I Enslaved The Goddess Who Summoned Me

After completing his visit to Spartacus’s home and delivering his warnings about increased vigilance, Nathan took the remainder of that afternoon for something equally important but far more personal—rest, or more accurately, meditation focused on managing the tremendous burden he carried within himself.

He found a secluded spot in the forest beyond the gladiators’ settlement, far enough from any habitation that he wouldn’t be disturbed or accidentally harm anyone if something went wrong. Settling into a cross-legged position on the moss-covered ground, Nathan closed his eyes and turned his attention inward, focusing on the roiling darkness that perpetually churned within his core.

The curses from Pandora’s Box that he had willingly absorbed two years ago remained as terrible and corrosive as ever, constantly working to corrupt and destroy him from the inside. Training himself to control and contain that malevolent power was an ongoing struggle that required daily meditation and tremendous willpower.

Over the past two years, Nathan had definitely become more skilled at managing the curses’ influence. The overwhelming pain that had initially threatened to consume his sanity had diminished to more tolerable levels, though “tolerable” remained relative—it still hurt enormously, a constant aching presence that never truly went away.

It was extraordinarily difficult to fully adapt to carrying such darkness, but Nathan had discovered he could push aside the worst of the pain primarily through strategic application of his Dark Magic. By channeling his own dark energies in specific patterns, he could create temporary buffers that insulated his consciousness from the curses’ most vicious attacks. The technique wasn’t perfect and required constant maintenance, but it allowed him to function normally rather than being perpetually crippled by agony.

Two years.

It had been a full two years since Nathan had departed from Rome after Caesar’s fall.

The passage of time felt both longer and shorter than it should—longer because so much had happened during those twenty-four months, shorter because there remained so much yet to accomplish.

It was quite surprising to outside observers that during these two years, Nathan had remained relatively silent and seemingly inactive regarding the Light Empire . Many had expected him to launch attacks immediately, to strike while his various alliances were fresh and his reputation at its peak. Instead, he had taken no overt military actions, made no aggressive moves, maintained an almost suspicious quiet.

But Nathan refused to become impatient or rush into conflict before proper preparation was complete. Hasty action born from emotion rather than strategy was how battles were lost and kingdoms fell. He would move against the Light Empire when circumstances aligned perfectly, not a moment before.

Instead of premature aggression, he had focused these two years on himself—on his personal growth, his steadily increasing power, his mastery of new abilities and refinement of existing skills. And equally importantly, he had devoted considerable time to the family members he could actually visit and spend time with.

He had returned to Rome multiple times to be with Servilia, fulfilling the promise he’d made to be present for their daughter’s birth.

Aelia.

The experience of witnessing Servilia give birth in person had been profoundly moving in ways Nathan hadn’t fully anticipated. It was entirely different from simply hearing about a child’s arrival after the fact—actually being present during the labor, seeing the struggle and pain involved, then watching new life emerge into the world created emotional connections that abstract knowledge couldn’t match.

He had been reminded viscerally of how agonizing childbirth was for women, the sheer physical trauma their bodies endured to bring children into existence. Yet simultaneously, it was perhaps the most blissful and sacred moment imaginable—the creation of new life, the beginning of a person who would carry forward both parents’ legacies.

His bond with Servilia had only strengthened through that shared experience, deepening into something more profound than mere romantic or physical attraction.

Speaking of relationships and their evolution, similar developments had occurred with Fulvia and Julia over these two years.

Fulvia appeared to have genuinely discovered passion for political involvement during Nathan’s absence. She had joined her father Fulvius in navigating Rome’s complex senatorial politics, actively working to establish herself as an influential figure in her own right rather than merely as someone’s beautiful daughter. The transformation from playful seductress to serious political operator had been remarkable to witness.

As for Julia, she was following a path similar to Licinia’s—receiving comprehensive education to become a proper Roman noblewoman with all the knowledge and skills that status required. They were still quite young compared to Servilia and Fulvia, so their development focused more on preparation for future roles rather than immediate political engagement.

Obviously, Nathan had been intimate with all three during his visits to Rome—Servilia, Fulvia, and Julia—spending quality time with each woman individually to maintain and deepen those connections.

Interestingly, he still hadn’t fully consummated his relationship with Licinia specifically, deliberately waiting for what he considered the right moment. Part of him wanted to make her anticipation build even further, to let desire and yearning intensify until she was absolutely desperate for that final intimacy.

Beyond Rome, Nathan had also traveled to Alexandria for the monumentally important occasion of Cleopatra giving birth to their child .

Their son—Ptolemy XV .

Cleopatra had achieved exactly what she’d desired—a male heir to secure her dynasty’s future and silence any remaining questions about succession. But more importantly than political considerations, she had seemed genuinely, overwhelmingly happy to have become a mother. The transformation in her demeanor when holding their son had been striking—the calculating queen momentarily replaced by a woman experiencing profound maternal joy.

Nathan had felt similar happiness witnessing his son’s arrival, pride mixing with the weight of additional responsibility.

Alexandria had flourished dramatically under Cleopatra’s rule during these two years, growing even more powerful and prosperous. Her position had been reinforced tremendously after she successfully reclaimed the Heroes of Amun Ra and reestablished Amun’s mystical protections. Now she stood absolutely secure as both Queen and Pharaoh—no one in Alexandria dared speak against her, and foreign powers treated her with the respect due to a truly formidable ruler.

Arsinoe had remained steadfastly supportive, always at her sister’s side, their relationship having transformed from bitter rivalry into genuine sisterly cooperation.

Similarly, both Freja and Elin had become important supporters of Cleopatra’s regime. It seemed the queen had completely won them over during Nathan’s extended absences. As expected, honestly—few people could resist Cleopatra’s charisma and strategic charm when she chose to deploy them fully .

During that same visit to Alexandria, on the very night after Cleopatra had given birth, Nathan had sex with both Freja and Elin together, recreating their earlier encounters. The three of them had spent hours together, their passion intense sex was loud enough that sounds of their lovemaking had definitely echoed through the palace corridors.

As much as Nathan had wanted to be with Cleopatra immediately as well, he had obviously allowed her proper time to recover from childbirth despite her protests. The queen had genuinely wanted him that first night regardless of having just delivered a child, but Nathan refused to risk her health. After several days of recovery, when her body had healed sufficiently, he had finally made love to her properly.

Cleopatra’s divine blessing from Isis made her considerably stronger and more resilient than ordinary women, allowing faster recovery than would normally be possible.

Nathan could still vividly remember Arsinoe’s absolutely mortified expression when she had accidentally burst into the room and caught them in the midst of passionate lovemaking. The younger princess had frozen in the doorway, eyes going impossibly wide as she processed the scene before her.

Nathan hadn’t stopped or even slowed his movements despite the interruption, continuing to fuck Cleopatra from behind with steady intensity while Arsinoe stood paralyzed with shock and embarrassment. The memory of her flustered attempts to stammer apologies while backing out of the room still brought a slight smile to his face.

Since that incident, Arsinoe had been unable to meet Nathan’s eyes directly during the remainder of his visit, her face flushing pink whenever they were in the same room. She would look away quickly, finding sudden interest in walls or furniture or literally anything except acknowledging his presence.

Well, Nathan would have had to be completely blind—or willfully oblivious—not to notice that Arsinoe clearly wanted something more from him beyond mere friendship or familial connection through her sister. The signs were unmistakable to anyone paying even minimal attention, and Nathan was far too observant to miss the longing looks and carefully calculated “accidental” encounters that characterized her behavior around him.

But addressing that particular complication would require time and careful consideration he currently lacked.

Moving beyond Amun Ra, Nathan had also made several visits to the Achaean continent during these transformative two years.

He had traveled briefly to Troy accompanied by Kassandra, visiting his extended family there—Hector and Aeneas primarily, along with their respective households . The city had continued thriving in the years since the war’s conclusion, prosperity evident in expanded construction and the general atmosphere of confidence that permeated Troy’s streets.

Hector’s wife Andromache had given birth to a daughter to accompany their son, expanding their family in ways that clearly brought both parents tremendous joy . Interestingly, their son had developed quite a close friendship with Nathan’s own son Laios—Kassandra’s child—the two boys being nearly the same age and spending considerable time together whenever circumstances allowed.

Nathan’s visit to Troy had also demonstrated with crystal clarity that his legendary reputation as Heiron—the identity he’d worn during the Trojan War—hadn’t diminished even slightly over the intervening years. If anything, the passage of time had only enhanced his mythological status. He was still universally regarded as one of Troy’s greatest heroes, the warrior whose intervention had arguably saved the city from Greek conquest.

That hero worship extended even into his family circle, evidenced by the extremely admiring—borderline worshipful—gazes he consistently received from Polyxena . Hector and Kassandra’s youngest sister seemed absolutely captivated by him, her eyes following his movements with an intensity that was impossible to misinterpret. She had grown from the young girl he vaguely remembered into a beautiful young woman, and her interest in him was anything but sisterly.

Unfortunately, Nathan hadn’t really possessed sufficient time to properly address or even think deeply about that particular complication.

After concluding his time in Troy, Nathan had traveled next to Phthia to visit Khillea and their daughter Kyra, who had grown considerably since he’d last seen her.

Khillea remained as radiantly happy as ever, perhaps even more so than during previous encounters. Ever since revealing her true identity as a woman—abandoning the masculine persona of Achilles she’d maintained throughout the war—she had seemed liberated in fundamental way . Being able to exist authentically, to be seen and loved as herself rather than as the character she’d performed for so many years, had transformed her entire existence.

Having their daughter Kyra had only amplified that happiness, giving Khillea something precious to nurture and protect beyond mere battle glory.

Nathan had devoted as much time as he could spare to both of them—giving Khillea the physical intimacy and emotional connection she craved, expressing his love through actions that left no doubt about the depth of his feelings. And with Kyra, he had been as attentive and affectionate as any devoted father, playing with her, teaching her various skills, simply being present in ways his own scattered existence often prevented .

Kyra had inherited quite a bit of her mother’s fierce temperament—stubborn, passionate, quick to both affection and anger. She seemed perpetually disappointed and genuinely upset that Nathan always had to leave after relatively brief visits, returning only weeks or months later rather than remaining permanently. The confusion and hurt in her young eyes when he explained yet again that he needed to depart cut deeply every single time.

Nathan unfortunately couldn’t offer any immediate solution to that painful reality . His responsibilities were scattered across multiple continents, his women and children distributed so widely that being everywhere simultaneously was impossible .

But he had made Kyra a solemn promise—that one day, perhaps sooner than she thought, they would all be together permanently. He would create a home where his entire family could gather without separation, where she wouldn’t have to watch him leave repeatedly.

The promise had only marginally reduced her upset feelings, the abstract future seeming impossibly distant to a child’s perspective. So in the end, Nathan had made the decision to extend his stay, remaining in Phthia for an entire week rather than his initially planned shorter visit.

He had slept beside both Achillea and Kyra each night like a true united family, the three of them sharing space and time in ways that approximated the normal domestic life they all craved. Those seven days had been precious beyond measure—unhurried mornings, shared meals, evening conversations about nothing particularly important, the simple pleasure of being together without constant pressure .

During that extended visit, Nathan had also seen Thetis—Khillea’s mother.They had exchanged words on several occasions, conversations that remained superficially cordial while carrying undercurrents Nathan found increasingly difficult to ignore..

As always, he tried desperately not to misinterpret the clearly flirtatious comments she directed his way, the meaningful looks and deliberate touches that seemed to communicate interest beyond mere friendliness . Her signals were about as subtle as a hammer to the head, honestly, but Nathan hesitated to acknowledge them explicitly.

She was Khillea’s mother, after all. He didn’t want to make rash decisions that could complicate his relationship with Achillea though it seems not to disturb in the slightest Khillea.

But it definitely seemed like something was brewing there, some situation developing that would eventually require direct confrontation rather than continued avoidance.

All in all, these two years had been remarkably eventful.

Yet despite all those accomplishments and connections, one massive regret overshadowed everything else.

He remained unable to be with all the other women he loved, couldn’t see his remaining children, was forced to maintain distance from people who deserved his presence and attention. And the reason for that painful separation was singular and unchanging—they were ’trapped’ within the Light Empire’s territory.

But now—finally—Nathan knew with absolute certainty that the moment was rapidly approaching.