Page 11 of Loved By Aphrodite

He tapped through the app quickly, his brow furrowing as he studied it. Then, without a word, he turned to one of the computers and began typing, pulling up screens full of code. Images from the app appeared on the massive wall of screens, each highlighting different parts: the algorithm, lines of code, intricate graphic designs, and even bits of location data.

She watched, a little mesmerized by how naturally he navigated the complex digital world. This realm of screens and codes was entirely foreign to her, but he moved through it with ease, uncovering layers of the app she hadn’t even known existed.

After a few moments of silence, he gestured to a line of code. “It’s a simple enough algorithm… but there’s something else mixed in. This—” he pointed to a block of symbols interwoven with the code, “is not mortal-made. Eros has somehow fused magic and tech to mimic matchmaking, but it’s…stronger.”

“So, he really went all in this time,” she sighed, folding her arms.

“More than that.” Hephaestus leaned back, frowning at the screen. “It’s like he’s embedded his own power in the code. The algorithm is less about compatibility and more about igniting attachment—fast. The mortals using this app aren’t just finding each other; they’re being pulled together, like metal to a magnet.”

Her stomach twisted. “So, it’s not just their choice—he’s driving them.”

He nodded. “That’s why it feels overwhelming to you. This app is amping up your power too. But it’s out of balance, like a fire without a steady fuel.”

“Can you undo it?”

He paused, his gaze thoughtful. “Not without him.” Hephaestus’s fingers flew across the keyboard, tapping outsequences that made lines of code stream across the expanse of screens.

Then he glanced at her over his shoulder, brows knitting as he studied her. “Why are you helping him?” he asked, almost accusingly. “You know how he is. This isn’t the first time he’s messed around with mortals.”

“I don’t want him to get into trouble, especially not over something this reckless,” She turned her gaze toward him and took a steadying breath. “Thousands of mortals are involved this time. You know how the council feels about that.”

He gave a dry laugh. “Maybe he deserves a bit of trouble. Could do him some good to see there are consequences for once.”

“You can’t be like that with him. You’re one of the two beings in the world who truly understand him. And the only other one who’s cared enough to look after him.”

He paused, his fingers resting on the keys as he absorbed her words. “Fine,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “I’ll help you.” He tapped a few more keys, and the screens flickered as he burrowed deeper into the app’s programming.

He stopped and looked up at her. “I can’t take his magic out completely without undoing the app’s core functions. It’s like…his power is fused with it.”

She frowned. “What can we do, then?”

She watched Hephaestus, his fingers flying over the keys, his brow furrowed in concentration. The screens flickered, showing data she didn’t understand, lines of code and algorithms that looked indecipherable.

He groaned, shaking his head in frustration. “This app is way more complicated than I expected,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “I’ll try to use my magic and see if I can break into it, but I need time to process all this.”

A fresh wave of worry hit her. Eros’s impulsiveness usually amused her, but now, with mortals involved, it felt like too much. She must have let her anxiety show because Hephaestus looked over, his expression softening.

“It’ll be okay,” he said gently. “I just need a couple of hours to pull things apart and find a safe workaround.”

She let out a small, tense sigh. The tech-heavy room felt stifling, filled with the hum of machines, the glow of screens, and the faint whiff of oil and metal that clung to everything Hephaestus touched. “Well,” she said, clearing her throat and glancing away. “I’m not going to sit here looking over your shoulder. I’ll be in the garden. Text me when you’re done.”

He nodded. “I will.”

Without another word, she turned and headed down the hallway, the click of her heels loud in the silence. She glanced back once, but he was already focused again, his gaze intent on the screens.

As Aphrodite stepped into the garden, she took a slow, calming breath, letting the familiar scents of blooming jasmine and wild roses wash over her. The chaotic energy she’d felt at City Hall and then in Hephaestus’s tech-filled workshop faded just a little here. She closed her eyes, focusing on the softness of the earth beneath her feet and the sun’s warmth on her skin.

Despite the years and the distance between them, Hephaestus was still a steady force. No matter what stood between them, he had always been someone she could count on when things went wrong—someone who would show up, someone who would care enough to help Eros, even if it meant digging through code all night. She could sense his lingering resentment for her and their tangled past, but beneath that, she knew he still cared. Maybe not for her in the way he once did, but for Eros. That loyalty was part of what she still admired about him, whether or not she’d ever say it out loud to him.

Turning to gaze out over the garden, she sighed. Her son had a gift for pushing the limits, but somehow, they would make this right. For now, she stayed among the blooms, letting the quiet settle around her, trusting that when she went back inside, Hephaestus would have done what he always did: found a way forward.

Chapter 4

Hephaestus

Hephaestus massaged his temple with his forefinger and thumb, then slumped back in his chair.

What the fuck did you do, Eros?

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