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“I don’t know her name.” His face crumpled and tears shimmered in his eyes. “She wasn’t meant to be just a queen, no offense, Your Majesty. She was a living goddess in a queen’s body, reincarnating the goddess’ bloodline on this earth. Marne Ceresa cut her down before she could step into power, and we lost her. Forever.”
She released my arm and moved closer to take Kostas’ hands in both of hers. My teeth ached from clenching my jaw so hard. Even though Xin still maneuvered himself to easily rip the man’s throat out. I didn’t like anyone so near my queen. Especially someone we didn’t know. “Which goddess, Mr. Mythos?”
“Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, Maiden of Spring.”
“Then I have very good news for you, Mr. Mythos. Your queen’s name is Kora Haides, and she exacted her retribution against House Ceresa earlier today.”
The man sank to his knees, staring up at Shara, gaping, stammering. “Are you… sure? She’s alive?”
“I spoke to her briefly, and she identified herself as Kora. She claimed Marne’s blood as her own, so we withdrew and left her to exact her retribution.”
Cheeks wet, he closed his eyes for a moment, his lips moving as if in prayer before speaking out loud. “Was she alone? Did she have anyone with her? Where did she go?”
“She had a three-headed dog with her. One of Marne’s Blood appeared to belong to her as well. She called him Briareus. She killed the rest of the Blood accompanying the queen of Rome and took him with her. They disappeared through a black portal, so I can’t say where they went.”
He pressed his face against Shara’s hands, clinging to her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Praise be to the Goddess of Spring who walks this earth again. Anything you want, Daughter of Isis, if it’s within my power, I will give. Now and forever.”
She let out a soft, gentle laugh. “All I want is for my alpha to be able to wear something that doesn’t tear every time he breathes.”
SHARA
“Absolutely.” Kostas leaped to his feet, still holding my hands. “Right this way. Please. Everyone who wants to be measured and fitted.”
He led us toward another door that must provide access to the rest of the shop. Pausing, I released his hands, letting him go through first. Then some of my Blood, waiting until Rik’s glower softened. He gave me a small nod, and we stepped through the doorway into a huge lofty room more like a warehouse. Slow fans overhead kept the air circulating. Worktables lined the center of the room, covered with thick, extra wide books and an assortment of scissors and measuring tapes. This, at least, looked more like the tailor shop I expected when we walked into Ikaros.
Kostas gestured to another comfortable chair positioned beside the nearest worktable. I sat down with Rik hovering at my back like usual.
“No, no, that won’t do.” Kostas waved his hand again in a come-hither motion. “I need to be able to take your measurements.”
Rik let out a long-suffering sigh, and my lips twitched with amusement. He didn’t like to be fussed over.
“But that’s why we’re here,” I reminded him out loud.
Grudgingly, he moved around the chair to stand in front of me. But only when both the general and my knight took up position beside and behind my chair. Rik grumbled even more when the human dragged a step stool over so he could actually reach the top of his shoulders.
A much younger man came to assist, holding a clipboard and pencil ready to capture the numbers. Though when Rik scowled at him, the man froze, wide eyed.
“This is my assistant, Damon.” Then Kostas added with a wink, “I assure you, sir, he doesn’t bite.”
Rik loosened his fists and softened his stance, but the poor man still looked like he was about to faint.
It only took five minutes or so for Kostas to wrap the tape around Rik about a hundred times and call out numbers to his assistant.
I was impressed he even had a tape big enough. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Kostas looked over his shoulder at me. “We’re far from finished, Your Majesty. If we stop here, then your man will continue to have the same problem with anything I make for him too.” He turned his attention back to Rik. “Starting with the upper body, let’s see how much muscle you can pop out.”
Lifting his arms out from his sides, Rik flexed like before, pumping up his biceps and shoulders. Kostas called out more numbers to his assistant.
“Now, I’d like you to really strain as if on the verge of… changing.”
Granite swelled in Rik’s body, pushing the normal boundaries of his flesh to inhuman levels. The younger assistant’s eyes bulged, and his face paled but he stayed his ground, quickly scribbling down the measurements Kostas made. Though the extra-long measuring tape barely made it around the impressive circumference of Rik’s chest.
“Perfect.” Kostas hopped down off the stool, completely unbothered by the extraordinary numbers. “Now for the lower body. My, my. Yes. I see why you’ve had issues with trouser seams.”
A surge of amusement drew my gaze over to Daire. He opened his mouth, but I shook my head. Squeezing his lips shut, he let out a soft cough, not able to completely contain his mirth. :He should see the big gun fully erect.:
:Not happening,: Rik growled. :The gun is staying put away.:
