The Goddess Queen Page 3

  “Then give me your kingdom,” I blurted before I could think it through. But that was the true test—if Zeus wanted me as badly as he claimed, then why not pit the two things he loved most against each other?

  I expected hesitation. I expected bargaining. Instead he nodded, and with the sun as our witness, he knelt before me. “My kingdom is yours. You will be queen, and I will be your king. We will rule together as partners, as equals, whether you consent to marry me or not. From this moment on, it is done, regardless of your choice.”

  I stared at him. He couldn’t be serious. Whatever game he was playing, I was nothing more than a pawn, a way for him to entertain himself while ignoring the responsibilities of his domain.

  But he had been a fair ruler so far, and he was no longer the boy who’d led us during the war. In the year since our victory, he had transformed into a young man, one I was nearly proud to call brother. Loath as I was to admit it, even to myself.

  “I will never bow at your feet,” I said.

  “Which is why I am bowing at yours.”

  “I will not consent to mistresses.”

  “You are all I need.”

  “I demand respect and honesty at all times.”

  “And you will have it, from this moment on.”

  The warmth and hope in his voice melted the ice around my heart, and at last I allowed myself to relax. Never completely, but enough to feel alive once more.

  “I will not give you an answer now,” I said at last. “Words are easy to speak, but I want you to show me that you mean this. I will give you one chance. If you break my trust in any way, or if you treat me as anything less than your equal for even a moment, it is over. But if you prove to me that you mean this, that you’ve changed and are willing to do this—then when the time is right, I will marry you.”

  Uncertainly flashed across his face, but it was gone before I could comment, and he stood. “Very well. You have my devotion.” He brushed his fingertips against my cheek, and my insides fluttered. “I will do whatever it takes to prove myself to you.”

  “Good.” No use allowing Zeus the satisfaction of knowing what his promises meant to me. As Hades had proven that day, a promise was easily broken. “I look forward to your efforts.”

  “For now, let us walk,” said Zeus. “It’s a beautiful afternoon, and I’m with the most beautiful woman in the world. It would be a crime to waste it.”

  Once again, he took my hand. This time I didn’t resist.

  * * *

  Zeus stuck to his word. I hadn’t thought it possible, but from that afternoon on, he treated me as his equal. Together we ruled his kingdom—our kingdom now, visiting humans, watching over them, intervening when problems became too great for them to handle peacefully. The last thing we needed was a war among mortals, and we both kept busy, putting out fires as they arose. One day they would be able to govern themselves, but not yet.

  On top of offering me equality, he showered me with gifts and attention. More than that, he offered me affection as well, never pushing for more than I was willing to give. Soon I began to look forward to spending time with him, and eventually the loss of Hades became little more than a twinge of regret.

  Each evening, Zeus asked me to marry him. After each proposal, I said no. But his determination never faltered, and as time passed, I could no longer deny that he’d changed. The days of wrestling in the mud with Poseidon were gone, and I was proud to stand beside him as his queen, as his equal. My affection for him ran deep, and though some nights I wondered what my life would be like with someone I was truly passionate about, I knew I would find no better offer.

  So after a day that had been nothing more than average on the surface, yet had been quietly extraordinary because I’d spent it with Zeus—I said yes.

  On the morning of my wedding, my sisters helped me prepare. I bathed in the sweetest spring on earth, adorned my hair with the most beautiful flowers in creation and spent hours in my chamber taking every possible step to make sure I was perfect. But only Hestia seemed to share my happiness. Demeter was strangely quiet as she plaited my hair in an intricate style, and nothing Hestia and I said seemed to snap her out of it.

  At last, once she’d finished with my hair, I turned to face her. “Say it.”

  Demeter blinked innocently. “Say what?”

  “Whatever it is you’re thinking. I can see your disapproval with both of my eyes shut, and I will not have my sister unhappy on my wedding day.”

  She pursed her lips, and at last she murmured, “I am simply not sure you’re making the right decision, that’s all.”

  I knew it was coming, but something inside me snapped. “And why is that?” I said, not bothering to hide the challenge in my voice. She had no right to question my choices. She’d chosen to live her life alone thus far, and I wasn’t weaker than her for choosing the opposite.

  Hestia quickly stepped toward us. “There’s no need to fight. You’ve made your decision, and Demeter’s only concerned for your welfare—”

  “My welfare? I daresay it goes much deeper than that, doesn’t it, Demeter?”

  “Hera—” said Hestia, but I cut her off.

  “Let our sister say her piece.”

  Demeter hesitated again, but finally she said, “Zeus has gone to great lengths to prove he’s changed for you. But people don’t change like that, Hera—they change because they want to, not because someone demands they do. And I worry that as soon as the wedding’s over and the pair of you settle into marriage, he’s going to revert back to the person you hate.”

  “Have you heard something?” I said. “Have you seen him do anything that would make you question his fidelity to me?”

  “No, but—”

  “He’s changed.” I stood. “I know him. Not only did he decide to better himself for me, but he’s proud of the changes he’s made, and he wants to stay that way.”

  “Hera…” Demeter reached for me, but I pulled away.

  “If you had proof, if you had witnesses—but you don’t, because he’s loyal to me. He respects me, and he would never hurt me in such a way. He would never leave me like that.”

  “Zeus would say or do anything to get you to marry him,” she said. “It’s a game to him. I’ve no doubt he loves you, but that doesn’t mean he’ll remain loyal as soon as he has what he wants, and you must be prepared for the possibility—”

  “It is not a possibility,” I said. “He’s changed, and you will see. You’ll both see. Unless you intend on sabotaging his efforts to prove me wrong.”

  Her eyes widened. “No, of course not—”

  “Do you love him? Do you wish you were in my place? Do you have aspirations to be his queen, Demeter?”

  My sister’s expression hardened. “The only thing I wish is for you to be happy. If that’s suddenly a crime or something worthy of your anger, then so be it. I don’t regret looking out for you.”

  “I don’t need you to look out for me,” I snapped. “I’m Queen. I can look out for myself.”

  Fire flashed in her irises, and for a long moment, she said nothing as she stared at me. At last, as if it gave her great pain to do so, she curtsied. “As you wish, my queen.”

  She may as well have slapped me. I didn’t want her condescending deference. I wanted her respect. Her acknowledgment that I was more than some silly little girl who saw marriage as the end of aspiration. I wanted her to trust me to make my own decisions, rather than allowing my siblings to dicta
te it for me. It was my life. What I chose to do with it was my business, and she had no say. Yet with that single gesture, she’d said more about what she thought of my choice than words could possibly express, and I hated her for it.

  “Come,” said Hestia, touching my hand. “It’s nearly time. Zeus will be waiting.”

  I said nothing as she led me from my chambers and down the sunset hallway. If Demeter wanted to disapprove, that was her burden to bear, not mine. I was walking toward the rest of my eternal existence. If she chose to remain behind me, then so be it.

  * * *

  Hades was waiting for me in the antechamber.

  I felt his presence as soon as Hestia left, and until that moment, I hadn’t realized how much I’d craved being with him in the time we’d been apart. Warmth washed over me, and I smiled. It was as if I were coming home.

  “I missed you.” I stepped toward the window, where he stood gazing out across the endless sky. “I was worried you’d decided to separate from us completely.”

  “Never.” He turned, and his eyes swept over me. “You look beautiful.”

  My cheeks grew warm, and I moved to stand beside him. “I am getting married today, you know.”

  “So I’ve heard.” His fingertips brushed mine, and I slipped my hand into his without further prompting. “Demeter told me about your argument.”

  The bubble of happiness inside my chest popped. “She had no right.”

  “She’s only looking out for your well-being,” he said. “We’ve all seen what Zeus is capable of, and we all love you. No one wants to see you hurt.”

  I shook my head. “He’s changed. You haven’t been here to see it, but—he’s different now. He’s proven himself to me again and again, and he loves me.” My voice hitched. “That’s all I want, you know. To be loved and respected.”

  “Yes, I know.” He squeezed my hand. “You’re certain you will be happy no matter what the eons bring?”

  I took a deep breath. “He’ll stick to his promises, Hades. I know him. And he loves me.”

  “Love is not always enough, as much as we may want it to be.”

  His words were a knife, slicing me open and stabbing me in the heart. “It is, if it’s with the right person. He doesn’t break his promises to me. He doesn’t abandon me without a word. He doesn’t smile at me and never follow through.”

  Hades frowned. “I never made you any promises—”

  “You did.” My voice broke, and I let go of him. “You did, Hades. You promised you’d come visit me. You said you’d be there for me. You swore I’d never be alone, but I was. I waited for you, and you never came.”

  Silence. He reached for my hand again, and I snatched it away. He swallowed. “I am sorry. I didn’t realize—”

  “What’s done is done.” I closed my eyes. I had to regain control. “You had your chance, and now it’s over. Zeus loves me. He’s loyal to me, and he treats me like the queen I am. He’s there for me every single day.”

  “And is he what you want?” said Hades quietly. “Do you love him?”

  “I wouldn’t be marrying him if I didn’t.” I stepped back, cementing the distance that had grown between us. I wouldn’t let Hades do this to me, not after all this time. Zeus was the best I could ever hope to have. Once upon a time, that had been Hades, but he’d proven he was nothing more than empty words and promises. I wanted more. I deserved more. “I need to finish preparing for the wedding now.”

  He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “I wish you all the love and happiness in the world, sister. And though I may not have been there as I should have been, I am here now, and I will forever be there for you should you need me.”

  “Thank you,” I said softly. It was the most I could give him in return. “Until then.”

  “Until then.”

  Part Two

  The wedding was everything I’d dreamed it would be. Zeus spoke his vows with the authority and compassion of a king, and any doubts Demeter and Hades had managed to plant in my mind vanished. I was happy, and the entire world celebrated our union. That was all that mattered.

  Our marriage continued on, much as our initial time together had. We worked side by side, ruling over our subjects and touring the earth, and his loyalty remained with me. Every time he looked at me, I saw the love in his eyes, and it only reaffirmed that I’d made the right decision. I had the life I wanted now, and no one, not Hades, not Demeter, could take it away from me. I would do everything in my power to make sure of it.

  Less than a month before I was set to give birth to our first son, Zeus cleared his throat outside the chambers we shared. “Hera?”

  I frowned and sat up from my afternoon nap, my rounded belly hindering my movements. He never hesitated to enter. “Yes?”

  Zeus stepped through the curtain, his cheeks pink and his hair windswept. In that moment, he nearly looked like a young boy again, and I set my hand on my belly. Excitement, that was all. He’d nearly burst with happiness when I’d told him about our baby.

  “I have a surprise for you,” he murmured. “Close your eyes.”

  Relieved, I did so, trying to guess what it might be. I expected him to set my gift on the bed, but instead I heard the sound of light footsteps. One of my sisters, maybe, though he no longer asked for Demeter’s help in choosing my gifts.

  “Perfect. Now open them.”

  As the room came into focus, I blinked. Beside Zeus stood the most beautiful little girl I’d ever seen. Her hair was the same shade of gold as his, her eyes were so blue that they put the sky to shame, and her skin was pink and porcelain. She was perfect in every way.

  “Hera, meet Aphrodite,” he said, and he ushered her toward me. Aphrodite moved with more grace than the wind, and as she curtsied, her cheeks flushed. “I discovered her among nymphs on an island.”

  “It’s an honor,” she murmured. Her voice was like honey, far more intoxicating than mine would ever be. I hated her already.

  “A servant?” I said. “How kind of you. I could certainly use someone to help me with the baby.”

  He cleared his throat. “Er, yes, well—of course, Aphrodite will be here to help you with our son, but not as a servant. As my daughter and a member of the council.”

  Cold horror washed over me. A member of the council. Zeus wanted her to be our equal. My equal. “But she’s a child—”

  “She is my child now,” said Zeus. “Ours. And she will grow, as will our son. They will both be members of the council, and perhaps one day she will be his companion.”

  “But she wasn’t born into our family,” I said. “She cannot simply join us before we make sure she’s suited to rule.”

  “And how would you suggest we do that?” said Zeus.

  I shrugged. “A test, perhaps, to weigh her virtues.”

  He scoffed. “None of us are perfect, Hera.” Something about the way he said it sent a shiver of foreboding down my spine, and I draped a blanket over my lap.

  “No, we aren’t, but we must all share some key qualities to ensure we’re fit to rule. Not us, of course,” I said. “But if you intend on adding others to our council, we must make sure it is best for humanity.”

  Sighing, Zeus patted the little girl on the head. “Very well. We will test her when she grows older, and in the meantime, coming up with the parameters is your responsibility. I expect them to be fair.”

  “Of course,” I murmured. “They’ll be fit for a god.”

  Aphrod
ite shyly took a step toward me. “Daddy told me all about your baby. Can I touch him?”

  I eyed the little girl with distaste. The last thing I wanted was for her to go anywhere near my son, but I felt Zeus’s gaze and the hope that emanated from him. He’d done this with the best of intentions. He hadn’t meant to insult me with a gift that was far more beautiful than I would ever be. Perhaps he didn’t even see her that way, given how young she appeared.

  But as she stepped closer, I noticed something ancient in her eyes, something that searched me even as I searched her. She wasn’t a child. I didn’t know where she’d come from or who she was, but she was not as young as Zeus wanted me to believe.

  Without breaking her stare, I took her hand and set it gently over the spot on my belly where my son now kicked. Her eyes widened at the movement, and she giggled. “He likes to move.”

  “He does,” I said. “Perhaps if you are good, when he’s born, I will let you hold him.”

  She nodded solemnly, but that ancient look didn’t go away. How could Zeus have missed it? Unless he hadn’t. Unless he knew she was older and this was all a ruse.

  No, he wouldn’t do that to me. He loved me, and he wouldn’t hurt me in such a way. We were about to welcome a baby together. But even as I tried to reassure myself, my uncertainty refused to disappear, and my sister’s poisonous words returned to me.

  “Has Zeus already decided what you’re to be the goddess of?” I said. We all chose our assignments—the things we held most dear, the things that came naturally to us. Fidelity for me, of course, and marriage, which I’d chosen after our wedding. Fertility after I’d fallen pregnant. But the council mostly chose for the minor gods that roamed the world.

  “Love,” said Zeus, and I nearly choked. “She is the goddess of love. There was no choosing involved. She simply is.”