“The only thing he can tell us is that it’s on Earth. We believe those of the bloodline are born near the object.”

“There it is, that ‘you believe’ again. But you don’t know. So this ring could be in Russia or at the bottom of the ocean.”

“That’s not what we chose to think.”

“Ha! You are gods. Because you want something to be a certain way, you decide to believe it is.”

“We believe this way because the alternative is the end of our lives and yours. Would you prefer to go the other route?”

She must have hesitated too long for his taste because he waved a hand in dismissal.

“Anyway, we need to find this ring now. Zeus has to be able to harness the power of the other gods in order to defeat our enemy.”

“A ring, huh? That holds the power of many and can only be carried by one. I’ve seen this movie. And if you’re saying I’m Frodo, we’re going to have big problems.”

“This is not Lord of the Rings. Although someone with a predilection for purple jeans might have gotten drunk with Tolkien back in the day and exchanged tales.”

She frowned. “Why don’t you just send Aphrodite down to find the ring? I mean, it’s her blood. Wouldn’t she have a stronger connection than descendants born centuries down the line?”

“She’s tried. For thousands and thousands of years she’s roamed the earth trying to find the ring. But for whatever reason, she’s never felt the draw. And since we can’t see it…”

“Did you ever think that maybe she never felt a draw because it isn’t here? Everything you’ve just told me is based on speculation. Let’s just say for a minute that I buy any of this—how am I supposed to find this ring if Aphrodite can’t?”

He hesitated. “We’re not quite sure. Our hope is that now that you’ve come into your birthright, you’ll be drawn to it.”

“But none of the others before me were.”

His shoulders slumped. “I know. It’s a failure I’ve carried with me for a long time, and trust me, the boss does not let me forget it.”

“Surely you’ve gleaned something from centuries of trying to find this thing.”

“Only the side effects of beauty. Nothing that helps us determine the location of the ring.”

Marina blew out a breath. It was ridiculous, of course. The belief that she was descended from a goddess and possessed the ability to find a magical object that would save the world. That was the sort of thing that got you a long visit in a padded room. But there was something about his story that stirred her deep inside. Like a tiny tickle at the bottom of her stomach. Something that made her believe he might not be crazy after all.

“What’s in it for me?” she asked. “I mean, the earth not ending isn’t really a good selling point for me. Not today.”