Page 103 of Invoking Ruin

“Where’s your guardian?” I ask her. “He should be scowling at me for looking at you any minute now.”

“Hephaestus doesn’t glare at you for looking at me,” she protests. When I raise my eyebrows, she gives a sheepish grin. “Perhaps a little. He’s downstairs, talking to Athena.”

“Chaos, what’s she doing here?”

“Scowling at everyone.” Lethe shrugs. “Though she’ll probably drink us all under the table later.”

“Remind me to hide the good wine,” I mutter, mostly to myself. Athena might not partake in pleasures of the flesh, but sex is literally the only thing she abstains from.

She’s a menace. In another life, I might have liked her. As it is, her presence is a sign I should make my escape as soon as possible.

“It’s a beautiful party,” Lethe says, changing the subject. “You look beautiful, too.” She motions at the green dress I’ve chosen, held up by little straps, not much more than wisps of fabric. Not something meant to be worn for long, but then again, I’m planning on losing it as soon as possible.

“It’s pretty enough. Yours is nice too, but couldn’t you have worn something cooler?”

The critique lands like a physical blow, Lethe’s brows furrowing. I curse.

“Sorry.” I swallow back more critique. “You look beautiful. I’m still getting used to inheriting Momus’ power.” To rub salt in my wounds, killing my uncle granted me his power of intense criticism in addition to my own powers, which I’m not entirely capable of controlling just yet.

Some part of me wonders if he ever learned to control it, or if his power controlled him his entire life. Can’t ask him now.

“It’s all right,” Lethe says, and I know she means it, the insult already forgotten.

I huff out a sigh. “At least I didn’t get any of Nyx’s powers.”

I figure the Void must have eaten them before they could transfer, along with a large chunk of me. Honestly, Nyx’s night-stalking would have been more fun, but I’m crammed full of enough destructive force, and weakened, still. I’m probably the last goddess who should be gifted extra powers.

Next to Eris, who'd inherited Erebus' powers over darkness. Something she confided in me, when I'd exposed my own new tricks.

“Where is Dionysus?”

I point behind me, towards the forest and the procession. “Doing what he does best: whipping mortals into a frenzy.”

When Lethe’s brows knit together, I chuckle. “Not a literal frenzy.” At least, I don’t think so.

“You aren’t with him?” Not watching him, she means. Seeing what he’s getting up to, or whom he’s getting up in.

I shake my head. “I’ll join him soon enough.”

I don’t need to stalk Dionysus anymore, though I still do from time to time for the joy of it. But when he comes happily to my bed each night, it takes away some of the driving need to possess him.

He wants me, cherishes me. Any chasing we do now is all just a game. My days of relentless pursuit are long over.

I don’t want them back.

As though he knows I’m thinking of him, the beat of the drums changes to a harsher, more primal rhythm, and I bite my lip.

The wild god summons me.

“That’s my cue.” I stand up straight, adjusting my dress.

“Have fun. There are plenty of rooms and darkened corners around here, if you’re interested in an audience tonight.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Enjoy yourself, sister. You deserve it.” Not entirely sure how to handle my sister encouraging me to fuck in public, I just nod and hurry down the stairs.

The party there is in full swing, but I steal through the crowd easily enough, making note of what couples or multiples are forming. Dionysus loves gossip. He’ll want to hear anything juicy in the morning.

Once outside, I spot Pegasus in his paddock. The simple wooden structure doesn’t really contain him, with his wings, but he loves the paddock and stable we had built for him all the same. He’s a spoiled, happy beast. He whinnies at me, and I stop to scratch his ears and tell him hello. When he sees I’ve brought no snacks, though, he loses interest, going back to his hay.

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