Chapter 32 - Psyche

When Eros left, he gave one last longing look back at Psyche. Could she keep her promise? She was only human after all. She looked so small and fragile against her massive bed. He wanted to ignore her suggestion that he leave. Even more, he wanted break his own rules and stay beside her all the next day.

But it was just one day. It might be a hard day, but a day they would get through. And then things would be back to normal.

His powerful wings carried him back to his palace on Olympus. Eros pushed through the solid gold door and flopped down onto a pillow- covered couch. He'd planned to spend the night and all the next day on that couch, keeping silent watch to make sure Psyche's sister didn't interfere too much. But no sooner had he comfortably reclined, then he heard his mother's voice behind him.

"Out late again?" Aphrodite asked with raised eyebrow and a knowing glint in her eye.

"Mother!" Eros jumped up so quickly he nearly lost his balance. Only by jutting out a hand to the couch was he able to catch himself, but that caused a number of cushions to spill to the ground.

Aphrodite laughed, throaty and enticing. Her signature laugh.

"What?" Eros snapped at her, grabbing up the spilled pillows.

"Now is that any way to greet your mother?" Aphrodite purred. "You've kept me here waiting half the night."

Eros felt beads of sweat pop onto his forehead. Did she know? She couldn't have seen, but had she heard?

You know, you've been staying out late quite a bit lately," Aphrodite said as she sauntered toward her son. "I'm afraid you're hiding something from me." Aphrodite ran her long, delicate finger down Eros's forearm. He couldn't help but shudder just a tad.

"What about it? I have a life, you know."

"Don't get so defensive, dear," Aphrodite said, raising her hand innocently to her chest. "You forget you're talking to the goddess of love. I know about needs."

"I am so not having this conversation with you," Eros said as he plopped back down onto his couch. He folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes, as if he could ignore his mother out of his house.

Aphrodite sat down next to her son. "I'm not judging you, son. I just don't want you to get hurt again."

Eros cut his eyes over to his mother, not sure where she was going with this.

"I just don't want you spending too much time with the same girl. As I thought you'd learned, it's not ... judicious for us to get too attached to mortals." Aphrodite leaned in closer. "You won't be able to keep her."

Eros's eyes widened only briefly as he realized his mother had no idea about Psyche. She just thought he was having an overly-long affair with some anonymous mortal. He could work with that.

Eros curled up the corner of his mouth into a devilish grin. "Fine. I'll cut her loose. But don't expect me home still. There are plenty more where she came from."

"My thoughts exactly," Aphrodite said, "which is why I want you to meet someone."

No, no, no. She is not trying to set me up again. Please tell me she's not setting me up.

"You'll just adore Iris," Aphrodite continued. "She's bright and imaginative and she appears in the most beautiful places."

"She's a freakin' rainbow. For the last time, I am not dating her, okay?"

Aphrodite dropped the nice act. "Look around. It's not like there are that many available goddesses out there. You've already refused the one mortal I offered you. But you're getting too old to keep up this nonsense. If you don't settle down soon and stop being such a pest, Zeus is going to strip you of your arrows."

"I haven't shot at him in months. What's got him so worked up now?"

Aphrodite folded her arms across her chest. She looked out a window, decidedly not answering his question. "It's not him," she finally grumbled. "It's Hera."

"Why's she in a tiz?"

Aphrodite's jaw set, the tiny veins near her ears bulging.

"Why, Mother?" Eros pressed.

"She realized when I picked Psyche as my mortal daughter that there was more to her."

Eros sat up, suddenly much more interested. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Maybe Leda wasn't the only one who made a baby when a god came to visit."

"What are you - -” Frustrated, Eros hopped up from the couch. "Just tell me what you're trying to say and stop making me guess."

"Poseidon is Psyche's father. When Hera figured that out, it reopened old wounds about Zeus siring Helen. As much as she hates you sending Zeus off to have affairs, the idea of him having any more part-human children makes her insane. And Psyche reminded her how very possible that is."

Eros' jaw unhinged. The love of his existence wasn't a full mortal after all. Did that change anything? And more importantly, how did that make Hera pissed at him? "Whoa. I wasn't even born for Helen and I was probably still a toddler when Psyche was born. Not. My. Fault."

Aphrodite stood and smoothed her long, white gown. "Yes, well, whether it's your fault or not, the proverbial heat is on you at the moment. 'd suggest you do something to cool all tempers involved."

Eros leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. "I can tell you already have something in mind, so lay it on me."

"You need to take Iris to the Olympian council meeting this afternoon

Uh-uh. No way was he leaving the palace today. "Not today. Maybe some other time."

“I'm not asking. You will take Iris."

Eros ground his teeth. "You can't just come in here and order me around. I'm not your little puppet."

With startling swiftness, Aphrodite placed her palms against the wall on either side of his head, fencing him in. "You are nothing except what I say you are." An edge of contempt crept into her voice. "You have powers as the god of love only because I gave you some of my province. I will take it back as easily as I gave it."

Eros only blinked at her.

Aphrodite patted her son's cheek twice as she backed away. "The council then, at noon. I expect to see you and Iris there." Aphrodite turned on her heel and disappeared in a puff of sea foam and sand.

Eros hated when she left like that. He wiped away the salty taste of the sea spray from his lips and shook the sand from his tunic.

Slouching down on the couch, he tried to think of a way out. He'd completely forgotten about the council meeting. And of course, he had to go. Even if he wasn't taking Iris (a command he still might ignore), he didn dare miss one of Zeus's monthly meetings. Especially since he'd just been warned that Zeus and Hera were already ticked at him.

But the timing couldn't have been worse. If Eros was at council, he couldn't keep an eye on Psyche and her sister. He exhaled a burst of air as he realized his plans for the day would have to change.

Eros had no other choice really, which was a reality that made him even turlier than when he'd had to leave Psyche alone, waiting for her sister. The day was going downhill fast.

Chapter end