Page 79

“Just as it sounds,” Hermes said. “She was beaten, and her horns were cut.”

Dionysus sat up. There were several shocking things about this news, including that of all the gods, Harmonia was one of the least threatening, but also that someone had managed to get close enough to harm a god at all.

“Beaten?” he repeated. “By who?”

“We do not exactly know, but you should be aware. It’s likely the same people targeting gods who are also looking for the ophiotaurus, which means they have some kind of ability to suppress our powers.”

“By people, do you mean the Impious?” he asked. “Or Triad?”

Hermes shrugged. “Possibly. It is too early to make a sound judgment.”

“Is there really any doubt?” Dionysus asked.

“Hades prefers evidence before making such a call.”

“You would think Hades was your king with the way you hang on his every word.”

Hermes narrowed his eyes this time. “Perhaps if you were not so threatened by his leadership, you might see the value in his council.”

“What council? At this very moment, his decisions have us facing defeat.”

Hades had openly admitted he was the reason the ophiotaurus had been resurrected.

“He had no choice,” Hermes defended.

“There is always a choice,” Dionysus said, and then he snapped his mouth shut, realizing too late that he sounded like his foster father.

“It sounds as though you have yet to make one,” said Hermes.

“I chose a side,” Dionysus spat.

“You didn’t choose a side. You picked the best route for your revenge.”

Hermes sounded like Silenus.

“And?”

Hermes shook his head. “You stand for nothing,” he said.

Dionysus ground his teeth.

“It’s probably a good thing Hades doesn’t trust you,” Hermes added. “It doesn’t sound like he should.” And with that, he left.

Dionysus fell back in bed with a sigh, staring up at the ceiling. The god’s words frustrated him, and hefound himself wanting to argue that hedidstand for something. That was the whole reason he began rescuing women, offering them refuge, and training them to defend themselves in ways that meant they would never come to harm again. It was why he had spent years infiltrating the pleasure district and various trafficking circles.

Yes, he wished for revenge against Hera. She had made his life a living hell. She had murdered his mother. He wanted her to suffer.

But that did not negate the fact that he also wished to protect other women as a result.

Unable to sleep, Dionysus rose from bed and headed to the kitchen for a drink, but as he rounded the corner, he found Ariadne. She had yet to notice his approach as she reached over her head for a glass, her shirt rising over her ass as she did.

Fuck me.

“Need help?” he asked.

She gasped and turned to face him.

“How long have you been there?” she asked.