Page 9 of Make Mine Nymph

He can’t even argue. Then again, the way his warmth ekes out, caressing me when I call him ‘baby’ in front of the other two, I don’t think he gives a shit. In his mind, he probably thinks he did win.

And if all goes according to plan tonight, so will I.

Does that stop Noelle’s expression from turning absolutely smug as her husband gives her a proud squeeze of congratulations?

Not even a little.

“Yeah,” She leans into Hunter. “I figured.”

CHAPTER 5

FOREVER

ALEX

My arm is completely healed before we arrive at the palace.

I expected as much. Though I refused to use Apollo’s power to cover up the slight gash, I didn’t need to. Gods in the Other have amazing regenerative properties. There was no way to keep the skin from knitting together.

Daphne seems a little disappointed when she notices. That catches my attention. Knowing her as well as I do by now, I thought she’d join my sister in teasing me for losing the contest to Noelle—or how my twin finally got her revenge on me for taking that fateful shot at the huntsman so long ago. Zeus, I love her, but Daphne is the kind of woman to scoff and tell me to suck it up. For her to coo over such a slight injury has me on my guard.

Just what did those two talk about while me and Hunter were banished from the cabin?

When I ask her, she refuses to answer. I do, however, notice an enchanting glimmer in her forest green eyes. She’s plotting something, my nymph is, and from the way she keeps finding excuses to touch me on our walk back… I’m happy to leave her to it.

I’ve grown to crave her skin brushing against mine. All I have to do is feel the slight spark that passes between us—a sign that our souls both recognize and are meant for each other—and if I wasn’t already hard as stone, I’d be halfway there.

Like now. Whenever Daphne glances away, checking to see if we’re closing in on Apollo’s palace, I palm my erection, trying to tame it before the tent in my chiton catches her attention.

Pity that, as I’m trying to get control of one snake, another betrays me.

As if he can sense our approach—which, of course, he can—Pytho slithers out of his moat, greeting us on the edge of my territory.

The giant python is a reminder of my complicated history with Cassandra, the witch in the woods. When I first arrived in the Other, she wasn’t too happy to have to deal with another Apollo so soon after hers left her behind. I… didn’t make it any easier on her, and when she conjured a reborn python for Apollo to battle, I proved I was more than just the sun god when I used his skills to make the giant snake my pet instead of a kill.

She thought I was being cheeky. I guess I was.

Now, as I watch Pytho coil and move across the hard ground before rising up, bumping his head against Daphne’s outstretched hand, I find myself fighting back a scowl.

I know they get along. Of all the nymphs, Daphne is the only one that Pytho has taken a liking to. On the rare times I have to leave her behind at the palace because of Apollo’s duties, she usually spends her days sitting with my python. As she says, it’s better than gossiping with the other nymphs, but I’ve seen her sneak meat from dinner.

My Daphne is a vegetarian. The meat is a treat for Pytho, and I know because I bring him some myself.

Still, it’s not my legs that the snake is wrapping himself around. It’s Daphne’s, and the scowl finds its way to my face after all when I notice how the hem of her golden dress hikes higher the more Pytho coils around her.

She laughs in greeting, then, in her thick New York accent, says, “Yeah, yeah, I missed you, too. Now get down. Come on. Down you get.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Pytho is trying to steal you away from me.”

He better not. I might have saved the massive snake to make a statement to Cassandra—the first of many times I purposely subverted her expectations of me—but apparently I’m a jealous enough man that I can’t even stand the idea of Pytho taking affection that should be mine.

Just like my nymph should only be mine.

It’s ridiculous. Especially after my brief discussion with Orion, I know better than to think that Daphne would choose any other soul in the Other over me, including my pet.

I don’t hide my jealousy well. Daphne gets one good look at me, chuckles under her breath, then nudges Pytho a little more forcefully.

“I’m glad to be home, too, Pytho. But I gotta go inside. I’ll see you later.” She glances at me. “Tomorrow. I’ll come visit you in the morning.”