“Such a romantic,” Ewen teased, but his smile showed his teeth, and his fox was clearly content.
They ordered the tasting menu, and each course was better than the last. Beetroot with goat cheese and walnut. Pikeperch with celery root and brown butter. Venison with juniper and autumn vegetables. All fresh and beautifully cooked.
In between courses, Ewen shared stories about his mom and some of the weird creations she’d come up with for them to eat when money was tight. Rather than it being a depressing conversation, Lamont could see how special it was that Ewen was sharing those memories with him. It was clear that a lot of Ewen’s work ethics and caring nature came from the woman who’d loved him first.
“What’s the first thing you want to do in Santorini?” Ewen asked, stealing a bite of Lamont’s venison.
“Besides you?”
Ewen choked on his mouthful, his cheeks flushing. “Lamont.”
“What? I’m being honest.” Lamont grinned. “But after that, I think it would be really romantic to be cuddled up somewhere comfy, watching the sunset. They’re supposed to be spectacular.”
“Wow, Ali has rubbed off on you.” Ewen chuckled as he reached for his glass. “I didn’t hear any mention of museums or archaeological sites.”
“Well,” Lamont drew out the word. “Santorini is the home of the ancient city of Akrotiri,” he admitted. “The consort might have forgotten about that when he suggested it. It was buried by a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE. It’s remarkably well preserved, and I haven’t actually visited there yet. But I promise I won’t spend all our time there.”
“Just most of it.”
“No,” Lamont said quickly. “The consort will want details about our holiday, so…maybe just a few hours? On a rainy day when it isn’t much fun being on the beach?”
Ewen laughed. Through their bond, Lamont felt his mate’s happiness, the simple joy of being together without worrying about anyone or anything else. It was an addictive feeling, and Lamont mentally saluted Lord Hades’s mate. Consort Ali did have good ideas, even if he was pushy about them.
Dessert was a dark chocolate mousse with sea salt and olive oil, paired with a sweet wine that complemented it perfectly. Ewen hummed with appreciation, sucking the last of the sweet treat off his spoon with a happy sigh.
“After the story publishes” - Ewen said quietly as he put down his spoon and pushed his finished bowl aside - “and the FBI makes their arrests, what are we going to do then?”
“Then we go to New York, so you can pack whatever you want from your house, and then we’re translocating straight to Greece.” Lamont had already planned it out. “Two weeks, minimum. Beach, sunshine, food, wine. With a few ancient ruins thrown in if you’re feeling generous.”
“I think I can manage that.” Ewen’s foot found his under the table. “And after Greece?”
Lamont realized they’d never really had the chance to talk about the benefits of being with a freelancing hellhound. “We can go and do whatever you want. We could stay in New York if you prefer, or divide time between there and my other houses. I have places in London, Cairo, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. We can travel for work or take more vacation time.
“What I’ve noticed about my other mated packmates is that some of them will travel until they find the place that speaks to them, and then they buy a home together. I think it was Patrick who said he wanted to do that. I figure we can’t go wrong by doing something similar. We’ll go places, stay as long as we like, and then move on when we feel like it. Your days of deadlines and clocking in are done, my precious. I have eleven packmates who can’t wait to meet you, and they’re spread all over the world.”
“That’s a lot of options.”
“You’re my mate,” Lamont said simply. “Wherever you are is home to me, so I don’t really care where we are.”
A flood of emotions seeped through their bond. Ewen was still getting used to the fact that he was loved and accepted, but he was getting better at it. Lamont reached over the table and squeezed his hand, letting his own feelings answer.You’re mine. Always. Just the same as I am yours.
As they finished their wine, Lamont shared stories from his early years on Earth and how much of a culture shock it was living among mortals and having to hide what he was. He had Ewen laughing as he explained about how some of the simple things mortals took for granted, Lamont had to learn.
“Wait,” Ewen interrupted. “You’re telling me you didn’t know what money was?”
“The Underworld doesn’t use currency. Demons barter favors, and Lord Hades provides everything we need.” Lamont grimaced at the memory. “The first time someone asked me to pay for something, I just stared at them, hoping they’d explain, and then when they didn’t, I just shrugged and then quickly walked away - leaving the goods behind, of course. It took me two weeks watching locals interact with each other, all whilestaying completely hidden, before I understood the concept of money, both working for it and using it to pay for goods and services. It was a totally foreign concept to me at the time.”
“How did you survive?”
“I still had my clicky fingers, so it’s not like I starved. I was stronger than most, so there was always work around, and as the years passed, I managed to accrue more money than I could ever spend. Now all our accounts and investments are handled by the Zeus network, but I got pretty good at finding ways to make money well before all that happened.”
“Sitting with you now, it’s difficult to remember sometimes, just how old you are,” Ewen said, his grin showing he was teasing.
“Does it bother you?”
“Not really. You don’t act ancient.” Ewen’s grin turned wicked. “Well, except when you start talking about the historical accuracy in the movies we watch. That’s when your old age starts showing.”
“I can’t help it. They keep getting things wrong,” Lamont protested. “Do you know how many films set in ancient Rome have completely…”