this conversation off us.” He tried again to soothe her, but when her lips pinched tight, I knew he’d failed.
“The humans claimed Helen was more beautiful than me. They roused my fury with their vile words. I cannot sit idly by—”
Ares stood, holding out one hand in a placating manner. “That war nearly decimated them all. The loss of life was terrible. The mortal realm cannot afford another deadly skirmish, Aphrodite. We need their worship. They are like rats on a sinking ship, they do not think wisely when their backs are pressed against a wall. I beg of you, my queen, do not provoke them to act so foolhardily again.”
Mother’s face did not betray her emotions, but I knew her well enough to see that Ares’ words, though wise, sat like rot in her gut.
“Then what would you suggest I do?” She banged her fist on the table, a clear sign that she was beginning to lose her composure. “This insult to my godhood cannot be—”
Dionysus, known more for drinking and partying, stood. Looking more serious than I’d ever seen him look before. He held up one hand. “My dear, sweet sister,” he said, voice placating and smooth.
That was the thing about the god of drunkards, very few of the pantheon understood just how wily and crafty he truly was. Apart from being perpetually drunk, Dionysus had managed to mostly keep his nose clean. He had no scandal in his background. An almost impossible achievement on Olympus.
“I think what my brother Ares is saying is that perhaps there is another way to teach those miscreants a lesson.”
His smile was slick and smooth as a snake oil salesman. I knew Dionysus about as well as anyone else on Olympus did. But because I was mother’s courier, I often saw hidden sides of the gods others did not have the privilege of witnessing. Like, the fact that drunk or no, Dionysus was a chess master. He played those around him like a maestro. Always three steps ahead of all the rest. He was actually quite brilliant. It was no accident that he had the reputation around town that he did, I’d come to the conclusion long ago that it was just another facet of his keen intelligence. Always pretend to be insignificant and others would eventually treat you as though you were. But in the meantime, always keep one’s ears open. Nothing happened on Olympus or the realm of men that Dionysus didn’t already seem to know about.
“I’m listening,” mother said.
My brows twitched. I was impressed. What Ares had not managed the god of drink had.
Dionysus’ smile grew wider. “Well, it’s quite simple really. We do not destroy the land of men. No need. A woman’s true weakness is her own vanity.”
Not necessarily true. I knew plenty of women, like my Aunt Athena, who did not seem to care one whit about her looks. But I suspected that Dionysus already knew that, and that the only reason he’d said it was because it was mother’s true weakness. Ergo if it was hers, it stood to reason that others must feel as she did. Or at least, that was the expectation he knew she’d draw from his statement. It was really quite brilliant on his part to play up her own flaws and use them against her.
“True,” she said, falling right into his trap.
His lips twitched and I knew my hunch had been correct. My gods, Dionysus was one to fear. I wondered if anyone else realized it too?
“What do you suggest, brother?” she asked. That she called him brother made me realize just how well he’d manipulated her.
In truth, as mother’s protector, I should be denouncing Dionysus as a traitor. I should be defending my mother’s honor. I saw what he was doing. I understood his influence on her. But I was too impressed. I’d never seen anyone so easily quell my mother’s madness in such a manner. It was really quite breathtaking.
“We turn her beauty against her.” He shrugged as if it were the most obvious idea. “You are the great and glorious goddess of love. Send a peddler her way, with a potion that will make her desirable to all men.”
She gasped and a glittering sheen of avarice filled her blue eyes. “A potion that makes her so desired that it quickly turns to hate and they rape and murder her. I love it.”
I couldn’t help myself. I cringed. I quickly schooled my face back into a mask of