162 Masquerade of emotions (2/2)
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After an hour of Arei retailing the details of his and Orion's involvement in her care, strategically leaving out the orders from Poseidon and his involvement in her care up to the past year. ”So, Orion contacted me after my last battle and asked if I'd step in.” He smiled warmly down at Jos. ”This one was a bit too much for dear old brother to handle.” Zeus arched a skeptical brow. ”Seems unlikely Orion would willingly let such a beauty pass by. Are you sure there wasn't another reason?” He leaned back against the chair with an air of arrogance. ”I'm sure, had you run this all by the council they would have approved it.”
Arei sent Jos a worried look, knowing this lie was necessary but that it could also hurt Jos. ”We saw no need for her knowing the truth... until now.”
Zeus huffed out a laugh. ”So, you decided a crowded party full of highly important people was the best place to tell your potentially dangerous lover the truth? I'll admit, that's ballsy, even for you.”
Jos placed her hand on Arei's thick arm and could feel the tension he was holding there. Staring up into his eyes she said. ”Arei knows by now, my feeling for him couldn't... wouldn't be changed. He has been honest with me in the fact that he'd been hiding something for an exceptionally long time. He chose tonight to tell me because-”
The tension melted from Arei's body and he smiled down at her. ”Because I didn't want this night and the announcement of our engagement to be darken by overhanging lies.” He cupped her face, stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb. A sob interrupted their tender moment.
”That was beautiful!” Percy wiped a tear from her eyes as her husband pulled her closer to his side. ”Wasn't it, dear?” Hades nodded, whispering something against her ear as he kissed her neck.
”Indeed... Very moving.” Zeus agreed flatly as he tapped his index finger against the bell of the fluke he was holding. ”Indeed...”
”If you have no other questions, brother, I'm sure my son would like to show his beautiful lady around, introduce her to his friends and other family,” Poseidon turned his attention back to Arei, giving him a silent warning. ”Allow her to become more acquainted.”
Arei struggled not to show a reaction to his father's warning gaze. He nodded, ”Yes I still haven't introduced her to Peg.” He glanced around the room. ”I'm surprised he's not in here now, actually.” He turned his attention back to Jos. ”I could also introduce you to Hermes, I'm sure he's here somewhere. He would be your grandfather.” He helped her to her feet and moved toward the exit.
Zeus stood and blocked their way, ”Speaking of family,” He held his hand out to Jos. ”I should be surprised; you haven't mentioned my relation to the girl.” He narrowed his gaze a Arei, ”Or have you?”
Jos nodded, ”You are my great, grandfather.”
He nodded, ”Yes, I held your father in high regard. Maybe sometime you'd allow me to give you a more bias account of things.” He winked.
Jos nodded nervously, ”I would like that, thank you.”
He kissed her hand and stepped aside. Arei nodded a goodbye to Zeus and the other before leading Jos out of the room. He quickly scanned the room for his brother. Finding him dancing and carrying on joyfully in the center of the crush of dancing bodies, Arei gripped Jos tight and pushed through the crowd. He used his massive frame to shield her as they went. ”Peg! I need to talk to you, now. Upstairs in my chambers.” He called over the music.
Reading the urgency in Arei's tone, he nodded and bent to whisper something to Andromeda. She nodded and whispered something back to him. Releasing the woman's hand, he turned back to Arei. ”I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes. That way no one is suspicious of the three of us leaving together.”
Arei agreed and headed for the massive open double doors. Once he'd gotten Jos to the upper hallway leading to his bedroom, he spoke in a low voice. ”The part I lied about down there, when it was ordered that Orion go alone to find you father went against those orders. He sent Ry and I both. I was to stay hidden and in horse form, to aid Orion if needed. Father knew the two of us could capture whatever beast there was and determine its usefulness just as Zeus knew that Orion would likely fail and weaken father's courts more. We had to hide who we were and, in the beginning, it only made sense to hide that information from everyone... including you... By the time I realized I wanted you to know, I feared you wouldn't have accepted the truth.” He paused in the hall. ”I understand you've been hiding your emotions about all this tonight, and I appreciate it... but I must know now. What are your true feelings on all I've said?”
Jos searched his face. ”I haven't hidden my feelings. Those were my true sentiments. I knew you were hiding things, and this explains a lot. It doesn't change my feelings for you.” She pushed herself up on tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Arei didn't fight against her hold, instead, he met her lips with his. ”You don't know how much that means to me. I've been so worried.”
”How touching... Truly...” A hand came out of thin air and as if moving reality itself, opened a space for a large frame to step out of. ”But you see, I'm harder to lie to.”
Jos's breath caught as Arei's hands tightened around her. Her eyes widened as she watched Zeus fold the cloak over his arm. ”I'm not sure which is worse... one brother using this to hide his wife's pregnancy, my wife not telling me about it either... or learning my other brother has been plotting to keep me away from my own granddaughter.” He looked up from the pocket he'd been fumbling around in. ”I suppose you could have real feelings for her, but only time would tell... right?” He lifted his hand opening his palm toward them reviling a beautiful white lotus. He quickly closed his hand, smashing the flower. ”We shall see if either of your feelings are quite as legitimate when put in different circumstances.” He grinned at the pair of bewildered eyes staring back at him. ”Good luck, may love prevail.” He said before blowing the powdery remains of the flower in their faces.