Read Love's Forge for Free Online Page B

her years ago. I only told you I loved her, not counting on her confession to Alala. I guess you didn’t expect to hear she was my wife, did you? That she was married to me while she fucked you, when your son was born. She was my wife. ”
    Ares had to control his temper. He was at a great disadvantage at the moment. “I was surprised, and maybe a little hurt by her secrecy, but I didn’t try to win her back or manipulate her or attempt to exercise any hold over her.”
    “I find it hard to believe that revelation didn’t hurt your pride.”
    “Maybe it did, but I’m in love with Alala. I don’t need or want anyone else.”
    “It didn’t look that way in Aphrodite’s garden.”
    “What does she say?” He stood up and walked toward Hephaestus. “Where is she?”
    “Why do you care? She’s my wife to do with as I please.”
    Ares reached out and clutched the bars. He knew he couldn’t break them, but it felt good to channel his anger into pushing against them. “What have you done to her?”
    “Why would I hurt her? I love her.”
    “What did she say?”
    “She said it just happened. She doesn’t understand why.”
    “If you love her so much, why don’t you believe her?”
    “If it’s a spell, then what happened to it?”
    Ares slammed his hands against the bars. “Spells wear off! Someone is angry with one of us. I don’t know who, but someone has done this to cause all of this trouble.”
    “Trouble?”
    Ares scowled at him. “Yes, I would call this trouble. Being attacked, kidnapped and imprisoned seems like trouble to me.”
    “I only wanted the truth, and I don’t have it yet.” He turned and walked away. “Perhaps later you’ll be willing to talk.”
    The torches went out one by one.
    “If you hurt her, I swear you’ll pay for it!”
    Ares found himself in darkness and silence again. He sat down on the ground and leaned against the bars.
    “Alala. Where are you? Do you even know something’s wrong?” He sighed as he imagined her worrying what had happened. Did anyone know he and Aphrodite were missing? He didn’t know how long it had been. How would anyone know where to begin looking?
    He didn’t know who would want to hurt them like this, but he vowed he wouldn’t rest until he found them and made them pay. He’d tried calling Alala and his mother, tried reaching out to find Aphrodite, but of course Hephaestus had thought of that. The cage probably inhibited all his powers and even his strength. He’d never before considered how powerful an enemy his half-brother would be. He’d always seen his amazing powers as a strength because he’d never thought the two of them would be anything but allies. Hephaestus’ powers had certainly saved Persephone when Thanatos had kidnapped her. That was when Hephaestus and Ares had talked about Aphrodite, the day Ares had learned Hephaestus still loved her.
    He’d had a hard time believing it at first, but in some ways it made sense. It explained a lot about Aphrodite’s behavior at times, her attitudes toward love, and her desperate attempts to love Ares even while she’d kept his being Eros’ real father a secret. She’d been running away from something else. He’d been shaken when Alala told him about her secret marriage. Did Aphrodite love Hephaestus? Was she afraid to love him? Would he hurt her?
    Ares shook his head. Despite how angry Hephaestus was, Ares knew he would not hurt Aphrodite. He wouldn’t rape her, and Ares doubted he would even hit her. She might be locked up, but she would be unharmed. He knew firsthand how insane Aphrodite could make any man, but one sad or frightened look from her would also stop a man in his tracks. He and Aphrodite had fought heatedly and passionately and often in their time, even physically on occasions, but that had been about sex. It had always been about sex.
    Aphrodite deserved to find love and be happy, though he’d heard her say dozens of times it wasn’t possible. What had she meant