The King of Hearts - Jovee Winters Page 0,24

I could do was create ridiculous love matches. I was powerless. I could not stop the madness of the gods.

“You’ve captured this monster with such love,” Dionysus said, staring at her askance and smiling what looked to be a genuine one at her. “She was once quite lovely, wasn’t she? Terrible thing Poseidon, Hypnos, and Athena did.”

I blinked. “But I thought—”

Dionysus twirled, hands behind his back. “What? That only Athena had done it? Oh, my dear boy, quite often the women of the tales carry the weight of the blame, but usually there is always another behind those tales of woe. Your Uncle is a very bad man. Very bad.” He frowned. “He’s got them all fooled. He makes a play for Zeus’ throne you know.”

I’d always known of my Uncle’s hubris and avarice. That was no secret, but I couldn’t understand why we were suddenly speaking of Poseidon.

Dionysus sighed. “Boy, Poseidon is the god of the waters. He is the god of these waters, to be more specific. Did you really imagine none would learn of your pleasure palace with that gossip so close?”

I shook my head. “He and mother are not—”

“You sure about that, boy? For someone who seems to see the ugliness of his mother’s heart you are quite naïve. Poseidon and Aphrodite share very similar traits. They’re hungry and that makes them very dangerous. They’re smart enough to recognize that advantages of working together. Make no mistake your mother will soon learn of this place.”

Realizing the jig was up, I finally tossed my hands wide and shrugged. “Then it’s hopeless and I shouldn’t bother.”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “Well, not entirely, son. You see, I’m looking for a plot of land to grew a new, more dynamic breed of grape on. This little plot here, well, it would make an excellent winery.”

I nodded. “I see, so you wish to take from me. This was not a friendly visit after—”

“And since I’ve no wish to allow any of the rabble to learn of my new secret vino recipe, I will of course require that the Fates shelter this plot of land, so that no prying eyes but my own shall be able to spy upon it.”

I blinked. Mouth snapping shut as I worked through the implications of what he was saying.

I’d always known that for whatever reason Dionysus had the ears of the Fates. But was he in such good standing with them that he could literally command them to use their powers in such a manner? Strangely, if he was, I knew his idea could work. None but the fates could conceal such from the eyes of the gods.

A muscle in my cheek twitched and I stared at my uncle with newfound appreciation.

“You would, of course, stay on. Tend to my fields. I’m far too busy to laze about, you know.”

“Why would you do that?” I shook my head, feeling confused and not at all sure of what I’d been so sure of just moments earlier.

“I never do anything for free, my boy. At least in that I’m far more honest than most. You’ll always know where you stand with me. I guess the question is, is that enough for you?”

I looked down, at the hand he held out silently toward me. If I shook it, I knew I’d be agreeing to a pact. The ramifications of which I wasn’t sure I could live with. Gods were tricky bastards, and I had a feeling that Dionysus might be the craftiest of the bunch.

“Before I shake your hand, Uncle, I want to know why. A real answer. Not a vague one. Lay it all out for me.”

Pursing his lips, he looked me up and down a second, before finally heaving a large sigh. “I will not tell you all my reasons, some of them do not pertain to you. But I will tell you this, young Eros. I know who Psyche is. What she means to you. And what she will mean to all of us. One day.”

I frowned. His words sounded almost identical to what Atropos had told me herself. Just who was Psyche to us? I was more intrigued now than I’d been earlier, which was astonishing considering Psyche seemed to be the only thought in my head nowadays.

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you much more. Only this. You have ten seconds to decide. Right now. Yay. Or nay.”

Then he shoved his hand at me, nearly into my belly.

“Nine. Eight. Seven. Six…”

Something told