Page 12 of Summer's Seduction
Zeus kept his cold eyes fixed on me a moment longer before nodding. “She should be along any moment now.”
“What’s keeping her?” Morpheus drawled between sips of wine. “I would very much like to retire early tonight. As Larkspur has mentioned, it’s been a long day.”
Zeus’s eyes narrowed as the fine hairs along my arms rose, just like when Hermes appeared.
“It would seem they’ve arrived,” Zeus said, his words carrying despite how low he spoke.
“What do you mean by ‘they’?” Hades breathed, voice leeched of warmth.
Zeus’s lips quirked at the corners, his blue gaze glimmering with what had to be the closest thing to joy he could experience. “The Olympians.”
MORPHEUS
For fuck’s sake. Would this night never end?
Lightning cracked through the hall, Hermes’s dagger cleaving the air in two until four figures appeared behind her.
Hera stepped forward first. Flowing, the royal blue fabric was styled in elegant waves draped across her thin frame. She was tall, the arching golden crown set atop her head seeming to lengthen her. Large eyes swept the table, the soft browns of her gaze hard when they took note of Larkspur’s beauty.
I risked a glance toward Zeus as Hera took the seat to his right, finding that his gaze had, indeed, been fixed on Larkspur with growing fascination. I wasn’t sure if the extra attention for my little monster was hatred or something else, but the God of Gods needed to be wary. Hera was not one to trifle with, and we all knew Larkspur would be the one to suffer for his unwanted attention. If Hera’s presence didn’t curb Zeus’s interest, I would.
Cupid stepped forward next, filling the seat between me and the goddess. He was a quiet man, covered in toned muscle from head to toe, with a pair of white feather wings arching behind him. His long golden hair was tied and twisted back in a network of braids across the top. The sides were shaved, exposing thehalf-dozen piercings lining his ears. Thick lashes framed rich brown eyes, his gaze made all the more alluring by the thin scar running down his right cheek. None knew how he got it, but it must have been something powerful to scar a god.
Regardless of his impressive physique, Cupid hated the attention of being one of The Olympians garnered. His mother, Aphrodite, was always encouraging him to seek more and to grow whatever power he had. Supposedly, he was gifted in affairs of the heart, or perhaps it was the body? It didn’t matter. He didn’t use his powers. Despite his mother’s urgings and capabilities, Cupid preferred the shadows.
Without a word, he sat, draining the red spiced wine in three gulps before signaling for more.
Hermes’s portal, held open by the Caduceus, flashed again before another figure emerged. A tall man with tanned, weathered skin and curly, light brown hair reaching the tops of his shoulders strolled forward. His blue robe was held together with a single tie set low along his chiseled waist. The material appeared thin and silky, shimmering faintly as if it had been crafted by the finest threads of The Aegean Sea. A bronzed trident was clasped in his hand, the weapon clattering loudly as the God of the Sea tossed it on the table and took a seat just to the left of Zeus.
“Good evening, brother.” Poseidon dipped his head toward Zeus before sparing an upturned glance toward Hades. “Hades. Nice to see you’ve managed to get a hold of your death magic. The last I heard, we were on the verge of an apocalypse.” A long sigh escaped him as he scooted the chair in, the legs scraping loudly. “Pity.”
Another flash of the portal was followed by large combat boots stomping across the hall. Ares claimed the seat between Poseidon and Hecate, the scent of spoiled blood and old sweat wafting through the air. Ares was built like a bear, with light blueeyes colder than a glacier and short blonde hair cropped close to his skull. His shirt was tucked into thick pants held in place by a leather belt. The deep pockets were filled with various weapons he could reach with a moment’s notice.
He was war personified in all the worst ways. I knew there was a cost to peace. I’d come to understand that some beings needed to be made an example of, but there was always a reason behind my actions.
Ares, though, lived for the slaughter—it didn’t matter if they were innocent or even children. He loved death for the power it granted him. For the high that came with ending something.
“Pity, indeed,” Ares echoed Poseidon’s earlier sentiments. “I was looking forward to a war of the realms.”
Larkspur huffed in indignation as she shifted in her seat. Traces of eucalyptus and honey scented the air as she brushed back her hair, attempting to hide the slight, but the Olympians saw everything, and like hyenas, they gathered around the calf.
My little monster straightened under their hungry eyes, tilting her chin up as she stared down the most powerful beings in existence… And I thought I had a death wish.
“Forgive me, Lord Poseidon.”
My eyes narrowed as the silkiness of the title rolled from Larkspur’s lips. It wasn’t persuasion, but Larkspur’s own skills at disarming an opponent without them even realizing she was under their skin. I didn’t like her referring to anyone as ‘Lord’, even if it was required for this situation.
“I’m sure I’m mistaken, but it sounded like you would’ve preferred death magic remain unchecked.
Poseidon looked her over, his gaze lingering a moment too long on the bodice of her gown still damp from our meeting in the pomegranate grove.
“It would have been nice to remake the world,” Poseidon answered. “Humans these days are so entitled, praying toany new god who comes along. We should have insisted on obedience. On worship.” Poseidon turned toward Zeus, clearly replaying a tired conversation. Emboldened by Ares’s agreement, Poseidon continued. “We’ve allowed them to believe in far too many gods. It should be just us—only the Olympians—who receive prayers.”
“Enough, brother,” Zeus said.
A tense silence descended, growing thicker with each second that passed. Larkspur shifted in her seat, doing her best not to draw attention. Even Hecate seemed at a loss for words. Persephone gestured toward the far end of the hall, signaling for the first course to be brought out immediately.
Everyone hated the silence, though none dared to speak. But me? I sat back and watched as the most powerful creatures in existence squirmed.