Page 89 of For the Love of the Gods

“This is good. Everything seems to be going over well down here.” Much to my shock and honestly, eternal relief. “But we haven’t been seen together in the Upperworld. It would be a good test.”

“Exactly,” Raiden said. “I want you guys to go and act natural. Keep an eye out for anything tense, any looks, anything.”

“And if something happens?” Dominic asked.

“You both can protect yourself just fine.” Raiden eye’s hit me once, for barely half a second. As if checking if revealing that about me was okay. Few actually knew how Pine died. For all they knew I couldn’t hold a sword and had poisoned him.

“I’m bringing a knife.” Dominic’s hand curled in, scraping the couch right next to my ear. Then he was up off the couch, pulling me behind him without another word.

Raiden walked out with us and squeezed my arm as Dominic and I split off to our rooms. Empathy like that would serve him well if he ever took power.

Dominic and I suffered through the awkward back and forth that always arose when I branched off to my own room. We were both obviously avoiding the subject.

It seemed like an important line not to cross.

I changed quickly, throwing on a white summer dress and tying a scarf through my hair. I walked into the hallway at the same time as Dominic, who was looking sickeningly handsome in a simple, clean white shirt.

“She might try to steal you from me,” I said, staring at the juncture of his elbow where his pushed up sleeves ended.

Dominic laughed low, then walked over. “I’ll stay strong, I promise.”

Dominic grabbed my hand and pulled me through a portal right into a familiar alley right near Maria’s restaurant. The Upperworld was busy today. It always was, in comparison to the Underworld. But the distinct sound of people dining and cars and scooters zipping was louder.

We walked down a short cobblestone street, lined on either side with white buildings with gorgeous purple flowers climbing up the sides. A short walk, complete with a few stares but no outright glares or threats thrown my way (thank the Fates) and we found Maria’s street.

The wooden sign of Maria’s restaurant appeared a moment later, and before we even got to the door, she was rushing out to greet me. She probably spied us through the window.

“Rosemary! You are not to leave me that long again!” she scolded, waving a cloth towel at me.

I smiled, then hugged her tightly. “It’s only been a few months, Maria.”

“A few months too long.” If I showed up every day that wouldn’t be enough for her. “You didn’t miss my food?”

“Of course I did! There are few better joys in life than being served good food.” I meant it. I loved to cook buthavingto got tiring.

“Good.” Maria turned to Dominic, giving him an appreciative once over. “Now, who is this?” She obviously knew who he was. And who he was to me. Even without knowing from the news, Dominic standing with the right side of his body pressed into the center of my back was a dead giveaway.

I smiled at her, then turned to Dominic, “This is my husband, Dominic.”

“Nice to meet you, Maria,” he said, his formal tone sliding over my skin and making me feel warm. Just as quickly, that warmth spiked with a bit of jealousy. He knew how to turn on the charm when he wanted to.

Maria eyed him boldly, leaving us standing in silence for a stretch of time. She turned back towards me, “Husband, huh? Keep an eye on him. Someone might try to nab him.”

I chuckled, well aware of what Dominic’s imposing presence and devilish smirk did to people. “I’m on high alert.”

Maria pointed us to a table outside, as close to the water as we could get. Pressed up against dark, powerful rocks, we’d barely be saved from the spray of the ocean as it crashed against the shoreline.

It was beautiful.

As we walked, silence fell upon the entire restaurant, watching as two gods strolled to a table like it was an everyday occurrence.

“Don’t just stand there and stare. Eat,” Maria hissed through her teeth behind us and a smirk touched my lips.Thatwas why this restaurant was one of the best for gods. Maria didn’t care who you were, so long as you were kind and complimentary. She also hated any distraction from her food.

When we reached the table, Dominic pulled out my chair for me wordlessly, tucking me safely into the table. As he walked around to his side, I couldn’t help but gawk at him.

He was thispresencepulling all the candlelight around us into his space. He smirked at what he saw in my expression and I could see the restraint to tease me in the clench of his jaw.

I looked around to the people I could see behind him and off to the left. A few people were looking blatantly, the way you do when you see someone famous walking by. But not with the visceral hate that would imply that they were bitter about losing their identity, to use Odell’s words.

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