Didn’t he know it? Triton was graced with his mother’s beauty: blonde hair, blue eyes, and a classical nose. Coupled with a perfect body, there wasn’t anything Triton could physically improve upon. There wasn’t a day that went by when he didn’t get a come hither look from a woman—Goddess or mortal. Or scornful looks from Gods or men who saw him as clear competition for the affections of their women. But it appeared that his good looks could become a hindrance in his quest to return home.

Triton tossed Eros a pissed off look. Why on earth had his friend—make that ex-friend—given him such bad advice? Eros’ smug smile said it all—he had a secret agenda. He’d wring the Love God’s neck as soon as Zeus was gone, and then afterwards, he’d find out Eros’ motives.

Hurt him first, ask questions later.

“You will also be stripped of all your godly powers while you reside on earth,” Zeus continued. “Any God helping you with your challenge will be punished.”

The big God let his gaze sweep over the crowd, lingering more than a few seconds on Eros and Hermes.

“This also goes for any Gods not assembled here today.”

Well, that took care of Dionysus then. The quartet was practically inseparable. But while he wasn’t present at Triton’s sentencing—and most likely out carousing somewhere in the human world—Dionysus would surely come to his aid if need be.

On Olympus, friendship meant more than kin—considering that with all the inbreeding going on, practically everybody was related anyway.

Both Hermes and Dionysus were his cousins, while Eros was a cousin twice removed (and if Triton could help it, completely removed after the stunt he’d just pulled, giving him such disastrous counsel).

“In addition,” Zeus droned on.

Was the old God still not done? What else could he add that would make this any worse than it already was?

“… any God found interfering with Triton’s efforts to secure the love of a mortal through his kindness and selflessness, shall be …” Zeus made a dramatic pause. In the silence that followed, one could have heard the tear of a virgin drop to the ground—not that there were any virgins left on Olympus thanks to the unquenchable libido of Zeus himself.

“… rewarded.”

Cheers greeted the free-for-all-let’s-screw-Triton-over announcement. His uncle was one sick bastard. Many of the Olympians were assembled, all wearing their long flowing tunics, some in white, some in more cheerful colors. Most faces looking back at Triton were familiar.

He spotted Artemis, who was decked out in her hunting gear, soft leather boots caressing her long muscular legs. Triton caught her eye and winked at her. When he was back after his sentence, he’d make a play for her. It would be fun, especially since he knew his annoying half-brother Orion coveted her too. Now that would be a worthy challenge: which brother would bed her first.

Now that Triton had received his punishment, he reconsidered his assessment of Danae, Zeus’ current mistress. Looking back, she hadn’t been such a great lay after all. At least she wasn’t worth the kind of harsh revenge Zeus had taken on him. All she’d done was lie there with her legs spread. She hadn’t even sucked his shaft. He was in the right mind to go back there and make her suck him off so at least the punishment fit the crime.

But of course, that wasn’t possible. Zeus would make sure he wasn’t going anywhere but down the mountain into mortal Greece. And he would keep a tight leash on his mistress from now on – that was, until he lost interest and moved onto somebody else. Which would probably happen even before Triton returned from Earth.

“So, it is done.” Zeus turned and walked across the terrace toward his opulent white marble palace.

“Off to Greece then,” Triton mumbled to himself.

Zeus spun around and gave him a nasty grin. “Greece? You’re not going to Greece.”

“But, where, if not—”

“You’re going to America.”

Triton’s heart missed a beat. America? The land of bad television, consumerism, and people obsessed with beauty? What were the chances of finding a woman there who could love him for anything but his beauty? While Triton often ventured into Greece and Italy for some erotic adventures, during which of course he had to disguise the fact that he was a God, he’d always avoided the Americas. They held no interest for him. Of course, Zeus knew that fact full well.

A moment later Zeus was gone, and the spectators dispersed. Triton looked over to where Eros and Hermes stood and noticed Orion grin just behind them. The God of the Hunters was a royal pain in their collective butts. There was no love lost between them. Triton graced him with an undignified look, but even now, Orion could barely contain his glee before he turned and walked away.