Page 70 of Desired By Eros

Something in the way she said it made Psyche’s skin prickle, but she nodded. “Oh. Okay.” She forced herself to sound casual. “Well, I should go help Artemis with the setup.”

Aphrodite’s smile stayed in place, but her gaze lingered on Psyche for a second longer. “Of course, dear. Don’t let me keep you.”

Psyche nodded and turned toward the door, resisting the urge to glance back. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Aphrodite knew something. Or at least, suspected it.

She decided to check out the backyard of the Alpha’s house first, but it was empty. The pen where the babies sometimes played was quiet, and she didn’t hear any of the usual bustling activity. With a small sigh, she turned back toward the front of the house.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted Artemis walking up the porch steps, the babies’ magical carriers floating behind her. The twins were nestled inside, their little faces peering out with curiosity.

Psyche called out to them, and Artemis turned, her face lighting up. “Hi!” she said warmly. It looked like she was genuinely happy to see her.

“I was just looking for you all,” she said, glancing at the twins.

Artemis grinned. “They were getting restless, and I think they know something special is happening today. They’ve been excited all morning.”

Psyche knelt in front of the carriers, offering a smile to the twins. “Hello, babies,” she said softly. The twins giggled and kicked their little feet in response.

“They’re always so happy,” she observed, glancing up at Artemis.

Artemis nodded. “Yes, they are. And I swear they know this day is all about them.”

“That, or they just love being the center of attention,” Psyche chuckled.

Artemis led them to the living room, and she set the magical carriers down. With a flick of her wrist, the enchanted restraints faded away, allowing the twins to crawl and toddle freely. They wasted no time, giggling as they explored the space, their little hands grabbing at anything within reach.

Psyche settled onto the couch, watching as Liam made his way over and plopped down near her feet. She smiled and reached out, letting the baby grab onto her fingers.

“They’re fast,” she noted, amusement in her voice.

Artemis chuckled as she leaned against the arm of a nearby chair. “Oh, you have no idea. It’s like they’ve got a built-in radar for anything they shouldn’t touch.”

Psyche grinned. “That sounds exhausting.”

“It is,” Artemis admitted with a laugh. “But at least I’ve learned what to prioritize. Like leaving all the party setup to Hannah and the events team. They know exactly how I like things now.”

“That’s nice,” she said, watching as Phoebe made a beeline for Artemis and raised her arms, demanding to be picked up. Artemis obliged, scooping her up.

“Yeah,” Artemis said, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s head. “Motherhood forces you to pick your battles. I used to stress over every little detail, but now? As long as my babies are happy and safe, everything else can wait.”

Psyche watched them, feeling a mix of admiration and something she couldn’t quite put a name to. Maybe it was longing. Maybe it was just the realization of how much life had changed in such a short time.

Phoebe babbled, waving her tiny hand as if she had something very important to say. Artemis smiled and nodded as if she completely understood.

“She’s got a lot to say.”

“Oh, always. And I’m pretty sure half of it is about how she’s already in charge of us all,” Artemis said fondly.

Liam, still holding onto Psyche’s fingers, suddenly used his grip to pull himself up.

Psyche gasped slightly but adjusted quickly, steadying the baby with her hands. “Whoa, look at you,” Psyche said, laughing as Liam wobbled on his little legs, beaming up at her with a toothy grin.

“He’s showing off,” Artemis teased.

“Well, it’s working,” she replied, feeling some of the tension from earlier ease away.

“So, how has work been?” Artemis asked.

“It’s been interesting. The research is fascinating, but it’s a dig, so everything goes slow.” She laughed lightly. “You know, revealing the fossils, a little at a time.”

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