Divine Ambrosia Page 6

  Luke blew out a breath and nodded. “Yeah, okay. We should let Alex know too.”

  “I suppose you’re right. We have some work to do and some asses to kick, because someone sent that bird to do more than trash her living room. Who knows that we found her?”

  “I didn’t mention it to anyone. Why would I? Did you?”

  Beau shook his head. “I mentioned it to Dad, and he isn’t telling anyone. I guess we just have to figure out who hated Aphrodite enough to hold this kind of a grudge. Heph should remember most of her rivals.”

  “Who wasn’t her rival back then?”

  “Everyone dicking her.”

  Luke hit Beau in the shoulder before he thought it through. “We fought plenty.”

  “With each other. Not with her. Now, you gonna hit me again, kid, or we gonna go see Alex and figure this the fuck out?”

  “Fine, let’s go.”

  5

  Alex wiped the blood from his hammer and glowered at the smashed remnants of the snakes he’d fought while Esme enjoyed a book behind the store counter at Memory Lane.

  She hadn’t so much as looked up, completely oblivious to the battle happening beside her. Humans never noticed anything that wasn’t right in front of them. While there were a few rare souls who seemed to sense the In-Between, they only caught the haziest glimpses through the Fog.

  He grunted and grabbed one of the serpentine carcasses from the floor. Esme’s head jerked up abruptly, and she stared through him, eyes wide with alarm. She blinked a few times and shifted in the chair with tension in her shoulders. Eventually, she relaxed and returned to her book.

  Luke was right. She did have a hint of her senses. Like the last drop of soda left in a can, a breath of divine spirit remained in her mortal body. Just enough to perceive something had happened nearby.

  While he watched, she plucked a truffle from the box on the counter and nibbled it. The differences and similarities to the Aphrodite he had known fascinated Alex, though he was satisfied to discover her sweet tooth had survived the passing of several dozen reincarnations into the human world.

  He left the shop and took his kills with him, already aching and stiff from fending off her would-be assassins. Their bites covered his brawny forearms and blood glistened on his chest and thighs. It might have been a problem for another god, but Alex was immune to the effects of their venom. It stung, a mild irritant and nothing more, though it was capable of putting someone like Ares or Luke down for a few days.

  It would have killed Esme in one bite.

  Alex emerged from the In-Between when he reached Luke’s apartment. Most gods surrounded their domains with spells and different protective hexes in the In-Between to prevent trespassing, but Luke had designed his to allow both Beau and Alex free reign.

  Both were on the couch embroiled in a video game battle, aware of him but distracted until the moment he stepped into the real world and dropped both bloody corpses beside the coffee table.

  Luke spared a brief glance away from the television. “What the hell happened to you? You okay, dude? And what are those? What were those, I should ask.”

  “Stygian serpents I intercepted at Memory Lane. They were on their way to a rip in the veil.”

  Beau jumped up from his seat. “And you handled them alone? Fuck, that impresses even me.”

  “I don’t need a sword.”

  “No, I suppose you don’t. I forget sometimes what you are.” Beau frowned. “That’s one of Mom’s tricks.”

  Alex nodded. “Yes. It is.”

  “You gonna go ask her about it?” Luke asked.

  “No.” Alex wanted to punch Luke for even asking such a stupid question.

  Beau sighed. “Hey, man, I know she did you wrong and all, but it’s been a couple thousand years. Are you still not ready to just bury the hatchet and move on?”

  “She tossed me out like trash. I’m not going back.”

  “But—”

  “You do it. She always preferred you to the rest of us, right? Find out if she’s up to her old tricks and meddling in mortal affairs again. In the meantime, I’m going to create something to protect Esme at home and at the job.”

  Alex faded into the In-Between and returned to his estate. Contrary to the taunting he received from Beau and Luke, he’d lived in Ashfall Springs for years before he’d even realized Aphrodite was alive again. Stalking her had never been part of his plan, though he had been her silent protector for the last few years of her life.

  And as much as he loved Esme, as much as he wanted to protect her, facing down the mother who had hurled him from a mountaintop was the last thing Alex could do.

  Beau hated crossing into Olympus. He didn’t visit often, preferring the liveliness of the mortal realm with all of its imperfections and flaws.

  Like the world they pretended to lord over, Olympus evolved with the times, although some hints of the olden days remained. Alabaster statues and marble pillars decorated the manicured fields designed to resemble the hanging gardens. He spotted Apollo and Artemis playing golf together. The sport had become the new archery. The twins waved at him, so Beau forced a smile, waved back, and kept on walking.

  His mother lived in a lavish home on a cul-de-sac between the goddess of youth and goddess of childbirth, both her children with Zeus. Peacocks roamed her yard and foraged through the lush plant life.

  Beau frowned at the birds when one ventured close and pecked at his feet. The jewel-toned creature followed him to the door, tempting him to kick it, but no one—even her preferred children—messed with Hera’s favorite animal. He ignored his feathered harasser instead and knocked on the door.

  “It’s open!” she called from inside.

  He took in a deep breath to steel his nerves and opened the door.

  The house smelled like cookies and wine. He wandered down the hall into the living room where Hera sat on the couch. Instead of a television, she watched something in a shimmering pool set on the coffee table.

  “Morning, Mom.”

  A warm smile spread across her face. “Ares, dear, how nice to have you over for a visit. Let me make you something to eat.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Nonsense. I’m your mother, and I know you’ve been hanging out in the mortal plane. You must be starved for something that’s actually fulfilling.”

  “You never cooked when I was young, so don’t bother doing it now. I didn’t come to hang out.”

  “Oh.” Hera’s face fell, and if he didn’t know her so well, if he hadn’t watched her devote every waking moment to stalking her adulterous husband instead of spending time with her numerous children, he would have thought he hurt her feelings. “I take it this isn’t a social visit, then.”

  “Nope. What do you know about a recent attack on Aphrodite?”

  “Aphrodite?” She scoffed. “That girl ran off centuries ago.”

  “Well, she’s been reborn, and we know where she is. All three of us. We’re going to bring her back.”

  “And you think I care? No, I didn’t send anything to kill the little bitch, though if I’d known she was around again, it might have occurred to me. Why? What happened?”

  “Hephaestus intercepted a pair of Stygian serpents on their way to her from the In-Between, and a few nights ago, Hermes and I slew a harpy that burst through her window. Barely got it out in time before she realized what was happening. Then a whole fucking flock descended and we had to take care of it. We’ve been taking turns keeping an eye on her ever since while trying to figure out who sent them.”

  “Oh.” Hera pressed her lips together, and then she chuckled. “While I can’t claim to feel any pity or concern, I can say it wasn’t me. I haven’t tamed a serpent in some time.”

  “I bet you know who has. You’re a product of the times, as nosy and gossipy as every other woman down there in the world.”

  Her scowl furrowed her brow and darkened her eyes. “Why should I bother helping when you won’t even l
et me cook for you?”

  “Because deep down I know you wanna make up for what you did to Hephaestus, and he’ll be crushed if she’s hurt. You want him back, help me out here.”

  Hera uncrossed her legs and rose. “I’ll talk, but while I’m cooking.”

  Given no choice, he followed her into the kitchen.

  “Stygian serpents come from only one place, you know that. None of them can leave or be taken without special dispensation.”

  “Hades.”

  “Or his wife.” She sliced a golden apple and smiled at him. “And you know how our lovely Persephone feels about your lover.”

  “But why should she give a damn about Aphrodite now? She left our divine realm and became a human. She doesn’t even know any of this shit exists right now.”

  “Exactly. But if you three convince her to return to our realm, she’ll recall all past squabbles and victories.” Hera smiled slyly. “She’ll remember Adonis, whom Persephone has kept all to herself these past centuries thanks to you sending him to the Underworld. She may even want Adonis back again since my dear ex-husband forced them to share.”

  Ares scowled.

  “Murdering him certainly wasn’t one of your best moments.”

  “I shouldn’t have let Persephone manipulate me into that,” he agreed, “but I guess my lack of impulse control comes from you and Dad. How’s the old man doing anyway?”

  Hera shrugged and moved to the cold box to remove a decanter of wine. “How should I know?”

  “I still can’t believe you left him. You’re the goddess of marriage and family.”

  “Why should I stay? Times have changed.” She paused, and after a moment she said, “Still, you should go see your father. Be a good son and visit your parents sometimes.”

  “I don’t have much to say to the old man. He exiled me over Hephaestus crying foul.”

  “And I convinced him to allow you to return. Now go sit down and let me finish this apple pie. You can take it back with you.” Her expression turned wistful. “Take half to Hephaestus, but don’t tell him it was from me. He’d never take it.”

  “Regular apples? No ambrosia?”

  “Sorry, love. There’s a shortage. Haven’t found a crumb in all of Olympus recently. The doves who once brought it have all vanished, and there are no signs of more coming soon.”

  With nothing left to do but wait, he dropped down on the sofa, kicked his feet up, and closed his eyes. At least if he napped he wouldn’t have to talk.

  6

  Esme fastened her winter coat over her sweater dress and leggings before hurrying outside into the frigid afternoon. The skies were a uniform gray over Ashfall, but the day was somehow bright, making the pristine snow appear more ivory than ever.

  Given a choice between popping into the resort to oversee placement of last-minute donations and spending time with her friends, she’d decided to decompress with the gang at the rink.

  It had been touch and go during the middle of the semester, her entire college career circling the drain as she struggled through her architectural graphics class, but it was all done save for one art project requiring its finishing touches, and she could deliver that in the morning. She wanted to add a pair of dwarf pomegranate bushes like the ones she’d seen in an editorial spread about Dito’s Manhattan penthouse a couple years back. For a clothes model, she had excellent taste in décor.

  Esme had painted the design in watercolors, creating a cozy conservatory with enormous windows spanning its walls to shed light over the plant life within. She’d added numerous wooden chairs and benches with cushioned seats for relaxing alongside the circular, in-ground hot tub.

  The hot tub had been one of her favorite parts to sketch out and bring to life in color. She’d given the room high, vaulted ceilings with spacious skylights and an iron hearth surrounded by stone. Windows made from many glass panes added a touch of warmth with several potted palms and ferns.

  Last night, right before bed, inspiration had struck and she’d painted in a glass table for two in the corner by the brightest window, adding two teacups on the bamboo placemats.

  Esme slogged through a mile of snow to meet up with her friends at the rink on the borders of Old Ashfall and the city. After showing her annual pass at the fence separating the skaters from the spectators and meandering pedestrians, she took a seat.

  “About time you got here,” Jordan grumbled, folding his arms against his chest and pouting. “We’ve been waiting for like thirty minutes. All that time, and you don’t even show up with a full face of makeup? Girl, bye.”

  “Dude, it’s too cold for all that. The moment I blow my nose, half my foundation will be on the Kleenex. No thanks. Besides, you two could have totally skated without me for a while.”

  “We’re waiting on Ashley too—oh, there she is!”

  After Ashley laced up her skates, they moved onto the ice as a group. Conversation drifted between grade predictions, boys, and winter plans interspersed between moments of Jordan and Esme showing off on the ice.

  “So, you going home for the break or nah?” Ashley asked.

  Esme shook her head and twisted to skate backward in front of the other two, gliding effortlessly into the reversal. Marie scowled at her. “I’ll stay here. I went home for Christmas last year.”

  Jordan mimicked her while adding in fancy step work. He’d been a junior figure skater before quitting during his teens. “My parents want me to come home but, ugh, nobody wants to sit around the table and listen to my drunk uncle discuss politics.”

  “Same,” Marie said. “Minus the drunk uncle. My personal Christmas hell would be listening to Dad bitch and moan about my major because he wants to know how I’ll get a real job.”

  Esme wrinkled her nose. “Eww. Dad fail. I’m not worried about anyone hassling me. I just figured I’d stay here for once, maybe spend some time with Luke.”

  Jordan perked up and skimmed near them again. “Oh yeah? How’s that going anyway? He still making it up to you for his spontaneous game of hide the sausage with your hand?”

  The girls all giggled at the imagery, but heat spread over Esme’s face. Thinking back to that night stirred up more than embarrassment—part of her, deep down, wished she’d dared to give in to his expectations. “Good. He helped us both study this weekend, and I gave him a hand with his programming stuff.”

  Jordan and Marie cackled again.

  Ashley broke off from the group. “I am freezing. Y’all, I seriously need a hot cocoa break. Anyone coming with?”

  “That’s because you weigh ten pounds. Anyway, yeah. I’ll take one,” Marie said.

  Jordan skated off to join them. “Me too.”

  “I’ll stay here.”

  While they were gone, Esme practiced her sit spin, wishing for a quieter rink where she could do more. Sometimes, when the ice wasn’t busy, Jordan gave pointers and taught the simpler moves. She’d learned to go from a single to a double salchow since meeting him sophomore year.

  “Looking good there,” the deeply masculine voice rumbled when she came out of a twirl.

  Esme jerked to her right and narrowly avoided colliding into a passing skater. “Beau?”

  Her motorcycle-riding savior flashed a big grin. He steadied Esme with a polite hand to her upper arm, and he released her the moment she regained her balance. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you, sweetheart. Just happened to see you across the rink and figured I’d come by to say hello.”

  “Oh. Well, hi.”

  A guy of his size should have been awkward on the ice, muscled and tall as he was, a direct contrast to Jordan’s lithe frame. He wore the same jacket and black gloves but no other winter protection, the most underdressed man on the ice compared to the others in scarves and muffs. He wore his jeans fitted, hugging a flawless ass.

  Esme jerked her gaze away. “Aren’t you cold?”

  “No. Why? You offering to warm me up if I am?”

  Her body flushed with heat. A vivid image played
in her mind of Beau shrugging out of his leather jacket and peeling away his shirt to reveal a chiseled, hard chest and defined abdomen. The guy had to be ripped.

  Angered at her own imagination, she glided away until there was a comfortable distance between them. “No. Sorry, I have, um, I have a boyfriend. Kinda.”

  “Damn. Okay if I hang out then?”

  She bit her lower lip. Her attention drifted to the concession stand a few yards from the rink where elephant ears, hot cocoa, and other hot snacks awaited skaters and spectators. Jordan and Marie stood at the end of the line while Ashley sat on a nearby bench beside a portable heater. “I should probably go to catch up with my friends.”

  Undeterred, Beau circled around her, spinning a 360-degree turn. “Your ‘kinda’ boyfriend that jealous or is it just me?”

  “No. I don’t think he’s the jealous type.”

  “What’s the harm then?”

  The harm was that she wanted to bone him, and he was definitely not her boyfriend. One look at Beau’s face made her imagine the things she wanted to do with it. Like ride it. He was the guy mothers warned their daughters about, the bad boy who deflowered virgins in the back seat of the car. He was sin in a black leather jacket and a handsome devil bent on torturing her.

  “Afraid?”

  He pushed the right button. Esme scowled and moved back to his side. Beau grinned.

  “So, do you live around here or are you up for the slopes?” Esme asked.

  “I’m in town visiting my brother and monitoring a mutual interest. He’s a bit of a loner, so I gotta come and keep him company every once in a while.” His tone gentled, and a hint of unexpected pity warmed his voice. When he spoke of his brother, his eyes went sad.

  The unexpected answer made her look at him with new understanding. She studied his jawline and admired his full, firm lips. Lips she really shouldn’t be thinking about. She tore her gaze away, ducked her head, and swept her hair back behind her ears. “That’s nice of you. Anyone I’d know?”