Chapter 214 - Aphrodite Blessing

"I'm going to take care of that boy," Drako said.

The gods looked back at the dragon.

"We cannot have someone so dangerous to us in the hands of an outsider," Zeus said.

"Lord Zeus, he is not an outsider," Artemis took a step front. "He is one of my Hunters, and I trust him."

"I have to say that I prefer the boy being with the dragon rather than with Kronos," Athena said.

"Still, we can't let him get out of our sight," Zeus denied.

An idea passed through Drako's head.

"We can do it like this," Drako explained. "There are still two years before Percy turns sixteen. How about you let Nico come with me these two years, and I will return him back to you if Percy is not the chosen one?"

The gods turned silent again. They were thinking carefully about this idea of Drako.

Even before the gods could talk, someone took the courage to do it.

"Please, I beg you… Don't kill my little brother."

It was Bianca. Drako has been seeing how she was trembling all this time. They talked about her little brother like he was a threat to Olympus when he was only a little kid who loves playing a card game.

"Let's start voting," Zeus said. "who is in favor of letting Hades child go with Drako?"

Some hands were raised.

1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…

Eight hands were raised.

Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter, Athena, Hephaestus and Hermes.

The ones who didn't vote were Ares, Dionysus, Poseidon, and Zeus.

"It is decided then," Zeus said. "You can have Nico di Angelo. But where are you going to be?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Even if you are going to take the kid under your custody, we need to know more or less, where is his location."

"Japan," Drako said. He wasn't going to tell anything more.

Anyways, Artemis already know where he lived.

Zeus nodded.

"Now, about the Ophiotaurus."

"This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is temptation of great power. Even if we spare the boys—"

"No," Percy said. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him."

"And why should we trust you?" rumbled Hephaestus.

Poseidon stood. "I will not have a sea creature destroyed if I can help it. And I can help it."

He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty-foot-long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

"You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargain chip in your possession."

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus' lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with ozone's smell.

Those were the two divine weapons that Drako was wary of. Just like he thought, they were really powerful. They were at the level of a strong Noble Phantasm, maybe at the strongest Noble Phantasm or even greater.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

A lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained, along with Ares and Athena. But everybody else…

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes… I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begins."

...

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever got a choice, go for the Olympian.

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and Drako realized the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever, and it was all the same soundtrack. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station—just requests to crank it up.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground. A beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time.

Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas. His goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"

Gods kept coming over to congratulate Drako for his promotion to Great Dragon King. Thankfully, they had reduced themselves to human size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet. Hermes started chatting with him, but he got a call on his caduceus and walked away.

Apollo told Drako that he could drive his sun chariot any time, and if he ever wanted archery lessons— "Thanks," Drako told him. "But seriously, I don't need your help with archery."

"Ah, nonsense," he said. "Target practice from the chariot as we fly over the U.S? Best fun there is!"

"Sure, sure," Drako said. "Let's talk about it another day."

Drako moved through the crowds that were dancing in the palace courtyards. He didn't have anything special to do, so he was just observing through the party.

He gave permission to Zoe to do as she wanted during the party; she probably was with Thalia, Bianca, and Artemis.

Percy was talking with his father, and Drako couldn't see that other demigod girl, Annabeth.

Drako caught a sweet smell, and a pair of arms hugged him from behind. Two large pompous circles rested on his back, two fairly large tits.

"What do you want, Aphrodite?" Drako asked.

"Don't be so harsh, dragon," The Goddess of Love said, still embracing him from behind. "I couldn't resist myself from hugging you, you know? It was really difficult to withstand these urges back in the throne room. Your smell, your body, your nerves... all about you is so damn hot…"

"Your husband and your lover are here, you know?" Drako said. "I think that you are the one with big nerves."

"Those two? Pah," she spat. "Those two are two big fools. They are so boring, no one of them has the nerves to raise his hand against those two brothers or the rest of the council. But you… sigh… you are so brave."

"Stop it already." Drako separated himself from Aphrodite.

"Are you scared of those fools, Drako?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm not scare, just wary," Drako said. "But not of them. I'm wary of you. The Goddess of Love… you are the only terrifying God here."

"Hmm…" Aphrodite put the finger on her seductive lips. Then, she approached Drako and hugged his arm. "You are talking about the power of love, huh? Yeah, it's powerful. Really powerful. But… don't you want this power for yourself?"

Drako frowned. "What do you mean?"

"As long as you can give me what I want, I'll do whatever it takes to help you," she said as she held her mouth to Drako's ear. Aphrodite blew, causing Drako to shiver a little. "The power of love, I will lend it to you. You can do what you want with me, you can make me do what you want..."

"What do you want?" Drako asked.

This offer was very tempting, extremely tempting. The power of Aphrodite... Drako could make good use of it.

"Life in Olympus has become very boring. Nothing is happening lately; the arrival of Kronos is the most interesting thing in many years... However, that's not the entertainment I'm looking for." She kissed his cheek and ran her hand across his chest."What I seek is the most interesting love story, and you can give it to me."

Drako sighed. He understood what she was trying to say. They had had a similar conversation a few days earlier.

"What an interesting and classic story of the hero overcoming hardsh.i.p.s, defeating the wicked and taking on beauties. The goddess got excited by herself as she spoke. It was obvious from the blush on her face that there was no shame in it. "Beauties of all kinds, even those who have sworn to love no man..."

"I have understood you..." Drako sighed. Then, in a surprise move for the goddess, he grabbed her voluptuous b.r.e.a.s.ts. "So why don't I start capturing these beauties?"

The goddess opened her eyes in surprise but then smiled, "Yes, you can start. But... let me give you my blessing first."

Aphrodite looked at Drako, and then she sealed her lips with his.

[Title Skill [Aphrodite Blessing] acquired.]

[Magic Boost!]

[Special Skill [Endless Stamina] obtained]

[Resistance Skill [Magic Resistance] level up from 7 to 8]

[Normal Skill [Charm] obtained]