I give in to the gravity of her presence and cross to stand in front of her. I like the little line that appears between her brows when she frowns at me. I even like that her mind is already whirling ahead of this conversation to what she needs to accomplish next. That’s not going to stop me from slamming her back into the here and now. “I can’t keep you safe if I’m not with you, Psyche.”
“Do you really think your mother will regroup that fast?”
More like I know she’s capable of it. Even without me helping her, Aphrodite hasn’t held power for so long without good reason. She’s a formidable enemy. “I think it would be a large waste of time and effort if we went through all this negotiation and then she had someone rig an explosive to your car while you’re out running errands.”
She frowns at me. “That seems extreme.”
“We’ve gone over this. There’s a reason a very public romance and marriage is the only option.” I lean down, bracing my hands on either side of her hips. She manages to keep her jolt to the barest flinch, but the reaction is still readily apparent to anyone who watched us closely. I drop my gaze to her mouth and she licks her lips. It’s not quite an invitation to kiss her again, which is just as well. She’s right. We need to focus, especially through the first few days of this. The next forty-eight hours will make or break Olympus’s belief in this whirlwind romance. “We’ll have the ceremony tonight.”
Her hazel eyes go wide. “Tonight?”
“The sooner, the better. If you can convince your family, they are more than welcome to attend. I’ll have two witnesses as backup.”
“Who are your witnesses?”
Instead of answering, I press a quick kiss to that little line between her brows and rise. “You have twenty minutes until breakfast is done.”
“I said I’m not hungry.”
“It’s going to be a long day, Psyche, and you need the calories to keep your energy up.” I pause in the doorway. “It’d be a damned shame if you swooned when I put my ring on your finger and I had to carry you to our marriage bed.”
She makes a face. “That’s not funny.”
“No, it’s not. Twenty minutes.” I close the bedroom door behind me and walk down the long hallway and into the kitchen. I’m not even surprised to find Hermes standing at the stove, her dark hair done up in two puff buns on the top of her head. She’s wearing skintight overall shorts and a cropped top with a picture of…Krampus? Also knee socks with little trees on them. I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the counter. “Breaking and entering is a crime.”
“For most people. With me, it’s practically my love language.” She uses the skillet to flip what appears to be a passable omelet. “Speaking of love languages, imagine my surprise to see that devastatingly romantic picture of you and Psyche on her social media.” She shoots me a brilliant grin. “Congrats to the happy couple. I’ll officiate the wedding, of course.”
That takes one task off my list, but I know Hermes too well to accept this gift without looking for barbs attached. “Why?”
“The Dimitriou ladies are so interesting, don’t you think? When they first arrived on the scene, I thought they were like the other boring social climbers, but I’ve changed my mind. I think they’re going to turn Olympus itself on its head.”
I don’t know if that’s a terrifying thought or a welcome one. I glance back down the hall, but my bedroom door is still shut. “I changed my mind about killing her. This is the only option.”
“Careful, darling, or I might think you’ve developed a nasty condition called a conscience.” She pulls a plate out of my cupboard and slides the omelet onto it.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” It has nothing to do with a conscience and everything to do with taking what I want. I want Psyche, have wanted her since she took care of me in that bathroom in Dodona Tower. I can’t have her if she’s dead. That’s all.
Hermes sits on my counter and starts eating the omelet. “You’ll need two witnesses. Her sisters won’t do it.”
“You seem rather sure of it.” I am, too, but I’m curious enough to keep Hermes talking.
She takes a bite and makes a face. “Too much prosciutto. Ugh.” She chews slowly enough to try my patience. “They’ll be too busy looking for an opportunity to get her away from you. You’ll have to find your witnesses yourself. I don’t suppose your mother is in a generous mood?”
I give her the look that statement deserves. “I’m going to ask Helen and Eris.”
Hermes freezes and then bursts out laughing. “The balls on you, Eros. Gods, it’s a shame you make a better friend than a romantic partner—and that’s not saying much because you’re a shitty friend. But life with you would never be boring.”