DA : Chapter 26: Brothers in Arms I

"Hah, finally!" Percy shouted in relief as he sat on a sofa in the living room of the House of Night.

He'd just finished his little talk with Lady Styx and it looked like things went well … a little too well.

"And here I thought she was married or something but noooo … she's just been saving herself for someone special," Percy groaned while crossing his arms. "Last thing I need is another goddess on my plate," he muttered before sighing. "Why me?"

"Maybe it's because you're too nice?" a soft voice said right behind his ear.

"Wow!" Percy started as he fell off the sofa and onto his ass to a chorus of giggles.

He looked at his 'attacker' to see Rhea looking down at him with mirth in her eyes. He pouted at her but that did nothing to stop her amusement. It didn't last though as his pout broke into a faint smile as he stood up and walked around the sofa to hug Rhea close to him.

She squeaked a little in surprise but then he just kissed her, being all too happy to see her. She returned the kiss in kind and for a while they just remained like that, locked in a gentle massage of lips. After they finally broke apart Percy kept their foreheads together before whispering.

"Told you I'd come back in one piece."

"You did," Rhea replied with a smile.

Percy smiled warmly at her but then recalled what he told Nyx before he left. His face got sober as he knew he had to tell her now. Rhea noted his change in demeanor, giving him a concerned look.

"I need to talk to you about something," Percy said softly as he led her to the sofa and sat them both down while holding her hands.

"What is it Percy?" she asked gently while running her thumb over the back of his hand.

Percy released a sigh as he thought about how to go about this but honestly he sucked with these sort of things. Could he just go outright and say 'Rhea I love you but also possibly another!' That wouldn't work and he might just end up with him getting slapped and Rhea was damn strong.

He would know, she once punched him through a wall during training. Deciding to try and be as direct as possible, while also delicate, he faced Rhea.

"Rhea … I love you," he said softly.

At his words Rhea's face lit up with joy as she looked back at him but before she could say anything he continued, "And I have for some time but … there's more." Her face became neutral as he said that, and it honestly worried him.

"… You see, before I came down here I was sort off … falling for someone else as well. I didn't really plan on it happening but I'm pretty sure that I like her, maybe even love her too."

"So what are you asking me?" Rhea said in an even tone.

"Well … I don't know," Percy said with a defeated slump of the shoulders. "I want to stay with you and make you happy … but I just couldn't hide this from you." He suddenly turned his head down, letting his midnight hair obscure his eyes. "I'd understand if you don't want to keep seeing me knowing that you aren't the only one in my heart and all bu-mmph!?"

Percy was shot up when Rhea suddenly grabbed his face and pulled him into a searing kiss. He was completely at her mercy as her lips worked around his, nibbling him occasionally. For what felt like an eternity they remained locked together until Rhea finally pulled back, a strand of saliva still connecting them.

"Percy … I love you too," Rhea said in such a warm voice that Percy felt as if his heart could start melting as he looked into her beautiful hazel-gold eyes. "I've already had some time to think about this."

"How?" he asked.

"A little bird told me," she replied with a shrug. "And don't worry who. The point is that they did it for you and I'm proud that you still came up to tell me yourself," she continued on while cupping his face. "And honestly, it doesn't surprise me that your heart is more than big enough to love more than one person.

I know your loyalty is important to you but I would never make you fight your own heart and if that means I might have to share, then so be it."

Percy looked at Rhea in shock, his jaw gone slack as she giggled lightly at his expression. "Don't be too surprised. It wasn't too big of a shock if men, especially gods, had more than one significant other back in the times of Greece though your reasons are far more … wholesome. That and I took into consideration our animal natures."

"W-what!?" he asked.

"Well, you're a wolf and wolf alphas do tend to have several mates however …" She then suddenly jumped him, pushing him onto his back as she straddled him and held his hands at the sides of his head.

"Remember that I'm a lioness," she said with her fangs suddenly enlarging to become more prominent. He felt his own fangs elongate in response. "And as your first mate, I am the queen and will always be at the top," she growled into his ear before nipping it.

He growled in response before he turned his head and kissed her with a passion he didn't know he had. She soon released his hand and moved them to his hair, tugging him closer as his hands found her firm rear and gave them an appreciative squeeze.

She moaned into his mouth and he took the opening to have his tongue dart into hers, exploring every nock and cranny as her tongue tried to fight back. Soon he sat up before pushing her back so that he was on top, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.

"Gods I love you," Percy breathed before assaulting her lips again.

"Me too," Rhea replied between the kisses as her hands traveled over his defined pecks.

His hands soon joined in the exploration, one soon cupping her left breast and giving it a firm squeeze making Rhea moan into his mouth.

Soon he willed his coat of darkness to dissipate along with his shirt while he trailed kisses down Rhea's neck, her hands pulling his head closer as she mewled softly with his every kiss.

He started to near the swell of her breasts and was preparing to slide her dress straps off her shoulders but then she asked an odd question.

"So who is it anyways?"

"What!?" he shot back as he sat up slightly to look her in the face, loving the golden flushed color she had.

"Who's the other woman you're falling for?" she asked again while her fingers kept trailing his abs and lowering teasingly.

"Ah …" He was running blank right now.

Okay, Rhea was cool with him loving more than one person and that made him so happy that he nearly tried looking for a ring just to propose already … but sexy times first. Now however, he had to tell her who the other girl is and that she is in fact her own daughter … oh boy.

"…hm … tia …" he mumbled too low for her to catch.

"What?" she asked as she brought his head closer. "Percy you're going to have to talk clearly."

"…Hes …" he stopped again as he blushed in embarrassment.

"Percy," Rhea growled, getting a little tired of his hesitance.

"Hestia!" he blurted out making Rhea look at him in surprise.

They remained silent for a few minutes, all the while Percy had a radioactive blush going as Rhea stared at him. After what felt like too damn long Rhea spoke.

"Oh …"

'Oh! That's all!? You are being too calm about this!' Percy shouted mentally as he waited for her to continue. She just stared at him for even longer, her brow furrowing in deep thought for a while before she locked their gazes and muttered, "… Pervert…"

"Ha?" was his intelligent reply as Rhea gave him a frown while crossing her arms and bunching up her bosom. He had to keep his eyes locked with hers otherwise he'd be distracted again.

"Pervert," she repeated with a judging look. "Asking a mother to share her boyfriend with her daughter. Are you sure this isn't a fetish or something?"

Percy started choking on air and spluttering as he tried to think of a defense. He didn't just talk to his own heart and ask, 'hey, mind if we fall for a sweet girl and just so happen add her mother to it?' And now she was possibly (likely) upset about it.

However, his growing concerns were soon turned to confusion as Rhea started giggling while giving him a teasing look.

"Y-you're not upset?" he asked timidly, getting more confused by the moment by his girlfriend.

"Not really," Rhea said between her giggles.

"So you approve then?" Percy asked with a spark of hope igniting in his chest while Rhea settled down to speak properly.

"Well … umm … I think we can talk about that later," Rhea said with a shrug. "I can't say I don't approve since she is my only child that hasn't become a monster like the rest … well Hades too but he's too grumpy most of the time and a little vengeful and I'm not really sure what to think about Demeter."

'A little she says,' Percy mused as he sighed before leaning down and capturing her lips again but this time in a tender way, expressing his love for her through it. He could feel her smile into it as her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Have I mentioned how much I love you?" he asked as he broke away for a moment.

"So you keep telling me," Rhea replied before giving him a sultry look, "Now show me how much you love me."

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