26. Aphrodite

26

APHRODITE

I wake up feeling more relaxed than I have in months. I know it’s a lie the moment I open my eyes and see the two men in my bed. Adonis sleeps in his customary position—on his side. I’ve always found it odd that the man never moves when he sleeps. But then, Adonis doesn’t have the same tumultuous relationship with sleep that I do. I toss and turn, and it slips through my fingers night after night. He simply closes his eyes and lets it take him.

Hephaestus is another thing entirely. He’s on the other side of Adonis, sprawled over more than his fair share of the bed, one big arm and leg tossed over the other man.

I shift, and have to talk down the surge of warmth that rises when I realize he’s clasped my hip with one hand and that Adonis has one arm draped over my waist.

Last night can’t mean anything.

Adonis is my ex for good reason, and my husband is my enemy. It doesn’t matter that they took care of me in a truly inventive way, or that it felt particularly cathartic to release some of the pent-up messy emotions between me and Adonis.

In a few hours, we will be standing on the opposite side of the line from each other at a meeting among the Thirteen. I cannot afford to soften to him, or start to think traitorous thoughts about how maybe he isn’t that bad. He is that bad. It’s the entire reason I married him.

My body feels heavy, but it’s a lie. I have to get moving. There’s a meeting to attend and a destabilizing city to fix. I can’t stay here in this strange little alternate reality where I don’t really hate my husband and I might have a future with the man I love.

That, more than anything, gets me moving. I learned early on the price of wishing on stars. It doesn’t change anything, and the inevitable disappointment can crush your soul if you’re not careful. Better to work within the boundaries of what’s real instead of what you wish was real.

I check the clock, which shows I have plenty of time before I need to be in Dodona Tower for my brother’s meeting. Gods alone only know what Perseus has come up with in the meantime.

All he wanted was stability and a better Olympus than our father left us.

Look at us now, being hunted in the streets like prey.

I take a quick trip to the bathroom and snag my robe off the back of the door. I don’t know if I’ll kick Adonis out or leave him here, but if he’s content to sleep… Well, someone might as well get extra sleep. I should let Hephaestus sleep right through the meeting. It’s the strategic thing to do. But somehow I’m reaching over Adonis and tapping Hephaestus’s shoulder. “You won’t want to be late for this meeting. Get up.”

“Five minutes.” He tucks his face into the side of Adonis’s throat. “Just five fucking minutes.”

“Suit yourself.” I hate how well rested I feel. Two full nights of sleep in a row, both of them spent with my husband in my bed. No use thinking about that. Nothing good can come of it. I slip out of the bedroom and pad down the hall toward my kitchen. I’m never conflicted. I don’t have the time or luxury for this kind of spinning out.

A sound brings me up short. There is…someone in my kitchen.

I take a step back before I catch myself. I am not running back to the men and begging them to protect me. This is my house. I wrap my robe more firmly around me and duck into my office to grab the first thing I see. It’s a massive hardcover book on the history of Olympus—a family heirloom that could crush a small child—and I feel a little ridiculous as I heft it in front of me and start back down the hall. That feeling of ridiculousness only gets worse when I see who’s puttering about in my kitchen.

Pandora.

She’s wearing a pair of faded jeans and a loose cropped T-shirt that I suspect originated in Hephaestus’s closet. It leaves her soft belly exposed and I am struck by the sudden urge to go to my knees and press my mouth there. “Um.”

“Morning.” She takes in the book I’m holding. “I’d ask how you’re doing, but you look both thoroughly sexed and kind of stressed. Apparently Theseus took the old ‘when you’re holding a hammer, every problem looks like a nail’ approach.”

I’m…not sure how to act in this situation. Obviously, Pandora knew I was married to Hephaestus—Theseus—but this feels very different than the relationship we’ve been building to date. The whole point was to keep him out of what Pandora and I have…and then turn around and needle him about it. To let him twist in the wind and worry about what I might be up to with his beloved best friend.

Except he’s in my bed and she’s in my kitchen.

My stomach dips and I try for a smile. “Morning?”

She props her hands on her hips. “Are you going to hit me with that book?”

“No?”

“Then why don’t you put it down and come here?”

I numbly set it on the narrow hall table next to me. My body hardly feels like my own right now. I’m more centered that I was last night, but not by much.

My whole world has gone topsy-turvy.

Even so, it feels so damn right to step forward and into Pandora’s arms. She hugs me tightly and I find myself clinging to her and inhaling her flowery shampoo scent.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she murmurs against my throat. “I was really worried about you when Theseus called me last night.”

Just like that, the pieces click into place. My husband came here, found me—well, the less I think about how he found me, the better—and then called Pandora. “You’re the one who told him to call Adonis, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” She leans back enough to look into my eyes. “Theseus and I would have fucked it up, even if we tried our best. Adonis knows you.” She smiles a little. “He loves you. You love him, too. He was who you needed.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. I search her expression for some kind of hurt, but there’s nothing. “This is a very strange situation.”

“Welcome to polyamory.” She gives me one last squeeze and steps back.

“Just like that?” It seems to defy belief that I can take her at face value. That Pandora wouldn’t feel even a sliver of the conflicting feelings coursing through me right now. That she would offer relief instead of piling on the guilt. “That simple.”

“There’s nothing simple about it. It gets thorny and sometimes the communication is better than other times. But that’s life, isn’t it?” She shrugs. “What’s on the agenda today?”

I follow her into the kitchen. It doesn’t even occur to me to lie. “The Thirteen have a meeting about the increased attacks against us. After that, I need to survey the replacement glass divider being installed in my office.”

Pandora nods. “You’ll need some protein to get you through.” She eyes me. “You’re the type to fly right through lunch without eating, aren’t you?”

Guilt heats my skin, even though I have nothing to actually feel guilt for. “I’m very busy. Sometimes it slips my mind.”

“Thought so.” She nudges me with her hip. “Sit down and let me feed you. Preferences on breakfast?”

I tuck my robe more firmly around my body and perch on the barstool at the island. “Simple. I usually grab a protein bar or something on the way out the door.”

The look she sends my way is so filled with exasperation that my heart gives a funny little thump. I’m going to have to have my chest looked at. All these skipped beats can’t be good for my health. Between the three of them, my heart is working overtime.

Pandora starts unloading the grocery bags on the counter. “How about an omelet? Protein and even a vegetable or two.”

“That sounds lovely.” My heart gives another thump. “But you don’t have to do that. Really, I’m okay.”

“I know you’re okay, just like I know I don’t have to do this. I’m not here because I have to be. I’m here because I want to be.” She starts moving about my kitchen. It takes her all of thirty seconds to find what she’s looking for and get a pan heating up on the stove. She hums under her breath as she works.

It’s… I don’t even have words.

The surreal feeling only gets more pronounced when Hephaestus and Adonis wander into the kitchen. My husband has managed to pull himself together in relatively short time. His hair even looks combed. He gives Pandora a hug, a quick squeeze of her shoulders, and presses a kiss to her temple. Adonis veers around her easily and gets to work starting a giant pot of coffee. His eyes are half-open, and I’m nearly certain he’s not actually awake yet. He never is before his first cup of coffee.

It’s nice. The four of us in my kitchen. It doesn’t feel like the men walked in and ruined the moment. Instead, it’s almost as if they’re adding to the lovely feeling of domestic bliss.

Hephaestus leans against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. I notice he gets several steps out of Pandora’s way while she cooks, which strikes me as strangely cute. He eyes me. “You look better this morning.”

“Yes, well, you fucked me damn near into unconsciousness. It’s amazing how little capacity a person has for fear when they’re that exhausted from orgasms.”

His lips quirk. Not quite a smile, but on him, it’s practically bursting into laughter. “A mutual benefit. You’re much more agreeable when you’re coming. I only thought about strangling you once last night. Twice at most.”

“Theseus.” Pandora whips him with a dish towel, the snap making me jump. She glares. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t say shit like that.”

Now’s the time to drive a chasm between them, to tell her that he’s said much worse to me, has actively threatened me. Pandora wouldn’t be here if she didn’t care about me, and she might have a much longer relationship with him, but the fault lines are right there and ready to exploit.

Except I…don’t.

Instead, I sit there and listen to them casually snipe at each other in a way that speaks to a very long history. The rhythm of their conversation has grooves of retread topics, the same way a river carves out a canyon. The words might be sharp, but fondness permeates every syllable.

This can’t last. There are too many obstacles in front of us. But I almost wish I was wrong about our little foursome’s inevitable collapse.

“Here.” Adonis sets a mug of coffee in front of me and takes the seat on my left.

“Thank you.” I wrap my hands around it, letting the heat steal through the ceramic and warm my palms.

He leans his elbows on the counter and turns his head to look at me. “Last night…”

“Yeah.” It changed everything and nothing. I’m still married to Hephaestus. I still love Adonis. We’re still diametrically opposed on multiple different levels. Maybe the three of us worked last night, but that doesn’t mean we could ever work in the long term.

Still, I can’t not say what I’m feeling right now. “Thank you. For everything. I know this wasn’t easy for you.”

He gives a ghost of his normal happy smile. “I enjoyed last night. I’m not happy that you’re in danger, but it was cathartic.”

“Cathartic.” A strange word, but it fits. I bump my shoulder against his. “That’s a new one.”

“With you? Always a surprise.”

Pandora spins around and places a plate in front of me. The omelet looks like something I’d order at a restaurant. I raise my brows. “This is impressive.”

“Yes, well, he can’t cook.” She jerks her thumb at Hephaestus. “And I had plenty of free time while Minos had his children, foster and otherwise, dancing to his tune. His cook, Picus, was fond of me and taught me what he knew.” Her smile dims. “I hope he’s doing okay without us there to feed.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Hephaestus rumbles. “Minos sent him to another household to stay busy.”

She gives him a sharp look. “That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”

Adonis clears his throat. When Pandora looks at him, he gives her his best charming smile. I’m faintly amused to see her blink against the force of it. She shakes her head. “Hello again, Adonis. You would be as handsome in the morning when you’ve just rolled out of bed as you are when you’re dressed to the nines. Glad to see you’ve been well in the weeks since I’ve seen you. I’m assuming you have a request?”

“If I can impose on you to make another plate, I would be endlessly grateful and forever in your debt.”

She laughs softly. “No need for the theatrics. I’m happy to cook for you.” She slants a glance at Hephaestus. “All of you.”

“What he said. Endlessly grateful.” On my husband’s lips, the words sound almost like a threat.

“Right. Sure.” Pandora rolls her eyes. “Sit down and stop lurking. It’s distracting.”

“I’m good at lurking.” He winks and ambles around the island to take the stool on Adonis’s other side.

I don’t know what to do with this side of Hephaestus. I’ve seen him dangerous and furious and vicious. But in the last twenty-four hours, I’ve also seen him gentle and playful and dominating in a really sexy way. He was borderline cruel last night, but I can’t deny that his motivations were pure. Or close enough to pure to count.

It complicates things in a way I’m not comfortable with. Hating him was so much easier before he took care with my body…and then my heart. Before I saw the tenderness in the way he touched Adonis and the comfortable amusement inherent in his interactions with Pandora.

I drink my coffee and let the moment wash over me. Pandora teasing Hephaestus. Adonis slipping in a comment here and there, his attitude warming as his coffee cup empties.

It’s…nice.

It makes me want to stay here in this strange little world forever. I can’t, though. I need to get ready, get my head on straight, and go off to the war meeting with my brother.

I turn to Adonis. “I have to go.”

“I know.” He squeezes my knee and lifts his voice. “Dinner tonight.”

It’s not a question, but I still find myself shifting sideways to look at my husband. He’s more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him and he nods easily. “Sure, dinner.”

Adonis glances at Pandora. Her brows wing up in response. “I get the feeling the three of you will forget to eat if I’m not around. I’ll be here.”

I want you here for more than food.

Gods, what’s happening to me?

I should be the one to take a wrecking ball to this moment, to remind them that none of us are actually allies, and this little group will fall apart at the first hit from the world outside my apartment.

Instead I stand and round the island to hug her. “Thank you for breakfast.”

She catches my elbows and looks up at me, her expression going fierce. “Stay safe today, Eris.”

My throat goes tight. “I will. I promise.”

I hope to the gods I’m not lying to her.