Page 51 of Loved By Aphrodite

Hephaestus, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward. “Handled or not, it would be nice to know who you dragged into this mess.”

Eros rolled his eyes dramatically. “Would you believe me if I said it was harmless?” When neither of them responded, he sighed and held out his hand where a familiar leather-bound book appeared.

“Here,” he said, handing it to his mom. “You two should have this.”

She took the book, her fingers brushing over the warm cover. It was the one where they’d written their truths. She flipped it open, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of her elegant handwriting next to Hephaestus’s precise script.

She sighed again, glancing at Hephaestus, who was watching her with a quiet intensity. Despite her frustration, she couldn’t deny Eros’s meddling was successful. Still, she pointed a finger at her son.

“You’re lucky I love you,” she said.

“And you’re lucky I’m a genius,” Eros shot back with a wink.

Hephaestus groaned. “I don’t know how you deal with him.”

“Practice,” she muttered, though her lips quirked up despite herself.

As Eros turned to leave, Aphrodite flicked her fingers, her power weaving through the air like a shimmering net. Suddenly, golden vines, glowing faintly with her signature energy, coiled around Eros’s ankles and wrists, rooting him in place. He stumbled slightly, his balance thrown, and looked down in disbelief.

“Really, Mama?” he complained, craning his neck to glare at her.

“You’re not going anywhere,” she said coolly, tilting her head with a stubborn set to her jaw. “We need to plan what to do about the council.”

Hephaestus let out a rich, rumbling laugh. “That’s one way to keep him in check.”

Eros rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine! I promise I’ll stay so we can talk, okay? Can you let me go now?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but the faint glow of her power dimmed, and the golden vines unraveled and disappeared into the air. Eros rubbed his wrists, as though he’d been shackled for days, and shot her an exaggerated pout.

“You’re so dramatic,” she muttered.

Eros flopped down onto the couch and threw an arm over the backrest. “Okay, Mama and Pops, what’s the game plan?”

She exchanged a glance with Hephaestus, who shrugged. “I think we start by figuring out who on the council we can sway to our side,” he suggested.

“Always thinking like a smith,” Eros teased. “Forging alliances and all that.”

“Better than relying on luck and charm,” Hephaestus smirked.

She sighed, settling onto the couch beside Hephaestus. “We’ll need to move carefully. The council’s patience is wearing thin.”

Eros nodded, his playful demeanor fading slightly. “Fine. I’ll help figure this out. But you owe me for staying here instead of doing something fun.”

“You’re annoying but cute, ángele mou,” she said, reaching out to ruffle his hair affectionately, earning a squawk of protest.

Hermes appeared in a flash of golden light, his winged sandals brushing the floor as he surveyed the room. His gaze flickered to Aphrodite and Hephaestus, a faint smirk curling his lips. “Not surprised to find you two together,” he said smoothly.

But when his eyes landed on Eros, he froze. “Eros?” Hermes gawked. “You’re involved in this? I thought you’d be too busy being an asshole somewhere.”

“Surprise. I’ve got layers,” he said dryly, shooting Hermes a cheeky grin.

“Kourástika,” Hephaestus groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “You again? Why do they keep summoning us like this?”

“In case you didn’t realize it, your time is almost up,” Hermes replied, rolling his eyes. “Zeus might be gone, but bureaucracy never dies.”

Eros snorted. “Right, because nothing says divine efficiency like dragging everyone to Olympus for no reason. Tell me, Hermes, do you even know what the meeting’s about, or are you just the messenger boy?”

Hermes bristled, his smirk turning sharp. “Watch it, love god. I might be the messenger, but I can still knock that smug look off your face.”

---