The King of Hearts - Jovee Winters Page 0,1

flesh in his palm. “This is mine. And you are mine. Forever. I agreed to let you marry him for the sake of your reputation, but don’t think to screw me, Aphrodite. You won’t win. No one ever bests me.”

I shivered, loving the dark edge to his tone. The gristle and raw fire in it. I liked knowing that Ares was always on a knife’s edge of violence. Hephaestus looked like the tougher brother, but he was all sunshine and unicorn farts by comparison. Ares was the true power and power was what called to me. Always had.

But I wouldn’t let him know it. So, I snorted and shook my head, then I stood. Staring down at his still sticky, wet, but now limp cock. “You should clean up. You’re disgusting you’re so filthy.”

He growled.

My heart fluttered but I forced myself to turn away and snapping my fingers, I summoned my robe to me. Covering myself up once more. The buffet was now closed. I was tired and needed a rest.

“And shut the door behind you, Ares.”

“Don’t you dare leave me now.”

But I did, I left him. I flashed out of my own palace and toward Gnósi, I had a visit planned for many months now. Ever since learning of my pregnancy. I wanted to see what the Fates had in store for my little one.

I could just wait like any normal mortal mother would and learn as I went, but what was the fun in that? If I knew my child’s future, I could plan accordingly.

Would she be powerful? More beautiful than I?

I frowned. No, not that. But power would be good. Would she make the masses kneel to her in worship?

I straightened my shoulders. Imagining the glory and honor my daughter would bring to me.

All the worlds would worship me then. They’d have no choice.

When I entered the lair of the three homely sisters, I looked around. Of all the deities upon Olympus, the sisters were the only one I dared show no disrespect to. They had more power in their one pinky nail than even Zeus did.

And they were one of the few among us who could actually kill us. So yes, I was rather fond of my neck.

I absently ran a finger over it.

“Oh, sisters,” I called out, meekly. “I am here. ‘Tis I, Aphrodite, Goddess of—”

“Love, yes, how could we forget.”

I turned and gasped. They’d not been there just a second ago, but suddenly all three were there in their crone forms. Shriveled breasts bared. Rheumy eyes drilling holes into my own. Barely any hairs covered their liver spotted heads. Brown, black, and white, even as elders there was something mesmerizing about the three of them when they stood together.

I swallowed, feeling the faint stirring of fear in my belly.

But I tried to hide it behind an affable smile even as I clutched at my belly protectively. “Sisters, it is good to see—”

“She lies. She is not happy to see us.” This said by Lachesis, seer of the present.

Clotho (seer of the past) and Atropos (the future) both nodded.

Atropos, pale as cream in the moonlight, closed her eyes. The skin covering them was so fine I could see each and every blue vein. “You wish to know about your son.”

“Son?” I mouthed, frowning and rubbing my stomach. A bit bothered that I was to have a son, I’d so wished for a daughter. But the feeling soon faded when I felt my child stir within. I nodded slowly. “Yes, will he be—”

“He will take after you in most all ways,” she said, voice reed thin and wispy as the hairs on her head. “Rules by his heart, he will be passionate in all ways.”

I smiled. That wasn’t so bad. Plus, if he didn’t take after Ares, I could hide the fact that he didn’t belong to the troll. Eventually I’d tell the whole Pantheon the truth, when the time suited me. But for now, I needed Hera to believe I was actually in love with her beast of a son.

“But beware, goddess of love. One will come along who will challenge all that you are. She will win away the heart of your child if you’re not careful. Your power rests in his hands. Choose wisely.”

Bloody hell, the Fates were always so vague. What Atropos had said could mean any number of things. But I could tell by the way they were staring at one another in silent communication that they had no more to