Page 30

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Newlyweds

Prometheus:

T he moment my wife is finally on the other side of the wall, I revert to my default form. Then I limp toward the dining table and collapse onto the nearest couche.

Weakly, I grasp one of the kylixes and drag it where I can see the golden liquid swirling inside. It smells sweeter than honey— because it is. Ambrosia .

The mortals are still praying to their greatest enemy. How tragically ironic, but it’s good for me.

Throwing back the kylix , I drain the ambrosia dry. I feel my strength renew almost immediately. Mayhap if Atum’s followers sacrificed year round to him so he could always have ambrosia available, I wouldn’t have to betray him to Zeus. Of course, the way he’s a little too friendly with my wife might have driven me here anyway . . .

The world outside darkens as Zeus’ chariot arrives with its usual entourage of thunder and lightning. And then the Primordial himself is before me.

I lift my chin to better face the Guardian of the Firmament as he strides in. His hair— both what frames his face and what covers his jawline— is gold with traces of silver. His eyes are sky blue.

There is no covering over Zeus’ broad, bronze chest, since he wears only a Minoan kilt made of gold and matching sandals. Oh, and a scowl that is directed toward me.

Smirking, I lift my now empty kylix toward him. “Cheers.”

Zeus narrows his eyes at me. “What makes you think you are still welcome in my home?”

“The fact that I’m permitted inside, obviously.”

“I had hoped the storm and the Nubian Lion might have given you the message that I have grew tired of waiting for you.”

Putting the cup down, I swing around so that I’m leaning against the table. “Our mutual friend Atum had possession of a Tablet he was sure could change the tides of the war. I thought it would be foolish to leave without determining if it held information of such importance or not.”

Zeus narrows his eyes as he studies me. “And do you have this Tablet?”

“No. T the information turned out to be useless.” I try to keep my face falling, but I know Zeus misses nothing. “So anyway, I’m done with Atum, and I’m ready to swear my allegiance to you once I retrieve something my former master stole from me.”

“I hope this possession of yours isn’t flammable.”

I purse my lips and reach for my amber necklace. “Why would you say that?”

“Because the temple of Atum will burn at any moment.”

“Hebe!” I cry as I jump up from the couch.

“Where are you going?!” Zeus demands, thunder echoing his words.

I keep running, stretching out my arms that will shortly become a wingspan now that the ambrosia has refueled me. “I’m stealing back my wife.”

Hebe:

My hair flies straight behind me, and I feel the leather holding back my curls loosen. However, I cannot spare one of my hands to secure it since they’re too busy anchoring me as we soar straight down.

Then Pegasus Sia straightens out so that we’re flying horizontally rather than falling vertically. He’s not in time to save my leather band, but I’m still properly seated on him and not falling to my doom, so I consider it a win.

Now that we’re gliding, I can take in more of my surroundings other than the ground approaching way too quickly. There’s a bite in the wind we slice through, and the garment Prometheus picked out for me offers no protection. My only sources of warmth come from the Pegasus beneath me and Atum behind me. His arms are wrapped tightly around my waist so his fingers can grip Sia’s mane.

It doesn’t seem appropriate to have another man’s arms around me. I never thought I’d feel right in Prometheus’ embrace, but now everything else feels wrong.

Does Prometheus even care to embrace me now that he knows I will never become like him? Or will our flirtatious kisses become distant memories just like I shall be one day?

“Here we are,” Atum announces, sounding more relieved to be landing than I can conjure the energy for.

Here we are . . . but without the Fire. I have failed my people.

Why didn’t I just check the golden tower first ?

Sia lands, and then Atum is slipping off him. A moment later, he lifts me to the ground.

I wrap my arms around myself, still chilled even without the wind biting into me.

Atum doesn’t notice as he presses his hand to Sia’s long nose. “Thank you, friend.”

Sia whinnies, shaking his head. Then, after his wings flap for a few moments, he takes flight. He soars away from us much faster than when he had us on his back.

“Where is he going?” I ask.

“He is low on strength from his transformations, which causes his sight to dim. He hates that more than anything, so he is seeking ambrosia to restore it before he becomes paralyzed like Prometheus was.”

Well, I am certainly relieved Sia didn’t lose his strength while we were riding him!

I glance back at Atum’s temple, the grounds of which we stand just outside of. Sia’s sight must indeed be failing if he deposited us here instead of where we would be safe.

Atum doesn’t seem to care that we’re outside his protections, because he continues to stare at where Sia vanished from view. “It isn’t my season to receive sacrifices from the mortals, or else I’d provide for him from my store.” Atum’s shoulders droop. “No matter how hard I strive, I cannot protect all mortals. I cannot even return the support my closest friends offer me.”

Since I have no words of encouragement after my own failure, I just place a hand on Atum’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside so Zeus cannot strike us.” Between my near escape and then our impromptu flight, my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest.

I need to take a moment to just breathe. And then, I should probably try to rest. Preferably before Prometheus returns and I disgust him further with my mortality. That is, if he ever returns.

My heart pangs. If we cannot bond, is it even a marriage? Why would Prometheus return to me? To give me back my amber?

In that case, I have no choice but to return to Zeus’ temple. Not only must I save my people, but I also need to wash away my shame as a discarded bride. I don’t want to be remembered as the mortal who was burned for getting too close to a god. I’d rather perish trying to steal Fire and let that be my legacy.

Something flashes in the corner of my vision, and I turn to see an eagle descending from above.

Considering what I now know about the Primordials’ abilities, that is no mere bird. Zeus is coming.

Panic grips me, and I rush into Atum’s temple. I cannot be killed before I can save my people. For me to die now is to be remembered by my shame.

I’m not sure if the grounds are protected, so I keep running for the temple.

Then the loudest thunderclap I’ve ever heard knocks me from my feet, and the world is engulfed by flames.