It was probably time for Hades to make an appearance.
“Aphrodite,” he greeted, dropping his glamour.
The goddess turned to meet his gaze and smiled.
“Hades,” she purred in a sensual voice, and even though she had just cursed the mortal she was still using as an armchair, his eyes clouded with desire at the sound.
“I think the mortal has had enough excitement for one night. Why don’t you let him slither off?”
Aphrodite’s face changed at the mention of the cheater, and she turned to glare at him before hopping off his lap. “Run along, snake.”
The mortal obeyed and wandered into the crowd, dazed.
“What?” Aphrodite snapped when she looked at Hades again.
His brows rose, surprised by her venom. “Nothing. Although you will hardly help the man’s ego by taking away the only love he has ever known.”
She dusted off her hands. “He betrayed love, so he will never have it again.”
“I don’t think your punishment is unfair,” Hades explained. “But it has the potential to create a monster.”
She smirked, her expression impish. “Then he’s all yours. Monsters are your territory, Hades.”
Minthe approached just then, balancing a tray of drinks. This was how the nymph spent most of her evenings at Nevernight—taking orders and delivering them, flirting with mortals and immortals alike, and gathering information from Hades’ more elite clients.
“Lady Aphrodite,” Minthe said as she passed the goddess a glass of rosé. “Lord Hades.”
She handed off a glass of whiskey, and as she wandered away, he turned to Aphrodite, who raised a pale brow at him.
“Yes?” he inquired at her questioning stare.
“That nymph wants to fuck you,” she said.
A mistake I will never make again, he thought.
Hades did not acknowledge her comment and instead said, “You do not often grace my halls with your presence, Aphrodite. What can I do for you?”
She took a sip of wine, her sea-foam eyes locked with his. “I had hoped you’d be interested in a bargain of our own.”
“I do not play gods.”
“Just one game, Hades,” she said innocently, and then goaded, “Are you afraid?”
“A game played under this roof is never just a game.” Not even for me, he thought. There was always the possibility of losing, and he tended to lose just as much as the mortals who bargained with him, but their requests he could grant. He did not trust what Aphrodite would ask for. “Why request a game? What is it you want, goddess?”
“Why must I want something?” she asked. “Perhaps I am just bored and in need of entertainment.”
“There is nothing more dangerous than a bored Aphrodite,” Hades mused.
She pouted. “Please, Hades?”
He met her gaze and sipped from his glass before answering.
“No, Aphrodite.”
She was after more than entertainment. He could see it in the way she carried herself, rigid and tense. Something had brought her here, and if he had to guess, it had to do with her husband.
“Fine.” She lifted her chin in defiance. “You forced my hand.”
He glared at her, knowing what she was going to say next.
“I have an unclaimed favor from you, Hades. I wish to use it.”
A favor owed between gods was like a blood pact. Once invoked, it could not be taken back.
“You would waste a favor on a game of cards?” he asked. He knew the answer—whatever had brought Aphrodite here, it was worth spending.
Her eyes flashed. “It is not a waste.”
He took a drink of his whiskey. It kept him from saying anything he might regret before he gritted out, “One game, Aphrodite, no more.”
She brightened like he had given her the stars in the sky. “Thank you, Hades.”
Hades snapped his fingers, and the two teleported to the Ruby Suite upstairs. It was one of several rooms Hades used when bargaining with mortals. They were all named after precious stones. He chose this one intentionally, as a bit of a jab at Aphrodite. Ruby was passion—something she lacked these days. The walls were red, and black fabric was draped from floor to ceiling, framing sensual monochrome photos. A pack of unopened cards sat at the center of a table, which was positioned under a pool of muted light.
As Hades took his seat, he offered them to Aphrodite. “Would you like to deal?”
“No.” A smile curled her lips. “I’ll let you retain some power, Aidoneus.”