Chapter 3 - My Own Devices

Levi

I was sitting at one of the many round tables with Sol, Celeste, and a few of the other deities that I have somehow managed to get along with these days and trying to enjoy myself as much as my children were.

"Levi, would it kill you to actually have a good time? You look positively miserable." Selene took a sip from her wine glass as we all sat around eating, drinking, and carrying on with needless conversation.

I was honestly enjoying the break in the night's theatrics while we all waited for the future princesses to get ready to be announced. Selene had her midnight hair pulled back so tight it looked like it gave her a facelift, giving her an extremely youthful look. Why women do that to themselves is beyond me. Crazy. They're all crazy. I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Really? You're going to judge me for not acting like a drunken fool? What about your partner in crime? Where's he at? Why aren't you judging him for not being here?"

Sol and Celeste continued to help themselves to the free food and alcohol as they enjoyed what was probably the best entertainment at this damned party.

Selene glared at me, her diamond eyes barely seen through their tight slits. "You leave Fenrir out of this, Leviathan. He has his own personal things that he's dealing with right now."

I hid my smile, knowing that I had struck a nerve, and feeling determined to keep pushing my luck. "He's had personal issues going on ever since he started banging that witch. He should have known better."

Selene slammed her hand on the table. "Levi! Keep your mouth shut in regards to things you know nothing about!"

"It's true. He should have known better than to get tangled up with that old crazy bitty."

"First, she wasn't old when they started seeing each other. I would even have taken her to bed if they would have let me. Second, maybe if you got banged now and then you wouldn't be nearly so miserable in life." Eris smiled before she took a bite of whatever it was the fairies served us. She enjoyed being the Goddess of chaos. At least she doesn't look as up tight as Selene does tonight. True to her nature, her dark purple hair that matched her eyes looked slightly disarrayed, though comfortable, in some sloppy hairdo on top of her head.

I let out an amused, airy chuckle. "No one asked you, Eris."

"Yeah, could you maybe not talk about my dad getting laid? It's one of those things we just don't want to hear about." I rolled my eyes as Celeste smiled, clearly enjoying what was going on and wanting to join in on an opportunity to tease me. When I looked at my children, I could see why the council picked Samara. We were a surefire combination to produce children that looked as close to their cherished deity as possible.

"You know, no one ever does ask me, but that's never stopped my mouth from running before. I don't think I'll change any time soon."

"Eris, my dear. None of us expect you to ever change, especially after all of these years. Think of how dull life would be with all that peace and quiet!" Sol almost choked on his drink as Eris' face fell at Pan's words, but she quickly collected herself and returned fire.

"I'm surprised you took a moment from your food to talk. Don't you have some weeds or something you need to go eat? That's what half goats do, right Panny?"

"Alright you guys, zip it! Seraphina and Conláed are about to announce their daughters." I rolled my eyes as Selene put an end to our fun.

"I don't even know why I bothered coming to this, this is the most mundane thing I have ever sat through." I quietly grumbled as I watched a young woman with orange hair being shown off in some ridiculously flamboyant dress that was colored like fire.

"This is the most mundane thing? Coming from a lawyer, that's kind of rich." Eris winked at me as Selene flicked her hand at us, trying to get us to be quiet.

Next, a white-haired young woman in an extremely flowy, very light blue dress walked on the stage. She carried herself with pride, almost to the point I wanted to ask who shoved the stick up her ass.

"Free food and alcohol dad, that's the reason why you came and the reason you brought us along. Three free meals!" Sol happily took a mouthful of the mystery meat and I shook my head. That kid could eat anything.

"It is pretty good food, isn't it?" Pan took a break from eating to compliment the wonders he consumed.

The next woman wore a simple dirt-colored evening gown that matched her hair. Other than the dark green swirls that could be seen when the light hit it just right, everything was dirt brown. True to the fairy way for these pompous events, they all had a visual theme for the kingdom they were going to oversee.

"Pan, you're part goat, you'll eat anything. You do know that the plate and silverware aren't meant to be eaten, right?" I got in my little jab as he simply shrugged at me, putting another forkful of food into his mouth and quickly chewing it.

"Has anyone talked to Dis lately?" Eris looked around at all of us, waiting for someone to answer her question.

Selene finally took her eyes off of the stage. "No one has seen nor talked to him in I don't know how long. He sends his help to do all of his work and bidding for him. Hecate is worried that he's going to do something ignorant again, like try to find another Persephone or something."

"Where is that witch anyway?" I quickly looked around, realizing that I hadn't seen her in at least an hour.

"Probably three sheets to the wind and passed out somewhere." Eris ironically finished the drink in her hand after making her assumptions about Hecate's location.

It was at that moment my heart felt like it had stopped. I don't even think I was breathing as I watched the beautiful petite woman with dark green hair and fair skin start to walk across the stage. Her dark blue-green dress had a long train, and I tilted my head in confusion as she stopped mid way to her parents and started fighting with it as if it were stuck on something behind the stage.

"Don't do it, Fiona," Selene quietly whispered from her seat, her eyes not leaving the stage.

Fiona. Hearing her name made my heart beat quicken.

Eris let out an amused snort. "Na, do it girl. Do it for all of us!"

Sol, Celeste, Pan, and myself shared confused glances. It's like the two Goddesses knew what was going on, while the rest of us were clueless. I turned my eyes back towards the stage just in time to see the entire dress get torn off of Fiona's body, and I knew my eyes were as wide as the plates on the table we were sitting at.

Gasps and hushed whispers could be heard among all of the fairies, while Eris tried to contain her laughter. Fiona didn't miss a beat as she turned back towards her parents and continued walking in their direction. Seraphina had a hand placed over her mouth but it didn't hide the look of horror in her eyes, while Conláed simply lowered his head and shook it slowly.

"What on Earth is she wearing?" Sol's question broke my mental focus, but my eyes never strayed from the bold fairy who was clearly making a statement.

"Why does everyone always ask Gaia?" Pan was trying to be funny, but we all ignored him due to the show going on in front of us.

Selene cleared her throat. "She's wearing a water fairy's warrior suit, clearly it's been tailored to fit her properly. They shift colors depending on the water they're in."

"And let me tell you what, this moment will go down in history. She basically just threw traditions in their faces without saying a single word, a smile on her face the entire time. I love it!"

"You would love it, Eris!" Selene hissed in irritation.

"You're being unusually quiet, dad."

Thanks to my daughter, everyone at the table turned to look at me with curious expressions on their faces. But instead of answering them, my attention was focused on the young man who quickly ran up to Fiona with a robe, covering her and walking her off of the stage.

Selene's head quickly followed my eyes, turning her head in their direction before returning her gaze to me with a smug smile on her face. "That's just their older brother, Cerulean."

My eyes went wide as I realized that Selene had figured out what my problem was. Of course, the Goddess who forms mate bonds would be used to the expression on my face and what it meant.

I shrugged and took a large gulp of alcohol for the first time all night. "These aren't my people, so it's not my problem. There's no reason for me to have an opinion on it."

"But boy is this entertaining! I only wish my hands were dirty with this mess! I love this little fairy!" Eris chuckled while Selene glared at me.

That's exactly my problem, too. I loved this little fairy that I didn't even know, all because the animal part of me was screaming that she was my mate. But this shouldn't be, as not only am I a dragon, but a deity as well.

Fiona

Cerulean quickly hurried me off of the stage and into my bedroom, making sure no one followed us before he started questioning me.

"What on Earth were you thinking by doing that, Fiona!" He waved his hands in the direction of the stage that he had just dragged me off from.

I plopped down on my bed, folding my hands under my head as I stared at the ceiling. "Relax, Cer. I completely plan on playing this off like it was an accident that I didn't see coming."

"Everyone knows better than that!" I could hear the irritation in his voice and chose not to look at the judging expression I know he had to have.

"But no one can prove it, can they?"

"And the warriors suit you just happened to be wearing underneath?"

I jumped off the bed and ran my hands up and down the suit I made. "Oh, you mean this pretty color changing swimsuit? I made it all by myself! Aren't you impressed with my housewife skills?" I playfully batted my eyes, giving Cerulean a glimpse of my acting skills and how I'll play this off. "The elders wouldn't dare criticize me over a home-making skill. They try to encourage any little thing that keeps us females where they think we belong."

Ceru groaned in frustration as he looked up at the tall ceiling. "What in the absolute fuck am I going to do with you?"

"Love me and support me like a big brother should, and like the big brother you are?"

"I always will, Fiona. You know that."

I smiled at him in appreciation. "Why don't you go check in on the other three and mom? I'm sure that they're about ready to have a heart attack right now."

Ceru raised an eyebrow at me. "And just what do you think you're going to go do?"

"I'm going to go find somewhere to test this bad boy out! I didn't spend hours cussing and sewing just for show, you know. I made it to be functional, too."

Cerulean glared at me with untrusting eyes, but nodded his head before he left for damage control.

I smiled as I was finally left alone to do as I wished for the night. "Lake Powell, here I come!"