by Lucas, Naomi
Hermes shrugged, and the feathers on his boots and helmet shrugged with him. “There’s something about her I can’t quite place, but I swear I’ve met her before. That irks me. I’m not often so perplexed by a face, let alone a mortal’s.” Hermes and his feathers shrugged again. “My imagination does love to run wild.”
Cerberus couldn’t care less. “I have a deal to make with you,” he said. He didn’t like that Hermes thought about Cyane. When a god became fixated on something, their attention remained there until something else distracted them, and the fact that Hermes clearly fixated on Cyane annoyed Cerberus. She was not the winged god’s responsibility.
Which made what Cerberus was about to ask all that much harder.
“A deal? From Hades’s loyal hound?” Hermes guffawed. “I don’t recall you ever making a deal with anyone but our dark and terribly murderous lord. You’ve intrigued me Cerberus, as only a bevy of naked nymphs can do. Spill it out, for I may die of curiosity in the next second!”
Cerberus could hardly keep his contempt for Hermes out of his voice. “This is about our mortal guest.”
Hermes’s gaze shot towards Hades. He lowered his voice. “Let us go somewhere else to speak.”
“Follow me,” Cerberus said, striding away from Hades’s dais and towards one of the candlelit walls. There were shadowy places, but not many today. The Day of Deals was not to be a private event for the very same reasons as Cerberus sought privacy with Hermes.
Even though Hermes’s sandals were silent, Cerberus didn’t need to see if the god followed. When he got far enough away from the others, he turned to see Hermes was behind him, eagerly awaiting a little bit of mischief.
Cerberus scowled under his helmet. “I want you to take Cyane from here if something should befall her between now and Persephone’s descent.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because she is innocent in all of this.”
Hermes rubbed his jaw. “Innocence won’t save her from us gods. Do you not know what Hades has in mind for her?”
“I don’t feel comfortable with her safety,” he admitted.
Hermes cocked a brow. “You care for her? You? The creature that has cared for nothing but nature’s law and Hades, despite the body given to you. Our little mortal guest must be quite something, something more than is being let on.”
Cerberus clenched his jaw and his hands, resisting the urge to ring them around Hermes’s neck. “It doesn’t matter what I think or feel, and Hades shares his plans with no one. She has sworn an oath to Styx and to me that she is not here for any reason of her knowing, that she’s not here to cause harm. No one has ever trespassed into Tartarus who has not sought to upset this place or to steal from Hades. But she has.”
“Oh, I think it matters greatly, Cerberus. Are you certain she is telling you the truth? Certain enough that you would stake eternal loyalty and your immortal life on it? If what you say is true, Hades is scheming, even killing his loyal followers with a smile, so why would I risk myself to help her? What do you have to offer me?”
“I will open the gates of hell for you, and only you, for this next mortal year so you might spy on Persephone for Demeter. You and Persephone’s meddling mother will finally know what happens when she is beyond your view. Demeter would owe you if you brought her such a gift.”
Hermes narrowed his eyes. “Not enough.”
“I know you still burn that Zeus chose Hades over your suit for Persephone’s hand, even if she was not your bride.”
“You assume much! Aphrodite is my loin’s torment.”
“Perhaps I can procure a poppy from Hypnos. A poppy potent enough to make even Zeus himself fall into slumber.”
Hermes sucked in a breath. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?”
“I come to deal with you of my own accord, and I vow on Styx as we speak, Hades, nor any other being, knows of my objectives,” Cerberus growled, feeling the vow hit him.
Betrayal, anger, and shame beat at him as well.
Hermes growled back. “If Hades ever finds out, he will make you pay. Make me pay. You believe this mortal woman is worth this?”
“Yes.”
Yes. He hated how far he’d fallen in such a short amount of time… Frustrated that he needed Hermes for anything.
“She is not what she seems, Cerberus, regardless of any vows.”
Cerberus countered, his patience wearing thin. “Will you make this deal or not?”
“For the price of a poppy, I will steal her from here and return her above—if something should happen between now and Persephone’s descent.”
Cerberus nodded once, stiffly. “Wait here,” he ordered, gathering his shadows and slipping away to where Hypnos’s cave and his garden of flowers were. No alarm bells rang, nobody questioned his intentions—the loyal lapdog of Hades.
He returned the next moment with a small poppy in his hand. “I will decide if she’s in danger, not you. Watch for my signal.”
Hermes took the small, delicate, incredibly powerful flower from Cerberus’s palm. His eyes widened with hushed excitement. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Cerberus’s jaw twitched as Hermes stored the flower away in his golden hair. He didn’t bother answering as he strode from the winged god and retreated to Hades’s left side.
He stopped short as he saw Cyane enter the ballroom, dressed in liquid gold. Melinoe romped by her side, holding her hand and pulling her forward.
“Ah, so you’ve finally decided to join me, Cerberus,” Hades mused. “It seems our guest has joined us as well.”
Cerberus fought the shock in his system, staring at his mortal, who’d been sleeping under him not that long ago. She was so beautiful that he barely heard Hades over the soundless gold reflecting the candlelight with dazzling effect. Melinoe dragged Cyane through the puddles of nectar, making him shudder.
She looks like a goddess.
Hermes flew to Cyane’s side just as she caught Cerberus’s gaze from across the room. Cerberus tensed with lust, but then her attention was pulled from him far too soon.
“You’re slow to respond,” Hades muttered.
“I was caught up in my head,” Cerberus said, unable to pull his eyes off Cyane. All his eyes, all his hounds were fixated on her.
“She makes a lovely addition doesn’t she? Too bad it seems she’s been targeted by my blight of a daughter. It really diminishes her beauty.”
Even though he’d asked for the winged god’s help. Cerberus gritted his teeth, his belly yawning open to eat. Eat, and then fuck. Then fuck again.
Hades continued when he remained silent. “Tell me what has caught up your head enough to ignore me? It was her, wasn’t it? I suppose I can forgive you. The first time I tasted cunt, no one saw me for months. Was she good?”
“She was,” he said, his mouth salivating.
“My damned!” Hades swiveled on his throne. “I never thought you’d actually go through with it. I would’ve brought a mortal woman down here ages ago if I knew they’d tempt you. Then again, you have fine taste. Cyane is extraordinary, isn’t she? I could almost forgive you for ignoring me this grand day. Almost.”
Cerberus swore under his breath and looked at his lord. The hackles on his hounds rose. “I apologize, I was overcome.”
“And yet you spoke to Hermes before joining me. Are you branching out? Eager to try a man next? So soon?”
Cerberus tensed with anger.
Hades’s slow smiled was full of leer. “What is that saying these newer mortals love to spew? Go fuck yourself? It has a new meaning, doesn’t it, when it comes to you and me.”
“Hermes sought a poppy from Hypnos’s garden,” Cerberus said. The vow he gave to Hermes, to Styx, did not state any retroactive deceptions. He hadn’t lied. And who knew Styx better than Cerberus? He’d spent more years by the primordial goddess’s side than anyone else.
Hades’s smile dropped. “Hmmm.”
“Hypnos refused.”
“Delightful. Did you take care of it?”
“I made a deal with Hermes instead and gave him the flower.”
Hades sat back and sipped his nectar. “Do you know what he plans to use it for?”
“To put a god to sleep.” Cerberus had to guess. “I assume.”
“Obviously. And what did you get in return?”
“Added protection for Cyane,” he said vaguely. Despite the omission, the truth felt good on his lips, a reminder he was still loyal to Hades and always would be. He didn’t wish his lord harm. “When I am not there to protect her myself.”
Hades sighed. “I’m annoyed now. This all annoys me. I hate being annoyed.” He waved his empty hand emphatically. “Cyane is not yours, she is mine, and her protection is you because you are also my protection. Have more faith in your abilities, hound.”
“If I knew what was to be expected of her, things would be different,” Cerberus snapped. He bristled at Hades’s claim on Cyane. Cerberus saw her as his now. HIS. Her words of fealty and worship were binding.
“My bloody cunt! Can’t anyone enjoy surprises anymore? Paranoia rules the gods, and while I once found that mightily enjoyable, now I grow weary of it. I will not let anyone, even you, ruin my plans.” Hades’s eyes slid to meet his. “You can never tell who is listening in. If our lady Demeter can attempt to drown us in flowers, who else might have knowledge of my realm? One eye or ear is all it takes.”
“Yes. My lord,” Cerberus gritted, holding Hades’s gaze. “That is true.”
The tense moment came to an abrupt end when an undying approached the dais. Hades turned back to the task at hand—making deals.
Cerberus sought out Cyane, his hungry eyes landing on her immediately. The golden, shimmering dress like a spotlight, highlighting wherever she was in the ballroom. He wanted her to subject herself to him in front of witnesses, vowing loyalty in the limelight of that dress. Then he wanted to stake his claim in front of all higher and lesser beings alike and show them who she belonged to.
Her fealty was his. Her submission and servitude. Cerberus had been the only one to taste her, to feel her worshipful touch, to see her wide and innocent gaze upon him—her need so great, and it had all been his.
It bothered him that she was here. I left her alone. Who, if not Hades, found and brought her here? He didn’t like others staring at her like he did.
Melinoe’s grip on Cyane’s wrist had not relented. His eyes fell to it hatefully.
That one touch from the blighted goddess infuriated him nearly as much as what Hades’s mysterious plans were. His ideas on the subject were not kind to Cyane. Even Hermes’s wandering eyes, scanning Cyane’s flesh, didn’t bother Cerberus as much as Melinoe’s hold on her.
Let Hermes look.
If he touches her…
I can kill him, eat him. Oh, to eat a god. He always wondered what it would be like. He would enjoy it if it were Hermes. He would take his time and revel in the winged god’s screams and wear his flying, blood-soaked adornments as a trophy.
But not Melinoe. He wouldn’t dare devour her. The very idea of it threatened his stomach with sickness. Her presence alone was despised by all, her voice brought rot to the mind, and though hatred for the goddess burned deep, Queen Persephone may never forgive him for eating her only child.
The Day of Deviance was swiftly approaching. Cerberus stepped forward, intent on stealing Cyane away before it began.
“Stay,” Hades commanded Cerberus before he could take another step. “We are not done speaking.”
Cerberus turned to glare at Hades, barely able to hide his murderous contempt. He wished no harm to come to his lord but...what would it feel like devouring such a god?
I do have his face.
“You did not answer my summons multiple times this day. You’ll be punished as I see fit.”
Near tipsiness, with her feet drenched in the god’s nectar, Cyane held onto Melinoe for balance. She hadn’t even sipped the liquid, but the powerful scent of it made her world tilt. It was just a little, but enough to feel in her human body. Though her sex ached, her mind lingered on what happened between her and Cerberus.
The ballroom was so beautiful it glowed, and there was more light here than she’d seen since her descent, and goddess, how Cyane missed the light. Each little candle flame was like a golden star in the night sky, and their little sparks reflected off the liquid at her feet. Her dress, which at first she had been almost afraid to wear for its brilliance, was reflected back at her.
For once she almost felt like she belonged. Fuck, it felt good. Except Cerberus didn’t accompany her—he was across the room, watching, protecting her from afar when she would like his cold presence beside her.
Relief was the best part. Every step she took with Melinoe through the hallways, she’d been afraid there would be nothing but rotting carnage at the end. Pieces of bodies strewn about, splashes of blood across the walls.
Cerberus hadn’t been there when she’d awoken, but the whistling had. There’d been a knock, and she’d opened the door of the gatehouse to find Melinoe standing on the other side, the gold dress in hand and a giddy smile on her doll-like face.
Melinoe’s smile hadn’t lasted, faltering as she barged past Cyane, entering the room. Despite the bed being made, the smell of sex had lingered. Melinoe tore away the blanket Cyane used as a robe and ordered her into the bath.
Now the goddess wouldn’t let her go.
Hermes peered down at Cyane, his haughty eyes narrowing on her face. He’d been talking for some time, but she hadn’t been listening. She was waiting for Melinoe to let her go so she could go to Cerberus.
“So familiar,” Hermes purred. “Who are your parents?”
Any good feelings Cyane carried, fled at the mention of her parents. “I—”
“She doesn’t know who her parents are, don’t you know? They abandoned her at birth,” Melinoe tittered.
Hermes glanced at Melinoe, scowling. “Interesting.”
“She was on her way to meet them before her arrival.”
Hermes stepped back and canted his head. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Cyane whispered.
“They contacted you? After all these years, now?”
She didn’t want to tell Hermes anything, didn’t want anyone to know her shame, that her secret was now a very buried urge she kept deep within herself. Cerberus would know, he would know if I considered leaving. Not even Cerberus knew about her parents. Only Melinoe, and only because Cyane had spoken before realizing she was dealing with...gods.
“They left me a note,” Cyane said.
“Sweet Cyane and I have that in common, the lack of our parent’s love,” Melinoe spat then smiled.
Hermes cocked a brow. “I could find them for you, could figure out who they are.”
“You could?” Cyane’s heart began to race.
Hermes grinned and glanced up at the throne. Cyane followed his gaze to where Cerberus stood. Tension filled every fiber of her body when she saw how he stared back at her. If only they could go back to the gatehouse—
“For a kiss, I think? I’ll do it for a kiss,” Hermes said.
Melinoe released Cyane’s wrist to clap. “Yes!”
Cyane slid her gaze back to Hermes. She rubbed her wrist. She could feel Cerberus on her flesh, could feel the burning heat of his stare. Several hounds stepped forward from behind Hermes to approach her.
What he offered her was almost more enticing than what Melinoe had. To finally know...
Years flashed by her eyes as she recalled the countless times she’d searched for her parents, guessing, wondering. There’d been so many sleepless nights. For the cost of a single kiss, she could have a god find them.
Hermes, who wasn’t bound by human law and order, who had abilities the best detectives couldn’t fathom.
If I don’t make it out of here, if I don’t make it to Sicily in time… Or what if I do make it, but they’re not there?
But this felt wrong, insincere. Hermes had no reason to help her, had no reason to know her business at all. The idea of even kissing him made her stomach churn.
I belong to Cerberus.
“Well? Don’t you want to know?” Hermes asked. “A kiss is nothing to enlightenment.”
Cyane had parted her lips to answer when Hermes vanished. A crash and clatter of falling candles echoed across the room, and then Cerberus stood in front of her. Her eyes widened with shock.
The chatter in the ballroom halted.
Off to the side, Hermes was slumped on the ground, his feathers and hair smoking. He pulled himself up, barking out in laughter, and brushed himself off as if the impact hadn’t affected him at all.
Cerberus growled, stealing her attention. He towered over her with furious eyes. He reached out to touch her but stopped short, curling his fingers.
“I wasn’t going to accept.” Her stomach fluttered. She didn’t know how much he heard, but he must’ve heard enough because her words didn’t seem to settle him at all. Everyone was watching them. Even Hades.
She had a sudden need to tell Cerberus everything, about her parents and about her note. To tell him everything she’d failed to bring up, and explain why Hermes’s offer had made her hesitate. But the eyes of the crowd were on them now, and words failed her.
Hades’s voice roared out over the ballroom.
“What a grand way to start the Day of Deviance!”
The guests laughed. Cyane flinched. Deviance.
Hades grinned. “There is nothing more fun than sexual interaction, especially coercion.”
Cyane flicked her eyes back to Cerberus to find his still on her—on her lips.
They belong to you, she wanted to say. Only you.
“Let’s not wait another moment,” Hades boomed. “Dionysus descends as we speak! Honor me with your compliance, and perhaps I’ll be inspired to use your tricks on our Queen.”
Guests cheered and raised their drinks, throwing their heads and cups back.
Luted, wild music began to play. Laughter followed.
The Day of Deviance. Her mind whirled with the implication. Each day so far had been literal. The idea of viewing another god, Dionysus most of all, sent a shiver down her spine. An excited shiver or not was yet to be discovered.