Aphrodite (9 page)

Adonis spoke without moving his lips. “So?”

“Mmm . . . same build, too.” I ran a hand up Adonis’s arm, squeezing when I reached the muscle per Jane’s instructions. “So tell me, do you honestly think it’s a coincidence that you and I—How did Narcissus put it?” My voice hardened. “Fit together like a frickin’ puzzle.’”

“Zeus assembled me. Piece”—I walked my fingers up his chest—“by piece. He wanted me to fit to him like this.” I pressed myself against Adonis. “I’m this coloring because he had a thing for redheads. I don’t have a solitary feature he didn’t put there for his own personal enjoyment. Every aspect of my being, every
piece
of me—” I broke off, diffusing the heat in my voice. “Sorry,” I called to Jane, voice bright. “Like this?” I leaned against Adonis, pulling him into an embrace that shielded me from the bright lights.

“Let’s get you to move behind him,” Jane suggested. “Adonis, can you kneel down, and . . You got it.” The photographer flashed us a thumbs-up. “Tilt your head a little—There ya go, look that way, don’t smile. Adonis, put your hands over hers and look here . . . Perfect!”

“What you said earlier,” I whispered in Adonis’s ear. “About feeling programmed? You don’t know the half of it. And I’ll be damned if I ever give anyone that kind of power over me again.”

Adonis couldn’t reply, facing the camera like he was, but I saw his jaw twitch. After a moment went by without us arguing, the heat fueling my indignation cooled, leaving hollowness in my chest that ached around the edges with dual parts shame and anger. I hated the way he made me feel as if I’d done something
wrong.
I was getting tired of defending myself.

“Hmm.” Jane evaluated us for a moment. “Uh, new girl? That expression isn’t working for me. Think lovely thoughts, and gaze off into the distance.” She waved her hands. “Thataway.”

Lovely thoughts? Where were we, Neverland? Still, I pasted a smile on my face and gazed off into the distance.

“Okay, a little more solemn.”

The fashion editor darted into the light to reposition me, draping me around Adonis like an accessory, and requesting I hold the uncomfortable position. We couldn’t talk with both of us facing the camera like this, so I was left with nothing to focus on but the thoughts I’d stirred up and the chaos of the shoot.

“Move that knee,” an assistant told Adonis, making me jump.

I hated knowing that Zeus designed me. Sometimes, looking in the mirror and seeing his handiwork made me sick. I could change absolutely every aspect of the way I looked. Become someone else. But was that better?

“Get her lips more dewy.”

A woman dabbed something cold and sticky on my lips, tilting my chin up to examine them in the light. “Okay.”

I’d become some scared girl, hiding behind a glamour, living in fear of my true reflection. But I wasn’t going to give Zeus that much power over me. Maybe he had designed me, but I was more than just his plaything.

“Adjust that light—There ya go.”

Another makeup woman darted into the light and jabbed at me with a stiff brush.

More than some poseable doll.

The fashion editor ducked into the shot to poke and prod me into position when I didn’t respond fast enough.

More than a puppet.

My chest constricted as a set of hands darted into the periphery of light, tugging at my shirt when a pose twisted the fabric the wrong way.

I was a
goddess.
Strong, and beautiful, and powerful, and no one could—

When I felt hands on my hips, subtly guiding me to the correct pose, I lost it. “Would you
stop
that?” I jerked away from the hands as I struggled to draw in a deep breath.

“Aphrodite—” Adonis stopped when he got a good look at my face. Whatever he saw there gave him pause. “Okay, let’s take a break. Can you guys give us a minute?”

The woman with the earpiece rolled her eyes. “We don’t have—”

“That actually wasn’t a question.” Adonis looked her full in the eyes. “We’re taking a minute. Give us some space.”

Charm. He must be using charm, but for some reason, I couldn’t sense it. In fact . . . I couldn’t sense any power coming from him at all. I could sense his baseline last night, but now I wasn’t getting
anything.

Sensing a power baseline was kind of like gauging someone’s mood. There are all these visual cues when someone’s angry; set shoulders, clenched jaw, narrowed eyes, whatever. But instead of individually noticing all the tells, the brain interprets a
feeling
of anger. The brain’s funny like that sometimes. But sensing someone
using
their powers is about as obvious as hearing an angry person screaming.

So why hadn’t I picked up anything? And why the hell couldn’t I breathe? What was wrong with me? My heart raced and my head felt light. The shadows in the room felt weighted, as if they were pressing in around me, squeezing.

“This was a stupid idea.” I gasped struggling to draw in a breath to calm my racing heart. “I’ll watch the shoot from over there.” I started to move away, but Adonis caught my arm, his grip more suggestion than actual pressure.

“This is my job, Aphrodite, I can’t just—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Look, I know these shoots are overwhelming at first. I get it. But I promise, I can get you through today and then you can tell Narcissus you’re not signing on. But if you don’t finish today . . .”

I’d be screwing him over. “What do I do?”

Relief flooded Adonis’s eyes. “You’re paying way too much attention to everything around you. You’re supposed to be looking at me, right? So focus on me. Can you do that?”

I drew in a long breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” He looked over my head for an instant, breaking the charm he held over the others. “I can carry her. Keep going.” He reached for my hands. When I didn’t jerk away or object, he tugged me toward him, motioning for the photographer to continue. “May I?”

I swallowed hard and nodded. Adonis moved my arms to his waist then cupped my face in his hands. “See, you’ve got this.”

Chapter XII

“RIGHT THIS WAY, please.” A man dressed in a crisp suit led us into the dining hall. The lights in the massive room reflected back from the windows with a dazzling glare.

“Are you seriously still trying to go through with this?” Adonis asked under his breath as the server ushered us to the U-shaped second floor.

We’d barely had enough time to rush back to the suite and get ready after the shoot, much less come up with a game plan for this meeting. “I didn’t know there were so many people involved in a photo shoot. If I charm them all into ignoring I’m there, I’ll leave a noticeable power signature for sure. I don’t want to make it obvious there’s someone on board with enough charm to remember if you guys go missing.” My thoughts flickered back to the envelope full of schedules I’d stashed back in our room. Schedules I’d promised to give to Poseidon next time I saw him. My stomach twisted with the reminder I’d have to face the sea god again. “I think I’m going to have to stick with the modeling thing.”

“But you
hated
it,” Adonis protested, misinterpreting the fear on my face. “And you freaked out back there.”

I thought back to my sudden inability to breathe. The way my heart raced, thudding uncomfortably against my constricted chest. “Yeah . . . I don’t know what that was.”

“A panic attack?” Adonis suggested.

I shook my head. “Gods don’t get panic attacks.” I thought back to my nightmares. “I mean, we can panic, and there can be physical side-effects, but nothing like
that.
” I shuddered at the memory. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. But for now, there are only four more shoots, right?” The next one would happen tomorrow morning on the cruise line’s private island. “Now that I know what to expect”—and I knew better than to let them pose me—“I think I can handle it.”

“Yeah, well, I hope you’re right.” Adonis waved to Narcissus as we approached the table. “It’s my career if you’re wrong.”

Yet, if I’d decided to turn down the modeling gigs, he’d get annoyed that I’d risk the whole plan by confirming I was strong enough to charm a room full of people. I
hated
Adonis’s ability to make me question myself. No matter what I decided, he’d interpret my choice as selfish. He made me feel as if there was something wrong with me, and a part of me bought his vision. But then he turned around and acted as if he cared, that I mattered, and he’d do something so nice, I got whiplash.

Narcissus stood until I was seated. “I take it you’ve had time to go over the contract?”

I nodded. “We had a few concerns.”

Narcissus motioned to his assistant, what was her name? E? What was “E” short for, anyway? She drew out a tablet, prepared to make notes, and gave us an expectant look.

“Have you had a chance to look over the menu?” a server in a white shirt with a black bow tie asked as he passed by the table.

“
We
have,” Narcissus confirmed. “But did you two need more time?”

Adonis glanced at the menu. “I know what I want, thanks.”

“And I’ll figure it out before you get to me,” I promised.

Once our orders were taken and our glasses filled, I let Adonis take the lead. This was his career, after all. Point by point, Adonis hammered through the legalese until he felt satisfied with the contract. While they talked, I studied the dining room. There were no traces of power coming from any of the passengers. Nor were there any shields or glamours, and no one else here looked the least bit divine.

Below us, not quite at the center of the room, but drawing my eye nonetheless, were Tantalus and Elise. They were sitting with Jane and two other women I recognized from the shoot. From this vantage point, I could see if anyone took an unusual interest in their table.

Heads turned toward the demigods on occasion, but that was to be expected. Demigods stood out. Every now and then, their bouts of laughter would rise over the din of conversation. They all seemed to be teasing each other, but based on their smiles, none of them minded.

The server took my plate of stuffed mushrooms away and put a new plate with a grilled lobster tail and mashed potatoes in front of me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, when Adonis nudged me. I returned my gaze to the table full of laughter below.

“So we’re in agreement?” Narcissus set his fork down on his empty plate.

Adonis glanced at me.

“I have some questions. Not about the contract, but about all this.” I raised my arms, indicating the cruise ship. “Do you mind if I take up a bit more of your time?”

When Narcissus hesitated, I applied a light touch of charm, too small to stand out above the demigod’s power signatures, but expertly applied. A wave of pain accompanied the power.
That
was new. Proximity? I resisted the urge to look around for Poseidon. Even if he was in this room, proximity would only matter if I was using the charm against—

I met Narcissus’s eyes. “Tell me you’re a demigod.”

His brow furrowed in confusion. “I’m a demigod. I rather thought that was obvious.”

Not Poseidon in a glamour then, because the sea god couldn’t lie. Realm sickness, then? Was that a thing? The knowledge clicked into place in my mind, confirming that it was indeed a thing. Mild discomfort could be expected during prolonged visits to other realms. I ignored Adonis’s quizzical look, pushed past the pain, and pasted a smile on my face. “Model Madness.” Drawing a notebook from my bag and a pen, I forced myself to focus. “How did you come up with that?”

Narcissus laughed and relaxed into his seat like staying was his idea. “It is clever, isn’t it? I’d love to take credit, but this is an annual event. We’re in our twelfth year. Excuse me.” He flagged down a waiter. “Could I see the dessert menu after all?”

“Certainly, sir.”

I tapped my foot impatiently while we went around the table ordering desserts and coffees. When the waiter wandered off, I asked, “Is Model Madness always on a cruise ship?”

He nodded. “Always. It’s been a huge success.”

“Do you always choose this cruise line?” My pen hovered over the paper, ready.

He shook his head. “Which line we go with depends on who offers the best rates. This year, the best price happened to be Fantasy Cruises. It’s almost always Fantasy or Fascination.”

That . . . wasn’t as promising as I’d hoped.
What did you expect? Some super obvious, malicious motive?
Well maybe not
obvious,
but a hint of a direction to look in would have been nice.

I spent the next half hour questioning Narcissus between bites of cheesecake. My notebook filled with the names of every single person he’d interacted with while booking the cruise. I’d have to look up the past promotions for Fascination Cruise Lines and make certain Fantasy had actually offered Narcissus the best rate. All the same, prices wouldn’t be difficult to manipulate with enough charm. While someone on this list
might
be behind the missing demigods, I’d be hard-pressed to find out for sure unless they were on the boat, too.

“That was . . . fun?” Adonis’s voice sounded droll as we exited the dining room after Adonis finished signing the contract. People gathered in clumps around the elevators, their conversations ebbing and flowing with the chimes of opening doors.

I laughed. “That was tedious and boring as hell. Where are we headed next?”

Adonis shrugged. “The room.” I must have looked disappointed, because he added, “Elise and Tantalus said something earlier about heading to one of the clubs after dinner, but I don’t know if—”

“Perfect.” I beamed. “You go with them, and I’ll hang back and keep an eye on you. I think I’ve been too close to you. Maybe if someone has the opportunity to approach you . . .”

He grimaced. “So I get to be bait. Fun.”

“Adonis.” On impulse, I grabbed his arm. He turned, subtly shifting us out of the flow of traffic. “Look, I know you don’t think that highly of me—”

The demigod rolled his eyes. “It’s not—”

I cut off his false platitudes. “And I know we disagree on”—I paused as a group of teenagers walked by, close enough for one of them to brush against my arm on their way to the staircase—“pretty much everything. But big picture? That stuff doesn’t matter enough to me to just stand idly by while you get hurt
.
I know you don’t think of us as friends, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do everything I can to keep you safe.”

Adonis sucked in a surprised breath. “Aphrodite . . .” Something akin to regret flashed in his eyes. “You don’t owe me
anything.
” He slid his hand through his hair, glancing around the lobby, then lowered his voice. “We should—”

“Adonis!” Elise spotted us as she emerged from the dining room, her face brightening. “You coming tonight?” She hesitated when her eyes landed on me, hurt flashing across her features for an instant before she buried it. “Bring your friend?” The unspoken “if you must,” couldn’t have been easy for her to leave off.

“We’ll be right there,” Adonis called.

After we dropped my bag off in the room, I followed the golden-haired demi-deities to the club. Music, dancing, men. Just the distraction I needed. The clubs on the ship were small enough to keep an eye on Adonis and the other demigods without too much effort, and I’d
have
to have fun to blend in. It would be obvious I was watching the demigods, otherwise.

Loud, pulsing music pounded through me as we walked through the door. Strobe lights flickered in the ceiling from faux diamonds the size of my fist. Adonis and Elise wandered off in one direction, and I let the crowd pull me in the other. I moved to the music, letting the pulse of the beat distract me, but not so much that I lost track of Adonis. He looked like a ray of light piercing through the crowd. Normal light. Not the pink, green, and blue spotlights sweeping the floor between diamond flickers. He found Tantalus, and the two struck up a conversation with one of Jane’s friends.

Elise shoved Tantalus away from her with a friendly smile. Adonis moved his hands as he talked, and I felt a pang in my chest when I realized how relaxed he looked talking to them. His entire demeanor seemed so different from when he talked to me. Well, except for last night, when he’d gotten drunk.

A smile played on my lips and I tossed my hair over my shoulder. Sitting around and feeling sorry for myself was
not
my M.O. I just had, like, realm sickness, or something. But enough was enough. Time to stop moping and enjoy myself.

Elise glanced over at me, and her lips tightened in a thin line. When she broke away from the other demigods and headed my way, I ordered a Kiss on the Lips and wished for ambrosia.

“Can I sit here?” When I nodded, Elise flashed me a cautious grin and sat on a stool, motioning for the bartender. “How was your shoot?”

“Brutal.”

She laughed. “Sorry, I couldn’t believe Narcissus threw you into a gig like that. Everyone felt really bad after your freak-out.”

My freak-out? Wow.

“I don’t think any of them realized that when Narcissus had said he’d discovered a fabulous new face, that he meant new-new, you know, not just new to this con. Anyway, some of the other girls and I wanted to invite you to breakfast tomorrow, before we dock, to kind of give you a crash course. Are you interested?”

“Uh, sure.” I blinked at her in confusion. “Why are you being so nice?”

“I was rude yesterday.” She ducked her head, toying with a napkin. “My issues with Adonis are with Adonis. You don’t have anything to do with them, so there’s no reason I should take them out on you. I’m sorry.”

I took a sip of my drink, which tasted delicious, by the way. Who knew adding peach schnapps and grenadine to pureed mango would pack such a flavorful punch? I put my glass down and looked at Elise. “I figured the attitude had more to do with what I am rather than who I’m with.”

“Oh, that was a factor.” She flashed me a sideways grin. “But hating someone outright because of
what
they are is a slippery slope, don’t you think? If I’m going to hate you, it’ll be after you’ve earned it.”

I returned her smile. “I can respect that.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “There are . . . questions I have to ask you.” Her flush deepened. “I
have
to. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.”

I sighed, twisting the stem of my glass back and forth between my fingers. “I’m not charming Adonis.”

“Oh, I know. We’re both immune to charm.”

I’d suspected as much, but it was still surprising to have it confirmed. “So what’s your question?”

She took a deep breath. “Are you blackmailing him? Holding his family hostage, coercing him in any way, forcing—”

“I wouldn’t do that.” I drained my drink, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

She took a moment to process that, propping her elbows on the bar and stirring her hot pink drink with one of those itty-bitty, useless, red straws. “So you’re not threatening him, his family, or anyone he cares about?”

“
No
.”

“Say the words,” she insisted. When I did, she frowned. “Then what the hell is going on?” Her voice rose in frustration and she took a breath, as though forcing herself to calm down. “I’m sorry,” she said after a moment, raking her gold hair back with well-manicured nails. “I just—Why are you here? And why are you here with him?”

“Maybe I just wanted to go on a cruise,” I suggested, flagging down the bartender when he turned our way. His gaze flicked over me, then he raised an expectant brow. “Yeah, I’ll have what she’s having,” I told him.

“On the house,” he said, delivering the drink a moment later. He managed to tear his eyes off me long enough to notice another patron, and moved regretfully away.

I waited until I was sure he was out of hearing range before turning back to Elise. “We’re not all monsters, you know.”

“I do know that, actually, but he doesn’t.” Multicolored lights glittered in her eyes, making her look close to tears. “He
hates
gods. He left me because he didn’t want anything to do with the divine game board, didn’t want to be some god’s pawn. And now I’m supposed to believe he’s forgotten all of that and gotten cozy with one of the players?”