Page 56 of Leashed

She beamed, flicking her ornately embroidered skirt out. “If I’m going to be a curmudgeonly mother-in-law, I want to make sure I look good doing it.”

He bowed his head to her ear. “My prospects pale in comparison.”

When an expression of pure satisfaction settled on her face, he led her to her husband, hesitating slightly before he released her hand. Hades held his arm out to her, his attention held by Erebus. Seph sat on her husband’s lap and arranged her skirts, patting her knee and smiling when he knelt at her side.

“I’m not sure who invited Eris, but I would prefer you spend limited time with her,” she whispered, running her thumb along his jaw. “I recommend Aglaea, as she radiates light and would be a delightful addition to our little soirees down here.”

He looked over at the goddess.

She stood alongside her sisters, periodically breaking into a graceful dance before returning to her kin with a laugh, her bright eyes flicking to him shyly.

“She’s one of the few who could hold her own alongside you, mistress.”

Giving his shoulder a light squeeze, Seph rested her chin on his head for a moment. “Go fraternize for a while. Don’t forget to return to me with updates if you find any to your liking. Or disliking.” She laughed. “I do love a good shredding.”

He looked back over the growing crowd, his hackles rising when he caught sight of Lachesis peering at the banquet spread. “What the hell, Seph?” he hissed, all gentility shoved aside as irritation took over. “Why is Lachesis here?”

Shushing him with her hand, she leveled him with a hard stare. “Play nice,” she ordered, glancing over at the winder of destiny’s threads. “I know you and Lachesis have had your issues in the past, but it’s never a bad thing to have an alliance with the Fates. Besides, it would have been considered a slight had I not invited her.”

Lachesis looked up from the banquet, her green eyes scanning him slowly before she lifted a brow and wrinkled her nose.

Weren’t so disgusted when I was banging you from behind in the reception room last millennium, were you?

Returning the look of disdain, he rose to his feet, catching Dio’s eye and smirking when the god gestured toward an empty dog bowl with exaggerated sadness.

Sights set on the Charities, he strode across the room to put up a good front.

*

Bo glanced atSeph and grinned, his mistress’s eyes alit with excitement as the voices of three nymphs grew louder in the great hall. “I assure you, I didn’t intend to start a disagreement.”

She looked up at him and schooled her expression, unsuccessfully attempting to hide her delight at the spectacle. “Perhaps your lips should stay off the necks and wrists of the guests until you’ve made a selection,” she said, her voice doing little to hide the thrill she was getting from watching the cultured nymphs behave like common humans. “Opportunistic little things, aren’t they?”

“Their tempers wouldn’t be a good match for me,” he replied, looking away when one of them tried to bring him into their argument. “I think a more calming influence would be wiser.” He made a show of scanning the room. “Who has a temperament similar to yours?”

Persephone put her hands on her hips and sighed. “Bo. Honey. Your list of requirements is becoming a little long. The Charities are too flighty, the nymphs too mercurial, Nemesis is too ornery.” She looked up at him and clucked her tongue. “Who, precisely, shall I steer you toward?”

He turned his shoulders, blocking Hades from her view. “None,” he said quietly, taking a step closer to her. “What I’m looking for is a woman who rivals you in every way. And I believe this may be a fool’s quest, as you’re already very, very taken.” He paused. “Correct?”

Her expression morphed, the practiced sympathy at odds with the wicked glee in her blue eyes. She rose to her toes to look around him at her husband, giving Hades a smile before she lowered and cupped his chin. “Enough of your flirtations. Go enjoy your night, Boreus. I suppose I’ll have to settle for checking in on you more frequently if you can’t find a suitable match,” she sighed in resignation, her eyes lighting up when one nymph tossed her drink on another. “At least tonight’s banquet will provide a little gossip on the hill for a few weeks.”

Plucking a glass of wine from a handmaiden’s tray, he bowed to his mistress and held up the goblet. “To the drowning of heartache.”

In the corner of the room, Dio grinned and held up his own drink.

*

Bo stretched outon the chaise and watched the final partygoers as they milled around the exit, a few longing glances tossed his way before the women disappeared through the door.

“You don’t seem to be having much luck tonight.”

He swirled his wine and refused to look up at his scorned ex-lay, his thumb absently spinning the gold ring on his pinky Dio had remembered to pick up for him. “Imagine that, Lach,” he muttered, nodding at Hades as he exited the room.

She stood directly in his line of sight and flipped her long hair over her shoulder, whipping him in the process. “I suppose your reputation precedes you,” she said with false sweetness. “You still sniffing around the god’s castoffs?”

“That would explain our hookup, wouldn’t it?” he shot back, waiting until it became obvious she wasn’t leaving. “If you’re hoping for another pity-fuck, I’m not drunk enough.”

Lachesis smirked and crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her bosom up. “Pity? Really? I outrank you and outclass you. In every way.”

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