“You think so little of me that it would be easy for you to leave?” I couldn’t believe it. Cadmus smiled.
“I didn’t say that. I would simply try harder.”
His mouth was too tantalizing to ignore, so I leaned forward and kissed it, stroking his chiseled cheekbone with my fingers. It was as though he had been carved from the most perfect piece of marble by the most skilled of artists. I couldn’t keep my hands from roaming across his body. He groaned and pulled me to him.
“You’ve been tempting me for six months,” he growled into my mouth. “You are not playing fair.”
“All is fair in love and war,” I reminded him. “I just wanted to keep you interested.”
He grinned. “Oh, I’m interested. Trust me. I’m interested. But you should go get dressed, little one. Everyone will be rising soon. You should probably have clothes on for that.”
“You might be the first man in the history of time to suggest to a woman that she put clothes on rather than take them off,” I pointed out. He shrugged.
“Perhaps. Or perhaps I’m just confident.”
“Confident in what?” I asked.
“Confident that when the time comes, I won’t have to ask you to take them off.”
I laughed. “You’re confident all right.” But in my heart, I knew he was right. When the time came, I was certain that I would be all too willing. It had been a very long and chaste six months.
“I’m going to get dressed and then I’m going to find my father. He’s likely having breakfast.”
“Let the man eat, Harmonia,” Cadmus said with a smile. “He’ll be in a better mood if you do.”
“I probably don’t have the patience,” I answered as I kissed him quickly and slipped back out of his room. In my excitement, I barely felt my feet hit the ground. I made my way back to my bedchambers in record time and only took five minutes to ready for the day.
Many times, I enjoyed dressing myself the old-fashioned way. But today, in my hurry, I simply envisioned myself dressed in my favorite green sheath, belted with an elaborate silver belt and instantly I was. I pictured my hair piled onto my head in an elaborate up-do embedded with emeralds, and instantly it was so. There were times when being a goddess came in handy.
And I wanted to look beautiful for Cadmus today.
“And you do,” my mother said as she quietly entered my rooms.
“I hate it when you sneak up on me like that,” I told her, as I’d told her a thousand times before. She simply grinned.
“I must, if I ever want to hear what you are thinking. If I don’t, you hide your thoughts from me. What’s a poor mother to do?” She shrugged her shoulders elegantly. I laughed.
“A poor mother? That’s hardly the case.”
Aphrodite looked radiant today and incredibly happy, which meant only one thing.
“You’ve just come from father, haven’t you?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes. He’s in a wonderful mood today.”
My heart beat picked up. That was good news.
“A good mood?” I asked innocently. She narrowed her eyes at me.
“Yes. You aren’t planning something that will turn him sour, are you? I’m planning a feast for this evening. I would like for him to be pleasant and accommodating.”
“Father loves to feast,” I reminded her. “He will be fine. Make sure you serve roasted leg of lamb and he’ll be putty in your hands.”
Aphrodite wasn’t distracted. She focused on me with laser-precision.
“What are you planning, daughter?” she asked firmly. “I know you well and you are up to something.”
I wrinkled my nose at her as I walked to my balcony. “I’m not planning anything at all. Today is just the last day of Cadmus’ sentence. He’s free today, mother. I’m going to ask father if he has given any thought to Cadmus’ proposal.”
I watched realization pass over my mother’s face. I hadn’t discussed this with her over the past few months. I had quietly met with Cadmus in secret—innocent get-togethers where we laughed and got to know each other better.
And the more we got to know each other, the more I knew that he was the one for me. There was no one else who would ever be as suited for me as he was. If Ares didn’t grant his permission, I would be devastated.
“So, I see,” Aphrodite mused as she rifled through my thoughts. “I hadn’t realized that things had progressed to this, daughter. You’ve been keeping secrets.”
She looked slightly offended that I hadn’t confided in her, so I rushed to reassure her.
“Mother, I love you. I just wanted to keep this one thing to myself while it was in such a new stage. Cadmus and I…we love each other. But our relationship is new. I didn’t want it exposed for the world to see, particularly when he wasn’t free to be with me. But he is now. And that changes everything.”
I rushed to her side and hugged her, breathing in her floral scent and kissing her lightly on the cheek. “I love you, mother. I really, really do.”
“I know you do, Harmonia,” she sighed. “And I guess I knew that this day would come. I just don’t have to like it. I don’t want you to leave.”
I froze in my tracks.
“Leave?”
She looked at me in amusement. “Of course, sweet one. If you are with Cadmus, I am sure that you will be leaving. He has a kingdom to rule. He is his father’s only remaining son. He is the heir to the throne. He has an obligation to return.”
My heart hammered in my chest. Never, over the course of the past few months, had we ever spoken of this. Cadmus had never mentioned returning to the mortal world and I had never asked…because it hadn’t occurred to me. Why would anyone ever want to leave the Spiritlands? But in this instant, I knew that my mother was right. Cadmus would need to return to the mortal world to rule his father’s kingdom.
If I didn’t go with him, we couldn’t marry.
That fact loomed large and prominent in front of me. I sighed a long sigh and my mother hugged my shoulders.
“You didn’t think of this?” she asked incredulously. “You didn’t realize that he would have to return?”
“No,” I admitted softly. “I will admit that my thoughts have been clouded of late. I haven’t thought of practicality at all. I’ve only thought of him.”
“Love,” Aphrodite shook her head. “I’ve warned you. It does strange things to a person.”
My chest suddenly felt hollow. After feeling ecstatic since the moment I awoke, this sudden realization that all might go awry weighted me down horribly. I should have known that there would be an obstacle. There always was.
“Don’t think like that,” my mother said sternly. “Life is not always rainbows and butterflies, my sweet. Life is ever-changing and ever-challenging. If it were not, we would grow bored. You must look at this situation for what it is: A choice. You must simply decide if you are willing to relocate for this man. Do you love him enough to move from your home and follow him to his?”
She stared at me, her silver eyes knowing. It would be difficult for anyone to choose to move from the home of the gods to the mortal world. She knew that.
“My darling, think long and hard on this decision. It is ever so important. Do not rush into it.”
I shook my head. “I won’t. But I love him, mother.”
“I know,” she replied. “I’m the goddess of love, remember? I can sense it from a mile away. You love him. Now, you will simply have to decide if that is enough.”
I sank into a nearby seat and numbly stared at the birds flying in the trees outside of my windows. They were so happy and content. I had the random thought that I wished I was one of them. Their lives were so simple.
“Sweetling,” my mother sighed as she knelt in front of me and pushed a stray tendril of hair from my eyes. “This will be simple, as well. And really, first things first. You must speak with your father and see if he will grant his permission. Do not worry yourself until you know that there is something to wor
ry about.”
I nodded. My mother spoke the truth. I should find out this small detail before I got ahead of myself. But she was wrong on one aspect. Of course I would worry about my father’s decision. I loved him, but Ares was known to be a touch difficult when he wanted to be. Sighing, I rose from my chair and turned to face another dragon.
My father.
Chapter Nine
I heard him long before I saw him as I approached the dining hall.
Ares was laughing boisterously with someone. Hermes, maybe? It sounded like Hermes’ voice. The hall was filled with chattering and laughter, so most of the Olympians must be in attendance for breakfast. I swallowed. Ugh. I’d have an audience.
As I reached up to grasp the ornate door handles, a large hand reached from behind to open the door for me.
Turning, I found Cadmus.
From the dampness of his hair, I could see that he was freshly bathed. I longed to lean in and inhale his clean, woodsy scent, but I restrained myself. Instead, I gazed at him for a moment, appreciating his masculine appeal. Looking at him, however, made me want to touch him. So, I pulled my eyes to his, which were twinkling in amusement.
“See something you like?” he asked with a grin.
I shook my head. I couldn’t deny it. He had caught me checking him out fair and square. My cheeks were on fire as I tried to casually continue our conversation. Cadmus had laughter in his eyes. He knew exactly how embarrassed I was and it amused him. I had to admit, it was a little amusing. Here I was…a goddess on Mount Olympus and a mortal man had completely taken over my senses. I deserved to be the object of his humor. I smiled pleasantly.
“Are you coming to speak to my father?”
He eyed me. “Yes. I was trying to beat you here, so that I could speak for myself. I should have known that would be a futile effort. You did say that you were impatient.”
I was indignant. “That’s not true,” I told him, the red flush back in my cheeks. “It’s not a futile effort. You’re a grown man. You can speak for yourself.”
“Well, I know that,” he told laughingly. “But do you?”
He had me again. I had definitely been on my way to speak to my father and it hadn’t occurred to me that Cadmus might want to do it himself. I fidgeted with my ankle for a moment and Cadmus laughed.
“I have your number, don’t I?” he asked me with a grin. “You know, before I met you, I always pictured the goddess of peace to be…well, peaceful. You have a more colorful personality than I would have guessed.”
“I am peaceful,” I told him. “Most of the time.”
He laughed and I realized that I could listen to that sound all day long. But we had things to do and dragons to speak to.
“Are you ready to talk to my father?” I asked. “I mean, are you still planning to speak to him?”
“About your hand in marriage?” Cadmus asked, surprised. “Of course. I fully intend for you to be my wife, Harmonia.” He looked at me. “Did you think I had changed my mind?”
Maybe, I thought.
“No,” I answered aloud.
“Liar,” he grinned. “I was merely commenting on how you are more colorful than I anticipated you would be. I like it.”
I felt more relief with his words than I would ever admit.
“So, are you ready?” I asked instead. He nodded.
“Goddesses first,” he opened the door and stood to the side to allow me to pass. As I walked past him, he leaned in and inhaled.
“You smell good,” he whispered in my ear.
“It’s my natural scent,” I told him, aware that many mortals and even some goddesses wore perfume.
“I know,” he nodded. I felt myself flush again.
As we entered the dining hall, the Olympians and various other minor gods and goddesses were eating their breakfast, chatting and socializing. But one by one, as they noticed us, they stopped talking and watched us approach Ares. I could feel several dozen pairs of eyes upon me as we made our way across the room. It made me self-conscious, though I tried hard not to show it.
When we reached Ares, his dark eyes were twinkling.
That could be a good thing or a bad thing. It could mean that he was in a good mood and was inclined to be cooperative.
Or it could mean that he was inclined to give us a hard time for his personal entertainment. There was only one way to find out.
“Father,” I began.
“Ares,” Cadmus interrupted me, with a sideling glance.
I snapped my mouth closed. I had already forgotten that he had wanted to speak for himself. Color once again exploded into my cheeks and I realized that I had blushed more in the past few weeks than I had in my entire life.
“Yes?” Ares raised a dark eyebrow, waiting. I sighed. He was going to be difficult for his own amusement. I could tell already.
“Today marks the end of the eight years that I was sentenced to serve you,” Cadmus began. “It has been so much more interesting than I would ever have thought before and I am surprised to find that I consider you a friend now. I respect you and I value your opinion and insight. I humbly come to you now to ask that you release me from my bondage.”
Cadmus paused and looked at me. I held my breath.
“And?” Ares asked, his eyebrow still raised.
He reached over and grabbed a goblet of nectar, casually sipping from it as he waited to discuss my future. I was dying of anxiety inside, but I tried to calm myself. I had a feeling that both Ares and Cadmus were prolonging this on purpose to try my patience.
Cadmus smiled.
“I would like to come to you as a free man, free of all bonds, to respectfully ask for your daughter Harmonia’s hand in marriage. I swear to you that I will protect her every day of her life with my own.”
Ares appraised Cadmus silently.
“You are a strong lad, which is apparent. You are brave and true, as you have proven. You are a man of your word, which is commendable. My question is: Will you be a good husband to my daughter?”
Cadmus nodded without hesitation. “I will.”
“Will you honor her?”
“Yes.”
“Can you manage her?”
There was absolute silence, then the entire room erupted into laughter. Even Cadmus himself chuckled. Ares’ eyes were twinkling.
“You think that I jest, but my daughter has more spirit than you might realize. So, again, I ask you, can you handle her?”
My cheeks burned once again as I waited for Cadmus’ response. I stared at my feet until Cadmus reached over and lifted my chin with one finger.
“I promise that I will work as a partner to your daughter. I will try to be a strength to her weaknesses, and listen when she advises me on mine. If she can handle me at my worst, I can handle her at hers.”
The room was utterly silent at the perfection of his answer. My heart swelled in my chest at his words, at the sweet tone of his voice, at the warmth in his chocolate brown eyes. If my father didn’t grant his permission within the next minute, I felt that I might quite literally die.
Ares turned to me, the laughter gone from his eyes.
“Do you want to marry this man even though he is mortal?”
My answer was immediate.
“Yes.”
My father stared at me for a moment, reading my thoughts, studying my face.
“So be it,” he finally replied. “Be happy, sweet daughter.” Turning to Cadmus, his tone firmed up. “Make her happy,” he instructed sternly. He puffed his chest out as only the god of war could, creating an ominous, commanding presence.
Cadmus didn’t even flinch. “Yes, sir.”
Ares sat back down. “Very well, then.” He turned to Zeus who was seated at the head of his table next to his wife, Hera. “Zeus, do you have anything to add? Do you approve this union?”
My grandfather stared at me quietly, his white-silver hair standing up crazily on his head as it always did. He seemed to stare directly into my soul and he
was silent for minutes on end. It was unsettling. Finally, he spoke.
“I foresee that you will have many, many adventures in life. You will love each other deeply. Never forget to hold tight to that love. It will sustain you no matter what comes, no matter what you may face.”
“Yes, grandfather,” I agreed.
Zeus turned to Cadmus. “Since you did not return to Tyre with Europa, am I safe to assume that your father will not welcome your return now?”
Cadmus’ expression hardened. “I assume that is correct. My father has not contacted me in any way throughout the past eight years. I assume