Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

~88~

The Argonaut's Table had no available seats on the patio, but Lexi and Hades had arrived early and commandeered the prime spot on the corner where they could greet passersby. The children were dressed in his and hers rompers with fleece minotaur ears on the hoods, a gift from Lisbon for their first birthday. At the moment, Ely was spitting spanakopita on his furry ears in protest of his hatred of it, while Hades argued his son's case.

"I don't know why you keep insisting he like it, my love. While I enjoy the savory dish as well as the next god, not everyone has a taste for spanakopita. And you know how Ely likes to assert his will. It's in his genes."

Hades followed his speech with a heart melting smile before tipping a wine goblet over his lips. Damn him and those lips. Lexi lowered the fork to her plate.

"It's in the small battles that we learn how to conquer the bigger ones," she said, quoting her dad. The mortal one. "I don't take credit for that wisdom, by the way."

"I don't think Charles will mind you spreading his wisdom." Hades lifted Ely from his highchair and set him on the ground, allowing Ely to steady himself on his own. His confidence in the youngster's walking ability nearly matched the determination of Ely himself.

Lexi didn't interrupt them. She pulled a list from her bag and unrolled it, weighing down the ends with the candlesticks on the table. If she wasn't careful, the day would get away from them without accomplishing anything but lunch and a visit to the park. Before she read, she captured Elm in a smile. The chestnut-haired toddler was having a jolly time waving at each and every patron on the patio.

"We still need to visit the palace of titans," Lexi said as she ran her finger over the scrolling handwriting. She had been teaching herself calligraphy and took every opportunity to hone her skills. "Rhea and Odessa are expecting me for Odessa's final dress fitting."

"And Cronus has suckered me into an afternoon of wine tasting at the dangerous hands of Dionysus. Every time he goes to France, I end up with five cases of something to contribute to my gluttony of the damnable substance." Hades left his seat to detour Ely away from the sculpted shrubbery, and Lexi chuckled as she watched Hades indulge his son, scooping the boy up and setting him on the patio's wrought iron railing.

"I can't believe the wedding is this weekend already," Lexi mused.

"I can't believe Poseidon has been celibate this long. I hope Odessa knows what she's in for on their wedding night. We may not hear from her for days."

"Oh, I believe Odessa has found ways to sate Poseidon's hunger during the interim." Lexi only had to raise her eyebrows before Hades was raising his, although she knew his interest in gossip was done only to indulge her.

"My sweet, have you been withholding sensitive information from me? What has Poseidon managed to talk the chaste goddess into?"

Lexi glanced around before leaning in to speak conspiratorially. "Let me just say she has become acquainted with giving and receiving pleasure. To my knowledge, there is only one bridge left to cross."

"My dearest Lexi, I believe you have been a bad influence on our friend, Odessa." Hades attempted a smirk, but Ely chose that moment to escape from his grasp and shimmy between his legs. The toddler ducked under the table, squealing as he went, and Hades caught him by the arms and hauled him up. All the while, Elm remained content to play a game of peek-a-boo with Phoebe at the next table.

"Why are you blaming me?" Lexi quipped. "It's your lustful brother she's marrying."

A breeze chose that moment to blow across the hedges, and the honeysuckle blooms shared their scent with anyone lucky enough to be in the path. Since Lexi had taken up the staff to rule alongside her peers, the wind patterns had changed for all of Olympus, including the realm of the underworld where Lexi and Hades shared their home. Gusts were known to usher in warm breezes on winter days and deliver a chill during summer, encouraging flowers to flourish at the oddest times of year. A rumor had spread that Lexi was responsible for inciting the phenomenon, but she chose to see it as a fortunate coincidence.

Lexi continued to peruse her list. "We also need to pick up a housewarming gift for Lisbon and Ink, and speak to Cassie about taking on the position as their house nymph."

"I thought the nymph was our housewarming gift," Hades said as he corralled Ely inside his arms.

"She is, but it's not like we can wrap her up and set her on the gift table. This is a formal housewarming party. Lisbon has been talking about statuary for their pomegranate grove. I wonder what Emanuel has in his showroom?"

Hades snorted his amusement, although he may have been reacting to his son's flailing arm. "Please, don't give them a statue of a minotaur. I believe the planting of the pomegranate grove was Ink's limit."

"Are you still on about that silly incident between Cole and Lisbon? She has not confessed anything to me apart from curious investigation. Lisbon is still fully committed to Ink, and I believe the feeling is mutual."

Lexi picked up her fork and ate the spanakopita meant for Ely. Her mind had veered off track again, distracting her with the council's current study of the bylaws. None had yet been adapted to reflect the new Olympus, the one that embraced all of its inhabitants as equals, and the incident with Lisbon and Cole had forced Lexi to consider the ramifications of a union between a god and a minotaur.

Hades set Ely down and the boy headed straight for the hedges again, but Hades made no effort to fetch him. His face had turned a shade paler, and Lexi didn't think it was from his half-eaten kleftiko. "If I ever learned of you engaging in such a practice, you cannot imagine how it would crush me. I want no other man, god, or beast to take pleasure in you, nor you in him."

Lexi shook her head before drinking deeply from her wine goblet. She adored this god who commanded kingdoms. He could be so helpless when it came to her affection. "You are letting your thoughts take you to places that don't serve you, my lord. I may have to punish you."

A lascivious grin spread across Hades' face as his skin flushed with color. "Do we have enough time for that? What does your list say?"

A plethora of scenarios ran through Lexi's head, each one involving Hades' mouth on some part of her body, but her thoughts were interrupted by Ely, who had slipped through the railing and between the hedge to charge into the park square. Hades had noticed the escape, but he chose to stare at Lexi instead of retrieving the boy. No doubt, he was engaged in the same erotic images she was. Lexi appreciated the fact that Hades wanted his offspring to be fearless, and the restaurant patio opened into the park for easy access, but Lexi wasn't about to let her inquisitive toddler go on a walkabout on his own.

"Hades. Do you mind fetching our son? You know he puts everything into his mouth."

"And, so far, he has learned to keep rocks and horse manure out of it."

Hades winked at Lexi, leaving her with a charming smile as he scaled the railing in one easy leap. This prompted Ely to squeal and trip over his feet. The next moment, Ely was tumbling in the grass and Hades was on all fours, giving chase. The picture could not have been painted more perfectly if Monet had captured it himself, and Lexi was swept into the joy of it, standing to lift Elm out of her chair so she could watch their antics.

Elm proceeded to giggle, and the breeze carried the sound of her laughter over the patio until everyone in the vicinity was laughing with her. Overhead, Lexi heard a bird join in the folly, and she was struck by the birdsong. It was one she had come to know well from her walks with Hades along the trail of souls.

Lexi glanced into the tree that sprawled over their table and caught sight of a chestnut brown bird with an orange breast, the likes of which she had never seen before. As with all the bird species in Olympus, none existed in the mortal world, but she thought she had seen every one. 

Yet there he was, singing Hades' favorite song, and Lexi stared pointedly at her mate as he wrestled with Ely. Whether or not Hades was aware his birds had come to join him in Olympus, Lexi did not think it mattered. What mattered was the reason they were with him now.

 ~FIN~

Greetings, my fellow Greek mythology fanatics. I want to thank you for your wonderful support of this series. Being an avid reader myself, I know how satisfying it is to come across a book you can't put down with characters you fall for. I never imagined this story would gain so many advocates, and I am grateful to Wattpad for giving me the resources to share it with youI have begun a new series following these same characters. The first book is already published on Wattpad and is titled THE FORGOTTEN WITCH. 

Kind regards,

M. Rider



Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro