Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
APHRODITE
I had to admit, sleeping with my fiancé's brother complicated things.
The wedding was bearing down on me, just days away, and I felt torn between two forces. Ares, the one who held my heart with an unyielding grip, made me feel protected, while Hephaestus only saw this marriage as a way to gain access to the Aetos name and the power that came with it. I wasn’t naive—I knew his true motives.
As I ascended the daunting trail that symbolized my life, my footing had slipped, and I tumbled down, momentarily losing sight of my purpose—Avenging my brother. The uncertainty of my future clouded my mind, but deep down, I knew which path truly called to me. It was dark, treacherous, but Ares was there, waiting in the shadows. My heart craved him, even as danger loomed over us.
I was on my way to the kitchen, ready for my daily dose of coffee, when a knock echoed throughout the apartment. Artie was at a hair appointment, so I was home alone.
A rush of excitement washed over me. I hoped it would be Ares standing on the other side. I had wished for this moment; certain he wouldn't leave me alone for long. Maybe Zeus had called him away for something urgent after he left. That would explain everything.
“It’s about time...” I swung the door open but bit my bottom lip to stop from speaking when I realized that it wasn’t the man I’d been waiting for.
Instead, my fiancé stood towering over me, wearing a heavy hoodie with his leather vest over top of it. His chestnut brown hair was unruly as he leaned against the door frame.
“Can I come in?” He brought his hand up to his mouth, and his fingers rubbed his bottom lip as he sized me up.
He caught me off guard, making me feel exposed despite being fully dressed in jean shorts and a racerback tank top. Gripping the door with one hand, I pushed it open wider, allowing Hephaestus to enter.
He walked in with his hands shoved into his pockets, his slight limp barely noticeable as he moved with purpose. His gaze swept across the apartment, taking in every detail as he slowly circled the island, the tension between us thick in the air.
I asked, “So, what brings you here today?” My voice carried a note of curiosity, but beneath it, I was wary. I couldn’t afford to trust him.
“I have a wedding gift for you,” he said, sitting on a barstool and resting his elbows on the stone countertop. I observed him closely as he rubbed his hands together.
I leaned against the cool granite as I crossed my arms. “Why?”
“Why not?”
What was he playing at? “What is it?”
“Go get changed,” he said, flashing a devilish smile. I could see how he could be considered attractive. His icy-blue eyes lingered on me, drawing me in with their allure.
“Fine,” I said. “But no peeking—you hear me?” I pointed at him.
Hephaestus pressed his hands on his heart. “I promise. ”
I walked into my room, shutting the door behind me with a heavy sigh. My mind was racing, trying to piece together why Hephaestus was here, what his true intentions were. Why was he so insistent on seeing me? His devilish smile and those icy-blue eyes lingered in my thoughts, unsettling me in ways I couldn’t fully understand.
I leaned against the dresser, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed conflicted, torn between duty and desire, between the safety Ares represented and the enigmatic threat that was Hephaestus.
What is he really after? Why now?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper at play, something sinister. He was too smooth, too calculated. The way he moved, the way he looked at me—it all felt like a game, one I wasn’t sure I was ready to play.
But I had no choice. I had to face him, even if it meant diving into waters far darker than I ever imagined. With a deep breath, I began to change, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me as I prepared to confront whatever lay ahead.
I walked out of my bedroom wearing dark black jeans, black boots, a matching sweater, and my brown aviator bomber jacket. Hephaestus stood and stared at me without breaking eye contact. “You, uh... You look beautiful,” he said.
An unexpected blush spread across my cheeks as I responded, “Thank you. Should we go?” I asked as he nodded and headed toward the door.
We walked down the stairs in silence as he led me toward his bike. Hephaestus helped me with my helmet, and I put on some gloves he’d given me to keep warm.
“I’ve never ridden with you before,” I confessed, my voice barely audible as I watched him secure my helmet with focused determination. When he looked up, our eyes met, and a sudden thrill surged through me. His lips curved into a small grin, and he reached out, gently brushing his finger against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Let’s go before it’s too late.” He said as he straddled the motorcycle, reaching for my hand to help me on.
We sped through the night, the wind rushing past us as we slipped away from the compound. My arms tightened around his waist as he expertly wove through the streets, the powerful hum of the engine vibrating through us. Pressed against his back, I was surrounded by his scent—a mix of leather, musk, and smoky cologne. It was intoxicating, a dangerous allure that made my heart race.
I closed my eyes, letting the sensation consume me, and for a moment, I imagined Ares behind the handlebars instead. The memory of being on the back of his bike, his strong hand gripping my thigh as we came to a stop. It sent a shiver through me. Even though I wasn’t supposed to be with Ares, his presence lingered in my thoughts, refusing to be ignored.
We abruptly pulled into the hospital and parked, the sudden stop jarring my thoughts into a chaotic mess. Confusion washed over me—I had no idea why he would bring me here. Hephaestus killed the engine, the silence thick between us. Without a word, he extended his hand to help me off the bike, his expression unreadable, only adding to the uneasy tension swirling inside me.
"Why are we here?" I asked, running my fingers through my tangled curls, trying to steady myself. Hephaestus only responded with a wicked grin. His icy-blue eyes gleamed with a triumph that both unsettled and intrigued me, stirring something I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Despite the unease in my gut, I couldn’t deny the pull he had on me—a twisted attraction that made resisting him more difficult with each passing moment. He was dangerous, unpredictable, and that thrill both terrified and tempted me.
“Do you hate surprises?” He rubbed his bearded chin contemplatively .
“No, I just don’t understand why we’re here.” My anxiety surged, but he grabbed my hand, guiding me toward the entrance with excited assurance. Navigating the hospital hallways with ease, he seemed to know precisely where we were going. Silently, we made our way toward the elevator. The suspense was palpable.
We stepped off on the fourth floor, the sterile scent of the hospital hanging thick in the air. A receptionist glanced our way, but Hephaestus barely acknowledged her, his grip firm around my hand as if he had done this a thousand times before.
Without hesitation, he led me down the long, dimly lit corridor, his pace steady, purposeful. My heart pounded in sync with each step until we reached a door at the far end. That’s when he finally stopped, his hand still holding mine as the weight of the moment settled over us.
"For you." He raised his hand toward the room nearest to us, his voice carrying a sense of anticipation. With a hesitant breath, I swung the door open, unsure of what to expect.
Paris was lying in the bed, her eyes immediately locking with mine.
My heart surged, disbelief quickly giving way to joy. I let out a scream of excitement, the tension that had built up inside me shattering in an instant. "I can’t believe it!" I dashed to her side, wrapping my arms around her in the tightest hug I could muster.
“I missed you so much,” I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. I pulled back just enough to look at her face, still in awe. "I haven’t heard from you since the explosion. I tried calling, messaging... I thought I lost you for good.”
“Oh, Aphrodite, I’ve missed you too!” Paris exclaimed as we embraced. I held her gently, not knowing the full extent of her injuries, but needing to feel her in my arms again. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a piece of my past life had come back to me.
“Why are you still in the hospital?” I asked softly, brushing my hand against her cheek.
Paris placed her hands on top of mine, her touch frail but full of warmth. “I was in a medically induced coma. I had a brain injury from the explosion. Waking up to that was terrifying, but they said I was lucky. They told me someone saved me. Thank you for that.”
“I failed you, Paris, look where you are. If it wasn’t for me, and my family, this would have never happened to you.”
“You’re the reason I’m alive. You saved me, Aphrodite,” she said, her voice soft, revealing the toll the trauma had taken on her. Her pale skin, the dark circles beneath her eyes—it was clear she wasn’t the vibrant girl she used to be. She was thinner, weaker, but alive.
I sighed, grasping her hand tighter, “I always will,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You’re the only real family I have left.” Tears pricked my eyes, and I wiped them away before turning to the door. Hephaestus was gone, having left quietly, but I now understood that the gift he had given me was the most precious one—Paris.
“So,” Paris said, trying to lift the mood, “tell me, what have I missed?”
We caught up, talking about everything—Titan’s murder, the looming wedding, and my tangled feelings for Ares. It was clear the flood of information left her a little overwhelmed.
“Okay, wow, you’ve got two brothers after you?” she teased with a weak smile.
I shrugged, but the heaviness in my chest didn’t fade.
“Hephaestus… he has this temper, and he scares me. Something about him feels wrong, like I need to always be on guard. He’s cold, unpredictable. But then he brings me here, to you, and I don’t know what to think.”
“And Ares?” Paris asked, her gaze steady on me.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Ares is… everything. Fierce. Protective. He makes me feel alive in ways I didn’t know were possible, but he’s also terrifying. His intensity… I don’t know how to handle it.”
Paris squeezed my hand. “Then why not just be with Ares instead of Hephaestus?”
“It’s not that simple,” I sighed .
“Why not?” she pressed gently. “I can see it in you, Aphrodite. When you talk about Ares, you glow.”
“I’m not supposed to be with Ares,” I said, leaning against her. “I belong to Hephaestus. My father made sure of that when he traded me to the Olympus Syndicate. No matter what I feel, I can’t just walk away from it.”
Paris’s expression softened as she listened. I continued, “And I haven’t been able to focus on finding Titan’s killer because… I’ve been so distracted by Ares.”
“You can’t blame yourself for feeling something, Aphrodite,” Paris said softly. “You deserve love, even after everything you’ve been through. Especially after everything.”
“You’re right, I do,” I admitted. “I just don’t know how to handle this. I’ve never faced anything like this before.”
Time seemed to slip away as I caught Paris up on everything that had transpired since Halloween. I tried to strike a balance between sharing the necessary details and overwhelming her, but the weight of the conversation was heavy. The doctor eventually came in, a gentle reminder that Paris needed rest. I hesitated, reluctant to leave her side, but I knew it was the right thing to do.
Before I left, I gave her my burner phone number, my fingers lingering on hers. “Make sure you call me,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. The connection we had, the bond forged through so much pain and loss, felt like a lifeline.
We embraced tightly, and as I pulled away, I saw the truth in her eyes. She was right—I did deserve happiness. Yet, even as her words comforted me, a storm brewed within. I was on the brink of a monumental decision, and the gravity of it weighed heavily on me.
Leaving the hospital room, I made my way toward the lobby, my thoughts consumed by Hephaestus. Today, he had done something unexpectedly kind, and I began to question my initial judgment of him. Perhaps there was more to him than I had been willing to see.
Outside, Hephaestus sat on his motorcycle, the engine purring softly. The sight of him—relaxed, confident—stirred something within me. His cocky smile, though infuriating, had a disarming effect on my heart.
“Thank you for today,” I said, approaching him with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his neck. His touch was warm, his breath sending a shiver down my spine. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of us.
“I’ll give you everything, Aphrodite, if you just let me in,” he murmured, his blue eyes revealing a vulnerability I hadn’t noticed before. Despite his rugged exterior, there was a tenderness in his gaze, a glimpse of a softer side that he rarely showed.
Hephaestus’s touch was tender yet electrifying as he gently cradled my cheek, his fingers warm against my skin. He guided me closer, his gaze locking with mine in a moment of shared vulnerability. Our lips finally met in a kiss that began softly, hesitant and exploratory. It was as if we were both testing the waters, our breaths mingling as the kiss deepened with a mix of curiosity and longing.
The contrast between this kiss and the fiery passion I’d experienced with Ares was striking. Whereas Ares had always ignited a fierce, consuming flame within me, Hephaestus’s kiss was more of a slow, deliberate burn. His lips moved against mine with a sensual rhythm, a gentle caress that felt both inviting and intoxicating. Each brush of his lips sent shivers down my spine, awakening a desire I hadn’t fully recognized before.
As his embrace deepened, the kiss became more fervent. Hephaestus’s hands slid from my cheek to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, his touch firm yet tender. The heat between us grew, and I could feel the intense pleasure he evoked with every lingering caress. My senses were overwhelmed, every nerve in my body attuned to the way his lips traced mine with an irresistible, almost desperate need.
In that moment, I was lost in him, the world outside fading away. The kiss was not just a physical connection but a revelation of a deeper, unspoken longing. I felt myself surrendering to the sensation, losing control as the intensity of his touch stirred desires I had tried to suppress. The kiss was a dance of passion and exploration, leaving me breathless and yearning for more.
When we finally parted, our lips lingering just a breath apart, Hephaestus rested his forehead against mine. Both of us were panting slightly, our breaths mingling in the charged air between us. The intimacy of the moment had shifted something profound within me, a recognition that this was no longer just a fleeting connection. The kiss had altered the landscape of our relationship, marking a point of no return.
“I could get used to that,” I said softly, my cheeks flushed from the kiss and the emotions swirling inside me.
Hephaestus’s smile grew, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “Stay with me tonight?”
I hesitated, crossing my arms as if to shield myself from the turmoil inside. “I’m not sure, Hephaestus,” I said, struggling with my feelings. What was I doing?
He chuckled, the sound a mixture of charm and reassurance. “Don’t worry, babe. We can take it slow. Or maybe I can take you on a proper date first?”
My mind drifted back to Ares, and the uncertainty of his whereabouts gnawed at me. I hadn’t heard from him since our last encounter, and the silence only fueled my growing anger. I looked at Hephaestus, pushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “Well, considering I’m going to be your wife, I guess a date wouldn’t be out of the question.”
Hephaestus’s eyes softened as he glanced at my hand. “Yes, you will be my wife,” he said, his tone laced with a mix of seriousness and affection. “I should get you a ring.” He traced his fingers over my ring finger, then lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to it.
I couldn’t help but blurt out, “What happened to the grumpy Hephaestus I’m used to?”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “He realized he doesn’t need to fight this. He realized he shouldn’t push you away but should embrace what’s happening between us.”
For once, I found myself speechless, unable to form a coherent response. The complexities of my feelings, the confusion, and the unexpected warmth Hephaestus had sparked in me left me at a loss for words.
We went to a local diner for our date. He barely touched his food, his gaze locked on me with a hunger that went beyond mere appetite.
“So, was it nice to see your friend?” He took a sip of his coffee that the waitress brought over. I watched him intently as his eyes followed the young woman as she walked away.
In the dim light of the diner, I saw Hephaestus more clearly than ever before. His beard partially concealed a deep red scar that extended up toward his eye. His deep blue eyes, like a stormy ocean on a rainy day, held an unsettling depth. When our gazes met, I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his intense stare.
“Yes,” I said warmly, as I gave him a small, genuine smile. “I missed her so much.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I figured you’d want to reconnect with someone from your past.”
As the waitress delivered our plates, Hephaestus offered a nod of thanks.
“It’s been a lot to handle lately,” I admitted, glancing down at my food but not feeling hungry. “With Titan’s death, the wedding, and the move to the compound, I’ve felt overwhelmed.”
Hephaestus looked at me with a seriousness that made me uneasy. “I know I’m not the ideal choice for a husband, Aphrodite, but I promise I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
I met his gaze and offered a tentative smile. “I appreciate that, Hephaestus. I know we’ve been distant, but I’m willing to give this a chance.” I tried to convince myself, even though my thoughts kept drifting back to Ares. I would attempt to find peace and happiness with Hephaestus if it meant finding stability.
As I spoke about my life, Hephaestus listened intently, his eyes lighting up whenever I laughed or shared a happy memory. His smile, though faint, seemed to soften with every word, and I couldn’t help but notice how his attention made me feel a little less alone.
Hephaestus was midway through taking a bite of his burger when I broached the subject of his mother. His piercing blue eyes shot up to meet mine, an unreadable expression crossing his face. Abruptly, he dabbed his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of his drink, as though to steady himself. I watched his every movement with a growing sense of unease.
As our gazes locked, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, black leather box. A knot tightened in my stomach as I recognized the significance of the gesture. “This was my mother’s ring,” he said quietly, lifting the lid with a solemn reverence.
Inside the box lay a gold band, exquisitely crafted with two delicate diamonds flanking a magnificent emerald that shimmered like a dewy forest after a rainstorm. Its beauty was breathtaking, evoking a sense of timeless elegance. I found myself momentarily lost in its allure.
“This is stunning, Hephaestus,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Hephaestus carefully removed the ring from the box and held it out to me. As I took it in my hand, the weight of its significance pressed heavily on me. The ring was more than a piece of jewelry—it symbolized the path I was about to take. I looked up to meet his gaze, his intense stare conveying a depth of emotion that left me feeling vulnerable.
“Let me be your protector, Aphrodite,” he said, his voice deepening with earnest gravity. “I’ll stand by you, no matter what.” His words carried a weight that cut through my defenses.
A tear escaped from the corner of my eye as the reality of his words settled over me.
This was my destiny unfolding before me, a fate I couldn’t escape.