Part 4

"Thank you" She breathed, blinking at the person in front of her.

There was something about him. Something about the way he was staring at her like she's the only one in the room. Or maybe it's just all in her head. Stepping back, the moon princess squirmed on her feet, nervous about others eyes on them.

"These parties can get a bit overcrowded sometimes" He flashed his pearly whites at her.

That's when she realised that he was still talking to her. Talia hummed under her breath, choosing not to elaborate on that. She hated these kinds of socialising activities, but he didn't need to know that.

"I see Goddess Hera has invited everyone in the Underworld. How are you enjoying this then?"

Talia grimaced and took another sip of her cocktail. "It's not all bad." She bristled, trying to look around and find a positive thing to say about it.

His lips twitched at that. Lukas arched his brow. "You mean you're enjoying so many people pressed against each other with their never-ending gossip?"

That's it. She couldn't hold it any longer. Talia let out a low laugh and glanced over to the large windows by her side. They've moved to a table along the other side of the room and look to be in deep conversation. "Oh, I'm sure they're talking about the difficulties being in the presence of so many higher gods and goddesses or the drabness of the decor." The moon princess glanced back at him. "Those are their most popular topics at the moment."

"You are very strange," Lukas said with a grin.

"You have no idea," She responded truthfully.

Lukas narrowed his eyes like she a jigsaw puzzle, but there's a noticeable quirk to his lips like he enjoyed the challenge of solving her. And then there's the ever-present unabashed hunger, sometimes revealed in a quick glance or a once-over. Talia was aware that she's looking at him the same way. At his lips that appear like fresh fruit. She wanted to taste them.

"How about I get you another drink?" Lukas suddenly asked.

Talia shouldn't. Something about the way the God of wine made his booze affected her. The most expensive, finely crafted spirits are the worst. Cheap and colourful wines was something she can drink like water. A quick glance across the shelves behind the wall says there's enough of both.

But she's spent too much time ruminating on this and Lukas was beginning to smile like he's gotten some upper hand, like he's pulled a rug from under her. Not a chance.

"Sure. Why not?" Talia blinked.

There's something cunning about his smile after she agreed to it. She narrowed her eyes a fraction, then inclined her glass to him. They tap them together, throw the sharp liquid back, and overturned their glasses on the bar top. Lukas licked a dash of salt from the top of his hand and stuck a lime into his mouth. The moon princess watched in fascination as he tilted his head back, screwing his eyes shut as the bitter liquid burned his throat.

Talia had the pleasure of watching plenty of people have their drinks, but she's never enjoyed it this much.

He turned towards her, his brows furrowed together like he was deep in thought. They always are.

Talia licked her lips. "You look like you have a lot of questions."

"You inspire a lot of intrigues" He grinned and then gestured widely behind himself, an open door leading to the exit. Talia caught the look on his face to know what he's trying to say. She nodded her head and followed him outside.

"Sit with me?"

The Greeks were the ones who gave meaning to the olive branch in the first place, and this certainly feels like one being extended right now. Talia shouldn't, she knew that; her step mother herself — who really is a perfectly well-behaved goddess for others but in reality just a jealous old thing — would roll right off her throne if she knew that Talia brought a Titan to her temple. If she was in a really bad mood, something like this might even start a war, and Talia would never hear the end of it from her father.

Then again, they are all indulged with something or other, and no one would bother to check up on her. When she didn't respond for a while, Lukas looked up, "Please?" and, for some reason, that worked.

Talia inclined her head, and the sun gods son once more grinned, wide and dimpled, his eyes alight. He gestured again, and she fell in step, the two of them weaving across the lonely roads outside of the gates.

They're outside the edge of the Olympian sanctuary, a sacred spot of land on top of a hill. The sanctuary was blocked in by thick walls, huge trees and ceiling with solid rocks.

The moon princess stared at the steep stairs she'd come to despise because they always messed with her dress. Lukas simply forwarded his hand towards her, and she didn't seem to complain, voluntarily following him to the other side. Her step mother's temple was the first building they came across, modest compared to the temple of her husband but no less powerful in her eyes, pulsing with the ancient sigils and seals meant to keep immortals away. They were invisible to the eyes of the humans or any devilish creatures for that matter.

The boundary line around the temple made by bleached stone columns, was Hera's defence to keep out anyone unwelcome. But Talia was a moon princess who's more powerful enough to sneak in and out without anyone noticing. Not that she would ever admit to doing that. Her father would unnecessarily grill her, so she kept it her secret.

"These are the famous Greek temples then huh," Lukas said as they took a seat on the bench near another fountain. The stone wasn't really comfortable, but its cold in the middle of the night. It's that or the dirty grass. They didn't have many options.

"Yeah" The moon princess slurred.

The harsh wind nipped at her skin, blowing her hair in the process.

Lukas wasn't anything like anyone but, again, that's not exactly something she can say. He dithered for a moment, watching a hawk dip overhead. It's quiet here, among the silent stone and trickling fountains, the statues not able to give away any of the Olympus secrets. From the corner of her eyes, Talia noticed a guard approaching them. He had a grim look on his face, and a knife clutched to his side. Most of them carried weapons around as if they were at war.

As soon as he noticed Talia, his eyes widened, but he simply greeted her. She worked her lips in between her teeth, worrying that the guard might snitch about them to someone. That's something Hera would enjoy.

"Prince" He whispered to Lukas, his head bowed down. "Son of Zeus is calling for you. He has been looking for a while now."

"I have to go," Lukas let out a sigh, his tone apologetic as he stood on his feet.

The guard flickered a curious glance between both of them but didn't say a word.

It was evident that he didn't want to leave without Lukas following him. That annoyed her. Still, meandering, somewhat meaningless conversations couldn't last forever. She had to wave her hand. "It's fine, Prince."

He pressed his lips together. "That's not my name."

Talia just grinned. He was very easy to tease. They stared a smile, the bemused one, like it's a private joke between them. The guard cleared his throat, so Lukas had to bow down and turn around.

He followed the guard, his feet dragging forcefully with each step he took towards the castle. The sanctuary seemed duller now, even the sigils on the temples pulsing less brightly than they were before; sound rushed back in now that the moon princess was all alone.

"Will you be here tomorrow?"

She suddenly jumped, startled at his tone and turned around. Lukas was there once more, watching her, his back leaned against a white pillar. Not quite pleadingly, not entirely hopeful. She just couldn't figure it out. Like he's already resigned to a no, and he's telling himself there's still hope.

There's something about him that made Talia want to say yes, that told her Lukas wanted it too.

But she's busy the entire day tomorrow. After what seemed like ages her sisters agreed to watch flowers blooming garden, just for her. And also her father wanted to have dinner with her as he rarely did that because of his busy schedule. Then again, Talia can do those things later. It's not like they would be disappointed in her. She'll put on her best smile to convince them so that they can forgive her for making another plan.

"Yes," She whispered. "I'll be here."

The smile on his face was worth the lies.

***