Chapter Thirty-Eight
TIBERIUS
The men stare at me. Men that I am connected to, now more than ever. More than simply by marriage. These men are not just my family, they are also connected by magi, by the gods. They watch me, unsure of why I’ve called them here to my office. The door is locked, my guards stand by so that nobody will attempt to enter.
“We have done something that no other men, for centuries, have done,” I announce. “We have come together, and we have won against the God of the Underworld. We defeated him.”
“Our wives did,” Aaric announces, though the words may seem annoyed, he is anything but. He is proud of his strong mulier.
I feel proud of my Drucilla as well. When I thought that I would not survive the battle, she was there to take my back, to help me and her sisters. She is a warrioress, just like her sisters. I have no doubts at all that the gods created them for us.
“Yes, they aided, then they were able to transfer their magi to us, so that together the eight of us could defeat Diaboli and send Aeliana back to her post.”
Elias leans forward, his blue eyes focused on me. “You have something you wish to offer us, I can feel it. Say it, Tiberius.”
My lips twitch into a small smile. “You are correct,” I murmur.
Sitting back in my chair, my eyes flick between the three warriors in my room. Kings. That is what they are, and they are all good men as well. What I propose would not work with any other men. This is why the prophecy was between the four of us.
“I have a proposition,” I say, clearing my throat. “A proposition that we unite our countries. The gods chose us in this time for a reason. We could unite as one superpower. Our children will no doubt possess some type of magi that will be handed down from their mothers. I propose that we rule as one, just as the gods did, generations ago.”
The men are quiet for a long moment. I think that they are going to oppose, but then something happens. Aaric stands to his feet. His eyes shift around the room before they meet my own.
“Our children will know from the moment that they are born that their duty is to rule alongside their family. I do not dislike this concept,” Aaric says.
There is another moment of silence and then Colt and Elias stand. I do the same, walking around my desk. Without anything verbal in place, we all take turns shaking one another’s hands. A bond formed, a future aligned, and soon everything will be in place on paper as well.
“Should we have contracts created, reviewed, and signed?” Elias asks.
Dipping my chin, I tell them that I agree with that plan. “The women will like this. Perhaps we can do a yearly celebration in one another’s countries, alternating. A time for the children to grow close and the women to strengthen their sisterly bond. I know that my Birdie would enjoy that,” Colt suggests.
My lips curve up into a grin, as do the other men’s. “Shall we drink on it?” I ask.
The other men chuckle and voice their agreement. Making my way toward the table in my office, I pour each of them a goblet of wine.
None of us takes a drink, not until we are able to toast. Holding up our glasses, I begin. “To a long prosperous future.”
“May our countries’ unification bring nothing but joy and happiness to our families,” Elias says.
Colt speaks next. “May our children learn to love and rule together as we will.”
Finally, Aaric speaks. His accent thick, his eyes focused on mine, then shifting and flicking to each man in our small circle. “May the gods continue to bless our lives richly as they have already done. May we provide this new world with harmony.”
Lifting our glasses a little higher, they all touch in the middle before we simultaneously take a sip from our goblets. Then, as if moved to do so by the gods, we all let out a roar.
Perhaps it is because we are warriors.
Perhaps it is because we have taken a step that no other has taken before us.
Perhaps it is because we are all family.
I wasn’t close to my father, I love my brother and my cousins, but this is different. We are bound by something, by the gods, by our wives, by one another in a way that has never happened before.
“A united world. I do think that I like the sound of that,” Elias murmurs.
“As do I. Think of the future our children will have, the way they will rule together. I hope I am alive to see them rule together,” I say.
Aaric grins. “We will not go to Valhalla until the gods call us there. Until then, we will see everything come to fruition. I know of this.”
We spend the next few hours talking about the plans that we have. I take notes, writing down ideas from all three of my brothers. This will not be a one-sided contract that binds us, not at all. We will all agree and we will all contribute equally in the writing of the terms.
This is what the gods wanted. This is what they wanted to create and they knew that we were the best men to implement it. I know without a doubt that they are smiling down on us right now. They are watching and are as pleased with their efforts as I am.
DRUCILLA
My sisters watch me. We’re exhausted, but not because of the fight, though that didn’t help. We’re exhausted because our men kept us up all night long celebrating the victory. War. It’s not anything that I thought I would ever feel good about, but I do. I feel good about this war, even if I had to do some nasty shit there at the end, it doesn’t matter—it
