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Chapter Twenty-Six

The Newlyweds

Prometheus:

I t didn’t work. After years of searching and waiting, the Tablet’s secret knowledge proved theoretical rather than practical. I got married for a chance to read it, and all it contains are pretty lies.

In the past, I have only ever been able to completely transform into different species, but I tried to make my teeth into fangs without altering the rest of me. That proved to be beyond the scope of my abilities. Perhaps before the war that is something Primordials could do, but now there is no hope for peace.

I glare at the discarded Tablet that is no longer of use to me. Even worse, only part of my dismay comes from the false promises of enlightenment.

My glare shifts to the Firstborn, who is opening a rift between his two temples. Atum is sending my bride to die— and worse, it will be for nothing . Because even if Hebe does somehow successfully steal from Zeus, he will just find another super weapon to wield against mortals. It’s not as if we will have any way to dissuade him or his followers.

As for my disappointment, most of it centers around Hebe.

I glance down at my bride, who is watching Atum open a rift that resembles Sia’s illusion— except this one we can walk through since it reveals a new location rather than an old memory.

Hebe stares in wide-eyed wonder as her hand reaches for me.

Without the ability to bond, Hebe is no longer useful to me, but I still take her hand in mine and squeeze it.

Apparently, I wanted to bond with her more than I thought. Because now that a simple solution to ridding myself of the mortal I have no further need for has appeared, I don’t want it.

I just want her .

For the first time in my long life, my desires have nothing to do with some secret knowledge I must pursue. At least, not unless it is Hebe I am discovering and exploring.

Staring down at my wife, I want nothing more than to discover all the things that make her smile . . . and become a master of them. Her past, short as it may be, is a mystery I want to unravel. I want to be the first to discover when she takes on a new dream.

I want to know what it would feel like to hold her in my arms when I’m not paralyzed and I can simply enjoy her presence. I need her to teach me all the ways a mortal can kiss. More than anything, I desire to read her body like I read that Tablet, my fingers running over her soft skin.

Hebe turns from the now operational rift to offer me a soft smile, like she means to comfort me.

Unable to do anything else, I just stare down at her and wish I never met her. Yet somehow, I also long to have crossed paths with her sooner.

Not sure what to do with this building pressure within me, I press my lips to Hebe’s still damp hair. Its jasmine scent transports me once again to simpler times before this disappointment.

Mayhap we can still bond in the mortal way if we kiss enough . . .

Hebe glances up at me, confusion glittering in her eyes. After all, she didn’t compliment me.

Resisting the urge to keep kissing her despite that, I draw Hebe toward the rift. “I’ll keep ahold of you as we step through, so no need to fear.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Of course she isn’t; my little wife isn’t frightened of anything.

But suddenly, I’m terrified of losing her more than everything else that might come to pass.

Hebe:

Walking through a rift isn’t painful, but it is certainly unpleasant.

I am as cold as if I have been pushed into the river in the dead of winter. Suddenly, we’re standing in a different temple than before. I gasp for breath— not because I’m drowning but because I feel like I ought to be.

Thankfully, Prometheus’ hand clutching mine grounds me.

I give him a grateful smile before scanning our new surroundings.

While the similar columns here indicate that this is also a temple, its structure is quite different from what we left behind. For one thing, the columns— and almost everything else— are comprised of marble rather than gray stone.

The walls are open between columns, displaying grounds covered in every type of foliage. Vines wrap around almost every surface, making the temple look more like a tribute to the Guardian of Life than the one hewn out of a mountain. It is certainly more fitting for the one my people call the goddess of springtime . . .

I giggle despite my exhaustion— and possibly because of it.

Prometheus turns to me, looking absolutely flummoxed to hear me make such a noise. “What is it?”

“I’m just . . . taking in the wonder of Atum’s homestead.”

For some reason, my husband scowls at this. “I have a temple, too, you know. Mayhap not on the ‘oh-so-inspiring’ Mount Olympus, but I think you’d be impressed by my devotees’ architectural prowess.”

“You really have a temple?”

“Yes.” Prometheus sniffs in disgust at my ignorance. “I’ll show you if you like—” His eyes widen, and Prometheus seizes my other hand, too. “I can take you right now— open a rift and take you there now.”

“Doesn’t that expend your energy, though?” I glance past him to see Atum walking away from his now-closed rift. Atum doesn’t look weak as before, but it’s clear he’s winded.

Prometheus sniffs again. “I am not so weak that I can’t take my wife to my own temple .”

“But can you take me back here afterwards?”

“You won’t care to see this structure again once you witness all I have to offer you.”

What has gotten into him? Has our inability to practice the secret knowledge of the Tablet driven him to partial madness? “That may be true, but let us deal with this Fire business first. I will happily visit all your temples afterwards.”

Beyond Prometheus, I see Sia, the only other person to have walked through the rift before it closed, speaking to Atum. Sia nods before transforming into a green scarab and soaring out between the pillars.

My jaw drops, and I have to take a seat on one of the large stones decorating Atum’s gardens. I knew Prometheus and Atum could change their forms, obviously, but to transform so completely . . .

Prometheus is apparently as jealous of my focus as he is about my admiration of temples. He hooks a finger beneath my chin and tilts my face back toward him.

“There might not be an ‘afterwards,’” Prometheus whispers. “If we don’t go to see my temple now, you may never get to see it.”

“I hope that won’t be the case, but what else can I do? What do you want from me?”

Prometheus’ eyes burn with intensity as he steps closer to me. “Run away with me.”

For a moment, I can only stare at the strange earnestness in Prometheus’ gaze. I’ve only seen him like this while fighting for his life against the lion and reaching for the Tablet. How has anything to do with me become so important to him? I’m only his mortal bride.

But I’m also Hebe, and my village needs me.

Shaking my head, I step away from Prometheus’ touch. “Only cowards run.”

“ Hebe .”

Ignoring the heartbreak in my heartless husband’s voice, I stride past him to Atum. “Where is Zeus’ temple?”

Atum turns from studying his grounds. “I appreciate your urgency. I just sent Sia to spy on Zeus. Sia will alert me when Zeus turns homeward, but we mustn’t waste time.” Atum strides down marble stairs to a garden without a clear path— just flattened grass.

I begin to follow before looking back. “Prometheus, are you coming?”

“No.”

My foot slips, and I stumble into Atum’s startled arms. I turn back to my husband. “ No ?!”

“If you want to die, bride of mine, expect no help from me.”

With that, Prometheus himself takes the form of a falcon. Then he soars in the opposite direction of where Sia vanished to.

For the first time since I rescued him from the lion, Prometheus and I are separated.