“Dad, there’s someone I want you to meet. This is Eros.”
He looked over my shoulder and instinctively shoved me to the side, ready to put himself between me and the danger. Then he blinked, more confused. “You?”
“Hello, Ron,” Eros replied.
“Wait a minute. You guys know each other?” I demanded.
“We met once…” Eros began.
“…a long time ago,” Dad finished. He looked at me then back to Eros. “It was you? You’re Erik?”
Eros nodded, no trace of shame in his admission.
I nearly burst for fury. “You said you didn’t believe me! You were going to ship me off to a mental hospital!”
“He only saw me once, Psyche,” Eros explained. “He didn’t know about my world or the portal.”
“You left her out in the snow.” Dad’s eyes grew angry.
“About that,” Eros replied, “can I say one thing in my defense before you try to kill me?”
Dad folded his arms across his chest.
“Her car was ten feet away. The keys were in the ignition. I had no idea she’d sit out in the cold all night like an imbecile.”
“Hey, whose side are you on?” I exclaimed.
“On this one issue,” Eros said, “his.” He took my hand and made no effort to hide the gesture from my father.
“Where have you been for the past week and a half?” He eyed the two of us warily.
I didn’t know how to explain wolves, flying to Nepal, nearly freezing to death on a mountain, and then travelling into the belly of the earth to find the kingdom of Hades. From Eros, I learned some things are better left unsaid. “I’ve been trying to win his mother’s approval.”
Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you?”
Before I could scoff, Eros said, “Yes, she succeeded. Now it’s my turn.” He drew something from his pocket and kept it covered in his fist until my dad put out his hand. Eros dropped a velvet pouch into Dad’s palm.
Dad opened the pouch and poured out its lone content: a ring. It was a rectangular diamond swirled in an intricate gold setting. To one side was a figure clearly representing Eros with a quill full of arrows slung across his back. He reached across the diamond and touched a gold heart, which was set in the stone’s center. On the other side, reaching back, was a maid with flowing hair. Their hands met over the heart. Though the entire setting was no bigger than my thumbnail, the detail of the people was lifelike down to their eyelashes and fingernails. “My mother’s husband made it for us.”
After studying it, Dad slid it back into the pouch. “She’s too young for this.” He dropped the pouch into Eros’s hand.
“I’ll give her all the time she wants, but not here. She isn’t safe outside your home. Let me take her to a place where no one will stare at her or make her feel afraid.”
I could see the war in my Dad’s eyes. “You’ll never come back?” he asked.
“Of course I’ll come back, Dad. I’ll come every Thanksgiving and Father’s Day. I’ll come home every time I have a craving for a good steak and homemade lemonade.”
“What if I need to talk to you?”
Eros offered him a card with a cell phone number printed on it. “Just call me. The voice mail says Erik Savage, but it’s me. I check my messages every couple of days.” He threw me a sideways glance. “That is, if she’ll let me leave long enough to check them.”
“Psyche, go upstairs while I talk to Eros alone.”
I left the room, but stayed on the bottom step where I could hear them.
“Do you really love her?” Dad asked.
Eros sank onto the arm of the recliner. “So much it makes me sick.”
Dad chuckled. “I think that was my line. I was only seventeen, and you said I didn’t have anything you wanted in return for that favor.”
“Back then you didn’t have anything I wanted. How was I to know your daughter would be the only woman in two worlds who could win my heart?”
“Did you trick her?”
“You mean did I dust her the way I dusted Patricia so she wanted you?”
The name stuck in my mind. Patricia was my dad’s high school sweetheart, the cheerleader who dumped him in front of the trophy case, the same woman who married a cheating lawyer and later divorced.
“No. I didn’t even let her see me. And I told you back then it would only last a few weeks. I didn’t lie. Everything that happened afterward was real.”
Dad stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. “It was too long ago.”
Eros’s voice was sympathetic. “Psyche has made me a believer in second chances.”
I peeked my head around the wall, and Eros saw me. He glared and motioned me upstairs, so I went reluctantly to my room and looked around. If I was leaving for good, what should I take? I pulled out one of my suitcases. My clothes were mostly useless in Eros’s world, so I took only the two designer dresses I bought in Italy. I packed toiletries and the photo album from my childhood, which was filled with pictures of my dad and me. An additional album held photos of my friends, mostly Savannah, and a few stray certificates from school. I stuffed it on top. I left behind my modeling portfolio, my yearbooks and my current textbooks, which were still in my backpack. I didn’t know what Dad would tell people. Maybe he would say I went away to boarding school or that I went back to Europe. It didn’t matter what excuse he made.
I took one last look out the window to the back yard where I played since I was three. So many of my memories were of summer evenings spent there with my dad. Leaving was harder than I imagined.
Downstairs I found Dad and Eros at the bar sharing a plate of nachos. It was odd and completely unexpected. They sat there and talked like old friends. “Why are you still so young?” my dad asked.
Eros wiped his fingers on a towel. “I’m immortal.”
“Psyche will be, too?”
“Yes, she is a little already.” Eros didn’t explain why, but Dad guessed at the proof.
“That’s why she’s prettier today.”
When I came into the room, Eros stood. “You’re ready to go?”
My throat felt dry. I didn’t want to cry. “Yeah.”
Dad hugged me again, then apologized. “I can’t even send you off with a Christmas present. I haven’t done any shopping.”
Christmas Eve was only days away, and my sudden and unexpected absence showed in the fact that Dad hadn’t put up a tree or hung a single string of lights. “It’s okay, Dad. All I want is your blessing.”
He put his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve got it.” When he offered his hand to Eros, he said, “Take care of my girl.”
Dad held on until Eros answered, “Every day of my life.”
On the front porch I took a deep breath and looked into Eros’s beautiful eyes. “Give me the ring.”
He slipped it on my finger. “Can we get in the car before your neighbors see me?”
When we were safely locked in the Subaru, I turned to him. “There’s something I need to talk to you about before we get to Olympus.” Once we reached the palace, we would be flocked by people. Who knew what the kingdom was planning to celebrate our soon-to-be wedding?
“Titus already told me I have to buy you a horse of your own.”
I wished it was that simple. “Do you think Zeus will give me a gift for our wedding?”
“He most assuredly will.” Eros put the Subaru into gear and drove out of the neighborhood. “Considering the burden you’re taking off his hands, I expect it will be something very expensive.”
“I don’t want something expensive. I want something priceless.”
Now I drew real concern from him. “Speak, Psyche.”
“You have to promise not to tell Titus. I want a man’s life.”
Chapter 31
I sat before a gold-framed mirror on the upper level of the palace. A maid newly brought from the village braided my hair. She was sixteen and gorgeous. I picked her myself. I didn’t understand a single
word she said, but I saw in her a gentle temperament and a strong will. However, that was not why I picked her to be my maid. She had dark, wavy hair and skin a shade darker than the golden complexion of our kingdom. Her eyes were green, and she was well-built—shorter than me and curvy. Titus was with me in the village when I first saw her. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
The following week, he pressed Eros to give him a pendant. Since he had given up his place in another kingdom, his citizenship had to be established by Eros’s hand. Eros had assigned the gems, and the pendant was being forged, but it had to be ratified before the governing council of the kingdom before it became official. The moment Titus took possession of that pendant, I had no doubt he would hand it off to my maid if she would have it.
A soft knock came from the door, and Eudora appeared. “His Highness, Judge Zeus, has arrived.”
I jumped to my feet. “Already? Where’s Eros?”
“On his way up from the valley. He saw the horses flying in.”
“Get Aeas for me.”
Zeus had very few dealings with the mortal world anymore, so he didn’t speak English. I needed a translator if I was to greet him. I hoped Titus was still in the village, where I sent him this morning.
With my new maid at my side, I descended to the foyer to greet Zeus. I was not at all surprised by his mighty stature or the grandeur of his personage. In our mythology, he was the king of the Gods. He was, in fact, the most powerful man in all of Olympus and had been for ages. Wisdom and kindness shone in his eyes. He was the first man in all of Eros’s world that I had seen with a beard. It was white and lightly waved. Atop his head were unruly white curls. He would have been blonde and stunning in his youth.
Standing at Zeus’s shoulder was my wedding gift. He wore a scarlet cloak around his shoulders, a gift from Persephone I was sure. The black half-robe of Hades had been exchanged for a white, long-sleeved Olympian robe and warm boots from Apollo’s kingdom, but he still wore a scarlet sash. His head bowed meekly as he waited for me to greet Zeus.
Aeas arrived at the foyer just as I reached the bottom of the stairs. I curtsied before the Judge, and bid him welcome. Aeas translated.
Zeus came and took me by the hands. “So this is the lovely Psyche, who caused so much commotion the past few months. I’ve heard of nothing but your goodness, your strength and your beauty.”
“I’m sure Eros exaggerated,” I replied.
“I never exaggerate,” came the reply from across the room. Eros crossed the foyer toward us. He greeted Zeus with a firm hug. “It’s been too long since I welcomed you into my house.”
“Well, I plan to return in a few months to celebrate your marriage. Do you think you might be able to get that pendant off her head?”
Eros folded his arms across his chest. “I’m working on that.”
Zeus stepped aside and motioned to the other man. “The gift you requested for your wedding hardly seems any gift at all. You’ve done me a service by righting a wrong. Persephone admitted fully that she’s always known his innocence. And…” he added. “…no one can lie to Persephone.”
Now acknowledged, Thomas moved forward, threw his arms around me and whispered, “I dined with Apollo last night. This morning I saw the sun rise over snow-capped mountains. How can I ever thank you?” His eyes glistened, but he held his tears.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
Thomas dropped to one knee before Eros, then took the hem of Eros’s robe and kissed it. “My Lord.”
“Thomas,” Eros replied, “you’re a free man. You don’t have to bow to me. Psyche, take him upstairs.”
I took Thomas to the bedroom that used to be mine. I was sharing Eros’s now, even though we had not officially married. Since I brought no clothes of my own, I raided Aeas’s closet downstairs for Thomas. I laid out for him a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a button-down shirt. It was the stylish plaid one Aeas picked the day he came to stay with me. Aeas also gave Thomas a leather jacket since it was winter. Shoes were more difficult. Aeas’s were too small, and Eros’s were too big. I didn’t dare take any of Titus’s, so I gave Aeas instructions to stop for shoes before they left Bozeman.
“Your homeland has changed a great deal since you left, Thomas.” In the duffle bag I packed for Thomas, I included two history books from Eros’s library, a literature book and an art history book. “We didn’t know where in England you were from, so we bought you a village in the north. It was the only one for sale right now.”
“A village?” Thomas’s eyes widened.
“Yes. You own all of it. Everyone who lives there will pay rent to you. That will be your living. There is also a nice caretaker’s home on the property for you to live in. Aeas will be flying with you to England in the same jet that took me to Nepal. He’ll see that you’re settled and have everything you need.”
He blinked in amazement. “You didn’t have to do this for me. I just wanted to live free and die.”
“And you will, but you’ll live comfortably. Your freedom is my gift to you. The village is Eros’s.”
I waited in the hallway while he changed clothes. Then I walked him through all the toiletries in his bag—deodorant, shaving cream, modern razors, after shave, lotion and hair gel. I put gel in his hair and styled it so that he looked like a normal twenty-one year old. When I finished, I was looking at a guy who could easily send Holden Valentine to the unemployment office.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“No.” Thomas pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the mouth. His lips were cool, and I knew that given some time, he would be warm again. “Now I’m ready to leave Olympus.”
Downstairs we found Zeus and Eros in the great hall. Aeas wore mortal clothes and was ready to take Thomas home. “She didn’t tell me that,” Aeas said, “but she might have told Titus.”
I was about to ask what was going on when I heard a door slam in the kitchen. Titus stormed into the room. “So, it’s true,” he said. “You had Zeus free my father’s killer as a wedding gift?” His hands balled into fists. “How could you betray me like this?”
Eros moved closer to me, and at my shoulder, Thomas’s body went taut. His looks were deceiving. He was a bodyguard as much as a lover.
“Titus,” I said gently, “I want to speak with you about this privately.”
“No!” He pulled the sash from his shoulder and threw it at my feet. “Release me from my oath.”
“No,” I replied firmly.
“Release me! I cannot serve you anymore.”
“But you will,” I answered. “Wait in the orchard. I will deal with you later.”
He might not have obeyed if Zeus and Eros weren’t standing nearby. As it was, he was compelled by his oath to do my will. He glared at Thomas then started back to the kitchen.
Thomas raised his voice loud enough for Titus to hear. “Maybe you should have sold him when you had the chance.”
Titus spun around. “What did you say?”
“Queen Persephone offered Psyche a handsome price for you,” Thomas replied.
I elbowed Thomas. “Handsome is a relative term.”
“Is he lying?” Titus demanded.
“No. Persephone wanted you, and I wouldn’t give you up.”
Titus’s demeanor changed. The fury gave way to shock. He left more quickly than he came.
I turned to Thomas. “Have a safe journey. I have to make amends with my man servant.”
“Not just yet,” Eros said. “I’m sorry, Psyche, but Zeus has brought with him serious legal charges from Persephone. Thomas will have to delay his journey another day. You will both be asked to speak at the trial.”
“Me?” I exclaimed. “Why me?”
Eros continued, “Go make amends with Titus and bring him back. Aeas, I have an errand for you in the mortal world. Since he’s already dressed, you can take Thomas if you like. He might enjoy seeing the town. It will make tomorrow’s trip less of a shock.”
I found Titus si
tting on a stump pulling a twig into shards. When I said his name, he stood and prepared to bow. “Don’t bother,” I replied. “Just walk with me.” I walked to the far end of the orchard. It stood on the same plateau as the palace, which dropped hundreds of feet to the valley. Here, free of the trees, you could see the village and miles of ocean. I had to hold onto a tree to keep from getting woozy. Even after my hike across the spine, I didn’t like heights.
Titus stood silently beside me.
“If Thomas had killed your father, I would have done you a great injustice today.”
“One night with him and you believe he’s innocent? Come on, Psyche. He tricked you.”
“Persephone told Zeus she’s always known Thomas was innocent. There were three men in the cave that night. Your father, Theron, and Thomas. Your father was killed. Of the two that escaped, one was a killer, and one was not. You tell me, which one is the killer?”
“There’s no proof.”
“That’s why I didn’t ask Zeus to retry him. He was pardoned as a gift. It was the only way to set him free.”
Titus’s anger had simmered, but it wasn’t gone. “I still don’t believe it.”
“Even if you don’t, Thomas is a guest in our home, and you will treat him as such. Their journey is being delayed. Eros wants to see you about a legal matter. He didn’t tell me exactly what it is, but he’s going to force me to testify. I expect he’ll tell you the same.”
He turned to go.
“One more thing, Titus.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever speak to me like that again in front of one of the Ruling Council, I’ll have you thrown in the dungeon and left to rot.”
He took my hand and kissed it. “That would be well deserved.”
By nightfall Eudora was in the kitchen preparing for guests, and I sent my maid to help her. Aeas and Thomas returned from the mortal world. After delivering a manila envelope to Eros, which was his errand, Aeas took Thomas upstairs with a video game console and a handful of games. I heard Thomas’s murmurs of amazement as Aeas plugged in the console and showed Thomas how to play. Soon they were whooping and jabbing each other competitively. A few hours later, I found Titus lingering tentatively at the doorway. Aeas finally convinced him to join them.
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