Page 8 of The Dark Labyrinth

Zo hurried past them, his face flaming so hot, he could have melted into the floor.

"You cause trouble in my house, and we will be seeing if the True Cross will bring you back a second time." Zo heard Alexis murmur.

"Keep your large nose out of my business," Constantine replied.

Zo walked faster, needing somewhere to die of embarrassment in peace. His hand itched for a pen so it wouldn't feel the ghost of thick curls between them.

He made it into the kitchen, shut the door behind him, and rested his head against it. He was embarrassed and angry and turned on and he didn't know what to do about any of it.

His brain was lighting up like fireworks, his magic thrumming in his fingertips to write, write, write. Whatever was blocking him was gone. The magic and the words were back.

Fucking Constantine. Zo was never going to hear the end of it.

CHAPTER FIVE

Penelope was in the kitchen with her hand in the cookie jar when Zo came in, flustered and red-faced, putting his head against the door for some inextricable reason.

"I swear I'll have room for dinner, but these are just so good," Penelope said quickly.

Instead of scolding her, Zo turned and gathered her up in a tight hug. He smelled of rosemary and coffee and a little like church incense.

"I'm so glad you're here." He leaned back and kissed both of her cheeks.

"Are you feeling okay?" Penelope asked and rubbed his back. "You seem distressed. What happened?"

Zo's mouth opened and closed a few times. He was literally speechless. That told her everything she needed to know. Only one person could do that to Zo.

"Has Constantine upset you? I thought you guys were going out to Christmas carols."

Alexis came into the kitchen behind them. "Constantine just kissed him under the mistletoe and outed himself finally," he said, a wry smile twisting up his lips. "Honestly, I'm surprised you hadn't figured it out already, Zo. Do you even rememberwhat the Roman Empire was like? There was barely a straight one amongst them."

Zo glared at him. "He's never said anything, and I have never presumed. Besides, he was only doing it because he knew it would get me worked up, and I would start writing again, which is what he actually wants. Stupid mistletoe. Can't you make the villa stop putting up unnecessary decorations?"

He began moving randomly, opening and closing cupboards as if looking for something before checking the fridge.

Penelope shot Alexis a worried look. As if reading her concern, Alexis gave her a short nod. Yes, he had already warned Constantine not to hurt their Zo. He might look big and strong, but he had the softest heart of all of them. He didn't need Constantine's flirting to upset him.

Penelope was never good at matters of the heart, so she went a different route. "Can I help you with anything? Everything smells so good, I can't wait to bury my face in all of it. It was only the thought of your cooking that convinced me to leave Greece at all."

Zo shook his head. "Phaidros is going to help me. You can go and have a shower and meet us in the atrium in thirty minutes."

Penelope wanted to point out that what she was wearing was fine, but then she saw the heated look that Alexis was giving her and decided against it. She definitely needed a shower if he was going to join her.

As if saying his name had summoned him, Phaidros came into the kitchen, his golden curls wild and shining.

"Zo! What's this I hear about Constantine sticking his tongue in your mouth. Was it consensual? Because if it wasn't?—"

Zo covered his red face with his hands. "Can you all just drop it? I just want us to have a nice dinner. Is that too much to ask?"

Penelope took Alexis's hand, and they went back out into the villa. "See? This is why I don't like Christmas. There's always someone upset and hiding in the kitchen." Usually, it was her.

"He's not upset,cara. He's just having to deal with all the hundreds of years he never dared to ask Con out. Convincing himself that he was straight was Zo's way to avoid it. This will be a good thing. Those two have danced around each other almost as much as Aelia and Phaidros but without all the toxic anger," Alexis replied, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, my love. They are big boys and will figure it out on their own, even if it takes another 1500 years."

Penelope could only hope he was right.

Penelope had only ever seenthe atrium decorated as water gardens. Now, the area was decorated like a winter wonderland. It wasn't cold, and yet snow was falling in pretty drifts. Decorations made of ice hung from the trees, and the lounges and tables sat under a red and gold tent. Pretty black and copper braziers were positioned around the tent and were filled with burning wood that didn't smoke but emitted a soft heat. Everything smelled of cinnamon and spice.

"Did you help with the decorations?" she asked Alexis. She usually associated that kind of spice smell with his magic.

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