Electric Idol(Dark Olympus #2)(46)

I can’t change that, but the least I can do is give her this gift. Something photograph-worthy. This wedding might not be a good memory, but at least the publicity in its aftermath won’t embarrass her.

She and Demeter make their way to the altar and stop a few steps away. Hermes clears her throat, looking delighted by this whole experience. “Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?”

“I do.” Demeter moves forward and places Psyche’s hand in mine. She smiles sweetly as if delighted to be here, but her low words drip poison. “If you do anything to bring my daughter harm in any way, I will gut you and leave you for my pigs.”

I’ve heard rumors about Demeter and her pigs, but I’ve never been able to substantiate any of them. “I’ll take that into consideration.”

“See that you do.” She presses a kiss to Psyche’s cheek and then moves to sit next to Persephone in the front row.

We stand before the altar, and all I can do is stare at Psyche. This woman, this brilliant and fierce creature, will be mine in truth the moment I slip my ring on her finger, the moment we both say “I do.” This was only meant to be a way to keep Psyche among the living, but sometime in the last twelve hours, it’s turned into something else altogether. I will keep this woman safe.

Fuck, I’m just going to flat out keep her.

I barely listen to Hermes, barely manage to repeat the proper words to get this thing done. My hands actually shake as I slip the giant diamond onto Psyche’s ring finger. I’m undone.

For her part, my new wife doesn’t seem to have the same problem. Her voice is perfectly even as she repeats the same vows. Her fingers are cool against my skin as she slips the ring on. She smiles sweetly at me, and I surprise myself with how badly I want it to be real.

“You may kiss the bride.”

I don’t hesitate. I step forward, closing the distance between us, and cup her face. If I were a better man, I’d never touch this woman with hands that have committed such violence, but I’m selfish right down to my core. I kiss her, filling that one moment with so much promise, she’s melting against me.

Someone—I think Eris—clears her throat, and I manage to lift my head, though I don’t drop my hands. I smile down at Psyche. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she whispers.

“We did it.”

She wraps her hands around my wrists and gives me a little squeeze. “We’re not done yet.”

With that in mind, I lace my fingers through hers and we turn to face the room. Helen and Eris have careful expressions in place, as if they still can’t quite believe this happened. I expect I’m going to hear it from both of them later when they have more time. Demeter has an excellent poker face, but I’ve seen her use that same serene smile before systematically cutting her opponents off at the knees. Hades glowers, but he always seems to glower. Persephone beams, but I don’t miss the promise of violence in her hazel eyes.

This marriage is going to set off all sorts of chaos.

Strangely enough, I can’t wait.

Hermes makes a happy sound. “I now present to you, Mr. Eros Ambrosia and Ms. Psyche Dimitriou.”

Demeter stands and crosses to us. “Congratulations.” She takes my hands, her nails digging into my skin even as her expression remains happy. “Welcome to the family.”

This was the plan, but I can’t help a shiver of unease. There’s no going back now. We can only live with the consequences. “Thanks.”

“Family dinners are Sundays. No exceptions. See you next week.” She presses a quick kiss to Psyche’s cheek. “We’ll talk later.”

“Of course.” My wife doesn’t look shaken in the least.

Wife.

Mine.

I wrap that possessiveness surging through me in chains of silver and shove it deep. There’s no space for feeling this right here, right now. Behind us, Hermes gives a giggle that raises the small hairs on the back of my neck. “Now you’ve really done it. Aphrodite is going to be so pissed.” She nudges my shoulder as she walks around me and grins at Psyche. “Good luck with that. Hope you survive to your first anniversary. I left a gift for you up in the kitchen. Enjoy!” She skips down the aisle, moving with the bouncing joy of a child despite the fact that she’s at least as old as I am, if not older.

Persephone and Hades are next, though he stands a few feet back and glares at me while she gives her sister a hug. “Call if you need anything.” Persephone looks at me. “If you fuck with my sister, my mother’s pigs will be the least of your worries.”

We watch them leave the room and I chuckle. “Charming family you have.”

“You’re lucky Callisto didn’t show up. She probably would have beaten you over the head with the closest blunt instrument.”

I glance at her. “Everyone in Olympus thinks you’re such nice girls.”

“Everyone in Olympus sees what they want to see.” She narrows her gaze as Helen and Eris approach. “Case in point.”

Both women have the Kasios family features. High cheekbones, Roman noses, full lips. Helen is built a little more petite than Eris, and her hair is a lighter brown with red undertones, but no one would look at these two and assume they’re anything but related. Eris is gorgeous, but Helen is… There are no words for what Helen is. She’s got the kind of flawless beauty that brings cities to their knees and sends entire armies to war. She doesn’t play it up—if anything, she downplays it—but she still commands the attention of any room she walks into.