Page 38 of For the Love of the Gods

Most of the time it was only a meeting, but sometimes, there was a party preceding it. This month, Corrina Aphrodite was throwing one. Thea had been so excited about it she’d been putting together a dress for me for a month.

Ineverforgot stuff like that. Well, maybe I did now. With Dominic breathing down my neck and staring at me like a puzzle he wanted to solve.

“That’s tonight?” Dominic cringed. We never really interacted at these things. He was too busy lounging in the corner with a glass of whiskey in hand and talking to Adrian and Lukas. It was semi-intentional on my part. I never hid away from the gods I called friends, but I would place myself out of Dominic’s line of sight to avoid the stifling force of his hatred.

And, yes, to avoid getting into an argument that broke a few priceless crystal tumblers. Jason Dionysus still hadn’t quite forgiven me.

“Tonight,” Raiden confirmed. “And both of you are going.”

“Together?” I asked, my question echoing with an odd deepness. One look at Raiden’s amused expression over Dominic’s shoulder and I realized we had spoken at the same time.

“Well, seeing as this is the first public appearance of Lord and Lady Pluto, yes.”

“This is a private party. No need to put on a show,” Dominic said, sounding relieved.

“Don’t worry, Dominic,” I snapped, odd annoyance at his disdain curdling at the base of my throat. “No one is under the impression we are in love.”

Moving my expression to Raiden, I asked. “What time do we have to leave?”

“Eight,” Raiden responded

“Eight!” It was already late afternoon and that meant I had to get ready. Now.

I jumped up, tea balancing precariously in one hand and sprinted out of there. I was followed by the sound of a full, rich laugh that brought back those damn goosebumps. Their presence made me think this was the first time I’d heard Dominic truly laugh.

It was throaty and full and unrestrained and tightened my chest.

Or maybe that was just the strain from my sprint up the stairs. I burst into my room to find Thea sitting on my couch expectantly, twirling a dark curl around her fingers.

Thea was more settled in her skin than anyone I knew, her movements always fluid, never unsure. She sat on my bed like a cat lounging in the afternoon sun. “Took you long enough.”

“Sorry,” I huffed, bent over at the waist.

She laughed, evaluating my heaving form in the doorway. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “I’ve had a lot going on.”

Thea nodded and pointed at the chair in front of my vanity, ushering me over there. I enjoyed doing my makeup, but I couldn’t style my hair in the slightest. Thea, on the other hand, was a miracle worker and the only person to turn my slightly wavy hair into something manageable.

It had become a tradition for us, catching up while she did my hair. I didn’t tell her, but it was comforting. I didn’t get a lot of situations where people did something for me, and it always made me feel calm. It would also probably put me to sleep if Thea’s lively voice didn’t keep me on my toes.

“Tell me about it,” she said as I dropped into my chair. “This week has been a mess.”

Shit, I knew someone would start causing trouble. “Is everything okay?”

Thea caught my panicked expression in the mirror. “Yes, yes, down girl. It’s just an adjustment, but everyone is being nice.”

“Good.” My shoulders dropped inward a little, relief flooding my body.

“This location change is pretty great though. The bay is warm enough to swim.” Thea loved the water, and I felt good knowing this had at least given her closer proximity. “Dominic has some hot guards, too.”

By the gleam in her eye, she definitely had a crush.

I smiled at her in the mirror. “Story, now.”

Thea explained that one of Dominic’s newer guards was gorgeous, tall, and hilarious—her three qualifications for any new love interest. Into her, too, obviously evidenced by the fact that he could barely string a sentence together in her presence and had asked Max about her.

“No Jason?” I asked, curious as to the status of her relationship with the god of wine from the Greek side. They’d been causally sleeping together, but she seemed hesitant to move it forwards.

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