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And my personal favorite—“We were expecting you at dinner last Sunday, Lady Athena.” Not only was it a subtle jab at my godly heritage, but it was a thinly veiled accusation. All ten times that statement was slung our way, I turned to Lukas.
I stared up at him with admiration, up to interpretation whether it was friendly affection or romantic love. Then I’d smile demurely, bashfully even, and say, “I’m sorry. We just hadn’t seen each other for so long and wanted some time to catch up.”
Eyes would light with gossip, new information for the constant wheel of murmurs about the state of Lukas and I’s relationship.
We both used to think it was funny. How twisted up people got trying to guess what was going on with us.
There was not an ounce of that humor present now. Every time it tried to sneak its way in, the dark look in Lukas’s eyes or the tense muscles in my back would kill it.
Finally, there was a rare break in the crowd, everyone distracted by a round of appetizers circling the room on gleaming silver trays. I’d barely had a second to take in my surroundings, to feel the nostalgia drip down my skin like sap from a tree.
The room spanned half the length of the lowest floor of the house, large doors opening to a marble patio and the sea beyond, kept out by a protective barrier sustained by Lukas’s power.
The floors, inside and out, were made of white marble that cracked with soft oranges and pinks, resembling coral. Soft ivory drapes and chandeliers that looked like dripping dew completed the room, curating a perfect space to host the many parties that kept the peace.
Lukas’s chest deflated when he realized we had a second alone and my hand slipped through the gap the breath created between his chest and arm, falling to my side.
“You’re as good at this as ever.” Lukas’s eyes were on the room instead of me.
“We work well together.” We did. It was just a fact.
But Lukas’s head whipped toward me, like that insulted him. He chuckled darkly. “At least there’s that.”
I gaped like a fish, unsure what to do with the venom in his voice. Bringing it into my own was the only reasonable solution. “Well, I imagine you’ll survive if I get a drink.”
I didn’t even wait for him to respond, just walked off in search of a glass of something to soothe the prickles attacking my throat.
≈
I found a spot at the far end of the room, away from most to just take a second to breathe and sip the glass of wine in my hand.
If I wanted true peace, I’d have to go outside. But at least here, I could see the room. Watch wealthy human families, including an errant, visibly drunk Renato Romulus, mingle with gods and members of my court.
There were more people I needed to greet, but I deserved a second. A second I would not get, I realized, when a form stepped up next to me.
I turned to find Adrian Jupiter, standing at my side in all his infernal glory.
Adrian nodded, tucking his chin down. He’d mastered the pleasant-yet-stoic expression that few people could. Inviting enough that he didn’t scare others away, but still commanding respect.
“Adrian,” I greeted, not even bothering with honorifics.
“Daphne.” Adrian’s voice was smooth, full of confidence. “Hope camping out in academia treated you well this past year.”
My body froze, only able to release a low laugh. “You knew.” Of coursehefucking knew where I was.
Adrian’s expression didn’t change. “I would not be doing my job well, Daphne, if I let a god go missing without knowing they were safe.”
I had no idea why Adrian didn’t grab people and shake them until they saw how fit he was to lead. Make them see past the chaos his birth ensued.
“Why didn’t you say anything to Lukas?” Maybe Lukas hadn’t even asked.
Adrian crossed his arms over his chest, putting his weight in the heels of his pristine dress shoes. “It was clear you didn’t want to be found. That research site in Agrafa isn’t even on most maps.”
It was true. The camp was so deep in the mountains few knew how to find it. If he knew about that then he surely knew—
“And your trips to your university were few and far between.”
That earned a small snort. Adrian was confident, which meant it was a slippery slope into cocky asshole territory. “Still don’t get why you didn’t say anything.”
