Three weeks later, Engagement party Poseidon's palace
Jos nervously stared across the elegantly decorated room. Poseidon had once again gone above and beyond for their wedding celebration, but she could not be troubled to notice. The gorgeous dress she wore did little more than impede her movements as she was forced to greet guests and make introductions. She watched as Ry and Russ seemed to have heated words before Russ shoved Ry away. Ry shook his head sadly before catching Jos's curious gaze. He did his best to hide his embarrassment as he made his way over to her.
"You saw that?"
Jos nodded as she supported the arm holding the champagne fluke. "I've seen a lot of that between the two of you lately. What's going on, I thought things had gotten better?"
Ry groaned. "Not now… not here… Speaking of not here… Is your guest of honor coming?"
Jos snarled her upper lip. "He's not my guest of honor… and yes he's supposed to come, though unless he comes with Hera Hypnos will not act."
Ry arched a brow. "You've yet to explain all that to me, but as someone who was somewhat privy to the last rise against Zeus and the war of Troy, I believe I can see where this is going. Hypnos is out for revenge and is using you to get it?"
Jos took a long swallow of her drink. "More or less." They both nodded as some of the guests passed by. "I begged your father not to do this. I wanted something simple this go around."
Ry chuckled. "Well, you know Dad." He grabbed her hand. "And you know us. Come on we have a surprise for you and Arei in the back." He led her through the main halls of the palace and out the back doors. He stepped aside as he held the back doors open. "Just as lovely, but more privacy… no?" A wide smile curved his lips as her eyes began to twinkle with amazement and wonder for the first time that night.
Jos's eyes moved around the luminous stream running the length of the backyard that had been lit by small blue lanterns. "It's beautiful."
Ry held out his hand. "This way. There's more." He led her over to a seating area, and everyone suddenly stood.
"Surprise!" They called out in unison.
Jos's hand shot to her mouth. "Oh wow… guys…" She held out her hand as her closest friends came forward to greet her.
Raven and Isha were first. "You didn't think we would miss all this, did you?" Raven teased.
Then Shelly and Rin came over. "The kids are upstairs in the nursery Poseidon had set up for them and Shiori. Though, I got to say I'm still kinda uneasy about it with all these people here."
Jaden, April, Drake, and even Mattie approached next. April pulled Jos into a huge hug as Jaden stood back with a smile. "This place is insane! I can't believe you're not going to use it for your wedding!" April cooed. Drake gave her a light pat on the shoulder as he nodded in agreement.
Chary and Scylla waved from the stream. "We wanted you all to ourselves, not going to lie. It's been a while!"
The greeting continued as Naru and his new werewolf girlfriend came up along with Peg and Andy. Even some of the other guests who knew Arei well started venturing back to their smaller party as the night grew later, but Jos couldn't help but notice how awkward things continued to be between Jaden, Russ, and Ry. She leaned against Arei's chest with a heavy sigh. "Maybe we should talk with them… or push things back for a while until they figure things out… it feels weird being so happy about our wedding when theirs seems to be falling apart."
Arei gave her a squeeze. "Kitten, don't get me wrong, I love your compassion for others but there is absolutely nothing in this world, heaven, or hell that is going to make me call off our wedding." He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You hear me? Nothing!" He watched as Russ stomped off toward one of the many walking trails around the palace grounds. "Perhaps if you'd like to speak with him, now would be that chance, however… you could also keep him from becoming too lost."
Jos pursed her lips for a brief moment before nodding. I think I will. Jos quickly caught up with him and pulled him inside the palace. "I know my way around better inside than out here. There's a catwalk that overlooks the main ballroom. It's really pretty… if I remember correctly."
Russ nodded. "Sure… but why do you want to hang out with me during your engagement party?"
Jos hooked her arm into his. "Because we're friends… family kind of… You know me. I feel bad being happy and celebrating while you're slumping around here sad. I can tell you're going through a really hard time right now, and I'd like to help."
Russ blew out a long sigh. "Where to even start." He let her lead the way through several doors until they were inside the ballroom. His eyes moved around the splendid room. "You sure you don't want to dance?"
Jos shrugged. "Not really. This dress Poseidon picked out, weighs more than a medium dog."
Russ chuckled. "Heard… Is there an elevator or are we taking the steps in your medium dog pound dress?"
"Meh… Steps…"
"Ha… sucks to be you, then."
They continued to joke around until they made it to the top level where only scant groups of people had been standing. "So… what's on your mind?" Jos asked as she leaned against the rails and took in the beautiful sight down below. Just as it had been over 500 years ago, beautiful glowing waterfalls spilled into pools of water cut out into the floor below hypnotizing the viewer.
Russ blew out a breath. "The palace physician along with about 20 others we've had brought in over the past several months have all said Jaden will not be able to carry children. Apparently, all the forced abortions she'd performed on herself during her captivity with Fern had done massive damage to her uterus… I'm not going to say I'm fine with it. I wish I could bring the bastard back to life so I could kill him all over again… but I'm fine with us never having kids. We've already taken in several orphans; Shelly has all boys… we don't need kids… but she doesn't see it that way. She saw our marriage… all wolf marriages as strictly for reproduction purposes and has basically… I don't know… annulled the marriage or at least wants to, but I won't let her." He buried his hands into his hair. "Fuck… I don't know what to do anymore. I thought I loved her and that she loved me. I thought we bonded… No… I know we did!"
Jos rubbed his back as she leaned toward him. "Have you tried talking to her about this? Telling her how you feel?"
"Of course, I have! You know me! I've all but forced her to listen… but she's not having it. She's only still in the palace at all because she has nowhere else to go right now. And believe me, she wants to leave."
Jos frowned. "But I don't understand… why… She always asks me questions about you… She seems to care for you. Why would she want to leave you?"
Russ buried his fingers into his scalp. "Fuck if I know… to drive me mad? If so, it's working… This shit with Ry would have never happened otherwise…"
Jos swallowed. "About that… do you want to talk about it?"
Russ's eyes bugged as he suddenly straightened. "Fuck no!" He blew out a sigh as he bent back over the rail. "Maybe… I don't know… He fucks with my head, man…"
Jos laughed. "I know, believe me. I used to live with him remember?" She took Russ's hand and led him over to a seating area at the edge of the catwalk. "Do you know how his power as a hunter works? His prey is just as drawn to him as he is to it. It's almost like a pheromone or something. Once he has picked up the scent he's able to track that thing to the pits of Tartarus and beyond… and that thing is helpless to resist being caught. I fear at some point you have become his prey…"
Russ scrunched his brows. "What do you mean? I'm some kind of animal to him or something? When the hell did that happen?"
Jos blew out a sigh. "When he was investigating my crimes, I would imagine… He probably started tracking you then for one reason or another."
Russ's eyes bugged. "No shit?"
Jos nodded another restless sigh slipping past her lips. "Answer me this… You feel a strange pull, but you can't explain what it is." She waited for him to think it over. "You would be able to tell me exactly where he is right now if I asked you, right?"
Russ thought it over. "He's wandering around the inside of the palace…"
Jos smiled. "How did you know that? Is he close enough for you to smell, as a wolf?"
Russ lifted his nose, then shook his head. "No there's too many people."
Jos nodded. "Exactly. It's a lot like the same bonding that happens between werewolf mates, only with Ry he chooses what to do with his prey… and unfortunately, he doesn't seem to want to catch and release with you… So, that leaves the question… what do you want to do? The longer you're together the lower your resistance will get. Eventually, you'll want him too. Can you live with that?"
Russ furrowed his brow. "I'm not gay. I've been around plenty of guys, even gay couples on the swim team before we moved. I mean I never thought 'that's gross' but I was never like 'that's hot' or 'I'd like to try' either."
Jos shrugged. "Believe it or not things change as you age. You're still very young. You've barely seen two decades… come back to me in two centuries of these same interactions and tell me how you're feeling then."
Russ swallowed hard. "I think I may need to go talk with him…"
Jos smirked. "And say what?"
Russ shrugged. "I don't know… Ask him to give me space for a couple of hundred years until I work some shit out… seemed to work for you and Arei."
Jos's smile faded. "Don't do what I did. Find your happiness while you're still young enough to enjoy it… before the world turns you cold and hard."
Russ arched a brow. "Are you ok? That was a bit dark."
Jos forced a smile. "Just feeling a bit Jaded…" She gave him a nudge. "Go work out your business without tossing out those who care for you." She narrowed her eyes mischievously. "Hell, as kinky as you are I'd think you'd find a way of taking advantage of a wife and a man who would do anything for you…"
Russ swallowed hard. "Was I the one who corrupted you this bad?"
Jos chuckled as she held up her fingers in measurement. "Maybe a tiny bit."
Jos was on her way back out to the main meet-up when she felt a cold chill run down her spine. A sudden bad feeling washed over her, but she forced her feet forward. There were several loose ends she had to wrap up tonight while she had the protection of the wards of Poseidon's palace. "Raven! Can I talk to you for a bit… alone?"
Raven tilted her head to the side. She whispered something in Isha's ear before giving her a small push off her lap. She made her way over to Jos. "Sure, where we headed? You got a private room in there somewhere or something? Is this where we all go in one at a time and fulfill some kind of wedding request?"
Jos blushed guiltily. "Something like that." Jos led Raven back to the catwalk, snagging them drinks on the way. "Raven… I hate to ask this, but I need a favor for the day of the wedding… and maybe after…"
Raven shrugged. "Sure, what?"
Jos swallowed nervously. "I've decided to make up with Zeus… and he'll be attending the wedding… BUT-" Jos pushed on before Raven could interrupt." As soon as you see him make it down the isle with me I need you and Isha to teleport away with Shiori… and promise me…" Jos swallowed hard. She reached out and took Raven's hand. "Promise me, if something happens to me that you and Isha will take Shiori and raise her."
Raven furrowed her brows. "What about Arei?"
Jos shook her head. "He wouldn't be able to. He would either be lost in grief or would do something stupid shortly after me and either get himself killed or imprisoned…"
Raven stared at Jos. "You're really worrying me here, man. What have you done? Or rather, what are you gonna do?"
Jos gave her hand another squeeze. "Don't ask… Just promise me, ok."
Raven nodded; concern still heavy in her eyes. "Yeah, of course. You know I would."