?”
“You don’t play games.” Draven answered first. “You say and do exactly what you mean.”
“You spend time with us because you want to.” Atlas added.
“We consider ourselves lucky not only to have found you, but that we’re able to remain a team.” Ryder’s eyes shone with pleasure. “We’re family now. Nothing can change that.”
“When you’re with us, you focus on us so completely, there’s no room for jealousy,” Ascher admitted, and she could have fallen over when Kincade nodded in agreement.
“If you feel uncomfortable with us at any time, all you need to do is tell us. Otherwise, let us worry about ourselves.” Kincade’s smile turned devilish. “Men and women are turned on by different things.”
“Kissing a pretty lady is hot.” Draven’s storm-swept blue eyes were intense. “We can imagine what it will be like when it’s our turn. It’s our job to take care of you—in whatever way you need.”
Figured he would be a voyeur, but she couldn’t seem to bring herself to care.
“When you kiss one of us, you are only with us. The world drops away and you only see the one in your arms.” Ascher snagged her hand again. “You don’t taunt us. You don’t tease or play us against each other. We know where we stand with you.”
“Yeah, and when you’re mad, you smack us.” Draven smirked.
“When you’re happy, you reach out for us to share your joy.” Ryder crossed his arms, as if struggling to keep his hands to himself. “You spend time with us because you enjoy it. It’s not a chore or duty.”
“We have your undivided attention.” Atlas didn’t duck his head when she looked at him. “You make us feel like we matter, even if we’re stubborn asses at times.”
“So kiss us.” Ascher prompted.
“Hold our hands whenever you want.” Ryder offered.
“You can do whatever you want.” Draven didn’t smile…he was dead serious.
“Just don’t pull away or hide what you feel for us. Don’t be ashamed or shy to show us that you care.” Kincade finished. “We’re a team…and, as Ryder said, a family. Selecting only one of us would hurt more than sharing you. We’ve shared a room for decades, fought side by side together, patched each other up—”
“—and beat the shit out of each other. Often.” Draven snarked. “But I know one of them is always there to back me up.”
“We’re never alone…even if we want to be,” Atlas muttered.
“We share everything,” Kincade finished.
“Even women?” Morgan’s brain hiccupped, and she blurted out the question, then wished she could take it back.
The guys shared a look, then gazed back at her, and her curiosity was piqued further.
Now she was dying to know the answer.
“Not often,” Kincade admitted.
She should be horrified.
Why wasn’t she horrified?
Despite herself, she was fascinated, and her imagination took flight, picturing herself as that girl.