“I owe you a favor, God of Wine.”
“I’ll take it now,” he said. “Never say pussy again.”
Chapter 9
Persephone
“Where would you like these?” Ares asked.
Persephone turned to see the God of War holding a sheet of cookies. The hulking god was wearing a pink apron and matching oven mitts, both Aphrodite had insisted on. The color clashed with his mood and fierce appearance, amusing Persephone.
She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling at the sight.
“They can go on the counter by Lexa,” she said.
Ares turned, almost mechanically, letting the tray drop so that the cookies bounced.
“You don’t have to slam them,” Lexa said, glaring.
“I didn’t slam them,” he argued.
“Yes, you did. We all heard it.” She gestured toward Persephone and Aphrodite who had turned to watch the interaction. “And look, that one’s broken.”
Ares swiped the cookie off the tray and shoved it in his mouth even though it had just come out of the oven. She guessed he could heal his blistered mouth instantly, so maybe it didn’t matter. “Now it’s not broken because it doesn’t exist.”
Lexa sighed, exasperated, and Persephone wondered if they were going to get through this without Lexa declaring war on Ares. The thought made her anxious and in response, the babies kicked.
“Be gentle, Ares,” said Aphrodite, her voice like a soothing wave. “We’re here to have fun.”
There was silence and after a moment, Ares cleared his throat. “I’m sorry,” he said curtly. “I’ll do better.”
“Thank you, Ares,” Aphrodite said.
She and Persephone turned back to the cupcakes they were piping, her smile turning into a yawn.
“Babies keep you up again?” Aphrodite asked
“Don’t tell Hades,” Persephone said.
Aphrodite gave her a strange look. “Why would I tell Hades?”
“I know you wouldn’t tell him,” she said. “I just…he will think it is his fault that I am tired.”
Aphrodite looked down at her belly before meeting her gaze again. “Darling, it kind of is his fault.”
“What I mean is, I finally convinced Hades to have sex again last night, and if he thinks it kept me from resting, he maybe won’t…”
“Fuck you again?” Aphrodite finished.
“I don’t know if you can call it fucking when I am literally nine months pregnant.”
Aphrodite scrunched her nose. “Not that good?”
“No, no,” Persephone said. “It was good. It was so good. The point is the babies hate it, and they give me these…awful nightmares every time we…”
“Fuck,” Aphrodite said when Persephone didn’t finish her sentence.
She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped talking, but her mind had wandered to last night’s dream. She was in the nursery, standing between the babies’ bassinets. She hummed quietly, watching them sleep, precious breaths raising their rounded bellies. It was a symphony of sweet sounds she relished.
