Page 1 of A Contemporary Mythos Valentine's
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E R O S
Godsdamned Valentine’s Day. You would think a god of love would cherish the holiday centered around love itself. But I have to say the modern world sucked all passion from it. It’d become more about cheap paper cards and sugary treats at some point or another. And quite frankly, the day was more associated by the ancient Romans with fertility than anything else. How ironic that the Roman version of me was the one they plastered everywhere. I grimaced before a wad of oatmeal landed at the corner of my eye, followed by infectious youthful giggling.
“I tried to warn you, hun, but you were staring into space. Are you seriously still stewing about Valentine’s Day tomorrow?” Elani, my soulmate, wife, and partner, said, holding our daughter’s tiny arm in her grasp to keep her from thwarting me with more mushy oats.
Standing, I kissed the top of Elani’s head. “I love you with all my heart and soul, but you haven’t experienced it yet as a goddess. Trust me.”
Our daughter Hedone cooed as she flailed her arms, making spit bubbles at the corner of her mouth. Her tiny wings flared as she tried to fly from her high chair, but Elani, with a single finger, kept her put.
“It cannot be that bad, Eros.” Elani thinned her lips and winced as oatmeal landed in her hair.
I raised a brow at her and bristled my large white wings.
“Can it?” She slow-blinked and waved a hand over her hair to clean it.
After kissing Hedone’s cheek, I made my way to the kitchen. “Who knows? You might be a natural. All you’ve known is the mortal version of the holiday. But for me? It downright pisses me off.” Sticking my head in the fridge, I swiped a chilled bottle of ambrosia wine.
It still boggled my mind that Elani was the Psyche I’d always meant to end up with. Fooled by a potion made from my mother that I’d accidentally used on myself and so many years spent happy but not satisfied. And Elani, just as Psyche had been, was a mortal who’d waltzed into my bar and demanded I stopped matchmaking because I was unknowingly sniping clients away from her online dating service. The memories made me grin as I sipped on the wine and leaned against the counter.
Elani moved in front of me with Hedone straddling her hip and playing with the heart locket of the silver necklace I’d made for her. “Ambrosia wine? You’re really worked up about this. It’s kind of scaring me, to be honest.”
Vigorously shaking my head, I rested the bottle on the counter and cupped her face. “No reason to be scared. You’re going to do great, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. But it may be downright exhausting for you.”
The skin between her eyes wrinkled, and Elani’s pale pink wings sprouted out, rustling. Hedone screamed in excitement, reaching for them.
“I think that’s the longest you’ve kept them hidden.” I smiled at my gorgeous soulmate, letting my fingers run through her strands of chocolate-colored hair.
She blew out a breath and gently took Hedone’s hands within one of hers, pretending to bite them playfully. “I still don’t know how you managed to keep them hidden for the entire day you’re at the bar.”
The Arrow. The bar in Toronto I’d been running as a bartender since 2003. I found tending bar made for the perfect environment to work my godly mojo with unsuspecting mortals in the modern age.
I kissed Elani’s forehead. “Eonsof practice, sweetheart.”
“Well, it sounds to me like I’ll just need to rekindle your love for the holiday the same way you made me believe in love again, Eros.” She pushed her finger into the cleft in my chin and wiggled it with a grin.
I bit my lip. “Uh-huh. I could think of multiple ways you couldeasilydo that.” I’d dropped my tone an octave, giving her my best bedroom eyes.
She bounced Hedone on her hip. “Do you think your mom would watch Hedone for us?”
“Oh, yes. She owes me big. If she tries to say no, I’ll guilt her into it.” I ran my knuckle over Hedone’s smooth chubby cheek.
“Good. Because I’ll have a surprise for you afterward. We’ll need thewholeweekend.”
The tone she used made my stomach twist, causing naughty thoughts to stir that I quickly pushed away, considering how odd it felt with my daughter a foot away from me. “Oh? The whole weekend, huh?”
Grinning like a minx, she nodded and held Hedone out to me. “Off with you then.”
“Off with me?” With a crinkled brow, I accepted my daughter, who did a raspberry in front of my face, sending spit everywhere.
“Go ask your mom now, and we’ll even get an extra night.” She quirked a brow, and her lips took a mischievous turn.
Cradling Hedone in the crook of my arm like a football, I smiled at my gorgeous wife. “Right away, darling.” After giving Elani a quick peck on her lips, I ported to my mother’s apartment in Los Angeles.
Standing outside her door with a giggling and screaming in delight toddler, I knocked and waited. An elderly man walked past with the speed of a sloth, his eyes three times the standard size behind his giant glasses. He paused as he neared us, squinting at Hedone.
“I think I need a new prescription. Does that baby have—wings?” His nose lifted as he squinted harder, the gray hair in his nose sprouting out.
