He looks unconvinced at my suggestion, but I know me. I know I can do this. He doesn’t need people to think about the war brewing. He needs them to see him as who he is.
“I can do this,” I add quietly. “I need to do this. Sitting still makes my head too loud, and I don’t want to sit around while you’re dealing with everything.”
He squeezes me closer, lowering his voice. “If this is about distracting yourself from Talos?—”
“It’s about not letting him win space in my head,” I cut in. In truth, I haven’t thought of Talos in the past few days. The man holding me in his arms has all but consumed my thoughts.
Orpheus’s gaze sharpens at the name, but he doesn’t push. He knows I’ll shut down if he does.
“Fine,” he says at last. “But you don’t leave the club. Not today.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” I reply, even though I already am.
I don’t tell him about the dress I have picked out. I asked Miriam to bring it to the club for me yesterday when I spoke to her.
“Good.” Orpheus lowers his head and kisses me deeply.
Each time he kisses me, my body comes alive for him. I moan into the kiss, urging him to take it deeper.
Orpheus does just that at the same time, scooping me up and carrying me back to the bed. I know exactly what’s about to happen, and my stomach flutters with anticipation.
Two hours after sating the man who’s now stuck in his office, I got dressed and came down to the club to talk to Miriam, who came in early and was waiting for me at the bar. Meg was already there getting things ready for the night.
I give them both a quick rundown of what we need to do, which causes Miriam to squeal loudly. Meg nods but looks far less enthused.
“You want blood-red romance?” Miriam, eyes lighting up. “Please say yes.”
“Yes, this place needs to look amazing for tonight,” I tell her, and look at Meg. “What do you think?”
“It’ll be good for business. Lots of lonely humans coming in to find something. Might as well go with the feel of the day.” She shrugs. “I’ll put a call in to order what you want.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. “If you need my help . . .”
Meg lifts a hand and shakes her head. “Nope, the boss would have my ass if I let you.”
Miriam claps her hands together like it’s Christmas and speaks before I can. “Oh my god, finally. I was starting to think the apocalypse canceled romance.”
“It might still,” I mutter, flipping through fabric swatches with them. “But we’re going to look good doing it.” No reason to go down the rabbit hole of dark thoughts.
Over the course of the day, together we slowly and deliberately transform the club. Velvet drapes. Low lighting. Candles encased in dark glass so the flames flicker like trapped hearts. Roses everywhere. Deep red. Almost black.
Meg handles the bar like a general planning a campaign. She comes up with names for the drinks that make me choke laughing.
“Megara’s Kiss,” she says. “Blood Oath. Sinful Devotion.”
“I hate how on brand this is.” I laugh.
“You love it.” Miriam grins.
She’s right.
For a few hours, I almost forgot about Talos and everything else happening around us. Almost forgot about the note. About the way my old name looked on that paper like a threat.
Almost.
Then Meg hands me a drink menu mockup, and I see my hands shaking again.
I set it down and force a breath.
