“What’s going on?” I asked uneasily. I shut the door and made my way to sit on the lounge beside Alex. Hey, Thanatos had sat right here once. He’d sat here, divinely beautiful, andsmirked at me across the room, teasing me. Not like the way he teased me now. With his tongue. And hisbody…
“See? This is why we have to do it.” It was Zoe’s voice that pierced my daydream. She shot Alex a meaningful look.
“Have to do what?” I asked, snapping to attention. Sophie shifted awkwardly in her seat, but Alex was giggling.
“We figured you’d be late again,” Zoe answered for them, a small smile playing at her lips. “And seeing as we were correct, we think we should know at least a little about what’s going on.” She seemed neutral enough, keeping her thoughts to herself. Perhaps she’d already decided her feelings on the matter.
“And we have to pester you again to be careful,” Sophie added insistently. Come on, did they think I was completely stupid? I sighed in exasperation.
“Stop worrying about me,” I groaned. “It will be fine. I know what I’m doing.”
“Sure, maybe you do,” Sophie persisted, “but it’s our job to look out for each other, and you’re doing something dangerous. We gave this same talk to Alex before, remember?” That was true. She had me there.
“I wastherefor that discussion! I don’t need to hear it again!” But it was becoming increasingly clear that I’d never win this debate.
Alex gave me a sympathetic glance. “I know, but you need more practice than I did. I mean, you know we won’t judge you, and we trust that you’ll be careful. It’s just that with these things…” She bit her lip. “I wassomuch better at lying than you are.”
I supposed I couldn’t deny that, either. I’d always had difficulty keeping my emotions out of my expression. “It’s my stupid face, isn’t it?” I groaned.
“Yes! You need to stop looking so happy!” Alex laughed as she said it, but she also shot me a serious sisterly glance.Don’t you dare get caught.
I threw my hands up with an air of finality. “Alright, alright! Look more miserable. Got it. I promise I’ll work on it.”
There was a moment of tense evaluation, but this promise was satisfactory, it appeared. But it also seemed like the conversation wasn’t over. My sisters fixed their eyes on me expectantly.
“Well?” asked Alex when the silence stretched too long. She grinned and gave me a knowing look. “You know you have to tell us.” Right.
I sighed and feigned more irritation. “There’s no satisfying you, is there?”
But in truth, my heartbeat picked up and I couldn’t help but smile. No matter how much I pretended, I wasdyingto tell them how I spent my nights. How could I love this man and notsay anything about it? As my girlfriends, my sisters, they deserved to hear the details; we should get to marvel over them together. But those I knew I couldn’t give.
Instead I smiled mischievously and pulled up the hem of my skirt, parting my thighs for them to see my bruises and bites. “He was very enthusiastic,” I said timidly, my cheeks burning.
“Damn!” Sophie exclaimed, and now she finally met my eyes with some approval. “Alright, alright, we understand! Do what you have to do. I for one will personally kill you if you don’t keep him.”
“Oh my gods. Who is it?” Alex squealed, maybe a little too loudly. She was at home like this, drinking in the delicious drama. I supposed I was happy to provide it, though my face burned even hotter.
I raised my brows. “He’s not anyone you’ve met,” I said carefully.
“Then you can tell us his name without fear!” She shoved me playfully. “Come on, seriously! Why won’t you tell us everything?”
I sympathized. I would’ve been upset, too. “He’s gorgeous, and that’s all you need to know,” I declared, shrugging when she groaned her frustration.
“Ugh,fine.”
“I hate to ask,” Zoe said softly, “but…you’re sure he’ll be careful, right? You trust he won’t go bragging to someone and let this get out?”
I laughed at that. “Don’t worry. I’m certain he won’t say anything.”
“I’m just saying, if I fucked you I’d brag about it.”
“Thanks, Zoes,” I replied, beaming. “Now, all of you stop fretting about it and let me have fun. And let me sleep! It’s the middle of the damn night.”
At last they mumbled agreement and moved to put out the lights. In darkness I pulled my curtains closed, calling out a last “goodnight” as I climbed into bed. I waited a little while for them to settle, until the night was quiet once again. Then finally I closed my eyes and touched myself to the thought of him.
The next morning I woke sleepy but happy. When we left our room for food and rounds, I received a few more warning glances from my sisters, but I waved them off. Ididmake sure to wipe the smile from my face before I entered the courtyard. Time to be holy, virgin, non-swearing Cyrie.
It was hard not to think of it, though: my presence here was now blasphemy, in more ways than one. I doubted very much that the Olympians would look kindly on my association with Death and the Underworld. But…technically, it could be argued that I’d proven myselfpleasingto the divine, if not to the “right” gods. Yeah. If anything, this made memoreholy, and what Apollo didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
