I jolt awake at the feeling of the mattress giving as someone sits down next to me. I open my eyes to find Apollo staring down at me like he just found his favorite gift beneath the Christmas tree, but he’s afraid it’s not truly meant for him.
He reaches out, pauses without touching me, and drops his hand back to his thigh. “What are you doing here, Cassandra?” The question isn’t harsh, more…hopeful.
“You shouldn’t give out your keys to people. It’s going to be dangerous in the city for some time, and you might come home to find a stranger in your bed.”
“You’re no stranger.” He can’t seem to help himself. He strokes a hand over my hip. “You came back.”
“I love you.” It’s not an answer, though, and we both know it. I sit up and shift back to lean against the headboard. “Apollo, I…” Gods, this is harder than it has any right to be. “When my parents died for their ambition, I promised myself I’d never be like them. I would never strive for power or prestige or anything except keeping my sister safe and getting the fuck out of this city. I closed myself off to everything. I, well, hated pretty much everyone. Except you, and that was despite my best efforts.”
He watches me with serious eyes. “And now?”
“Now, with the stakes changing so dramatically, it’s made things clearer for me. I…” I take a breath and push forward. “I have people who care about me, even if I haven’t been the best of friends to them. My sister is happy here, though I had such strong tunnel vision, I didn’t even realize it until today.”
“Cassandra—”
“I’m not finished.” I take another harsh breath. “Things are going to get dangerous in this city. We both know it’s the truth. I am not going to let my pride dictate my choices, to leave just because it seemed like the only option. It’s not. I can help, Apollo. You’ve said it yourself. I’m an asset, and you’re going to need everyone in your corner that you can get.”
He goes still. “That’s why you’re choosing to stay.”
“It’s part of it.” I reach out and cover his hand with mine. “I’ve also been desperately in love with my boss for years now and he’s really great to me, the best man I’ve ever met. I’d be a fool if I walked away from him.” I squeeze his hand. “I want a life with you. I realize that I’m a cranky asshole and that I’ll cause friction in the circles you move in even after I figure out how to move in them, too, but—”
He gently presses his fingertips to my lips. “I choose you, Cassandra. The opinions of those in the upper circles have never held much weight for me, and certainly never as much as your opinion does. I love you. If I thought for a second you’d say yes, I’d propose right now.”
I smile against his fingers. “Ask me in a few months.” I already know what I’ll say, but even after knowing Apollo and working closely with him for five years, there will no doubt be kinks to be worked out while actually dating each other.
“I will.” He lowers his hand. “I wanted more than anything to ask you to stay, but it wasn’t fair to demand that of you. I’m having a difficult time believing you’re actually here.” He smiles. “You’re choosing me.”
“I’m choosing you,” I confirm. I lean forward and press a careful kiss to his lips. “Come to bed, Apollo. Our happily-ever-after starts now.”
Enjoy this sneak peek at the next unspeakably hot book in the Dark Olympus series, Cruel Seduction.
Aphrodite
The reception stretches on for an eternity. Even though I chose this, I can’t stop the sinking in my stomach. I played right into my new husband’s hands. A mistake, and one that will be costly. I can’t afford to underestimate Hephaestus, and reacting to Adonis showing up unexpectedly before my wedding to the enemy? I might as well have waved a red flag in front of a bull or built a neon sign pointing to a vulnerable button. My new husband will be stomping on it in no time. I wish I could trust Adonis to avoid that pitfall, but emotions make everything messy and I hurt him badly by making this move.
He’s not the only one.
All through the speeches and cake cutting and first dance, Hephaestus keeps that satisfied smirk in place. It makes me want to…
I manage to extract myself and part ways with my husband to grab a glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray. Now’s the time to follow him back to our seats at the center of the bridal party table, but I need a moment, so I drift over to the doorway leading back outside. The air has cooled with the sun setting, giving the first hint of the bite winter will bring.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. The desire to strike back at Hephaestus after that little altercation is nearly overwhelming, but I haven’t made it to where I am now by acting impulsively. Mostly.
Right now, the only thing that matters is getting through the rest of the reception and then managing to resist the impulse to make myself a widow on my wedding night.
Everything else can wait for tomorrow.
Even knowing that is the smartest course of action, I can’t help searching the faces of the guests gathered in the ballroom. Adonis isn’t here—I know he isn’t—but that doesn’t stop me from looking despite myself.
He won’t have left Olympus; not without me. His life is here. His family and fortune and a whole city’s worth of admirers. He has a way of drawing people to him wherever he goes, his charm and beauty making him the darling of MuseWatch and a good portion of the legacy families. Not enough to help him secure one of the titles of the Thirteen for himself, but Adonis lives a charmed life.
None of that really excuses what I’ve done.
Or the fact that I didn’t talk to him about it first.
I smother the guilt trying to take root in my chest. Adonis knew what he was getting when we started this ill-fated on-again-off-again relationship several years ago. I was a Kasios before I became Aphrodite.
I drain my champagne glass and tuck all the messy emotions away. It doesn’t matter what could have been, because this is my reality. I will not give my new husband and his family even an ounce of satisfaction thinking that I’m heartbroken.
Being heartbroken would require me to have a heart.
I make my way toward the table with the wedding party. It’s slow going because everyone wants to stop the bride and wish me congratulations or use thirty seconds of their time to try to weasel closer to the power Aphrodite holds. My title’s responsibilities include making marriage matches, and arranged marriages are one of Olympus’s favorite way to consolidate power.
Again and again, my attention is drawn back to the bridal party. They’ve mixed up a bit. My people—Hermes, Eros, and my brother and sister—on one side and Hephaestus’s—the Minotaur, Icarus, Ariadne, and Pandora—on the other. It’s the latter who interests me.
In the brief time I’ve known their cursed household, she seems to be the only one whom my lovely husband more than tolerates. Even now, he’s leaning over Icarus and there’s an actual smile on his face. It’s strange and soft and it makes me want to grab the nearest piece of silverware and gouge his eye out.