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More importantly, there was no Hydra. Than had asked why they didn’t always meet here, and the goddess of wisdom had said they must vary their meeting places so as not to arouse suspicion. She had reserved the Parthenon for the most important, and most dangerous, meeting of all.
    “I can’t go in my true form to the wedding,” Than pointed out. He hadn’t seen this move by Zeus coming. He felt blind-sided and a little hopeless. “I’d put all those mortal lives in danger.”
    “And I’d put them to sleep,” Hip added. “So I can’t go in my true form either.”
    “No, you cannot,” Athena agreed.
    “Which means,” Than could hardly say it. Their plans were crushed in one move. Check mate.
    “We’ll no longer have our greatest power at our disposal,” Hip answered for him. “And it was crucial to our plan. The power of disintegration.”
    Therese put a hand on Than’s arm. He covered it with his own and hoped she did not already regret joining him in this dangerous life.
    “I understand…” Athena started.
    “I don’t think you do,” Than said. “This means some other god outside of this circle will likely be assigned my duties. And that means…” A cold sweat came over him, and he shuddered.
    “I’ll make sure the person who replaces you is one of our own,” Hades declared. “I am the lord of the Underworld, and no one shall tell me how to rule my kingdom.”
    “Hermes can’t be trusted,” Than said, though it pained him to say it.
    “I’ll find someone who can,” Hades assured him.
    “I understand your concerns,” Athena said to Than and to the other gods of the Underworld, who had been as fervent as he and Therese in arguing for a delay in their plan to bind Zeus.
    His parents, his sisters, his brother, and Hecate had all pleaded his case.
    “The problem is,” Apollo said again, “I can see our success at the wedding . I cannot guarantee our success if we wait for another occasion.”
    “What about my family and friends?” Therese asked Apollo. “Can you see if they get hurt? Pete said someone close to me will die.”
    Than wanted to go back in time and change the course of the future. Zeus was hitting him where it most hurt: Therese’s family and friends. She would be devastated, and so would Than.
    “I only see us with Zeus,” Apollo replied. “I’m sorry, Therese. I can’t see beyond that.”
    “Listen to me,” Athena said, looking directly at Than. “I know this would be hard on you and your bride. I’m sorry that Zeus has thrown this wrench into our plan. But our choices are either to give up completely on this mission, or to follow through on the day of your wedding. We have no other alternatives.”
    Than started to object, but Persephone spoke first. “Ariadne could be convinced to meet with Dionysus on another day.”
    Persephone referred to a deal they had made with the god of the vine. If he helped them to overpower Zeus, Ariadne would agree to meet with him the day of the wedding.
    “Hera will be most distracted during the vows,” Hephaestus said. “We have to keep that in mind.”
    “And don’t forget Nemesis,” Artemis added. “She agreed to balance out the fortune between Therese and Zeus during the nuptials. I can’t go back and ask her to alter her plan. It was hard enough to get her consent in the first place.”
    “But we don’t need her,” Hades said. “As much as I admire her for doling out justice, now that we have Poseidon on board, neither Dionysus nor Nemesis is necessary.”
    Than was still not sure they could count on Poseidon.
    “But let’s not dismiss their contributions,” Artemis said.
    “We need all the help we can get,” Hephaestus agreed.
    Athena’s face reddened. “Can we trust Poseidon?” She turned to Apollo.
    “I need an opportunity to interrogate him,” Apollo said. “He made his vow to Therese, and I wasn’t privy to it.” Then he added, “Even so, as I’ve said again and again, I can only see our