Page 102 of Ungodly Rich

“Very well. I swear that I will do my best to protect Julia,” Hades promised.

The god of thieves, the god of death, and a clever mortal woman. Hermes hoped they would be enough, against whatever forces were arrayed against Julia.

“I learned that Julia’s mother, Claire, was in a relationship with Zeus before she died,” Hermes explained. “And I am almost certain that Hera killed her.”

There was a beat of silence, then Hades sighed heavily. “I thought Hera was behind it when it happened, but I couldn’t be sure.”

Hermes stared at the other god. “Youknew?”

“As I said, I knew about Julia’s mother and Zeus, but I wasn’t sure if Hera was responsible. Murder is not her style.”

“I wish you’d told me.” Hermes didn’t bother hiding the irritation from his tone. “I have spentmonthswondering what was special about Julia, why she was impervious to magic, when the whole time she was wearing a ring forged from the metal of the Aegis!”

“A ring?” Hades asked, and Hermes felt a stab of pleasure. At least there was one thing Hades hadn’t suspected.

“Yes, a ring. Zeus gave it to her mother, who clearly gave it to Julia. That’s why Julia survived the fire,” Hermes explained.

“Does she still wear this ring?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” Hades replied. “Then it’s all beginning, just as was prophesied.”

“Prophesied? What are you talking about?”

At that, Hades shook his head. “Information passes down a one-way street between us, Hermes. Though I do swear to uphold my end of the bargain we made and protect Julia’s life to the fullest extent of my abilities.”

“Thank you,” Hermes replied.

Hades shrugged. “I was already planning on keeping Julia alive.”

Before Hermes could reply, the door to the library swung open.

Hades instantly became invisible again. Hermes didn’t wait; he sprinted back to the terrace at top speed. As he rejoined the group, thunder cracked overhead, a few droplets of rain pattering on the terrace. “It’s all right,” one of the hotel employees was reassuring Julia, “storms blow through at this time of year, but they always pass quickly!”

Within seconds, the rain had become a downpour. Waiters began hurriedly clearing the table, sprinting out with umbrellas to bring the guests indoors.

Hermes followed, watching as Aphrodite and Hera rejoined the group. They both feigned surprise at the sudden change in weather, as if they hadn’t been plotting with Poseidon to bring it about.

Hades, of course, was nowhere to be found. He hadn’t bothered to join tonight’s family meal, or perhaps he’d never been invited. Hermes couldn’t believe he’d been so shortsighted, asking Hades to protect Julia when apparently, Hades had already intended to do so. He was usually better at reading the other gods’ motives.

And what had Hades meant about a prophecy? Had the Fates predicted something about Julia?

Maybe he should warn Hera. She might stop interfering with the wedding if she knew she was up against Hades, that there was a mysterious prophecy at play. It might be the only thing, Hermes thought, that would convince her to back down.

His eyes traveled back to Julia. She looked so carefree, laughing as her hair got wet, running inside with Ares to escape what she thought was a few minutes of rain. He’d gotten soft, worrying about her. He wasn’t thinking like himself.

It had been a very long time since Hermes had feared for anyone, or anything, who could truly be hurt—someone fragile enough to be lost forever.

Chapter Forty-One

Aphrodite

Aphrodite stood in the walk-in closet of her hotel suite, removing clothes in their labeled garment bags from the suitcase. She’d packed all her favorites for the weekend—the Oscar cocktail dress printed with hydrangeas, the Akris sea foam–green gown with a scooped neckline, the toile Emilia Wickstead that showed off her shoulders. She wanted to intimidate Julia, make her feel inadequate at her own wedding.

This mortal needed to realize who, exactly, she was up against.

Aphrodite pulled the last pair of Jimmy Choos from her suitcase, a massive one made of unmarked black fabric. She flicked her wrist and it shrank down to the size of a laptop case. One of Hephaestus’s most ingenious inventions, a bag that changed size or shape depending on what you needed to store in it.