It was the best feeling.
Hermes eyebrows disappeared into his hairline when we walked back into the pavilion. “What happened?” He choked on a laugh.
“The sea wanted to put Ivy in her place,” Ryder explained. “She started to get cocky out there. The water just wanted to remind her who was still boss.”
All of the humor disappeared from Hermes’ face and he demanded, “You went into the water with her? Are youinsane?”
Ryder’s lips tipped upward into a very smug smile. “She doesn’t want to kill me, man. I have nothing to worry about.”
“You say that, but…”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t stand near a puddle with her. But, I’m safe. You should know that. I’m very safe.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. Ryder was right.
“I’m not taking her while she’s wet.” Hermes spun around to Della, his arm swinging wide.
“I have some clothes,” Della explained patiently. “And fresh water if you’d like to rinse off. You’ll need to be more presentable for Hera. She will be a tough sell, Siren. You need to look your best.”
“I always look my best,” I grumbled. “It’s part of the curse.”
“Gift,” she hummed. “It’s part of yourgift. Come on child, you have a mountain to storm today. No more frolicking in the water.”
I followed Della as she walked away, only turning back to grin at Ryder. He shot me an amused wink, but I saw the flash of apprehension he tried to hide. We’d been alone out in the water, but reality had caught up with as already.
Olympus loomed and we stood at her gates, waiting with revenge and destruction. I would fight her to the death. I would fight her tooth and nail, until I couldn’t fight anymore.
I would fight bravely and without reprieve.
And then Ryder and I would walk away and never look back again.
Or we would die trying.
Chapter Fourteen
An hour later, Della had worked some kind of magic on me. My skin was clean, my hair was styled and I had been dressed in traditional Olympus garb- which was exactly what you would expect.
My white gown tied over one shoulder and left my other bare. It cinched around an empire waist and flowed in airy folds of voluminous fabric over my toes. My feet were dressed up in gold gladiator sandals that wrapped around my big toe and all the way up my calves to just below my knee. Gold bangles adorned my wrists and a thick gold cuff hugged both of my biceps. Della had also woven golden thread that was so pure it looked liquid, through my heavy hair that she’d piled on top of my head.
When she showed me what I looked like, I was left speechless. She had dressed me up like a goddess. I had never looked more Greek than in this moment. I had never looked more a part of the Pantheon than now.
I hated everything about it, no matter how beautiful it made me.
“When you go,” she said softly, standing behind me in the full length mirror that had appeared out of nowhere, “this is your greatest weapon.” She swept her hand down the length of me, indicating my beauty. “He will try to use it against you. They all will. But if you are in control of who you are, then no one can controlyou.”
My heart picked up speed at her insight. I nodded once, feeling the slightest softening to her.
“Thank you,” I told her. “I feel like you’ve prepared me to go to war.”
Her incandescent blue eyes sparked with light. “That is exactly what I’ve done.”
She turned away from me and her features immediately faded from my memory. I shook my head and followed her back to the sitting area. Evening light warmed the pretty space, giving it a burnished glow.
I walked into the room and tripped over my sandals. My big toe dragged across the smooth ground and I nearly face-planted.
Ryder sat on the edge of one of the ottomans, with his elbows propped on his knees. His hair had been somewhat tamed with product. His muscular arms were bared, his tattoos on full display. His calves were also exposed and his feet had been covered in leather sandals that were not that different than mine.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him, I couldn’t even think beyond the dark look on his face and the amount of skin he had been forced to show.
