The thief avatar shrugged and acted innocent when we all knew he was clued in on this from Castor or had figured it out through his Hermes channels of information.
Slade finally got in, “You make love, not war, Cupid.”
I held back from slapping my face. Love created plenty of wars. Just look at the story of the Trojan War with Helen of Troy and Paris of Sparta. The last war with the Roman Republic started by the love between Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. Or Persephone and Hades almost caused a war with Zeus and Demeter, her mother. What about King Henry making enemies with the Catholic Church over his decision to divorce Catherine of Aragorn and marry Ann Boleyn? A decision that almost cast England into war. Castor would be so proud of my historical knowledge in that respect.
“Whose war are we fighting?” Locke studied Slade again, her eyes doing that glassy thing, gaze dipping to my man’s chest. “So much vengeance in that heart.” Again, she rubbed at her chest as if it were plagued with fire. Then she made a snipping motion as if cutting it away.
“Hunting another avatar,” Slade said at the same time Hades spoke, “Colton Raine.”
“Ahhh.” Locke picked up her champagne flute and swallowed down the entire contents. “That guy never dies.” Her gaze flashed to Slade. “Another heart burning with vengeance. What’d he do this time?”
Wow. Locke was good at this love-war game and kept Slade on his toes.
My fiery mate recounted his story of all the crap that went down in the last nine months, ending with my rescue of Mia and killing of Danny.
Locke leaned forward, stretching her hand across the table seeking mine, and I gave it to her. “I’m sorry you had to make that choice. That must have been difficult.”
My throat thickened, and a flicker of Danny’s ghost tried to materialize but couldn’t stay solid since I banished him. I couldn’t get anything out, but Locke didn’t need words when she understood the heart, her fingers curling tighter over mine.
“My time is limited these days with the twins.” Locke let us down easy, and the flames of war scorched. “But I’ll do whatever I can. Colton pissed off the wrong Love goddess when he kidnapped my girl, Autumn.”
Autumn and Locke fist-bumped, and I admired the girl power between them. Their friendship made my heart clench and long for my bff Barb, my manager from Northshore hospital.
Locke turned to me, her eyes doing that strange thing again. “Don’t worry, hon. There’s someone coming for you.”
The lock on my chest released with this news. I didn’t realize how much I missed my friend and the girl talk until now. This last year, I had my hands full with my men. Zethan was my best friend, but sometimes a girl just wanted to talk with another female who understood what she was going through.
Castor’s grip tightened on my knee as he rode my pain with me, and I glanced at him with a thankful smile.
“Aaliyah, you’re always welcome to call or drop in for a chat.” Locke lifted her glass, and a servant scurried from the corner to refill it. Clearly, she was used to the protocol, having visited here before. “Just hail Mads, and we can arrange something.”
Autumn gave me a raised eyebrow prod to follow through on the invite.
My heart pulsed with a sweet warmth, and I smiled my appreciation.
Locke’s smile fell away to get back to business with Slade. “Best I can do is look into his love cord.”
“His what?” My fiery mate frowned, hand tightening on my thigh, and I jerked at the force.
“Are you sure you’re a Love god?” Locke bitch-pleased him, teasing the president. “This is Love goddess one-oh-one.”
The last of Slade’s patience dropped away and his war fires sweltered, in need of raging destruction. “Speak English, lady.”
“Everyone has a love cord extending from their chest.” Locke swirled her hand, bringing hers into existence, the ruby red as brilliant as any stone in Hades and Autumn’s palace. “It connects to those they love. Not just love, passion, and admiration—lust, spite, jealousy, obsession. All the nasties, too.”
Book nerd Castor leaned forward with interest to learn of her powers.
I watched in awe as Locke wielded her magick, teaching Slade a thing or two about love. Less war, more love.
He stared at her, clueless. Some Love god he was. “And?”
“It means she can find Colton, numbnuts,” Mads drawled.
Her three men leaned back in their chairs, enjoying the show. None more than Mads, whose eyes twinkled with delight as Slade got his Love god ass handed to him.
Castor chuckled, slanting his gaze across to Zethan.
Slade picked a cherry and threw it at Mads so hard it squashed on his forehead. “How about I make fine wine from your nuts?”
