Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,60

gone. “It was more a cartoon sort of thing in my head, you know. The ladies are really gone? They’re not on Olympus anymore?”

“Nope. It’s okay.” Zeus wrapped his arm around Paulie’s shoulder. “We’ll leave them where they are for ten years or so, or until they’ve learned their lesson. Not much time at all, in the scheme of things.”

“But… but… I didn’t mean…” Now, all Paulie felt was sick.

“You did the right thing. Hera meant it when she said she’d make our lives a living hell. She’s had plenty of practice.” Zeus led him to a table that suddenly appeared. Night fell with a wave of his hand, and stars twinkled in the sky. Light orbs hung above the table, suspended by magic, and on the table was more food than Paulie had seen in a lifetime. “We should eat, and chat some more, and then…” Zeus winked. “I’m hoping you’ll let me claim you properly this time.”

“Can you zap up a couple of chairs,” Paulie said quietly. “Suddenly, my knees feel quite wobbly.” He looked back at the space where the women had been. “Did I really do that?”

“Words have power, babe.” Zeus held the back of a chair for him. “When you’re the mate of Zeus, those words are doubly powerful.”

I’m never opening my mouth again. Paulie sat down.

/~/~/~/~/

Zeus knew Paulie was probably in shock over what happened with Hera and her cronies, but he was still chuckling inside. Paulie didn’t realize it, but he’d done Zeus a huge favor. By Paulie doling out the punishments, Zeus didn’t have to banish them from Olympus completely, which was the only idea he could come up with, and yet they still suffered consequence.

They’ll be a lot less likely to go against my mate when they get back – as will all the others. But Zeus didn’t let his glee show on his face. Paulie’s cheeks were pale, and his hand shook as he reached for a knife and fork. Zeus’s fingers itched to help, but he forced himself to fill his own plate, and for a while the only sounds that could be heard over the crickets was the sound of cutlery on china.

It was peaceful, and Zeus was more relaxed than he had been in a long time. He realized, half way through his meal, he hadn’t even thought about his computer system since he’d been summoned by Orin and he had no idea how long ago that was. But rather than feeling that itchy discontented tingle on the back of his neck, which was what happened anytime he was away from his office, Zeus felt content and he was determined to enjoy it.

Paulie, though, was only picking at his meal. Deciding to share his contentment, Zeus said, “So, in case you were wondering, this is Olympus.” He waved his fork around. “This is only a small part of it, and I made this area with you in mind, but I can show you more when I’ve claimed you properly.”

“I’m not sure I should even be here.” Paulie put down his knife and fork. “I sent three people away from their rightful home today – condemned them to situations that are horrific at best and could possibly kill them. I shouldn’t be here. I have no right to be here.”

“As my mate you have every right.” Zeus wasn’t prone to regrets, or feeling bad about anybody, so he tried to put himself in Paulie’s shoes. “Look, what you have to understand is that gods are quite literally born with a silver spoon in their mouths. We came into being, fully formed with the powers to change the world, and for what? We formed a world, we created societies of people, and those people believed in us for a while, and then they didn’t. That’s what happens. But you’re right, aside from the Great War and a few skirmishes with other pantheons when we were all a lot, lot younger, we don’t do much at all. Mortals and societies kept on living, shaping their lives and changing over time, we didn’t. You did my two sisters and niece a favor today.”

“How can it be a favor, sending one to eek out an existence in some drought-stricken land, or causing another to be homeless? My gods, I turned Hades’ ex-wife into a bee.”

“I thought that was really funny and I know Hades and his demons will get a kick out of it too.” Zeus could see Paulie wasn’t convinced. “Look,