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“More,” I demanded. The word came out too loud, filled with too much power, but Lex didn’t flinch.

“Anything you desire, my goddess.” He flipped us over on the furs and grinned down at me, more happiness in those eyes than I’d ever seen before. “But first, I must be a good priest and worship at your altar.”

I’d never heard it called an altar before. I’d never thought about having a priest, not even when Serak had mentioned that I was more than goddess enough to attract them, if I wasn’t careful.

But when Lex sank lower and set his mouth to my clit, until I came in a burst of gold slick and sparks, I decided maybe I’d needed a priest after all. Because this kind of worship was something I couldn’t live without, now that I’d felt it.

Finally, after I’d come enough times that I’d screamed my throat raw, he slid back up and kissed me tenderly, from my breast to my neck, stopping at the place where Edan had marked me. “May I enter you, mistress?”

I almost laughed. “You’re already inside my heart. Yes, Lex. You may enter me.”

He gripped one of my hips with his hand, then used the other to tilt my head to the side. “May I claim you?”

“Goddess, yes!”

There wasn’t even a hint of resistance. In one smooth move, he thrust deeply, and bit down over the fading handprint on my throat.

I felt it vanish, felt it replaced with the marks left by Lex’s blunt Beta teeth. I welcomed the short flash of pain before the world exploded into brilliant pleasure.

Seven bonds pulsed in time to our lovemaking.

Seven mates swelled in my mind as the stars moved into their constellations around me, and I held them together with all the strength I’d been given, and the love they’d built with me.

ALEXIOS

Imade love to Rada, sipping at her nectar and feeding her mine, filling her and praising her as she came until we were both too tired to do anything but lie on the furs and stare at the golden walls.

“Lex. That was your first time? I mean, I know it was but… you’re gifted. Goddess-gifted.” She giggled like she did when she was drunk.

I suspected she was drunk. She’d sucked me until my empty balls ached, then made cute complaining noises about needing more. I wasn’t sure if I tasted better than other males, and I wasn’t going to ask.

“Oh, you absolutely do,” Rada laughed. “Like… ambrosia? Isn’t that what the gods ate in the stories?” Her hand flopped over on me, and I felt my cock try to rise again, but fail.

“You can read my mind?”

“Yeah. I can read all my mates’ minds. I’ve been telling Lusca about your honey cum. Yum.” She hiccupped. “He’s a little salty. Get it? Salty! He does taste salty. Lachlan tastes herbal and sweet, and I thought—hic!—he’d always be my favorite, but now? No contest. You win. No, Skadi, you can’t kill him. He’s m’priessss…” She fell asleep with a small snore.

Bring her to us. The command echoed in my mind, but I wasn’t worried. It was Serak, and I trusted him.

I’d been terrified when I opened my eyes in this cave at first, thinking I was still in the maw for a split second. But then I’d felt her power. Not the Goddess’s.

Rada’s.

Though it felt the same, and the silver chimes in Rada’s laughter now were nearly identical. But I could still hear the voice of the Goddess I’d served as I held Her daughter.

She will always be my daughter. I am proud to think we are alike.

Goddess, thank you for saving her. For giving her the strength to survive.

The silence stretched between us. I no longer felt the anger I had before at being asked to sacrifice so much. It was part of my journey to Rada. I couldn’t regret any of it.

I am proud of you too, priest. You served me well. You have earned your place at her side. I release you from all your vows. Take her home, Alexios.

A hint of sadness entered my mind. I knew what Rada had been running from. Home to start a family?

If she desires it. I no longer guide her, though I will never tire of watching her antics. Now go. The pesky ice god is having a tantrum. She laughed. I cannot wait to see how the Goddess of Protection and Poisons puts him in his place. We will all be watching.

For a moment, I felt the presence of dozens of others. Her mates? Other gods and goddesses? I wasn’t sure, but they were fascinated by the way the world had changed, and couldn’t wait to see what the Goddess’s thief would do next.