Page 58 of Loved By Aphrodite

“Thanks! It feels so light and new.” It was much like her new life now, in more ways than one.

In the past year, she and Hephaestus had enjoyed their time together, not really worrying about where they would settle and live. When they were on Mount Olympus, they would mostly stay in her home, as aside from the workshop and his bedroom,the rest of his house was sparsely furnished. But whenever they could get away, they spent as much of their days in Thessaly.

“And that birdcage veil is gorgeous. I love the shell.”

She grinned up at Hephaestus. “Thanks. I wore it to our first wedding, too.” He had insisted on giving it back to her, since, as he said, he already had the “real thing.” And while she didn’t want to dwell on the past, she did want to acknowledge that they wouldn’t be where they were now if it wasn’t for what happened before.

“Well, I’ll let you mingle with your other guests.” Adonis glanced around. “Besides, I have my own mingling to do. Who knew there were so many hot people in Alaska? It’s like they’re all hiding out here for some reason. Ta-ta, see you in a bit.”

Hephaestus tsked. “You still haven’t told him? I feel sorry for him. Glamouring him all the time can’t be healthy. Look at how dumb he is.”

“I hate to break it to you,” Geri said. “I don’t think it’s the glamouring. He was never the sharpest knife in the drawer in the first place.”

“You really can’t have everything,” Apollo said. “I mean, unless you’re a god, like me.” He waggled his eyebrows at his mate. “Aren’t you happy you’re spending eternity with me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Immensely. Now come on, there’s some people I want to say hi to.”

“Thank you for not making a fuss over inviting Adonis,” Aphrodite said to Hephaestus once they were alone.

“He was a good friend to you when you needed him,” he said. “And I don’t resent him for that.”

And she loved him more for that. While they both acknowledged that they had been with others in the past, they agreed that they wouldn’t hold it against the other. A part of her felt some jealousy, but even though they had some feelings for each other when they divorced, it wasn’t realistic to expect eitherof them wouldn’t have been with other people. After all, it was more than twenty thousand years ago, and their first marriage was in name only. The only thing that mattered now was that they were together and would devote the rest of eternity to each other.

“Have you spoken to Eros?” she asked him.

“Yes.” An exasperated expression crossed his face. “And no, I don’t think he’s any closer to learning his lesson.”

“Surely there’s something we can do.” The very idea that she could lose Eros forever weighed on her. “Could we convene the council again? I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“I love him too.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “But this is something he needs to do on his own.”

She agreed, of course, but still could not accept that Eros would simply die an old man in about fifty years or so. “But maybe it’s my fault?—”

“No,” he said, cutting her off. “It’s not your fault and you know it. You did everything you could for him, suffered yourself to protect him.” A dark look crossed his face. “If anyone is at fault, it’s that bastard Cyncus. He’s the one who hurt you both.”

“You’re right. And let’s not talk about this now, not when this is one of the happiest days of my life.” Reaching up, she cupped his face. “I can’t believe it’s been a year. Sometimes, it seems fast, and other times, I can’t remember what it was like without you.”

Turning his head, he kissed the inside of her palm and closed his eyes. “I do. And I never want it to be like that ever again.”

“Even when I annoy you?” she teased.

Their relationship wasn’t without its ups and downs, of course. They had been independent for millennia, and even when they were married the first time, they were more like roommates and co-parents rather than a couple. There were days when she grew frustrated at him and him at her. But at theend of the day, they loved each other, and communication went a long way.

He opened his eyes. “Even when you annoy me. Besides, who’s going to remind me not to leave my towels on the floor?”

She giggled. “And who am I going to steal the duvet from in the middle of the night?”

“I bought you that second blanket for a reason, you know.”

“I know, but then I can’t cuddle up to your back while you’re sleeping. You love being the little spoon, admit it.”

His lips twisted wryly. He said nothing and kissed her instead.

“We should probably say hello to our host and hostess.” She nodded toward Cade and Artemis. They walked over to where the couple was seated at a corner table.

“Aphrodite, H!” Artemis stood up, a small child a few months old slept in her arms. “It was such a beautiful ceremony. I was crying the whole time.”

“You made it happen. Oh!” Aphrodite clapped her hands together as she peered at the dark-haired child. “Hi there…this is…”

---