Chapter 190 - Anything to be by your side (2/2)
He nodded. ”That is Arei.”
Her eyes widened as she studied the picture closer. ”Amazing... But does that mean Ry's form is also a horse?” She shook her head. ”For some reason I can't imagine him as one.”
Peg chuckled. ”That's because he's not.” He nodded to a painting of a gigantic grizzly bear. ”That's Ry.” He whispered into her ear as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he had a hundred times before. He lightly stroked his hand over her stomach. ”Are we going to talk about this?”
Andy let out a ragged breath as she continued to stare blankly at the paintings. ”It happened while you were away. Percy came into my room slobbering drunk one night and forced himself upon me.” She sniffled back a sob as she turned in Peg's arms. She rested her head against his chest, shame coloring her words. ”I supposed I can't say it was forced. I am his wife after all. It is my duty to bare his... efforts...”
Peg frowned. ”Andy, look at me.” He brushed the back of his fingers against her cheeks. ”It makes no difference whether you're his wife or not. What he did was wrong.” When her damp eyes met his, he forced a warm smile. ”We could run away. I'll help you with the babe.”
She shook her head. ”And what would we do? You are contracted through Zeus... and you're... you could never be there the way I would need you.”
He arched a brow. ”And Percy is?” When overwhelming sadness filled her eyes, he let out a heavy sigh. ”I will help you get through this in any way that you would like me to.” He placed a light kiss on the top of her head, before releasing her. He walked over to the wide bay window and leaned against its frame.
”It's beautiful here.” She said as she came up beside him and leaned against the frame as well.
He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her as she took a few steps closer to him. ”We have been welcomed here anytime. If ever you feel overwhelmed, even in the slightest, just say the words. We can come here for as long as you need.” He bent and placed another light kiss to the top of her head.
Andy squeezed her eyes tightly closed at the embrace. {Girl, pull yourself together. HE'S GAY!} She wrapped her arms around him leaning her bottom against the window frame. ”Thank you for always being here for me.” She whispered. She could feel the tears burn the backs of her eyes. {If only... If only...}
They stood like that for a long while in the oversized, dark room with only the faint light of the shimmering waters and glowing stars lighting the night. ”If you'd like we can explore the palace tomorrow. I'm sure our presence at home will not be missed.”
She nodded against his chest as she tried to stifle a yawn. ”That would be great.”
He smiled as he led her over to the massive bed and followed her down onto the soft surface. He held his arm out for her. Without saying anything, she curled up against him and began fumbling with the hem of his open shirt until she fell asleep. ”I wish it had been me alone who rescued you that day.” He whispered against her head.
Current day Embassy bar
Peg took another shot, studying the glass as he waited for the harsh burn of the liquid to ease. His eyes burned nearly as much as his throat. ”She miscarried shortly after that.” Peg shook his head in sorrow. ”Perseus had virtually nothing to do with her after, designating her as spent. He let his affairs be more known leaving her in a complete state of devastation. Her own sons turned their backs on her eventually.” He snarled his nose. ”By then my alleged affairs were also well known and I felt helpless in doing anything other than comfort her as I always had.” He shook his head again, his face even more twisted in hate and grief as he added. ”I could no longer call Perseus a friend. I confronted him on the mistreatment of his wife, and he shunned my concerns labeling me a hypocrite.” He poured himself another shot and threw it back. ”The lies I'd spent so many years crafting to have the chance to be by her side and be that thing she needed most had become the one thing keeping us apart.” He turned to Arei. ”I'm sorry to say, but when you told me of the deceit you and father had played against Zeus... I saw it as my only way out, one last horrible deed...” A tear streamed down his cheek as he added. ”I know you'll never entirely forgive me for that night or the following days, and I can't blame you. But know, I did it for love. I did it to be with the person I wanted most in this world... and sadly enough, I'd do it all again to be with her.”
Arei pulled his brother into a tight hug. ”I don't hold it against you. Who knows what lengths I'm willing to go to for the woman I love.” He gave a sad laugh. ”Hell, I'm all but still imprisoned by the agreements I made on her behalf.”
Poseidon through an arm around the bartender that was still bound but was at least now standing. He wiped away a tear with his free hand. ”So touching, wouldn't you agree, friend?” He asked the bartender who simply nodded with the gag still wedged between his lips. Poseidon pushed away the bartender as he leaned over the bar toward Arei. ”You know I've been thinking, why not just tell her now? She's going to discover the truth one way or the other. If you told her now before she found out on her own, then it would give you a better chance of winning her back.” He shrugged, ”And besides what difference will it make to my dear brother, unless he plans to use this trial and the kid to pull her to his side once again.”
Arei let out a long sigh. ”Would you really put it past him?” He took his shot and turned his attention back to his brother. ”How about we go back up and check on the girls?”
Poseidon faked hurt. ”But we were having such a good time together.” He fumbled under the bar. ”And look you boys missed a few bottles... besides I wouldn't mind hearing more of yours and dear Andy's story. Though I know my personal part in parts of it, I do find it interesting to get the whole picture finally. To be perfectly honest, when you asked to use a room in my palace with the girl, I'd believed the two of you to be having an affair then. I'm surprised to learn you were not.”
Peg huffed out a sarcastic laugh. ”Sorry to disappoint you Father. Didn't know you cared so much.”
Poseidon looked back and forth between his sons. ”See, that is where the both of you are frequently wrong. I love you boys very much, and though I do not always agree with your methods I do honor your decisions.” He shrugged. ”Do I believe you boys are all too hardheaded to do the best thing for yourselves from time to time, yes. Do I sometimes meddle... forcefully if I must, to see that you have a proper push toward the things that I know will bring you happiness, yes? Has it backfired in the past... gods yes!” He poured three glasses full and slid two toward his sons. ”But in all your stubborn, hardheaded glories... I do love you each still, and I'd like to see each of you settled and happy.” He shook his head as he lifted his own glass. ”I'm afraid that boat may have passed for your brother Ry and possibly even Triton, but Arei you still have a chance. I don't just encourage this because I want the Kraken in my grasps. I say it because I know she is the thing that will bring you the most joy... And to have you returned to my court with her in tow would be an absolute win, even if your brother manages breaking her curse, even if the Kraken as we know her ends... I believe Joslyn the woman would be all you would ever need to be happy.”
Arei frowned as he stared into his glass. ”But she loves someone else... I'm too late. All I can do now is try my best to see her happy.”
Poseidon cupped his hand over his son's. ”You are not too late. Tell her the truth allow the lotus seeds to do their work, and she will surely see this infatuation with the pup is nothing more than that, an infatuation.