Architects_Sons of Olympus

by Helen J Perry

Was it even possible that the three of them could satisfy each other completely?

  They backed away from each other and washed properly. Each of them lost in thought.

  Karl stepped from the shower first while Jade turned off the water. He passed her a towel. "I do like Nic, a lot. He's attractive, I care about him, and I like sex with him. I hope that answers your question."

  "Good, because I like the two of you together."

  "If you wanted to include Philip within our group, that would work as well," Karl said.

  She’d hardly dared to wonder about that, the three of them worked because Karl and Nic were old friends. And Karl clearly saw himself as the boss, even if she and Nic only let him think that by not contradicting him.

  Philip would change the dynamic completely. He was a god even though he appeared younger, and more androgynous and eccentric in his style than the two typically masculine demigods. And he and Jade had a little history.

  "What makes you think Philip would be into that?" She didn't deny she liked the idea.

  Karl wrapped the towel around her and held her. "You and Nic both obviously have the hots for him, so I asked."

  For a moment, Jade was lost for words. She recovered from her shock and indignantly asked, "Don’t you think you should tell me first before you invite a guy to join us."

  He planted a kiss on her forehead. "I didn't give him an invitation. And Nic was there so he can back me up."

  "So what did you say?" She was confused.

  "We discussed things in a more general way to find out if he like guys and girls and to find out if he liked you. I should let him tell you himself, but the thing is, he’s as smitten by you as me and Nic. He’s also a total gentleman. I don’t think he’d even let you know how he feels because he sees you with us. What I’m saying is, if there’s room for one more guy in the relationship, I'm sure Philip would be the right man, and I think we have to invite him because he's not going to ask to join."

  "What about you, Karl? You talk about me and Nic having the hots for Philip, but do you want him? Do you want us to be a foursome?"

  Karl looked at some distant place in the room. "Yes, I like him. He’s completely different to any guy I’ve ever known, which might be because I’ve never known a god before. It might seem strange to a lot of people but I’d like to share you with decent guys like Nic and Philip, and I'm certain they’ll take care of you in every way if I can’t. It’s not just about sex."

  Jade toweled her hair. When she was completely dry, Karl still seemed to be looking for an answer. "I wouldn’t say no to a foursome with Philip, and I’m relieved you like him. I’d thought he might be too unconventional for you."

  From the bathroom, they directly entered what Philip had referred to as a walk-in closet. It was more like a store where they found all sorts of clothes in many styles and sizes. She and Karl rummaged around for a while.

  At that moment, they were in Crete, and it was hot. While the rebellion was going on, they weren't about to rush off anywhere quickly. It seemed they were safe there with Philip.

  After yesterday's ordeal, Jade had only the faintest headache, the aches in her body had almost completely gone, but if the men wanted to move on to a new destination, she could justifiably request another day to recover.

  She chose some pastel peach shorts with pockets on the front and at the back and a tight white T-shirt that enhanced her figure. She looked casual and sexy at the same time and was pleased with the results.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  When they'd freshened up, Jade and Karl returned to the main bedchamber to find Philip and Nic sitting on the sofa. Nic was eating something off a spoon from a bowl.

  Philip jumped up and went to the table when he saw them. He took the lid off a ceramic tureen and ladled out something that Jade couldn't identify into a bowl. He handed it to her with a spoon and did the same for Karl. "There's plenty and more. Or if you'd like something else, just tell me."

  Nic eagerly held up his bowl for a refill.

  The golden colored food appeared similar to porridge, but it wasn't porridge, and it tasted far sweeter than she was prepared for. It was sublime.

  When Karl and Jade sat down in individual chairs with their full bowls of food, Philip returned to his former position on the couch next to Nic. He held a large piece of flatbread in his hand.

  "The good news?" Karl prompted, He then spooned more of the golden food into his mouth with a blissful look on his face.

  "The best news is that you all arrived here safely, but you already know that. I'm happy, I'm surrounded by my three favorite demigods."

  All three of the guests raised their eyebrows but made no comment. For all Jade knew this was either a slip of the tongue and he meant two, or more likely he meant three demigods in the area, but outside their room. After all, he hadn't known Nic and Karl all that long. If he meant outside, it was a strange thing to say, but Philip came from a different culture. English wasn't even his main language.

  "I left Hephaestus this morning packing up his mobile forge, he says the revolution is as good as finished." Philip curved the bread in his fingers as he spoke.

  "Mobile forge?" Jade said in wonder.

  "Yes, he or his apprentices are available to do instant repairs to weapons or make new ones."

  "Is he sure the rebellion is over?" Nic asked.

  "Nothing is ever over forever. It's a victory for now. Some messengers have already returned from the front to report significant victories. The rebels are weaker now and have lost some of their leaders. Taking away their ability to fly through the Labyrinth undetected by putting those doors put into strategic positions was a coup. Even though they can sneak in through some of the weaker points, they can't open those doors without transforming, standing on two legs, and triggering the sensors."

  Amidst the good atmosphere in the room, the delicious food, the good news and the feeling of safety, one of Jade's concerns ate away at her. "Nic and Karl will be able to travel easily, but how will I go with them through the Labyrinth now the brooch has been stolen?" Jade wondered if Philip would give her another one, but it seemed rude to ask.

  Her men spooned the sweet not-porridge into their mouths.

  Philip smiled. "The pass to Olympus is almost indestructible made from the strongest metal and imbued with magic. Hephaestus made the jewelry in his underground forge at Lemnos, which is where he will return to today."

  She didn't need a reminder of how unique the object was and how she should never have lost it. She'd learned that lesson although was still incredulous that Philip hadn't told its value when he'd first given it.

  "Do you think he'd make another? Or are there more? Is there a website where gods sell magical artifacts?" Jade asked.

  Philip shifted in his seat, sinking deeper into the soft cushions. "You don't need it."

  "How will I get about? Or-"

  "You don't need it because demigods can pass through at anytime and freely enter into Olympus. You, Jade, are a daughter of Aphrodite."

  Karl and Nic's stopped moving and stared at her and Philip, surprise evident on their faces.

  How? What the? Mouth opening and closing like a fish, Jade had so many things to say right then and didn't know where to start. She opted for the most inane. "Aphrodite, is she the goddess of beauty?" Jade tried to remember what she'd read about the gods and this goddess specifically.

  "She is. She's also the goddess of love and fertility. She's always attracted a lot of amorous attention. All of her men have accepted that she isn't going to commit to only one of them. She has too much love to give. Unfortunately, you won't meet her today, she's already left."

  Her appetite left her. Jade stood up and walked to the table to put her bowl down. It also meant she didn't have to sit facing the three men. She picked up some dried apricots, so she had something to do with her hands.

  Philip continued speaking and Jade only partly paid attention. "I'm not sure of the extent of your demigod powe
r, but I do know you can control your own fertility. You'll only become pregnant if you want, but you'll still need a man involved in the process."

  It had never occurred to her that she was anything other than normal. Nic and Karl looked normal to her too, so what did being a demigod mean?

  She wondered if Philip could be wrong, but she knew, deep down, he wouldn’t make it up. She didn’t know how it could be true, but sensed it must be.

  Philip's words resonated with her. Too often her chatter was mistaken for flirting. She flirted and didn't realize she was doing it. Like Aphrodite, Jade didn't want to promise herself to one person, forever. She felt she had a lot of love to give as well, too much for one person.

  Lost in her thoughts and gazing at the food on the table, she hadn't realized anyone else had moved until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Philip had come up beside her and put an arm around her. "Are you all right?"

  His arm remained on her as she turned enough to see the three of them. "Why didn't you tell me when we first met?"

  "I didn't know. Otherwise, I would've told you. I was attracted to you like I haven't been since..." He trailed off and shifted his stance. "Well, since when exactly doesn't matter. Just that it's been a long time, all right. After I met Nic and Karl, and they told me how much they loved you that made me suspicious, all three of us are sons of Hephaestus and hung up on you. Hung up is the right phrases isn't it?" He asked the men.

  Nic nodded.

  Nic and Karl had told Philip they loved her?

  Sliding from his hold, she turned to face Philip. "Suspect what? That I have the power to bewitch and seduce men?"

  "No. That's not it at all. We are sons of Hephaestus, do you know who he is married to?"

  "He's married to Aphrodite." Jade's eyes widened as she realized the coincidence. "Explain it to me."

  "When I saw you again yesterday, I was sure. The time you'd spent with Nic and Karl had strengthened your goddess side, and I could sense it immediately." Philip looked at the men. "When you are together, it makes all of you stronger."

  Karl frowned. "Jade's not the only one who would like more of an explanation here," he said. This information was all apparently new to him too.

  Nic remained still, transfixed by the revelation.

  "We love you," Philip addressed Jade and indicated the other men with a wave of his arms. Philip appeared to speak for all three of them, and they didn't stop him. "We love you for you, Jade. But you have at least some of the power of Aphrodite running through your blood. Hephaestus recognized it instantly when he met you last night. He and Aphrodite have continued to love each other over many thousands of years. We’re his sons so it should be no surprise that we're just as enchanted by you. I've never felt as complete or as powerful as I do when you're near me."

  Unsure whether she'd stepped nearer to Philip, or he'd pulled her closer to him she found herself comforted in his arms, her head against his chest. The information he'd shared was going to change her world, but it wasn't unwelcome, and it made a great deal of sense.

  As close as she was to Philip, she felt safe and comforted breathing his scent. She closed her eyes to concentrate on her other senses. She could feel the power of the god wrapping around both of them. She could almost taste it.

  She heard the other men rise and walk across the room to join her and Philip in a big group hug. None of them spoke for a while. There weren't words to express how Jade felt at that moment, and she wondered to what extent the men's thoughts and feeling were in harmony with her own.

  Her mind swam. Discovering they were demigods had happened to Karl and Nic. They loved her. They were stronger together. Did that mean Philip as well? Jade thought she drew strength from Philip, but that could have been a mental thing.

  "The guys want you to join us as part of our ménage," she mumbled against his chest. Thinking one of the thoughts aloud. "Nic wants you. I want you. Karl wants you."

  "I want that too. If you all agree, I'd like to ask Hephaestus to create a new piece of jewelry with a charm that will enable us to find a way back to each other when we are apart. It would be in four parts, of course. One for each of us."

  "Why wouldn't we agree? It sounds like an excellent idea?" Nic said. His warm breath blew over the back of Jade's neck. She came aware of his body pressed against her back.

  "It would take a long time to make. Possibly years, so you do not have to commit to it immediately."

  "I'm all for committing to something that means we don't lose each other."

  "You will need to walk through the lands of the gods before you can understand the commitment."

  Jade stood up straight and looked up at Philip's face. "What commitment exactly?"

  "The jewelry isn't just a tracking devise like those you have on your phones. I'm talking about something that will bind our hearts like a wedding ring."

  "I see." Despite her calm exterior, Jade was thrilled to receive her first ever marriage proposal despite how unexpected. And such an unusual proposal, a god asking to marry her in a four-way relationship. She wanted to say yes and dance about, but she hid her emotion in order to check things out with Karl and Nic first.

  Karl smirked. He was obviously pleased.

  Nic beamed and nodded at Jade. It appealed to him too.

  "I'm only making a suggestion. When you are as old as I am you tend to recognize a good relationship when you see it and I don't want it to slip away. I've had centuries of loneliness. But I don't expect you three to make a snap decision. Let's sit, talk, and eat some more."

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Thank the gods, the conversation moved on to lighter easier topics while Jade attempted to eat more of the breakfast and Nic went for thirds.

  They took turns suggesting the names of countries they'd like to visit, which turned into naming as many countries as they could think of. Philip told tales about many of the places. It seemed as if a god had gotten into ridiculous trouble almost everywhere in the world. Many of these stories involved making babies with humans.

  The stories distracted Jade from thinking about what Philip had said to some extent, though silently and privately, Jade contemplated her lineage and the three men in the room.

  Three men were in love with her. Karl and Nic didn't deny it.

  It changed the way she thought about the suggestion that Philip join them in a four-person relationship. It was difficult to imagine it, and yet, it felt like it would work. The personalities of the three men seemed to balance each other.

  And there was something else.

  There was a degree of at least physical attraction between everyone in the room. Why deny that? Those guys all like each other, and they liked her. They were happy to share her between themselves.

  She wondered about sharing them. When she thought about it, she knew they didn't have a romantic interest in each other, and she could find no reason to feel jealous of physical acts of pleasure between them. Even better if she got to watch or be a part of it.

  She could see no reason for jealousy between them. She was glad they liked each other and weren't solely focused on her. A four-person relationship wouldn't suit everyone, it wasn't typical where she came from, but she could envisage it working.

  After everyone had eaten their fill, and they'd discussed traveling the world at length, they agreed to investigate what was happening on their own doorstep.

  They walked through the great hall of the folly. Its many doors were all open including massive doors to the outside world. From memory, Jade expected to see an open grassy plane with trees at the far end; today it was an encampment.

  The distance was obscured by tents of many sizes, shapes, and colors. When they'd told her about it, Jade had pictured a medieval camp of makeshift shelters, part Star Wars and part Lord of the Rings. Of course, everyone had access to twenty-first-century design and technology. The scene actually looked like they'd gathered for a music festival. There were a few small pop up tents. Most were larger, but clea
rly of modern make. There were also a few huge tents that looked more like buildings. She found herself looking around for the burger vans and the main stage.

  As they stepped outside into the morning sunlight, a flock of black birds emerged from the main hall above their heads. The noise of so many wings flapping demanded everyone around stop and watch. They flew through the open door of one of the larger tents and disappeared from view behind a privacy screen.

  "The Corax return," Philip said to no one in particular.

  When the last of the ravens disappeared inside, Jade noticed a woman standing near the tent into which the birds had flown. Not so much the lady as her beautiful dress caught Jade's eye. As the light hit the fabric of the full-length gown, it shimmered like satin. Made of dark feathers, one might have said it was black, but as the lady moved forward, the sunlight picked out iridescent hues of plum and sapphire.

  Engrossed by the dress, Jade didn't realize the lady was walking toward her, or that the lady recognized her.

  "Jade."

  "Brenna." Of course, the dress fit for a princess and made from ravens' feathers. "I just saw the Corax return. Are your men with them?"

  Brenna nodded. "They're transforming, dressing, and debriefing. They'll be out here soon."

  Jade didn't know what to say that wouldn't sound stupid or insensitive. How are you? You must be pleased they're safe. Brenna's men had gone to the front line, and into battle, they were fighters, not builders.

  "Lauren," Jade said when she saw her friend only a few feet from Brenna, and she started to walk toward the women. Of course, Jade should have expected to find Lauren with Brenna. Philip had told her these women were staying in the folly together.

  Too late, she had had Lauren's attention just when she realized that this was probably not the best time to speak to her friends. Brenna was waiting for her three princes to emerge and Lauren was already surrounded by her men. Men who'd just returned from danger.

  The three Spartans must have recently returned as they appeared to be in need of a bath, but otherwise unharmed. All three had hands on Lauren, Greg and Zander flanked her either side, Jasper was behind her, and the tall man was apparently stooping so close that her hair was in his face.