A Contemporary Mythos Yuletide (Contemporary Mythos Holidays) by Carly Spade

Author:Carly Spade [Spade, Carly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

L A U R E L

I’d thrown on one of my favorite mortal-owned sweater dresses and spent most of the day perfecting the decorations in the cabin with cute Tomte gnome figures, more sprigs of mistletoe hanging in random doorways, glowing paper star lanterns, Yule goats made of straw tied together with red ribbon and several more candles. I’d also conjured, wiped away, and conjured again so many different food options and organizations of the table, Apollo couldn’t help but laugh at me. And I couldn’t blame him, I was making this about as stressful as a mortal holiday when everything was available to me with a snap of my fingers. I just wanted it to be perfect.

“Sweetheart,” Apollo soothed, running his strong hands up and down my arms. “The place looks and smells amazing. Why don’t you take a breather before the real stress starts?”

“Real stress? What from the guests?” I stuck my bottom lip out at him.

“I know I can be a hardhead, Laur, but I’m not a total idiot. You and Elani have gotten pretty close this past year, and wherever she goes, he goes.”

He was right. Elani and I quickly became good friends, and I couldn’t imagine a yule celebration without her here. But as much as my husband tried to promise a drama-free gathering whenever around Eros, it never happened. It’d start as friendly banter between the two, which would escalate into jabbing and eventually plunge into flat-out insults. Perhaps the feeling in the air that the solstice provided, the rejuvenation, would help avoid it.

“It’ll be fun.” I gave him a quick hug. “I promise, and I also invited your sister.” After patting his chest, I turned away, busying myself with adjusting the placement of the ham on the table, knowing that one would definitely surprise him.

“Artie?” Apollo stood dumbfounded. “And she accepted?”

“I can be rather likable.” I popped an olive into my mouth, grinning at him. “Or haven’t you noticed?”

A devilish grin played over his lips, and he pulled me to him, cupping my butt with both hands, kneading it through the dress. “Oh, I’ve definitely noticed, Sparky.”

We started kissing just as the doorbell rang, and I pulled away with a yelp. Xanthia barked at the door, turning circles as she kept looking at it, waiting for me to acknowledge her.

“Good girl, Xanth.” I patted her head, gave Apollo a quick peck on the cheek, and whisked the door open.

Elani and Eros stood on the porch with a baby girl in their arms. She had fiery red ringlets of hair, and her small hands made grabbing gestures at Elani’s face.

“Happy Solstice,” Elani said, beaming. “Hope you don’t mind the extra guest?”

I laughed and held my finger out for the baby to grab. “Mind? Why on Olympus would I mind?”

“You know you two didn’t need to come through the front door?” Apollo shook his head as he pulled his long blonde hair into a bun at the base of his neck.

Eros grinned as he ushered Elani inside.

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