That pulls a laugh from me. “So arrogant.”
“Is it arrogance if it’s the truth?”
I’m still grinning as he climbs to his feet and pulls me up with him. “Yes. But don’t stop. I like it.”
27
Eros
We meet Zeus in Dodona Tower.
It’s a bit of a head trip. The last time I was here for a meeting, it was with the last Zeus. I’ve been around long enough to see several of the Thirteen switch people behind the titles, but part of me believed that old fucker would live forever. I know Perseus felt the same way; he was sure he’d have at least another decade before Zeus finally did us all a favor and kicked the bucket.
No one expected him to take a header out of his office window a few months ago.
Thankfully, the office where we meet Perseus—Zeus—isn’t that same office. It’s the one he’s been working from for years now, ever since he took over most of the day-to-day tasks of running his father’s company. His company now.
I glance at Psyche. No matter how unconventional, having sex in front of all those mirrors seems to have steadied the ground beneath her feet. She’s lost the wild look in her eyes and has her public persona firmly in place. Calm, cool, and collected. The only evidence of her nerves is her white-knuckled grip on my hand.
I’m not like her. I’m shit at comforting. I’ve never had to do it before, never had to search for the right words to say. Fuck, I’ve never wanted to. She gave me such a gift earlier that I can do nothing but try. “It will be okay.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Perseus isn’t Zeus.”
She looks at me. “That’s the thing, Eros. Perseus is Zeus. He might have been your friend up to this point, but now he’s essentially the king of Olympus. That changes a person.”
I know that. Of course I know that. But part of me rebels at it all the same. I was never as close to Perseus as I am to Helen or even Eris. I still know him.
“Let’s go in.” I open the door for her and hold it while she precedes me into the office. It looks nearly identical to every other office in this building. Steel, marble, glass, and little else. Perseus sits behind his massive desk, his fingers steepled in front of his mouth. He’s always been a handsome fucker, and he won’t thank me for saying it, but he really does have the look of his father. Athletic body, strong square jaw, golden-blond hair, the same cold blue eyes.
He motions to the chairs in front of the desk, and I wait for Psyche to sit before I take the empty one. Perseus looks between us before finally settling on me. “It’s been two months since my father died. You couldn’t have resisted started starting shit for longer?”
“You know me. I like to stir the pot.” I relax back into the chair and give him an arrogant grin. “But in this case, if you want to start pointing fingers, you can take it up with Aphrodite.”
“And yet I’m here, taking it up with you.” He shoots a look at Psyche. “I don’t suppose you were aware that your mother and I were negotiating for a marriage between you and me?”
Shock surges through me, quickly followed by a rage strong enough to burn this entire fucking skyscraper to the ground. Psyche had mentioned it during an early conversation, but I hadn’t taken it seriously. With all the candidates throwing themselves at Perseus, he’d meant to go with the controversial choice of one of Demeter’s daughters? “You’ve got to be joking me.”
He ignores me, obviously waiting for an answer. Psyche draws herself up. “I suspected it was on the table, but my mother didn’t see fit to inform me that things had gotten as far as negotiations.”
“I figured as much, but knowing about a pending marriage didn’t stop your sister from running into another man’s arms.”
Her voice goes frosty. “I am not my sister, and it wouldn’t have made a difference if my mother was negotiating a marriage or not because I’d be dead. Or did you miss the attempt on my life last night?”
“Watch your tone, Psyche.” He leans back. “I’m going to lay this out for you. I have no proof that Aphrodite is behind this attempt.” He holds up a hand before I can cut in. “Before you tell me that she ordered you to kill Psyche, remember that if you admit as much to me, you’ll share her punishment.”
I tense, very carefully not looking at my wife. Perseus is pulling no punches. I didn’t expect him to, but damn. All Psyche has to do is say I threatened her life, and she’ll remove both me and Aphrodite with one fell swoop. And then she’ll marry Perseus, marry Zeus, and become Hera.