Chapter Eighteen

Landyn's ferret was on a mission, planning a sneak attack. It had been a busy week since they'd last been to the warehouse, but this time Hephaestus and Landyn had been enjoying their time together.

Hephaestus had been ready to whisk Landyn off to parts unknown from the moment they'd woken up the following morning. But Landyn explained he liked Hephaestus's home, and asked if they could plan things where they could still zap back at nights, which Hephaestus seemed genuinely pleased about. So far, Landyn had tried gorgeously fluffy, crispy croissants fresh from a bakery in a village in France Hephaestus knew. He'd also tried fried tofu balls in Greece, which he wasn't as keen on, but the crispy outsides of the balls were delicious, as well as the yogurt dressing and salad that went with them.

Just the day before they'd gone to Amarillo, Texas, where Hephaestus was determined to see him eat the biggest steak Landyn had ever seen. It was seventy-two ounces, and the plate was huge. Apparently, there was some kind of competition run by the restaurant where a customer could get the steak for free if they could eat the whole thing in one sitting within a time limit. Landyn bowed out of the competitive side of things – he liked to take the time to enjoy his food. But Hephaestus's steak was refunded. He ate his in just twenty minutes.

"Don't feel bad, sweetling," Hephaestus had teased as they left. "My stomach has to be twice as big as yours at least."

"I bet I could eat a salad faster than you," Landyn grinned. "We both know you don't like your veggies." In other words, a fun day.

Today they were spending it at home. Lunch was omelets Landyn had made, and Hephaestus had eaten every bite, which made man and ferret really happy. Afterward, Landyn's ferret was getting restless, so he shifted in the bedroom before going to find Hephaestus in the living room. Hephaestus was sitting on the couch, his feet up, and reading a book.

Hence the stealth attack. The ferret couldn't help it – he was playful by nature. He'd noticed his mate had a small smile on his face, so it was possible the god knew he was in the room, but the ferret was working on the assumption he couldn't be seen.

He kept to the sides of the room, stopping and peering over to where Hephaestus was busy with his book, making sure he wasn't being watched. But no, his god's head was down. The book must've been very interesting. The ferret scuttled along a little bit farther stopping behind a large armchair.

There was a wide patch of the floor he had to get across that had nothing for him to hide behind, leaving him open to being seen. He eyed up the distance between the chair he was behind and a large potted plant about five feet away, swaying a bit on his front legs, his tail still.

Hmm. The god on the couch was to his right. The potted plant he needed to get to, to get behind the couch was to his left. The ferret had two options. He could make a mad dash for it – he was very speedy on four legs – and hope Hephaestus would miss the blur of his fur…or…

The god was still reading. The ferret peered under the edge of the chair at him. Must be an interesting book. All right then. The ferret decided to go with option two, walking at stealthily as he could, sniffing at the edge of the wall every now and then, paying absolutely no attention to the god. None at all. Nope. Nothing to see here. Just an innocent wee ferret sniffing the woodwork, because he was a curious creature who was making sure no sneaky mice were encroaching on his territory. Or worse, rats. The ferret did not like rats, but what he wasn't doing was paying any attention to Hephaestus.

It wasn't until he got to the potted plant that the ferret peered at his mate again. Still reading. It didn't look like Hephaestus had moved, but just as the ferret thought that, the god turned a page. Definitely reading.

The ferret eyed the back of the couch. The next stage required precision timing. His plan was to climb up the back of the couch and then bury himself in Hephaestus hair, maybe even nibble on his ears a bit. But the moment he hit the side of the couch, there was a good chance Hephaestus would know he was there.

Speed and precision timing. Planning over, the ferret started running. He was committed. Streaking across the floor, he leaped as high as he could, his claws gaining traction on the soft back side of the couch. Faster than a ninja, he raced to the top, only to see Hephaestus looking at him, a wide grin on his face.

"Was that fun, sweetling?" Hephaestus was careful, reaching over the back of the couch and scooping him up with one hand. "You're a very stealthy ferret, aren't you?" He said as he carried the ferret over the back of the couch and onto his chest.

Aww, their mate noticed. The ferret was very pleased with himself. He licked down one side of his fur making sure to catch his mate's finger with his tongue. His mate always tasted of fire, and the ferret was quite addicted to it. But even as he did it, he stiffened, sensing the presence of someone else in the room and he tried to peer over his shoulder, or turn around so he could see. Hephaestus was shielding him with his hands, and the ferret didn't know what to think about that.

"Eros, what reason have you to appear in my home without permission?"

Eros? Who in goodness name was Eros? At least it wasn't one of the giants.

"My apologies," a soft masculine voice replied. "Our goddess, Aphrodite, needed to see you on a matter of some urgency, and I was sent to take you to her."

"I can hardly think of any matter Aphrodite requires my counsel on," Hephaestus was using his gruff voice. "It has been centuries since our paths have intersected. If she has the need of a trinket or tool she wants me to make, she can place her order just like any other god in our pantheon."

"It is a personal matter she wishes to speak to you about." There was a pause, and then the voice continued, almost hesitantly as if he was deliberately choosing his words. "A story has reached the goddess's ears which causes her some concern. I believe it pertains to the animal you are cradling on your chest. Is it the truth that you claim the small animal was gifted to you by the Fates?"

"It is."

Ooh, this isn't good. My mate sounds angry. The ferret wished he was in his human form. He wished Hephaestus would let him see the intruder.

"I see. Is it also true that because of that small animal, you are no longer forging the works you've become known for?"

"I make sculptures for human collectors." Hephaestus was snarling now. "I hardly call taking a break to spend my time with my mate an issue for anyone else, especially Aphrodite."

"The goddess has also heard you have severed ties with the giants, which is also concerning…"

"Why?" Hephaestus was furious. "For your information, the giants severed ties with me due to the hateful way they treated my mate. So you can take that information back to the goddess with the added message to leave me alone. My life hasn't concerned her for eons, and I don't see that changing anytime soon."

"Mythology tells tales of you and the goddess as husband and wife, partners in the Greek pantheon. Any negative behaviors on your part…"

Hephaestus is still married? Landyn couldn't hear anymore. The words were being drowned out by the sound of his heart snapping in two.