I woke up to Ares's face in the pillow and his leg thrown over me. I tried pushing his leg off me, but he won't budge. I pushed him a bit and in a swift movement I was under him with a knife at my throat."Ares!" I screamed. He shook his head and removed the knife, "Aph, I'm sorry!"
"What the fuck was that? You could have killed me." I said getting him off me.
"I'm sorry. It's just instincts. I never slept with anyone." He looked at me confused, "but why'd you push me?"
"Because that leg was crushing me and you won't move," I said sitting up. Realization dawned on me. "Ares fuck! what time is it? I have been out of home in your bedroom"
"Don't worry! Hephaestus come back at dinner, sometimes stays at the forge if work is not finished." Ares said passing my dress to me. "And since my attendants didn't call, it's not dinner yet."
"Wow! so princes get calls for dinner, cool!" I wore my dress back.
Ares laughed it off. "Mom says the families should have dinners together. She is strict about it forever."
"You don't have makeup with you?" I scowled. "Damn it, single boys!"
"Dont blame, you're taken." I rolled my eyes in response, walking to his mirror which was huge. "You anyway don't need it?"
"I do; to hide the mess we made." I giggled. I snapped my fingers setting my hair and makeup back.
"How many women have you been with?" I asked Ares while he put on his casual clothes.
"Mm, what's with you women so into past lovers?" I frowned at him.
"Well, no goddess until you. A couple of nymphs, I don't remember names. Some mortal princesses, Ilia, Aerope. Demonike's was a long affair. She has four sons from me." He gave me a cocky grin. "I have a lot many sons, if they choose to come to me, I just appoint them as general of some troops. None of them was god, so I didn't really bother."
"You're a badass playboy in simple words?" I raised my eyes.
"Shall I drop you, my lady?" He said offering his hand.
"Thank you! I don't want suspicions, God of war" I said and walked out of his room back to my palace. Walking down a corridor, I saw Hera talking to a nymph. She saw me and dismissed her.
"It's a pleasure seeing you, Aphrodite!"
"Greetings Queen," I said putting on my best innocent smile. It seemed to charm her or maybe she was in a good mood already.
"Just Hera, dear. You're family now." Hera said, smiling. "Where you off to?"
"Just returning to my room."
"Oh let me walk you there. Hephaestus is such a nice guy, I'm so glad he got someone who would love him. A dutiful wife loves his husband no matter what, child. I know the wedding was done hastily but don't let it stop you from loving Heph." Hera said, reading me.
"I'm giving him the love he was kept deprived of, Hera. You have that burden off you now" I said smiling.
"I love all of my children equally, Aphrodite." Hera sighed. "What happened with Heph was an accident."
"Do you believe that yourself, Hera? You love Ares and Hephaestus equally, and yet married Hephaestus to a woman you consider a whore?" My voice turned cold.
"I had to convince Ares somehow for smooth flow of the events"
"Well, mother knows the best," I said opening the door of my room.
"Come with Heph for the dinner, Aphrodite. I want everyone present at the table unless their duty calls"
"I would, but you need to learn Hera. If love is absent, no meal can keep a family together." I said and closed the door behind me.
I let out a sigh and looked at the room. It was beautiful but neglected. Obviously, Hephaestus spend more time outside. I walked to the middle of the room and formed an orb of light between my palms and pushed it up gently. It burst into lots of lights and glitters changing the look of the room. The bed was covered with gold and two golden curves went from bottom to top. The ceiling was adorned with hanging lamps and there were plants in the corner. The curtain changed to a light shade of gold with white designs. One wall had my mirror and dressing and the opposite wall had a bookshelf with Hephaestus's books and blueprints. I clicked my fingers and a few candles lit up with rose fragrance in the room.
I called out to Graces, "Graces, prepare my bath before the dinner," and lay down on my bed. Today has been such a great day, I wish dinner doesn't ruin anything. Zeus, Heph, Ares and Hera all together look like a good invite for disaster.
I took my bath and entered the room to see Heph already there and out of his work clothes. He was looking around the room and he smiled when he saw me," Thanks, Aphrodite. It's pretty!" He walked toward me and offered his hand, "join me for dinner, milady?"
I smiled and took his hand. Except for looks, Hephaestus was nice, but somehow I longed to feel this with Ares. We walked down the hallway to the dining room. It was as magnificent as any other part of the palace. There was a long table with several velvet-clad chairs and a huge chandelier shining down on an array of delicacies and wines. In the centre of the table in a huge bowl was Ambrosia, the drink of gods.
Two young girls were already sitting at the table and giggling. Heph gave each of them high-fives and sat opposite them with me.
The girls were daughters of Hera and Zeus, princess Eileithiya and princess Hebe. Eileithyia had curly hair and looked like Hera, she was the goddess of childbirth while Hebe had short hair and was the cub-bearer of gods. "Hey Aphrodite!" they giggled.
"Hey girls!" I was listening to them talking about the new baby Eileithyia delivered when Zeus entered with Hera. He looked around and his gaze stopped at me. Usual pervert. I smiled and greeted them.
"Where's Ares?" She said sitting down opposite me.
"Late as usual," Zeus grumbled as he put some food on his plate.
I picked up a glass of ambrosia and drank it slowly. The food looked good but I didn't feel like eating anything. My insides felt as if they were spinning. I looked at Ares entering the room. He sat beside Hera and smiled at me.
"Hey, Hephea!" He said to Hephaestus, "How's work?"
"Too much! Artemis needs more than 10,000 arrows, seems like her troops are growing fast. Athena asked for improvement in her spear and other minor things."
"I need polishing of my sword too"
I felt like I'd vomit. My head by now was aching and I felt restrained. All the conversation made no sense to me. The last thing I know is I closed my eyes and leaned on to Hephaestus because I felt too weak to support myself. Next everything blacked out.