Marina raised an eyebrow at the word “advanced” but didn’t feel like arguing. “So I got cheated out of being a supermodel or a world ruler because I was raised to ‘suck it up’?”

“I suppose you could look at it that way, but I do find it interesting that despite the lack of power in your earlier years, you were still drawn to the profession of beauty.”

“Yeah, but it’s too late for me to be a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model or have an affair with a president.”

“The first is not entirely out of the question as your society is becoming more focused on aging. As for the second, would you really want to?”

“That’s a whole different discussion, but I’m still calling bullshit on modeling.”

“Why? The power is already making a difference. Did you not notice the change underneath your eyes? And the gray in your hair has diminished by about 30 percent over the course of today. I predict by tomorrow morning you won’t have any left.”

Marina touched her face under her eyes and the skin was still tight and firm. It wasn’t possible, right? Alexios was just some nutjob with a bizarre notion that she was part of his fantasy. But then, there was the singed carpet, and her eyes did look better than they had in decades. Even Halcyon had noticed.

She reached up and touched her hair but didn’t feel like going to the bathroom to look. “I wish I had a mirror on me.”

Alexios reached into his jeans pocket and tossed her a glittery pink compact.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you conjure this into your pants with magic?”

“Of course not. I don’t have that ability. I carry that everywhere. You never know when you’ll need to check your teeth or the size of your pores.”

“Are you…” She shook her head. Was that even possible?

“If you’re asking if I prefer the company of a hot male, then yes, we have the same inclinations where that’s concerned.”

“Not me. My inclination is to remain alone.”

He gave her a wistful look. “Yes. I’m afraid I feel the same at the moment. The dating scene has been particularly rough this century.”

“So tell me more about these magical items,” she said. She’d seen that look before and the last thing she wanted to do was listen to Alexios launch into his dating woes. She was certain she didn’t have enough alcohol to endure centuries of relationship failures.

He looked a little disappointed but then put on his business face and got back to the job at hand. “There were three total, but the only one that Hephaestus has ever gotten a signal from is a ring.”

“Signal? Like GPS?”

“No. More like a brief pulse, kind of like a heartbeat.”

“And he got this signal how?”

“He felt it. It was faint, but he’s certain the ring is still intact.”

“So why doesn’t he tell us where it is?”