“Then we’ll just have to find a way to force her to call off this attack. Easy, right?” She laughs, the sound bitter. “At least my mother isn’t rampaging this time.”
“There is that. Have I mentioned lately that she’s terrifying?”
“Pot, meet kettle.”
I grin, but the expression fades quickly. “We’ll find a way. My mother is hardly a rational individual, but she’s only a danger because of how powerful she is. If we can find more allies and use the public’s goodwill in our favor, it might be enough.” It’s still a long shot, but there’s the tiniest chance that once she realizes she’s outmatched, she’ll cease any further attacks. Or at least keep it in the area of reputation, rather than literal life and death.
“Then we stick with this plan and adapt as necessary, depending on what she does.” Psyche gives me a tired smile. “We’ll figure it out, Eros. We’re wonderfully matched when it comes to this. Between the two of us, we’ll find a solution.”
The casual faith she puts in me is staggering. My chest goes tight. “Yes. We will. I promise.”
“Mmm.”
It takes me several minutes to realize that Psyche has fallen asleep. Several more minutes pass before I force myself to set her foot down and rise. She looks different in sleep, something in her relaxing that I hadn’t realized was tense. It’s not that she seems younger, exactly, but that she’s put down a burden she carries with her always.
I have the strangest urge to offer to carry it for her.
It’s not late enough for me to sleep yet, which is just as well. I have a call to make. I leave Psyche on the couch for now and head to the safe room. Tomorrow, I’ll drill her on the code again a few times to ensure it’s properly memorized. I don’t plan on leaving her unattended more often than strictly necessary, but I already know she’s going to crave some independence before too long. I’m not sure how I’ll handle security outside the penthouse; a problem for another day. I softly shut the door and do the last thing I want to right now.
I dial my mother.
I half expect her to ignore my call. Her favorite punishment is icing me out, depriving me of any contact or attention. When I was young and she’d do it, it always felt like she’d sliced me right down to the bone. Aphrodite is so much larger than life, and to a child—to her child—it’s even truer. Having her turn away from me…
I give myself a shake. Her tactics don’t work as well as they used to. Not since I grew up enough to realize she uses her love and her attention as both lure and punishment. But some things are impossible to shuck off, and I can’t quite pull in a full breath until she answers.
She doesn’t make me wait long. “So now you decide you’re available for a conversation? I should block your number.”
“You won’t.” It’s an effort to keep my voice even. “How will you convey your disappointment in me then?”
She makes a sound suspiciously like a hiss. “Insolent child.”
“I’m twenty-eight, Mother.” I hurl the term like a weapon. “I’m more than capable of making my own choices, including who will be my bride.”
“She wouldn’t be your bride if you’d carved her heart out of her chest like I asked. I don’t know why you’re balking, Eros. It’s not as if you didn’t do that and worse to Polyphonte. Killed her right in front of her parents. Did you know her mother committed suicide this week? Tragic, that.”
I’m not prepared for the guilt that swarms me. “That’s different.” The words feel like a lie on my tongue.
“It’s really not. Did you convince yourself you’re like that precious wife of yours?” She laughs. “Silly boy. You’re nothing like her. You’re like me. We are the only two people in this world who can understand each other, and you’re putting that at risk for a little bitch with good hair. The moment that woman realizes what you’re truly capable of, she’ll turn from you. Don’t you understand that I’m trying to help you?”
There are very few things I care about in this world. Most of the time, I hate that Aphrodite numbers among them. I’m old enough now, independent enough, to understand that she’s constantly attempting to emotionally manipulate me. It’s a good portion of the reason why I have systematically carved out the softer feelings from my personality, removing all possibility of traction. I thought those parts of me were gone forever, but Psyche’s presence has them waking as if from a long slumber.
They won’t serve me now. All they’ll accomplish is giving my mother a foothold that I’ve worked too damn hard to eradicate.
“Mother,” I say slowly. “If you cause any harm to come to my wife, you will regret it.”