“If you want a tropical beach”—Narcissus waved a hand and the room was replaced by a golden beach with turquoise waves softly caressing the shore—“you can have it. If you'd prefer a mountain cabin”—another wave, and we were standing on a wide plateau covered in wildflowers with a massive log cabin behind us; smoke wisping from its chimney—“you can have that too. Anything you wish for—from the smallest bauble to the most magnificent palace—can be yours. Go ahead; try it. Wish for something.”
“I wish I had my magic back.”
Narcissus grimaced at me as the scenery shifted back to the receiving room. “Wish for something illusionary,” he amended. “Something my mirror magic can give you.”
“I wish I had a whiskey sour,” I said dryly.
A glass of golden-brown liquid appeared in my hand. I frowned at it and then took a sip. It was good; sweet and sharp. I grimaced at it anyway.
“If you truly want to win me over, try not killing people. That may work,” I suggested.
Narcissus looked me over slowly. “You will look more favorably on me if I don't kill Apollo?”
“If you don't killanyone,” I clarified.
“Well, that's a large request.” Narcissus squished up his face in consideration. “How will you show me your improved regard?”
“Not with sex!” I snapped.
“I know.” He held up his hands again. “But how? Will you go swimming with me in the lake; without clothes?”
“No.”
“Apollo's life isn't worth a naked swim?”
“Promise me that you'll stay away fromallof my loved ones,” I countered. “My husbands, my boyfriend, my lions, my children, my family, and the Froekn. Do that, and I'll swim with you, and then we can barter for the Olympians.”
Sorry, Apollo, but I wanted my family safe first.
“Deal.”
“Break your word, and nothing you do will ever win me over.”
“Understood,” Narcissus said solemnly. “I vow that I will not kill or even hurt your loved ones.”
“Very well.”
“Excellent!” Narcissus grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room and then out of the palace entirely.
He scampered over the bridge, dragging me along, and then went down to the shore of the lake. I was completely over swimming by then, and I especially didn't want to do it naked with Narcissus, but it was definitely worth the lives of the people I loved. I held out my arms and nodded at him. Narcissus grinned devilishly and whisked the dress away. I didn't give him a chance to stare. I hurried into the water as he chuckled behind me.
Narcissus slowly undressed on the shore; making it into a striptease. I looked away.
“Apollo's life if you watch me undress,” Narcissus called to me.
I gritted my teeth and looked back. “Agreed.”
“You have toreallylook, Vervain,” he clarified. “I want you to see my body.”
“Fine! Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.” Narcissus grinned.
Narcissus removed his shirt as he watched me watch him. He trailed his hands over his chest and drew his fingertips across the buds of his nipples. I didn't even experience a twinge of arousal. He gave up on his chest and undid the ties holding up his pants. His erection sprang free and his entire body was revealed. Narcissus palmed his balls and lifted his hand through the golden curls between his legs to stroke his shaft. It was a nice enough dick, but I still wasn't interested. As beautiful as Narcissus was, he couldn't compete with any of the men I loved. I just watched disinterestedly and waited for him to get over himself.
Narcissus turned around and stroked his hands over his ass. I rolled my eyes. He was only making himself more unattractive to me. I didn't enjoy a man who put himself on display like that. Strippers always left a bad taste in my mouth; it just didn't do it for me. It didn't seem masculine. The way Narcissus was moving looked particularly effeminate.
Narcissus glanced over his shoulder with a smile and found me staring blankly at his body. He scowled, turned around, and put his hands on my hips.
