Page 12 of A Contemporary Mythos Thanksgiving
* * *
Z E U S
We were six royal deities stuffing our faces with mortal food. Poseidon didn’t care about bits of turkey meat hanging in his beard, Hades broke a smile more times than I could count, and I had a woman at my side I couldn’t help but wickedly slide my hand up her thigh underneath the table.
What drove me wilder was that she never stopped me, only gave a sultry tilt of her eyes and egged me further.
“I personally—” Stephanie whisked her goblet of Ambrosia wine into her hand, stumbling to her feet as she stood, Hades pressing a palm to the small of her back to steady her. “—am thankful for my newfound family. It may be one of the craziest family histories I’ve ever experienced, but I’ve learned to embrace it for its quirkiness because I am too…quirky.” She held her glass up.
Poseidon beat his hand against the table, chuckling. “Yamás to that.”
We raised our drinks to each other before taking a sip.
“If we’re getting on this particular train,” Cordelia mumbled, adjusting her dress as she stood next, cup in hand. “I’m thankful for second chances. Whereas, unfortunately, it took centuries for Poseidon and me to realize what we had with each other—to not take it for granted—the universe saw the potential in us that we carelessly didn’t.” She side-hugged him, Poseidon chucking and unabashedly rubbing his cheek against her tit.
Hades raised his goblet. “I think we can all relate to that in one fashion or another.”
Arousing forms of “yamás” filled the air, and we drank again.
Cordelia and Stephanie looked expectantly at Keira, who drummed her nails on the table before slowly rising, her index finger making languid strokes over the smooth glass.
“There are so many things for me to be thankful for this year. Finding my fated bond, him matching me in more ways than I even realized about myself.” Keira cupped my chin with a warm smile, and I kissed her hand. “But I suppose also realizing this family has been a part of me since the beginning through my mother, despite the disappointment in meeting her, was one of the greatest gifts of all. I finally feel like I belong somewhere after a lifetime of feeling lost.”
Stephanie’s hands curled under her chin, sniffling as a tear fell down her cheek. Cordelia leaned her head on Poseidon’s shoulder, grinning.
I stood and slid my hand over Keira’s hips, grazing a kiss against her temple.
“Doesn’t this mortal holiday usually involve more, I don’t know, drinking?” Poseidon wiggled his empty goblet.
Giving a curt nod, I fanned my palm, making four additional pitchers of Ambrosia wine appear. “For once, I agree with Fish Sticks. Besides, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen Hades tipsy.” As I drank, I grinned at my brooding older brother over the rim of my glass.
Hades smirked. “That’s because you haven’t.” He took one of the universe’s tiniest sips and rested his glass on the table.
“They say—” I paused for dramatic effect. “—I can be rather…persuasive.”
* * *
One hour later…
Hades had his arm draped around Stephanie’s shoulders, and slunk in his chair, his shoulders the most relaxed I’d seen them in ages.
And they say I’m conniving. Everything I did had a reason. Even if, from the outside, my actions seemed selfish or cruel.
“And so Than comes in pissed off his rocker drunk.” Hades’s sharp white canines glinted as he smiled. “I mean so far gone he tripped over his own feet. And he was mumbling something about wingspan, pointing at me, and demanding to compare.”
Cordelia leaned over to Poseidon, her eyes half closed in buzzed bliss. “Are we still talking about wings?”
Poseidon roared with laughter and kissed the top of her head. “I have no idea, but it’s damn funny.”
“Who won?” Stephanie’s brow shot up, a wicked grin playing over her lips.
Hades frowned and pressed a hand to his chest, leaning into his Queen, a light growl bubbling at the back of his throat. “Me. Of course, my Queen.”
“I think—” Keira started in a husky whisper, the look in her eyes telling me she schemed something in her head. “—the Kings should put on a little show for their Queens. A dance, perhaps?”
When I said she’d been scheming, the last thing I expected to flow from those pouty ruby lips—was that. And oh, how I loved, she could still surprise me.
“A dance?” I cut my eyes to Poseidon, who shrugged.
