The Forgotten Witch

13 ~ Melinoe

Melinoe knew her incubus would be angry with her, and she felt a touch of apprehension as she uncorked the vial and watched Josef's form escape in a long, smoky wisp. As he took shape inside her kitchen, she was reminded of his impressive height and broad shoulders, and the wings added even more to his ethereal presence, although it was not his wings that impressed her the most.

Melinoe found herself staring at Josef's manhood as his body became solid. It had been his physical prowess in bed that attracted her all those years ago. He was Josef the Vanquisher. The most feared Viking of the Norwegian Sea. And she was Melinoe, the goddess who did not fear him. So why the apprehension now? It certainly wasn't fear. Was it guilt?

"Welcome to my home, Josef." Although Melinoe offered her most cordial greeting, her patronizing tone was unavoidable, and she lowered her eyes in a quick bid for leniency. It probably wouldn't help.

"Save it." Josef snapped as he fluttered his wings aggressively, knocking a jar of rose hips from her counter. Fortunately, it didn't break, and he stopped it from rolling with his bare foot. "Why have you brought me here? I assume it's for some diabolical plot."

Melinoe acknowledged him with a repentant nod. "You know me too well, which is a credit to our lasting relationship. Whether you believe me or not, I share more of myself with you than I do with my fellow gods."

"Strangely, I believe you."

Melinoe ignored his judgmental tone and continued easing into the sensitive topic of her plan, which was not a diabolical plot. "I have a favor to ask. Something I think you'll enjoy. Of course, you didn't give me a chance to do that back at the lake."

Josef grimaced. "We spent the entire evening together. You had plenty of time to ask your favor. But since you have already dragged me here against my will, get on with it then get me the hell out of here."

While Melinoe didn't appreciate his attitude, she let his insolence go. She needed him. "I would like you to seduce a goddess, and, with any luck, break up a marriage."

"Really?" Josef huffed in her face, and she felt the whisper of his essence touch her skin. "You brought me all the way to the underworld for that? I could die here, and all you care about is taking revenge on someone?"

"It's not revenge, it's self-preservation. I need this to happen or I'm going to snap."

Josef threw his hands in the air and began pacing her kitchen, kicking the fallen jar across the granite tiles. "Okay, humor me. Who is this goddess?"

"Alexandra, but she comes to Lexi - Zeus's perfect little demigod and the new queen of the underworld. Hades claims he's in love with her, but I don't think that's true. I know dark things about him that he would never share with Lexi. Things he has abandoned. I'm sure he must miss them. I've done what I can, but there doesn't seem to be a single god in Olympus to tempt them away from each other."

Josef gave Melinoe a haughty look as he stopped in front of her. His rugged appeal only enhanced his scowl. "Are you still clinging to the delusion of moving into Hades's bed? I thought you put that pipedream to rest centuries ago."

Melinoe had to swallow her pride to humor Josef's insinuations. She knew Hades would never make her queen, but there were other things he could do for her. "I don't need his bed, just him, and if I can do that by proving Lexi isn't the omniscient goddess everyone thinks she is, then I'm back in. If anyone can tempt her away from Hades, it's you, Josef."

Again, Melinoe's compliments were met with a curt head shake. "And what about Persephone? Does she still have privileges at the palace?"

"No. She is full-time with Eros in Olympus. Hades and Lexi are monogamous, and it's spreading. Other gods are choosing the same path. Even Poseidon has joined the pathetic game."