“Just speaking the truth.”
Yeah, I’m not going to touch that. Icarus was dancing to his father’s tune when we first arrived in Olympus, going so far as to attack Pan at the party. I could have told him it’s no use. He might be Minos’s son by blood, but he’s not what Minos wants in a son.
Now, it seems he’s back to his old self. He’s got a sharper tongue than anyone I’ve met and he doesn’t hesitate to use it. I don’t dislike him the way I do the Minotaur and Minos, but being friends with Icarus isn’t a comfortable experience. “I’m exhausted so I’m going to take a nap.”
Icarus takes me in, dark eyes narrowing. “Our new sister-in-law posted the most interesting photo this morning. Seems Theseus didn’t do a good job of exercising his wedding night duties.” He leans forward. “If I don’t miss my guess, that was you in her bed.”
It takes everything I have not to flee. Doing so will confirm his suspicions and will give him something to needle Theseus about. I might not be entirely happy with him right now, but I’m not going to hand over ammunition to Icarus. “I spent the night in the lower city.”
“Told you so.” Ariadne twists her hair around her fingers. “I saw her leave with Eurydice Dimitriou.” She worries her bottom lip. “Honestly, I was a little jealous. Father had us herded directly back here as soon as the reception was over.”
“Gods forbid we do something further to embarrass him.” Icarus rolls his eyes. “I want to see the kink club.”
Ariadne blushes a bit and looks away. “I’d like to see it, too. I’d like to see anything that isn’t these four walls.”
Guilt sparks. I might resent Minos in more ways than I can count, but his apathy for me translates to freedom these two don’t have. We’ve snuck out together before, back on Aeaea. There was a little bar Theseus introduced me to, and I would bring Icarus and Ariadne there whenever Minos was away on business. Everyone was afraid of Theseus, so they never messed with me, even if he wasn’t there every time I was.
There isn’t anywhere like that in Olympus.
“Maybe we could—” I start.
“We don’t need you to babysit us. If I want to see the kink club, I’ll see the kink club.” He flops back against the couch. “Maybe I’ll ask Aphrodite. She seems to enjoy sowing discord, so she’d probably say yes.”
“Icarus. You can’t!”
I cross to Ariadne and cover her hand with mine. It’s been years since she was in danger of ripping out her own hair because of anxiety, but seeing her twist her curls makes my scalp twinge in sympathy. “Don’t let him get to you.” I shoot a look at Icarus. “And you. Behave.”
“Many have tried to get me to behave; all have failed.” He grins suddenly, the expression is pure delight. This right here is why I can never hate Icarus. As sharp as he is, he’s just as quick to trade insults for a mischievous invitation to get into trouble. He proves me right when he leans in. “You went to an infamous kink club with Eurydice Dimitriou last night. Did you seduce Demeter’s youngest daughter? Tell us all the details.”
I smile and lean forward, enjoying the way they both mirror my movement. I wait until they’re practically quivering with anticipation to say, “A lady never tells.”
He groans. “That’s no fun. Eurydice is pretty, but her shadow is even prettier. I don’t suppose Charon joined in the fun?”
Ariadne covers her face with her hands. “For gods’ sake, Icarus, can you just be normal for two minutes.”
She doesn’t see his flinch in response to her words. His family never seems to. He catches me looking and we share a heartbeat of commiseration. I, at least, have a reason to be on the outside of this fucked-up little family unit. Icarus is Minos’s biological son. I can’t imagine how it must have felt for his father to go seeking two more and then turn around and show them such blatant favoritism.
So, yeah, I don’t love Icarus’s cutting remarks, but I don’t hate him for them.
“I didn’t sleep with Eurydice or Charon. And I have to question your taste if you call him pretty.” Like so many people in the upper tiers of Olympus, Charon is attractive, but it’s a more salt-of-the-earth attractiveness than some of the peacocks who strut around the upper city.
Best I can tell, Eurydice is oblivious to the way he looks at her even as she watches him when she thinks no one is paying attention. I don’t really know her, but it makes me want to give her a sharp elbow and sharper words. Life is too short to pass up something that’s obviously founded in more than pure lust.