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Wincing loudly, Apollo saying nothing.
My eyes flit back and forth between the twins. Artemis glares at her brother. Becoming more frantic at each moment of his silence.
I clarify, “Right?” My eyes are growing large from worry.
Steepling his fingers, Apollo presses his pointer fingers to his lips.
“Hera has offered a union between our families to keep the peace,” sighs Apollo. His voice strains as he replies, “The integrated merger of our houses would help stave off future conflict.”
Rolling her eyes, Artemis scoffs, “Isn’t Hebe a bit young for you? Or are you looking to marry our stepmother?”
Apollo presses his lips into a fine line. Biting back the frustration pooling within him. “Good thing this arrangement isn’t for me.”
Artemis freezes. Saying not a single word. Instead, she looks like she'll throw up.
“Ares?” I blurt, “But Artemis doesn’t love him!”
“Yes. Though it matters little.” Apollo swirls his wine glass casually.
Widening my eyes, I look on in horror. “How so?”
“This isn’t a marriage for love. Her marriage will be for the security and power of the realm. Artemis, the twin sister of the Lord of Caelum. Ares, the favored son of Hera.”
“Wait, isn’t Ares also a child of Zeus?” I ask. Now further confused by the family dynamic. “She’d be marrying her brother. Don’t you see the problem with that?”
Apollo hisses at the name of the mention of the old king of all the gods.
Who knew that the gods were so superstitious.
“Ares and Hephaestus are the biological children of Hera. Zeus adopted them to strengthen his claim to the throne. Only Hebe shares our blood and Hera’s. Zeus has a couple of other biological children like Hermes and Dionysus,” elaborated Apollo.
Why can he say Zeus but when I say it, it’s a hissy fit? This is bullshit.
“But Zeus,” I clarify as Artemis takes her turn to hiss in my direction. “The old king,” I correct, “And Ares aren’t related? But that’s what my people spoke of in our history.”
Apollo chuckles, “Yes but don’t your people all still think the world is flat?” The silver-bob-haired woman looks on in horror. Though, I doubt it’s because of Apollo’s lineage discussion. “Artemis love, I don’t particularly care if you're not attracted to the brute.” Apollo's face reddened. Not from being flustered but from irritation. “Take lovers for all I care. Fuck whatever men you fancy but you’ll be marrying him.”
“Since you're so keen on this diplomatic relationship, why don’t you marry into the family?” I suggest. “Do they have someone who’s about your age that you could marry?”
Intensely, Apollo stares at me. His face is unreadable.
From the moment we lock eyes, he refuses to look away. Our strange little battle. “Be reasonable. We do not want to give Ares and therefore Hera a direct line back onto the throne. With you, we just need me to have a couple of children. Then he'll be out of the line of succession.” Though intense, his voice and demeanor are level. With a mischievous grin, he asks, “What do you say, Pandora. Interested in assisting in the cause.”
My heart raced at the suggestion of us together. Having sex with a god. Gods help me.
“Oh,” Apollo almost purrs. “The mortal can’t help but imagine herself splayed out in front of me. Quivering from my touch—”
“Stop.” I shoot him an annoyed look. A blush burns my cheeks from ear to ear. “Some of us are trying to eat.” My normal feisty nature is all but gone. Replaced by an almost pleading tone.
With a mock affronted look, Apollo replies in a low tone, “And here I was describing the most decedent of meals.”
Fuckkk.
I don’t think I'll be able to look at any of the immortals in this room after this.
A million questions blitz through my mind.
Who talks like this in front of their family?
