Divine Ambrosia

by Vivienne Savage

  “Times have changed, but so have you. I mean, look at you, a free and single woman now. That never would have happened back then, right?”

  “Get to the point. Why are you here?”

  “I want to help you and Zeus fix your issues.”

  Sharp laughter filled the room. “No really, darling. Why are you here?”

  “Exactly what I said.” She drew in a breath then added, “And I want to help mend the rift between you and your son.”

  “I have nothing to say about that.” Hera took another drink and looked away.

  “Zeus may have broken the vow between husband and wife, but you broke the bond between mother and child. He was a newborn. An innocent. He trusted you to love him unconditionally from the moment he came from your womb, but you destroyed that because he didn’t meet your expectations of beauty.”

  “I know,” Hera said in a soft voice.

  “Then what are you going to do about it? Drink away your days and eat bonbons, or actually try to atone for what you did to him?”

  “He doesn’t want to see me. I’ve tried to reach out, and I decided to respect his wishes. I could at least do that much for him.”

  Esme studied the woman’s subdued features and nodded. “I’ll talk to Alex—Hephaestus, and see what I can do, but in return, you have to do something for me.”

  Hera poured her wine into her ice cream. “Why do you care?”

  “Because I care about him.”

  “You never gave a damn about him before. How many times did you break your vows to my son before he finally caught you in the act?”

  “Look, I can’t answer for things done in a past I barely remember. That woman, the Aphrodite you all remember, is gone and never coming back. There’s only me now, and I care for Alex, just as much as I care for Luke and Beau.”

  Hera chortled and took another sip of wine. “Ridiculous names if you ask me. So, you’ve decided to fuck them all? Well, I can’t say much against it, I suppose. Times are what they are now, and the definition of marriage has changed. I only care that Ares and Hephaestus have the happiness they deserve, and if… if you’re able to give them that, it’s no business of mine.”

  “But you’re still unhappy.”

  “Am I?”

  Esme raised both brows then nodded toward wine and double chocolate fudge ice cream. “I never ice cream binge unless I’m upset. You haven’t stopped shoveling it in your mouth since I’ve arrived.”

  “I like it, and I have nothing better to do.”

  “So this has nothing at all to do with Zeus?” When Hera didn’t reply, Esme persisted. “Well?”

  “I miss him,” Hera admitted, drying her wet eyes with the back of one wrist. “So much it hurts. There are so many days when I don’t want to crawl out of bed. Why should I care about the marriage of humans when even mine failed?”

  Esme moved closer, heart thundering in her chest as she lowered a palm to Hera’s hand. The other woman was consumed by so much bitterness, the taste of it seemed to fill the very air itself, stale and oppressive. “It failed because Zeus couldn’t keep it in his pants, and because instead of confronting him about his philandering, you decided to be a vengeful twat.”

  “I thought it would make him stop.”

  “But it didn’t. You took your anger out on the women he seduced and the children he fathered, but you never took your grievance to him.”

  Something changed in the air, and the bitter tang of resentment diminished.

  “Because that is not how it was done then.” Hera’s voice rose with each word, and then the tears coursed down her cheeks too fast to be wiped away, the proverbial and literal floodgates opened. “That isn’t how the mortals wanted us.”

  “That’s an excuse,” Esme spat out, heat flushing under her skin. “You can’t blame all of your problems and troubles on the mortals who follow you. You have a will of your own.”

  “Oh, child. How young you are. Still…” She sighed and set the ice cream aside. “Suppose you do have the right of it. Do you expect me to go crawling back to him when he’s the one who wronged me for so many centuries?”

  “No. I don’t. Because he’s here to crawl back to you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “He’s outside, and he’s ready to talk, if you’re willing to do the same.”

  “But I’m a mess.” Hera leapt up and tore off her robe. She patted her hair and moaned. “I have nothing to wear. For the love of Styx, I don’t even know when I last shaved.”

  Esme bit back a snort. Just barely. “He’ll wait.”

  While Hera vanished into another room to primp and prepare, Esme let herself onto the porch to find Zeus hand-feeding a flock of peacocks.

  “Hera will be with you in a moment.”

  “She’ll speak with me?”

  “I did promise I’d try, didn’t I? It’s up to you to do the rest. Tone down the godly arrogance a little though and remember what I said about who she is.”

  Zeus nodded.

  The urge to collapse in hysterical laughter came over her again. She’d given a pep talk to a divine being like a football coach chatting up the team before the big game.

  When the door opened again behind them, Esme and Zeus turned at once to find Hera framed over the threshold in a radiant white, sleeveless gown, a jeweled belt of gold strands around her slender waist and gemstones glittering in her hair.

  Zeus gazed at her with naked, unconcealed longing. Upon dropping the sack of bird-feed, he joined her on the porch and bowed before presenting a single lily to his estranged former wife. Once Esme mouthed for him to say something, he cleared his throat.

  “You look lovely today, Hera. May we sit and talk?”

  “I suppose. Please come in.”

  Pressure eased off Esme’s chest, a weight she hadn’t known was there until it raised and the burden was gone. They’d work things out, of that she was certain.

  She meandered down the golden road, away from Hera’s abode. Every house was different with a facade to match the divine being who dwelled there. She found Luke lounging farther down in a garden with a bevy of nubile nymphs dancing through the yard. The moment he spotted her, he jumped up and excused himself.

  “Having fun?” she asked.

  “It’s always a party with them, and they have the best snacks.”

  “Are you going to introduce us or not?” someone demanded, the voice masculine and deep. Esme turned, coming face-to-face with a satyr. He wasn’t wearing pants.

  “Um.” She ripped her attention from below his waist somehow and tried to focus on his bearded face.

  Luke snickered quietly into his hand. “Esme, meet Pan. Pan, Aphrodite in her new flesh.”

  The goatman kissed her knuckles then sniffed her wrist afterward. His furry ears twitched. “I would recognize such unmatched beauty anywhere. Will you two be staying for a while?”

  “I’d love to, really, but I have to get back home. I’m not exactly sure how many days have passed since I left the mortal realm.”

  “It’s Sunday,” Luke assured her. “I’ve been keeping track this time.”

  “Which means we need to head back. Another hour here and a day will pass before we know it. Still, it was nice to meet you, Pan, and I promise to come back another time.”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” the horned god said. He winked then trotted back to the party, where he quite shamelessly, and very vigorously, mounted one of the nymphs in front of them.

  Esme stared.

  “Yeah, time to go.” Luke tugged her arm and led her away. “Sorry about that. I forget sometimes because it’s a normal thing around here. So where to?”

  “Home. If it’s Sunday, that means we have a New Year’s Eve pool party to catch at the resort, and I need to figure out which swimsuit to wear.”

  17

  Esme’s spirits had been soaring high since her victory in Olympus. After ringing in the New Year with Luke and her friends, Beau sweet-talked her into spending th
e end of the week with him on the slopes, promising a spa treatment and a miniature vacation to prepare her for the upcoming semester.

  While Esme often doubted her skill in the ice rink, she had absolute confidence on the skis and her ability to leave Beau behind.

  Wasn’t hubris what began 90 percent of the tales from ancient Greco-Roman mythology? Then again, Beau wanted in her pants and wasn’t likely to curse her if she whipped his ass.

  Wednesday morning after she did some finagling with the work schedule and promised to step in the next two weekends in a row for Meg, Esme dragged her skis out of the garage and met Beau at the resort with two days of clothes in a backpack.

  “You wanna take the amateur slopes?” Beau asked once they were outside in the frosty air, insulated by ski jackets, warm boots, goggles, and gloves.

  “Nope. No bunny slopes for me.”

  Beau grinned. “Great. I hoped you’d say that.”

  She glanced down at his black, flame-trimmed board and laughed. “I still can’t believe the god of war spends his time ice skating and skiing.”

  He grunted. “It’s a snowboard. Much cooler than your skis. I’ll kick your ass on this thing.”

  She wondered how much of his big macho persona was an act. “Uh-huh.”

  They claimed an empty lift destined for one of the resort’s advanced trails, a piste she’d only practiced a few times since moving on from the intermediate slopes her sophomore year. She’d been too busy during the last ski season to run them with her friends.

  Beau raised the safety bar as they neared the top. “You sure about this?”

  “Pffft, yeah. My dad raised me on these slopes.”

  “But not this slope.”

  “But not this slope.”

  Esme rose from the seat and glided away from the lift’s loading area. Beau followed her.

  It had been too long since she’d come up here. The cool breeze ruffled through her hair, carrying the crisp scent of fresh snow. A few other skiers occupied the trails, but not many. Most kept to the beginner and intermediate trails further down the mountain.

  “You ready?” Beau asked.

  “Ready to kick your ass? Yeah, let’s do it.”

  Beau proved to be skilled with the snowboard. Every dip and ramp became an opportunity for the god of war to demonstrate his prowess as an extreme sportsman, performing jumps and spins that would put Tony Hawk to shame. Esme managed a few small leaps, but never came close to matching his caliber.

  Not that she needed to. Racing down the slopes, she breezed past Beau and claimed the lead despite his pomp and flash. She stole the win and glided to a finish, spinning at the bottom to shoot him a smug grin.

  “Beat you!”

  He challenged her to several rematches, and more times than not, she came out victorious until at last, he surrendered to her greater speed. They spent the entire afternoon on the slopes until they broke for dinner to satisfy Esme’s rumbling tummy.

  By the time they finished swapping snow jackets for dinner attire, Esme was famished to the point of swooning in Beau’s arms. “I am starving and ready for cocoa.”

  Beau stole a kiss, setting her soul ablaze. He smelled like rum and cinnamon, like danger and fire, reminding her of Alex and that unique scent she associated with him. They were brothers after all, of similar divine spheres.

  “I see Luke wasn’t exaggerating about your lust for chocolate, but your wish is my command.”

  Taking her by surprise with his manners, Beau offered an arm and escorted her to the resort’s restaurant. She realized two things at that moment—her god turned heads wherever they went, and some, but not all of his bad boy persona was a farce. Every time a female guest stared at him, Esme smiled even wider.

  Mine. He’s all mine.

  While waiting their turn to meet the hostess, she leaned against him and closed her eyes. Then a familiar, masculine voice called her name. “Esme?”

  Esme cringed, turning in time to see her ex nearly trip over his own feet as he crossed the lobby to catch up with them. Crap. She’d forgotten Daniel worked there during the winter and summer breaks.

  “Want me to send him packing?” Beau asked in a quiet voice.

  “No, go on ahead and get our table. Order me a cocoa with extra marshmallows.”

  Something about Beau’s curt nod irritated her, but he stepped forward to meet the hostess as Daniel reached them. Was he jealous of a mortal? Torn between amusement and exasperation, she turned to face her ex. He was dressed in all black and sporting an apron around his waist.

  “Something you need, Daniel?”

  “Hey there, Essie. You’re, uh, you’re looking good. Real good.”

  “Thanks. Now what do you want?”

  “Can’t a guy say hello to his girl?”

  The absurdity of his words struck her silent for a split second, and then she burst out into laughter. “Okay, wow. What happened? Did Shelly finally dump your ass so now you’re crawling back to me? Or did you find out about her activities with your football bros? Well, forget it.”

  “Why the fuck not? Es, I missed you. I was planning to break up with Shelly anyway, but you were with that jackass rich boy.” He glanced toward Beau’s retreating shape. “Looks like that didn’t last either.”

  “Luke and I are doing just great, not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Essie, babe, think about how long we’ve been together. Since like, what, end of tenth grade? That’s a long time to throw away.”

  “Too long. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m gonna catch up with Beau.”

  “C’mon, babe. Please? I was an idiot, I know that. Let me make it up to you. Ditch the hippie with the hair and come out with me.”

  “Daniel, I’m gonna say this once, and once only.” Esme bridged the gap between them and placed her hand on his arm. “You’re an asshole.”

  He blinked at her. “What?”

  “You need to take a hard look at yourself and the way you treat women, because you’re never gonna find love until you make a change. No one wants to put up with your bullshit.”

  “I…” His mouth opened and closed like a fish. “You’re right. I was never very good to you.”

  “You had your moments, but maybe you should spend some time alone too. Time to think about what you want and how you can improve yourself before the next relationship, so that when you find a good woman for you, you’re the kind of man who can keep her.”

  His dark brows notched together. “Alone, really?”

  “Uh-huh. Some alone time without bouncing from girl to girl. You’re more than the people you date. You’re an amazing wide receiver, and I think you’ll be scouted for sure. You used to volunteer and do nice things, remember? Take some time to figure out you. Go volunteer at the shelter and walk some dogs in your free time. Foster a pit and fall in love with something that doesn’t have a vagina.”

  “Okay. Shit, I guess I never really thought about it that way. I mean, Dad always told me college was about sleeping with as many girls as possible. I just figured...”

  Esme pressed her lips together. How far did she dare to test him? “Your dad was wrong then, because college is about more than who you can fuck. Take a dating break without boning everything that moves. Learn to love yourself.”

  He nodded. “Okay… okay, I will. Thanks, Esme. I guess I better get to work. Best tippers will be coming down to eat soon.”

  “See ya.”

  Something shifted, like another layer of rust crumbling away from an old hinge. Something had happened again. The same something she’d awakened when speaking with Zeus and Hera, and this time, she’d consciously used it on Daniel to the same effect.

  She hurried inside the restaurant where Beau waited for her with a steaming cup of cocoa loaded with marshmallows beside a plate of fluffy croissants stuffed with chocolate. Nothing beat dessert as an appetizer.

  “Everything go okay?” Beau asked.

  “I did something to my ex,” she wh
ispered to him.

  “Yeah? I hope you punched that asshole in his nose.”

  “No. Not a physical something. We were talking, and I felt this weird compulsion to touch him. And… all I wanted was for him to take a little break from dating. And when I suggested it, he just agreed with me like it was the best idea in the world. I’m not wearing the girdle Hephaestus gave me.”

  “Sounds like you’ve tapped into a little of your inner mojo.”

  “But you guys said I’m mortal. How is this working?”

  Beau nodded. “You are, and your body is human, but there’s something left of the old you deep inside. A little spark you awakened when you helped Mom and Dad out, and I think it gets a little stronger every day. Hell, maybe it started when you helped out my brother. He’s always been self-conscious about his looks.”

  Esme nibbled her croissant. “Thanks for bringing me here today.

  “Hey, since the douche is waiting tables tonight, you wanna order up to the room instead?”

  “Sure. Let’s head up now.”

  Despite Marie’s urging, Esme had packed onesies and flannel, hoping to convey a nonverbal message to Beau not to get his hopes up without putting in some work.

  “My everything hurts, and we’ve only been here one day.”

  Beau powered on the electric fireplace below the flat screen television in the bedroom. “I don’t plan to take it easy on you tomorrow either, so you better take a long soak in that enormous tub and stretch before you tighten up.”

  “You better be talking about the slopes tomorrow.”

  He cocked one dark brow. “Your mind is as filthy as I remember.”

  “Ha ha.” She sprawled across the bed and decided her bath could wait until after food. They expected room service in the next half hour.

  “Not a bad thing.” He chuckled and kicked back on the nearby sofa.

  “Ares?” She tested his true name on her tongue and decided she liked it more than Beau.

  “Hmm?”