We were silent for a few more minutes as Cadmus digested that.
“So why are you so quiet?” he finally asked. “In my experience, it is not good for a woman to remain so silent. It never ends well.”
“Oh, no?” I laughed. “In your vast experience with women?”
He laughed too. “Yes. In my vast experience with women.”
“I’m fine. I’m just trying to guess what my father will do. Will he free you early? Isn’t that an interesting thought? It is possible that you will be a free man as soon as we reach the palace.”
Cadmus shook his head.
“I won’t ask for that. I killed his dragon. I received my sentence and I will carry it out. It is only six months more. And I am able to be on Olympus with you. That is certainly not a punishment.”
He stopped walking and turned to me, a strange expression on his face.
“Harmonia, today, when I saw that dragon hovering over you…and then again when it was going after you and your sister…I’ve never been so afraid in my life. You looked so small and vulnerable and all I could think of was that I was going to be too late, that I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”
“But I’m a goddess. You’re a mortal,” I pointed out. “I don’t usually need your protection.”
He nodded slowly. “Perhaps. But there in that clearing, your father took your abilities away for the game. You had no defenses against that beast. You only had me. And I was almost too late. I was as scared as I’ve ever been.”
Butterflies started churning in my stomach.
“You were scared because of me?”
I stared up at this soldier. He was so strong, so assured, that I couldn’t imagine he’d ever been scared a day in his life, but he nodded in confirmation.
“I was scared today. Don’t do that again.”
He lowered his head to mine and kissed me as soundly as I’d ever been kissed. Light exploded behind my eyelids like stars and I gasped for breath when he pulled away.
“Do you love me now?” I asked jokingly, although secretly I was waiting for his answer.
“I’m getting there,” he replied with a small smile. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Getting there?”
He nodded.
“Getting there.”
* * *
“So, you mean to tell me that you not only came back empty-handed, without the dragon, but you almost got two of my daughters killed?” Ares’ voice boomed throughout the courtyard.
We had walked for hours, arriving at the palace just before midnight, bedraggled and dirty. We stood slumped before Ares now, bone-tired.
I interrupted Ares’ tirade.
“Don’t you mean… he captured and contained the dragon so that you could go pick it up and in the process, he saved the lives of two of your daughters?” I demanded. “You should be grateful, father.”
Ares stared at me, his gaze dark and thunderous. “Don’t push it, Harmonia.”
But he turned back to Cadmus. “My daughter makes an excellent point. You have gone against the odds. And you have brought two of my most valued treasures back to me unharmed. For that, I am grateful and in your debt. How would you ask that I repay you?”
Cadmus stood proudly, straight and tall, in front of my father.
“I do not ask for anything in repayment, nothing as a gift,” he answered. “But soon, very soon, after I have served my time in your home, I will come to you again, to ask for your daughter’ s hand. I hope that you will consider it.”
“You struck a fancy to Ortrera?” Ares asked, his eyes glittering with his own humor. My sister rolled her eyes.
“Not hardly,” she muttered.
Cadmus smiled at her. “While Ortrera is brave and beautiful, it is Harmonia who haunts my dreams. I would be honored to have her for my wife.”
I sucked in my breath. His wife. I would be bound to him for eternity…if my father granted his request.
Ares eyed Cadmus and then looked to me.
“I will think on it,” he replied, before spinning on his heel and walking away.
I thought my legs would collapse from the sheer emotional toll that the day had taken and Cadmus must have sensed as much. With a strong hand, he grasped my elbow as he walked me to the palace doors.
“Thank you for the adventure,” he told me, his eyes twinkling warmly. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
I laughed.
“No, I guess you wouldn’t have. Dragons are your thing, right?”
He laughed with me and nodded. “Yes. Dragons and beautiful women. I guess I have a weakness.”
“A weakness for all beautiful women?” I asked, feigning shock.
“Nope,” he answered. “Just one.”
He leaned down and kissed me softly, his lips warm and yielding against my own. I knew that I would gladly kiss him every day for the rest of eternity. His strong hands slid up my back and I pulled him to me, trying to get closer. He laughed against my mouth and pulled away.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said, shaking his head. “Good night, little one. Have sweet dreams about me.”
I smiled at his arrogance. I couldn’t lie. I liked it.
“Have sweet dreams about me,” I answered.
“Oh, don’t worry. You live in my dreams every night. You would be surprised at your behavior.”
I swatted at his arm and laughed. “Good night, prince of Phoenicia. Thank you for saving my life.”
“You’re welcome, Harmonia.”
He turned and walked away and I stood still, watching him leave. I inhaled the sweet fragrance of the lotus blossoms and enjoyed the cool night air on my skin. Suddenly, everything seemed more vibrant than it had before. The colors seemed brighter and more beautiful, the scents around me seemed more fragrant. I puzzled on that for a second.
“It’s because you’re in love,” my mother’s soft voice came from behind me, answering my unspoken question. “Everything seems more vibrant because you love him. That’s what love does.”
I exhaled a blissful sigh and turned to face her.
“I love him?”
She laughed her feminine laugh.
“You do. Can you not feel it?”
“I feel everything,” I answered. “I feel so wonderful. Like I could dance on the air and stay awake for hours, just thinking about him. That’s love?”
Mother laughed again. “That’s love. Why do you think it’s so intoxicating? Men would move mountains for it… and crumble them, too. You must be careful, sweet one. Love is a dangerous thing. I should know.”