Love's Forge (3 page)

* * * *

Lachesis stood in the temple of the Fates and gazed into the pool of water. She smiled. Aphrodite’s desire had been confirmed. It wouldn’t be long until she begged Hephaestus to take her and make her his own.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Clotho stood there looking worried.

“What is it? You think this is unfair?”

Clotho, the giver of life, had always been tenderhearted. “What if Ares is harmed? What if Hera discovers you have manipulated both of her sons to get what you want?”

“Hephaestus loves her more than any god has ever loved another. Aphrodite will become more miserable with each passing day if she does not open her heart to him. If I told them these things, they would not believe me. Aphrodite would deny its truth, and Hephaestus would back down and say it was her decision.”

“Perhaps Aphrodite would listen. She’s been confused. She might listen to reason. Don’t you think she’s tired of being unhappy? She’s changed so much this past year.”

“She’s stubborn and spoiled. She does not like being told what is best for her.”

Clotho still looked uncertain.

“I will take the blame,” Lachesis said. “I promise.”

“I’m more worried about the end result and what you may ultimately be blamed for. Hera and Eris favor Ares so much. Can you truly face the full wrath of the queen of the gods
and
the goddess of discord?”

Lachesis smiled. “He won’t be harmed. Hephaestus is better than that. He’s hurt and angry. He will not hurt Ares or Aphrodite.”

“I hope you are right.”

“I am the assigner of Fate. I am always right,” Lachesis said before turning from the pool and walking away. She knew what was best for all of them. Soon they would all see it was best not to defy her.

* * * *

Zeus stood behind Hera as she sat at her dresser and brushed her hair. He began massaging her shoulders. “Are you going somewhere?”

“I was going to head to the mortal world. There are a few people I wanted to check on.”

“Like who?”

Hera eyed him for a minute, and then smiled. “Women, not men. Women I’ve made friends with or tried to help. Just to see how they’re doing.” She put her hands over his. “I can stay in and see them another night, if you’d like.”

He bent and kissed the top of her head. “I’d like that.”

“I’ll always love you. You do know that, don’t you?” she said as she stood and turned into his arms. She brought her lips to his for a heated kiss. She rubbed against him and ran her hands down his back.

He kissed her back as his cock responded to her touch. He broke free of her embrace and pushed her back against her dresser and hiked her skirt up. He ran his fingers up her thighs. She sighed and leaned back, propping her perfect ass on the edge. He stroked her through her panties before pulling them down. He spread her legs farther apart as his tongue explored. He avoided her clit, which soon made her squirm. He loved teasing her. It always made her so horny. He was about to give in and lock his lips on her clit when she pulled him up by his collar and threw him toward the bed. He laughed as she came toward him, stripping as she did so. He groaned when she removed her top and bra, and then ran her hands over her luscious breasts.

“You don’t want to play?” he asked, knowing how she’d react.

“Oh, I do,” she said as she stepped out of her skirt and grabbed him by his belt. She whipped it off and made short work of getting his pants off before pushing him onto the bed. He shed his shirt as she moved toward him. She stroked his cock and then dipped her head to run her tongue over the tip.

He moaned and tried to push her head down farther, but she pulled away. She leaned over the footboard and ran her hands over her ass. She let two fingers stray to her pussy. He slapped her ass and grabbed her by the hips. She sighed when he rubbed his cock against her entrance. She was very wet, and he wanted to taste her again. He slid a finger into her. She was so hot inside. He licked his finger, and then pulled her closer. He kissed her neck as he pushed his cock into her.

“Hard and fast, baby. I need you to fuck me,” she whispered.

She didn’t have to say anything else. He took her completely, sliding all the way in. Her contented moan drove him on. He slammed into her over and over again, her sweet pussy driving him mad. He needed to come, and he was so close, but he loved feeling her come. He leaned back to change angles, and her cries told him he’d found the right spot. He slowed his strokes, but as he did so he pulled out more, nearly exiting her completely and then pushing all the way back into her. She pushed back against him, and then he felt her coiling around him. Her pussy convulsed around his cock, squeezing him just right. He held her close to him as he continued to pump into her. The look of sheer pleasure on her face made him come in a quick burst. The ecstasy of his orgasm was heightened by her moans and the feel of her hot skin next to his.

He withdrew and pushed her down onto the mattress, kissing her soundly as his fingers tangled in her hair. “My sweet queen,” he whispered as he trailed kisses down her neck to her breasts. She moaned deliciously when he nibbled on her right nipple.

He cursed when someone banged on the door.

Hera looked up. “Everyone knows not to disturb us here. It must be important.” She stood and put her robe on to walk to the door.

Zeus held in the words he wanted to shout and wrapped the sheet around his waist. “This better be important.”

Alala, who in a week’s time would be their son’s wife, stood there looking distressed. Zeus pushed his anger away.

“What is it, Alala?” he asked. “Are you all right?”

“No. Something I don’t understand is going on.” She didn’t seem embarrassed to have interrupted them having sex, so he knew something bad had happened.

“What?” Hera asked.

“Hephaestus sent me a note, and I’m not sure what it means.” She held it in her hand. “He says Ares has betrayed me. He says—” She paused to look at the note. “He says ‘this scoundrel and my cheating wife are going to get what they deserve’.” She looked at Zeus and a tear finally fell from her eye. “What does he mean?”

Zeus felt everything around him fall away. “Wife? He said ‘wife’?”

“What? He’s not married!” Hera exclaimed.

Alala began crying. “Yes, he is, Hera.” She looked at both of them. “Aphrodite told me. They’ve been secretly married for years.”

The idea of Hephaestus still being in love with Aphrodite had occurred to Zeus. Interestingly enough, it had occurred to him when he’d been trying to discuss the identity of Hephaestus’ mystery love with Ares, who had acted nervous and then cut off their conversation very quickly. He now regretted not pursuing the subject as he looked at Alala. She’d never done anyone any harm. She was sweet and patient and far too good for his son.

“Hephaestus won’t have to punish Ares. I’ll do it myself.” He touched her shoulder. “Please don’t cry, Alala. I won’t let you be dishonored this way.”

She shook her head. “That’s not what I want. I don’t want to be avenged. I want it to not be true.”

Hera finally spoke. “Zeus, this cannot be true. Ares loves Alala. I know he does. I know my own son.”

“He’s my son too, but maybe he gets his cheating ways from you!”

Hera slapped him, and he staggered back a few steps. Her eyes flamed at him. “I have two sons! The one who has a father is yours, and you know it! You have hundreds of mortal and immortal children. You’ve fucked more women than I care to count. And you dare, after all these years, to ask me not to ever have another lover?”

She was referring to a conversation they’d had weeks ago. She was right. He had asked her to stop sleeping with other men because, with so many other immortals finding love, he’d realized he didn’t need any other woman but her. He regretted his rash words, especially since he was angry with Ares and not Hera. Not only did he agree that Ares did love Alala, but also it seemed he might now have sabotaged his own happiness for a very long time.

“I’m sorry, Hera. I am. I believe he loves Alala too, but I’m trying to be rational. I’m sorry for the cheating remark, all right? I merely meant I know how he and Aphrodite were at times. I overreacted. Why would Hephaestus falsely accuse him? How could he win Aphrodite that way?”

“Married? That’s what she told you?” Hera asked.

Alala nodded. “Yes. He asked her to marry him, but she refused. He chained her up and said he’d release her once she exchanged vows with him. She did. She still wears the ring, but she uses a glamour to keep it hidden. He left her alone for a long time, but not too long ago he came to her and told her he wanted a true marriage. At the time she told me, she was considering it. That’s as much as I know.”

Hera looked up at Zeus. “Do you believe he did that? Would my son do that?”

Her anger had faded, and she looked on the verge of tears. His instinct was to hold her, and he did, glad when she did not pull away. “Men in love do the wrong things at times. Seeing her with Ares for so many years might have driven him a little mad. I don’t know, Hera. I don’t know.”

She pulled and wiped at her eyes. Hera could rarely be made to admit she ever cried for any reason, and she seemed to be putting forth a great deal of effort to stop doing so now. Zeus didn’t say anything though. Now was not the time to discuss how she expressed her feelings.

“How could they do this to me? Both of them?” Hera asked.

“Hephaestus has always kept to himself,” Zeus said. The fact hardly needed to be pointed out, but he didn’t know what else to say.

“But how could
she
keep this from me? It’s a great challenge for her to keep any secret.”

“Your closeness has always been something that…varied…from time to time. Perhaps it hasn’t been that long.”

They both looked at Alala.

She shrugged, and then shook her head. “I can’t be sure. She said ‘years,’ and that was all. If she said something more specific, I think I missed it because I was so surprised. It was before Eros was born though. She was with Ares when he was conceived because she was mad Hephaestus refused to release her. They stopped talking when she was pregnant because, to Hephaestus, his wife was carrying another man’s child.”

“Before Eros was born? That was ages ago. When did she tell you?” Zeus asked.

“After Persephone was kidnapped. I wanted her to know we weren’t angry with her because of the spell on Ares.” When she said his name, her expression grew sad again. “Please help me.”

“She’ll pay for this, for toying with both of them,” Hera said quietly. She looked up and met Zeus’ gaze. “You think she was married to him the last time she fucked you? When was that?”

“Hera, stop it.”

Alala, who had only been with two partners, looked at them both uncomfortably before glancing away. Zeus didn’t feel like discussing his and Hera’s sexual history with Aphrodite. It was part of the past. He’d fucked her many times, sometimes with Hera watching and occasionally with her participating. The present was what mattered.

Hera didn’t answer. She walked away from both of them.

“Alala, will you go home and wait for us?” Zeus asked.

She nodded and turned away from the door. She walked down the hall very slowly.

Zeus turned back to Hera. “You do realize that if this is true Ares is as much to blame as Aphrodite. Either way, Hephaestus’ behavior is not acceptable. All I ask is that you calm down until we find out the truth of what is happening.”

“How can one woman cause so much strife?” she asked.

“It’s not always her, not entirely. Let’s find out what has actually happened. Hephaestus obviously believes Ares and Aphrodite are still having an affair.”

“Married? They’re married?”

Zeus remembered Hephaestus coming to talk to Hera weeks before. He’d said he was in love, but that he wanted their blessing without knowing who the girl was. He said they could meet her on their wedding day.

“It seems they are. Perhaps it would be better if they didn’t stay that way. It doesn’t seem like it has made Hephaestus happy.”

“I don’t believe he did that to her. The way Alala described? I can’t imagine him doing that.”

“Maybe he loves her that much. He refused to take no for an answer.”

Hera sighed. “I wish he’d told me he was in love with her.”

“We can’t change that now. It all happened so long ago. I don’t blame him for wanting to settle it once and for all. Let’s go see him.”

Hera nodded and walked to her closet. Zeus went through a side door to his own bedroom while she dressed. He didn’t understand what Hephaestus had done. As good as she was in bed, Aphrodite didn’t seem like wife material. Of course, most would say he and Hera were far from ideal as spouses as well. Aphrodite had never managed to drive him mad because his heart had always belonged to Hera, but he knew she could drive men wild with every emotion. She’d certainly made Ares’ life hell for a long time. Was she still doing that? Was she the one to blame? Like Hera, Zeus believed Ares truly loved Alala. He was starting to worry another one of Aphrodite’s spells had somehow backfired.

As scary as that thought was, anything was better than believing his son Ares had really betrayed Alala in such a cruel way.