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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Prometheus

O nce upon a time, soaring as a bird was an excellent distraction from my troubles. I could enjoy my breeze, my brain racing through every possibility of gifting flight to my default form by some invention since I was not gifted with a flying chariot like Zeus was.

Now, though, all my troubles from my last form just follow me into this one. I want to keep Hebe, but I can’t. Not forever. Not if we can’t bond and my lifespan cannot lengthen hers.

Not if she is found out by Zeus and killed this very day.

Since Sia is monitoring Zeus, I cannot risk reaching out to the Guardian of the Firmament when I will be found out. Sia can see through any form I might take.

But I also can’t do as I told Hebe I would— wash my hands of her and put distance between us. Not while she still breaths, and there is a chance to keep her doing so.

I only need to be clever enough to figure out how.

Since I am apparently tethered to Hebe even if we are not bound, I soar up Mount Olympus. Zeus’ temple is positioned on the highest ledge, since his domain is the sky. That, and he enjoys looking down at all of us as he pretends to be king.

Atum has taken my bride around the exterior side of the grounds. Just because even though Zeus is out of residence doesn’t mean the Entities and Nymphs who answer to him are.

In fact, from this bird’s-eye view, I can see both Aeres and Aphrodite lounging in the rear gardens. I don’t think Aphrodite has any allegiance to Zeus— or to any Firstborn— but she is Ares’ beautiful shadow. So, like me, she can still have access to Zeus’ temple as a neutral figure who may yet become a committed ally.

The gate entrance at the front is also unsafe since half a dozen men are gathered together. I sense no power from them like I would with a Primordial. Are they . . . mortals ?

They seem jolly for mortals in Zeus’ clutches, but they appear to be leaving. All the better, because that’s one fewer obstacle for Hebe. The son of War is quite enough.

Those mortals must be how Zeus is sustaining as much power as he is despite his war against the people he is designed to serve. He keeps a passel of them as pets. As long as he keeps order in the Firmament and has a few mortals he directly protects— if only for them to generate ambrosia from their gratitude— he will be unstoppable.

I circle the temple again— it is quite a lot to cover. There is a silver tower for the moon on one side and a gold tower for the sun on the other with a massive marble expanse between. But I return to where Atum appears to be finishing his list of dangers Hebe must be aware of. Which is ironic, since he can’t even see the Nymph on the other side of the fence striding straight toward them. Not that the Nymph sees them yet; her focus is on a small creek winding near the fence.

Granted, Nymphs aren’t much of a threat even to mortals— at least, when there’s only one of them and they can’t swarm. But this Nymph could raise an alarm that might summon Ares, and he is certainly a threat.

Swooping down, I land behind the Nymph— a naiad, considering the tinge of blue to her skin. Then I take the form of Ares despite the strain of two transformations in a row weighing on me. But I only need to take one last form today, and I have strength enough for that.

Sensing my presence, the Nymph whirls around, the lily pads sewn together into a chiton swirling around her knees. Her eyes widen, and she drops to her knees. “Great Ares.”

“Aphrodite and I require these grounds for ourselves for the rest of the day. Go play in another river.”

Nodding quickly, the naiad stands and rushes toward the front gate the mortals disappeared out of.

I watch her go before summoning all my strength and taking the last form I can before I have to revert or risk becoming paralyzed with exhaustion.

Shrinking, I smooth my now blue-tinted fingers over my lily pad skirt. It feels far too breezy now that I have transformed my chiton into it. I wonder if it was the naiad’s choice to dress so, or if it was some perverted request from Zeus.

Either way, it’s no concern of mine. I dive behind one of the thicker trees at the sound of movement on the other side of the wall.

When I peek out from behind the tree, I find the top of Hebe’s head looking out over the fence. She scans the area, and I hide again so she won’t be alarmed. Then again, that actually might work for me . . .

I step out from behind the tree just as Hebe hits the ground, her back to me.

Striding forward, I smile. “I thought Zeus sent all his mortals away for the day.”

Hebe jolts and whirls to face me, her back slamming against the wall. “I-I—”

“Your people just went that way.” I gesture toward the front grounds. “But if you climb over the wall now, you might catch them.

My wife glances back at the marble wall, like she’s considering whether she’ll accept the easy way out.

Instead of being clever, though, my bride chooses courage.

Hebe turns back to me. “Actually, I’m here for a separate task— sent by Zeus himself.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. He would like me to clean his urns.”

I scowl, wishing I had just chosen Ares’ form and scared her into submission. But since I depleted all my strength, there’s no going back now. I can’t change my course, but I can guide Hebe’s.

The only problem is, I don’t actually know where Zeus keeps the Fire, only where he keeps his traps because just having wards isn’t enough for him. So, I have no choice but to nod at Hebe. Otherwise, she might run off— and then she would most certainly perish.

Resisting the urge to reach for the amber necklace that is adorning my default form, I nod. “Follow me this way, sweet maiden. Do not turn from my path either to the right or to the left, and I shall take you safely through this. Only by following my instructions perfectly shall you survive.”