Tiny Gods

Book six in the Nate Temple Series.

Tiny Gods

## Blurb

*Power is patient, power is kind*…

No, wait. That’s not right. Power *corrupts*, and *absolute power* corrupts *absolutely*… Just ask Nate’s ex-fiancée.

It’s almost this wizard’s birthday, so, he can cry if he wants to. That is, if he lives to see it…

Because a lot of people want him dead: his fiancée, his long-lost ancestor, the good wizards, the dark wizards, and… Look, it’s easier to list who *doesn’t* want to kill him.

To prevent a Shifter vs. Wizard War, Nate steps in to draw a line in the sand, picking a fight with the deadliest magic slingers on the planet… and then he tries to rob them.

And with Achilles angry at Nate for crashing his Fight Night, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse breathing down his neck, Gods hiding behind mortal skins, and an accidental shifter infection with a cheerful Swedish male dancer, Nate has his hands full.

But when his enemies decide to wake a God, the only way for Nate to level the playing field is to open an early birthday present from the Mad Hatter… And that’s when he finds out that nothing is ever simple, and that no one was ever who he thought they were all these years.

## Opening

*Bullets shattered the back windshield of the Tahoe, but I had already been ducking down in the front passenger seat.*

*“What part of lose them was unclear to you? And you’re still going the wrong way,” I shouted, peeking over the back of my headrest. “You girls okay?” I asked, loud enough for the Reds to hear me over the sudden street noise and roar of our engine, let alone the van chasing us. They nodded, slowly climbing back into their seats from the floor.*

*“I know I’m going the wrong way, but I had to go the wrong way to lose the first two vans!” Alucard snapped, tires squealing as he jerked the wheel to avoid another barrage of pistol fire. “You didn’t have to break his damned arm! We could have just agreed to disagree.”*

## Plot

In order to confront the weregorillas due to an altercation at Shift, Nate, Alucard and the Reds find themselves in a car chase in the gorillas’ territory.  A hilarious romp of craziness.  All because Nate can never back down.  Working their way to an event to celebrate the new school, Alucard feels responsible for the girls and Nate is stubborn.  Nate remembers that he left an important invention from GrimmTech behind; he discovers that Greta’s grandson picked up the bag for him.  The gang picks up Yahn, who is at dance class, and his precious cargo on the way to the gala.  Alucard driving erratically on Nate’s instructions, the precious cargo and passengers get tossed around.  The invention, Nate’s tiny balls, adds chaos and hilarity to the ride with many phrasing violations.  They finally get to Chateau Falco but not before the Reds accidentally scratch Yahn!  Will he turn into a dragon or not?  Tory is going to kill Nate for this.  Not to mention, Raego.

### Pause here a moment WARNING, Possible Spoilers Ahead

Getting to the gala, things take a dangerous turn when the Syndicate spikes Tory’s drink.  Without her ability as a beast master, the  Shift kids - the servers for the event - begin to shift, surprising everyone.  Nate ends up fighting a weregorilla while Eae fights a weregoat.  Things continue to get worse when the Academy of Wizards kidnap Nate.  He encounters the grand mistress who tells him all the students at Shift will be killed.  She is surprised to learn that the Syndicate still exists.

Back at home, Nate discovers that Indie broke in and tried to steal the Looking Glass book.  She also visited the tree where the Gateway is.  Nate realizes that Indie and Ichabod are planning to bring the Grimms back via the Gateway.

Nate visits Raego and confronts Tory.  She is not happy with events of the day.  He talks to the weregorillas to reason out a compromise.  They want to join the fight club!  While there, he talks to Yahn and explains the concern about him shifting.  As a regular, he is surprised but excited, too. Raego will watch over him.

Nate makes a trip to the White Room and talks to the ginger there, who he calls the “Mad Hatter”.  He sees Silver Tongue and is appalled at the treatment he is receiving there.  The Mad Hatter gives Nate a birthday gift, a crystal mask!  He is shown that he can convert it to a coin as a disguise.  Must keep private.  Before Nate leaves, the Mad Hatter passes great magic to Nate in a touch.

Nate gets word that Yahn has turned and has disappeared.  Tory and Nate search and finally locate him, discovering that he is a special dragon.  A candy-painted invisible dragon!   Raego doesn’t know what to do with this new turn.

Along with Achilles, Mallory and Ganesh, Nate visits the Armory.  While the others are visiting Pandora and his parents, Nate takes a stroll.  Shiva makes a surprise visit.   Nate learns about the Hands of God and his parents learn the latest on Indie.  Mallory and Shiva have a private meeting. What is this about?

The Academy attacks the werewolves and Nate makes a stand.  Still on the outs with Gunnar, Nate must show that he means business, to both the Academy and Gunnar.  Werewolves have died in the attack and so a message of blood is sent back to the Academy.  Gunnar is shocked and realizes the sacrifice that Nate made on his behalf.  Nate and Gunnar have a heart to heart talk, fully revealing the events and why.  Gunnar is loyal to a fault.

Nate, Gunnar and Achilles meet to plan the next move, enjoying breakfast together. Carl walks in but he prefers the flesh of the unborn.  Word comes in of another attack on Shift!  Nate and Gunnar move the kids to safety.  Nate confronts Indie, and he and Tory battle the Syndicate.  The Syndicate trash is taken out.  With everything happening, Nate is especially hurting emotionally from the face-off with Indie.

Nate and Mallory visit the Sanctorum where Mallory reveals who he really is.  Nate is shocked but appreciates his honesty, finally.  With the news that Mallory is actually Pan, the Wild God, Nate feels better about the upcoming battles.

First up, a robbery to get one of the Hands of God.  Nate, Achilles, Gunnar and Mallory arrive at the ‘lost’ Library of Alexandria, controlled by the Academy, where they have planned their heist.  Mallory will stay at the motel while the others head to the library disguised as Asians.  Unfortunately, the heist is a bust!  They keep mentioning the Hands of God which clue in their plan.  A mysterious woman helps them escape.  Somehow, they end up on the Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain.

Back at Chateau Falco, they encounter Ichabod and Indie again.  They demand to go the White World.  Nate realizes that Indie is finally dead to him because of her betrayal.  The biggest surprise is the fact that the Mad Hatter is Matthias, Ichabod’s father!  Matthias sides with Ichabod about using the Hand of God to wake a god and free the Grimms.  Nate is frustrated by the turn of events.

Nate seeks answers so he turns to Mallory, aka Pan.   Mallory pledges his loyalty to Nate and Nate only.  A visitor arrives at Chateau Falco, it is G Ma (Grandmaster of the Academy) and she demands a duel with Nate. Nate asks Raego to be his second and when they meet for the duel, Nate discovers it is Raego’s grandmother, Gertie, that is G Ma’s second.  Team Temple is doomed!  Nate and Raego fight two old ladies.  Death arrives and gives Nate options.  G Ma is forced to make a deal.

Preparing for the Grimms’ arrival, Helmut Grimm is the only one who comes.  Nate had a few tricks up his sleeve; Silver Tongue and the Syndicate.  Indie and Ichabod’s plans fail.  But, not before Indie reveals to Nate his father’s ties to the Syndicate.

Nate goes to confront his father and discovers that time is limited.  His parents only have a short time left at the Armory.  Devastated, Nate says his goodbyes to them.   Afterward, Nate gets a dinner invitation from Ichabod; Indie has disappeared and he wants to make a truce between family.  Nate is torn so he decides that sometimes you need your dog, so he goes to Gunnar.

A warning of an attack alerts them and Nate makes his way to the Gateway.  Indie is trying to raise more Grimms but is unable to.  Ashley attacks Indie but Carl intervenes because of Nate’s relationship with her, despite its troubles.  Despite being threatened by Indie, Nate is still torn.  The Reds help neutralize Helmut.  Nate tells his team to prepare for war.

Nates takes calls from the Syndicate and the Academy.  He is getting as many forces he can to prepare for the war.  Before the massive meeting with everyone, he goes to talk to Indie, where he is keeping her in the dungeon.  He lets his frustrations out against all the actions and emotions that Indie has hurt Nate with.  Indie remains stoic and unresponsive through his whole talk.  What has happened to the Indie he fell in love with?

Time for a meeting.  All parties arrive and are treated as guests.  Nate states the obvious: Grimms and Elders being freed via the Gateway.  Ganesh, Achilles and Asterion are conflicted.  Discussion of which god that Indie might raise for her purpose.

Carl is injured.  Indie and Helmut escape.  The battle begins. Pan reveals himself.  Nate’s side subdues the enemy.  Indie is hurt but speaks her mind through pain.  She is hateful toward Nate but explains her actions against the Syndicate - they killed her mother! She still plans to raise a god to seek revenge-and still has the Hand of God to do it.

Van Helsing, Baba Yaga and the Huntress arrive for a birthday party.

G Ma and Cindy (head of Syndicate) show up after stopping Ichabod.

Suddenly, all of Nate’s Greek friends disappear.  The upcoming war is against the Greeks!