Page 46

“Ares,” she gasps, catching her breath.

When her lip quivers, I think my heart does, too.

“What?” Hypnos rises from where he’s been sitting on the sofa next to the arm Leuce occupies.

“Ares,” she gasps again. “He's in the club. He's demanding—demanding to see you.”

Hades moves closer. “Who did you leave him with?”

Hermes stands, his hands moving to knot together. There's very real fear in his eyes at the mention of Ares. It is fear that is certainly owed if myth has any truth to it.

Ares is heartless.

And he’s come for me.

When Hermes shoves his trembling hands into his pockets, I recall that he spent years, centuries in Olympus as the messenger boy for Zeus.

Surely, he's seen the destruction,the darkness, that is the God of War. A darkness, a destruction that I can only imagine.

I shiver and hug myself. Hades doesn't miss it, and I don't miss the frown that tugs between his brows.

“I left him with Rhadamanthus,” Minthe speaks again. “You must come quick, Hades.”

Hades looses a sigh. “Rhadamanthus can handle Ares.”

Minthe scoffs and I bite back my own as she says, “No one can handle Ares, Hades.”

In his veins, magma surges faster. In his eyes, flames burn hotter. Every inch of him is coiled tight, ready to strike.

“Did he say what he wants?” Hades asks low.

I swallow the burn in my throat as I speak quietly. “He wants me.”

Hades’ head whips to me. Poseidon pushes off the wall.

Hermes makes a noise of distressed fear that Thanatos is quick to comfort, and Hypnos, for the first time, speaks without an ounce of humor. “He can’t have you.”

I pull in breath and straighten my shoulders. “He's here to see that the deal of the seasons is honored.”

Hades does not tear his gaze from me. Now he knows why the Moirai summoned me. They all do. Or they know part of it.

“No.” Hades shakes his head.

“The deal stands, Hades. It was not broken with my death.”

“No, little goddess. You won't go.” His hands curl into dangerous fists. “I can’t allow it. You are too vulnerable.”

“You must let me go.”

For the first time, horror ices the flames in his eyes.

“That's why they took you,” Poseidon says, understanding finally settling over the entirety of the room.

Cerberus makes a noise, part whine, part growl. A warning and grief knotted into one.

I nod soberly.

“If I don't go with Ares, the blood that binds the deal will turn rancid.”