Chapter 34: Aphelion

I am not too concerned about the Beckett-Katrina issue. I know that they'll resolve their issues on their own time. I hope their own time is soon, especially since my father has turned his interest toward our little mate.

After Beckett left, Samael exploded, which is not like his nature. I'm not sure what happened in the underworld, but whatever's going on, hopefully, he can figure that out. Right now really isn't the time for us to be falling apart.

As soon as I hastily retreat from our dormitory, leaving Katrina alone with Miles, I head toward Hermes' office to schedule our meeting with my father and his council. On the way there, I can't help but recall the events this weekend as I try to find any way possible to prolong this meeting even further.

**Three Days Ago**

As I walked through the golden gates of the sky kingdom, I grimaced at the sight of Hilda sitting on the throne in front of my mother Hera, the throne meant for my intended.

"Hilda." I replied sharply, "what are you doing here?"

"Oh, Phil." She replied, smiling innocently, "Mama Hera invited Daddy and me to a family gathering. They wanted to talk about the rumors circling that you'd found your fated and mated with her, Phil. I, of course, told them that was a lie, that you would never mate with another before breaking it off with your intended; you aren't that type of guy,"

I rolled my eyes at Hilda, we both know the game Hilda is playing at, and it isn't going to work. No one and I mean absolutely no one, not even the Sky King himself, can tell I cannot be with my fated mate.

I nod at Hilda's statement before walking through the throne room and further into the palace towards my quarters. Part of me wished Katrina could be with me this weekend instead of with Samael; I ached to plant myself inside of her again, and my soul ached to be near hers, but I also know how important this weekend is to Samael, and I want Katrina to get on with all of her mates. I want her, and I want my cousins to be happy.

I hear the faint click-clack of heels behind me, and I slow down to let whoever is behind me catch up. I catch the familiar perfume of my younger sister Hebe.

"You've done it this time, Phil. Dad is pissed." She states as she falls in step beside me.

"On a scale of Cronus to Pandora, how mad?" I ask as I reach the door to my main chambers.

"Definitely Pandora's box mad. He's been in a meeting with Thor the entire day. Thor was ready to storm the kingdom with his army and take over. If mom wasn't here, I fear there would have been bloodshed." Hebe replied, twirling the ends of her long red hair, an attribute we had both gotten from our mom.

I mutter something foul about the temper of thunder gods under my breath as I turn my doorknob and push my door open. Inside, strewn across the foyer, are women's items; multiple Gucci suitcases, at least half a dozen bags from different fancy boutiques, and enough heels to wear a different pair every day.

"Please tell me your quarters are being renovated?" I whine at Hebe, trying and failing to keep my temper down as tiny electric sparks appear around the room.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," She hums, "the only way mom managed to stop the impending war was to invite Hilda to stay on at the palace in your quarters."

A loud crack of lightning pierced the sitting table in the middle of the foyer, striking it into shreds.

"Whelp! I gotta go!" She exclaims, turning sharply and high tailing it out of my room.

Lighting continues to swirl around the inner entrance of my quarters, destroying everything in its path. Hilda's luggage is all but incinerated by the time I get my anger under control, but I could honestly care less. She was the entire reason the war almost happened.

I stormed out of my chambers, not bothering to change, and back to the throne room, intent on giving Hilda and her dramatics a peace of my mind. The world thought Zeus was hard on his first wife, Oceanid Métis, that would be nothing compared to what I had planned for Hilda. I wouldn't just turn her into a fly and swallow her whole. I would make her regret the day she ever dreamed of becoming my Queen, and only after that will I provide her with the mercy of removing her from existence.

My father and Thor were now sitting in the throne room with my mother and Hilda.

"I will not marry Hilda." I proclaim, "Oh and darling dearest," I call Hilda facing her, "You'll need to find elsewhere to sleep, don't worry about your belongings. They've already been thrown out."

I hear a chuckle from the corner where my mom's throne sits; hiding behind the skirt of her dress is my littlest brother, Karios. He looks like a miniature version of my father, but he has an innocence in his eyes that reminds me of our mother. He's only seven and really is too young for court proceedings, but my mother fears that our father has made threats toward his life; so now she won't let him out of her sight. Hence him being here today.

"Aphelion!" Our father roars my name, thunder clouds clapping in the sky, "What is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning, dear father, is that Hilda has forgotten to inform both you and Thor that I introduced her to my mate the day after I met her," I reply, trying my hardest not to lose my temper again.

"You can't honestly believe that little nobody is your mate." Hilda scoffs, looking at her nails in disinterest.

"Don't you dare speak of your future Queen in that manner!" I roar, causing my father's thunderclouds to increase in sound, the ceiling in the throne room rattling the chandeliers due to the noise.

"Gentlemen, Hilda," My mother's sweet voice engulfs the room in its tone, "Maybe we should take a moment to talk this through before our tempers destroy our home." I can feel my mom's calming aura trying to breach through my anger, but I steel myself; I don't want my anger to be brushed over. I have every reason to be pissed right now.

Sometimes I think the only reason my parents are still together is the magnitude of power they both hold. My mother's divine gift washes over Thor, Hilda, and my father. Her power immediately overtakes Hilda's emotions, and while it struggles with Thor and my father, who are at higher power levels, it eventually calms them. The only sounds of thunder are coming from my anger; while the noise can still be heard, it is quieter than it was before, and the celling no longer looks like it is going to cave in. My mother pushes more forcefully at me with her power, but I can still keep up my impenetrable shield. Sorry Ma, but I am of your blood; your divine gifts don't work that well on me.

Thor is the first to speak after my mom releases her hold on her powers. "Mate or not, this betrothal treaty has been in effect since Aphelion and Hilda were born. Hilda has been brought up and raised to be the Queen of the Sky Kingdom. You cannot think that a girl from the human world, who knew nothing about our world, would make a better Queen than my Hilda."

"Whether she would make a better Queen or not isn't up for discussion." I reply, trying to keep the edge out of my tone, "My mate's future has been prophecized since the one holy kingdom became four. As mate and the mate to my cousins, it is Katrina's birthright to be Queen. She will be the one who makes the kingdoms whole once again."

"Why do the kingdoms need to be whole?" Hilda whines, "The four kingdoms are at peace; we work together in harmony. We don't need to be united."

Thor grunts his agreement. It doesn't surprise me that the Gods of the Norse would think this way. The only living gods of power left were Thor, Odin, and Loki. Odin was too old to rule, and Loki only cared about one thing: Lilith. The Norse aren't concerned about the other three kingdoms, so they do not care if they perish or fall to the hands of our enemy.

"How about the coming darkness also foretold in the prophecy?" I ask Hilda directly, knowing she'd never been privy to hearing the entire Prophecy.

My father laughs loudly, "You children sure our stuck on that Prophecy. Just because three ancient cronies told the Prophecy does not make it accurate. And I don't know why you four boys are so obsessed with a mate. Who would want to have one woman among four when you can have any women you please."

I can feel my mother's anger wrapping around the room. My father's infidelities are no secret; the entirety of the kingdoms know he has children. Still, it wasn't usually something he discussed so openly or ever in front of her.

"Whether you believe in the Prophecy or not, it is still the ruling of Jehovah, the original God, that the mate bond stands above all other treaties, betrothals, or contracts. With that being said, since I have found my mate, I no longer consider myself engaged to Hilda. This discussion is no longer needed." I reply, standing up, readying myself to leave the throne room again.

"Then we should discuss your so-called mate's "gifts." Hilda replies, wrinkling her nose at the word gifts, "I never knew someone of divine power to be a succubus."

Zeus, Hera, and Thor all turn their heads to look at me, waiting for my reply, but I am at a loss for words for once. I don't know what to say to make this better. I clear my throat, pausing to gather my thoughts before turning my attention back to Hilda. "My mate has been gifted divine powers the same as you and I, and just because her infinity over electricity is stronger than yours doesn't mean she is a succubus."

"It wasn't her power Katrina hit me with." Hilda snarkily replies, " I know what your electricity feels like, Aphelion. It has a special signature to it that anyone who has been touched by it can feel. She struck me with that power before you mated her."

"I want her brought in immediately for questioning!" Thor roared, my mom's calming powers waning, "If she is a demon, the council needs to banish her... no, they need to put her to death for her trickery."

"No one touches my mate!" I holler, lightning crashing in the room, striking directly at Thor's feet. If he weren't a conduit for lightning, he would have been critically injured by my strike.

"Now, Now. Phil." My father remarks, laughing as if this is all a joke, "calm down, my boy, no one will harm your mate," He pauses, "As long as she is innocent." He stands from his throne and walks toward me, "The council has been wanting to meet this Katrina for some time already, since the moment it was reported she used Michael's gift of divine light; bring your woman to the castle so she can be presented before the council."

"Father, we have classes..." I start to reply before he interrupts me.

"I wasn't asking Aphelion. You will bring your mate and present her to the council." My father commanded before beckoning Thor to leave the room with him.

**PRESENT DAY**

Part of me still wanted to seek Hilda out and teach her a lesson about fucking with my mate and me, but the saner part knew that Hilda could wait. My main focus was Katrina and getting her ready to meet with my father and the council. I hoped that the council would assume that Katrina could exhibit our magical powers with our signatures; with mates being so rare, they wouldn't have prior knowledge of how the bonds worked with multiple mates. The most important part was going to be teaching Katrina how to control her other demonic powers, powers that I had a feeling would begin to surface now that she had mated with Luka.

"Hermes," I call out, summoning my father's messenger once I reach his office, "I have a message for you to relay to Zeus. Inform him that Katrina will meet with the council per Jehovah's code in one month. Advise him that if midterms finals interfere with the council meeting, we will have to reschedule. It was made into law that academic courses at the academy come before all else." I state, not bothering with pleasantries. I was the heir to the Sky Kingdom; it was high time I started acting as such.

**AUTHOR'S NOTE**

***Extra long chapter tonight, let me know if you enjoyed it or not in the comments below. Also do you prefer updates as soon as a chapter is complete or would you rather, bulk updates once a week? Xoxo Marriah***