“Goddess, I know you are plotting something. I can see it in your eyes. It should worry me, but my senses are clouded with the feel of you so close to me, as I’m sure you know.”
“You’re the one who said I should sit on your lap. Don’t try to act like this was all some great strategy on my part.” I started to stand, but his hand tightened over mine, pinning me in place.
“Stay as you are until she returns.”
“Even if she can portal to wherever she wants, she’s still going to have to wait for the pizza to cook. It takes time.”
“So be it,” he said with a growing smile.
I rolled my eyes and gave in, making the mistake of smiling back. Any trace of amusement vanished from his expression.
“What do you plan?” he asked harshly.
Shaking my head, I sighed. “I plan to eat an amazing pizza while answering any questions you have regarding how I knew about that modern marvel and how I knew the youngest fury’s name. I’m hoping that it’s enough to convince you I’m human so I can return home and sleep in my own bed tonight.”
He continued to frown at me.
“Is the bed I provided not comfortable?”
“It’s better than the floor, but you should try my mattress at home sometime. It’s like a cloud.”
He frowned harder, and that red glowing light returned to flicker in his eyes.
“So be it.”
“Wait. What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means you have found that which I provide for you lacking. I will do better.”
“I wasn’t criticizing. You asked about my plan, and I told you. The bed you’ve provided is nice enough; it’s just not my bed. This isn’t my house. I miss my home.”
He held my gaze, and for the first time, I realized he was doing whatI’dbeen trained to do. Hide everything he was feeling. Why should a god ever have to hide anything? He’d let his anger fly plenty of times, making the stone crack and shake. He’d laughed several times. What was he really feeling that he thought he needed to hide?
“You are the only one preventing your return,” he said after a long silence. “Speak the word, and I am yours.”
“I can’t speak the word because I’m not her. She’s yours, not me.”
He made a frustrated sound but didn’t release my hand to let me up.
“Stubborn goddess,” he muttered.
“Stubborn god. How much more proof do you need to consider that I might be telling you the truth?”
“I warned you that I will not be easily convinced.”
“You did,” I agreed, calming at the reminder. “I guess we’ll just need to wait until the pizza arrives.”
I looked at Zotera, who had been quietly watching our exchange the entire time. She didn’t try to hide her worry when she glanced from Hades to our hands and me.
“Everything is fine, Zotera,” I said. “Are you excited to try pizza?”
“You want me to eat some of your food?”
“How else will you know if you like it?” I asked.
She looked at Hades again.
“You may try some,” Hades said.
