“One moment.” Hestia raised her hand. “Before we do, Apollo, to whom would you give the golden apple to?”
“The woman I love,” he declared. “The one I wish to spend my immortal life with.”
Ares let out a scoff. “A woman? Well,that’sa surprise,” he said, words dripping with sarcasm. “Apollo, if we gave every slut we fucked–”
“Shut your damn mouth!” Apollo growled as he shot to his feet. “You will not speak of her that–”
“Apollo, sit!” Artemis hooked her hand into her brother’s arm and pulled him back down. “Don’t rise to his bait,” she whispered. “Let me handle this.”
He shot daggers at the god of war, who seemed to relish the attention. “That asshole! How dare–”
“Shush!” Artemis practically shoved him into his seat as she stood up. “Just follow my lead, okay?” Clearing her throat, she smoothed her hands down her front. “Fellow goddesses and gods of the council,” she began. “While my brother’s, er, reputation may precede him, in the thousands of years of his existence, he has never, ever asked the council for anything. Not even when his best friend died.” She took a deep breath. “We only ask that you hear him out and plead his case as to why he thinks this mortal should receive the apple.”
Poseidon rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “All right, go on.”
“Thank you.” The goddess of the hunt clapped her hands together. “Apollo, tell us about this woman you love.”
“Her name is Geri Andersen, and she’s not just a human. She’s also a wolf shifter,” Apollo said. “We have fallen in love, and I wish to spend the rest of my life with her.” He glanced over at Demeter, who smiled back at him. The goddess of the harvest, after all, was a good friend to the wolf shifter. “But being mortal, she only has a few more decades to live.” The very idea of watching Geri die made his insides ache.
“You love, and sometimes you lose that love.” It was Aphrodite who spoke. “Such is what happens when it comes to matters of the heart.” There was a tinge of sadness to her tone.
“But it’s not just that you’re in love, is it, Apollo?” Artemis said.
“I love her and she loves me. What else is there?”
Artemis clucked her tongue. “Apollo, whatelse?”
“Huh?” Apollo cocked his head to the side.
“Oh, for goddess’s sake!” Artemis stamped a foot. “Tell them about the bond.”
“Wha–oh yeah!” He scratched his head. How could he have forgotten? “We are also mated.” Pulling at his neck collar, he showed them the scar from the bite Geri had given him.
“M-mated?” Hera choked.
“Yes,” Apollo said. “We are mated in the way of her people. Her wolf chose me, and then we gave each other claiming marks. She has my bite on her neck as well.”
“But she is a wolf shifter, and you are a god.” Aphrodite leaned forward. “I didn’t even know that was possible. How could her wolf have chosenyouas its mate?”
“No one else tried, I guess?” he shrugged. “But I wouldn’t lie about it. I couldn’t, not to you, Aphrodite. Look into my heart and see for yourself. Our love is true, and our bond is stronger than anything I have ever experienced in my entire immortal life.”
The goddess of love’s silvery blue gaze bore into him, her face changing from skeptical to surprise. “He speaks the truth. The bond is present.”
“See?” Artemis said. “Apollo and Geri don’t just love each other. They are truly bonded on a metaphysical, and dare I say, spiritual level. The bond allows them to feel what the other feels and connects them as long as they live. Apollo is the chosen mate of a shifter; thus, he would suffer immensely when she dies. It would not only be cruel to allow that to happen, but unnatural. As per shifter law, the bond is sacred, and it would be going against nature to keep them apart.”
“I agree,” Demeter said. “And I am in favor of the shifter Geri Andersen receiving the golden apple. In the time I’ve known her, she has proven to be responsible, level-headed, andpractical. Good traits to balance out Apollo’s personality. They will be loyal partners to each other.”
“And obviously, I vote in favor as well,” Artemis added.
“Wait a minute, I–we haven’t called for a vote yet,” Poseidon interrupted. “Besides, in such a case, the council must vote unanimously, and I am not ready to vote.”
“As am I, and I am the goddess of marriage, and I rule over the golden apple grove,” Hera said. “Aphrodite?”
The goddess of love glanced at Apollo. “I’m sorry...I’m not ready either.”
Nowthatsurprised Apollo. He thought for sure that out of everyone on the council, Aphrodite would be immediately on his side. He swallowed hard.
“Apollo, this is not a no,” Hestia said gently. “But, choosing to be immortal is not a decision to be taken lightly. Even demi-gods, who are already nearly divine in their own right, must carefully consider if this endless life is what they want.”
