“So, I see,” Aphrodite mused as she rifled through my thoughts. “I hadn’t realized that things had progressed to this, daughter. You’ve been keeping secrets.”
She looked slightly offended that I hadn’t confided in her, so I rushed to reassure her.
“Mother, I love you. I just wanted to keep this one thing to myself while it was in such a new stage. Cadmus and I…we love each other. But our relationship is new. I didn’t want it exposed for the world to see, particularly when he wasn’t free to be with me. But he is now. And that changes everything.”
I rushed to her side and hugged her, breathing in her floral scent and kissing her lightly on the cheek. “I love you, mother. I really, really do.”
“I know you do, Harmonia,” she sighed. “And I guess I knew that this day would come. I just don’t have to like it. I don’t want you to leave.”
I froze in my tracks.
“Leave?”
She looked at me in amusement. “Of course, sweet one. If you are with Cadmus, I am sure that you will be leaving. He has a kingdom to rule. He is his father’s only remaining son. He is the heir to the throne. He has an obligation to return.”
My heart hammered in my chest. Never, over the course of the past few months, had we ever spoken of this. Cadmus had never mentioned returning to the mortal world and I had never asked…because it hadn’t occurred to me. Why would anyone ever want to leave the Spiritlands? But in this instant, I knew that my mother was right. Cadmus would need to return to the mortal world to rule his father’s kingdom.
If I didn’t go with him, we couldn’t marry.
That fact loomed large and prominent in front of me. I sighed a long sigh and my mother hugged my shoulders.
“You didn’t think of this?” she asked incredulously. “You didn’t realize that he would have to return?”
“No,” I admitted softly. “I will admit that my thoughts have been clouded of late. I haven’t thought of practicality at all. I’ve only thought of him.”
“Love,” Aphrodite shook her head. “I’ve warned you. It does strange things to a person.”
My chest suddenly felt hollow. After feeling ecstatic since the moment I awoke, this sudden realization that all might go awry weighted me down horribly. I should have known that there would be an obstacle. There always was.
“Don’t think like that,” my mother said sternly. “Life is not always rainbows and butterflies, my sweet. Life is ever-changing and ever-challenging. If it were not, we would grow bored. You must look at this situation for what it is: A choice. You must simply decide if you are willing to relocate for this man. Do you love him enough to move from your home and follow him to his?”
She stared at me, her silver eyes knowing. It would be difficult for anyone to choose to move from the home of the gods to the mortal world. She knew that.
“My darling, think long and hard on this decision. It is ever so important. Do not rush into it.”
I shook my head. “I won’t. But I love him, mother.”
“I know,” she replied. “I’m the goddess of love, remember? I can sense it from a mile away. You love him. Now, you will simply have to decide if that is enough.”
I sank into a nearby seat and numbly stared at the birds flying in the trees outside of my windows. They were so happy and content. I had the random thought that I wished I was one of them. Their lives were so simple.
“Sweetling,” my mother sighed as she knelt in front of me and pushed a stray tendril of hair from my eyes. “This will be simple, as well. And really, first things first. You must speak with your father and see if he will grant his permission. Do not worry yourself until you know that there is something to worry about.”
I nodded. My mother spoke the truth. I should find out this small detail before I got ahead of myself. But she was wrong on one aspect. Of course I would worry about my father’s decision. I loved him, but Ares was known to be a touch difficult when he wanted to be. Sighing, I rose from my chair and turned to face another dragon.
My father.
Chapter Nine
I heard him long before I saw him as I approached the dining hall.
Ares was laughing boisterously with someone. Hermes, maybe? It sounded like Hermes’ voice. The hall was filled with chattering and laughter, so most of the Olympians must be in attendance for breakfast. I swallowed. Ugh. I’d have an audience.
As I reached up to grasp the ornate door handles, a large hand reached from behind to open the door for me.
Turning, I found Cadmus.
From the dampness of his hair, I could see that he was freshly bathed. I longed to lean in and inhale his clean, woodsy scent, but I restrained myself. Instead, I gazed at him for a moment, appreciating his masculine appeal. Looking at him, however, made me want to touch him. So, I pulled my eyes to his, which were twinkling in amusement.
“See something you like?” he asked with a grin.
I shook my head. I couldn’t deny it. He had caught me checking him out fair and square. My cheeks were on fire as I tried to casually continue our conversation. Cadmus had laughter in his eyes. He knew exactly how embarrassed I was and it amused him. I had to admit, it was a little amusing. Here I was…a goddess on Mount Olympus and a mortal man had completely taken over my senses. I deserved to be the object of his humor. I smiled pleasantly.
“Are you coming to speak to my father?”
He eyed me. “Yes. I was trying to beat you here, so that I could speak for myself. I should have known that would be a futile effort. You did say that you were impatient.”
I was indignant. “That’s not true,” I told him, the red flush back in my cheeks. “It’s not a futile effort. You’re a grown man. You can speak for yourself.”
“Well, I know that,” he told laughingly. “But do you?”
He had me again. I had definitely been on my way to speak to my father and it hadn’t occurred to me that Cadmus might want to do it himself. I fidgeted with my ankle for a moment and Cadmus laughed.
“I have your number, don’t I?” he asked me with a grin. “You know, before I met you, I always pictured the goddess of peace to be…well, peaceful. You have a more colorful personality than I would have guessed.”
“I am peaceful,” I told him. “Most of the time.”
He laughed and I realized that I could listen to that sound all day long. But we had things to do and dragons to speak to.