Chapter 45

"Are you okay?"

Dad has been asking me this for a week now. Of course, it's also because after the incident with Travis I slept at home every night. And because I was left with a bruise on my face and my fall on my elbow actually left a crack. It's nothing serious but my hand is in a cast. Who knows how difficult it is to look elegant with a bandage on your hand? I can't hide it, it's too big. Dad won't let me take it off, it's too early. He thinks Travis did this to me, I think, even though I assured him it wasn't like that. I told him, and not just once. As many times as he asked. As many times as it was necessary.

"Yes, thank you. Are you okay?"

He was looking at me. Confused. Bewildered. I don't know why. Athena insisted that my mother be invited to this dinner, with the whole family, celebrating Delilah and Hades and their baby. I know she's not comfortable with the thought. I don't like the idea either.

"You mean her," he finally understands.

"And about that. But also in general."

"Ah! Yes, everything is fine. It's perfect. It's just, you know... Is Rory coming too?"

"Everyone," I assure him." Artemis insisted."

They're having the event at a Wade family restaurant. Dad's driving. We'll meet the rest of them there. It's a private party, of course. And if Dad wasn't invited, I'd think I knew what it meant. I just feel like an idiot. And I can only hope that none of them are smart enough to pull off any of their own pranks. Some game. Some... Any weird custom that even remotely resembles hunting. I just hope there's no bloodshed. That's all I can hope for. Something... Healthy. Like any of us are.

Devil inside. CRMNL. I hum wordlessly as my dad parks the car. I have a good vibe, I feel like dancing and I realize I haven't been here before. At the restaurant. I walked past it, I knew its location and I went with Delilah, when I was 15, to get food from the Kitchen, but we went through the back. The menu is expensive and although the presence of the owner's daughter would have been enough to keep us from paying, neither Mina nor I would have been comfortable with this arrangement. After that we didn't talk about it anymore. And we found other restaurants to eat at when we went out on the town.

When I get out of the car, Travis is already there. He shuffles around in his suit, kisses me on the cheek, and puts a bracelet on my wrist almost before I realize what he's doing. He motions for me to shut up before I glare at him.

"I saw it in the window," he shrugged. "I thought it matched the dress. I mean, it caught my eye and I asked Lily. She said it matched."

Why is he so tense? And why is he talking so much? I don't even get to ask him because we're already inside and I know him well enough to know that asking now is pointless. And we don't stay inside. He demands that I follow him as if he doesn't already have my hand tightly in his and I think we're in a warehouse when he locks the door. He turns to me and doesn't hesitate when he moves his hand lustfully up my short skirt. I know what he wants. He touches my underwear with his fingertips and I expect him to smile or something. He's serious. He pulls once, suddenly and I feel the burn on my thighs. I take a step back.

"What the hell are you doing?" I'm almost bursting.

"Sex with my wife," he caresses my breasts before uncovering them. "I remind her who the hell she's married to. I don't want to see you writing to Hades again," he hisses in my ear before squeezing my breast hard enough to make me gasp. "You're mine. You're mine. Do you understand? You're mine."

Honestly, to hell with feminism right now. The husky voice and the serious tone in which he says all this to me… I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. I'm ready to give in when I remember where we are.

"Not here. Not now. Travis," I whisper. "Not now. Tonight. Okay? I'm going to step away for a moment. Today is your sister's birthday. It's not right to..."

"Are you thinking about her now?" He still holds me close but he doesn't touch me anymore, it's just a hug. "Now? Of all the times?"

"I'm thinking about what's right. For us. No… We have time," I kiss him on the cheek and start putting my clothes back on. "I promise. I'm coming with you tonight. I'm coming with you and I'm going to fuck you so well that you'll remember me until you die," I wink.

This promise breaks a smile. He agrees, for the moment.

"I guess we can't solve all our problems with sex anyway. Why are you texting Hades?" he asks. "You know you can tell me," he steps back and leans against the door, giving me space. "I promise I won't be mad."

"I don't know," I shrug. "He texts me and I reply. We're friends. You can see the messages if you want, we're just friends."

"I don't want to be that husband. To go on your phone and try to control you. I want you to tell me if there's anything you think I should know."

"We're just friends. He writes to me about him and Delilah, about the problems with Apollo, you know how difficult it is. That's all. Did you tear my underwear for this?"

"No," he smiles and looks at the pieces. "That was a Bonus. I like the sound and the redness that stays on your thighs. I guess it hurts though. I can kiss it away," he smirks.

I shake my head.

"Tonight," I insist and extend my hand to him. "Now we'll go back and be decent guests, okay? My father is here and he already has the impression that you're beating me. I'll try to get the idea out of his head, but help me."

"Because of the bruises? Did you tell him you fell?"

"Yes. But the psychologist at the academy told him that you're prone to violent outbursts or something. That you have impulses like that. And my father has ideas, like any parent. He worries, he loves me."

"Speaking of parents"…he hesitates. "I would like us to have a child," he smiles.

Does it seem like the right place or time?