Dem tried to roll over, and hit the back of the couch. His sleepy brain kicked in a few moments later, reminding him why he was sleeping on his couch and who exactly was in his bed. Part of him wished he could be in bed with Aster, but the rest of him knew that would be a mistake. That didn’t stop his brain from conjuring a vision of what she must look like at that moment. Her blonde hair massed around her head, amber eyes hidden from him in sleep, her dusky pink lips slightly parted as she breathed deeply, and his T-shirt covering a body that drove him to distraction.

His T-shirt.

On her body.

His cock throbbed painfully at the thought. By the gods, if he’d been in bed with her, then he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her. He could still remember how her silky skin felt under his hands, and how her hot, wet mouth tasted when he kissed her. He locked those thoughts away.

She was not his, never would be.

As his brain began to focus on something other than wanting to bed Aster, he realized he could hear music. It was faint but had a strong bass line. Rising, he stretched and straightened his clothes before going in search of the sound.

Dem made his way to the back deck. When he approached the window, he paused. Aster was outside dancing. This wasn’t the slutty dancing that he saw all too often at bars, or the straight-laced ballerina style. This was something different altogether. The blonde waves of her hair were loose and flowing around her, adding another layer to her movements.

The straw-colored strands glinting in the light like spun gold as Aster threw her body into the air, her legs spreading before she landed and twisted her body into a curved shape he wouldn’t have expected. She spun around, her body moving like it was fluid. A leg kicked out. Her foot delicately arched as she flipped over, her body landing in a way that allowed her to move onto her arms as she sunk to the floor, extending her legs behind her.

He sat and watched, entranced by her movements. When the song changed, he almost interrupted her, but she had already moved into a different style of dance. The beat to this piece was much harder, and her body started almost twitching in time with the music. He knew she was controlling the movement, but he’d never seen anything like it. Then again, it wasn’t like he paid all that much attention to the current styles of dance.

As the lyrics to the song kicked in, she dropped to the floor. It took everything he had not to run out there for fear of it being another episode. When she rolled over on the floor, though, he realized it was just part of her dance.

Aster moved with such a fluid grace, her body so sure of the moves it was making, that he could have sat and watched all day, but as her moves became more erotic, he had to turn away. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kissing her again. As he walked away, his body hummed with the energy that was flowing off her as she moved.

Once she was done, she’d need to refuel, so he’d make some breakfast. It was only when he saw the clock on the oven that he realized how late it was. Breakfast was over and done with and they were on to a late lunch.

It made sense. They had been up late last night with everything going on, but he hadn’t slept in for a very long time. He’d need to get his own workout in for the day soon, or there wouldn’t be much point, but for now, food was what they both needed.

Aster came tumbling in the door a while later, drawing his gaze like a moth to a flame. He hadn’t even paid attention to what she’d been wearing before, but now it was all he could focus on. His boxers looked like regular shorts on her, and all she had on top was her bra and T-shirt from yesterday. The problem being that the T-shirt was soaked. She peeled it off as she walked into the kitchen. His mouth went dry at the sight of her. Her taut skin glistened with sweat. The scent of her wafted over to him, reminding him exactly how much stamina she had when they had spent that weekend together.

She glanced up as he moved. “Sorry, did I wake you?” She held the T-shirt in front of her now, like he didn’t know exactly what was under it.

“No. I should have been awake long ago, though.”

“We both needed the rest.”

“You weren’t resting when I got up.”

She flushed a little, seeming surprised that he’d seen her dance. “True, but dancing helps center me. Plus, it’s a useful outlet for pent-up energy.”

“Does your eye not interfere with your depth perception? I was worried you’d fall.”

“I’ve done the routines so much that they are more muscle memory now than anything else. I just have to adapt to the space.” She laughed. “I did fall a couple times when I first went out there, but I’m a fast learner.”

“You’re a beautiful dancer.” Dem tried to let the sincerity of the compliment sound in his voice.

Her eyes cut up to his, the liquid gold seeming to bore into him as she evaluated his candor. “Thanks.”

“Any time.”

“Are you cooking?”

“I’ve cooked. There are some paninis in the oven. Or I can make something else, if you want?”

She shook her head. Her hair now restrained in a ponytail flowed behind her. All he wanted to do was wrap it around his hand and pull it as he angled her mouth up to his. He shut that line of thinking down, but as she stood there, the sun came out from behind her cloud, lighting her body like she was a work of art, which combined with the curious look on her face and her scent filling the air, he was helpless against his own thoughts.

“You okay over there, big guy?” She raised one eyebrow as she studied him, a slow smile spreading over her face.

“Fine. Go shower. I’ll plate your food.”

“As you wish.” She faked a curtsy. Dem watched her long ponytail sway as she walked out, and felt like a piece of himself had gone with her. He was starting to worry that the piece was much bigger than he’d initially thought.

When she came back in, his heart thumped in response to the sight of her. The scent of his shampoo and soap masked her natural scent, which reminded him of lilacs and honey. He’d known spending too much time with her would be a risk, but she didn’t have anyone else that she could depend on other than Cin, but even that was changing as Hades called on her sister more often.

Aster had styled her hair in such a way that it hid her damaged eye and the surrounding area. She’d also put thick eyeliner on her visible eye. He didn’t like it. She was sweet and light. Having the darkness around her amber eyes made her look sad, or maybe she was upset and he was just now noticing. He resolved to talk to her about it later. All he knew was that he preferred her without makeup, the natural creaminess of her skin, her golden eyes and blonde eyelashes. She was so damn beautiful that seeing her all made up seemed wrong somehow.

As she inhaled her sandwich, he texted his brother to let him know what was happening. Thad would handle any requests that came through from the gods in his absence.

“So, shall we go see your mom?”

She smiled and nodded. For the first time, Dem realized that she hadn’t been able to see much of her mother since the kidnapping incident. They had all been so paranoid about the Order of Talos being able to track her somehow that she had stayed on the island for the most part.

As she slipped her arm around his, she said, “You’re going to love her.”

He nodded, but wasn’t so sure. The idea of meeting a goddess was repugnant to him, but he’d put on a civil face and do it this one time for Aster.

Pressing her hand against his arm, he wrapped the filaments of the universe around them and moved to the location of her mother’s house. Cin had called ahead and provided him with an image of the location so he could just teleport them directly inside the house.

They landed in the hallway looking into the living room. A woman he assumed was Julie was sitting on the couch and popped up at their entrance. Her hair was short and dark, the wavy locks pinned artistically away from her face. She barely looked older than Aster.

“Mom!” Aster’s squeal of excitement startled Dem as she detached from his arm and ran to give her mother a hug.

It was not the reaction he expected of someone who just found out they were adopted, and judging from her raised eyebrows and overall stunned look, it hadn’t been what Julie expected, either.

“Hi, Sunshine!” she said softly, and after getting over the shock, she squeezed her daughter in a tight hug.

Dem could see how they would pass for being related. They were both petite with wide doe eyes, except where Aster was light, Julie was dark.

“Come in, siren. Please, have a seat. I will go and get some refreshments.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Dem bowed, showing the traditional respect a goddess deserved.

“Enough of that. I am just Julie. I have been for a long time. Juventas never left Mount Olympus.”

“My lady, if that is your wish, then I shall call you Julie from now on.” He inclined his head, unable to rein in the habits that had been drilled into him as a child.

“Be right back,” she said, smiling and shaking her head.

After they had been alone for a moment, Aster whispered, “Mom doesn’t like displaying emotion in front of people she doesn’t know. Sorry about that.”

“I didn’t notice anything.” He wasn’t sure why Aster felt she needed to apologize for her adoptive mother, but before she could explain, Julie came back in carrying a tray laden with snacks and a glass of what appeared to be lemonade for each of them.

“Thank you,” he said, taking the glass she offered him.

“My pleasure.” As she sat, she straightened the cream lace dress she was wearing and sipped her drink, setting it carefully on the nearest coaster when she was done. “Now, what’s going on?”

“Well,” Aster began, but paused to take a deep breath, seeming to steady herself for what was to come. “I need to know who my birth parents were or are.”

Julie froze, becoming as still as a statue. “Cin told you, then?” she asked, her mouth the only thing that moved.

A pulse of anger radiated off the goddess sitting opposite him.

“She did, but only because she felt as though she had to.” Aster seemed to implore her mother.

“Why did she have to?”

Suddenly, Dem understood the dynamic of the family much too clearly. Cin was the eldest but least-favored child, possibly because she had been such a mystery. He had been in a similar situation as he grew up.

No one realized what his talent with water was for years, so he was treated as less than his brothers, who all had much better control over their gifts. It was Thad who finally put it together, explaining to their parents that the freak storms that occurred were part of Dem’s powers. It was something that was hard to see effecting two women he’d come to care about, one who was like a sister and the other who was about as far from a sister as he could get.

“Because of this.” Aster’s voice was quiet as she lifted the hair that had been covering her flawed eye.

Julie gasped. The shock of her daughter’s reveal had her raising her hand to her mouth. “What happened?”

“I’ve been having these strange visions and getting lost in my own memories. The first time it happened, I lost my sight in this eye. The second time, the webby-looking stuff appeared, and I really don’t want to find out what happens a third time, so I need you to help me.”

“Okay, okay, I can do that. I just . . . I need a moment.”

She got up and left the room again.

“You’d think having been cupbearer to Zeus, she wouldn’t have the capacity to be shocked anymore.”

“She was what?” Aster’s head whipped toward him.

“On Mount Olympus, she was the cupbearer to Zeus—well, all the gods, actually—and then married Heracles.”

“She was married to Hercules?” Aster looked astounded.

Dem nodded.

“I would appreciate it if you did not discuss my past life with my daughter, siren,” Julie said as she reentered the room, her sharp eyes reprimanding him.

“I apologize, my lady.”

“You are forgiven. Now, I have something for you, Aster. Come and sit with me.” She sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her while holding a wooden box that had seen better days. The white paint that covered it was peeling and had been for some time. Now, the pale color of the wood itself was visible.

Aster plopped on the couch next to Julie, her eyes wide with wonder. A part of Dem, the part he constantly fought against, wanted to put that look on her face one day. Shaking the thought out of his head, he watched as the lid of the box opened, preventing him from seeing what was inside. Reaching in, the goddess pulled out a blanket and handed it to Aster.

The hand-crafted fabric almost glowed in the light, its cream color still bright. She began to unfold it but paused when she realized that something was embroidered on at least two of the corners. Dem couldn’t make out what the symbols were from where he sat, but if she wanted to share the information with him, she would. Laying the soft wool across her knees, he could see some kind of animal and a flower on one corner.

“A rabbit?” Aster’s fingers traveled lightly over the stitching, as though she was petting the animal itself.

“A hare,” Julie gently corrected, “sitting next to some crocuses.”

He could see the purple, white, and dark gold threads that made up the flowers, surrounded by greens for the grass and the brown of the hare’s coat. The symbols had to mean something; he just wasn’t sure what yet.

“What’s this?” Aster asked, pointing to a U-shape he hadn’t noticed before.

“I am not sure. However, in regards to the hare and the crocuses, those are traditional symbols of Hermes. Now, I don’t think he’s your father, but I do suspect some kind of relation to him. You should speak with his children, see if any of them can offer you clues as to the meaning of the other symbols.”

“Speak to children of a god?”

Julie raised an eyebrow as she regarded the woman she’d raised into adulthood. “You’re speaking to a goddess right now, unless you’ve already forgotten?”

“Sorry, it just seems surreal.”

“Understandable, but you have a right to know your heritage. You’re just going to have to do some digging to find out what is there. I wish I could help you more, kiddo, but this blanket is all I have. It’s what you were wrapped in when I came for you.”

“Where did you find me?” Aster asked as she played with the edge of the blanket.

“A meeting place I have set up. I have an alert for when anyone goes there. It’s a small property I own. When I get the alert, I go there and meet with whoever is dropping the child off. Usually it’s a third party. You were dropped off by someone I suspect was your biological mother. She hid her face from me and didn’t talk, but I caught a glimpse of blonde hair, like yours.”

Aster’s face was stone still. Dem couldn’t tell if this was upsetting her or not. Part of him wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her; the other part wanted to run out of the room and never look back. He was getting too close. The idea of feeling things for Aster made him uncomfortable. He had to stay detached. It was safer for everyone that way.

“Don’t think ill of your mother. There are many reasons she may not have been able to keep you. I can tell you she was upset. Her breathing was labored as though she was trying not to cry.” Julie placed her hand over Aster’s. “I have always believed that she wanted you, and whatever made her give you up was out of her control.”

“She still did, though.”

“Aster. You are smarter than that. Do not pretend otherwise.” Julie’s words were sharp to Dem’s ears, making his protective side flare to life.

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I have to understand everything immediately,” Aster said, standing up for herself.

Dem had known from the beginning that she was one of the strongest people he’d ever met, and was relieved to see that the strength extended to her family as well. Aster gathered up the blanket and came to sit next to him, her thigh a warm caress through his jeans.

“What to see?” Her eyes flicked up to his and away again before she could see him nod.

She was . . . bashful.

It was something he honestly hadn’t expected to see on her. He knew how brutally honest she could be and never expected something to make her shy. “Yes, very much so.”

She unfurled the cream cloth against the two of them. A baby would be swallowed whole by a blanket this size, but he guessed her biological mother wanted something that would not only protect her but become a keepsake of a kind.

His hands ran over the embroidered hare and flowers on the one corner, his thick, over-sized fingers being as gentle as they could. As Aster spread the blanket out further, he could see a music box on the opposing corner. The box was open, and in the middle was a babe wrapped in a blanket that looked similar to her own.

“This is beautiful.” He awkwardly patted her shoulder, the heat of her scorching his hand.

She turned and smiled up at him, and his soul felt brighter, freer than it had a moment ago. The blanket was moving on his lap, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was only when she reached across him that he was able to pull his gaze away.

The other two corners were embroidered with an elephant and a U-shape he had seen earlier when Aster first began to unfold the material. The shape was made up of two tan, almost bone-like color pieces with ridges going all the way up it, each one narrowing to a point as it reached the top of the arch.

Something about the shape was familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

“So, how do we talk to Hermes’ children?” Aster’s voice sounded, pulling Dem out of his attempts to figure out what the shape was.

He looked over at Julie, interested to hear her answer.

“Someone will have to take you to Mount Olympus, or you can try summoning each of them and hope they respond.”

He glared at Julie. There was no way he was getting roped into this. Olympus was strictly on his no-fly list.

“The Mount Olympus? Like where your family lives?” That awestruck expression was back on Aster’s face.

An emotion stirred in him, one he hadn’t expected to feel again. Jealousy coursed through his veins, turning his blood to acid. Sure, he’d been jealous of his brothers finding their soulmates and, unlike him, being able to keep them, but that had been so general, he hadn’t thought much of it. This? This was something else.

This was specific toward Aster.

He wanted to be the only one who made her eyes go wide with wonder, who made her want to dance, or laugh until she couldn’t breathe, but he would never be able to do any of those things. If he did, then he would be betraying everything that he and Isa had been, everything she had suffered for him. That was something he could never do.

Once they were back on the island, she would have to persuade one of his brothers to take her to Mount Olympus, as he couldn’t go back there. Plus, that would get her away from him and they would have the break from each other that he needed.

“Yes, the Mount Olympus. Your siren here should be able to take you without too much trouble.”

“Really?” She looked at Dem like a kid opening a birthday present, all hope and excitement.

“We can talk about that when we’re back on the island.” His voice sounded petulant to his own ears, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

“Okay . . .” Aster looked at him quizzically, but he maintained his silence.

Eventually, she huffed in exasperation and stood. “I guess we should go, then. Can I take the blanket with me?”

“Of course. It’s your blanket, but take the box, too, so nothing damages it.” Julie smiled as she held out the box, and he could practically feel the relief flowing off her.

Her daughter hadn’t rejected her after discovering she was adopted. Dem couldn’t imagine being in that kind of situation, and from what he understood, Julie had done this over and over again throughout the centuries. One thing he knew was that he would be relieved if he was faced with the same thing.

A painful memory broke free from his subconscious, and all of a sudden, he was back with Isa. They had just finished making love. Her skin glistened with perspiration in the glow of the evening light as she played with his fingers, sliding her own back and forth through his.

Her mostly green eyes that glowed with happiness turned shy as she broached the subject of kids. Her soft hands landed on his chest as she explained how she’d always wanted to be a mom. So they started talking about having kids.

Dem had never imagined that he would be a father, but when she mentioned it, it seemed right—not only right but perfect. She was meant to be his, meant to be the mother of his children. They had both decided that they wanted to try. Their love being embodied by their future child was a sweetness that was almost overwhelming. He knew their children would have been amazingly beautiful, but it was less than a week later that Zeus began meddling.

“Ready when you are.” Aster’s voice pierced his memory in such a way that he almost recoiled.

“Ready. It was an honor to meet you,” he said, bowing in Julie’s direction.

“Take care of my Sunshine.” The goddess nodded at him.

“Of course,” he said, before placing his hand on Aster’s back and jumping them out.

They arrived in his living room a moment later, the box still clutched to her chest.

Aster immediately turned on him. “So what was that about?” She paused and scowled. When she spoke again, her voice was an octave lower and sounded angry. “We’ll talk about it on the island?” The scowl cleared, and she said, “Don’t you think that was a little rude?”

He didn’t appreciate the impression. “Look”—he sighed—“I can’t take you to Mount Olympus. You’ll have to ask Thad or Hal, or hell, even Alec. One of them will be able to help you, but I’m done.” He walked into the kitchen, resisting the urge to look back to assess the damage his proclamation had just done.

“You’re done?” Her voice was a whisper behind him as he poured a glass of orange juice.

“I’ve helped you as much as I can, so go talk to one of the others.”

He sipped the drink, watching her over the rim of the glass. Storm clouds might as well have appeared on her face. She was furious.

“Fine. You’re done. Thanks for your help today. I’ll try not to bother you again.” She backed away from him before disappearing around the corner.

He was a grade-A asshole, but it had to be done. The fact that he felt like he had to run after her and beg for her forgiveness was exactly why he did it in the first place.