The plan is simple—find my mate, bond her, and ascend as the next king of gods. I'm ready for this. Been preparing all my life. The world is mine, and nothing will stop me from fulfilling my destiny. Especially not a mortal female only meant as a means to my regaining my powers. But Irine isn't what I expected, and neither is the bonding, and that plan up there may need a tweak or ten.

Unlike a couple of my brothers, I want to find The One. Want to mate. Want to feel as happy and complete as Poseidon is with his female. And yes, I want to ascend. Sucks for me that my soulmate hasn't been located yet. Though maybe that's finally changed, judging from how my all-knowing supernatural grandpa insists I need to take this modelling job. Worst-case scenario, I'll spend a fun week on an island. And meet a gorgeous romance writer who seems surprisingly closed to true love. Can I change her mind, or does fate have other plans for me and Joy?

I can't risk bringing down her inhibitions. Not when it might destroy her. Yes, Poseidon and Hermes are ecstatically happy with their mates. Yes, they've also got super-cool powers, like blinking from place to place and affecting reality. Yes, I could have those powers too. No, I won't. Because I have something my brothers don't—memories from my first life. Doesn't matter that my soulmate just walked into my bar and my idiot of a brother hired her. I don't mess with my staff. And I won't be bonding with her. Or falling in love with her. Now can she please stop being so irresistible?

My soulmate is a Valkyrie? Seriously? How am I supposed to even find one of those, let alone bond with her? When one practically lands at my feet, she's not what I expected. Tilje's too much like me, and she's here on a mission. Valhalla needs help. Goes without saying that I'm the Olympian for the job, even if I haven't ascended yet. Which is totally up to her. I mean, I'm all about the bonding ritual when she's this close. But why does she resist the attraction she obviously feels for me? And how can I go about changing that?

Love will never break your heart again Second time someone promises that, and they say it as if it's a good thing. But I know better. Love won't break my heart again because I won't find love again. I know in my gut I'm not meant to bond with Laura "Fuoco" Rossi, even if C and fate decree otherwise. She's a model of international fame, and I'm... me. The ugly, scarred Olympios brother. The one who's never belonged anywhere. My ascension depends on our bonding, but a woman as beautiful and refined as Laura would have nothing to do with me of her own free will. That's why I won't give in to her advances, hard as that may be. And Gaia, is it hard.

I've chased Cassandra for millennia, though she's denied me and our bonding. I'd have given up long ago, if her resentful love didn't seep through our connection. Now she's finally conceded to be mine, but at what cost? I don't want to own her because of a bet; I want her to accept what she feels for me. What we are to each other. What we have. All I'm asking is for a chance to win her over. If I fail, I'm prepeared to forfeit the bond and my existence.