The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five (The Gatekeeper's Saga) Read Online Free PDF Page B

a weak smile.
    There were two empty chairs among the other gods of the Underworld, which Therese supposed were meant for her and Than, but before being seated, she and Than continued to make their bows around the room.
    The blood rushed to her face when Aphrodite and her Graces refused to acknowledge them. Even Pasithea, who once joined them for a game of night Frisbee, ignored them. Therese fought back the tears pricking her eyes. They were mostly tears of anger. Aphrodite was being unreasonable, and Therese was dying to tell her out loud to her face that enough was enough. But this was the first time Therese had been among so many gods and goddesses, and she wasn’t about to show signs of weakness. Despite her anger, her heart was hurt by the snub. She loved Aphrodite best of all the gods outside of the Underworld.
    Although the smiles on the faces of Artemis and Callisto and their fellow huntress companions did not make up for Aphrodite’s treatment of her, they did bring a smile to Therese’s face. Callisto had continued to express gratitude to Therese for rescuing her from the sky and reuniting her with Artemis. Therese’s smile soon faded, however, when she noticed, for the first time since entering the room, Demeter’s throne was empty.
    Hestia said softly, “Demeter stays at her winter cabin during this time of the year and makes very few exceptions.”
    “I’m sure she’ll be at the wedding,” Hera added with a suspicious smile.
    Therese bowed to Hestia and her entourage of maidens before finally locking eyes with Athena.
    Have you noticed anything unusual? Therese asked the goddess of wisdom.
    I’ve unraveled nothing, Athena replied. If my father has a plan for tonight, I have no knowledge of it. Be safe.
    I pray to you to help us.
    I promise to do what I can to protect you, Athena assured her.
    Zeus’s voice began over Athena’s last prayer. “Now that you have had an opportunity to greet the guests of honor, I have an important announcement to make that I’m sure will thrill our couple.”
    Apollo and the Muses stopped making music, and the hall became silent. Therese squeezed Than’s hand.
    What’s going on? She asked him.
    Before Than could reply, Zeus said, “It is with great pleasure that I invite all of you here present today to a special wedding ceremony uniting these two love birds. Although I once mentioned the possibility of holding a wedding here on Mount Olympus, I have decided that Therese’s mortal family and friends should not be denied.”
    What? Therese glanced at Than and saw her concern mirrored in his eyes.
    “Excuse me, brother,” Poseidon interrupted. “Are you suggesting that all of us here today should go down to earth and attend a wedding among mortals?”
    “That’s precisely what I’m—not suggesting, but commanding. It will be my gift to the bride and groom. After all, I can’t imagine anything that would make the bride happier than to see both sides of her extended family in one magnificent wedding.”
    Hera stood beside her husband. “And it will be magnificent.”
    As the goddess of marriage, Hera was called upon to oversee the nuptial vows, and it was said that a bride and groom with her blessing would never part. Therese doubted she and Than would receive such a blessing after the prophecy Pete shared with Hermes.
    The gods and goddesses applauded. Someone tossed glittery confetti into the air above them, and it slowly drifted, like diamonds, onto the crowd, making everyone sparkle even more. Therese forced a smile but wanted to explode with rage.
    We’ll have to abort , she prayed to Athena, Artemis, Apollo, and to the gods of the Underworld. We can’t put the lives of so many mortals in jeopardy. There was no way she could allow Athena and the others to carry out their plan on her wedding day—not when the lives of the people she loved the most in the world would be put in harm’s way. She glanced at Athena and could tell that her smile, too, was