Shaping Fate by Kayla Payeur Read Free Book Online Page A

beautiful. Our little girl is all grown up… and she’s terrifyingly beautiful,” Persephone breathed in wonder while staring at Ria.
    “ You gave her your beauty, love. And I thank Zeus every day for listening to my pleas and letting me keep you.”  Hades let his love and pride show in his dark eyes.
    A great, thundering boom echoed throughout the large chamber as Keres zoomed toward Makaria on bat’s wings . Somehow sensing the danger to Ria, Thane's powers surged beyond his control, healing him instantly. Then, the barely conscious Thane suddenly leapt from the ground with a death defying roar.
    His body grew to a staggering nine feet as he transformed into a beast that surpassed the ferocity of Ria’s current form . His skin became a dark ashen grey as serrated talons and teeth extended from their respective limbs. Startling blue flames took the place of his electric blue irises, and icy vapor misted from his nose and mouth with every exhale. The beast wrapped his wings around his mate protectively and began using claws and fangs to fight off the Keres that swarmed them. It didn’t matter to this creature that the Keres were his sisters, it only mattered that they wanted to hurt his beloved.
    Not about to let her mate be hurt defending her, Ria squirmed, trying to get to the Keres herself . Finally, she fit her wings just below the joint of his and folded them around him, under his swinging arms. This allowed them to cover each other’s backs and tear into the Keres without mercy.
    “ Enough, Sisters!” A red robed figure stepped away from the crowd as the Keres retreated and settled themselves along the edges of the room near the ceiling. They sat, bunched and ready to pounce at the first flick of their older sister’s finger.
    Realizing their quarry had escaped, the creatures that were Thanatos and Ria spun about to face this new threat. Their wings curled forward and their maws snarled in an effigy of vengeful gargoyles. No one approached the two gloriously terrible demons.
    “ Why do you hesitate, Ker? We had an agreement; you get to torture, maim, and kill the bitch when I’ve had my fun with her!”  Helios suddenly appeared beside the red robed Ker. Hovering over his hand was a glowing bit of sun. All of the Underworld’s denizens cringed away from the Sun God and the horrible death floating in his hand… all but Ker and the two monsters in the middle of the room.
    “ No,” Ker said thoughtfully, watching her staid, controlled brother. He had finally let his power loose and turned into his true form to protect his woman. “Our deal was for the Keres and me to capture and eventually kill a mortal bit of nothing. This woman is not mortal, and being the daughter of the King and Queen of Hades, as well as the mate of the oldest and most powerful God of Death, not to mention being a Goddess of Death in her own right, makes her anything but a bit of nothing. Therefore, our contract is void. Let’s go, Girls, I hear there’s a battle about to be waged on one of the Southern continents.”  Ker turned and began walking away. Helios, in all of his rage, let loose the Sun-ball at her retreating back.
    A mysterious figure rammed himself into her and took the Sun-ball in her stead . Rather than becoming the Godly equivalent of a crispy critter, the man somehow absorbed the blast and returned one just as powerful. Helios vanished before it could make contact; however, and just when it seemed the bolt would strike Persephone, it froze. It then zipped back to its originator and merged with his body.
    “ Thanks, but I didn’t need any help. Next time, stay out of it,” Ker snarled, her voice full of venom. The figure bowed low to her and vanished. With an outraged scream, Ker followed.
    The hall was silent for many minutes while everyone assimilated what had happened .
    “ Chimera's quills, Older Brother, I didn’t think you’d be that ugly when I sent the girl to you. I did know you’d take care of