Chapter 5

Zeus.

DC Wing. Monday, 30th April. Two days later…

Villa Ironheart.

Night.

I stand in the middle of my brother’s gilded ballroom, indulging in idle talk. The sounds of music and polished laughter rippling around me. The smell of opulence hangs in the air like a stench, cloying and suffocating, as we all stand here attending one of my brother’s lavish parties.

I didn’t expect to be attending a party when I arrived here yesterday.

I had only come so I could give him a status report of everything that had happened over the past few days. The break in at the health station. The rebellion. Crushing it afterward.

Memory claws through me now, dragging me back to when I arrived yesterday and was ushered into his presence.

“Hail the Overlord.” I greeted once I stood before him.

He had two of his generals with him. I ignored their censuring stares. I was already used to such from his men.

“Zeus.” He turned his attention to me. “Welcome.”

He offered me a tight smile that I knew barely reached his eyes.

“I've come to give reports of…”

“Not now, Zeus.” He cut through my words.

Then he rose, walking toward me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. A silent message. A reminder that we had an audience.

“Now we prepare for the party tomorrow. A celebration for all the war victories we have won against the recent resistance in the East Region.” He ordered it, his eyes glaring into mine.

I stiffened. My jaw ticked with anger.

He was giving me a challenge. If I wanted to discuss anything, I needed to attend one of his parties. His usual displays of opulence and power.

“So, I urge you to go rest, brother.” He smiled, turning that smile toward his generals. “Then we discuss at the party.”

I nodded once. “Yes, Overlord.”

I turned to leave. Heard his generals whispering behind me. Ignored all of it.

And now I am here at the party. Waiting.

Only hoping my brother summons me so we can finally discuss matters. I have never liked his parties, even though I rarely got invites. They are always orchestrated as a grotesque display of his dominion over the entire earth.

My eyes catch sight of Theresa as she walks toward me. Memories of our moment in bed last night after my arrival come flooding back.

“Zeus…” She cried as I spread her open on the silk bed, her ass raised for me.

She had been dressed in a silk shift that felt like second skin. Her cries of pleasure filled the room as I sucked her juicy center. Drank her in like nectar.

“Zeus… I’m gonna cum…” Her voice strained as she cried out, and I pushed a finger inside her wet core. Silencing her with another wave of pleasure.

“Commander.” Theresa’s voice pulls me back now.

Sultry. Smooth.

She stands beside me now, dressed in a blue silk gown, diamonds gracing her neck.

She looks beautiful.

But not as beautiful as Athena.

The thought slams into me.

I still. Shake my head sharply.

Where the fuck did that come from?

“Theresa.” Admiral Joal, one of the Naval Commanders I had been speaking with, smiles at her.

She offers him a polite smile but rubs her shoulder flirtatiously against mine.

Theresa Holland. One of the captains directly under my brother’s command. Rumored to be his loyal spy. And probably his whore too.

A woman I know was sent by my brother to monitor my every move. But I have my uses for her. Not just the exceptional sex. She feeds me information whenever I need it. For instance, the real reason for this party.

“Why is my brother organizing this party?” I had asked her last night after I made her scream my name more times than she thought possible.

She sipped from the glass of red wine in her hand. A vintage. Merlot.

“Norman wants to publicly demote a couple of generals. General Zoya and General Antoine.”

She informed me casually.

I stared at her. Stunned. Though I managed to hide my surprise.

“He wants to use it as a warning to the others. Anyone secretly joining the rebels, like those two did, will be publicly humiliated and imprisoned.” Her words had chilled me.

Those were two of his most loyal generals.

So how had they become disloyal?

Theresa picks up a glass of champagne now, sipping delicately.

“You look handsome, Commander. As always.” Her voice drips with seduction.

I raise a brow and flick a glance toward the men behind me, who don’t seem to hear her.

“And you look ravishing.” I smile as I slowly circle her. She smiles wider. “You know my brother must be watching us, and you came to stand with me anyway,” I say casually.

My eyes drift toward Norman. He is currently engaged in conversation with his mother and some generals. Though his gaze still lingers on us.

His mother hasn’t stopped glaring at me since I arrived this evening.

I shouldn’t have received an invitation.

My mother and I rarely ever do. But because Norman wanted me here, one was sent.

“I don’t care if Norman watches, Zeus.” Theresa smirks. “I enjoy being with a man who makes me writhe in bed like a raving lunatic.”

I pause directly in front of her.

“Are you saying no man has ever fucked you the way I do?” My voice drops to a whisper.

“Even Norman?”

The words fall between us like a blade. She freezes. Eyes widening with horror. Shock.

“Yes, Theresa. I know you are with Norman. I’ve always known.”

My voice stays quiet.

Controlled.

She tries to recover.

But it's too late. Her mask has already cracked.

“I...I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her voice is thinner now. Nervous.

I lean closer, about to speak, when Norman’s voice suddenly booms through the surrounding speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Good evening. And welcome.” He breaks into one of his arrogant laughs. Others follow.

Slowly, I turn my gaze toward him. Our eyes lock. “Tonight, I intend to do two things. Award one of my loyal commanders and reprove two others.”

Murmurs ripple through the ballroom. Then movement catches my eye. I turn and freeze.

Athena.

She stands near a floor to ceiling window only a few steps away. A peach colored willowy curtain blows softly across her face. She is dressed in a white sheer gown. Her long hair spills behind her.

She looks, beautiful. Sensual. No. Ethereal.

Untouchable.

“Athena…” The whisper tears from my throat as I move toward her.

She giggles. Softly. Playfully. “Commander… you have to catch me if you want to see me…”

Her voice echoes through the walls as she suddenly disappears.

My pulse spikes. I dart my eyes around, searching for her.

How is she here?

“Athena… how are you here?” My voice comes out rough. Raspy. Broken.

She giggles again.

This time she is behind Theresa. Hiding. Smiling.

“By the time you get back, I will be gone…”

I go still.

Gone? Gone where?

My eyes widen. I move toward her, but she vanishes again. Just like that.

“Zeus...Zeus.”

I blink. Whip my head toward Theresa's voice. She is staring at me now. Confused. Alarmed.

“Are you alright?” She asks.

I blink again. Then hear my name being called from the podium. All eyes are on me.

“Norman has called for you. He asked you to come to the stage.” Theresa says it slowly, cautiously.

I nod fast. Already walking. The spotlight lands on me as I move.

When I reach Norman, he smiles.

“I am here tonight to congratulate the efforts of my brother. Battle Chief of all the regions, Commander Zeus Ironheart.” Norman extends his hand. I take it. He raises it high.

“Well done, brother, for always taking control. I am proud of you.”

Cheers erupt around us.

He pulls me into an embrace. But my mind is still trapped in who I just saw. Athena.

Was that truly her?

Or some apparition meant to drive me insane?

“Meet me in my office in a few seconds.” Norman’s voice slides low into my ear as he embraces me.

He pulls back, staring at me for a beat. Then turns back toward the guests. “And as for the two generals who betrayed my trust, I hereby sentence them to life imprisonment with hard labor. General Antoine and General Zoya. Their positions are hereby stripped from them.” More cheers explode below.

I turn a stunned look toward my brother. Even now, shocked that he could discard two loyal generals so easily.

As we head back toward his office, I still cannot steady my thoughts.

Athena? Here? How?

Norman disgracing his own generals?

Something is wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Seconds later, we are inside Norman’s office.

The steady crackling of the fire fills the room.

The last soldier exits.

The door clicks shut behind him. Heavy and oppressive silence follows.

I turn toward Norman.

Just in time for his fist to collide brutally with my jaw. Pain explodes through my skull. I stagger backward.

Stunned.

“How dare you allow a rebellion rise against me in the Silvaton Wing?” Norman thunders. “How dare you, Zeus?!”

And when I look at him again, he's got a sword pressed against my throat. Its blade bites into my skin. Sharp and cold. Drawing blood.

Death screams at me from inches away.

Norman’s eyes blaze with murderous fury.

And for the first time in years I realize my own brother might actually kill me tonight.