Free Cyra's Cyclopes by Tilly Greene Page B

intends to go. We know she’ll go wild, hook up with the god of
wine again, and leave us. That is what we are struggling with and
why we’re finding it difficult to focus on our work.”
    “Women,” Hephaestus snorted and
walked into his office without saying another word. That was all he
had to say? Brontes looked at Steropes for help. What had just
happened? Had he said something to upset their boss?
    “Did I say something
wrong?”
    “I don’t think so. It’s possible he
still isn’t sure of Aphrodite’s loyalty and can’t see anyone else
having a problem as bad as his, although I can’t believe that’s
right either. She adores him more than ever and the contented smile
he often wears is proof that he is often reassured of her
love.”
    “Maybe some men are never sure of
their woman and where her emotions lie,” Brontes offered, but
wished it weren’t true. He had enjoyed feeling love for Cyra swell
inside him and had believed she felt the same way, then suddenly
they were faced with the possibility it had all been an illusion.
“Who knew such beautiful creatures were so fucking
complicated.”
    “It’s only that way because our
hearts are involved and that’s never happened before.”
    “Come on,” Hephaestus poked his head
around the door jamb he’d disappeared through. “Let’s get
everything out in the open and find a solution. You helped me when
I needed it with Phria and here’s a chance for me to pay you
back.”
    They walked into the man’s office
and sat in the proper chairs he’d arranged around his desk. There
was no doubt they looked ridiculous and Steropes struggled not to
laugh. It was no secret, he and his brothers were big, rough, odd
looking men, but even he could enjoy the humor in their sitting in
spindly chairs. They were so insubstantial, even his ass didn’t
fully fit on the seat.
    “Sorry about the chairs. I haven’t
managed to talk my beautiful wife around to the fact I liked my
office the way it was before. Don’t give up hope. As soon as I can
find out where she hid the stuff, I’ll bring the old sturdy
furniture back.” To hide the grin his boss’s words caused, Steropes
raised a hand, and rubbed it over his lips.
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw
a bright light. Looking down at his hand, he was stunned to notice
a few of his fingertips flickered vividly. Maybe he’d been skating
close to the edge as well. Not sure what to do, he quickly moved
his hands under his apron, and refocused on what Hephaestus was
saying.
    “Enough of that crap, tell me what
happened.”
    Being the man who possessed thunder,
Brontes usually spoke for them, and he looked over to ensure he
knew it was for him to take the lead. From the look he received,
Steropes knew his brother wasn’t happy to talk for them, but he
wasn’t in any shape to do it either. Not after discovering his
flashing light ability was still riding him, then he heard his
brother speak, and realized they’d all somehow been affected by
their problem with Cyra. She meant everything to each of them and
they were losing her to a pretty fanciful god.
    “Cyra told us she’s going to a
special celebration tonight for Dionysus,” his brother told their
boss with a rumbling tenor and explained why he hadn’t wanted to be
their voice.
    “So you said, but that doesn’t sound
bad. She’s a maenad isn’t she? They go to raves and release all
sense of reality on a regular basis. Is it because she’ll most
likely join the others and let go her common sense without you guys
there to protect her? Maybe even take another into her
body?”
    “Actually, she isn’t one of those
crazy women. Cyra’s often seen as one because she lived with them,
but really, she was simply a dedicated devotee. Besides, we don’t
begrudge her need to express herself spiritually. Our problem is
that we’re going to lose her for good because Dionysus will be
there and she’ll, once again, be drawn to him and his
beauty.”
    “Oh, yes,