Trevor strode off to find my angel, and the rest of us headed for the tracing chamber.
“Vervain,” Thor called after me.
I turned around.
“Congratulations.”
The rest of the Squad offered their best wishes as well.
“Thank you.” I grinned. “Let's hope this is for the best.”
“At its worst, you have a few more responsibilities,” Finn said. “At its best, you have one of the largest pantheons on your side.”
“Very true,” I agreed.
“I got him,” Trevor muttered as he rejoined us with Azrael.
Both of the men looked upset.
“I'll catch you all later,” Macaria called out as she passed by on her way to the tracing room.
I looked from the men to Macaria and back again. A horrible feeling filled my stomach, and I lifted a brow at Trevor. Trevor just shook his head. I knew if it had truly been awful, Trevor would have told me immediately. Still, I didn't like the way Azrael was avoiding my gaze.
I let it go for the moment and went with them to the tracing room. We traced the Aether to the highest peak of Mount Olympus, where Athena's palatial temple stood. She was waiting for us on the pale, stone steps.
“Welcome!” Athena spread her bare arms wide.
She was dressed in a traditional toga fastened with gold belts. Her shoulder-length hair was curled up into ringlets and fastened with more gold, and Aleksanteri was perched on her shoulder. She looked more like a goddess than I'd ever seen her look before.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “I didn't know that I was supposed to dress up.”
“It's all right, Vervain,” Athena said graciously. “I have a toga for you.”
“You do?” I asked in surprise.
“Now, I really vant to see zis,” Kirill said eagerly.
“Seriously?” I asked him. “It's a sheet.”
“A pretty sheet,” he said.
“When in Rome.” I shrugged. “Or on Olympus.”
“Wonderful,” Athena exclaimed. “Please come in, all of you.”
Alex flew into the palace while Athena led us inside more sedately. She took us into an airy, spacious living room that kept with the Grecian temple theme. Alex alighted onto a gold stand that looked as if it were made for him. Then he settled into an elegant pose and watched us serenely. A salt-tinged breeze flowed gently in from a balcony. There was an amazing view of Oceanus beyond the balcony's stone railing, and the décor seemed to be chosen to play off that blue expanse. Everything in the room was either blue, white, or silver; including the bar Athena waved us toward.
“Please help yourselves to whatever you wish,” Athena said grandly, “while I prepare Vervain for the ceremony.”
I widened my eyes at my men before I followed Athena down a white stone hallway decorated only by its mosaic floor. A picture of ripe fruit on twisting vines was created by the tiny pieces of broken tile and it led us into a luxurious bedroom. The room Athena ushered me into was obviously a guest room; there was very little in the way of personal objects. A bed sat on a marble platform, with a round table beside it, and a tall mirror framed in columns was set into one wall. A toga laid across the bed, and a collection of gold strips was set beside it.
“Would you like me to help you?” Athena offered.
“Please,” I said. “I don't have the first clue of how to get that on.”
I undressed, and Athena showed me how to slip into the fabric then helped secure it to me with the golden ties. There were actually three pieces of cloth, all trimmed in gold; two in white, and one in red. One of the white pieces wrapped around my waist like a skirt, and the other draped over my chest—with gold pins holding it in place at my shoulders. All of that was then secured by the gold belts; one around my waist, and one that draped down my hips. Then the crimson shawl was draped over my arms.
“I'm relieved that you've decided to join us,” Athena said as she fussed with the fabric.
“You are?”
“It's a strong alliance.” She looked up at me in surprise. “I wish I had thought of it sooner; with you holding Aphrodite's magic, I had the perfect excuse to extend the invitation.”
“I'm glad you think so,” I said. “And I apologize for the lateness of my response; I've been wrapped up in issues with Azrael.”
“Azrael?” Athena asked in surprise. “What's happened with your husband?”
“A lot.” I sighed. “Angels are attacking him, and we've been looking into possibilities of who might be behind it.”
“This is just a shot in the dark here”—she smirked—“but have you considered angels?”
“The angels have been manipulated,” I huffed. “Someone is sending the orders in Jehovah's name.”
Athena's expression went grim. “Why would anyone want to attack Azrael?”
“He's left his duties as a reaper,” I explained. “We think this may have angered other death gods.”
“Death gods,” she whispered with a pensive scowl.
“Yeah; the Greeks have a few of them,” I confirmed. “Hades obviously isn't a suspect, and his daughter Macaria helped defend Az in the first attack; so she's not involved either.”
“But there's Achlys; who you've already had a run-in with,” Athena pointed out.
“Achlys,” I whispered in horror. “I completely forgot about about her.”
“You forgot about nearly dying from the Death Mist?” Athena blinked in surprise. “This really has been a rough time for you.”
“You have no idea,” I muttered.
“Achlys has no reason to target you, though,” Athena pointed out. “She wronged you, not the other way around. However, there is also Thanatos,” Athena concluded. “Hypnos' twin brother.”
“Goddess of Wisdom.” I shook my head in admiration. “It must be nice. You nearly instantly came up with what took us days to think of.”
“My Wisdom does have
