As if sensing my attention, Ares shifted his gaze my way. Our eyes locked across the amphitheatre. Our columns stood on opposite sides of the statue, and yet he suddenly felt far too near. His words echoed in my mind from the night he’d come to my rooms.
Because of who you are, Selene.
He knew the truth about me.
Releasing the grip on his crown, he stepped away from his column and smirked. I curled my fingers into fists. He knew exactly what was on my mind, and he was relishing in it. All it would take was one uttered word to Zeus, and he could forge my end. Mine and Troy’s.
Ares wanted to make me squirm. He wanted to stretch this out as painfully as possible until he let the hammer fall.
Somehow, I had to convince him that he was mistaken. There were only four people in this world who knew the truth. One of them was dead, and one of them was me. Orpheus was the third, and he would take the matter to his ashen grave. So that only left one person. Andthatwas impossible.
So Ares could only have guessed. He didn’tknowfor certain.
Zeus’s harsh voice cut through my tormented thoughts, calling an end to the night’s ceremony. The Olympians abandoned the statue and columns, clustering into groups as they headed back inside. Eleven cloaked figures, faces shadowed beneath hoods. As ever, the blood moon hovered in the sky, blotting out by inky clouds. Still, the Olympians hid in their cloaks. They weren’t taking any chances now, not after what had happened to Hera.
As I followed the others, Dionysos hung back. He dealt me a warm smile. It was the first time anyone, other than Ares, had acknowledged my existence. Even when we’d passed the chalice around these past two nights, no one had looked me directly in the eye.
“There’s some wine in the megaron with your name on it,” he said in a jovial tone.
I eyed him warily, slipping my hands into my cloak pockets as we walked. “Is that a good idea?”
“Drinking? Absolutely.”
“Having me join you.” I motioned at the trio leaving the amphitheatre ahead of us. Poseidon, Zeus, and Hermes had been inseparable these past two days, as far as I could tell. To and from the amphitheatre, they exchanged fervent whispers. Every so often, one of them would glance around, eyes darting all over the place. They clearly didn’t want to be overheard. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had something to do with me.
“They won’t be there,” he said, smile momentarily fading. “Last night, they hid away in Zeus’s rooms until sunrise. I don’t doubt they’ll do the same again tonight.”
“So whowillbe there?” My head nearly swivelled to where I’d noticed Ares. He walked with Apollo, Demeter, and Athena. But I kept my gaze on Dion’s face. I didn’t want him to think I was seeking Ares out.
“Hephaestus. He’s bringing the wine.”
“That’s it?” I asked, surprised.
He shrugged. “I guess everyone’s still a bit on edge after…well, the whole Hera thing.”
Ihaddecided I needed some allies, and Dionysos was one of the few I’d even consider. My mother had trusted him. And while I doubted I would ever consider him a friend, perhaps he didn’t have to be an enemy.
I gave him a small nod. “I’ll come. But only for a drink or two.”
His face broke out into a broad smile, and he thunked my back with an enthusiasm that caught me off guard. “Thank god. I thought I’d have to entertain Hephy by myself again, and I think I’d rather carve a hole in my head than do that.”
I slowed my steps. “Wait. What exactly does that mean we’re—”
He pressed a finger to my lips, his eyes dancing. “Nope, you already agreed. You can’t back out on me now, Selene.”
It turned out Hephaestus had sneaked a flask into the ceremony. And since no one had been paying much attention to him, he’d sipped away at it. Now he was drunk—as drunk as I’d ever seen a vampire.
He twirled through the megaron on his cane, throwing his cloak off his shoulders as he danced to a silent song. The material became a puddle of black against the marble floor, and Hephaestus circled it until he collapsed into a nearby chair. His cheeks were flushed from the exertion. Or maybe from all the wine.
“Ah,” he puffed, noticing me and Dion hovering just inside the door. “Come, Selene. You’ve yet to try my wine.”
I trailed over to the table, where a deep crimson liquid gleamed inside a glass decanter. A dozen silver chalices surrounded it. Each was embossed with the symbol of one of the thirteen crowns. I found mine easily enough. As I poured myself a drink, my thumb rubbed the crescent moon, a match for the symbol etched into my ring.
“Oh yes,the moon.” Hephaestus rose, his eyes latched on my chalice. “That’s the Trojan symbol. The moon. You’re the perfect person to answer a question for me.”
I tugged on the end of my sleeve, then lifted the chalice to my lips. The scent of fire filled my nose, and when I took a drink, heat stormed through my belly. Coughing, I blinked away the burning tears in my eyes.
“What in god’s name is in this?” I said, pulling the chalice away to squint at the liquid. Itlookedlike wine. But it certainly didn’t taste like any I’d ever tried.
