Page 67 of Odette's Vow

The servants left not long afterwards, leaving Odette and I still standing in the doorway.

She turned to her right and headed for one chamber without a word. Turning to the left, I followed suit.

The bathing area was done in the same style as the rest of the house: terracottas, browns, and sand beiges that must have appealed to Aeolus, but felt drab to me. The marble bath, however, was a welcome sight. The steam rising off it beckoned me, and it wasn’t long before I was sinking into its depths with a sigh.

Outstretching my arms along the edge of the marble, I leaned my head back, enjoying the water lapping at my chest, watching the candlelight flicker against the damp stone walls. Then I heard it – the water splashing, as if Odette was dipping her dainty toes in and out of the water in a pitter-patter movement, like a child. Her laughter followed. Then the sounds of the water, the movements, became more rhythmic and I had to hold back a groan as the images in my mind took me places.

I gripped my cock as I imagined her touching herself, lathering herself. Imagined her hands becoming mine. I fisted once, twice, the sound of my own movements in the waterinterrupting hers. I stilled to hear them again, but they’d quietened, as if she knew what I was doing.

Frustrated, I snarled and rose from the water, reaching for the nearest towel and drying myself off with harsh, efficient movements.

“Refreshed?”Aeolus called out as I strode into the great room.

“Thoroughly,” I assured him. “I thank you for your hospitality, for myself and my men.”

“And your women,” Aeolus added, a gleam in his eye.

I turned to see what he was looking at: Odette in a fresh dress, the palest shade of tourmaline blue I had ever seen, the fabric draping across her body in a way that framed her silhouette beautifully, curves and drapes in all the right, flattering places.

I scowled. “I don’t need you todressmy people too, Aeolus.”

The other king was already shaking his head. “A beautiful dress for a beautiful woman, that is all. It was only going to waste away in the closet otherwise.”

I doubted that. There were plenty of women, and nymphs, that graced the attention of Master of the Winds.

“It’s lovely, thank you,” Odette said, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it.

It only made me scowl more deeply. But I had to be careful what I said next. Aeolus was not one to be coerced; he could only be persuaded through diplomacy. The man had an absolute hard-on for “the balance of all things”. Though I found that balance often swayed towards respect for his power.

“Not as lovely as you, my dear. Come, sit beside me, and the two of you can tell me what brings you to my island.”

Odette did as requested, her eyes briefly meeting mine across the table, before diving back into the feast spread before us. There was an array of choices, reflecting the bounty of both land and sea. There were platters of roasted lamb and pork, seasoned with garlic, thyme, and rosemary and drizzled with olive oil, the smell of which made my mouth water. Bowls of olives, figs, and dates provided sweet and savoury accompaniments. Freshly baked bread, still warm from the oven, sat alongside cheeses made from goat and sheep’s milk. The centrepiece was a large swordfish, probably caught that morning, grilled to perfection and garnished with lemon and dill. Pitchers of rich red wine and golden honey mead were placed between the plates, and Aeolus poured us all a generous helping of the two.

“Don’t worry, I’ve ensured your men receive the same bounty. What they don’t eat can be taken as replenishments for your ships. There was certainly a lot to go around,” Aeolus laughed.

Looking at the feast myself, I wasn’t surprised. Most of the men wouldn’t be able to stomach this after so long on brined goods and dry bread – though that probably wouldn’t stop them from attempting to gorge.

“You are too kind,” I told Aeolus. Particularly seeing as we had come here seeking another favour from him – one I had yet to ask.

Aeolus regarded me with knowing eyes, his attention briefly flickering towards Odette before returning to me. “Odysseus,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of ages. “You came seeking the Bag of Winds.”

I swallowed the tart wine I’d taken a sip of, choosing my next words carefully. “Yes. We are at your mercy. This journey has been long and arduous already, and while I am happy to regale you with tales you will no doubt find entertaining, my friend, I am also anxious to get my men home.”

“And no doubt anxious to get home to your wife, Penelope,” Aeolus said, his eyes sliding over to Odette before they returned to me.

My eyes met Odette’s.

“Yes.” I didn’t miss the gleam of interest in his eyes when I turned back to him. “I come to ask if you can grant us the winds that will guide us safely home.”

The gleam in Aeolus’ expression turned ruminative, as if weighing the implications of my request. He glanced between Odette and I once again before leaning back in his chair, his hands braced on the table. “I can conjure the winds you require,” he said slowly. “For a price.”

He looked to Odette once again, and I had to resist the urge to stab my fork through his eye. As it was, my grip on the utensil bent it when I saw Odette’s perfect lips open into an ‘O’, but otherwise she seemed actually amenable to the suggestion, none of her other features tensing or narrowing at the idea.

Did she really want to stay with this kolaktes??2

“No,” I said firmly, surprising even myself. “She is not for sale.”

Aeolus sighed, then threw his hands up with a laugh. “Very well, it was worth a try. You cannot have everything you want without a little risk.” He chuckled again.

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