Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2)(85)

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.”

She clenches her hands, and I’m already moving, rising to my feet and stepping between her and Perseus. “Let it go. We have bigger things to worry about.”

“There’s nothing more important than my family, Eros.” She leans around me to glare at him. “We’ll be back, and we’ll bring evidence that Aphrodite is behind this. Without implicating anyone else.”

“I look forward to it.”

I squeeze Psyche’s hand. “Wait for me outside.”

It’s a testament to her anger that she doesn’t bother to argue. She marches out of the office, shutting the door softly behind her. I turn to Perseus. “You’d break Eurydice, and making Callisto Dimitriou one of the Thirteen is a mistake no matter which way you look at it.”

He doesn’t move. “If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask for it.”

“Perseus…”

“Eros.” He sinks enough threat into my name to stop me short. “My name is Zeus. No matter what fondness I held for you before, I’m Zeus now. Every decision I make going forward has nothing to do with what Perseus wants and everything to do with what Zeus requires. Don’t forget that.”

A reminder I can’t afford to ignore. I take a slow breath. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Do that.” His eyes go hard. “If you bring danger to my sister’s doorstep again, I’ll kill you myself, law or no law.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, too.” There’s nothing else to say. “See you around, Zeus.” I turn and leave the office.

Psyche falls into step next to me as we head for the elevator. Neither of us speaks until we’re in my car and driving out of the parking garage. She exhales slowly. “That could have gone worse.”

“Did you know about the marriage negotiations?” I don’t mean to ask the question. I sure as fuck don’t mean to let something resembling jealousy bleed into my tone.

“Not exactly. I knew my mother had her eye on a political marriage between us, but I was honestly bluffing before. I had no idea Zeus was even entertaining the idea.” She leans back in the seat and twists to face me. “If I had realized my mother’s ambitions were welcomed by Zeus, I would have married him instead of you and solved all my problems at once.”

“And become Hera in the process.”

“And saved my sisters from becoming Hera in the process,” she corrects gently. “You know how the game is played, Eros. You play the game. You don’t get to be angry about it after the fact.”