He ignores me, obviously waiting for an answer. Psyche draws herself up. “I suspected it was on the table, but my mother didn’t see fit to inform me that things had gotten as far as negotiations.”
“I figured as much, but knowing about a pending marriage didn’t stop your sister from running into another man’s arms.”
Her voice goes frosty. “I am not my sister, and it wouldn’t have made a difference if my mother was negotiating a marriage or not because I’d be dead. Or did you miss the attempt on my life last night?”
“Watch your tone, Psyche.” He leans back. “I’m going to lay this out for you. I have no proof that Aphrodite is behind this attempt.” He holds up a hand before I can cut in. “Before you tell me that she ordered you to kill Psyche, remember that if you admit as much to me, you’ll share her punishment.”
I tense, very carefully not looking at my wife. Perseus is pulling no punches. I didn’t expect him to, but damn. All Psyche has to do is say I threatened her life, and she’ll remove both me and Aphrodite with one fell swoop. And then she’ll marry Perseus, marry Zeus, and become Hera.
It’d turn the tables in a way neither I nor my mother can do a damn thing about. I wouldn’t blame Psyche for making that call. I desperately don’t want her to, but I still wouldn’t blame her.
“Did you call us here to tell us that you can do nothing?” Her voice hasn’t thawed in the least. “Or do you actually plan to help?”
“I called you here to explain the situation. Demeter might be ready to scream for Aphrodite’s head, but Aphrodite isn’t the one who’s insulted my family—and the position of Zeus—repeatedly. The only reason I haven’t intervened to date is because the marriage negotiations were kept private.”
I stare at him. Even with all the Olympus politics, I honestly thought he would side with us. “So we’re on our own.” It could be worse, but this is hardly the best-case scenario.
“Until you can bring me evidence that Aphrodite is breaking the laws against harming others among the Thirteen and their families, my hands are tied.” He gives me a long look. “You’d be well advised to ensure you aren’t implicated in that evidence.”
Psyche snorts. “Your hands are only tied because you want them to be.”
His expression doesn’t change. “Every time one of the Thirteen titles is passed, there’s a risk of unrest while the new person settles in. Not only has the title of Zeus passed to me, but Hades is now in play for the first time in over thirty years. Olympus needs stability right now, and replacing Aphrodite is not what stability looks like.”
Not to mention there are several titles that might be flipped in the next couple of years already. Ares, in particular, has to be somewhere north of eighty. He’s clinging to that title by his fingertips. In the next few years, he’ll either kick the bucket or be forced to step down, and replacing Ares is such a fucking spectacle, something that can’t be accomplished easily or quickly. Not when a tournament decides the winner.
Perseus is right. I hate that he’s right. Unfortunately, he’s also wagering on something that’s got really shitty odds. “You might not have a choice about dealing with this. My mother won’t stop.”
“I’ll speak to her.”
I laugh, the sound bitter on my tongue. “Good luck.”
Psyche has a strange look on her face. “If the marriage negotiations hadn’t fallen through, what would you have done?”
He doesn’t blink. “I’d have protected you and your family with all my power. That option is beyond us now. Even if you and Eros divorced tomorrow, the entire city believes you’re a love match. If you married me now, it would paint me as the villain, and I have no interest in playing the part at this juncture.”
He can’t afford to. Perseus might be smart and savvy, but he doesn’t have the sheer amount of charisma that allowed his father to lead all of Olympus around by its nose. Everything will be more difficult for him, including dealing with the veteran members of the Thirteen. There will be jockeying for power and influence and testing him to see how far they can push. He’s not in an enviable position. That doesn’t make me more inclined to forgive him for taking the easy route with this.
Then the full meaning of his words penetrate. He’d have protected both Psyche and her family. Which means that if he marries one of her sisters, he’ll protect her. I shoot a look at her; from the tightening of her mouth, she understands what he’s implying. She pushes slowly to her feet. “Stay away from my sisters.”
“Tell that to your mother.”