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Ilias did not seem comfortable with the fact either, his expression concerned.

“Are you all right?”

Hades did not answer and instead asked, “What do you have on Lara Sotir?”

Despite the fact that the woman claimed to have no association with Triad or another organized divine hate group, Hades was not so certain he believed that.New gods.A rebirth.Lemming.

They were words Lara and Harmonia’s attackers had used. It could not be a coincidence that they shared a common language. He suspected they were part of the same group or at least consuming the same propaganda. Whatever the case, the goal seemed clear—to overthrow the ruling gods.

It was not unusual for mortals or other gods to plot against the Olympians, but this time seemed different. The world seemed chaotic and unstable. With Demeter’s unnatural storm, blatant attacks on the favored and thedivine with weapons that could actually wound them, and the god-killing ophiotaurus on the loose, Hades worried over what might be next. Death, certainly, but there were worse things.

Ilias handed Hades a thin file. He opened it to find a picture of Lara Sotir and a man walking down a street in New Athens. A second one showed them entering a hotel.

“The man Lara is with in those photos is a demigod named Kai,” Ilias said. “He is the son of Triton and a member of Triad.”

It seemed overthrowing the gods was a family affair, as Triton was also the son of Poseidon.

There were two more photos in the file, one of Lara at a recent protest calling for an end to the winter storm and another with Kai.

Hades stared at the demigod. He could see parts of Theseus in his face, not so much in his features but his expression. There was a glint of hatred and haughtiness in his eyes. This was a man who believed he was owed the world, likely to make up for the fact that he lacked the power of his father and grandfather.

It was an entitlement Poseidon possessed as well, and it was clear he continued to pass on the belief.

There was a knock at the door, and Hades met Ilias’s gaze before nodding. The satyr crossed the room and answered the door to Theseus.

Hades closed the file.

“Ilias,” he said. “Leave us.”

The satyr bowed and pushed past Theseus, knocking into his shoulder. The demigod smirked, but Hades was not impressed or surprised. Theseus moved throughlife unaffected by his impact on others, caring only for himself.

Hades moved behind his desk, wanting something between him and his corrupt nephew.

“You have impeccable timing,” Hades said.

“My ears were burning,” Theseus replied.

“Then word must have reached you about Harmonia and Adonis.”

“There have been rumors. I take it you have assumed my involvement.”

“Have you come to deny it?”

“I have,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “It was not Triad.”

“If not Triad, then Impious all the same.”

“I cannot be responsible for all Impious or their impulsive decisions.”

“I would not call their decision to kill Adonis and harm Harmonia impulsive. They seem rather organized.”

“Perhaps organized but not strategic,” said Theseus. “Would you really expect me to coordinate something so sloppy?”

Hades stared. “Is that why you’re here? You’re insulted that I would assume you are responsible for these attacks because they are not sophisticated enough?”

Theseus shrugged. “You may word it however you wish,” he said. “But I did not order those attacks.”

“You did not order them, but have you denounced them?”