But then she supposed the god of death didn’t need protection of a more conventional means. Rumour had it that he self-revived if he was killed.
Even Hades had changed out of his armour, had dressed in a fine black tunic and tight trousers and knee-high riding boots. The same sort of clothing Keras had worn once, before he had been sent to the mortal world. She recalled how handsome Keras had looked in his tunic, and looked him over, deciding she preferred him in his figure-hugging black shirt.
Modern mortal fashion was wonderfully revealing.
Keras glanced at her, his gaze settling on her face for only a second before it fell to her body. Heat filled his green eyes as he raked them over her, desire that had shone in them more than once since she had donned the dress Persephone had given to her. The black layers of the robe crossed over her chest and twisted around her waist, cinched with gold there. They flowed over her hips in sheer layers that left her feeling a little exposed whenever she moved and she could see her thighs through the layers as they parted.
But it was the amount of cleavage the top half revealed that made her feel deeply aware of her own body.
Part of her had wanted to find Persephone and ask for a different dress, something a little less revealing.
But then Keras had seen her in it, and she had recalled when Cass had wanted to lend her a dress and she had refused because she had feared how Keras might react.
It turned out that she loved the way he reacted whenever he looked at her.
Loved it so much she itched to find a quiet place where they could be alone.
“I think we have lost him,” Nyx murmured.
“Who can blame him? Look at her. She is radiant. Even I would not say no to that.” Thanatos’s deep voice rolled over the room.
Followed by Keras’s black snarl.
He twisted away from her and had Thanatos’s throat in his grip before the male could react. He flashed emerging fangs in the god of death’s face, another vicious growl rumbling from him as he tightened his grip, digging short claws into Thanatos’s throat.
“Keras,” Enyo whispered as she sensed the darkness rising inside him, as the light in the room dimmed and everyone felt silent, their focus shifting to Keras as he stared Thanatos down.
She gently placed her hand on Keras’s shoulder.
His head swivelled towards her and his growl cut off as his crimson gaze collided with hers.
Before she could tell him that she only wanted him, he released Thanatos and pulled her into his arms, kissed her hard right in front of everyone. A blush scalded her cheeks and spread, until she felt sure every inch of her was red.
When Keras released her, his eyes were green again, sought hers and danced between them.
She stroked his cheeks, framed them with her palms and kissed him softly, showing him that she was fine and his outburst hadn’t angered her or made her think less of him.
“I recommend you watch your words, young Thanatos,” Hades drawled, his voice calm and even.
Thanatos tensed.
Swallowed.
Keras was slow to release Enyo, kept one arm around her as he turned away from her, coming to face Thanatos. All the fires of the Underworld shone in his eyes as he glared at the god.
“My apologies.” Thanatos dipped his head. “I overstepped.”
Keras looked as if he wanted to growl, but then forced a nod instead.
She kept an eye on him as he slowly relaxed, monitoring him with her senses as the darkness Thanatos had provoked in him gradually faded. When he felt as he had before Thanatos had spoken about her and upset him, she looked at the group to her right.
A blush climbed her cheeks again as the women all stared at her, including Persephone.
Several of the women had donned dresses too. Megan looked radiant in a dark purple dress that showed off her bump, and Caterina had chosen a rich blue summer dress that highlighted her tanned skin and the spun caramel colour of her hair. Marinda wore a pale green dress that reached her ankles and revealed nothing, something Cassandra had complained about when she had seen her.
According to the sorceress, Marinda needed to learn to make the most of her assets.
Evangelina had chosen to wear black leather trousers and a violet halter top that had caused Thanatos to stare until Valen had put the god of death in his place, and Hades had backed him up.
Aiko wore interesting mortal fashion—a ruffled black skirt, striped violet and black knee-highs, and a white and black short-sleeved shirt that had a little black ribbon at the collar. Enyo found her shoes fascinating too. She had never seen shiny white shoes with three-inch-thick black soles before.
Her unique style of dress had also drawn a few comments from Thanatos.
Esher had threatened to burst every blood vessel in his body.
Aiko had lured her god outside for some air.
Enyo had taken to watching them for a while, enjoying the innocent way they would touch hands, or steal a glance at each other, and grow awkward when the other noticed them looking. Keras had told her that they had been together for months now, but they were still sweet around each other, and he had the feeling they would always be this way.
She found it adorable.
Most of the brothers had dressed for the occasion in the same manner as Keras, picking mortal clothing rather than the style they had worn centuries ago. Ares had paired black jeans with a dress shirt, and Marek wore something similar. Esher had gone with a blue-grey shirt, while Daimon had opted to wear a thin, long-sleeved navy turtleneck.
Both Calistos and Valen had shown up in jeans and tight T-shirts.
Hades had made a few remarks about that, but both gods had been unrepentant.
Valen laughed at something Marek said, drawing her focus off to her left, where they stood talking to Cal. Esher broke away from them, striding past Enyo, heading for Daimon where he lingered with Cass in the opposite corner, speaking to her in hushed tones.
Just beyond Valen and his brothers, Eris flagged down one of the serving staff and snatched a goblet of ambrosia from the male’s tray. Moros helped himself too, but Apate and Oizys waved the servant away. Unlike their older brother, Thanatos, the four siblings had changed out of their armour and wore fine black robes like their mother.
It was nice of Hades to invite them too. The god-king had a habit of overlooking the lesser gods and goddesses of all the realms, focusing instead on those gods and goddesses who occupied the higher echelons, such as Thanatos and Nyx.
Thanatos leaned his hip on the long dark wooden table laden with food and jugs of wine and ambrosia, and swept his gold goblet towards Hades where he sat on a throne on the other side of the table.
“You raised your sons well.” Thanatos’s silver eyes gleamed as he smiled and toasted Hades and Persephone.
Persephone dragged her focus away from Megan who sat beside her, her emerald eyes bright as she lifted them to Thanatos. “I am not sure there is a mother more pleased than I right now. All of my sons married.”
The room suddenly hushed.
Keras cleared his throat. “Mother. Not all of us are married.”
She waved him away. “Of course you all are. The heart wants what the heart wants, and I can see in all of you that it has found the one it will remain constant to for the rest of your days.”
Hades placed his left hand over hers and patted it.
A frown wrinkled her button nose. “Do not condescend, my love. You were married to me long before our wedding night.”