He shook his head. “Not enough. Rumors, half-truths; nothing solid. Everyone I ask claims ignorance.”
“I believe you’ll figure it out,” she said, meaning it. He was far too clever and persistent to let matters rest unsolved. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”
Surprise played over his face before he masked it with a smile.
She wanted to know who he was beyond the myths and warnings.
“Do you enjoy being a god?”
That appeared to catch him off guard, his pacing steps pausing. Then he walked over to her and sat next to her on the bench, his warm presence comforting despite his leg bouncing slightly, as if he couldn’t contain the energy inside him.
“I’ve known nothing else,” he admitted. Just for a moment, he sounded tired. “There’s always something to do. Constant movement. Between carrying messages and traveling the realms,” he glanced at her, “I stay busy.”
She scrutinized him. “But you’re also the protector of thieves and travelers. You’re an inventor too, right?” She arched an eyebrow. “Is there anything you don’t do?”
“I also ferry souls to the Underworld and am the protector of merchants.” He gave her a devilish smirk. “And I’m an exceptional lover.”
She laughed, the sound ringing in the sacred space. “And extremely humble.”
He stood from the bench and bowed dramatically, his hand sweeping out in a flourish. When he straightened, he was more serious, the mask slipping once again.
“I take it the others told you about me?”
She decided he deserved honesty. “A little. Mostly your powers. But I asked if you’d kill me if Zeus ordered it.”
Hermes seemed stunned by her words, his body stilling completely for the first time in her presence. He didn’t fidget or move at all, like a hummingbird frozen mid-flight. “I’ve promised to protect you,” he said, low and intense. “And until it’s your time, I’ll stop anything or anyone that tries to change that.”
She sensed the truthfulness in his words—felt it at her core. “I believe you. Thank you.”
His tension eased slightly. “It’s time I got you to bed,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows with exaggerated suggestion.
She expected the customary grin or a teasing leer. What she saw instead was worry creasing the corners of his eyes, and sadness darkening them.
She rose on aching feet and moved up to him. She placed a hand on his cheek. The gesture felt intimate, but she didn’t pull away. She didn’t want to.
“I trust you. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”
The words were true. Against all reason and self-preservation, she trusted him.The realization sent a jolt of fear through her. Not because he might hurt her, but because she was hoping, believing, he wouldn’t.
He searched her face as though he were memorizing her. He finally nodded, his hand covering hers. His palm engulfed hers, warm and steady.
“Now,” she said, needing to lighten things up before she did something reckless like kiss him or pull him closer. “Be a good tour guide and show me to the gift shop.”
He grinned, releasing her hand after a moment. “I’ve created a monster.”
She shivered at his proximity, at his breath on her skin. Then she wrapped her arms around him.
“Thank you for all of this.” She hadn’t wanted to escape the others completely, but the situation itself. For a few hours, she almost forgot her fear and unrelenting worry over the curse. It also distracted her from dwelling on why Thanatos and Anubis had fought.
Hermes had given her that brief respite.
He brushed away a lock of hair that had fallen into her face, his fingers sliding from her temple to her jaw. Then, with a smile that touched his eyes, he said, “Anytime.”
In the blink of an eye, they were back in her room. She listened for any sign of fighting, but the house was quiet.Eerily so.
Hermes leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “I’m sorry to leave you so soon, but I think they want to speak to you.”
Then, he was gone, leaving only the fragrance of citrus and cedar lingering around her.
